Effects of dietary acetaminophen and vitamin C supplement on serum cortisol and tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentrations in pigs vaccinated with foot-and-mouth disease vaccine

This study evaluated the effect of a combination of acetaminophen and vitamin C (CAV) on reducing serum cortisol and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) concentrations in piglets vaccinated with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine. Piglets were vaccinated with FMD vaccine and treated with CAV at concentrations of 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 kg/ton feed (P-CON, AD-1, AD-2, and AD-3, groups, respectively) for 5 days post-vaccination. Cortisol and TNF-α levels at 5 days post-treatment in the AD-1–3 groups were significantly lower than that in the P-CON group (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between AD-2 and AD-3 groups and non-vaccinated, non-CAV-treated piglets.

Blood parameter changes in Korean traditional calves and pigs after foot-and-mouth disease vaccination

This study investigated changes in certain blood parameters in calves and pigs after foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccination. In this study, five calves and five pigs were selected from groups of 10 calves and pigs, respectively, and were vaccinated with an FMD vaccine. The remaining animals formed two non-treatment control groups. Blood samples were collected from all animals on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th days post-vaccination. In the FMD-vaccinated calves and pigs on day 7 post-vaccination, white blood cell counts, blood urea nitrogen levels, and alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities were higher than those in the respective controls. The present data suggested that the certain hemato-biochemical parameters on cattle and pigs were meaningfully changed between before and after FMD vaccination.

Effect of a mixture of Galla rhois and Cinnamomum cassia extracts on susceptibility to the colonization of Campylobacter jejuni in broiler chickens

The present study evaluated the effects of a mixture of Galla rhois and Cinnamomum cassia extracts (GCE) (1 : 1, w/w) on susceptibility to the colonization of Campylobacter (C.) jejuni in broilers. Eighty two-week-old broilers (n = 20 per group) were used to estimate the efficacy of GCE against C. jejuni infection via drinking water. Antibacterial activity testing revealed that the minimum bactericidal concentration of GCE against C. jejuni was 2.5 mg/mL. Broilers challenged with C. jejuni were administered 0.0 (Non-GCE), 2.5 (GCE-2.5), 5.0 (GCE-5.0) and 10.0 g/L (GCE-10) GCE for 7 days, and the cecal contents were collected from five broilers per group on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th day post-treatment. On day 3 post-administration, the number of C. jejuni in GCE-5.0 (p < 0.05) and GCE-10 (p < 0.01) was significantly decreased relative to Non-GCE, while on day 7 those in all GCE-treated groups were significantly decreased compared to the Non-GCE group (p < 0.001). Hematological and blood biochemical analysis revealed no significant differences in parameters between the Non-GCE and GCE-treated groups. Based on the results of the present study, GCE was identified as a safe and alternative candidate to suppress C. jejuni colonization in broilers.

Analysis of antibiotic residues in milk from healthy dairy cows treated with bovine mastitis ointment using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

This study was conducted to analyze penicillin G (PEG), streptomycin (STR) and neomycin (NEO) residues in milk of healthy lactating cows. Milk samples were collected from all four quarters of 12 dairy cows 2–7 days after intramammary infusions of an ointment containing PEG, STR and NEO once (n = 4; group I) or twice (n = 4, group II) daily. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry was used to determine the antibiotic residues in the samples. The correlation coefficient (r 2) of the calibration curves for all antibiotics was > 0.999 and the limits of detection and quantification were 0.002–0.005 µg/mL and 0.007–0.02 µg/mL, respectively. Recovery rates were ranged from 75.5 to 92.3%. In group I, PEG, STR and NEO residues were detected in milk at 2, 3 and 2 days post-treatment, respectively, which were below the maximum residue limit (MRL). In group II, PEG, STR and NEO residues were detected in milk at 2, 3 and 3 days post-treatment, respectively, which were bellow the MRL. These results suggest that a 3-day for milk withdrawal period after the ointment treatment might be sufficient for reduction of the antibiotic residues below the MRL.

Effect of Lactobacillus plantarum on noxious gas emission and carcass quality grade in finishing pigs / 동물의과학연구지

This study investigated the effects of LactoPlanta(R) (Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum), 2.0 x 10(9) colony forming units (CFU)/kg) on reduction of noxious gas emission in pig houses as well as improvement of carcass weight and quality in finishing pigs. A total of 850 finishing pigs were assigned to four treatment groups: control (CON, basal diet) (n=190), LP-0.1, 0.1% LactoPlanta(R) (n=210), LP-0.2, 0.2% LactoPlanta(R) (n=230), and LP-0.4, 0.4% LactoPlanta(R) (n=220). Ammonia and hydrogen sulfide concentrations were significantly reduced in all treatment groups compared to CON. Mercaptan contents and carcass weights of LP-0.2 and LP-0.4 were significantly decreased compared to CON, whereas there were no significant differences between LP-0.1 and CON. Carcass weight of LP-0.1 was slightly higher than that of CON, but there was no significant difference. However, carcass weights of LP-0.2 and LP-0.4 were significantly higher than that of CON (P<0.05). The prevalence of grade A carcasses in groups administered with L. plantarum (46.7~63.3%) was higher than that in CON (43.3%) and increased in a dose-dependent manner. Based on the results of this study, L. plantarum could be an effective candidate to reduce noxious gas emissions in finishing pig houses as well as improve carcass weight and quality in finishing pigs.

Therapeutic effect of oregano essential oil on subclinical bovine mastitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli / 대한수의학회지

Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is an aromatic herb belonging to the Lamiaceae family. This study evaluated the therapeutic effect of oregano essential oil (OEO) on clinical bovine mastitis caused by Staphylococcus (S.) aureus and/or Escherichia (E.) coli. Thirty-two quarters from 18 lactating cows with subclinical mastitis were selected from a dairy farm and were divided into 4 groups (8 quarters/group): negative control (CON), positive control (GEN) and two OEO-treated groups (OEO-1 and OEO-2). Each group was intramammarily treated with saline, 10 g/tube of gentamicin ointment, and single and double doses of 0.9 mL OEO ointment twice a day for three days, respectively. After the treatments, physical udder conditions were greatly improved in GEN and OEO groups. In CON group, somatic cell counts (SCCs), number of white blood cells (WBC) and bacteria were increased. However, in OEO groups, SCCs and number of WBC were significantly decreased and S. aureus and E. coli were not detected in milk as compared with those before the treatments as well as GEN group. These results suggest that OEO may be a useful alternative to antibiotics for the control of subclinical bovine mastitis caused by S. aureus and/or E. coli.

Therapeutic effects of combination of Galla rhois extract and Sodium chlorate on Mice infected with Brucella abortus / 동물의과학연구지

This study investigated the therapeutic effects of Galla rhois (GR) ethanol extract (GRE), sodium chlorate (SC), and a combination of GRE and SC on mice infected with Brucella abortus (B. abortus). Mice were infected intraperitoneally with B. abortus and then treated with GRE, SC, and a combination GRE and SC in drinking water for 14 days. Then, serum antibodies were used in a tube agglutination test (TAT), after which the weight and CFUs from each spleen were measured. In addition, histopathological changes in each liver were examined at 14 days post-infection. At 14 days post-infection, negative reactions of serum antibodies in PC (positive control), SCT (SC 1.6 g/L drinking water), GRT (GRE 200 mg/L drinking water), and GST (GRE 200 mg + SC 1.6 g/L drinking water) were 0, 40, 60, and 80%, respectively. The average spleen weight was not significantly different between the groups. At 14 days post-infection, bacterial numbers in all treated groups were significantly lower compared to to that of the PC (GRT and SCT, P<0.05; GST, P<0.001). In terms of histopathological changes in the livers, there were numerous multifocal microgranulomas in the PC, whereas this number successively decreased in the SCT, GRT, and GST groups. Conclusively, a combination of GRE and SC exhibits therapeutic effects on mice infected with B. abortus. These results suggest the potential efficacy of a mixture of GRE and SC in the treatment of brucellosis.

Antibacterial and therapeutic effects of a combination of Sophora flavescens and Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer ethanol extracts on mice infected with Streptococcus pyogenes / 대한수의학회지

This study evaluated the antibacterial effects of a mixture of Sophorae radix and Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer (1 : 1) ethanol extracts (SGE) on mice infected with Streptococcus (S.) pyogenes. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration of SGE necessary for antibacterial effects against S. pyogenes were 20 microg/mL. Based on the time-kill curves for S. pyogenes, SGE was effective at 4x MIC after 16 h. On Day 12 after challenge, the survival rate of mice treated with 2.0 mg/kg SGE was 60%. In conclusion, SGE had potent in vitro and in vivo antibacterial activities against S. pyogenes.

Antibacterial and therapeutic effects of a combination of Sophora flavescens and Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer ethanol extracts on mice infected with Streptococcus pyogenes / 대한수의학회지

This study evaluated the antibacterial effects of a mixture of Sophorae radix and Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer (1 : 1) ethanol extracts (SGE) on mice infected with Streptococcus (S.) pyogenes. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration of SGE necessary for antibacterial effects against S. pyogenes were 20 microg/mL. Based on the time-kill curves for S. pyogenes, SGE was effective at 4x MIC after 16 h. On Day 12 after challenge, the survival rate of mice treated with 2.0 mg/kg SGE was 60%. In conclusion, SGE had potent in vitro and in vivo antibacterial activities against S. pyogenes.

Comparison of blood concentration for oral administration of micronized and non-micronized amoxicillin in Sprague-Dawley rats / 동물의과학연구지

Amoxicillin, a well-known antibiotic, has a broad spectrum against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. This experiment was conducted in order to investigate the effect of micronized and non-micronized amoxicillin prepared using different comminution techniques on change in blood concentration of rats. Forty adult male Sprague Dawley rats (6~7 weeks of age, body weight 128.3 +/- 10.7 g) were randomly allocated to two treatment groups: micronized amoxicillin (MA) group treated with micronized amoxicillin trihydrate powder (particle size, over 90% of 10 microm), non-micronized amoxicillin (NMA) group treated with non-micronized amoxicillin trihydrate powder (particle size, over 70% of 100 microm), given 480 mg/kg body weight once daily for four days. The results showed a significant increase in serum concentration in the MA group on days 3 and 4, compared to the NMA group (P<0.05). In particular, serum concentration of the MA group on day 4 was increased almost two times that of the NMA group. The results indicate that due to the increase of the drug's oral bioavailability, higher serum concentration would be achieved with the micronized amoxicillin trihydrate than with the non-micronized drug.