Oropharyngeal tularemia was identified as the cause of a die-off in captured wild prairie dogs at a commercial exotic animal facility in Texas. From this point source, Francisella tularensis–infected prairie dogs were traced to animals distributed to the Czech Republic and to a Texas pet shop. F. tularensis culture isolates were recovered tissue specimens from 63 prairie dogs, including one each from the secondary distribution sites. Molecular and biochemical subtyping indicated that all isolates were F. tularensis subsp. holarctica (Type B). Microagglutination assays detected antibodies against F. tularensis, with titers as great as 1:4,096 in some live animals. All seropositive animals remained culture positive, suggesting that prairie dogs may act as chronic carriers of F. tularensis. These findings demonstrate the need for additional studies of tularemia in prairie dogs, given the seriousness of the resulting disease, the fact that prairie dogs are sold commercially as pets, and the risk for pet-to-human transmission.

Trimethoprim (TMP) 10 mg.kg-1 was given orally to calves and rabbits. Two to three weeks later the animals were pretreated by i.v. Peptidoglycan (Pt) 20 micrograms.kg-1. One hour later TMP was administered as above. To other animals under otherwise identical conditions TMP was injected intravenously. The pretreatment with Peptidoglycan induced in both species a significant increase of TMP serum levels positively correlated with temperature elevation. Peptidoglycan pretreatment increased the bioavailability of TMP.

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Summary The kinetics of orally administered xylose 200 mg./kg.−1 was compared in healthy and diarrhoeic calves. Significantly lower serum levels and delayed time to reach maximal levels were found in the diarrhoeic animals. Nevertheless, the rate of absorption of xylose in diarrhoeic animals is sufficient to explain the efficacy of oral rehydration solutions containing glucose. Zusammenfassung Die Kinetik von 200 mg/kg−1 per os verabreichter Xylose wurde bei gesunden Kälbern und bei Tieren mit Durchfall verglichen. Es wurde festgestellt, daß der maximale Blutspiegel der Kälber mit Durchfall niedriger ist als bei gesunden Kontrolltieren. Der Unterschied ist hoch signifikant. Außerdem kommt es bei den kranken Tieren zu einer signifikanten Verspätung des maximalen Blutspiegels. Die Resorption von Xylose bei den kranken Tieren zeigt jedoch an, daß die Beschädigung nicht so groß ist, um die Resorption von oralen Rehydratationsflüssigkeiten, die Glukose enthalten, zu verhindern. Résumé Nous avons investigé la cinétique de xylose, administrée par voie orale (200 mg/kg−1) chez le veau normal et diarrhéique. Le taux maximal dans le sérum est plus bas et rétardé chez le veau avec diarrhée. Pourtant l'absorption de la glucose est suffisante pour achever avec succès une rehydratation orale. Resumen Absorción de xilosa en terneros normales y diarreicós Hemos comparado el nivel de xilosa 200 mg./kg.−1 per os en la sangre de terneros sanos y con diarrea. Los terneros enfermos tienen niveles reducidos y restrasados en comparacion con los terneros sanos. La resorción es suficiente para explicar la resorción de las soluciones para la rehidratación oral, con contenido de glucosa.