Progesterone levels and litter performance of sows following postpartum administration of prostaglandin F(2alpha).

A total of 101 sows was used to examine postpartum progesterone levels and litter performance following administration of 15 mg prostaglandins F(2alpha) (PGF(2alpha) n = 48) given within 12 h after farrowing. Daily blood samples and rectal temperatures were taken from all sows during the first 3 d post partum. Plasma progesterone (P(4)) concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Regardless of treatment, plasma P(4) levels for all sows decreased in a similar fashion over the 3 d sampled. Mean (+/- SEM) P(4) on Day 2 (0.55 +/- 0.06 ng/ml) and Day 3 (0.38 +/- 0.04 ng/ml) were lower (P<0.01) than on Day 1 (0.98 +/- 0.08 ng/ml). Rectal temperature did not differ between PGF(2alpha) treated and nontreated sows nor was it different over the days measured. Litter characteristics, including survival rates on Day 7 and at weaning, and body weight on Days 3 and 35, were not affected by treatment. It was concluded that PGF(2alpha) administration to sows within 12 h post farrowing had no affect on the rate of luteal regression, as determined by P(4) concentration, nor on subsequent litter performance.

Pulmonary hypertension in a group of dairy calves.

An episode of pulmonary arteritis and sclerosis in twenty 5- to 6-month-old dairy calves was investigated. Sixteen of the calves died acutely, without marked premonitory signs of disease. Four calves evaluated clinically had lethargy, pallor, weakness, tachycardia, tachypnea, and jugular venous distention. Cardiac catheterization performed in 3 of the calves revealed pulmonary hypertension; 1 of these calves survived. Necropsy findings in 19 calves included pale lungs and excess free fluid in the pleural and abdominal cavities. In addition, 13 of 19 calves had a dilated and thin-walled right ventricle; 4 of the calves had right-sided cardiac hypertrophy, and 2 had dilatation of the pulmonary artery. Microscopically, pulmonary arteritis and sclerosis of the small to medium-sized arteries were evident in all calves submitted for necropsy. A lung biopsy specimen from a surviving calf had similar lesions. Centrilobular hepatic necrosis was found in 17 of 19 calves. Investigation of the disease episode, including feed analysis for toxins and serologic and microbiological studies of clinically affected calves and clinically normal in-contact penmates, failed to reveal any associated risk factor. The pulmonary arterial changes in the calves were similar to lung lesions in rats fed monocrotaline.

Acute bovine pulmonary emphysema caused by the fungus Fusarium semitectum.

Acute bovine pulmonary emphysema (ABPE) is known to occur throughout the world. The documented causes include 3-methylindole, 4-ipomeanol and perilla ketone. Although 4-ipomeanol is a phytoallexin from Fusarium solani, this is the first reported incidence of toxicity involving Fusarium semitectum. This report describes the poisoning of cattle consuming Fusarium semitectum contaminated pink half-runner bean refuse.