Nicotiana glauca poisoning in ostriches (Struthio camelus).

Putative Nicotiana glauca (wild tobacco) poisoning was diagnosed in a flock of ostriches near Oudtshoorn, South Africa. Post mortem examinations (n = 7) were performed on ostriches (Struthio camelus) that had died. Suspicious leaf remnants (weighing 80-770 g), packed in a layer on top of other plant material, were carefully separated from the proventricular content and submitted for chemical determination of anabasine, the major toxic principle contained by this plant. A standard solid phase extraction method was used followed by an optimised liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry procedure. Anabasine was detected in the leaf remnants (114-177 microg/g dry weight) removed from the proventriculus of the ostriches that succumbed as well as in control N. glauca leaves (193 microg/g dry weight). The analytical methods used in this study revealed the presence of anabasine in the suspicious leaf remnants, indicating that the birds had been exposed to N. glauca and had died of this poisoning.

[Sound levels of the Piezosurgery. Risk of permanent damage to hearing]. / Geluidsniveau van de Piezosurgery. Risico van permanente gehoorschade.

In the past, research has regularly been carried out concerning the sound levels of various drilling devices and the impact these have on those who regularly use these devices. The present research is concerned with the possible permanent damage to hearing which can occur during the use of a newly developed instrument, the Piezosurgery. Measurements have been performed in a standardized set-up in which use is made of the lower jaws of pigs and a weight scale for measuring various degrees of pressure. The boundary values of the permissible exposure to noise were determined. The values of the Piezosurgery were compared with conventional drilling machines. It was concluded that using the Piezosurgery for less than 1.5 hours per day implies no risk of permanent damage to hearing. This means that the risk in the case of Piezosurgery is somewhat lower than that of conventional drilling devices.

Toxicokinetics of cotyledoside following intravenous administration to sheep.

Cotyledoside, a bufadienolide cardiac glycoside, was administered intravenously to sheep in 2 studies. In experiment 1, sheep (n = 4) received 0.0135 mg/kg daily on 5 consecutive days and in the 2nd experiment, sheep (n = 4) received 0.027 mg/kg as a single dose. Jugular blood was collected at different time intervals and kinetic parameters were determined. The data fitted a 1-compartmental model. In both experiments a short half-life (t1/2) and mean residence time (MRT), a relative small volume of distribution (Vd(ss)) and rapid clearance were calculated. In the 1st experiment, t1/2 and MRT increased significantly (P < 0.007) from Day (D) 0 to D4. It is suggested that the rapid decline in plasma cotyledoside concentrations in sheep denotes rapid distribution of cotyledoside to the tissues or extracellular spaces and possible accumulation at the biophase.