Natural levels of lead, cadmium and mercury in tissues and hair of newborn calves from different areas of Czechoslovakia.

Liver, kidney, muscle and hair samples from newborn, born-dead or found-dead calves were collected within 10 days after parturition, for the determination of Pb, Cd and Hg levels. Differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry at the static mercury dropping electrode was used for Pb and Cd determination after dry ashing of the samples. Cold-vapour atomic absorption spectrometry was used for direct Hg determination.

The occurrence of aflatoxins in peanuts imported into Czechoslovakia for human consumption.

Results of 492 analyses for aflatoxin in raw shelled peanuts imported into Czechoslovakia during 1982-1984 are presented. Most samples (55.3%) had aflatoxin content less than the detection limit of the radioimmunochemical screening method (0.

[Experimental modification of the resorption process and lead deposition in the body of the domestic duck].

In an experiment with 40 domestic ducks (Peking White breed) being 40 days old, it was shown that the process of lead resorption and deposition was neither significantly modified by different kinds of therapy nor by changes of food composition. A single dose of 30 lead small shot given to the experimental animals resulted after 1 week in a significant increase of lead concentration in liver (4.32 mg/kg-1), kidney (11.

[Experimental control of the process of lead absorption and deposition in domestic ducks].

A trial was conducted with 40 domestic ducks of the White Pekin breed at the age of 40 days: thirty pieces of lead shot were introduced as a single dose in the gizzard. The process of lead resorption and deposition was found not to be significantly influenced by the therapeutic treatments nor changes in the composition of feed. A week after the administration of shot a significant increase was recorded in the content of lead to 4.

[Dynamics of abrasion of lead pellets in the gizzard of domestic ducks].

Experiments were made with 6 control and 6 experimental ducks. 10 lead shot were given for once into the gizzard of the experimental animals. During a period of 6 days, changes of the form of the grains of shot, the ALAD-activity, the hematocrit and the hemoglobin have been examined.

[Relation between glycemia, serum ascorbic acid, and weight gains in calves in large barns].

In the period from acceptance to the large-scale calf-house to six months of age, 42 calves (20 bullocks and 22 heifers) were studied for the dependence between the dynamics of glycaemia, ascorbaemia, and weights and weight gains. In both sexes, the highest level of glycaemia was obtained at the age from 14 to 21 days (kappa = 5.3 mmol.

[Dynamics of urea concentration in blood cells of the domestic fowl during early post-incubation ontogenesis].

Urea was determined by means of diacetyl monoxim in the blood cells of 80 cockerels of the initial breed White Leghorn, commercial hybrid Primant. The highest urea concentration was ascertained on the 15th day of life: 392.33 +/- 85 mg per 10(12) blood cells.

[Circadian rhythmicity of urea concentration in the liver and blood serum of cockerels].

The circadian rhythmicity of urea concentration was studied in 70 12-day-old cockerels (the Primant commercial hybrid). Urea in the liver homogenate supernatant and in the blood serum was determined by means of diacetylmonoxim (Homolka, 1971). The cockerels were killed in four-hour intervals.

[Dynamics of urea concentration in cockerels during the 1st month of life].

The concentration of urea in the blood serum of 190 cockerels (The Primant commercial hybrid) was determined by means of diacetylmonoxim (Homolka, 1971). Uremia reached values from 0 to 23.20 +/- 5.

[Serum and liver lipase activity in chickens during the 1st month of life].

Method according to DIRSTINE (1968) was employed to study the activities of serum and liver lipase in White Leghorn cockerels during early post-incubation ontogenesis; as to serum lipase, two embryo intervals were also studied (the 13th and 20th day of incubation). From the average value of 4.4 ummol (13th day), serum lipase activity increased to the average value of 7.