Subconjunctival cyst associated with Thelazia gulosa in a calf.

A large subconjunctival cyst of 4 weeks' duration was surgically excised from the left eye of a 7-month-old Simmental calf. Two white, partially mineralized, approximately 1-cm-long, fertile female nematodes subsequently identified as Thelazia gulosa were found embedded in the cyst wall. Thelazia spp are generally regarded as nonpathogenic or mildly pathogenic in cattle in North America, despite reported infection rates ranging from 12.2 to 34.2%. Additionally, parasitic subconjunctival nodules associated with Thelazia spp rarely have been reported in the past, and cyst formation has not been described. It was postulated that in this calf, immature or adult worms may have penetrated normal tissue barriers, or entered via an earlier conjunctival wound, and created an inflammatory response with subsequent cyst formation.     

Studies on efficacy and stability of a vaccine bait containing ERA strain of rabies virus propagated in a BHK-21 cell line.

In a dose response study in foxes, the median protective dose of ERA BHK21 vaccine in a blister pack bait was 10(6.0) tissue culture infective doses (TCID)/mL, while artificially aged baits with titers of 10(6.3) TCID/mL induced seroconversion in 78% of foxes. There was no significant difference in the development of antibodies in foxes receiving 1, 2 or 3 mL volumes of vaccine in the bait. When baits were exposed to the elements and fed to foxes over a 21 day period, 85% of the animals seroconverted. Age, sex and the way in which the vaccine container was contacted did not appear to be factors in the responses of these animals. Juvenile foxes, approximately six months of age, were marked more readily with the tetracycline bait marker than older animals. Approximately 25% of foxes did not appear to respond well to vaccination and the titer of the vaccine was a critical factor in producing seroconversion in these animals.     

Evaluation of Corn Gluten Feed as a Dietary Ingredient for Pond-Raised Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus

Abstract.— This study was conducted to evaluate corn gluten feed as an alternative feedstuff in the diet of pond-raised channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus . Three 32%-protein diets containing 0%, 25%, or 50% corn gluten feed were tested. Channel catfish fingerlings (average weight: 57 g/fish) were stocked into 15 0.04-ha ponds at a rate of 18,530 fish/ha. Five ponds were used for each dietary treatment. Fish were fed to satiation once daily for a 147-d growing period. No differences were observed in feed consumption, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, survival, or fillet protein concentration among fish fed the test diets. Fish fed diets containing 25% and 50% corn gluten feed exhibited a lower level of visceral fat and a higher carcass yield than fish fed the control diet without corn gluten feed. The diet containing 50% corn gluten feed resulted in a lower level of fillet fat and a higher level of moisture than the control diet. There were no visible differences in the coloration of skin or fillet of channel catfish fed diets with and without corn gluten feed. Results from this study indicated that channel catfish can efficiently utilize corn gluten feed at levels up to 50%n without adverse effect on feed palatability, weight gain, or feed efficiency. Corn gluten feed may be beneficial in reducing fattiness of channel catfish and improving carcass yield by reducing the digestible energy to protein ratio of the diet.     

Cholelithiasis in a cat

A 4-year-old cat was examined because of anorexia and lethargy. The cat became icteric within 3 days of admission. Values for aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, and cholesterol were higher than normal. Radiography revealed hepatomegaly, with loss of detail in the cranioventral portion of the abdomen. Further diagnostic procedures were not permitted, and the cat was euthanatized. At necropsy, cholecystitis, cholangitis, and numerous choleliths were found. Cholelithiasis is a rare cause of obstructive jaundice in the cat.     

The nutritional value of low lathyrogenic Lathyrus (Lathyrus sativus) for growing chicks

1. The feeding value of new low β‐N‐oxalyl‐amino‐L‐alanine (BOAA) lines of Lathyrus sativus (lathyrus) and the benefits of dehulling the seed or of pre‐adapting chicks to lathyrus‐based diets were examined in several experiments.

2. Chicks fed on diets containing 400 g/kg of the low (1.3 g BOAA/kg seed) and medium (2.2 g BOAA/kg seed) BOAA lines did not differ (P>0.05) in weight gain (WG) or in apparent fat and protein digestibilities compared to birds fed on a wheat‐based diet.

3. Consumption of 600 g low BOAA lathyrus/kg diet caused a slight, but significant (P< 0.05), decrease in WG. Food efficiency decreased as the amount of dietary lathyrus was increased, suggesting that lathyrus may contain an antinutritive factor(s) other than BOAA.

4. Removal of the hull (70 g hull/kg seed) from the seed did not affect chick performance (P> 0.05).

5. Pre‐adapting chicks for 7 d to diets containing up to 600 g medium line lathyrus/kg diet did not reduce the detrimental effects of the lathyrus.

6. Although dehulling and pre‐adaptation of chicks to lathyrus were not beneficial, the low and medium lines of lathyrus tested show potential for use in chick diets up to at least 400 g lathyrus/kg diet.     

Ovariectomy, ovariohysterectomy and orchidectomy in rodents and rabbits

This article describes the surgical procedures for the ovariectomy, ovariohysterectomy and orchidectomy in rodents and rabbits. The indications for each procedure are outlined and effective and safe anesthetics are described. Preoperative and postoperative care is also discussed.     

A survey of the selenium status of beef cows in Alberta.

An epidemiological survey was conducted in Alberta to measure the selenium status in blood of beef cows during the fall and to determine the risk of selenium deficiency among specific geographic regions of Alberta. Three census divisions of Alberta based on the Statistics Canada Census of Agriculture were chosen as the study areas for the project. Soils and plants in area A (Edmonton area) and area B (Calgary area) were known to be deficient in selenium, while soils and plants in area C (southeast corner of Alberta) were known to have adequate levels of selenium. Blood samples were collected from 335 cows on 29 farms from the 3 study areas. These samples were collected from cows that had recently been removed from pasture in October and November 1992. Answers to a short questionnaire pertaining to various herd characteristics and management practices were also obtained for each herd. The average value of selenium for all cows sampled was 2.20 mumol/L. The average value of selenium of cows in areas A and B was 1.93 mumol/L. The average value of selenium of cows in area C was significantly (P < 0.05) higher at 2.70 mumol/L. Nine percent of the cows in the study were considered marginal or deficient in selenium (< 1.27 mumol/L selenium). Herds located in area C, herds that were provided with supplemental feed on pasture, and herds that were pregnancy checked had higher average herd selenium values than did other herds. Cow-calf producers located in areas with selenium-deficient soils should pay particular attention to selenium supplementation for their cows. Some of the negative "geographic" effects on selenium values can be overcome by more progressive management practices.     

Comparative inhibition of the juvenile hormone esterases from Trichoplusia ni,Tenebrio molitor, and Musca domestica

Twenty-seven compounds were screened as potential inhibitors of juvenile hormone esterases. Of these compounds O-ethyl-S-phenyl phosphoramidothiolate provided the best inhibition for the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hubner), and the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor L., while the juvenile hormone esterases of the house fly, Musca domestica L., were best inhibited by a juvenoid carbamate (1-(m-phenoxy-N-ethyl carbamate)-3,7-dimethyl-7-methoxy-2E-octene). The inhibition patterns of T. ni and T. molitor are similar, while those of M. domestica are relatively different. Further studies on the juvenile hormone and α-napthyl acetate esterases of T. ni showed that they could be differentially inhibited. Diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate and an alkyl trifluoromethyl ketone selectively inhibit the hydrolysis of α-naphthyl acetate and juvenile hormone, respectively, while O-ethyl-S-phenyl phosporamidothiolate inhibits both enzymes. The juvenile hormone esterases of T. ni also appear to be unique enzymes that are selective for juvenile-hormone-like molecules. The in vivo inhibition of T. ni juvenile hormone esterases by O-ethyl-S-phenyl phosphoramidothiolate slows the in vivo hydrolysis of juvenile hormone and results in delayed pupation and malformed larvae that resemble larval-pupal intermediates. Thus, the esterases involved in juvenile hormone metabolism appear to be important in juvenile hormone regulation.     

Apoplastic redox metabolism: Synergistic phenolic oxidation and a novel oxidative burst

The plant apoplast is an important mediator of communication between the cell cytoplasm and its surroundings. Plant cell suspensions offer a convenient model system to gain insight into apoplastic physiology. Here, we describe a novel phenomenon that took place when two naturally occurring phenolics were added together to either soybean or tobacco cell suspensions. Acetosyringone (AS) and/or hydroxyacetophenone (HAP), phenolics found in the extracellular/apoplast of tobacco cells, were added to soybean or tobacco cell suspensions undergoing an oxidative burst. Individually, AS appeared to be utilized as a typical peroxidase substrate to scavenge hydrogen peroxide, while HAP was utilized at a much lower rate. However, when added together the rate of utilization of both phenolics increased and surprisingly resulted in the production of hydrogen peroxide. We have further characterized this novel phenomenon in suspension cells. This study demonstrates that certain phenolics in plants can cause co-oxidation which, as in animals, could alter the structure and bioactivity of surrounding phenolics.