Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity in sheep serum : normal values and an evaluation of its potential for detecting liver involvement in experimental lupinosis

A brief survey of the literature on gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (ƴ-GT) activity is included in this study. The levels of activity in the serum of normal Merino sheep (13, 6- 32, 4 mI.U./ml) were ascertained as a preliminary to following the activity through the entire course of experimentally induced ovine lupinosis, a hepatotoxicosis caused by Phomopsis leptostromiformis (Kühn) Bubák. The response of the serum level of ƴ-GT activity to the course of the disease was compared with that of glutamate oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and 2 liver function tests for the purpose of assessing its potential application in the study of this mycotoxicosis. Because the levels of activity of ƴ-GT were more valuable for the early diagnosis of low grade acute intoxication and the detection of chronic liver involvement while those of GOT gave better information on the development of severe acute hepato-cellular damage, these 2 enzymes, considered together, were found to give the best information on the course of the toxicosis. The changes in ƴ-GT activity during various stages of intoxication were also related to the histopathological lesions in the liver.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 300dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format

Amicarbalide : a therapeutic agent for anaplasmosis

When administered subcutaneously in 2 equal daily doses at a total dosage rate of 20 mg/kg, amicarbalide was found to be an effective agent for controlling acute infections of Anaplasma marginate and A. centrale in intact and splenectomized cattle. Attempts to sterilize patent and latent Anaplasma infections, however, were unsuccessful. At total dosage rates of 40 mg/kg and higher, amicarbalide exhibited potent hepato- and nephrotoxic tendencies.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 300dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format

Maldronksiekte in cattle : a neuronopathy caused by Solanum kwebense N.E. Br.

A neurological disease of cattle (maldronksiekte), occurring in a localized area of the Northern Transvaal, was experimentally reproduced by feeding Solanum kwebense plants to cattle. The disease is characterized by temporary loss of balance and transient epileptiform seizures precipitated by a variety of stimuli, such as exercise, handling (dipping, loading, etc.) and fright. When not disturbed, most affected animals appear to be completely normal. The most conspicuous histopathological lesion is a neuronopathy manifested by vacuolar degeneration and eventual necrosis of neurones, particularly of the Purkinje cells in the cerebellum. An atrophy of the cerebellar cortex is seen grossly. The history, clinical signs and experimental reproduction of the disease, as well as the pathology of 4 experimental and 18 natural cases, are described.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP scanjet 5590; 300dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to final presentyation PDF-Format

Aborto em bovinos devido à intoxicação por Tetrapterys acutifolia (Malpighiaceae)

Esse estudo teve por objetivo demonstrar experimentalmente que Tetrapterys acutifolia Cav. (fam. Malpighiaceae) é capaz de provocar aborto em bovinos e caracterizar as alterações clínico-patológicas nas vacas e nos fetos. Estas plantas são responsáveis por significativo número de mortes em bovinos com mais de um ano de idade, especialmente nos Estados de Rio de Janeiro e São Paulo, mas até agora não havia sido comprovado experimentalmente seu efeito abortivo em bovinos. Os experimentos foram realizados no município de Barra do Piraí, RJ. Quatro vacas de descarte receberam brotos e folhas novas frescas de T. acutifolia, coletadas em propriedades vizinhas, nas doses de 2,5g/kg/dia, 5,0g/kg/dia (2 vacas) e 10g/kg/dia, até ocorrer o abortamento. O quadro clínico nas vacas caracterizou-se por arritmia cardíaca, tremores musculares, anorexia, ascite, jugular ingurgitada, edema de peito e barbela e aborto (23-76 dias após o início da ingestão da planta); todas as vacas abortaram. Das quatro vacas apenas uma (a que recebeu 10g/kg/dia) morreu 36 dias após o abortamento, com sintomas de insuficiência cardíaca. O exame necroscópico dos fetos/natimortos revelou hidrotórax, hidropericárdio, hidroperitônio e congestão hepática; ao corte do miocárdio, verificaram-se áreas pálidas. No exame histológico havia edema intersticial com fibrose incipiente. Na vaca que recebeu a maior dose e foi a óbito, bem como em outra intoxicada naturalmente, os achados de necropsia foram similares aos observados nos fetos, exceto pela dilatação dos vasos da base do coração e mais acentuada palidez do miocárdio. Observaram-se ainda edema subcutâneo nas regiões cervical e esternal, bem como veias jugulares ingurgitadas. Os achados histopatológicos foram necrose e edema intersticial com acentuada fibrose no miocárdio, espongiose da substância branca do encéfalo e, no fígado, congestão e leve fibrose. Adicionalmente, observou-se na vaca intoxicada espontaneamente, 17 dias após o aborto, arritmia cardíaca, jugular ingurgitada, edema de peito e barbela, anorexia com morte 43 dias após o aborto. Este estudo demonstra que Tetrapterys acutifolia é capaz de induzir aborto e, dependendo da dose, ainda causar a morte das vacas que abortarem