Fumonisin B1 concentrations in feeds from 45 confirmed equine leukoencephalomalacia cases

During the fall of 1989 and winter of 1990, numerous reports of equine leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM) occurred from many regions of the United States. Typically, horses were consuming feed partially or entirely composed of corn and/or corn screenings. From October 1989 through May 1990, samples from 55 confirmed or suspected ELEM cases were received at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Ames, Iowa, for fumonisin B1 analysis. Samples from 9 cases in 1984-1985 were also obtained. Fumonisin B1, a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium moniliforme, causes ELEM, but little is known of naturally occurring toxic or safe levels in feeds. To determine what levels of fumonisin B1 in feeds are associated with ELEM, 45 selected cases were studied. The fumonisin B1 concentrations ranged from less than 1 ppm to 126 ppm, with the majority of the samples above 10 ppm. All types of feeds were included: corn, screenings, sweet feeds, and commercially pelleted rations. The length of exposure varied from 7 to greater than 35 days. Horse feed samples not associated with ELEM were also collected and analyzed. None of the nonproblem feed samples contained fumonisin B1 levels greater than 8 ppm.     

Production and application of a live Salmonella gallinarum vaccine

The production and application of a freeze-dried Salmonella gallinarum vaccine are described in this report. The vaccine is stable when kept at 4 degrees C and a single injection elicits a good immunity for 2 months, though its effect gradually diminishes. Immunity is neither enhanced nor depressed by repeated injections of the live vaccine, and no interference effect was observed in experimentally infected chickens. Furazolidone therapy jeopardizes the immunogenicity of a live vaccine, but its effect can be countered by the administration of either an inactivated or a live vaccine when medication is commenced and this is followed by the application of live vaccine 6 days after cessation of medication.     

Immunization of mice and calves against Salmonella dublin with attenuated live and inactivated vaccines.

Previous findings, viz. that mice can be successfully immunized against infection with Salmonella dublin with either live or inactivated vaccine, were confirmed. Immunity lasted for at least 12 weeks in mice which had been immunized with inactivated alum-precipitated vaccine. The immunogenicity of inactivated vaccine gradually decreased on storage at 4 degrees C, but this was only detectable if a single injection was used for immunization: 2 injections virtually eliminated this phenomenon. The immunogenicity of live vaccine in mice was not enhanced by levamizole or the simultaneous injection of inactivated organisms. Both live and inactivated vaccines provided immunity in calves. A single injection of lyophilized vaccine, prepared from live rough Salmonella dublin strain (HB 1/17),protected 3 out of 6 calves, while 2 injections of a formalin-inactivated, alum-precipated vaccine, containing 1% packed cells of S. dublin strain 2652 V, protected 5 out of 6 calves against intraduodenal challenge with 2 x 10(9), S. dublin strain 2652 V. Two calves which had been immunized with an inactivated oil adjuvant vaccine were also solidly immune to this challenge. Serum antibody response in calves was poor when measured by the tube agglutination and the haemagglutination tests. Similarly, the sera had only marginal protective values when tested by means of a passive protection test in mice. Antibody titres alone are not a valid measure therefore, for the immune status of immunized animals.     

Interrelated striated elements in vestibular hair cells of the rat

Unusual fixation procedures revealed a series of interrelated striated organelles in type I and type II vestibular hair cells of the rat; these organelles seemed to be less well developed in cochlear hair cells. The findings suggest that contractile elements may play a role in sensory transduction in the inner ear, particularly in the vestibular system.     

Competency of blood coagulation in the newborn calf

This study evaluated the haemostatic profiles of a group of 11 female and seven male calves from the day of birth until they were 60 days of age. Similar results were found for both sexes. At birth the plasma activity of the procoagulant proteins, Factors VII, VIII:C, IX, X and XI and fibrinogen were all close to the adult values. Factors VII, VIII:C and fibrinogen increased transiently during the first seven days of life but the increases were not sufficient to influence routine coagulation screening assays such as the activated partial thromboplastin time and the prothrombin time. At birth, the plasma concentration of the protease inhibitor, α₂-macroglobulin, was approximately 50 per cent of adult values and increased slowly during the first seven days of life; the plasma concentration of antithrombin III was higher than that of α₂-macroglobulin. The changes in the plasma concentration of fibronectin paralleled the changes in fibrinogen and Factor VIII:C from birth to 60 days of age; the concentrations of total plasma protein and plasma albumin remained stable and within the adult ranges throughout the 60 days. The plasma concentration of glucose increased transiently during the first 48 hours after birth.     

Effect of transportation on blood metabolites in broilers

1. Groups of 30 broilers from seven flocks were bled and weighed at the farm and a further sample of 10 broilers from each flock was transported from 8 to 16 km to the laboratory prior to bleeding and weighing. 2. One haematological and 11 biochemical analyses were made on each blood sample. 3. Although transportation did lead to significant differences in certain variables, the trends were consistent and sampling following transit is considered acceptable for clinical pathology studies.