Summary:A qualitative field test for determining the blood level of the enzyme γ-glutamyltransferase is described for the evaluation of colostral ingestion. The method for enzyme determination is based on dry chemistry technology, and a simple 37 °C incubator and colour chart for estimating the activity. There were good correlations between results obtained with the field tests and those obtained with the Reflotron® and the wet chemistry conventional methods. Following colostral intake by the calf, blood γ-glutamyltransferase increased more than 100 fold. There were good correlations between γ-glutamyltransferase and total globulins in the serum on days 2 and 3 after colostrum intake. Lower but significant correlations were seen between the enzyme and serum total proteins. Good correlation was also seen between the serum enzyme activity and the albumin to globulin ratio. Electrophoretic separation of calf serum showed a significant increase of γ-globulins after colostral ingestion. The implications and importance of field test are discussed.
Curvularia lunata was cultured from black granules found in granulomatous tumefactions excised from the subcutis of a three year old Medium Schnauzer dog. Draining sinuses were present in some of the tumefactions. Accordingly the diagnosis of eumycotic mycetoma was made. This diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination. During the four years following the first surgical intervention, several more similar tumefactions were excised on three different occasions. The dog died of chronic renal failure at the age of 8 years. There was no bone involvement or visceral diffusion of the fungus. The granules were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Immunoglobulins in the dog's serum, assessed by a qualitative test, proved to be equal to immunoglobulins in the serum of a control dog. Precipitating antibodies against C. lunata were not found. The dog was treated for 150 days with itraconazole. In spite of good initial results, recurrence of the fungal lesions were observed after the treatment's interruption. Further treatment with itraconazole for 45 days proved ineffective. No side effects of the drug were observed. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first case in which C. lunata is identified as the causative agent of an animal eumycetoma.
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