Theileria annulata schizonts found in calf kidney cell culture.

Mononuclear cells infected with Theileria annulata schizonts were isolated at 4 different times from monolayer cultures of primary kidney cells derived from apparently healthy, 2 to 6 weeks old zebu calves. The presence of such an organism could interfere with the manufacturing procedure of rinderpest tissue culture vaccine if it is to be carried out in calf kidney cell culture.

Toxicity of cotoran (fluometuron) in Desert sheep.

Twelve of fifteen 6-9-mo-old clinically healthy Desert sheep were given single or repeated daily doses of 25 to 4000 mg cotoran/kg by drench. Cotoran poisoning was characterized by grinding of the teeth, ruminal tympany, mydriasis, dyspnea, staggering, paresis of the hind and forelimbs, and recumbency. Lesions were widespread congestion and hemorrhage, hepatic fatty change, catarrhal enteritis and degeneration of the epithelial cells of the renal proximal convoluted tubules. These were accompanied by significant increases in the activities of GOT, LDH and GGT and decreases in serum total protein and calcium.

Experimental metolachlor toxicosis in Nubian goats in the Sudan.

Six out of 15 Nubian goats kids were given single oral doses of metolachlor (Dual 720 EC) at 2,000 or 500 mg/kg liveweight and died within 1 h of the dosing. Other 6 goats were given daily oral doses at 200 or 25 mg/kg and died or were slaughtered between days 8 and 25. In goats receiving single doses, the signs of poisoning were convulsive episodes, incoordination of movement, tremors, severe muscular spasms, stiffness, profuse salivation, respiratory distress, abnormal posture and recumbency. In goats receiving metolachlor at daily doses, the signs were similar, but developed slowly. Increases in the activities of serum AST and GGT and in the concentration of urea, and decreases in total protein concentration were correlated with clinical changes and lesions.

Experimental copper poisoning in the camel (Camelus dromedarius).

Copper sulphate was administered by the oral or intravenous route to five dromedary camels. Two camels (1 and 2) receiving copper sulphate at 200 mg per kg per day by drench died within 8 days and camel 3, receiving 100 mg per kg per day by the same route, was slaughtered on day 172. Intravenous injection of 2 mg per kg per day caused the death of camel 4 on day 95 and camel 5, treated similarly, was slaughtered on day 138. Anorexia, dullness, diarrhoea, dehydration and recumbency in camels 1 and 2 were probably clinical signs of copper toxicity. Camels 3, 4 and 5 lost weight. Jaundice was not a prominent clinical sign. The main lesions in camels 1 and 2 were fatty change and necrosis of the liver cells, dilatation and necrosis of kidney tubules, catarrhal abomasitis, enteritis and congestion of the blood vessels of the heart. In camels 3, 4 and 5 the hepatic lesions were mild, with leucocytic infiltration and gastrointestinal and heart lesions were either mild (camel 3) or absent (camels 4 and 5). Cytoplasmic copper granules in hepatic cells were generalized in distribution but more concentrated in the centrilobular zone. In the kidney these granules were confined to the cells of the proximal convoluted tubules. Copper accumulated in the liver and kidneys of all the camels and zinc accumulated in the liver and kidneys of those receiving copper sulphate intravenously. Macrocytic hypochromic anaemia developed in camels 3, 4 and 5 and haemoconcentration in camels 1 and 2. The concentration of serum copper, zinc and iron increased in animals 1, 2 and 4, and unbound iron binding capacity decreased in four camels. There was a rise in the activity of gamma GT, GOT, LDH and CPK in the serum of all the animals. Serum ALP activity, however, increased in camels 1 and 2 and decreased in camels 3, 4 and 5.

The activities of drug-metabolizing enzymes in goats treated orally with the latex of Calotropis procera and the influence of dieldrin pretreatment.

The effects of oral administration of different doses of the latex of Calotropis procera on the activities of drug-metabolizing enzymes in the liver, kidneys and duodenal mucosa of Nubian goats were investigated. Lesions and changes in total plasma protein concentration and in the activities of plasma sorbitol dehydrogenase (SD), glutamate dehydrogenase (GD) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were studied. The daily oral administration of the latex at dose rates of 0.4 and 0.8 ml per kg for 7 days resulted in a significant inhibition of the activity of aniline 4-hydroxylase. No signfiicant effects on the activities of aminopyrine N-demethylase and UDP-glucuronyltransferase were observed. A single oral dose of 1.2 or 1.6 ml per kg killed goats within 7 h and resulted in increased activities of aminopyrine N-demethylase and aniline 4-hydroxylase. UDP-glucuronyltransferase was found to be insensitive to tissue injury induced by the latex of C. procera. There were no pathological changes in goats given 10 mg per kg of dieldrin alone or in those pretreated with dieldrin and given the latex at a dose rate of 1.2 ml per kg 14 days later. Dieldrin pretreatment resulted in the induction of the activities of drug-metabolizing enzymes in the liver, kidneys and duodenal mucosa and it may have protected goats from the lethal effects of the latex.

Susceptibility of Nubian goats to mercury poisoning in the Sudan.

Twelve Nubian goats were given single or repeated oral dosages of mercuric chloride at 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg and died or were killed in extremis at various times after dosing (18 hours-18 days). The main signs of poisoning were anorexia, frothing at the mouth, respiratory distress, epistaxis, bloat, diarrhoea, abnormal posture and recumbency. An increase in the activity of GOT and in the concentrations of urea and inorganic phosphate and a decrease in total protein and calcium concentrations in the serum were detected. The main lesions were dilatation and necrosis of the proximal convoluted tubules, shrinkage and disappearance of the glomerular tufts, varying amounts of acidophilic homogenous material in the lumens of the affected tubules of the kidney, enteritis, hepatocellular degeneration and/or necrosis and pulmonary congestion, haemorrhage, oedema and emphysema. The changes in the red blood cells indicated anaemia.

Toxicity of Abrus precatorius in Nubian goats.

Eight Nubian goats were given Abrus precatorius seed at 2, 1 and 0.5 g/kg/day by stomach tube. Six goats receiving the plant seed at 2 and 1 g/kg died between days 2 and 5. One goat receiving Abrus seed at 0.5 g/kg/day died on day 32 and the other animal in the group was killed on day 33. The main signs of Abrus poisoning were inappetence, bloody diarrhea, dyspnea, dehydration, loss of condition and recumbency. The lesions were fatty change and necrosis of hepatocytes and renal convoluted tubules, pulmonary hemorrhage, edema and emphysema, and erosions of the abomasal and intestinal epithelium. These changes were accompanied by increases in GOT and gamma GT activities and urea, creatinine, sodium and potassium and by decreases in total protein and albumin in the serum of Abrus-poisoned goats. The blood cell changes indicated hemoconcentration.

Clinical and subclinical colloid goitre in adult camels (Camelus dromedarius) at Kordofan region of Sudan.

Colloid goitre was diagnosed in adult camels in the Kordofan region of the Sudan. The disease is characterized by gross enlargement of the thyroid, histopathological follicular changes, reproductive disorders, low concentrations of circulating thyroid hormones (T3, T4) and normocytic normochromic anaemia. The possible cause of the condition is discussed and iodine supplementation is recommended.

Isolation of Brucella abortus from experimentally infected dromedary camels in Sudan: a preliminary report.

Six camels were experimentally infected with two strains of Brucella abortus, four with S19 and two with a field bovine strain. In all cases antibody titres were detected within 6 to 11 days. Serum agglutination titres peaked between days 11 and 32 and complement fixation titres between days 11 and 52; both titres then declined steadily. No clinical signs were observed in the four camels inoculated with S19. Slight non-specific symptoms were seen in the two camels infected with the field bovine strain. On post mortem examination no gross lesions were observed although histopathological sections showed focal granulomata in the liver and a generalized lymphadenitis. The organism was recovered mainly from the lymph nodes of the head and genital tract.

Clinical zinc and copper deficiencies in cattle of western Sudan.

Clinical cases of both Zn and Cu deficiencies are reported in a cattle farm in Kordofan Region of the Sudan after drought. The animals showed general weakness, stunted growth, infertility, parakeratosis and achromotrichia. There was macrocytic hypochromic anaemia and low Cu and Zn concentrations in sera. The condition was more prevalent in zebu-Friesian crosses than the local breeds. Drought and marginal or low Cu and Zn content in pasture may be the predisposing factors.

Brucella antibodies in Sudanese camels.

Sera of 740 camels of both sexes from three regions of Sudan were tested for antibodies to Brucella abortus. The overall incidence of antibodies was 4.9%. The highest positive number of samples (7.5%) was from the Eastern Region followed by Darfur Region (3.1%) and the Central Region (2.0%). Brucella antibodies were as frequent in males (5.6%) as females (4.5%).