The new Israeli feed safety law: challenges in relation to animal and public health.

The Israeli feed safety legislation, which came to prominence in the early 1970s, has undergone a major change from simple feed safety and quality regulations to a more holistic concept of control of feed safety and quality throughout the whole feed production chain, from farm to the end user table. In February 2014, a new law was approved by the Israeli parliament, namely the Control of Animal Feed Law, which is expected to enter into effect in 2017. The law is intended to regulate the production and marketing of animal feed, guaranteeing the safety and quality of animal products throughout the production chain. The responsibility on the implementation of the new feed law was moved from the Plant Protection Inspection Service to the Veterinary Services and Animal Health. In preparation for the law's implementation, we have characterized the various sources and production lines of feed for farm and domestic animals in Israel and assessed the current feed safety challenges in terms of potential hazards or undesirable substances. Moreover, the basic requirements for feed safety laboratories, which are mandatory for analyzing and testing for potential contaminants, are summarized for each of the contaminants discussed. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Whole Blood Cholinesterase Activity in 20 Species of Wild Birds.

Clinical signs of organophosphate and carbamate intoxication in wild birds can be mistaken for those of other diseases, thus potentially delaying diagnosis and implementation of life-saving treatment. The objective of this study was to determine the reference interval for blood cholinesterase activity in 20 different wild avian species from 7 different orders, thereby compiling a reference database for wildlife veterinarians. Blood was collected from birds not suspected of having organophosphate or carbamate toxicosis, and the modified Michel method, which determines the change in blood pH that directly correlates with cholinesterase activity, was used to measure blood cholinesterase levels. Results of change in blood pH values ranged from 0.11 for the white-tailed eagle ( Haliaeetus albicilla ) to 0.90 for the honey buzzard ( Pernis apivorus ). The results showed that even within the same family, interspecies differences in normal cholinesterase blood activity were not uncommon. The findings emphasized the importance of determining reference intervals for avian blood cholinesterase activity at the species level.

Cuticular fatty acid profile analysis of three Rhipicephalus tick species (Acari: Ixodidae).

Cuticular fatty acids (CFA) are important constituents of the arthropod exoskeleton, serving as structural and defense components, and participating in intra-species communication. Here we describe for the first time a comparative analysis of the CFA profiles of three tick species of the genus Rhipicephalus: R. annulatus, R. bursa and R. sanguineus. CFA profiles were determined for R. bursa and R. sanguineus grown both on rabbit or calf, and for R. annulatus grown on calf. CFA composition was compared for each species before and after ethanol treatment, for different hosts of each species, and between the different species. Our data suggest that adsorption of the host's fatty acids changes the apparent CFA composition. Ethanol treatment efficiently removed the unbound fatty acids from the ticks and revealed the actual composition. Comparison between ticks grown on rabbit versus calf showed significant difference in the relative abundance of fatty acids C14 and 9,12-C18:2 for R. bursa, and a difference in the relative abundance of C14 for R. sanguineus. Comparison of the CFA between the three species revealed significant differences in the abundance of fatty acids C16, 9,12-C18:2, 9-C18:1, C18 and C20. Our results show that while the host had a minor effect on CFA composition within each species, significant differences were observed in the CFA profiles of different species. We suggest that CFA profiles may be used to distinguish between related species. CFA analysis can also be used in studies of communication and defense mechanisms in ticks and other arthropods.

Examination of Eurasian griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus fulvus) in Israel for exposure to environmental toxicants using dried blood spots.

The griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) is one of seven species of Old World Gyps vultures found over a wide range from the Iberian peninsula in the west through the Balkans, Turkey, and the Middle East to India in the east. The population of the griffon vultures in Israel has suffered a dramatic decrease, and in recent years productivity has been severely reduced. In this study, whole-blood samples taken from 25 apparently healthy griffon vultures at various stages of maturity were examined to investigate whether the vultures are being excessively exposed to environmental contaminants that might deleteriously affect their reproduction. Five groups of environmental contaminants, comprising toxic elements, organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and perfluorinated compounds, were monitored in dried blood spots. Results of the analyses showed low levels of exposure of griffon vultures to environmental contaminants compared with the sparse data available on griffon vultures and other diurnal raptors in other countries.

Clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, treatment and outcome of acute organophosphate or carbamate intoxication in 39 cats.

BACKGROUND: Organophosphates and carbamates are important sources of intoxication for humans and animals. However, large-scale studies of these intoxications in cats are unavailable. METHODS: The medical records of 39 cats presented to a veterinary teaching hospital with acute organophosphate or carbamate intoxication were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Mortality in intoxicated cats was 15%. Low respiratory rate and low rectal temperature at presentation were associated with death. Other common clinical signs included weakness, ataxia, apathy, recumbency, anorexia and bradycardia, but these were unassociated with the outcome. The common biochemical abnormalities included decreased serum butyryl-choline esterase activity, acidaemia, hypercarbaemia and total hypocalcaemia, and increased creatine kinase activity and total plasma protein concentration. There were no significant differences in haematological, biochemical and blood gas analytes between survivors and non-survivors. Common medications and treatments included 2-pyridine aldoxime methyl-chloride-pralidoxime (2-PAM) (74%), metoclopramide (64%), antibiotics (64%), diphenhydramine (59%) and atropine sulphate (54%). There were no significant drug and treatment differences between survivors and non-survivors. The secondary complications of the intoxication included pneumonia (10%), acute kidney injury (10%) and pancreatitis (8%). CONCLUSIONS: Acute cholinergic crisis due to organophosphate or carbamate intoxication has a fair prognosis in cats. Low respiratory rate and low rectal temperature at presentation were associated with death. The most commonly used specific medications in this study included 2-PAM, diphenhydramine and atropine sulphate.

Effects of environmental estrogens on animals in Israel: implications for effects on humans.

In the last decade interest has increased in the possible effects of endocrine disruptor compounds. Numerous papers have appeared as to their possible effects on humans, but definitive effects are hard to demonstrate. In the field of animal husbandry, however, the effects of the endocrine disruptors are well documented. This paper discussed the effects of the endocrine disruptors seen in animals and the possible implications for humans. The areas considered are reproductive disorders, premature udder/breast development, prolapsed oviduct/uterus, scrotal atrophy, and skewed sex ratio.

Pyrrolizidine and tropane alkaloids in teas and the herbal teas peppermint, rooibos and chamomile in the Israeli market.

Dehydro pyrrolizidine alkaloids (dehydro PAs) are carcinogenic phytotoxins prevalent in the Boraginaceae, Asteraceae and Fabaceae families. Dehydro PAs enter the food and feed chain by co-harvesting of crops intended for human and animal consumption as well as by carry-over into animal-based products such as milk, eggs and honey. Recently the occurrence of dehydro PAs in teas and herbal teas has gained increasing attention from the EU, due to the high levels of dehydro PAs found in commercially available teas and herbal teas in Germany and Switzerland. Furthermore, several tropane alkaloids (TAs, e.g. scopolamine and hyoscyamine) intoxications due to the consumption of contaminated herbal teas were reported in the literature. The aim of the present study was to determine the dehydro PAs and TAs levels in 70 pre-packed teabags of herbal and non-herbal tea types sold in supermarkets in Israel. Chamomile, peppermint and rooibos teas contained high dehydro PAs levels in almost all samples analysed. Lower amounts were detected in black and green teas, while no dehydro PAs were found in fennel and melissa herbal teas. Total dehydro PAs concentrations in chamomile, peppermint and rooibos teas ranged from 20 to 1729 µg/kg. Except for black tea containing only mono-ester retrorsine-type dehydro PAs, all other teas and herbal teas showed mixed patterns of dehydro PA ester types, indicating a contamination by various weed species during harvesting and/or production. The TA levels per teabag were below the recommended acute reference dose; however, the positive findings of TAs in all peppermint tea samples warrant a more extensive survey. The partially high levels of dehydro PAs found in teas and herbal teas present an urgent warning letter to the regulatory authorities to perform routine quality control analysis and implement maximum residual levels for dehydro PAs.

Acute maduramicin toxicosis in pregnant gilts.

Ionophores are used as feed additives for the control of coccidiosis and growth promotion in farm animals. Reports of maduramicin toxicosis in farm animals are scarce. The present work describes an acute maduramicin toxicosis affecting 22 pregnant gilts, 2 pregnant sows and 2 boars, resulting in a total mortality of 65% within 2days. The clinical and histopathological findings observed shared similar characteristics to acute ionophore toxicosis in pigs, being characterized by severe myodegeneration in skeletal muscle and degenerative changes in the myocardium. Important clinical pathology indices found were elevated levels of CPK and ALT. In contrast to the pregnant gilts, the two pregnant sows completely recovered after 1month and farrowed 2months after the intoxication event healthy piglets. The lack of effect of maduramicin on the fetuses might be indicative of poor placental penetration of maduramicin. Moreover, the present work reports for the first time maduramicin levels in livers (0.5mg/kg) of gilts exposed to lethal concentrations of maduramicin (18.5mg/kg) in the feed. As the average feed intake of the gilts was estimated to be 3.5kg feed/day, the mean maduramicin intake leading to the observed high mortality rate was 0.4mg/kg body weight/day.

New validated multiresidue analysis of six 4-hydroxy-coumarin anticoagulant rodenticides in hen eggs.

Anticoagulant rodenticides are frequently a cause of poisoning of domestic animals, wildlife, and human beings. A toxicosis in 6,000 laying hens caused by the malicious addition of unknown amounts of coumatetralyl bait as well as the insecticides aldicarb, methomyl, and imidacloprid in the drinking water, was investigated in the current study. In order to determine a possible carryover of coumatetralyl into eggs, a rapid and reliable analytical method was developed and fully validated for the simultaneous detection of 6 anticoagulant rodenticides (warfarin, coumatetralyl, coumachlor, bromadiolone, difenacoum, and brodifacoum) in yolk and albumen using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. The method developed was reproducible, sensitive, accurate, and linear within the range of 0.01-1 mg/kg, which is the concentration range of bromadiolone and warfarin found in yolk in previously reported studies. The coefficient of variations of within and between days was 1.0-8.5% for yolk and 0.6-3.8% for albumen, while recoveries from spiked albumen and yolk samples were all in the range of 79-99% and 51-95%, respectively. Limits of detection in yolk were 0.01 mg/kg for warfarin and 0.003 mg/kg for the remaining compounds; in albumen, the limit of detection was 0.003 mg/kg for warfarin, coumatetralyl, and coumachlor, and 0.0015 mg/kg for difenacoum and brodifacoum. The application of the validated method revealed the presence of coumatetralyl in the yolk only at levels of 0.0057 mg/kg and 0.0052 mg/kg on the second and fourth day of the poisoning. In conclusion, the HPLC method demonstrated suitability for application in official analysis of anticoagulants in hen eggs.

Carry-over of aflatoxin B1 to aflatoxin M1 in high yielding Israeli cows in mid- and late-lactation.

The potent hepatotoxin and carcinogen aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a common mycotoxin contaminant of grains used in animal feeds. Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is the major metabolite of AFB1 in mammals, being partially excreted into milk, and is a possible human carcinogen. The maximum permitted concentration of AFM1 in cows' milk is 0.05 µg/kg in Israel and the European Union. Since milk yield and the carry-over of AFB1 in the feed to AFM1 in the milk are highly correlated, it was considered important to determine the AFM1 carry-over in Israeli-Holstein dairy cows, distinguished by world record high milk production. Twelve such cows were used to determine AFM1 carry-over following daily oral administration of feed containing ~86 µg AFB1 for 7 days. The mean carry-over rate at steady-state (Days 3-7) was 5.8% and 2.5% in mid-lactation and late-lactation groups, respectively. The carry-over appears to increase exponentially with milk yield and could be described by the equation: carry-over% = 0.5154 e(0.0521 × milk yield), with r(2) = 0.6224. If these data truly reflect the carry-over in the national Israeli dairy herd, the maximum level of AFB1 in feed should not exceed 1.4 µg/kg, a value 3.6 times lower than the maximum residue level currently applied in Israel.