Methodology for quantifying residues of chlorhexidine in raw dairy milk

A residue method was developed as part of a pharmacokinetics study to determine the elimination of chlorhexidine in raw milk after intramammary infusion into dairy cows affected with bovine mastitis. The developed liquid/liquid and solid-phase extraction procedures effectively reduced sources of milk product interferences in the final extract. By optimizing mobile-phase pH buffer/acetonitrile gradient conditions and employing an end-capped reverse-phase polar embedded-phase chromatographic column, excellent peak resolution was achieved without the additional need of mobile-phase amine modifiers or ion-pairing reagents. The combined cleanup and chromatographic method steps reported herein were sensitive and reliable for determining the pharmacokinetic elimination of chlorhexidine following intramammary infusion. The residue method was found to be rugged with a lower detection limit of 0.1 ppm.     

Liquid formulations of seed-treatment fungicides suitable for use on peanuts

Emergence and plant performance were equivalent when peanut seed was treated with either a standard dust or with mixtures of liquid (suspension concentrate) formulations of fungicides applied at rates required to control soil- and seed-borne fungi. Liquid formulations do not pose the health and mechanical problems associated with dusts, so their use should be encouraged and adopted. A suitable treatment consists of a combination of captan 300g/l, dicloran 300g/l, an oil extender and rhodamine dye in acetic acid at 188, 247, 341 and 4 · 6 ml respectively per 100 kg of seed.     

Detection of low serum immunoglobulin concentrations in clinically ill calves

The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of classification of 4 tests for failure of passive transfer (FPT) were examined in clinically ill neonatal calves. Comparisons were made with serum IgG1 concentrations determined by radial immunodiffusion. Serum samples were obtained from 27 clinically ill calves < or = 21 days of age. The results of 4 commonly used assays, the sodium sulfite turbidity test, the zinc sulfate turbidity test, refractometry, and the serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activity test, were compared with radial immunodiffusion determinations of serum IgG1 concentration. Serum GGT activity using a 50 IU/L threshold resulted in correct classification of the highest percentage of calves (93%) with regard to their passive transfer status. The sodium sulfite test with a 1+ end point and refractometry using a 5.5 g/dL end point resulted in correct classification of 85% of the calves studied. When using the sodium sulfite test, the 2+ and 3+ test end points had lower specificity, 0.58 and 0.00, respectively, than the 1+ end point. This loss in specificity resulted in misclassification of calves with adequate serum immunoglobulin concentrations as having FPT. The zinc sulfate turbidity test was inadequately specific (0.33) and resulted in misclassification of 33% of calves.     

Analysis of the costs of veterinary education and factors associated with financial stress among veterinary students in Australia

Objective

To investigate the course‐related and other costs involved in obtaining a veterinary education in Australia and how these costs are met. The study also aimed to identify sociodemographic and course‐related factors associated with increased financial stress.

Methods

Students from seven Australian veterinary schools were surveyed using an online questionnaire. A total of 443 students participated (response rate 17%). Responses to survey items relating to finances, employment and course‐related costs were compared with sociodemographic factors and prior research in the area of student financial stress.

Results

Respondents reported spending a median of A$300 per week on living costs and a median of A$2,000 per year on course‐related expenses. Over half of respondents received the majority of their income from their parents or Youth Allowance (56%). A similar proportion (55%) reported that they needed to work to meet basic living expenses. Circumstances and sociodemographic factors linked to perceived financial stress included requiring additional finances to meet unexpected costs during the course; sourcing additional finances from external loans; an expected tuition debt at graduation over A$40,000; being 22 years or older; working more than 12 hours per week; living costs above A$300 per week; and being female.

Conclusion

The costs involved in obtaining a veterinary education in Australia are high and over half of respondents are reliant on parental or Government income support. Respondents with certain sociodemographic profiles are more prone to financial stress. These findings may have implications for the psychological health, diversity and career plans of veterinary students in Australia.     

Bilateral iliac arterial thrombosis in an alpaca (Vicugna pacos) cria

A 3-month-old male alpaca was presented for acute onset of non-weight-bearing left hind limb lameness. Antemortem diagnostics revealed a mass to the right of the urinary bladder and no blood flow in the left femoral artery. Necropsy revealed bilateral iliac arterial thrombi and an abscess near the urinary bladder.     

Effect of glutamine or glycine containing oral electrolyte solutions on mucosal morphology, clinical and biochemical findings, in calves with viral induced diarrhea.

Twenty-one diarrheic calves were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 oral electrolyte treatments. The treatments were either a conventional oral electrolyte containing glycine (40 mmol/L) as the amino acid, an oral electrolyte in which glutamine (40 mmol/L) replaced glycine or an electrolyte in which high concentrations of glutamine (400 mmol/L) replaced glycine. The calves were monitored while on trial and at the end of the treatment they were euthanized and a necropsy was immediately performed. Calves fed the high glutamine electrolyte had more treatment failures (2/7 versus 0/7 for each of the other 2 treatments). There was a significant effect of type of electrolyte on fecal consistency. Calves fed the glycine containing electrolyte had the most solid feces. Duodenal villus height was significantly affected by the type of electrolyte: values (mean +/- 1 SEM) were 0.61 +/- 0.09, 0.46 +/- 0.05, and 0.59 +/- 0.07 mm for high glutamine, low glutamine and glycine electrolytes respectively. There was no significant difference in small intestinal surface area between groups. High glutamine treated calves had the greatest capacity to absorb xylose from the small intestine but this difference was not statistically significant. Overall, this trial does not suggest that substituting glutamine for glycine in oral electrolyte solutions improves treatment of diarrheic calves or speeds mucosal healing.     

Antibacterial and free radical scavenging activity of the seeds of Agrimonia eupatoria

n-Hexane, dichloromethane and methanol extracts of the seeds of Agrimonia eupatoria have been assessed for antibacterial and free radical scavenging activity.