The toxic effects of monensin and chloramphenicol on laying turkey breeder hens.

A case report of choramphenicol and monensin poisoning in turkey breeder hens is presented in which anorexia and a fall in egg production were features. An experiment study was then conducted in turkey breeding hens given increasing levels of monensin and chloramphenicol singly or in combination. Monensin fed at levels of 42 or 85 ppm had no adverse effect on egg production but chloramphenicol in the drinking water at 500 mg/l for 4 days caused a 9.

Sex and genotype dependence on the effects of long-term high environmental temperatures on cellular enzyme activities from chicken organs.

The effects of long term hyperthermia on enzyme levels in the chicken heart and breast muscles, brain, kidney, liver and lung, in relation to sex and degree of feathering, were studied. The enzymes studied were alanine and aspartate amino-transferases, alkaline phosphatase, creatine kinase, lactic dehydrogenase and gamma-glutamyltransferase. Double heterozygote frizzled naked neck and normally feathered male and female broilers were exposed to 24 degrees C (control group) and 32 degrees C (experimental group), for 5 weeks, starting at the age of 3 weeks.

Value of measurements of the serum activities of creatine phosphokinase, aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase for predicting whether recumbent dairy cows will recover.

Over a period of seven years, 262 recumbent dairy cows were investigated, and serum samples were analysed for creatine phosphokinase (CPK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities. The results from cows for which all three measurements were available, were analysed statistically by the non-parametric receiver operating characteristic (ROC) method, to evaluate the value of the serum enzyme activities for predicting a failure to recover. The sensitivity and specificity of the activity levels were calculated over all cut-off points, and ROC curves were created by plotting sensitivity as a function of 1--specificity at each cut-off point for samples grouped by the interval after the cows became recumbent.

Evaluation of buffalo colostrum quality by estimation of enzyme activity levels.

A study to evaluate the value and potential use of colostral enzymes as markers for the evaluation of buffalo colostrum quality was conducted. The enzymes gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in buffalo's colostrum were measured spectrophotometrically, and their activities were correlated with the gamma-globulin content. Gamma-globulin concentration was determined following the electrophoretic separation of the colostral proteins and quantified with a densitometer.

Buffalo-milk enzyme levels, their sensitivity to heat inactivation, and their possible use as markers for pasteurization.

The activities and rates of inactivation of four enzymes in raw buffalo milk were measured in relation to the process of heating to determine the value of these enzymes as markers for the evaluation of milk pasteurization. The activities of the enzymes alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured before and after heating at 50, 60, 70, and 80 degrees C for 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, and 30 min. The enzyme GGT showed the highest activity (712 +/- 601 IU/liter), followed by LDH (386 +/- 183 IU/liter), ALP (295 +/- 164 IU/liter), and AST (18 +/- 4 IU/liter).

Laminitis and dermatitis in heifers associated with excessive carbohydrate intake: skin lesions and biochemical findings.

The effects of a sudden addition of a large quantity of readily fermentable carbohydrate to the feed ration of pregnant heifers are described. Clinical and pathological changes caused by the resulting disease were confined to the digits and skin. The 4 acutely affected heifers were reluctant to get up or move (group II).

Microscopic alterations in the physis of long bones in response to hind limb immobilization in the rat.

Background: The growth plate increases its activity in response to exercise. Likewise, decreased physical activity exerts a negative effect on bone growth and development, leading to rarefaction of the subepiphyseal bone. Limb immobilization inhibits the growth plate's activity, indirectly shown by a recorded arrest in longitudinal growth of the long bones.

The effect of single hind-limb immobilization on the contralateral limb in the rat: a morphometric and biochemical study.

Disuse atrophy has been the subject of research studies that make the use of an animal model in which single-limb immobilization induces atrophic changes in the immobilized limb. The effect upon the nonimmobilized contralateral limb is, however, still unclear, and findings in the literature are inconclusive. We therefore performed a multidisciplinary study to clear this issue.

Biochemical alterations secondary to disuse atrophy in the rat's serum and limb tissues.

Disuse atrophy has been the subject of research studies of an animal model in which single-limb immobilization induces atrophic changes in the immobilized limb. These reveal systemic changes in the experimental animals that go far beyond the local response expected in that situation and are not fully understood as yet. We therefore performed a biochemical study on the effect of hind-limb immobilization on the serum and tissues of rats.

Lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme distribution and patterns in chicken organs.

Unlike most mammals, chicken lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes cannot be separated using the 'Titan-Gel' electrophoresis. However, using isoelectric focusing at a pH range of 3.0 to 9.

Metabolic and productive responses of dairy cows to increased ion supplementation at early lactation in warm weather.

We found previously that the current recommendations for Na+, K+, and Cl- contents in the diet do not meet the needs of lactating cows. The response of cows receiving a ration with increased amounts of Na+, K+, and Cl- (E cows) were compared with those of cows consuming the same ration with a fixed concentration of these ions (C cows) between weeks 2 and 8 post partum (PP). Milk, protein, fat and lactose yields, and dry matter intake between weeks 2 and 4 PP were higher in E than in C cows.

Probable toxicosis in cattle in Israel caused by the oak Quercus calliprinos.

A probable outbreak of oak (Quercus calliprinos) toxicosis in a herd of beef cattle--heifers and first-calving cows--grazing in the Judean foothills of Israel is described. Toxicosis probably occurred because of the consumption of oak leaves and buds during a period of pasture scarcity without any feed supplementation. A progressive syndrome of wasting, dullness, anorexia, polyuria, nephrosis, constipation and recumbency, culminating in death, was seen.

Clinical, clinico-pathological and serological studies of Babesia ovis in experimentally infected sheep.

Clinical, clinico-pathological and serological studies were performed in sheep experimentally infected with Babesia ovis. Acute babesiosis occurred in all the lambs infested with adult Rhipicephalus bursa ticks and in one lamb infested with the larvae. The rate of parasitaemia and the degree of anaemia were not correlated.

Gamma-glutamyltransferase as a marker for the pasteurization of raw milk.

The degree and rate of inactivation of gamma-glutamyltransferase in raw cow's milk by heating at 50, 60, 70, and 80 degrees C for 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 min were measured to evaluate the suitability of this enzyme as a marker for the pasteurization of milk. The enzymes alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase were also measured under similar conditions for comparison. The patterns of heat inactivation of gamma-glutamyltransferase and alkaline phosphatase were similar, with only a minimal inactivation of the enzymes at 50 degrees C.

Acute maduramicin toxicity in calves.

A herd of 277 beef-breed calves in three age groups was mistakenly given the poultry coccidiostat maduramicin in a total mixed ration. It caused an acute toxicosis in which sudden death was the sole clinical finding in most cases. One group of 212 calves aged five to eight months suffered a mortality of 51 per cent in eight days and a total mortality of 56 per cent during the 40 days in which mortality was recorded.

Characterization of the subclinical phase of canine ehrlichiosis in experimentally infected beagle dogs.

Beagle dogs were examined during the subclinical phase of canine ehrlichiosis under controlled conditions. Emphasis was placed on gathering data before artificial inoculation with Ehrlichia canis, and comparing these data with those of the subclinical phase of the disease. In this study all dogs were clinically healthy throughout the 6 month examination period.

Severe hepatopathy in geese and broilers associated with ochratoxin in their feed.

The feeding of a shipment of imported corn was associated with a severe reduction in growth and increased mortality in geese, and increased mortality in broilers. Pathological examinations revealed hepatopathy, visceral gout and mild nephropathy in geese, and in broilers an hepatopathy, which was often severe, and ascites. Samples of feed from affected geese farms were examined for up to 24 mycotoxins, and ochratoxin was found in 6 of 15 samples at levels up to 930 ng/g.

gamma-Glutamyltransferase and serum proteins in buffalo calves following colostral ingestion.

Catalytic activity concentrations of gamma-glutamyltransferase in blood were determined for the evaluation of colostral ingestion. gamma-Glutamyltransferase levels were compared with those of total proteins, albumins and total globulins in the serum, showing good correlation at 2-3 days after birth. gamma-Glutamyltransferase was determined using the Boehringer Mannheim "Reflotron" dry chemistry enzyme strips.

Age-dependent variations of lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase activities in water buffalo calf serum.

The electrophoretic patterns of the serum enzymes lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase from water buffalo calves are described. Differences in total activities as well as their relative distribution were seen at ages ranging from 1 to 10 weeks. While total lactate dehydrogenase activity increased by over 100%, total creatine kinase increased by almost 400%.

Serum protein alterations in canine ehrlichiosis.

Serum protein electrophoresis was performed in 42 dogs with naturally occurring Ehrlichia canis infection and in 15 clinically healthy dogs (control dogs). The infected dogs were found to have a significant hypoalbuminaemia, hyperglobulinaemia and hypergammaglobulinaemia compared to the control dogs (P < 0.001).

Selective neurotoxicity induced by the ionophore lasalocid in rat dissociated cerebral cultures, involvement of the NMDA receptor/channel.

An in vitro model of dissociated cerebral cultures, prepared from prenatal 15-16-days rat fetuses, was used to further characterize the neurotoxic effects caused by the antibiotic ionophore lasalocid-X-537A. The damage caused by lasalocid (1-2 microM, 2-4 hr) included swelling of perikarya, followed by cytolysis of most neurons present in the cultures. The neuronal damage was dose-dependent, noticeable at concentrations above 0.

The effects of long term high environmental temperature on cellular enzyme activities from different organs.

The effect of long term hyperthermia on enzyme levels in the chicken heart and breast muscles, brain, kidney, liver and lung were studied. Three weeks old chickens were exposed to environmental temperature of 24 degrees C (control group) and 32 degrees C (experimental) for a duration of 5 weeks, after which the birds were sacrificed, organs removed, homogenized and centrifuged at 22,000 g for 30 minutes. Enzyme activities in the supernatant were measured.

The relationship between heat stress, survivability and blood composition of the domestic chicken.

In order to better understand the metabolic changes leading to death which take place in the chicken during acute heat stress, the blood composition was determined in surviving and non-surviving chickens. The following blood analytes were determined: glucose, uric acid, serum total proteins, inorganic phosphate, total and ionized calcium, sodium, potassium, triiodothyronine, thyroxine. The haematocrit, erythrocyte creatine kinase (total and the isoenzymes) and haemoglobin fractions were also measured.

Use of corticosteroids alone or combined with glucose to treat ketosis in dairy cows.

Objective: To compare relative efficacy of dexamethasone and flumethasone alone or in combination with rapid IV infusion of glucose for treatment of ketosis in cattle.

Design: Clinical trial.

Animals: 127 cows with urine acetoacetate concentration > or = 60 mg/dl.

The effect of feeding dried tomato vines to beef cattle.

Dried Tomato vines (DTV) are used as a feedstuff in some beef cattle in Israel, despite the literature citation that tomato vines contain potentially harmful steroid alkaloids. A small-scale feeding trial over 42 d examined possible deleterious effects of feeding DTV, compared with wheat straw, in beef cows. No differences in hematological values, serum parameters for body weight were seen between the 2 groups.