Antonio Fernández

Variations of clinical biochemical parameters of laying hens and broiler chickens fed aflatoxin-containing feed.

Two groups of 32 laying hens (Hyssex Brown) and two groups of 32 23-day-old (Hybro) broiler chickens were fed 2.5 and 5 parts/10(6) of aflatoxin in their diet for 4, 8, 16 and 32 days; 16 hens and 32 chicks were maintained as control groups (0 parts/10(6)). After the intoxication period, a clearance period was established of 1, 2, 4 and 8 days. Relative weights of liver and kidneys significantly increased in intoxicated hens, but not in broiler chickens. Histological lesions in both types of bird consisted of hepatic cell vacuolation with fatty infiltration. There was a significant decrease (P< 0.001) in egg production in the 5 parts/10(6) group, which started to recover during the clearance period. No morbidity or mortality due to the aflatoxicosis were observed in either type of bird. In intoxicated laying hens, cholesterol levels were not significantly (P> 0.05) different from control values, but triglyceride levels decreased (P< 0.001) in both intoxicated groups. The effect of aflatoxin on calcium and phosphorus levels was important, because on the 4th day their values decreased significantly. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) serum levels remained normal, whereas alanino aminotransferase (ALT) activity decreased in both intoxicated groups. The activity of serum lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and gammaglutamil transferase (GGT) increased significantly. In intoxicated broiler chickens, aflatoxins did not alter (P> 0.05) the biochemical parameters studied, except that the serum calcium concentration was lower in the 5 parts/10(6) group. These data indicated that in intoxicated laying hens, a severe clinical biochemical alteration was produced, and that this together with the hepatic lesions observed in hens and broilers may aid disease diagnosis.

Aflatoxins and their Metabolites in the Tissues, Faeces and Urine from Lambs Feeding on an Aflatoxin‐Contaminated Diet

Twenty-four lambs were intoxicated with 2.5 mg of aflatoxin (AF) kg -1 in their feed for 21 days. Twelve lambs were slaughtered at day 21 and the remaining animals had an 8 day clearance period. Aflatoxins and their metabolites were detected in liver, kidneys, faeces and urine using TLC and fluorescence densitometry. During the intoxication period, the samples gave a wide range of concentrations, the lower extreme being in the liver and the kidney (0.03 μg kg -1 of AFG 1 ) and the higher extreme in faeces (61.82 μg kg -1 of AFM 1 ) and urine (27.84 μg litre -1 of AFM 1 ). The average value of AFB, (1.94 ± 0.9 μg kg -1 ) was higher than AFM 1 (0.35 ± 0.17 μg kg -1 ) in the liver. In the kidney AFM 1 (5.45 ± 4.01 μg kg -1 ) was higher than AFB 1 (1.29 ± 0.84 μg kg -1 ). There were higher concentrations of AFM 1 (27.2 ± 16.1 μg kg -1 , 7.37 ± 6.53 μg litre -1 , respectively, of average level) in faeces and urine, than of AFB 1 (17.25 ± 8.1 and 1.78 ± 1.57 μg litre -1 , respectively). AFB 2a appeared in the kidney (0.05 ± 0.03 μg kg -1 ) and urine (0.35 ± 0.25 μg litre -1 ). The clearance time of AFB 1 from the faeces was less than or equal to 8 days and in all samples aflatoxin residues were still detected on the 8th day of the clearance period although in low quantities. These results suggest that aflatoxin transfer to and elimination by the liver and the renal tissue is small and that the danger to humans consuming lamb meat is also small. The examination of the faeces and urine could be useful as markers to detect lambs consuming a contaminated diet.

CHANGES IN THE PROTHROMBIN TIME, HAEMATOLOGY AND SERUM PROTEINS DURING EXPERIMENTAL AFLATOXICOSIS IN HENS AND BROILER CHICKENS

Two groups of 32 laying hens and two groups of 32, 23-day-old broiler chickens were given 2.5 and 5 mg kg-1 of aflatoxin in their diet for four, eight, 16 and 32 days; 16 hens and 32 broiler chicks served as control groups. In the laying hens, aflatoxicosis was characterised mainly by an increase in prothrombin time, and decreases in total plasma proteins and albumin levels; there were increases in red blood cell (RBC) counts and haematocrit which were greater in the group fed 5 mg kg-1. There was a decrease in beta-globulins and an increase in gamma-globulins. In the broiler chickens, there was only a slight increase in prothrombin time and a decrease in RBC counts. This data proves the good sensitivity and utility of prothrombin time values as an indicator of aflatoxicosis in birds.

Detection and Clinical Evolution of Scrapie in Sheep by 3rd Eyelid Biopsy

The goal of this article was to characterize the clinical evolution of scrapie in naturally affected sheep. Eighteen sheep with scrapie diagnosed by examination of 3rd eyelid biopsy and 12 control ewes were studied throughout the duration of their disease. Diagnosis was confirmed postmortem by histopathologic, immunohistochemical, and Western blot analysis of nervous tissue. Complete clinical examinations were performed every 2 weeks for each animal, of which 3 clinical examinations per animal are reported. Those clinical signs that showed a significant frequency within the corresponding clinical examination were considered representative of each stage of the disease (ie, early, middle, and late). The representative clinical signs for the early stage were hypoesthesia in the limbs, alteration of mental status, and a body condition score <3. Remarkably, hypoesthesia in the limbs was one of the 1st signs appearing during the early clinical stage in the affected animals, even before the appearance of other signs. For the middle stage, representative signs were the same as those for the early stage, together with hyporreflexia in the limbs, cardiac arrhythmia, pruritus/wool loss, and the appearance of the nibbling reflex. Representative clinical signs for the late stage were the same as those for the early and middle stage, together with head tremors, hyperexcitability to external stimuli, ataxia or gait abnormalities, and teeth grinding. On the basis of these results, we propose the calculation of an objective clinical index that allows the differentiation among clinical stages and that could be useful for further studies. The usefulness of 3rd eyelid lymphoid tissue biopsies for sequential clinical studies in naturally scrapie-affected sheep is demonstrated.

EFFICACY OF PHOSPHOMYCIN IN THE CONTROL OF ESCHERICHIA COLI INFECTION OF BROILER CHICKENS

Seventy-five 25-day-old broilers were divided into three groups: group I unmedicated and challenged with E. coli O78:K80; group F infected and treated with 150 ppm of phosphomycin in their drinking water, and group C acted as a control. Their weights, feed intake, clinical signs, macroscopic lesions, E. coli reisolation, and serum biochemistry were compared. Group F showed fewer symptoms and gross lesions than those from group I while the average daily gain, bodyweight, and feed intake were similar to the control group. E. coli was reisolated in 32 per cent of the livers and spleens from group I, compared with 4 per cent of liver and 8 per cent of spleens from group F. There was an increase in the levels of total protein and globulins in group I but not in group F. These results provide evidence of the therapeutic efficacy of phosphomycin in the control of an experimental E. coli infection in broiler chickens.

Alterations in the performance, haematology and clinical biochemistry of growing lambs fed with aflatoxin in the diet

Twenty‐three male lambs were fed 2.5u2009ppm of aflatoxin for 21 days. Thirteen lambs constituted the control group. Twelve lambs given toxin and six from the control group were killed at 21 days. The remaining animals were killed 8 days later. To determine haematological and biochemical parameters, samples of blood were obtained at 0, 7, 14 and 21 days of exposure and at 1, 2, 4 and 8 days after exposure. The most sensitive indicator of intoxication was the reduction in body weight (17u2009±u20092.2u2009kg−1 body wt. in intoxicated lambs and 19.2u2009±u20091.8u2009kg−1 body wt. in the control group; Pu2009⋙u20090.01) and in the average daily weight gain (133u2009±u200979u2009g day−1 in the intoxicated group and 254u2009±u2009105u2009g day−1 in the control group; Pu2009⋙u20090.001) from the 14th day onwards. Lambs fed with aflatoxins had relatively smaller liver weights and higher kidney and spleen weights than lambs from the control group. Feeding aflatoxins increased the erythrocyte count and the mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration and decreased the mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobin values. An elevation in the levels of globulins with an increase of the beta and gamma fractions and no variation in total protein and albumin was observed in lambs fed on aflatoxins. Urea levels and the alkaline phosphatase and glutamate dehydrogenase enzymatic activities decreased as a consequence of intoxication, whereas gamma‐glutamyl transferase was increased. During the clearance period, haematological values regressed towards basal values, but biochemical parameters remained unchanged. These results suggest that lambs are sensitive to the toxic effects of the aflatoxins and that the determination of zootechnical parameters is a better aid to the diagnosis of intoxication than haematological or biochemical analyses.

Clinicopathological features in ovine AA amyloidosis.

This paper describes the clinicopathological findings in sheep with AA amyloidosis. Serum samples from 12 AA amyloid-affected sheep and urine samples from 5 of these ewes were analyzed. In sera, the most important alteration was reflected in hypoalbuminemia, high concentration in beta and gamma-globulins and high levels of serum BUN, phosphorous and potassium. Serum creatinine, cholesterol and calcium concentrations showed no alterations. Urinary analysis showed proteinuria and a high protein/creatinine ratio. In three urine samples, high activities of urinary enzymes gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), beta-glucuronidase (GRS) and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) were observed, their ratios with urinary creatinine being increased for GGT and NAG and decreased for GRS. In conclusion, important alterations in biochemical and urinary parameters were observed in ovine affected by systemic AA amyloidosis. Those related to the activities of urinary enzymes could constitute reliable parameters for assessing renal injury in ovine AA amyloidosis.

Photosensitisation in sheep grazing alfalfa infested with aphids and ladybirds

FIG 1: Lesions of photosensitisation in sheep. (a) Sheep with generalised oedema of the head, showing pendulous ears and oedema of the eyelids and lips; (b) severe oedema and erythema in the udder and teat of a lactating ewe FIG 2: (a) Alfalfa plant heavily infested with aphids. (b) Seven-spot ladybird (Coccinella septempuncta) larvae (arrowheads) and one chrysalis (arrow) attached to the alfalfa leaves (a)

The impact a first episode of major depression has on marital dissatisfaction: Is remission associated with improvement in dissatisfaction?

Background and Objectives: Prior research suggests that marital dissatisfaction is associated with Major Depression (MD). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether remission from a first episode of MD is associated with improvement in marital dissatisfaction and whether the degree of marital dissatisfaction at the time of diagnosis has an influence on the outcome of MD. Methods: The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, the Dyadic Adjustment Scale and the Areas of Change Questionnaire were administered to 59 married couples in which one member fulfilled DSM-IV criteria for a first Episode of MD, but her husband (or his wife) did not suffer any mental disorder, and to 53 control couples at 6 outpatient clinics, at baseline and after a 6-months follow-up. Results: The level of marital dissatisfaction in couples with a persistent depressed participant decreased in comparison to couples without a depressed subject (p < 0.05 CI: -10.6 and -0.2), but there were no significant differences between couples in which the depressed spouse recovered from MD and comparison couples. Regardless of MDs severity, high levels of satisfaction were associated with a higher probability to recover. Limitations: The follow-up period was short and we assessed the level of marital dissatisfaction using self-report measures. Conclusion: This study shows that MD has an influence on Marital Satisfaction even at a very early stage of the Depressive Disorder. What is more, changes in any of the two factors (MD or marital dissatisfaction) influenced the other factors course; thus an effective intervention on MD may have a positive impact on marital dissatisfaction as well.

Staphylococcus chromogenes-induced folliculitis in goat kids

THE haemolytic, coagulase-negative bacterium Staphylococcus chromogenes is a common component of the skin flora in some species of farm animals. It is also a common cause of mastitis in dairy cattle, but is rarely described as the aetiological agent of skin diseases. This short communication