Cholinergic and noncholinergic changes in skeletal muscles by carbofuran and methyl parathion.

The objective of this investigation was to determine the distribution of cholinergic (acetyl-cholinesterase, AChE) and noncholinergic markers in slow-, fast-, and mixed-fiber containing muscles (soleus, SOL; extensor digitorum longus, EDL; and diaphragm, DIA, respectively). Noncholinergic markers included high-energy phosphates (adenosine triphosphate, ATP; phosphocreatine, PCr; and their metabolites), and the activity of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and their isoenzymes and subforms. All three types of muscles had only one CK isoenzyme, CK-MM, which totally consisted of MM3 subform.

In vivo acute effects of carbofuran on protein, lipid, and lipoproteins in rat liver and serum.

The objective of this investigation was to determine the changes in proteins, lipids, and lipoproteins in liver and serum of rats acutely intoxicated with carbofuran (1.5 mg/kg sc). Under the influence of carbofuran acute intoxication, analysis of globulin fractions revealed remarkable changes: In liver, the levels of alpha-2, alpha-3, and gamma were significantly elevated while alpha-1 was reduced; in serum, alpha-1 and alpha-3 fractions were elevated while alpha-2, beta, and gamma remained unchanged.

Energy related metabolic alterations in diaphragm muscle resulting from acute methomyl toxicity.

Male Sprague-Dawley rats receiving an acute dose of methomyl (5 mg/Kg, sc) developed overt signs of toxicity within 2 min. The maximum severity, including muscle fasciculations and convulsions, was attained within 7-10 min and lasted for about 30 min. A very rapid recovery followed and by 90 min rats were free from obvious toxicity.

Pullorum disease with unusual signs in two backyard chicken flocks.

Atypical pullorum disease in two backyard chicken flocks occurred as sudden death of many adult birds in one backyard chicken flock and chronic wasting with high mortality in a second flock. Chicks had been added to both flocks for several months before losses occurred. The chicks, which were not affected, came from a previously infected hatchery that did not totally depopulate.

Role of carboxylesterases in the prevention and potentiation of N-methylcarbamate toxicity.

Pretreatment of rats with iso-OMPA one hour prior to each of the N-methylcarbamate insecticides, carbofuran, propoxur, or aldicarb, potentiated the toxicity of these carbamates threefold. None of these compounds alone in the dosage used produced toxic signs; however, carboxylesterase (CarbE) activity in a variety of organs including brain, muscle, liver, and plasma was significantly reduced, while acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was unchanged. Significant inhibition of AChE was observed after the combination of tetraisopropylpyrophosphoramide (iso-OMPA) with each one of these N-methylcarbamates.

Serum triiodothyronine and thyroxine concentrations in neonatal llamas.

Total serum triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) concentrations were assayed in neonatal llamas from birth to 90 days of age. T3 concentrations were high at birth and increased from birth to approximately 6 days, then gradually decreased. T4 concentrations were highest at time of birth and decreased gradually over the 90-day period.

Quantification of bone alkaline phosphatase in canine serum.

An assay was developed and proven accurate and precise for the quantification of canine serum alkaline phosphatase of bone origin (BAP). The assay uses wheat germ lectin (WGL) which selectively precipitates SAP but not liver alkaline phosphatase (LAP) in serum preincubated for 1 hour at 37 degrees C before conducting the assay. Although a large percentage of corticosteroid-induced alkaline phos- phatase (CAP) is also precipitated by WGL, the activity of this isoenzyme can be determined by utilizing the automated levamisole inhibition assay and BAP determined by subtraction except in those cases in which CAP is very markedly increased.

Association of a Pasteurella haemolytica-like organism with enteritis in swine.

A Pasteurella haemolytica-like organism was isolated from the intestines of 28 swine with clinical, gross, or microscopic evidence of enteritis. In 15 cases, other known enteric pathogens were also demonstrated, and in 13 cases, no other pathogens were detected. The mean age of affected animals was 44 days.

In vivo alterations in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and LDH isoenzymes patterns by acute carbofuran intoxication.

Intoxication with an acute dose of carbofuran (1.5 mg/kg, sc) in male Sprague-Dawley rats evoked severe toxic manifestations characteristic of hypercholinergic preponderance with profound muscle fasciculations and convulsions during 30-60 min, lasting for about 2 h. Lactate dehydrogenase, a "biomarker" cytoplasmic enzyme catalyzing the reversible reaction of lactate-pyruvate, was represented by five electrophoretically distinct isoenzymes in the serum and tissues.

Carbofuran-induced alterations (in vivo) in high-energy phosphates, creatine kinase (CK) and CK isoenzymes.

Male Sprague-Dawley rats administered with an acute sublethal dose of carbofuran (1.5 mg/kg, s.c.

Efficacy of tiamulin against experimentally induced Streptococcus suis type-2 infection in swine.

Eighteen 4-week-old pigs were used in a study to evaluate tiamulin in drinking water for control of experimentally induced Streptococcus suis type-2 infection. Pigs in groups A and B (n = 6 pigs/group) were aerosolized with a logarithmic-growth phase culture of S suis type 2, whereas pigs in group C (n = 6 pigs) served as noninfected and nonmedicated controls. After exposure to S suis, pigs in group B were given 180 mg of tiamulin/L of drinking water for 5 days.

Toxic interaction of tetraisopropylpyrophosphoramide and propoxur: some insights into the mechanisms.

Propoxur with a non-toxic dose (5 mg/kg) administered intraperitoneally (ip) in tetraisopropylpyrophosphoramide (iso-OMPA, 1 mg/kg) pretreated rats subcutaneously, sc) produced severe intoxication of anticholinesterase nature. The observed severity was comparable to that caused by an acute sublethal dose of propoxur (15 mg/kg) suggesting at least threefold potentiation of toxicity. Either drug given alone produced neither signs of toxicity nor alterations in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, while carboxylesterase (CarbE) activity was markedly reduced indicating tremendous nonspecific binding.

An Eperythrozoon-like parasite in llamas.

An Eperythrozoon-like RBC parasite was found in a herd of llamas in western Kentucky. The light microscopic and electron microscopic features of the organism were similar to those of E suis. Results of an indirect hemagglutination test for E suis were positive with sera from some parasitemic and nonparasitemic llamas.

Methyl parathion acute toxicity: prophylaxis and therapy with memantine and atropine.

Male rats administered with a single i.p. dose of 5 mg/kg methyl parathion, showed the toxic signs of hypercholinergic (anticholinesterase) activity with maximal severity, including muscle fasciculations and convulsions within 15 to 30 min, persisting for about 2 hr.

Blue-green algae (Anabaena spiroides) toxicosis in pigs.

Toxicosis caused by Anabaena spiroides was diagnosed in 7 of 26 finishing hogs in a farrow-to-finish operation in Kentucky. Several sick pigs in the herd had the following clinical signs: vomiting, dull appearance, lethargy, anorexia, muscle tremors, frothing at the mouth, coughing, sneezing, dyspnea, and bloody diarrhea. Of the 7 dead pigs, 2 were necropsied.

Prevention and antagonism of acute carbofuran intoxication by memantine and atropine.

Male Sprague-Dawley rats administered with a sublethal acute dose of carbofuran (1.5 mg/kg, sc) developed the observable toxic signs of anticholinesterase nature within 5-7 min. The toxic signs with increasing propensity to maximal severity including tremors, generalized muscle fasciculations, and convulsions were evident during 15 min to 1 h and lasted for 2 h.

Concerted role of carboxylesterases in the potentiation of carbofuran toxicity by iso-OMPA pretreatment.

Pretreatment of rats with the nonspecific esterase inhibitor iso-OMPA (1 mg/kg sc) 1 h prior to carbofuran (2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-7-benzofuranyl N-methylcarbamate, 0.5 mg/kg sc) administration potentiated carbofuran toxicity by more than threefold. Neither iso-OMPA nor carbofuran in the given doses produced any gross toxic signs.

Brucella suis biovar 3 infection in a Kentucky swine herd.

Sows from a large farrow-to-finish operation in western Kentucky had late-term abortions. Boars and breeding-age sows were tested serologically for brucellosis, and 83 of 125 were classified as reactors. No brucellae were isolated from the tissues of 6 unbred reactor sows, but Brucella suis biovar 3 was recovered from 5 aborted fetuses.

Equine vitreous humor chemical concentrations: correlation with serum concentrations, and postmortem changes with time and temperature.

Samples of equine vitreous humor were analyzed for urea nitrogen, creatinine, sodium, chloride, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, and magnesium concentrations. Fresh vitreous chemical concentrations were compared to corresponding serum concentrations and expressed as a vitreous to serum ratio. The effects of postmortem time and temperature on the stability of the chemical concentrations were determined by incubation of the samples at 4 degrees C, and 20 degrees C and 37 degrees C for 6, 12, 24, or 48 h.

Isolation of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae from a red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) with a concurrent pox virus infection.

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae was isolated from the spleen, liver, lung, heart, kidney, and skin of a red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) which had a concurrent avian pox virus infection. The hawk had been housed on a farm with domestic turkeys, providing a possible source of the E. rhusiopathiae.

Chromomycosis in a horse.

A 6-year-old Quarter Horse gelding was examined because it had a sharply circumscribed, firm, brown-black, roughly spherical dermal nodule at the right tuber ischii. After it was excised, the lesion did not recur. Microscopically, the dermis of the excised specimen had multiple pyogranulomas, many of which contained thick-walled, dark brown fungal elements, some with internal septation compatible with chromomycotic fungi.