Preventing ectoparasite infestations reduces glucocorticoid concentrations in the hair of cows - short communication.

The aim of this study was to compare hair corticosteroid concentrations in ectoparasiticide-treated (n = 10) and non-treated (n = 12) Holstein cows. Animals in the treated group received cyfluthrin three times, on days 0, 28 and 56 of the experiment. Hair samples were collected from all cows on days 0, 21, 42, 63, and 84 of the experiment for the determination of cortisol and corticosterone concentrations using immunoassays.

Degradation and dissipation of the veterinary ionophore lasalocid in manure and soil.

Lasalocid is a veterinary ionophore antibiotic used for prevention and treatment of coccidiosis in poultry. It is excreted from the treated animals mostly in its active form and enters the environment with the use of contaminated manure on agricultural land. To properly assess the risk that lasalocid poses to the environment, it is necessary to know its environmental concentrations as well as the rates of its degradation in manure and dissipation in soil.

Sex steroid levels in urine of cattle of different ages: evaluation of abuse control procedures.

Levels of several natural urinary steroids have been determined in the urine of a large number of animals of different cattle categories in the context of steroid abuse in beef production. Bovine animals of different breeds, sex and age included in the Slovene national residue detection plan for steroid abuse were studied. Urine from 120 males and 174 females was analysed.

Retrospective study of bull semen quality - possible correlation with pesticide use?

Decline in semen quality in humans and increased incidence of male reproductive problems could be caused by different factors, including pesticides that could mimic or block the action of endogenous hormones. If the decline in semen quality is real, and environmental chemicals are at least partially responsible for this decline, similar changes should be observed in animals that live in close connection with humans and are exposed to similar levels of pollutants. In the present study, the semen quality of bulls in the last 30 years was examined with respect to the year of birth.

Detection of trace amounts of abamectin used as an antiparasitic agent in fallow deer tissues.

A sensitive and reliable method for the determination of trace amounts of abamectin in muscles, kidneys and fat tissue of fallow deer is presented. Abamectin was extracted from the tissues with acetonitrile and the extract was cleaned up on a C8 solid-phase extraction cartridge. Abamectin residue was derivatised with trifluoroacetic acid anhydride and 1-methylimidazole, and determined using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography under isocratic conditions and fluorescence detection.

Abamectin effects on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

The effect of abamectin (ABM) on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) was studied. The acute toxicity of ABM on rainbow trout was established, following the target 58-h water bath exposure of ABM concentrations from 0.6 to 4.

Serum T3 and T4 concentrations in the adult rats treated with herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid.

The influence of sublethal doses of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) on serum T3 and T4 concentrations in Hsd Cpb: Wistar rats of both sexes was studied. The trial was performed on 24 males and females respectively, each divided into three groups of 8 animals (control, groups 1 and 2). Aqueous solution of the compound (11 mg/kg body weight - group 1 and 110 mg/kg body weight - group 2) or clean tap water (control group) was used.