Lipoprotein lipase activity of post-heparin plasma in Japanese black cattle affected with fat necrosis.

Post-heparin plasma (PHP) lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity and serum lipoprotein concentration were examined in Japanese Black cows affected with fat necrosis. The PHP-LPL activity in the affected cows was significantly (P < 0.001) higher than in normal animals and tended to reduce 4 weeks after treatment with isoprothiolane. This finding indicates that affected cows have a predisposition to deposit more fat into adipose tissue than normal animals. The serum concentrations of triglyceride in beta-lipoprotein and of cholesterol, phospholipid and total lipid in alpha-lipoprotein were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the affected cows. Elevated levels of phospholipid and total lipid in alpha-lipoprotein as well as decreased levels of non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) were observed after medication. It is suggested that isoprothiolane produces an improvement in hepatic lipid metabolism including acceleration of plasma NEFA uptake and alpha-lipoprotein secretion in affected cows.

Endotoxin levels in milk and plasma of mastitis-affected cows measured with a chromogenic limulus test.

A chromogenic limulus test ("Toxicolor") was applied to cow's milk and plasma after treatment with perchloric acid to remove interfering factors. The endotoxin levels in normal cow's milk and plasma were all less than 10 pg ml-1. In acute mastitis, the milk endotoxin level averaged (1.1 +/- 0.7) X 10(3) pg ml-1 in the cases where Gram-negative bacteria were isolated, while the plasma endotoxin concentration was normal. The endotoxin levels in the quarters infected with Gram-positive bacteria were all normal, both in milk and plasma. In gangrenous mastitis due to Gram-negative bacteria, the endotoxin concentration was very high in both milk [(9.3 +/- 5.3) X 10(6) pg ml-1] and plasma (85.2 +/- 68.2 pg ml-1). In similar cases due to Gram-positive bacteria, endotoxin levels were all normal, both in milk and plasma, resembling the acute mastitis due to Gram-positive bacteria. The test was considered suitable for the diagnosis of mastitis due to Gram-negative organisms and the levels of endotoxin detected would aid in assessing the prognosis.

Effect of dietary sodium bicarbonate and magnesium oxide on cows with milk fat depression in several dairy herds.

Buffer mainly consisting of 100 g of sodium bicarbonate and 30 g of magnesium oxide was added to the feed per head per day and given for 8 months to groups of 92 cows of milk fat depression. Milk fat increased from 3.06% (pre-treatment) to 3.68% at 4 months and 3.71% at 8 months post-treatment. Solids-not-fat was slightly increased by the buffers. Milk production was not affected. The number of rumen protozoa increased from 2.85 X 10(5)/ml (pre-treatment) to 9.61 X 10(5)/ml at 8 months post-treatment and the kinds of protozoa diversified. An increase of acetate and decrease of propionate were observed together with increased milk fat at 8 months post-treatment. An increase of hematocrit, lactate dehydrogenase, sodium and potassium, and a decrease of cholesterol and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase in blood were recognized after the treatment. The incidence of disease was reduced. There was a significant correlation between increased milk fat percentage and increase in the number and the kinds of protozoa.

Perchloric acid treatment and use of chromogenic substrate in the Limulus test: application to veterinary diagnosis.

The Limulus test was carried out for endotoxin determination using a synthetic chromogenic substrate after perchloric acid(PCA) treatment to remove inhibiting substances in the blood. PCA treatment completely removed non-specific amidolytic activity and other factors which interfered with the Limulus test. The recovery of added endotoxin was about 100% irrespective of animal species. Endotoxin levels in PCA-treated blood plasma of healthy domestic animals were invariably below 1 pg ml-1. Many of the cows with gangrenous mastitis, from which Gram-negative rods were isolated, showed high endotoxin levels ranging from 22.8 to 138.0 pg ml-1. Endotoxin was also detected in the blood of cows affected with salmonellosis, colibacillosis, Haemophilus somnus infection and urethritis associated with Proteus.