Document NGxO13Ygj0wxJD8RK4Ldx9GJD

100 THE VETERINARY RECORD JANUARY 22nd. 1972 n't . * . *. i3tte'2'S The H.elationship of Serum Calcium to factor responsible for a herd calving index dropping Prolapsed Vagina and Ping'womb from 375 days to over 400 days. Sir,--Wc were interested to read the paper by Mr. D. P. Stubbings on the Relationship of Serum Calcium to Prolapsed Vasina and Ringwomb in Sheen {Vet. Rec. (1971). S9, 296-300). A survey was carried out by ourselves through .the Veterinary Clinical Observation Unit, into the aetiology of prolapsed vagina in sheep. The results of this survey, covering several hundred cases, indi cated about as many suggested aetioiogieal factors as there were replies to Lite questionnaire. As no conclusions could be reached, no results were published. In one of our earlier papers (Vet. Rec. (1962), 7-1, 363-370; investigating trie aetiology of true ringwomb Acknowledgments.--We wish to acknowledge the help of the following in our continuing investigation: Dr. Saba of the Central Veterinary Laboratory for oestrogen assays. Dr. Tarr of Exeter University for identification of cultures, Mr. P. G. Hig.nett, Dr. Jean Renton of Glasgow University Veterinary School for feeding trials, and the Commonwealth Plant Bureau for reference cultures of Fusariinn graminaerum. January \0lh, 1972. Yours faithfully, J. C. HINDSON. Risdons, Hatherley, Devon. C. B. TURNER. Lapford, Crcditon, Devon. in sheep, wc reported that the levels of serum calcium were within the normal range in affected Haference . animals. It is doubtful whether the variations of Annual Review oj Phytopathology (1966). 4. 171-194. serum calcium noted by Mr. Stubbings are physio logically significant, except at the extreme lower limit of normality, when a cervical non-dilatation would be a reflection of myometrial inertia and not, as Mr. Stubbings suggests, due to lack of tone of the Persistence of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in the IVIilk of Bcrposed Cows smooth muscle of the cervix. If smooth muscle tone Sir,--Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), while com of the cervix was decreased, this would lead to an mercially available for the past 40 years, were not accelerated dilatation of the cervix, since such identified as environmental contaminants until about dilatation is the result of prolonged myomgtrial five years ago. In 1966 Jensen reported on the occur activity and not a sphincter relaxation.. rence of PCB in fish and Wildlife. Suhesequent re It seems likely that true non-dilatation of the ports confirmed their presence in terrestrial and cervix can result from the intake of exogenous aquatic life forms in Europe (Holmes, Simmons & oestrogens. Of these, there are two probable Tatton, 1967; Jensen, Johnels, Olsson & Otterlir.d, sources: -- 1969; Koeman, Ten NccverDe Brauw and De Vc-s, 1. Red clover. In several flocks of sheep, showing 1969; Presst, Jefferies & Moore, 1970) and North a high incidence of non-dilatation, it can be shown America (Bagicy, Reichel & Cromariie. 1970: Duke, that they grazed a pasture rich in red clover in mid Lowe & Wilson, 1970; Risebrough, Reiche, Peakall, pregnancy. 2. Some fungi found in herbage and grain are rich in oestrogens. Fiisarin/n graininacrtim is one such fungus in this area, which by oestrogen assay, we have shown to be oestrogenic. This fungus species has been . Kerman & Kirven, 1963). Polychlorinated biphenyls have recently been detected in a large number of foodstuffs and in human milk (Wcstoo, Noren & Anderson, 1970), hair, and adipose tissue (Gustafson, 1970). While human milk samples contained up to 1.0 mg. per kg. fat. as much as 14,000 mg. per kg. could be detected in some wildlife samples (Gustaf incriminated in a vomiting syndrome, and vulval son. 1970). Piatonow. Saschertbrecker & Funnel!, and mammary hypertrophy in pigs in the U.S.A. 1971) reported on the occurrence of PCB residues in {Ann. Rev. Phyt., 1966). the milk and some tissues of bovincs exposed to en In a feeding trial carried out at the Glasgow vironmental contamination. Veterinary School using Fusarium graminaenan of Polychlorinated biphenyls exhibit a number of known oestrogenic activity, two cases of vaginal physical, chemical and pharmacological similiarities prolapse and one case of non-dilatation of the cervix to the DDT pesticide group, originating with ihe fact were recorded in the experimental group of 10 ewes. that they share with chlorinated hydrocarbon pesti Oiic case of prolapsed vagina occurred in the control cides strong lipophilic properties, which result in group. their accumulation in the animal's lipid depots and i This .fungoid growth is particularly common where consequent concentration along the ecological food untreated barley is stored in sealed polythene bags chain (Jensen, Johnels. Olsson <k Oiteriand. 1969). in the open air. This growth appears as a pale pink Chronic toxicity of PCB appears to be of greater discoloration, usually on the upper surface of the significance than acute toxicity. Recent investiga bag contents and close to any punctures in the bag. tions indicate that the hcpalotoxie action of PCB. if The feeding of such contaminated grain to breed considered to be a primary effect, is in its pharma ing cattle has a potential risk. In one case, the cological .significance surpassed by a number of feeding of a grain affected with fungus of oestrogen, secondary but highly alarming effects, such ns the activity of 2 <<g. per 100 g. was the only detectable induction of a microsomal enzyme activity lending qSW 552390 STLCOPCB4090807 Tlili VETERINARY RECORD JANUARY 22nd, 1972 U)1 Table I. The Levels (in Win Weigh r) oi Poi.ycin.oie.vviEX, lin-iirNVLS in* the Milk, Urine ami Talus or Cows Given 10 mcl/ko. (Cow A) and luo su.Jyj,. (Cow 1;) or POLVCIILORINATEO Uirili-NVl.S, RPSr.XI IVI LY, ANO COL LECTED roa .Seven Consecutive Days. Fir.. 1.--Ch.-onu'-tcerems of Aroclor 1254 standard (upper tracing) ar.J of tire same compound recovered from the urine of one of the experimental animals (lower tracing). Day of collec tion 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Mill: 6.27 5.48 2.15 1.57 1.17 1.04 1.06 Con- A Faeces Urine 0.69 O.OU35 0.53 0.0034 0.45 0.0035 0.42 0.0035 0.35 0.0032 0.36 0.0035 0.32 0.0034 Milk 74.45 42.69 15.97 12.34 10.23 S.S2 7.SO Co:v B Faeces 7.52 5.35 4.43 4.09 3.CO 3.64 3.24 Urine 0.0062 0.0060 0.0059 0.0060 G.C059 0.0061 0.CG5S chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticide;, described by Saschenbrecker & Ecobichon (1962). Cites chromatographic detection of PCB in both standard and tissue samples by means of a Mi-63 electron capture source revealed a total of 16 distinct peaks which we chose to label in accordance with the number code of Reynolds (1969). Tire top trac ing (Fig. 1.) was obtained with a column load of 5 ng. of the PCB compound in heptane, while the lower tracing represents i ng. of the same compound re covered from bovine liver. The peaks shown here in ascending numerical order represent various stages of polychlorination of the biphenyl skeleton reaching I-iG. 2.--The concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls in milk after the administration of lOng./kg. (A) and 100 mg./kg. (13), respectively. a quantitatively chlorinated model in decachlorobiphenyl. One day after the administration of the PCB, the to an accelerated metabolism of drugs, insecticides rind other foreign substances. In addition, PCB causes the activation of some organophosphate pesti cides to more potent enzyme inhibitors and finally as recent evidence suggests, PCS may bring about steroid degradation, which can lead to altered endo crine relationships (Gustafson, 1970). Unlike other substrates PCB is not converted to a -water-soluble iorm upon enzyme activation and thus is not readily eliminated from tins system. The enzyme induction activity of PCB is therefore present for a relatively long time. In view of the aformentioned lipophilic character of PCB, the excreted levels in the milk of lactating cows as a logical route of elimination were investigated and compared with similarly obtained parameters for urine and faeces. . Two actively lactating Jersey cows, weighing 360 and 390 kg., were given orally 10 and 100 mg. of PCB per kg. of bodyweight, respectively. The PCB were given as a technical grade compound* dissolved in a small amount of olive oil and mixed with dairy concentrate. Milk was collected for up to 50 days after "the PCB administration. Total urine, obtained by means of permanently installed catheters, two animals showed concentrations of PCB in milk of 6.27 and 74.45 ppm. These levels were reduced to less than half within three days post administration, whereafter the milk levels decreased slowly and persisted beyond 50 days. These da la arc shown in Fig. 2. The low levels of PCB detected in faeces are indictive of their good absorption from the gastro intestinal tract. The percentages of the PCB excreted via various routes indicate that by far the major route of ex cretion of PCB in lactating cows appears to be milk. Indeed, total collection for seven consecutive days of urine, faeces and inilk accounted for 9.42 per cent, and 6.06 per cent, of PCB in animals given 10 and 100 mg. per kg., respectively. Polychlorinated biphenyls excreted in milk during seven days accoun ted for 7.35 per cent, and 4.76'per.cent, of the totaldose in animals given 10 and 100 mg. per kg. respec tively. In both animals urinary excretion of PCB was insignificant, less than one hundredth of 1 per cent, in both animals. Tire PCB detected in faeces collected for seven days accounted for 2.07 per cent, and 1.30 per cent., which represent 3.5 and 3.6 times less than in the milk of the respective animal. and faeces were collected for two days prior to and seven days after the administration of the PCB. Polychlorinated biphenyls were extracted from samples and analysed according to a method for Acknowledgments.-- The authors wish to thank Mrs. N. Y. Chen and Mr. P. J. Ksenych for their technical assistance. This investigation wax supported by a grant to N. Platonow from the Ontario Department * Aroclor 1254, Monsanto Canada Ltd., Toronto, Ontario. of Health (No. 605-7-674). Animal facilities were DSW 552391 \y STLCOPCB4090808 102 . . THE VETERINARY RECORD JANUARY 22nd. 1972 kindly provided by the Ontario Department of Agri culture and Pood. July 9th, 1971. Yours faithfully, P. W. SASCHENBRECKER. Canada Department of Agriculture, Animal Patho logy Laboratory, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. ~ H. S. FUNNELL. N. S. PLATONOW. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. References Bagiev, G. E., Reiciifl, W. L., & Cromartie, E. (1970). J.A.O.A.C. S3. 25!. Duke. T. W., Lowe, J. I., & Wilson, A. J. (1970). Bull. Environ. Contain. Toxicol. 5. 171. Gustafson, C. G. (1970). Environm. Sci. Technol. 4. 814. Holmes, D. C.. Simmons, J. H., & Tatton, J. O. (1967). Nature Lotul. 214. 227. Jensen, S. (1966). New Scicr.t. 32. 612. ---------- , Joiinils, A. G., Olsson, m., &. Ottepxind, G. (1969). Nature Lond. 224. 247. Koeman. ). 11.. Ten Noevf.r De Brauw, M. C., & De Vos. R. II. (1969). Ibid. 221. 112G. Platonow, N., Saschenbrecker, P. W., & Funnell, H. S. (1971). Can. vet. J. 12. 115. Presst, 1., Jefferies, D. J., & Moore, N. W. (1970). Environ. Pollution. 1. 3. Reynolds, L. M. (1969). Bull. Environ. Contain. Toxicol. 4. 12S. Risebrough, R. \V,, Reiche, P,, Peakall, D. B,, Herman, S. G., & Kirven, M. N. (196S). Nature, Lond. 220. 109S. Saschenrrekeu, P. W., & Ecobiciion, D. J. (1967). /fgricult. Food Cltcm. IS. 16S. Westoo, G.t Noren, K., &. Andersson, M. (1970). Yarjoda. A "be -> Wait Till the Thumbscrews Are On Many farmers now suffering hardsliips from the Brucellosis Incentives Scheme should never have gone into it, some veterinary experts claim. Some farmers are continually losing coves after tests and find themselves operating depleted herds, since they arc not allowed to buy-in replacements until accredita tion. If a farmer calculates that it would cost him more to go into the Incentives Scheme than the incentives offer him, he should wait for compulsor-y eradication, or clean up bit by bit first and apply to the Incentives Scheme later. Farmers Weekly. January 14th, 1972. Chemical Shearing- Further research has been carried out in the U.S.A. on cyclophosphamide. This chemical, given orally to sheep, constricts the wool fibre at the point of formation and as the wool grows the constricted fibres come to the surface and the entire fleece can then be easily removed. The experiments proved that the fleece should not be left on too long after dosing with cyclophosphamide, since it soon begins to fall off, but, on the other hand, the sheep need some protection from the weather; research is now being concentrated on a way to leave the fleece on until the 21st day after dosing, thereby allowing the sheep to have a protective covering of its own wool. The drug was also shown to be safe for in-lamb ewes and does not affect the quality of the wool. ' The Scottish Farmer. January 15th, 1972. THE VET2HINA1TY SCENE `It Siiouldn't Ha'D'oen to 05 V wV It must have been 3 a.m. before I reluctantly switched off the light and saved a few chapters for tomorrow. My usual habit of reading in bed had backfired and instead of inducing drowsiness had left me wide awake, reading avidly, quite oblivious of the passage of time. The opening pages of James Herriot's new book It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet (Michael Joseph, 2), are sufficient to conjure up a very real picture of the delightful Yorkshire setting, if only by the un obtrusive use of dialect. Subsequent descriptions of the Dales are so vivid that anyone unfamiliar with this -part of the country can hardly fail to appreciate some of its appeal, whether it is mellowed bv sunshine, or making a reasonable attempt to be a Siberian winter. Against this background we are introduced to an astonishing variety of characters. Janies, the young vet, exuberant but well aware of his own short comings takes us with him on the rounds in his battered, but stalwart little Austin, rhe survivor of a series of dreadful mishaps. With only a year ofexperience behind him, James is at the mercy of clients and patients alike. The sometimes vague and exasperating yet paternal figure Of Siegfried Farnon, his employer, hovers reassuringly in Skcldale House offering -v9ords of aid, comfort, and advice. Tristan. Siegfried's younger brother, steps jauntily from the pages undaunted and unscathed by repeated attempts to destroy anything on wheels! Times have obviously changed since James's early days in practice, but animals remain the same. They emerge with a clarity that can only result. from genuine interest and long observation. The farmers are magnificent. There can be few country vets who have not already met similar characters, under different names, in other parts of the country. Whether or not they can all match the North country imperturbability and genius for understatement, is perhaps debatable. Mr. Clayton certainly deserves an Oscar for his nonchalant performance when James DSW 552392 STLCOPCB4090809