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Biomedical subjects

A L Baetz

Publications and source records attributed to A L Baetz.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Plasma alpha-fetoprotein concentrations in pregnant cows exposed to Sarcocystis cruzi, Campylobacter fetus, or Aspergillus fumigatus.

Bovine alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was determined in maternal plasma, using radioimmunoassay in an attempt to detect and monitor fetal distress in pregnant cows. Plasma from pregnant cows in the 4th to 5th month of the gestation which had been exposed to Sarcocystis cruzi, Campylobacter fetus, or Aspergillus fumigatus was used. Plasma AFP concentrations were determined at intervals from before the cows were exposed until they had aborted or calved. The plasma AFP concentration of the exposed pregnant cattle remained at 6.5 +/- 5.0 mg/ml until 24 to 48 hours before abortion or parturition, when the value increased to 25.0 +/- 8.0 ng/ml. This pattern was similar for cattle exposed to each of the infective agents. Unlike in persons, rats, or monkeys, fetal-maternal transfer of AFP seems to be minimal in cows even with inflammation or necrosis of the placentome, Thus, changes in AFP concentrations in bovine plasma cannot be used as a diagnostic tool for fetal distress or fetal death.

Abortion, Veterinary↗

Prepartum changes of plasma concentrations of prostaglandin F and 13,14-dihydro-15-ketoprostaglandin metabolites in pregnant animals exposed to Sarcocystis cruzi or Campylobacter fetus.

Pregnant cows at 4- to 5-months' of gestation were exposed to Sarcocystis cruzi or Campylobacter fetus. Plasma prostaglandin F (PGF) and 13,14-dihydro-15-ketoprostaglandin metabolite (PGM) concentrations were determined at intervals from before exposure until abortion or parturition. The plasma PGF concentration of pregnant infected cattle remained at 0.02 +/- 0.04 ng/ml until 24 to 48 hours before abortion or parturition when it increased 5-fold to 0.11 +/- 0.12 ng/ml. The plasma PGM concentration of these cattle remained at 0.10 +/- 0.07 ng/ml until 24 to 48 hours before abortion or parturition when it increased over 10-fold to 1.36 +/- 0.60 ng/ml. This change in PGF and PGM was similar to that of cattle exposed to each of the infective agents and to that of normal cows at parturition. Thus, changes in PGF and PGM concentrations in bovine plasma cannot be used as a diagnostic tool to determine fetal distress or fetal death for these infections.

Abortion, Veterinary↗

Plasma progesterone concentration in the bovine before abortion or parturition in pregnant animals exposed to Sarcocystis cruzi, Campylobacter fetus, or Aspergillus fumigatus.

Pregnant cows in the 4th and 5th month of the gestation were exposed to Sarcocystis cruzi, Campylobacter fetus, or Aspergillus fumigatus. Plasma progesterone concentrations were determined at intervals from before the cows were exposed until they had aborted or calved. The plasma progesterone concentration of the exposed pregnant cattle remained at 3.95 +/- 2.0 ng/ml until 24 to 48 hours before abortion or parturition, when it decreased to below 1.00 ng/ml. This pattern was similar for cattle exposed to each of the infective agents. Thus, changes in progesterone concentrations in bovine plasma cannot be used as a diagnostic tool for fetal distress or fetal death.

Abortion, Veterinary↗

Acute aflatoxicosis in guinea pigs: sequential changes in serum proteins, complement, C4, and liver enzymes and histopathologic changes.

Guinea pigs were fed a single toxic but sublethal dose of aflatoxin. Serum proteins, complement activity, fourth component of complement (C4), and liver enzymes (ornithine carbamoyltransferase and sorbitol dehydrogenase) as well as microscopic changes in liver tissue, were studied to correlate structural and functional abnormalities. There were no significant changes in serum proteins, but complement activity and C4 were depressed maximally 7 days after aflatoxin was given. The greatest activity of the liver enzymes in plasmas occurred at 3 days, although sorbitol dehydrogenase activity still was elevated significantly on the 7th day. Microscopic changes in the liver were maximum at 3 days with gradual recovery at 7, 10, and through 14 days.

Aflatoxins↗

Automated enzymatic method for the determination of ammonia: application to rumen fluid, gut fluid, and plasma.

The enzymatic method for the determination of ammonia with glutamate dehydrogenase has been adapted to the AutoAnalyzer. The automated method was applicable for NH(3) measurement in sheep rumen samples, swine gut fluid samples, and bovine plasma. Results were compared with those of the Conway diffusion method and the manual enzymatic method. The automated method allows 30 samples per h to be analyzed routinely. Values were comparable with those with the manual method, but lower than those with the Conway diffusion method.

Journal Article↗

Synthesis of alpha-ketoglutarate by reductive carboxylation of succinate in Veillonella, Selenomonas, and Bacteriodes species.

Evidence for reductive carboxylation of succinate to synthesize alpha-ketoglutarate was sought in anaerobic heterotrophs from the rumen and from other anaerobic habitats. Cultures were grown in media containing unlabeled energy substrates plus [14C]succinate, and synthesis of cellular glutamate with a much higher specific activity than that of cellular asparate was taken as evidence for alpha-ketoglutarate synthase activity. Our results indicate alpha-ketoglutarate synthase functions in Selenomonas ruminantium, Veillonella alcalescens, Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides vulgatus, Bacteroides uniformis, Bacteroides distasonis, and Bacteroides multiacidus. Evidence for this carboxylation was not found in strains representative of 10 other species.

Amino Acids↗

Pathogenic relationships of rotavirus, Escherichia coli, and other agents in mixed infections in calves.

Infection with agents interpreted as causing or contributing to diarrhea (rotavirus, coronavirus, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, and cryptosporidia) were demonstrated in 24 of 32 newborn calves that had naturally occurring diarrheal disease. The calves were from 12 herds in Iowa. Infections as well as enteric lesions and hypoglobulinemia occurred more frequently among diarrheal calves than among nondiarrheal calves from these same herds. In most calves, infections were mixed; ie, both viruses, one or both viruses plus cryptosporidia, or rotavirus plus enterotoxigenic E coli.

Animals↗

Effects of aflatoxin on the development of acquired immunity to swine erysipelas.

The effect of aflatoxin consumption on the development of acquired immunity to swine erysipelas was studied. Twenty-four pigs were divided into 4 groups (6 pigs/group). Two groups were fed a normal diet and 2 groups were fed the same diet but containing aflatoxin. One group from each diet treatment was given a single injection of an erysipelas bacterin, and 21 days later all pigs were given a challenge inoculum of virulent Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae organisms. On the basis of the response to the challenge inoculation, pigs were classified as immune, partially immune (PI), or susceptible. Three of the vaccinated pigs fed the normal diet were immune, 2 were PI, and 1 was susceptible, whereas none of the vaccinated pigs given the aflatoxin diet were immune, only 1 was PI, and the remainder were susceptible. Two of the nonvaccinated pigs fed the normal diet were PI and 4 were susceptible; all of the nonvaccinated pigs fed the aflatoxin diet were susceptible. It was concluded that aflatoxin consumption interfered with the development of acquired immunity and apparently increased the severity of the E rhusiopathiae infection in unvaccinated pigs.

Aflatoxins↗

Experimental infection of calves with Leptospira interrogans serotype szwajizak.

This is a report on the experimental infection of cattle with Leptospira interrogans serotype szwajizak. The principal clinical features in three 4-week-old Holstein-Friesian heifers intravenously inoculated were fever, listlessness, anorexia, weakness, and diarrhea. Szwajizak was isolated from the blood for the first 5 to 8 days after inoculation. Leptospires were recovered from kidneys, but not from liver, spleen, brain, or urine. Two of the 3 calves produced homologous agglutinins, with maximum serum titers of 1:80 and 1:160. The sera of the 2 calves that developed szwajizak agglutinins showed cross reactivity with wolffi and hardjo antigens. There were not significant differences of plasma and urine constituents between the inoculated calves and the control calf. Endocardial hemorrhages and large soft black-red spleen were present in the 2 calves given the greatest numbers of leptospires. Histopathologically, kidney of all infected calves had multiple small foci of lymphoid cells, chiefly pasmacytes, which were present in periglomerular and interstitial areas.

Animals↗

Separation from whey of three growth factors for Streptococcus agalactiae.

Wheys of milk and colostrum were treated with ethanol and the concentrated supernatant fluids were subjected to chromatographic procedures (anion exchange resin, using distilled water as eluent). The fractions were tested for capabilities to stimulate the growth of Streptococcus agalactiae in a mixture (1:32) of pasteurized milk and steamed milk. Three stimulatory factors (F), designated F-1, F-2, and F-3, were separated; F-1 was nonionic, and F-2 and F-3 were cationic. A mixture containing any 2 factors gave greater stimulation than either factor tested alone, and a mixture of all 3 gave the greatest stimulation. The F-2 activity was attributed to cystine.

Animals↗

Cystine aminopeptidase activity (oxytocinase) in pregnant guinea pigs: normal and infected with Campylobacter fetus.

The cystine aminopeptidase (CAP) activity was determined in plasma from guinea pigs at various stages of gestation and in pregnant guinea pigs infected with Campylobacter fetus subspecies intestinalis. The CAP activity decreased with length of gestation, which is in contrast to the changes in activity in persons. Infected guinea pigs near the time of abortion can be distinguished from normal guinea pigs on the basis of plasma CAP activity, if the plasma samples are taken 1 to 2 days before abortion. Among pregnant guinea pigs at the same stage of gestation, CAP activity was lower for infected than for normal pregnant animals. This test might be used to indicate probable disruption of placentation and the onset of abortion in the guinea pig.

Abortion, Veterinary↗

Cystine aminopeptidase (oxytocinase) activity in plasma and tissues of normal and infected pregnant cattle.

Cystine aminopeptidase (CAP) activity in tissues and in plasma from pregnant cows was measured at various stages of gestation by using the substrate S-benzyl-L-cysteine-4-nitroanilide. The CAP activity was as high or higher in hepatic and renal tissues as in cotyledonary tissue. Plasma CAP activity was low and did not change with length of gestation, nor did it change when placentation was disrupted by infection with Aspergillus fumigatus.

Abortion, Veterinary↗

Changes of biochemical constituents in bovine fetal fluids with gestational age.

Serum, amniotic fluid, allantoic fluid, stomach contents, and urine were taken from 141 bovine fetuses 120 to 245 days old. The concentrations of the biochemical constituents were examined in tests to ascertain systematic changes with increasing crown-rump length, i.e., gestational age. As the crown-rump length increased, glucose concentrations decreased in allantoic fluid, amniotic fluid, and stomach contents; creatinine and uric acid concentrations increased in serum, allantoic fluid, and stomach contents; thyroxine concentrations increased in serum and allantoic fluid; potassium decreased in amniotic fluid and stomach contents; and total iron-binding capacity increased in amniotic fluid. The data in the present report can be used to identify the fetal fluid obtained by amniocentesis, to estimate the age of the fetus, and to aid the diagnosis of nutritional or infective processes that might affect the fetus.

Allantois↗

Developmental changes of tissue enzyme patterns in the bovine fetus with gestational age.

The activities of aspartate aminotransferase (GOT), alanine aminotransferase (GPT), alkaline phosphatase (alkP), creatine kinase (CPK), and ornithine carbamoyltransferase (OCT) were determined in liver, heart, skeletal muscle, brain, kidney, lung, spleen, adrenals, pancreas, thyroid, thymus, and red cells of 56 bovine fetuses varying in gestational age from 115 to 255 days. The tissue aminotransferase activities were the most variable with gestational age. The GPT activity of liver, kidney, spleen, and red cells and the GOT activity of red cells decreased with fetal age. The GPT activity of heart, brain, and skeletal muscle and the GOT activity of adrenal, brain, and skeletal muscle increased with fetal age. Increasing activities were also described for adrenal and brain alkP and for brain and skeletal muscle CPK. In contrast, the OCT activities were fairly constant for each tissue as a function of gestational age.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Developmental changes of free amino acids in bovine fetal fluids with gestational age and the interrelationships between the amino acid concentrations in the fluid compartments.

Thirty ninhydrin-positive compounds were determined in the sera, amniotic fluid, stomach content and allantoic fluid from 29 bovine fetuses of various gestational ages. Fetal serum was found to contain about 3-fold higher concentrations of free amino acids (FAA) than maternal serum, and allantoic fluid contained about 3-fold higher concentration of FAA than fetal serum. Decreasing concentrations of FAA were found in serum as a function of the crown-rump length for the amino acids taurine, aspartic acid, threonine, serine, ornithine and lysine. Decreasing concentrations of FAA in allantoic fluid were found for threonine, alanine and ornithine, whereas increasing concentrations were found for phosphoserine and methionine as a function of the crown-rump length. Correlations were found between the concentrations of most amino acids in amniotic fluid and stomach content, but fewer correlations were found between the other fluid compartments. The transport of amino acids between compartments is discussed.

Alanine↗

Penitrem A intoxication of calves: blood chemical and pathologic changes.

An isolate of Penicillium puberulum, obtained from moldy silage, was found to produce a tremorgenic mycotoxin, penitrem A. Dried ground mycelium of this isolate was administered orally to calves either in increasing daily doses or in a single dose that equalled the amount given over a 3-day period in the increasing daily-dose schedule. Signs of intoxication included tremor, ataxia, muscular rigidity, and convulsive episodes. Marked increases in plasma concentrations of lactic acid, pyruvic acid, glucose, and creatine phosphokinase activity were found coincident with the development of severe tremor. The only gross or microscopic change observed in tissues of intoxicated animals was an accumulation of fat in the liver. Changes in the various plasma constituents were interpreted as a secondary effect of the intoxication.

Administration, Oral↗