The occurrence of Fusarium varieties and their mycotoxins in silo corn. 2. The formation of zearalenone in the field by artificial infection of silo corn with Fusarium culmorum (W. G. Smith) Sacc

The formation of zearalenone in a maize plot artificially infected with Fusarium culmorum was studied. The zearalenone concentration steeply increased only in the 8th week after inoculation and reached a maximum value of ca. 7 ppm, whereas zearalenone could not be detected in the control variants. The crude nutrient and dry matter content was not significantly influenced by the fungal infection. The infected crop showed average ear dry weights distinctly lower than that of the control variants (P less than or equal to 0.001). Apart from zearalenone, the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol was qualitatively detected in the infected maize. The toxicological relevance of the ascertained zearalenone content with regard to the health of dairy cattle and pigs was discussed.     

Pathogenesis of Mycobacterium bovis infection in American bison

Eighteen 12-month-old bison were randomly placed in each of 3 groups (6 animals/group): group-1 bison were exposed to live Mycobacterium bovis, group-2 bison were inoculated with killed M bovis in oil, and group-3 bison were noninfected controls. Six, 6-month-old, tuberculin test-negative calves were placed (pen contact) with group-1 bison 30 days after exposure to M bovis. Tuberculin skin test responses (caudal fold and/or comparative cervical) were detected in all bison in groups 1 and 2 at 2, 4, 6, 10, and 12 months. Tuberculin skin test responses were observed in 2 of 6 calves at 9 and 11 months after pen contact with M bovis-exposed bison (group 1). Statistically significant lymphocyte blastogenic responses to M bovis purified protein derivative were detected in group-1 bison exposed to live M bovis at 2 months after exposure (P less than 0.025). Significant ELISA reactions were detected in sera of bison at 2 months after exposure to killed M bovis in oil (P less than 0.005) and in bison 2 months after exposure to live M bovis (P less than 0.01). Significant tuberculin skin responses, ELISA reactions, or lymphocyte blastogenic responses to M bovis purified protein derivative were not observed in the 6 control bison. Grossly visible tuberculous lesions were observed in lymph nodes and/or lung collected at necropsy in 4 of 6 bison at 12 months after exposure to live M bovis. Microscopic granulomas compatible with tuberculosis were detected in 5 of 6 bison; M bovis was isolated from tissues of each of the 6 bison.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Production of an equine anti-bovine leukocyte serum.

A method is described for production of an equine anti-bovine leukocyte serum (EABLS). Leukocytes were harvested from the milk of cow's udders which had been irritated with endotoxin. The washed leukocytes as antigens were administered to 2 horses in a series of subcutaneous and intravenous injections. There was a variably progressive increase in total serum proteins and a decrease in albumin/blobulin ratios, but the most pronounced change was an increase in beta2-globulins. Accompanying these changes was an increase in the number of precipitin lines as shown by Ouchterlony analysis. Four old cows and 2 calves were intravenously given a 50- and 20-ml dose, respectively, of the EABLS. Two of the cows and 1 of the calves were given the EABLS which had been heated to 56 C for 30 minutes. Both calves and the 2 cows given heated EABLS and 1 cow given unheated EABLS developed marked neutropenia within the 1st hour. The 4th cow given unheated EABLS developed only slight neutropenia. It was concluded that there may be variation in the individual animal's susceptibility to the neutropenia-inducing activity of EABLS.     

Gammopathy in a Spanish dog infected with Bartonella henselae

Generalised pyogranulomatous disease and hyperviscosity syndrome associated with a presumed monoclonal gammopathy was diagnosed in a three-year-old intact female Pomeranian. The Bartonella henselae antibody titer was 1:64 and Bartonella species DNA was amplified from the splenic tissue. Monoclonal gammopathies in dogs are typically associated with plasma cell and lymphoid dyscrasias and other inflammatory or infectious diseases such as ehrlichiosis and leishmaniosis. Based on this case report, infection with Bartonella species should also be added to the differential diagnoses for gammopathy in dogs. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of molecular evidence of Bartonella species infection in a sick dog in Spain.     

Blood metabolites and their relationship with production variables in dual-purpose cows in Venezuela

A survey was carried out on 79 lactating Bos taurus/indicus cross-bred cows on three dual-purpose cattle farms to measure the blood concentration of metabolites and to evaluate possible relationships with nutritional status and productive variables. A rotational grazing system on Star grass and other tropical pastures (10-12% CP in leaves) was used and 2-3 kg/cow/day of concentrate were fed on two farms. Restricted calf suckling was used in two herds. Average milk yield sold per farm was 6 kg/day/cow and body condition scores (BCS) were between 3.0 and 3.8 on a scale of one-to-five. On two farms, the average interval from calving to conception (ICC) was more than 145 days. Mean blood concentrations of albumin, globulin, urea, beta-hydroxybutyrate and phosphorus were generally within reference values, but a significant group of cows had low levels of albumin and urea and high levels of globulin. Packed cell volume (PCV) was below normal values, with anemia in 63% of cows during the second trimester of lactation, which was negatively correlated to milk yield. The high incidence of anemia could be related to factors such as hematophagic parasites, not evaluated in this study. ICC values were negatively related to albumin level and could be associated with protein deficiency in the diet or with disease, as globulin values were high in many cows. Based on these diagnoses, an experiment was carried out on one of the farms to evaluate the influence of supplementation with 0.5 kg/cow/day of fish meal. Total milk yield was not influenced by the fish meal and reproductive efficiency was high in the two supplemental treatments. It was shown that supplementation with undergraded protein is not required in these cows.     

Mitotane treatment in a dog with a recurring adrenocortical carcinoma--a case report]

In a 7 year old female poodle an adrenocortical tumor was diagnosed on basis of laboratory and ultrasonographic examinations. One year after adrenalectomy, a relapse was diagnosed, at that time the suspicion of metastases in the liver arose for the first time. By treatment with Mitotane in a dose aiming at completely destroying the adrenal cortex, a complete disappearance of the tumor as well as a dramatic reduction of the size of the metastases could be achieved. 12 months after the begin of the chemotherapy, the dog is in good general condition.