The effects of feeding milk to diarrheic calves supplemented with oral electrolytes.

The effects of feeding different levels of milk to diarrheic calves (n = 19) supplemented with oral electrolytes were investigated. In the early stages of the disease the calves were fed either enough milk to maintain normal growth in a healthy calf, one half that volume or no milk. The three groups were further subdivided according to whether or not the electrolyte solution contained bicarbonate. A full milk ration allowed uninterrupted weight gains of 1% body weight/day (p = 0.003), but caused greater inappetence (p = 0.003 to 0.037) at the beginning of the trial than lower levels of milk intake. Electrolyte solutions with bicarbonate reduced growth rates in milk fed calves (p = 0.014). The density of fat stores increased with the level of milk feeding (p = 0.04 to 0.053). The mitotic index of the duodenal mucosa increased with milk feeding (p = 0.08), indicating a superior mucosal regeneration potential. Thymic atrophy was pronounced in those calves fed no milk (p = 0.001). It was concluded that the continued feeding of milk to diarrheic calves was beneficial. Electrolyte solutions containing bicarbonate should be avoided when milk is fed to diarrheic calves.     

Immunization of neonatal lambs against the larvae of Taenia hydatigena, using viable eggs followed by chemotherapy

The subcutaneous injection of viable eggs of Taenia hydatigena into neonatal lambs induced 100% protection against the development of viable T. hydatigena larvae from an oral challenge. However, contrary to some published results, no protection was induced against a simultaneous infection with eggs of T. ovis and Echinococcus granulosus.The short-acting partial resistance to oral infection with T. hydatigena eggs, transferred from infected ewes to their lambs, was not enhanced by hyperimmunization of the ewe. In the lamb, this resistance did not interfere with the development of subcutaneously injected T. hydatigena eggs into immature larvae, or with the consequent induction of resistance to an oral challenge with T. hydatigena eggs. The immunizing lesion regressed rapidly after treatment of lambs with Mebendazole, and after 6 months the lesions were negligible in both treated and untreated lambs.     

Prickly paddy melon (Cucumis myriocarpus) poisoning of cattle

Twenty-six Hereford heifers died after eating mostly ripe fruit of Cucumis myriocarpus growing in a fallowed cultivation paddock. Four affected cattle were dehydrated and apparently had abdominal pain. Necropsy of three revealed intense congestion with haemorrhage of the alimentary tract, numerous C. myriocarpus seeds in ruminal contents, pulmonary congestion and oedema and, in two, swollen livers. Midzonal swelling and vacuolation of hepatocytes occurred in these two. C. myriocarpus fruit (83% by weight ripe) were dosed to two calves at 60 g wet weight/kg live weight. Both collapsed with tachycardia and dyspnoea and died within 6 h. Their packed cell volumes just before death had increased to 0.7. They had hydropic degeneration and necrosis of the ruminal mucosa, intense congestion and oedema of the rumen, abomasum and intestines, swollen and vacuolated hepatocytes and foci of myocardial degeneration and necrosis. Two other calves were dosed daily with 20 g fruit/kg for three days, then 40 g/kg for three days. One calf received a further 40 g/kg next day. Both calves developed persistent diarrhoea and neutrophilia, and their plasma gamma glutamyltransferase and bilirubin concentrations increased. Necropsy revealed necrosis and oedema of the rumen and swollen degenerate hepatocytes.