In vivo effects of a novel calcium antagonist (R56865) against induced epoxyscillirosidin and tulp poisoning in sheep.

Two anaesthetized sheep were intoxicated with epoxyscillirosidin, the main cardio-active bufadienolide, extracted from Homeria pallida (Natal yellow tulp). The epoxyscillirosidin was injected intravenously as a bolus of 50 micrograms/kg, followed 30 min later by a continuous infusion in a normal saline drip (0.9% NaCl) at 25 micrograms/kg/h.

Perinatal mortality in lambs of ewes exposed to cultures of Diplodia maydis (= Stenocarpella maydis) during gestation. A study of the central-nervous-system lesions.

Previously published results of dosing trials, involving 82 ewes, revealed that 66% of the offspring of dams exposed to cultures of Diplodia maydis in the second trimester of pregnancy and 87% of lambs of ewes exposed in the third trimester, were born dead or died soon afterwards. Spongiform degeneration of myelin of varying degree was present in the brains of all the stillborn and non-viable lambs in these trials. Myelin lamellae were separated at the intraperiod line.

Perinatal mortality in lambs of ewes exposed to cultures of Diplodia maydis (= Stenocarpella maydis) during gestation.

During 1987 when cob rot was rife, perinatal losses were reported in flocks and herds that had been exposed to diplodiosis. The affected lambs or calves were either stillborn or died soon after birth. Dosing trials at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Research Institute involving 82 ewes revealed that 66% of the offspring of dams exposed to cultures of Diplodia maydis (= Stenocarpella maydis) in the second trimester of pregnancy and 87% of lambs of ewes exposed in the third trimester were born dead or died soon afterwards.

Photosensitivity in South Africa. VI. The experimental induction of geeldikkop in sheep with crude steroidal saponins from Tribulus terrestris.

Geeldikkop was induced in sheep by the oral administration of crude steroidal saponins from Tribulus terrestris. Two of the sheep developed typical lesions of geeldikkop, including birefringent crystalloid material in bile ducts and concentric periductal lamellar fibrosis. The clinical pathological changes in these sheep were also consistent with those of geeldikkop: aspartate transaminase and gamma-glutamyl transferase activities in the sera of both were elevated, and one had bilirubinaemia.

Absence of urea toxicity in young pigs.

Urea was non-toxic to a 10 week-old pig in an acute dose as high as 16 g/kg body mass. Ten % m/m urea in pig food over a period of 5 days was also without apparent deleterious effect.