Possible Monensin Poisoning in a Group of Bulls

Apparent monensin toxicity was diagnosed in a group of Maine Anjou bulls placed on a performance test in a commercial feedyard in east central Saskatchewan. The clinical, hematological and pathological findings were consistent with a diagnosis of congestive heart failure. The suspected dose ingested by the bulls was based on a mixing error evident from the feedlot's daily feed journal. When deaths in the group of bulls began to occur, the intoxicating feedstuff was no longer available for confirmation of the diagnosis.     

Interaction of an intranasal combined feline viral rhinotracheitis, feline calicivirus vaccine and the FVR carrier state

Eight cats were vaccinated intranasally with a combined feline calicivirus/feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR) virus commercial vaccine. Following intranasal challenge with a field strain of FVR virus and subsequent treatment with corticosteroid, no virus was recovered from any of the eight cats, while FVR virus was recovered following corticosteroid treatment from two of four unvaccinated and challenged controls. No evidence was found for the development of an FVR virus carrier state with the intranasal vaccine virus.     

Effects of additional feed during late gestation on reproductive performance of sows: a cooperative study

A cooperative research study involving 1,080 litters was conducted at eight stations to determine the effects of additional feed during the last 23 d of gestation on reproductive performance of sows and on preweaning performance of their pigs. Primiparous and multiparous sows were fed fortified corn- or sorghum-soybean meal diets (14% crude protein). Control sows received 1.82 kg/d from March through November and 2.27 kg/d from December through February. Treated sows were fed an additional 1.36 kg of feed/d from d 90 of gestation to farrowing. Sows were allowed to consume the same diet ad libitum during a 21-d lactation. Additional feed in late gestation resulted in greater (P less than .001) sow weight gain from d 90 to d 110 of gestation (16.8 vs 9.0 kg) and greater (P less than .001) parturition-lactation weight loss (21.3 vs 16.4 kg). Total weight gain from breeding to 21 d of lactation favored sows that received extra feed (27.5 vs 22.7 kg; P less than .001). Sows receiving extra feed had more live pigs at farrowing (10.05 vs 9.71, P = .06) and at 21 d postpartum (8.35 vs 8.06, P = .09), and the pigs were heavier at birth (1.48 vs 1.44 kg, P = .003) and at 21 d (5.37 vs 5.20 kg, P = .006). Lactation feed intake and number of days from weaning to estrus were not affected by treatment. The results indicate that additional feed in late gestation improves reproductive performance in sows. In this study, the cost of an additional 31 kg of feed/sow was more than offset by the value of the additional sow weight gain (approximately 5 kg), the additional .3 of a pig/litter at weaning and the additional 2.6 kg of total litter weaning weight.     

Enhancement of superoxide production in vitro by the diphenyl ether herbicide nitrofen

Light-dependent reduction of p-nitro blue tetrazolium chloride (NBT) and 2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol (DCPIP) was stimulated by nitrofen (2,4-dichlorophenyl p-nitrophenyl ether) in the presence or absence of the photosensitizer riboflavin. Enhancement of NBT reduction occurred at a concentration as low as 17 μM nitrofen. Nitrofen had no effect on dark reduction of NBT by dithionite, ascorbate, or reduced phenazine methosulfate. NBT reduction proceeded in solution saturated with either air or nitrogen. Stimulation by nitrofen in the presence or absence of riboflavin also occurred independently of oxygen. Superoxide dismutase (superoxide:superoxide oxidoreductase; EC 1.15.1.1) inhibited light-dependent, aerobic reduction of NBT and DCPIP with and without riboflavin. The nitrogen-stimulated component was also eliminated. Thus, it appears nitrofen can effect reduction of NBT (and DCPIP) anaerobically by transferring electrons directly to NBT (and DCPIP) through an oxygen-independent mechanism or aerobically via superoxide radicals.     

The effect of absolute alterations in energy concentration of developing and finishing diets for the large white Turkey on performance and carcass quality with a note on the correlation of back skin fat and grade of finish 1

A commercial strain of large white turkey was fed maize‐soybean meal type rations from 8 to 21 (for hens) and 23 weeks of age (for toms). During the developing period (8–18 weeks) each sex was offered diets having either a “high” or “low” energy concentration. To assure energy as the only dietary variable while con‐comitantly effecting a reasonable separation in caloric density, 3 per cent tallow was substituted by an equal amount of cellulose. At 18 weeks of age, the birds representing each of the developing period treatments, were subdivided into 3 further groups and subsequently offered the experimental finishing rations. These terminal diets, through the use of tallow, glucose and cellulose, were altered in energy content (2202, 2642, and 3083 kcal ME/kg) and respectively rated “low”, “moderate” and “high” in caloric concent. All birds were slaughtered, their specific gravity determined, and the quantity of fat in skin taken from the dorsal surface determined.

Though there was a reduced weight gain with those birds fed the “low” energy finishing diet, growth of all other turkeys, irrespective of sex, was comparable regardless of treatment during the developing period while the F/G ratio was altered to accommodate caloric density alterations. Excepting those groups offered the “low” energy finisher, period and cumulative consumption of metabolisable calories, like weight gain, was near equal. Dressing percentage and grade of fleshing essentially paralleled what was obtained with growth. There were no obvious effects due to developing period treatment or with the upper two levels of energy in the finishing ration; however, both of the aforementioned parameters were noticeably poorer when the “low” energy finisher was fed. The grade of finish of both the breast and back was found to improve with an increasing dietary caloric density of the terminal ration. Though there were no apparent effects on breast finish due to development period treatment, differences were noticed with the quality of back finish.

It is speculated that the grade of back finish can be confounded by a subdermal fat depot. This additional lipid deposit is probably a carry‐over from the developing period; hence, dietary adequacy during this time could influence ultimate grade of back finish.

Back skin fat, expressed as a percentage of dry weight, was found to be highly correlated with grade of finish on both the breast and back. Calculation of linear least squares lines indicated little or no difference with area of finish assessment; however, the correlation coefficient, apparently because of variations caused by developmental period dietary energy alterations, was lower on the back than the breast (r = ‐0.756 vs r = ‐0.771).     

Neosporosis in a young dog presenting with dermatitis and neuromuscular signs

A 16-week-old, male boxer dog developed multifocal nodular dermatitis followed by rapidly progressive and fatal neuromuscular disease. Protozoal tachyzoites were demonstrated by aspiration and biopsy of dermal lesions. Necropsy and histology revealed necrotising inflammation associated with intralesional protozoal organisms in various organs including the brain, heart, skeletal muscle and skin. Serology suggested active infection with Neospora caninum. Immunohistochemistry provided a definitive diagnosis. Dermatitis is a finding rarely associated with juvenile neosporosis. The possible role of immunosuppression is discussed.     

Cardiopulmonary measurements in nonanesthetized, resting normal ponies.

Cardiopulmonary measurements were determined in 19 nonanesthetized, normal ponies. Mean values for arterial pressure, pulmonary arterial pressure, cardiac output, heart rate, packed cell volume, and hemoglobin are reported, as well as acid-base determinations of arterial blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Respiratory function test data include total ventilation, respiratory rate, alveolar ventilation, oxygen uptake, and carbon dioxide output. The data compare favorably with the available data from previous reports on ponies. Because of large day-to-day variations in total ventilation, alveolar ventilation should be measured if ponies are used in the study of pulmonary function.     

Effect of lindane (γ-hexachlorocyclohexane) on carbohydrate and lipid reserves in the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana L

The effects of lindane on carbohydrate and lipid reserves of Periplaneta americana were studied in adult male insects. Topical application of lindane resulted in depleted levels of glycogen in the fat body (90% depletion) and thoracic musculature (57% depletion) and a 55% decrease in hemolymph trehalose (anthrone-positive material) by the prostration stage of poisoning. By contrast, lindane caused a 42% elevation of fat-body acylglycerol reserves and an associated 60% decrease of hemolymph free fatty acid levels. The lindane effects on carbohydrate and lipid were expressed also in head-ligated insects, thereby indicating that the results are not attributable solely to the action of lindane on the corpus cardiacum. The results are discussed in light of the proposal that lindane, and some other insecticides, cause indiscriminate release of neuroactive factors from the neuroendocrine system and that the consequent perturbation of physiological balance may contribute to the lethal action of the insecticide.