A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of ochratoxin A (OA) on Escherichia coli -challenged broiler chickens. One hundred and eighty-four one-day-old broiler chicks were divided into two groups of 92 chicks each, with one group fed a control mash diet and the other fed a mash diet containing 2 parts/10 6 OA. On day 14, each group was further subdivided into two groups with one group inoculated with E. coli O78 (1/10 7 colony-forming units/0.5 ml) by the intraperitoneal route, whereas the other group was not inoculated with E. coli. Four birds from each group were sacrificed at 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14 and 21 days post-inoculation to record pathological changes in the liver, kidneys, heart, lungs, bursa, spleen and thymus. E. coli infection induced perihepatitis and pericarditis in the liver and heart, respectively, in chickens infected with E. coli alone or in OAfed birds from 1 day post-infection (DPI) onwards. At 1 DPI, a thin fibrin layer covered the liver and heart; however, at subsequent days, the layer became thicker. E. coli infection did not produce appreciable changes in the kidneys, bursa or thymus. However, there was congestion of the lungs along with mononuclear cell infiltration. Ochratoxin feeding induced changes from 10 DPI onwards in chicks fed OA alone and those infected with E. coli. The changes in kidneys included swollen proximal convoluted tubules, degeneration of tubular epithelium and interstitial nephritis. Degenerative changes and mononuclear cell infiltration were recorded in the liver. There was atrophy of the lymphoid organs along with depletion of lymphocytes. Gross and histopathological changes were more severe in chickens fed OA and inoculated with E. coli than the chickens fed OA alone or those infected with E. coli, indicating combined action of these two.

FIG 1: Intracytoplasmic neuronal immunolabelling localised in the thalamic area of the brain by immunohistochemical detection using 3F4 monoclonal antibody (x 1000) FIG 2: Protease resistant prion protein (PrP res) demonstrated by Western blotting of samples from brains of cheetah (1, 2), sheep (3), cow (4) or BSE-infected mouse (5), with spongiform encephalopathy, using RS1 antiserum (2-5) or 3F4 monoclonal antibody (1)

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Intratracheal inoculation of 2-week old quail chicks with Aspergillus flavus spores resulted in the development of clinical signs within 24 h of infection. These were characterized by dullness, depression, anorexia, accelerated breathing, gasping and prostration leading to death. These signs continued up to 7 days followed by considerable decrease in the intensity of the symptoms as well as number of birds showing clinical signs. Mortality occurred primarily in the first week with a majority of the birds dying from 2-4 days after infection. The overall mortality during a 6-week observation period was 25%. The average body weight of the infected chicks was slightly lower than that of controls; the difference being significant at 2, 3 and 42 days post-infection. There was no appreciable difference in the mean values of haemoglobin, packed cell volume and total erythrocyte count between the infected and control chicks at any stage of infection, but total leucocyte count revealed a significant increase (p less than 0.05) from 3-7 days post-infection. This was due to increase in the percentage of heterophils and decrease in lymphocytes.

A total of 390 one-day-old quail chicks (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were divided into 4 groups (3 replicates per treatment), viz. CX, FX, MX, and FM, containing 75, 105, 105, and 105 birds, respectively. Birds in the control group (CX) were fed quail mash alone, whereas birds in group FX were fed 200 ppm of fumonisin B(1) (FB(1)) from Fusarium verticillioides culture material; group MX was fed 100 ppm of moniliformin (M) from Fusarium fujikuroi culture material; and group FM was fed a combination of 200 ppm of FB(1) and 100 ppm of M. Diets were fed from d 1 to 35 to study clinical signs, growth response, serum biochemical changes, and cell-mediated immune response. Birds fed FB(1) (FX) showed ruffled feathers and poor growth. Birds in group MX appeared more stunted than those in group FX and exhibited signs of poor feathering and decreased feed and water intake. Clinical signs observed in group FM were more or less similar to those observed in groups FX and MX. Total mortality was 12.38, 7.62, and 20.95% for groups FX, MX, and FM, respectively. Mean BW in groups FX, MX, and FM were significantly lower than those in the control group (CX) at almost all intervals. Total serum proteins, albumin, cholesterol, aspartate transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase values were higher in all treatment groups compared with the control group. Cell-mediated immune response was more or less comparable in groups CX and MX, whereas the presence of FB(1) in the diet of groups FX and FM was found to be associated with a gradual increase in skin thickness, and the mononuclear inflammatory cell response was poor as compared with groups CX and MX throughout the study. Except for mortality (additive effect) and serum aspartate transaminase values (less than an additive effect up to 14 DPF), no additive or synergistic effects were observed for any of the other response variables measured in the current study, where all statistical differences were attributed to either one mycotoxin or the other.

The objective of this case report was to describe the ultrasonographic, surgical, and histopathological findings of a rare clinical case of uterine leiomyoma in a 5-year-old Holstein crossbred cow presented for diagnosis and treatment of infertility. Transrectal palpation revealed a large nonpainful mass suspected to be an abscess or a tumor in the caudal abdomen on the right side. Transabdominal ultrasonography revealed a round mass with irregular hypoechogenic/echogenic foci and a thin echogenic capsule around it. Ultrasonographic-guided centesis of the lesion under local analgesia did not yield any foul smelling aspirate leading to a tentative diagnosis of an intra-abdominal tumor. The lesion was later confirmed by exploratory laparotomy and histopathology as a case of uterine leiomyoma. The cow gave birth to a live normal calf 12 months following the surgery. Rectal examination after parturition revealed no evidence of the tumor at the surgical site. Ultrasonography enabled prompt, noninvasive diagnosis of uterine leiomyoma and proved to be a useful decision-making tool in the abdominal surgery of the cow. This is an interesting case which broadens the spectrum of the causes of infertility in cattle.