Influence of dietary calcium on lead poisoning in mallard ducks (Anas platyrynchos)

Forty-five mallard ducks were allotted into 3 dietary groups. Group I was fed pelleted calcium-supplemented corn; group II was fed a pelleted commercial duck ration; and group III was fed cracked corn. Ten ducks of each group were given four No. 4 lead shot via an esophageal tube, and 5 ducks of each dietary group were kept as pair-fed controls. Anorexia and weight loss were most severe in the treated group III ducks. Group III had a maximum reduction in food consumption of 87% followed by a slight improvement in appetite; they lost 35% of their initial body weight. Group I treated ducks had a reduction in food consumption of 64% that eventually returned to the quantities consumed at the start of the experiment; group I ducks lost 18% of their initial body weight. Group II treated ducks maintained healthy appetites during the experiment and had a weight gain of 2% of their initial body weight. The number of ducks that became moribund and were euthanatized differed significantly among the treated groups with 100% of group III, 50% of group I, and 0% of group II treated ducks becoming moribund. All 3 groups of treated ducks had increased protoporphyrin IX concentrations compared with controls. Groups I and III lead-treated ducks had significant (P less than 0.05) reductions in erythrocyte counts, PCV, hemoglobin concentrations, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrations as compared with controls. Group II had reduced hemoglobin concentration and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration compared with controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Metastasis of gastric adenocarcinoma to the abdominal wall following placement of a gastrostomy tube in a dog

Stoma site metastasis of gastric adenocarcinoma was documented 37 d after partial gastrectomy with gastrostomy tube placement, and 22 d after tube removal. The tube was placed through grossly normal tissue but histopathologic examination revealed neoplasia at the surgical margins and concurrent lymphatic metastasis. Stoma site metastases may be due to direct tumor seeding or hemolymphatic spread.     

Mineral balance in horses fed two supplemental silicon sources

Numerous studies suggest that silicon (Si) supplementation is beneficial for mineral metabolism and bone health. Mineral balance studies have not been performed in horses to determine how these supplements affect absorption of other minerals. The purpose of these studies was to investigate the effects of two different Si supplements on mineral absorption and retention in horses. Eight geldings were randomly placed in one of two groups: control (CO) or supplemental Si, which was provided by one of two supplements. The first, sodium aluminium silicate (SA), contains a bioavailable form of Si and is high in aluminium (Al). The second supplement contains oligomeric orthosilicic acid (OSA). All horses received textured feed and ad libitum access to hay. Supplemented horses received either 200 g of SA or 28.6 ml of OSA per day. Following a 10-day adaptation period, the horses underwent a 3-day total collection. Blood samples were taken on days 0 and 13. The two balance studies were conducted 4 months apart to reduce carryover effects. Intakes of Al and Si were greater with SA supplementation (p < 0.05). Sodium aluminium silicate increased faecal and urinary Si excretion (p < 0.05). Calcium retention and apparent digestion were increased by SA (p < 0.05). It also maintained plasma Si compared with the CO which tended to have a decrease in plasma Si (p = 0.08). Supplemental OSA increased retention of Ca and B (p < 0.05) and apparent digestion of B (p < 0.01). Orthosilicic acid tended to increase Si retention (p = 0.054), apparent digestion (p < 0.065), and also increased plasma Si. Both supplements were able to alter Ca retention and B metabolism, however, only OSA was able to alter Si retention, digestibility and plasma concentration. Orthosilicic acid, an Si supplement without substantial Al, appears to be a viable option for Si supplementation as it increased Si retention and digestibility.     

Prevalence of strongyles and efficacy of fenbendazole and ivermectin in working horses in El Sauce, Nicaragua

Horses, mules and donkeys are indispensable farming and working animals in many developing countries, and their health status is important to the farmers. Strongyle parasites are ubiquitous in grazing horses world-wide and are known to constitute a threat to equine health. This study determined the prevalence of strongyle infection, the efficacy of ivermectin and fenbendazole treatment, and strongyle re-infection rates of working horses during the dry months in Nicaragua. One hundred and five horses used by farmers for transport of people and goods were randomly allocated into three treatment groups, i.e., the IVM group treated with ivermectin, the FBZ group treated with fenbendazole and the control group treated with placebo. Determined by pre-treatment faecal egg counts (FECs), horses showed a high prevalence (94%) of strongyle parasites with high intensities of infection (mean FEC of 1117 eggs per gram (EPG) with an SD of 860 EPG, n=102). Body condition scores of all horses ranged from 1.5 to 3.5 with a mean of 2.4 (scales 1-5). Fourteen days after treatment faecal egg count reductions (FECRs) were 100% and 94% in the IVM and the FBZ groups, respectively. The egg reappearance period (ERP) defined as the time until the mean FEC reached 20% of the pre-treatment level, was estimated as 42 days for the FBZ group and 60 days for the IVM group. Individual faecal cultures were set up and the larval differentiation revealed a 36% prevalence of Strongylus vulgaris before treatment (n=45). In the FBZ group, 25% of the horses were S. vulgaris-positive 70 days post treatment compared to 11% in the IVM group. Our results indicate that strongyle infection intensities in Nicaragua are high and that S. vulgaris is endemic in the area. Furthermore, efficacies and ERPs of IVM and FBZ were within the expected range with no signs of anthelmintic resistance.     

Evidence‐based considerations for control of Parascaris spp. infections in horses

Parascaris spp. infection is virtually ubiquitous in young foals and worm burdens can achieve high numbers. The most important disease manifestation is impaction of the small intestine, which occurs in a small proportion of infected foals but is associated with a guarded prognosis for survival. Control of Parascaris spp. is complicated by emerging resistance to currently available anthelmintic drug classes. Resistance to macrocyclic lactones has been reported worldwide and a few studies have also documented signs of resistance to pyrantel salts and benzimidazoles. Foals generally develop immunity to Parascaris spp. parasites around age 6 months, but a proportion of weanlings and yearlings can harbour smaller burdens at age 8–10 months. Older horses have occasionally been reported with substantial ascarid burdens as well. Qualitative detection of ascarid eggs has good diagnostic value whereas an actual egg count does not correlate well with the size of the worm burden. A recent investigation documented the applicability of a transabdominal ultrasound technique for semiquantitatively monitoring ascarid burdens in foals. Control of ascarids is complicated by the limited drug classes available for treating this parasite, and by the fact that foals are often concurrently infected with strongyles. In many cases, none of the 3 available anthelmintic classes are simultaneously effective against both parasite groups, so close monitoring is required to select the most appropriate anthelmintic in each case.     

A mass attack by the biting midge culicoides nubeculosus (Mg.) (Dipteria, Ceratopogonidae) on grazing cattle in Denmark. A new aspect of sewage discharge.

A consequence of sewage discharge into a shallow marsh pool was large-scale hatching of the biting midge Culicoides nubeculosus from the recipient and mass attacks by this blood-sucking insect on grazing cattle. Culicoides nubeculosus is a great nuisance due to the painful bite and in Denmark it is a potential vector of pathogenic agents. In the future, these aspects of sewage discharge must be borne in mind.