Feeding activated charcoal from bark containing wood vinegar liquid (nekka-rich) is effective as treatment for cryptosporidiosis in calves.

The effect of activated charcoal containing wood vinegar liquid (Nekka-Rich) on Cryptosporidium parvum was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. First, the adsorption of C. parvum by the activated charcoal component of Nekka-Rich was examined. When mixed, C. parvum oo-cysts were effectively adsorbed by activated charcoal. Next, the effect of the wood vinegar liquid component of Nekka-Rich was assessed. Wood vinegar liquid had an antiprotozoan activity against C. parvum oocysts. Finally, the anticryptosporidial effect of Nekka-Rich was evaluated in calves experimentally infected with C. parvum. Six neonatal calves at 7 d of age were orally infected with 1 x 10(5) oocysts of C. parvum. When diarrhea was observed (on d 3 after the experimental infection), 3 calves received a milk replacer containing 10 g of Nekka-Rich at 8-h intervals for 4 consecutive days, and 3 control calves were given a milk replacer without Nekka-Rich at 8-h intervals for 4 consecutive days. Calves fed milk with Nekka-Rich showed recovery from diarrhea 1 d after the start of treatment. Significantly less fecal excretion of C. parvum oocysts was observed 1 d after treatment in calves fed Nekka-Rich. On d 2 from the beginning of treatment with Nekka-Rich (on d 5 after the experimental infection), oocysts were not isolated from fecal samples. On the other hand, nontreated control calves developed severe diarrhea, and fecal excretion of oocysts was consistently observed. Calves in both groups were killed for collection of samples, which were subjected to scanning electron microscopy. Scanning electron microscopy revealed adherence of C. parvum oocysts to the intestinal epithelial surface of nontreated control calves, whereas a lack of C. parvum adhesion was observed in calves fed Nekka-Rich. These results suggest that Nekka-Rich would be useful for the treatment of cryptosporidiosis in neonatal calves.

Changes of immunological response after experimentally ozonated autohemoadministration in calves.

Changes in subsets of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and lymphocyte blastogenesis reaction were observed after ozonated autohemoadministration (OAHA) in calves. Ten healthy calves were used in this study. After OAHA, CD8+ cells, CD14+ cells and WCl+cells increased (p<0.05). The level of lymphocyte blastogenesis stimulated by PHA decreased after OAHA. A significant increase in serum IL-6 activity was observed in OAHA calves. These results suggested that OAHA induced immunological changes in calves.

Detection of interleukin-1 beta in sera and colostrum of dairy cattle and in sera of neonates.

In order to obtain basic information about bovine interleukin-1 (IL-1 beta), levels of IL-1 beta in sera and milk of clinically normal mature Holstein cattle before and after parturition and in sera of newborn calves were examined by ELISA. The level of IL-1 beta was undetectable in sera of mature cattle around the time of artificial insemination, but the concentration gradually increased and reached a peak at parturition and then decreased again to an undetectable level. IL-1 beta in milk was detected on the day of parturition but not thereafter. IL-1 beta mRNA was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in the cells from milk collected during 20 days before and 2 to 3 days after parturition, but was not detected thereafter. Although IL-1 beta was not detected in all the sera of newborn calves, the concentration transiently increased with peak titers on day 3 and became undetectable by day 14 after birth. Newborns that showed serum IL-1 beta on day 3 had been fed on colostrum in which the IL-1 beta concentration was significantly higher than that in colostrum that had been fed to newborns having no detectable IL-1 beta on day 3. These results indicate that IL-1 beta is induced in association with pregnancy in healthy dairy cattle and that the cytokine might be transferred to neonates via colostrum.

[Psychosomatic medicine in rheumatoid arthritis].

Recent studies have shown that neuropeptides, such as substance P, are responsible for arthritis. We therefore studied opioid peptides (beta-endorphin, Methionine-enkephalin, Leucine-enkephalin) in order to confirm our belief that mental status may have some influence on the activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We examined opioid peptides, lymphocyte subsets, psycologic test (Cornell Medical Index-Health questionnaire (CMI), the Face scale) and clinical data in patients with RA. Plasma Leu-enk, % Leu2a+ Leu15- cells,% Leu3a+ Leu8- cells and % Leu11+ Leu7- cells were higher in patients with a larger number of psycologic complaints in CMI. Plasma Leu-enk concentration was higher while % Leu11+ Leu7- cells was lower in proportion to the degree of neurosis, as indicated by the descrimitive chart of CMI. Plasma Met-enk concentration, % Leu2a+ Leu15- cells, and Lansbury's index were significantly higher in the group of patients whose facial expression was more severe. These findings suggest that mentala status have some relationship with the plasma level of opioid peptides (enkephalins) and immunologic functions, and that it may exert indirect effects on RA.