Cerebral Candidal Abscess and Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus Infection in an Aborted Bovine Fetus.

Candida species are opportunistic fungi associated with immunosuppression and are the most commonly isolated fungal pathogens from the human central nervous system. Invasive candidiasis is reported uncommonly in animals and there have only been two reports of candidal infection of the brain. This report presents a case of a cerebral candidal abscess in an aborted late-term calf co-infected with bovine viral diarrhoea virus. Candida etchellsii, a species not previously identified as pathogenic, was identified as the causative agent by polymerase chain reaction.

Effects of dietary sulfur concentrations on the incidence and pathology of polioencephalomalicia in weaned beef calves.

Fourteen heifer calves weighing 174.5+/-17.7 kg were used to evaluate the effects of 3 levels of dietary sulfur. Sodium sulfate added to basal diet made treatments designated moderate (3860 ppm sulfur), moderatey high (5540 ppm sulfur) and high (7010 ppm sulfur). Clinical polioencephalomalacia occurred in all calves assigned to the moderately high and high treatments. The calves did not acclimate to the dietary sulfur as polioencephalomalacia occurred in 4 animals on d 35 and in 1 calf on d 37. Microscopic lesions confirmed polioencephalomalacia in the calves on moderately high and high diets. Microscopic lesions also were present in 4 moderate diet calves although clinical signs were not seen. High dietary sulfur did not limit feed intake. Diets containing sulfur levels >4000 ppm sulfur produced polioencephalomalacia in 10 calves and sub-clinical brain lesions occurred in 4 calves consuming <4000 ppm sulfur.

Sulfur-induced polioencephalomalacia in stocker calves.

Calves from 3 farms exhibited blindness, head pressing, and circling before death. Brain lesions confirmed polioencephalomalacia. Excess sulfur was found in the diets on all 3 farms in corn by-products or molasses based supplements. Corn gluten feed and corn steep liquor (by-products of the refinement of corn for ethanol), corn syrup, corn gluten, corn oil, and corn starch have gained popularity as livestock feeds due to their low prices. With this increased usage as livestock feed, increasing number of cases of polioencephalomalacia have been seen.

Cotton dust concentrations and particle size distributions associated with genotypes.

The problem of byssinosis has plagued cotton textile mills for hundreds of years, and it is still a problem today. With the regulations on airborne raw cotton dust set by OSHA and the ACGIH, research regarding the measurement of cotton dust in lint fiber is a necessity. A procedure known as the mass concentration particle size distribution (MCPSD) technique, developed at Texas A&M University, was used to measure the characteristics of cotton dust as affected by harvesting method and genotype. Cotton genotypes from three harvest seasons were analyzed by using a Coulter Counter, Model TAII, to obtain the mass concentrations and particle size distributions of dust present in the lint fiber. The genotypes were subjected to both hand harvesting and conventional spindle harvesting for comparison purposes. Results from the dust concentration analyses of particles less than 100 micron, 16 micron, and 8 micron in diameter, respectively, are presented. Also, a proposed procedure to obtain large quantities of "cotton dust" from gin trash material is discussed.

Controlling Cotton's Insect Pests: A New System.

Cotton is more heavily treated with insecticides than any other crop in the United States. In southern Texas, this heavy treatment resulted in insecticide- resistant strains of major pests which almost destroyed the industry in the late 1960's and early 1970's. An integrated insect control program based on new short-season cotton varieties and traditional cultural practices has restored production in the area. The new system has been widely implemented because it produces greater net returns by reducing the use of insecticides, fertilizer, and irrigation.