Setaria digitata was the main cause of equine neurological ataxia in Korea: 50 cases (2015–2016)

This study was performed to examine and clarify the cause of hindlimb ataxia and neuropathy seen in the South Korean horse population. Fifty horses diagnosed with hindlimb ataxia and neuropathy were referred for this study. Neurological examination was performed on 47 horses while necropsy was performed in all 50 animals. The occurrence of neurological diseases increased rapidly in the summer and 47 out of 50 horses were referred after the end of July. The incidence of neurological diseases started from the southern part of Korea in July and proceeded northward in August and September. Although there was no correlation with age, Thoroughbred and Warmblood horses showed a higher incidence rate than Halla and Jeju horses. The incidence rate was 5 times higher in geldings than in mares and stallions. Of the 20 cases, 16 were diagnosed with eosinophilic meningoencephalomyelitis in 2015. The most common lesions observed in 2016 were parasitic meningoencephalomyelitis (10 cases, 33%) and eosinophilic meningomyelitis (7 cases, 23%). Histopathological analysis of the brain and spinal cord revealed nematodes of approximately 100–200 µm in diameter, microcavitation and infiltrates of eosinophils, and brown pigmented macrophage infiltrates. The nematodes were identified as Setaria digitata via DNA sequencing, performed subsequent to polymerase chain reaction using DNA isolated from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections of the spinal cord. These results show that aberrant migration of Setaria digitata larva in the brain and spinal cord was a major cause for neurological signs in horses.     

Hepatic lipidosis: Liver characteristics and acute phase proteins in affected turkeys

The hepatic lipidosis (HL) in fattening turkeys is a disease has been known for a long time, but the cause and pathogenesis is still not clarified. A recent study reported unexplained high levels of iron in liver tissue of fattening turkeys suffering from HL. In this study, the iron status, possible infectious or inflammatory influences in form of an acute phase reaction and the analysis of fatty acid pattern in liver tissue of turkeys affected by HL were examined. Three cases of HL on three different fattening turkey farms were investigated during the outbreak of the disease. Clinically affected and non-affected animals were subjected to a pathological examination, where the diagnosis HL or non-affected was made. In total, 70 birds were examined (40 with HL, 30 without HL) and blood and liver samples were taken. Additionally, samples from 15 slaughtered birds were taken as a further control group. In liver tissue, the iron content and the content of long-chain fatty acids were determined; in blood samples, ferritin and transferrin were measured. The iron content in liver tissue was more than three times higher for animals with HL than among non-affected animals and the control group. The transferrin levels were lowest for animals with HL, highest in the control group and in between for non-affected animals. The fatty acid pattern in liver tissue of affected animals indicated a shift from polyunsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids compared to the control group and the non-affected animals. Overall, the non-affected animals of a flock affected by HL were similar to the healthy animals of the abattoir. The low acute phase protein levels for animals with HL together with high iron contents could indicate a previous malnutrition/starvation period and/or severe liver damage for those animals suffering from HL.     

芩术安胎散的毒性和临床安全性试验研究

试验通过对芩术安胎散的急性毒性、亚慢性毒性和临床安全性进行研究,为芩术安胎散对家猫先兆性流产的预防与治疗提供参考。急性毒性试验：制备芩术安胎散药液,取6周龄健康昆明小白鼠60只,随机分为5组,每组12只,第1~4组的给药剂量分别为6 000、4 800、3 840和3 072 mg/kg,对照组给予等量纯净水,10 d内观察有无中毒和死亡,计算半数致死量（LD₅₀）;另取6周龄健康昆明小白鼠20只,随机分为2组：试验组给予2.0 g/mL芩术安胎散药液,18 h内灌服3次,每次0.8 mL,对照组给予等量纯净水,给药后饲养7 d,计算最大耐受量（MTD）。亚慢性毒性试验：24只7周龄SD雌性大鼠随机均分为高、中、低剂量组和对照组,在30 d内,每日分别给予4 800、2 400和1 200 mg/kg芩术安胎散,对照组以等量纯净水进行灌胃,每日观察和记录各组大鼠的精神状态、有无中毒症状和死亡;第31天对各组大鼠称重、采血,进行血液学检测,剖检各组大鼠,观察主要脏器有无病变并制作病理切片。临床安全性试验：选取2~5岁健康雌性家猫20只,适应性饲养10 d,随机分组,每组5只,分别为低剂量组（1倍临床推荐剂量：1.15 g/kg）、中剂量组（3倍临床推荐剂量：3.45 g/kg）、高剂量组（5倍临床推荐剂量：5.75 g/kg）及空白对照组,将药物置于胶囊内,口服给药,空白对照组给予空胶囊,每日1次,连续给药7 d,每日观察各组家猫食欲、精神状态及排便情况,于第8天对各组家猫进行静脉采血,检测血常规和血液生化指标。结果显示,急性毒性试验无小鼠死亡,LD₅₀>6 000 mg/kg;小鼠对芩术安胎散的最大耐受量为240 g/kg,表明该受试药物无明显毒性。在亚慢性毒性试验中,各组大鼠的生长发育情况、血常规指标、脏器系数与对照组相比均无显著差异（P>0.05）;高、中剂量组与低剂量组、对照组相比血清总胆固醇含量显著下调（P<0.05）,除此之外的生化指标均无显著差异（P>0.05）。病理剖检和组织切片观察结果显示,高剂量组大鼠主要组织器官与对照组相比无明显异常。在临床安全性试验中,不同剂量组家猫精神状态、被毛光泽度、粪便情况均正常,血液学指标与对照组相比差异均不显著（P>0.05）。本试验结果表明,中药芩术安胎散无明显毒性,家猫按临床推荐剂量使用是安全的。     

Acute and Sub-chronic Toxicity Test on Rats of a New Kind of Antidiarrheal Chinese Herbal Medicine Compound Preparation for Livestock

In order to understand the security of a new kind of antidiarrheal Chinese herbal medicine compound preparation for livestock,acute and sub-chronic toxicity test were conducted.Acute toxicity test used the largest drug dose method,20 Wistar rats were orally treated with the Chinese medicine compound preparation.In the sub-chronic toxicity test,80 rats were randomly divided into 4 groups with 20 rats in each group and orally given a dose of 3 000,1 500,750 and 0 mg/(kg·BW）of Chinese medicine compound preparation once a day for 30 days.The general clinical status was observed,rats weight were measured and the dose was adjusted every week during the test,after the test measured blood routine index,biochemistry index,and preceded the gross anatomy observation,weighing each major organs and calculated the viscera coefficient,and proceded main viscera histopathological observation between the high dose group and the control group.The acute toxicity results showed that every rat would be alive gavaged with the lethal dose（LD₅₀）of compound preparation larger 5 g/(kg·BW).The sub-chronic toxicity autopsy showed that except heart,lung,and testicles in individual rats appeared mild bleeding in the high dose group,the other dose group organs found no abnormal change.The haematological index showed except mononuclear cell rate（P<0.05),and hematocrit declined significantly（P<0.05）in the high dose group,all the indexes of the other groups were in the normal range,there was no significant difference from the control group.The test suggested the Chinese medicine compound preparation was no toxicity under the condition of this test according to acute toxicity classification standard of exogenous chemicals by WTO,there was no effect on the growth and development of rats in the sub-chronic toxicity test,and there was no chronic toxicity at least 1 500 mg/kg feeding conditions in short-term repeated application.     

Assessment of interactions between glutamine and glucose on meat quality,AMPK, and glutamine concentrations in pectoralis major meat of broilers under acute heat stress

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of dietary glutamine and glucose on pectoralis major meat quality in broilers under acute heat stress. Three hundred 35-day-old male broilers (Arbor Acres) were randomly divided into 5 groups. Broilers in the positive control group were kept in a thermoneutral environment (23 ± 1°C, RH 45%–55%) and fed a basic diet, whereas the experimental (2 × 2) group was exposed to acute heat stress (34 ± 1°C, RH 65%–75%) for 12 h and fed the basic diet that contained glutamine (0 and 10 g/kg) and glucose (0 and 10 g/kg). Compared with the positive control group, acute heat stress without glutamine and glucose supplementation increased (P < 0.05) drip loss, L* values, and AMPK concentrations, but it decreased (P < 0.05) water-holding capacity, moisture, pH, a* values, b* values, and glutamine concentrations in pectoralis major meat of chickens. However, dietary glutamine (10 g/kg) increased (P < 0.05) water-holding capacity, moisture, pH, a* values, b* values, and glutamine concentrations, while it decreased (P < 0.05) drip loss, L* values, and AMPK concentrations in heat-stressed chicken pectoralis major meat. Dietary glucose (10 g/kg) increased (P < 0.05) water-holding capacity, moisture, pH, and a* and b* values, while it decreased (P < 0.05) L* values and AMPK concentrations of pectoralis major meat in chickens exposed to acute high temperature. There were significant interactions between glutamine and glucose in the water-holding capacity, pH values, AMPK, and glutamine levels of pectoralis major meat in the heat-stressed chickens. The above results suggest that the addition of glutamine and glucose in the diet is necessary for broilers during acute heat stress condition.     

Acute oral toxicity of zinc phosphide: an assessment for wild house mice (Mus musculus)

Irregular plagues of house mice, Mus musculus, incur major economic impacts on agricultural production in Australia. The efficacy of zinc phosphide (ZnP), the only registered broadacre control agent for mice, is reported as increasingly variable. Have mice become less sensitive over time or are they taking a sub-lethal dose and developing aversion? In this laboratory study, the sensitivity of mice (wild caught; outbred laboratory strain) was assessed using oral gavage of a range of ZnP concentrations. The estimated LD₅₀ values (72–79 mg ZnP/kg body weight) were similar for each mouse group but are significantly higher than previously reported. The willingness of mice to consume ZnP-coated grains was determined. ZnP-coated grains (50 g ZnP/kg grain) presented in the absence of alternative food were consumed and 94% of wild mice died. Mice provided with alternative food and ZnP-coated wheat grains (either 25 or 50 g ZnP/kg grain) consumed toxic and non-toxic grains, and mortality was lower (33–55%). If a sublethal amount of ZnP-coated grain was consumed, aversion occurred, mostly when alternative food was present. The sensitivity of wild house mice to ZnP in Australia is significantly lower than previously assumed. Under laboratory conditions, ZnP-coated grains coated with a new higher dose (50 g ZnP/kg grain) were readily consumed. Consumption of toxic grain occurred when alternative food was available but was decreased. Our unambiguous findings for house mice indicate a re-assessment of the ZnP loading for baits used for control of many rodents around the world may be warranted.