Direct evidence linking alkaloids found in endophyte-infected tall fescue forage with the livestock disorder known as fescue toxicosis is lacking. Physiologic effects of fescue toxicosis include reduced serum prolactin concentration in cattle. A monoclonal antibody specific to the lysergic moiety of ergot alkaloids was developed in mice after creating an immunogen by linking lysergol to human serum albumin. The antibody was specific to the lysergic moiety and, therefore, it cross-reacted with ergot alkaloids, lysergic acid, and lysergol. The antibody did not cross-react with alkaloid derivatives that had bromated or hydrogenated lysergic ring moieties. Fescue toxicosis conditions were elicited in yearling Angus steers by permitting them to graze endophyte-infected tall fescue containing > 650 Kg/kg of ergovaline for 60 days. Passive immunization of steers by infusion of the monoclonal antibody increased serum prolactin concentration by 7 ng/ml, beginning immediately after infusion. Control steers did not respond to treatment with bovine serum albumin. Active immunization of yearling Angus heifers with immunogens containing lysergol or ergonovine linked to human serum albumin resulted in an antibody response.

Pharmacokinetic variables of skeletal muscle creatine kinase (CK) activity after IV administration of a muscle extract; CK bioavailability after IM administration of the muscle extract; and effect of IM administration of saline solution, to appreciate the possible release of CK consecutive to muscle puncture, were determined in 6 cows. A general equation for the quantitative estimation of skeletal muscle damage also was derived. Administration of saline solution IM had no effect on plasma CK activity (ANOVA, P > 0.05) in any of the cows. After IV administration of the muscle extract (150 U/kg of body weight), mean volume of the central compartment, plasma half-life, and plasma clearance of CK were 0.027 +/- 0.007 L/kg, 520 +/- 109 minutes, and 6.43 +/- 2.29 ml/kg/h, respectively. After IM administration (150 U/kg), mean bioavailability of CK was 51 +/- 17% and maximal plasma CK activity (500 +/- 97 U/L) was observed at 454 +/- 131 minutes. The rate of CK activity entry into plasma was determined by use of deconvolution analysis. Two peaks were observed; the first appeared before the 30th minute after IM administration, and the second appeared at 3.3 +/- 1.1 hours. Amplitudes were 6.31 +/- 4.45 and 6.57 +/- 3.08 U/kg/h, for the first and the second peaks, respectively. The quantity of CK liberated from control muscle was 0.69 +/- 0.12 U/kg/h, corresponding to a normal daily catabolism of 5.8 +/- 1.0 mg of muscle/kg. From these results, the following equation can be proposed to determine the corresponding mean equivalent of destroyed muscle (Qmuscle, test article) after IM administration of a test article: Qmuscle, test article (g/kg) = 4.41 X 10(-6) AUC (U/h/L), with AUC being the CK plasma activity area under the curve.

Binding of endogenous and exogenous homologous IgG, and IgM to bovine neutrophils before and after in vitro migration through micropore filters, and in vivo migration through mammary tissues after intramammary injection of endotoxin was evaluated by use of flow cytometry. Immunoglobulin binding to neutrophils at 4 and 37 C was also evaluated. Before and after in vitro migration, neutrophils with endogenously bound IgG, and IgM averaged 1 and 2% and 23 and 7%, respectively. Before and after in vivo migration, IgG2 and IgM binding averaged 1 and 7% and 26 and 15%, respectively. Before and after in vitro migration, binding of purified IgG2 and IgM averaged 75 and 67% and 8 and 24%, respectively. Before and after in vivo migration, percentage of neutrophils binding purified IgG2 and IgM averaged 92 and 98% and 54 and 70%, respectively. When serum was used as a source of exogenous immunoglobulins, binding of total Igg after in vitro migration increased from 5% to 28% and of IgM from 4% to 20%. After in vivo migration, binding increased from 21% to 47% and from 24% to 56%, respectively. Exogenous binding of IgG2 at 4 and 37 C averaged 75 and 84%, and binding of IgM averaged 8% at either temperature. Endogenous IgG2 was unaffected by temperature; however, binding of IgM decreased from 23% at 4 C to 2% at 37 C. These data indicate that endogenous binding was higher for IgM before migration than after migration, in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, migration in vivo through cellular matrices induced receptor upregulation for IgG and IgM. Source and concentration of ligand and serum components, other than immunoglobulins, appeared to contribute to receptor expression and availability. Neutrophils that were exposed to endotoxin and migrated into milk expressed more receptors than did unstimulated and nonmigrating neutrophils. The association of IgM with its receptor was temperature-dependent.

Six Jersey cows were implanted with 8 pairs of bipolar electrodes: 1 in the jejunum, 1 in the ileum, 3 in the cecum, and 3 in the proximal loop of the ascending colon (PLAC). Myoelectric activity was recorded at 2- to 3-day intervals, 3 times for 8 hours or 4 times for 6 hours, using a computer-based oscillograph and data-acquisition program. Mean (+/- SD) duration of the migrating myoelectric complex (MMC) in the ileum was 84.52 +/- 4.87 minutes. Phases I and II of the MMC lasted significantly (P < 0.05) longer than phase III. Two types (A and B) of cyclic activity were found in the cecum and PLAC. Cyclic activity type A was observed predominantly in the cecum, and type B was observed exclusively in the PLAC. Phase III of the MMC in the ileum was accompanied by hyperactivity type A at the level of the ileocecocolic junction in 60.90 +/- 12.65% of the MMC. Twenty-seven types of orally and aborally propagated spike sequences, involving the cecum and PLAC, were found. They were most frequent when an MMC phase III was observed in the ileum, and least frequent when an MMC phase I was observed in the ileum (P < 0.05). All electrode sites of the cecum and PLAC served as pacemaker areas. Propagated and nonpropagated spikes were found at all electrode sites of the cecum and PLAC. Although propagated spikes lasted significantly (P < 0.05) longer than nonpropagated spikes, a clear distinction on the basis of duration could not be defined between the 2 spike types because broad overlapping of duration existed. Duration of cecocolic spiking activity per electrode (expressed as percentage of time) was significantly (P < 0.05) greater during MMC phase III in the ileum than during MMC phase I. It can be concluded that myoelectric activity of the cecum is well coordinated with the ileum and the PLAC. Phases of reduced and increased myoelectric activity in the cecum and PLAC are simultaneous with phases I and III of the MMC in the ileum.

Endoscopy of the nasopharynx, pharynx, and larynx was performed in each of 25 adult Jersey cows, age and body weight of which ranged from 2 to 6 years and 300 to 365 kg respectively. The endoscopic appearance of normal anatomic structures of the proximal portion of the airway were described. Observations specific to female dairy cattle were: the nasal septum, which tapered caudodorsally in the distal third of the nasal passage; the ability to observe both ethmoturbinates from the same viewing side; presence of a pharyngeal septum; the nasopharyngeal opening of the auditory tubes dorsolateral to the pharyngeal septum; and the appearance of the larynx--a triangular epiglottis with round borders and prominent corniculate process of the arytenoid cartilages. Tracheoscopy was performed in 13 cows. Of 11 cows for which the soft palate could be observed immediately after withdrawing the endoscope, 7 had dorsal displacement of the soft palate.

Holding power was determined for various orthopedic screws in bones of calves. Holding power was defined as maximal tensile force required to remove a screw divided by thickness of bone engaged by the screw (kN/mm). Comparative pull-out tests were performed, using pairs of large metacarpal or metatarsal bones from calves aged 3 to 14 days. Comparisons were made of the holding power of 6.5-mm fully threaded cancellous screws and 5.5-mm cortical screws in the proximal and distal metaphyses, and of 4.5-mm and 5.5-mm cortical screws in the diaphysis. Sixteen repetitions of each comparative trial were performed. There was no statistically significant difference in the holding power of 4.5- and 5.5-mm cortical screws in the diaphysis. There was no significant difference in the holding power of 5.5-mm cortical and 6.5-mm fully threaded cancellous screws in the proximal metaphysis. In the distal metaphysis, 6.5-nu-n fully threaded cancellous screws had significantly (P < 0.001) greater holding power than did 5.5-mm cortical screws. There was no significant difference between the mean holding power of 5.5-mm cortical screws in the proximal metaphysis and 5.5-mm cortical screws in the distal metaphysis. There was significantly (P < 0.01) greater mean holding power of 6.5-mm cortical, fully threaded cancellous screws in the distal metaphysis, compared with the proximal metaphysis.

During growth, central venous, right ventricular, pulmonary arterial, Pulmonary capillary wedge, and systemic arterial pressures, heart rate, and cardiac Output were repeatedly measured in 41 Friesian calves, considered as having conventional muscular conformation, and in 19 Belgian White and Blue double-muscled calves. A total of 123 and 70 recordings were collected in conventional and double-muscled calves, respectively. These circulatory indices were calculated: stroke volume, cardiac and stroke indices, pulmonary and systemic pulse pressures, pulmonary and systemic vascular resistance indices, and right and left ventricular work indices. Results indicated that systemic arterial and pulse pressures, as well as cardiac output, stroke volume, cardiac and stroke indices, and right and left ventricular work indices were significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05 to 0.001) lower but, in contrast, pulmonary and systemic vascular resistance indices were significantly (P less than or equal to 0.001) higher in double-muscled than in conventional calves. Right-sided vascular pressures and heart rate were similar in the 2 groups. These results indicated that global cardiac performance may be considerably poorer in double-muscled calves. Diminished cardiac performance of double-muscled calves appears to be related neither to relative bradycardia nor to reduced ventricular preload. The potential role of increased ventricular afterload or of reduced myocardial contractility in double-muscled cattle should be determined by direct measurements.

Efficacy of abamectin against gastrointestinal tract nematodes and lungworms of cattle was determined in 4 experiments. The first 2 experiments were controlled trials in which efficacy was determined at necropsy in calves with either experimentally induced (n = 14) or naturally acquired (n = 16) infections. Half the calves in each experiment were treated with abamectin (200 micrograms/kg of body weight, sc), and half were left untreated as controls. Efficacy was > 99% against adult stages of Dictyocaulus viviparus, Haemonchus placei, Ostertagia ostertagi, Trichostrongylus axei, Cooperia punctata, Trichuris discolor, and C oncophora, and was 92.4% against Nematodirus helvetianus. The second 2 experiments were clinical trials in which efficacy was determined by fecal egg count reduction in naturally infected yearling heifers (n = 75) or 2-year-old heifers (n = 75). Within replicates of 5, 4 heifers were assigned at random to treatment with 200 Kg of abamectin/kg and 1 was left untreated as a control. Abamectin was 100% effective in eliminating strongylate nematode eggs from the feces of these heifers. In all experiments, adverse reactions were limited to small, clinically unimportant injection site swellings in 29% of abamectin-treated calves. Abamectin was judged to be safe and effective in these trials.

Association between individual cumulative milk yield and various reproductive disorders in 56,772 Finnish Ayrshire cows belonging to 5,912 herds in 80 communities was studied. All cows delivered calves between September 1985 and September 1986. Five logistic regression models were fitted, 1 for each outcome disorder of interest: early metritis, late metritis, silent heat, ovarian cyst, and other infertility. Cumulative individual 37-day milk yield was used in the early metritis model, and cumulative individual 60-day milk yield was used in the other models, on the basis of median days in milk when these disorders developed. Cumulative 305-day herd milk yield, parity, calving season, presence or absence of other disorders, and community were also included in the models. Point estimates from the models represented odds ratios for the likelihood of having the outcome disorder.Lactational incidence risks for the 5 reproductive disorders studied were: early metritis (2.4%), late metritis (1.1%), silent heat (5.4%), ovarian cyst (6.6%), and other infertility (2.1%). The risk of early metritis decreased with increasing 37-day milk yield. The risk of silent heat, ovarian cyst, and other infertility increased with increasing 60-day milk yield; 60-day milk yield had no effect on late metritis. The 305-day herd milk yield increased the risk of early metritis, ovarian cyst, and other infertility; it had no effect on late metritis or silent heat. Parity had an effect on all disorders, except late metritis. Cows that delivered calves during the colder, darker seasons of the year had a higher risk of reproductive disorders than did those that delivered calves at other times of the year. A number of other disorders, reproductive and otherwise, were significant predictors of development of the outcome disorders.

The umbilical stalk, vein, and arteries, urachal region, and urinary bladder of 9 healthy Holstein calves were scanned ultrasonographically at weekly intervals from 1 day to 3 weeks of age. Four additional calves of representative ages, 1 day, 1 week, 2 weeks. and 3 weeks were euthanatized after ultrasonographic evaluation of the umbilical structures. Umbilical structures from these 4 calves were dissected, photographed, and examined histologically to ensure normalcy. These gross specimens were correlated with the ultrasonographic images and compared with serial ultrasonograms of 9 calves. The ultrasonographic scanning technique and the appearance of normal umbilical stalk, arteries, and vein, and urachus in calves were different from those described for foals. The umbilical vein of calves was scanned from the umbilical stalk to the liver along the right abdominal wall. Two veins, which merged within the body wall, were identified within the stalk. Umbilical arteries were not found within the umbilical stalk; they ended abruptly near the apex of the urinary bladder. A urachal remnant was not identified in any of the calves. A range of normal values for measurement of the umbilical stalk, umbilical arteries, and umbilical vein at 3 sites was determined. The described ultrasonographic appearance and measurements of the normal Holstein calf umbilicus may be used as a reference for evaluation of calves with internal umbilical abnormalities.