Lungs and fecal samples from nine hunter-killed Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep were examined for lungworms. All samples contained adults and/or larvae of Muellerius capillaris (Mueller, 1889). Protostrongylus spp., the lungworms commonly reported from bighorn sheep, were not present in any samples. Larvae of M. capillaris bear a spine on the dorsal side of the posterior end and are shorter than dorsal-spined larvae of other lungworms recorded from North American ungulates. Larvae similar in shape but longer than those of Muellerius were found in free-ranging bighorn sheep in Alberta and British Columbia. In addition, dorsal-spined larvae have been found in bighorn sheep in Montana, North Dakota, and Washington. The identity of the dorsal-spined larvae is known only from sheep in South Dakota. Thus, caution must be taken when diagnosing lungworm infections in Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep.
Hematologic parameters were studied in giant Canada geese (Branta canadensis maxima), mallard ducks (Anas platyrhzynchzos platyrhynchos) and various species of diving ducks at seasonal intervals throughout the year. Highest values for packed cell volume, hemoglobin content and erythrocyte counts were found in the winter and pre-nesting periods. Mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin varied inversely with these values.
Ten Holstein cows in mid-lactation which had been fed only stored feeds for several years were paired on milk production. One cow from each pair was assigned to either the control or group treated with supplemental vitamin E for a 12-wk experiment. All cows were fed 3 kg alfalfa-brome hay, corn silage ad libitum, and concentrate at 1 kg/3 kg milk produced daily. This ration provided about 500 mg of vitamin E (total tocopherols) daily. Five cows were fed an additional 300 mg vitamin E daily as D-alpha-tocopherol acetate in their concentrate mix. Feeding the supplemental vitamin E increased the vitamin E content of milk fat 15 to 20% from 18 microgram/g fat to over 21 microgram/g fat. However, this change in vitamin E content of milk was not sufficient to improve the oxidative stability of the milk. Blood characteristics indicative of vitamin E status generally were unaffected by vitamin E supplementation although red cell hemolysis, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, and lactate dehydrogenase of serum were lower in blood of supplemented cows.
The effects of PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) or a combination of DDT (1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl) ethane), DDD (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl) ethane) and DDE (1,1-dichloro-2,2,-bis (p-chlorophenyl ethylene) on organ weights, liver storage of vitamin A and carotene, selected blood chemistry parameters, and serum protein fractions were determined in penned white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) receiving a daily dosage of these compounds. Birds received 100 mg of PCBs or a combination of DDT (20 mg), DDD (15 mg), and DDE (15 mg) injected into the first fish fed each day for ten weeks. A greater percentage of PCB treatment was retained in brain, liver, carcass and feathers than the percentage of DDT + DDD + DDE treatment. Liver weight as percent of body weight decreased (p less than 0.01) in DDT + DDD + DDE-treated birds and increased (p less than 0.01) as a total weight in PCB-treated birds. Spleen weight as percent of body weight was greater (p less than 0.05) in PCB-treated birds. Neither treatment had a significant effect on the weight of the brain, heart, or kidney. Liver vitamin A levels were greater (p less than 0.01) on a mug/g of liver basis in the DDT-treated birds than in controls. Significant lowering of serum potassium and protein values was noted in both the PCB- and the combination of DDT, DDD, DDE-treated birds, while serum calcium values were lowered (p less than 0.01) only in PCB-treated birds. Vaues of serum inorganic phosphorus, uric acid and magnesium were not significantly changed by either treatment. Globulin fractions were unaltered by either treatment, but albumin fractions were lowered (p less than 0.01) in the PCB-treated pelicans.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.