Experimental lead toxicosis of raccoons (Procyon lotor).

Four pairs of raccoons were treated orally with the following doses of lead acetate (mg/kg; 5 days/week, for 8 weeks): 0 (control), 1, 2 and 4. In the six experimental animals, this treatment produced dose-dependent increases in blood lead, without clinical signs or changes in haematological parameters. After 8 weeks, the liver and kidney of all lead-treated animals and the calvarium and radius of those receiving doses of 2 and 4 mg/kg contained elevated concentrations of lead. Acid-fast inclusions were observed by light and electron microscopy in the kidneys of all raccoons receiving the two highest doses and in one animal receiving the lowest dose. Hepatic acid-fast inclusions were seen in only one animal (dose 4 mg/kg). No inclusions were seen in osteoclasts of the radius. It is suggested that the findings, which support earlier observations that raccoons are fairly resistant to lead, may be of value in studying interactions between lead exposure and oral vaccination of wildlife against rabies.

Residues of arsenic and lead in potato soils on Long Island.

Sodium arsenite was used for vine control and fall weed control in potatoes on Long Island for many years. Lead arsenate may also have been used as an insecticide in certain areas. A study was conducted to determine remaining concentrations of arsenic and lead in potato soils on Long Island. The total concentrations of both arsenic and lead were markedly higher in the soils sampled than in untreated control soils. The behavior of arsenic and lead in soils is discussed.

Analytical survey of elements in veterinary college incinerator ashes.

While appreciable attention has been given to the elemental composition of ashes from municipal solid waste incinerators, relatively little information is available on the elemental content of incinerators burning animal carcasses and medical wastes. In the work reported here, an analytical survey was conducted of the concentration of 22 elements in the ashes of incinerators located at veterinary colleges or animal disease diagnostic laboratories in seven states. With the exception of Zn, the concentrations of most elements were well below those found in ashes from municipal solid waste incinerators. Conversely, Ca, P and K were much higher in concentration probably deriving largely from bones, teeth and other organs of animals. There was an indication that burned plastic wastes were a source of Pb in the ashes. The concentrations of several toxic elements varied widely probably due to variations in initial waste composition, incinerator design and operating parameters. The concentrations of soluble salts in the ashes were appreciable. Organic matter in the ashes was low to nondetectable indicating the completeness of incineration.

Blood lead levels of wild raccoons (Procyon lotor) from the eastern United States.

We analyzed 161 raccoon (Procyon lotor) blood samples obtained from New Jersey (n = 109), rural Pennsylvania (n = 29) and laboratory confined animals (n = 23) in the USA for lead content; we found significantly higher levels in the New Jersey raccoons (mean = 4.4 micrograms/dl, SE = 2.9). There was no difference between the lead levels of raccoons from the other two groups (mean = 2.6, SE = 0.5 and mean = 2.5, SE = 0, respectively).

Residues of p,p'-DDE and mercury in lake trout as a function of age.

Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) of known age from 1 to 12 years were taken from Cayuga Lake in central New York State in 1991 and p,p'-DDE and mercury were determined in their flesh. The concentrations of p,p'-DDE and mercury increased significantly (p less than 0.001) with increasing age of the fish. The concentration of p,p'-DDE also increased significantly (p less than 0.001) with increasing fat content. The concentrations of p,p'-DDE were much lower than those found in Cayuga Lake trout of similar age captured in 1978.

Chlorpyrifos (Dursban 44r) toxicity in dairy bulls.

The toxicity of Dursban 44 (chlorpyrifos) in dairy bulls in two large Northeastern A.I. bull centers is reported. One hundred eighty-five (185) bulls were treated at the first center and two hundred thirty-two (232) at the second. The application of this product resulted in the death of seven and one bulls, respectively. The knowledge and experience gained at the first center resulted in rapid diagnosis and specific treatment at the second and was felt to be a significant reason for the lower death rate. Typical, clinical signs of organophosphate poisoning were not exhibited in these two outbreaks. Specific diagnosis, treatment and the course of chlorpyrifos poisoning in Holstein bulls are discussed.

The metabolism of promazine and acetylpromazine in the horse.

Promazine hydrochloride and acetylpromazine maleate were administered intravenously at clinical dose levels to horses. In urine from horses given promazine hydrochloride, the parent drug and four metabolites were detected. The two major metabolites, present as conjugates were identified after hydrolysis by beta-glucuronidase/arylsulfatase as 3-hydroxypromazine and 3-hydroxydesmonomethyl-promazine. Conjugated 3-hydroxypromazine has been previously identified as a major metabolite in the horse. Two minor metabolites isolated in this study were primaizine N-oxide and promazine N-oxide sulfoxide. At the administered dosage, promazine sulfoxide was not found to be the major nonconjugated metabolite, as had been reported elsewhere. In urine from horses given acetylpromazine maleate, only three metabolites were found. Two were identified after hydrolysis by beta-glucuronidase/arylsulfatase as 7-hydroxyacetylpromazine and 2-(1-hydroxyethyl)-7-hydroxypromazine. The third, nonconjugated metabolite was 2-(1-hydroxyethyl)promazine sulfoxide.

Studies on viral leukoencephalomyelitis and swayback in goats.

Six kid goats with CNS disease were studied by a variety of techniques. All had morphological evidence of Viral Leukoencephalomyelitis of Goats. (VLG) characterized by demyelinating encephalomyelitis and pneumonitis. Attempts were made to isolate a virus from 5 of these goats by direct culture of CNS and visceral tissues. Syncytial formation was found in some lung, spleen and bone marrow cultures but syncytia were found to be free of complete virus by electron microscopy. When newborn goats were inoculated with syncytia forming cells, a visna-like virus was found in bone marrow cultures of 1 goat 8 days post inoculation. Bone marrow cells from a twin goat 3 months after inoculation produced syncytia without complete virus. it is suggested that complete virus might be present in goats shortly after infection, while persisting in an incomplete form. Three of the 6 goats studied also had lesions of swayback with diffuse encephalomyelopathy and low liver copper levels. Control copper levels in kids with non-neurological disease were variable, occasionally being as low as swayback animals. The experience of others that swayback in the goat and low copper status are poorly correlated is confirmed. Discrepancies inherent in assaying formalin preserved tissues for copper are described.