The activity of albendazole against adult and larval gastrointestinal nematodes in naturally infected calves in the Netherlands

Summary The activity of albendazole against gastrointestinal helminths in naturally infected calves in the Netherlands was tested. The calves were in their fist grazing season and kept in two groups of ten. One of these groups was grazed alternately with sheep. Five out of each group were drenched with albendazole (7.5 mg/kg) on the day they were housed (November 1). Before and 2, 14, and 28 days after treatment individual faecal samples were taken from all calves and larval cultures were made. Ten calves, six treated and four untreated, were killed for post mortem studies 14 days after treatment The remaining calves were slaughtered 14 days later. The drug was highly effective in reducing the egg output, measured as the number of larvae cultured per gram of faeces. Compared with the untreated calves, the reduction was more than 99% two days after treatment, 100% at 14 days, and 99% after 28 days. It was shown that egg output 28 days after treatment came from worms which had developed from arrested larvae of Ostertagia ostertagi that had survived treatment. Post mortem results showed an efficacy of 100% against adult O. ostertagi, of almost 100% against Trichostrongylus axei, and 100% against adult and larval Cooperia oncophora. Twenty-eight days after treatment, the reduction of arrested early fourth stages of O. ostertagi was 85% in comparison with the untreated calves. Apparently less effect was found against Trichuris ovis at the given dose rate.     

Influence of ante- and peri-mortem factors on biochemical and physical characteristics of turkey breast muscle

Summary The course of post-mortem breakdown of glycogen and ATP in turkey pectoralis major muscle was markedly influenced by several ante- and peri-mortem variables. Application of a proper stunning procedure was highly effective in preventing peri- and post-mortem muscle stress reactions. The physiological level of glycogen and ATP was not significantly affected by road transportation covering 260 km. Birds which rested for 24 hrs following transportation had lower glycogen and ATP levels at the moment of slaughter than non-rested birds. According to the changes in the rate and extent of post-mortem biochemical reactions, several meat characteristics such as water-holding capacity, colour, and tenderness were significantly changed. Furthermore, the results also indicate that turkey breast muscle is susceptible to a PSE-like condition as described in pork.     

Blood parasites of sheep in the Netherlands. I. Anaplasma mesaeterum sp.n. (Rickettsiales, Anaplasmataceae)

Summary On two occasions an anaplasm was isolated from sheep on the Dutch island of Ameland. The organism proved to be highly pathogenic for splenectomised sheep; a non-splenectomised animal recovered spontaneously after the packed cell volume had decreased by 40%. Treatment with oxytetracycline was effective. Its pathogenicity for goats appeared to be low, and the organism was apparently not infective to splenectomised cattle. This anaplasm differs from Anaplasma ovis in that less than 30% of the organisms are marginally situated in the red cell, as against over 70% in A. ovis; cross-immunity with A. ovis was incomplete and the latter appeared to be far more pathogenic to goats than the Dutch anaplasm, for which the name Anaplasma mesaeterum sp.n. is proposed. Its ultrastructure is similar to that of A. marginale and A. ovis. The vector is either Ixodes ricinus or Haemaphysalis punctata. Its practical importance remains to be ascertained.     

Book review

Developments in Biological Standardization - Standardization of Rabies Vaccines for Human Use Produced in Tissue Culture (Rabies III). Published by S. Karger, Basle; 292 pages, Vol. 40, Marburg 1977.     

The influence of temperature on the development of Moniezia expansa (Rudolphi, 1810) in oribatid mites

The life cycle of Moniezia expansa was studied experimentally using 10 species of oribatid mites as intermediate hosts. Four of them became infected, namely Scheloribates laevigatus (76.2%), Sch. latipes (70.8%), Liacarus coracinus (20%) and Platynothrus peltifer (1.1%). The last was found for the first time to serve as intermediate host of M. expansa in Czechoslovakia. The development of the cysticercoid of M. expansa in the oribatid mites at 28 degrees C and 85% relative humidity is completed within 27 days. At 18-20 degrees C and the same relative humidity the development lasts even 97 days.     

Scanning electron microscopic studies on males of trichinella species

Ultrastructure of the cuticle and pseudobursa of adult males of four species of Trichinella has been studied by SEM. T. nativa differs markedly from T. spiralis, T. nelsoni and Trichinella sp. in the form of the pseudobursa. Trichinella sp. differs only slightly from T. spiralis and T. nelsoni. The ultrastructure of the cuticle revealed no characters suitable for the differentiation of the taxons under study.     

Prevalence of antibodies to equine viruses in the Netherlands

Summary The prevalence of antibodies to various viruses was investigated in a series of serum samples collected from horses in the Netherlands between 1963 and 1966 and from 1972 onwards. Neutralizing antibodies to equine rhinopneumonitis virus, equine arteritis virus and to equine rhinovirus types 1 and 2 were detected in respectively 76%, 14%, 66% and 59% of the equine serum samples tested. The observed incidence of serum samples positive to equine adenovirus in the complement fixation test was 39%. Precipitating antibodies to equine infectious anaemia virus were detected only in serum samples from two horses imported from abroad. Haemagglutination inhibiting antibodies to Myxovirus influenzae A / equi-1, M. Influenzae A / equi-2, and Reovirus types 1, 2, and 3 were present in respectively 82%, 50%, 10%, 33% and 3.6% of the serum samples tested. The most frequently observed incidence of antibodies to the various equine respiratory viruses occurred in the groups of horses having repeatedly contact with other horses.     

Tissue reaction to Cysticercus bovis in the lung of artificially infected cattle

The tissue reaction to Cysticercus bovis in the lung of cattle with an experimental infection was an inflammatory rim originating in the immediate vicinity of the cysts. The cysts recovered at days 83 and 102 p.i. contained living cysticerci. The rim was composed either of a layer of high histiocytes organized in palisades (at day 83 p.i.), or a lyer of flat histiocytes (at day 102 p.i.). The outer layer of the rim consisted of fibroblasts, reticular cells and a different number of eosinophil- and neutrophil luekocytes. On the periphery, the rim was formed by granulation tissue infiltrated with lymphoplasmocytes. At the border between the layers of the inflammatory rim there were conspicuous foci of a necrotic appearance typical of a tissue reaction to C. bovis.     

The immune response of the pig following oral immunisation with soluble protein

The immune response of pigs fed 200 mg per day of dinitrophenylated bovine gamma globulin has been evaluated in terms of the antibody and lymphocyte responses and of the induction of tolerance and immune exclusion. Although dosing for ten days resulted in a small IgA response as indicated by splenic plaque forming cells, serum antibody could only be detected when dosing was continued for 42 days. secretory antibody was detected at any time. Antigen feeding for two weeks rendered the animals hyporesponsive to subsequent parenteral antigenic challenge but had little effect upon their ability to exclude an oral dose of antigen from the circulation.     

Plasma concentration of sulphadimethoxine in pigs after multiple dosing and during injections of Escherichia coli endotoxin

The effect of endotoxin induced fever on the steady state concentration of sulphadimethoxine in pigs has been studied.Sulphadimethoxine 20 mg/kg b.wt. was injected at 9 a.m. in an ear vein each day for eleven days. From day 6 until the end of the experiment, endotoxin fromEscherichia coli 1.5 g/kg b.wt. was injected at 9 a.m. and at 3 p.m. The plasma concentration versus time curves were calculated by means of a computer program, assuming a two-compartment model. During the endotoxin injections the plasma concentrations were simulated and compared with those calculated.It was not possible to show any clinically significant changes in pharmacokinetics of sulphadimethoxine after the start of endotoxin injections.