Distribution of penicillin G in serum and tissue cage fluid in cattle

The penetration of penicillin into tissue cage fluid (TCF) in calves was studied after intravenous and intramuscular injection. The penicillin concentrations in TCF were lower than in serum and maximum was reached much later. Intravenous injection of benzyl-penicillin gave significantly higher levels in TCF than intramuscular injection. The penetration after procaine penicillin was very slow. The results showed that the serum peak rather than the area under curve determines the penetration of penicillin. Repeated intramuscular injections of benzylpenicillin and procaine penicillin caused an accumulation of penicillin in TCF. Similar levels were however reached by one single intravenous injection. The clinical counterparts to the used tissue cage model are abscesses. It was concluded that if high penicillin concentration are desireable in such foci, the drug must be given in a way that gives as high serum peaks as possible.     

Blood selenium in a beef hern affected with muscular degeneration

In a Hereford herd in the middle of Sweden high mortality occurred in the calves in 1967 and 1968. Most frequent symtoms were respiratory distress and weakness. The diagnosis M.D. was established by postmortem examination. For this reason a study was made of the selenium content in forage, in blood and milk from cows and in blood from their offspring. The Se analyses were made by the method of Lindberg (1968).     

Comparative anatomic and morphometric examination of the interosseous muscle,sesamoid ligaments and flexor tendons of the fetlock in South American camelids

This study presents a comparative morphological and morphometrical examination of the interosseous muscle (IOM), digital flexor tendons and associated structures of all four species of South American Camelids (SACs): Lama (Lama glama), alpaca (Vicugna pacos), guanaco (Lama guanicoe) and vicuna (Vicugna vicugna). Our findings show that the lamoid interosseous muscle and digital flexor tendons are very similar between species and differences, which have been reported previously, are possibly due to diverging examiner interpretation. Lumbricalis muscles were mostly found as single muscles in this study. The definition of the terminal and dorsal branches of the interosseous muscle is critically revised. The analysis of morphometric data indicates that the size of the individual has a substantial influence on the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the examined structures. Metacarpal/metatarsal bone width is a main predictor of CSA, while the factor species only shows significance in specific sample points. For lama and alpaca, no differences in CSA in relation to species as factor were found. The IOM shows the largest CSAs of the three examined structures in all species, which implies an important load-bearing function. Considerable individual variation remains unexplained by the mentioned factors. This lowers the prospect of CSA reaching diagnostic importance in SAC fetlock pathology.     

Relationship between selenium content of forage, blood and organs of sheep, and lamb mortality rate

The investigation comprised 12 herds, totalling 660 sheep, in the counties of Stockholm and Uppsala. The selenium content of specimens of forage, whole blood, muscle, liver, and kidney was determined by a fluorimetric method. Data on the number of born and dead lambs were collected 4—5 months after lambing. Dead and sick lambs were subjected to necropsy and to clinico-chemical analyses, respectively.The selenium content of hay and corn was lower than 60 ng per g, which some authors regard as the minimum level of Se requirement for protection against white muscle disease in sheep. The analyses of forage mixtures containing oil concentrates and beet pulp showed selenium levels that were about 2—5 times as high as this minimum level.In herds in which the animals had not been treated with selenium preparations prior to sampling, there was a significant positive correlation between the selenium content of the forage and that of whole blood. A relationship was also noted between the selenium content of forage and of organs.In 9 out of the 12 herds the selenium concentrations in whole blood were on the level that is considered to be representative of white muscle disease.A high mortality rate was recorded for lambs whose mothers had low selenium levels in their blood.Prophylactic and curative treatment with selenium plus vitamin E orally and/or parenterally probably reduced lamb mortality rate in the herds fed a low-selenium diet.     

Toxigenicity and pathogenicity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium poae</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium avenaceum</Emphasis> on wheat

In a field experiment between 2004 and 2006, 14 winter wheat varieties were inoculated with either a mixture of three isolates of F. poae or a mixture of three isolates of F. avenaceum. In a subsequent climate chamber experiment, the wheat variety Apogee was inoculated with individual single conidium isolates derived from the original poly conidium isolates used in the field. Disease symptoms on wheat heads were visually assessed, and the yield as well as the fungal incidence on harvested grains (field only) was determined. Furthermore, grains were analysed using LC-MS/MS to determine the content of Fusarium mycotoxins. In samples from field and climate chamber experiments, 60 to 4,860 μg kg⁻¹ nivalenol and 2,400 to 17,000 μg kg⁻¹ moniliformin were detected in grains infected with F. poae and F. avenaceum, respectively. Overall, isolate mixtures and individual isolates of F. avenaceum proved to be more pathogenic than those of F. poae, leading to a higher disease level, yield reductions up to 25%, and greater toxin contamination. For F. poae, all variables except for yield were strongly influenced by variety (field) and by isolate (climate chamber). For F. avenaceum, variety had a strong effect on all variables, but isolate effects on visual disease were not reflected in toxin production. Correlations between visual symptoms, fungal incidence, and toxin accumulation in grains are discussed.