Concentration of Fe, Fe-binding capacity, Cu and Zn in the plasma of piglets before and after oral administration of iron sulfate solution]

In piglets, the influence of the ingestion of Fe-enriched faeces, of the oral application of Fe-dextran (containing 150, 200 or 250 mg Fe) up to the 8th hour as well as the intramuscular injection of Fe-dextran (150 mg Fe) on the 2nd and 3rd day after birth on Fe-resorption was analysed. On the 5th to the 7th and on the 12th to the 14th day after birth the highest increase in the Fe-concentration and the highest values of the Fe-binding capacity of the plasma after the oral application of a solution of Fe-sulphate (containing 20 mg Fe/kg body weight) were confirmed in the piglets with the ingestion of Fe-enriched faeces and in the control piglets without Fe-supplementation. The increase of the iron concentration in the plasma induced a decrease in the concentration of Cu in some cases and of Zn in the plasma in most cases. The biggest increase in body weight was established in the piglets that ingested Fe-enriched faeces.     

Chicken egg antibodies for prophylaxis and therapy of infectious intestinal diseases. V. In vivo studies on protective effects against Escherichia coli diarrhea in pigs

A field study and a controlled infection trial showed the protective effect of egg yolk lyophilisate and whole egg lyophilisate against enterotoxic E. coli germs. The lyophilisates were gained from eggs of hens immunized against pilus antigen of porcine-enterotoxic E. coli. In a first field study using egg yolk antibodies, 92% of 299 diarrhea affected piglets were cured. In a further field study diarrhea affected piglets were cured after 3 days by application of egg yolk lyophilisate from immunized hens. Piglets treated only with egg yolk of not immunized hens showed no signs of recovery. The infection trial showed, that whole egg lyophilisate of immunized hens was as successful as a common antibiotic therapy in curing piglets, orally infected with 5 x 10(10) E. coli/feeding and animal. The present data show that chicken egg antibodies can be used for treatment of infectious diarrheal diseases in young animals. So far they represent a good alternative to the common used antibiotic therapy.     

Extraction of an infected tusk in an adult African elephant

An 18-year-old African elephant was determined to have a nonrepairable crack in its left tusk. Treatment included extraction of the tusk, using rotational and extractional forces, and administration of antibiotics, followed by 1 year of flushing the opened tusk cavity with warm tap water. Two years after surgery, the elephant was healthy, and the tusk cavity was 80% filled with normal tissue.     

Culture of frozen/thawed Bovine Demi-Embryos with Bovine Oviduct Epithelial Cells*

A method for in vitro culture of splitted frozen/thawed bovine embryos is described. These demi-embryos are of a low viability, but they survive the treatments, which lead to the final cultivation. The culture system gave a development of 41%of demi-embryos and 75 % of the whole embryos, and it is concluded, that this system is usable to culture demi-embryos.     

Effects of feeding Kentucky 31 tall fescue seed infected with acremonium coenophialum to laboratory rats

An endophytic fungus found in Kentucky 31 (KY-31) tall fescue has been associated with the "summer syndrome" (fescue toxicity) in grazing cattle. Four experiments were conducted to investigate the use of weanling rats as an animal model to study the fescue toxicity syndrome. When graded levels of fungus-infected (INF) or fungus-free (FF) KY-31 seed were fed, feed intake and growth rates were inversely related to the amount of INF seed in the diet. When diets containing 50% seed were fed, rats eating INF seed had reduced (P less than .05) daily water consumption (9 vs 20 ml) and lowered (P less than .05) body temperatures (36.8 vs 37.7 C) when compared with the FF treatments. Autoclaving the seed increased feed intake and growth rate of rats receiving both INF and FF seed diets, but daily gains continued to be less (P less than .05) in the rats fed autoclaved INF diets when compared with rats fed autoclaved FF diets (2.3 vs 6.8 g). Rats fed diets containing either 40% shredded wheat on which the fescue endophyte had been grown or 40% shredded wheat that was not innoculated did not differ in performance. Crude fiber, nitrogen-free extract, gross energy and dry matter digestibilities were enhanced (P less than .05) by the presence of INF seed in the diets when compared with the FF seed treatments. Crude protein and ether extract digestibilities and apparent biological value of fescue protein were not affected by presence of the fungus. The effect of INF seed on organ weights was inconsistent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Gastric dilatation-volvulus associated with diaphragmatic hernia in three cats: clinical presentation, surgical treatment and presumptive aetiology

Three cats were examined because of acute dyspnoea and sudden abdominal enlargement. In all cats, radiographs revealed gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) and diaphragmatic hernia. Cardiovascular shock and dyspnoea were treated by intravenous fluid-therapy, oxygen administration and relief of diaphragmatic pressure by means of stomach decompression and in one case placing the patient in an inclined position. Gastric decompression was performed by needle gastrocentesis, placement of a rhino-gastric tube, or a combination of these. Diaphragmatic herniorrhaphy was performed in either case; one cat also underwent gastropexy. The immediate postoperative period resolved uneventfully and the cats were doing well at follow-up. Feline GDV is a rare event in which diaphragmatic hernia may be a predisposing factor.