Clinico-pathomorphological, serum biochemical and histological studies in broilers fed ochratoxin A and a toxin deactivator (Mycofix Plus)

1. Toxic effects of two concentrations (0.5 and 1 mg/kg) of ochratoxin A (OTA) and attenuating effects of a toxin deactivator (Mycofix Plus(MTV INSIDE)) containing the yeast Trichosporon mycotoxinivorans on the performance (feed conversion ratio; body weight gain), serum enzymes (lactate dehydrogenase, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase and aspartate aminotransferase) and clinico-pathomorphology of internal organs were studied in 270 one-day-old broiler chicks divided into 9 groups over a 42-d period. 2. Feed conversion ratios (FCR) in groups fed toxin deactivator were improved compared with groups receiving OTA only. An increase in the relative weight of kidney and liver was observed in groups fed 0.5 and 1 mg/kg OTA on day 42 of the experiment as compared with the control group. In contrast, relative weights of bursa of Fabricius and spleen were not significantly affected in experimental groups exposed to OTA as compared to control groups determined on days 28 and 42 of age. 3. Serum enzymes (LDH, GGT and AST) values in OTA treated groups determined on days 28 and 42 were higher than those of the control group. 4. Histopathological examination of kidney on day 42 revealed degenerative changes in the epithelial cells of the proximal convoluted tubules and massive necrosis of the proximal tubular epithelial cells. These changes were less marked in birds receiving 0.5 mg/kg OTA than in those receiving 1 mg/kg. In general, histological changes in kidneys, liver, bursa and spleen were less pronounced in birds receiving OTA and toxin deactivator concomitantly. 5. Dietary OTA at 0.5 and 1 mg/kg adversely affects FCR, increases the serum liver enzymes and induces pronounced pathomorphological and histological changes in internal organs of broiler chicks. Co-administration of OTA with deactivator attenuated the harmful effects.     

The detection of antibody against peste des petits ruminants virus in Sheep,Goats, Cattle and Buffaloes

Monoclonal antibody-based competitive ELISA (C-ELISA) has been used for the specific measurement of antibodies to peste des petits ruminants (PPR) viruses in sheep, goats, cattle and Buffalo. Serum samples from sheep (n = 232), goats (n = 428), cattle (n = 43), buffalo (n = 89) were tested. The animals had not been vaccinated against rinderpest or PPR. Findings suggested that the sero-positive cases were significantly higher in sheep (51.29%) than in goats (39.02%) (P = 0.002). The overall sero-prevalence of PPRV in small ruminants was 43.33%. The PPR antibodies seroprevalence was 67.42% in buffalo and 41.86% in cattle which was significantly higher in buffalo (P = 0.005). The overall sero-prevalence of PPRV in large ruminants was 59.09%. Cattle and buffalo sera showed a high prevalence of antibody against PPR virus which may explain the difficulty experienced in achieving high post-vaccination immunity levels against rinderpest. Because antibodies against PPR virus are both cross-neutralizing and cross-protective against rinderpest virus, further vaccination in the presence of antibodies against PPR virus may be a waste of national resources. It was also suggested that antibodies to PPR virus could prevent an immune response to the rinderpest vaccine. This paper presents serological evidence for the transmission of PPR virus from sheep and goats to cattle and buffalo and highlights the need to include PPR serology in the sero-monitoring programme to give a better indication of national herd immunity of sheep and goats against PPR.     

Anatomy and physiology of the gastro-intestinal tract and growth curves of the ostrich (Struthio camelus)

The ostrich is an important animal in many livestock industries and in the developing world. The digestive system of the ostrich differs considerably from that of non‐ruminant animals or poultry. The genetic potential of an ostrich can be described by its characteristic growth curve. This present paper presents an account of the rearing, anatomy of the gastro‐intestinal tract, and growth curves of this bird.     

Diapause in the nematodeGlobodera pallida

Over a period of 12 months new and old cysts ofGlobodera pallida were hatched in potato root diffusate according to a novel nematode-response hatching protocol. In this protocol, cysts were set to hatch at the beginning of autumn and then left to indicate when their hatching ability was exhausted (when less than 100 juveniles/replicate/week emerged) before another batch of cysts was set to hatch. At any time of the year for the 12 months this experiment was conducted there were cysts hatching. After 12 months of hatching, eight hatching curves were obtained. Based on the hatching curves of the new and old cysts, diapause was shown to be present in new cysts in autumn, winter and early spring. However, diapause was absent in late spring and summer.Infectivity assays to distinguish between juveniles obtained in the periods when cysts were in diapause and when cysts had overcome their diapause failed to show any significant difference in their infectivity. There was no significant difference in the number of eggs in new and old cysts. Based on this observation, it was suggested that high emergence in old cysts may not be a result of few eggs in the cyst but rather due to absence of diapause. Also the presence of large numbers of eggs in old cysts even after being stored for 12 months outdoors in the soil does not support the theories of spontaneous hatching, micro-organism induced hatching or persistence of hatching factors in the soil.     

Effect of eCG dose on ovarian haemodynamics,hormonal profiles and prolificacy rate when oestrus was induced during low-breeding season in Beetal goats

The objectives of the experiment were to determine the effect of two doses of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) in a standard synchronization protocol based on a short-term progesterone (P₄) priming on ovarian structures and haemodynamics, concentrations of steroid hormones and prolificacy rate when oestrus was induced during low-breeding season (LBS) in Beetal dairy goats. We hypothesized that inclusion of eCG in a short-term P₄ priming-based synchronization protocol would increase the blood perfusion to ovarian structures leading to enhance oestrous and ovulatory responses and prolificacy rate in goats. Forty-two multiparous acyclic goats were blocked by body condition and, within block, assigned randomly to receive saline as control (CON), low eCG (L-eCG; 300 IU) or high eCG (H-eCG; 600 IU) dose. Initially, a controlled internal drug release (CIDR) device was placed in the anterior vagina on d −8, followed by removal of CIDR on d −3, concurrent with the administration of PGF_2α and eCG according to their respective treatments. Goats were monitored for oestrous response. B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography was performed with 12-h interval, starting from day −3 until natural breeding (day 0), and then on days 5, 10, 15 and 20 post-breeding to monitor follicular and luteal dynamics and blood flow, respectively. Blood was sampled at 0, 12, 24, 36 and 60 h after CIDR removal to quantify plasma concentrations of estradiol-17β (E₂), whereas plasma concentrations of P₄ were assayed at days 5, 10, 15 and 20 after breeding. Pregnancy and prolificacy rates were determined at day 30 and 150 after breeding, respectively. Data were analysed with mixed-effects models, and orthogonal contrasts were used to evaluate the effect of treatment [Con vs. (½ L-eCG + ½ H-eCG)] and dose of eCG (L-eCG vs. H-eCG). Data are presented in sequence as CON, L-eCG, H-eCG (LSM ± SEM). The oestrous intensity score (152.9 vs. 182.7 vs. 186.5 ± 15.1; p = .02) was greater in eCG-treated goats as compared to CON. Administration of eCG reduced the intervals to standing oestrus (66.2 vs. 41.8 vs. 48.9 h ± 5.5; p = .05), breeding (70.2 vs. 44.4 vs. 45.4 h ± 4.5; p = .03) and ovulation (84.5 vs. 61.2 vs. 63.4 h ± 6.2; p = .05) compared with CON goats. The mean growth rate of pre-ovulatory follicle was greater (1.11 vs. 1.49 vs. 1.45 mm ± 0.08; p = .01) in eCG-treated goats resulting in an increased diameter of pre-ovulatory follicle (6.27 vs. 7.20 vs. 7.31 mm ± 0.07; p < .01) and corpora lutea (6.75 vs. 8.26 vs. 8.07 mm ± 0.42; p = .04) than CON. The mean follicular blood flow did not differ among treatments; however, the mean luteal blood flow was greater in L-eCG-treated goats (0.81 vs. 1.61 vs. 1.07 cm² ± 0.12; p = .001). The mean concentrations of E₂ (4.03 vs. 5.21 vs. 4.78 pg/ml ± 0.42; p = .04) and P₄ (4.85 vs. 6.39 vs. 6.22 ng/ml ± 0.34; p = .04) were greater in eCG-treated goats. The twinning rate did not differ between treatments; nevertheless, prolificacy rate was greater (p = .04) in L-eCG-treated goats. Collectively, our data suggest that the administration of eCG improves the induction of oestrous and ovarian dynamics. Administration of L-eCG enhances prolificacy rate, therefore, a low dose of eCG might be practically beneficial to improve reproduction during LBS in acyclic Beetal dairy goats.     

Feline Acromegaly: An Underdiagnosed Endocrinopathy?

BACKGROUND: Feline acromegaly has been reported infrequently in the veterinary literature and current knowledge of this endocrinopathy is based on limited numbers of animals with relatively advanced clinical signs. HYPOTHESIS: This study was undertaken to screen diabetic cats for the presence of acromegaly. ANIMALS: Diabetic cats with variable control examined by general practitioners in the United Kingdom. METHODS: Blood samples were screened for the possible presence of acromegaly with basal serum concentrations of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and, when available, feline growth hormone (fGH). In patients with markedly increased IGF-1 concentrations intracranial computed tomography (CT) was offered, and in selected cats additional imaging was performed. RESULTS: IGF-1 was determined in 184 variably controlled diabetic cats; 59 cats had markedly increased IGF-1 concentrations (>1,000 ng/mL; reference interval, 208-443 ng/mL). Eighteen cats subsequently were examined, and acromegaly was confirmed in 17 cats. Notable findings included absence of a detectable pituitary mass lesion in some affected cats regardless of whether CT or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used. Hypertension was not found to be a complication in the evaluated cats and respiratory stridor was more prevalent than previously reported. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Measurement of IGF-1, growth hormone (GH), or both is useful in the diagnosis of acromegaly in cats.     

Speciation of As(III) and As(V) in some Ghanaian Gold Tailings by a Simple Distillation Method

As(III) and As(V) in goldtailings and river-bedsediments from Obuasi were determined by distillationof arsenic as AsCl₃. Results yielded 3750±426 mg kg^-1 (45.2%) for As(V) and 3050±66 mg kg^-1 (36.7%) for As(III) in the tailings. In the river-bed sediments, one spot yielded: As(III) 0 mg kg^-1 (0%) and As(V) 1447±51 mg kg^-1 (100%), whilst a second spot yielded: As(III) 0 mg kg^-1 (0%) and As(V) 2976±51 mg kg^-1 (100%). Using arsenic oxide standards, the recovery of As(III) and As(V) in the trioxide were 94.8 and 0.6% respectively. In a mixture of the two oxides, the recovery of As(III) was 87.6% with practically no interference from As(V). Total As content of the tailings was determined by neutron activation analysis (NAA) to be 8305±75 mg kg^-1.     

First report of cucumber mosaic cucumovirus in banana from Pakistan

During regular surveys of banana plantations in the Sindh province of Pakistan for banana bunchy top nanavirus (BBTV), sporadic plants showing mosaic, chlorotic spots intermingled with a dark green area were observed at a few places in the districts of Thatta, Hyderabad and Nawabshah. The infected young plants were uprooted and grown in pots for 2 years to ascertain the cause of the disease. Apart from studying the development of symptoms, the infected plants were tested for the presence of BBTV, cucumber mosaic cucumovirus (CMV), chilli veinal mottle potyvirus (CVMV), tomato mosaic tobamovirus (TMV), potato X potexvirus (PVX) and potato Y potyvirus (PVY) by DAS-ELISA. Virions were also partially purified. The infected plants developed typical symptoms of CMV. All tested plants were ELISA-positive only for CMV, and a partially purified preparation revealed virus particles measuring 25–28 nm in diameter. Based on the characteristic field symptoms, serology and particle morphology, the presence of CMV in banana in Pakistan was established.     

Callus induction and in vitro plant regeneration of rice (Oryza sativa L.) under various conditions

The objective of the present study was to develop an effective protocol for optimum callus induction and complete plant regeneration for four varieties of rice (Oryza sativa L.) i.e., Super Basmati, Basmati-370, Basmati-371 and Fakhre Malakand. Calli were induced from mature seed scutelum. The Murashige and Skoog (MS) and Chu's N6 media containing hormone 2, 4-D (2, 4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid) in different concentrations were used for callus induction. Fakhre Malakand produced maximum calli on N6 media containing 3 mg L(-1) 2,4-D. while other three varieties showed maximum callus induction on N6 media containing 2.5 mg L(-1) 2,4-D. N6 media was found better than MS media for callus induction. For complete plant regeneration the calli of two varieties i.e., Basmati-370 and Basmati-371 were plated on N6 media containing different concentrations of NAA (1-Naphthalene acetic acid) and BAP (6-benzyl aminopurine). The maximum regeneration frequency (%) was observed on N6 media containing NAA 1 mg L(-1) and BAP 2.5 mg L(-1). It took 27-30 days for the callus to regenerate into a complete plant. Basmati-370 produced 4-7 plantlets per callus whereas Basmati-371 produced 4-8 plantlets per callus with regeneration frequencies of 61 and 69%, respectively.