The objective of this investigation was to study morphological aspects of the Harderian, paraorbital, gland in domestic geese. Tissues were obtained from 9 male and 9 female adult domestic geese and processed for light microscopy. Tissue sections were stained with Mallory's trichrome, silver impregnation, methyl green-pyronin, periodic acid Schiff, alcian blue (pH 2.5), alcian blue/periodic acid Schiff (pH 2.5) and Sudan black B staining techniques. Results revealed the Harderian gland of domestic geese was covered by a capsule, which contributed trabeculae that divide the organ into lobes and lobules. The glandular epithelium was multilobular, compound tubuloalveolar. The secretion of Harderian gland was mucous and the secretion type was apocrine; the gland emptied to the inner surface of the nicticating membrane by a single duct.

1. Protective action of an enzyme-linked polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP, Mycofix Plus) against the immunosuppressive effect of afatoxins (AF) was evaluated by determination of peripheral blood T-lymphocyte proportions and splenic plasma cell counts. Histological changes in lymphoid organs were also investigated by light microscopy. One-d-old broiler chicks (Hybro) received 2.5 mg/kg diet AF (83.06% AFB1, 12.98% AFB2, 2.84% AFG1, 1.12% AFG2) with or without PVPP (3g/kg diet) until 21 d of age. When compared with controls, AF treatment significantly decreased peripheral T-lymphocyte counts. AF caused a slight decrease in splenic plasma cell counts. The addition of PVPP to an AF-containing diet significantly increased T-lymphocyte counts. Splenic plasma cell counts were numerically intermediate between control and AF groups. 3. The dietary addition of PVPP to AF-free diet did not significantly alter either T-lymphocyte or splenic plasma cell counts.

Background: There has been increased interest in measuring the serum concentration of acute phase reactants such as serum amyloid A [SAA] and haptoglobin [haptoglobin] in periparturient cattle in order to provide a method for detecting the presence of inflammation or bacterial infection.Objectives: To determine whether [SAA] and [haptoglobin] are increased in cows with displaced abomasum as compared with healthy dairy cows.Animals: Fifty-four adult dairy cows in early lactation that had left displaced abomasum (LDA, n 5 34), right displaced abomasum or abomasal volvulus (RDA/AV, n 5 11), or were healthy on physical examination (control, n 5 9).Materials and Methods: Inflammatory diseases or bacterial infections such as mastitis, metritis, or pneumonia were not clinically apparent in any animal. Jugular venous blood was obtained from all cows and analyzed. Liver samples were obtained by biopsy in cattle with abomasal displacement.Results

1. The embryotoxicity of mixed aflatoxins (AF) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) were evaluated by a modified chick embryotoxicity screening test (CHEST). Adverse effects on the early embryonic development of thymus and bursa of Fabricius were also investigated by light microscopy. AF consisted of 83.06% AFB1, 12.98% AFB2, 2.84% AFG1 and 1.12% AFG2. 2. A total of 448 fertilised laying hens' eggs were used. AF and AFB1 were injected into the eggs at doses of 10, 100 and 1000 ng/egg. Embryonic developmental stages were evaluated according to the Hamburger-Hamilton scale (HH-scale). 3. The results showed that AFB1 given at 10 ng/egg had a significantly (P<0.05) greater embryotoxic effect than AF given at a similar dose. The higher doses of both AF and AFB1 caused higher embryonic mortality and also an increase in early deaths. 4. In the groups receiving 100 ng/egg AF and AFB1 an abnormal development was seen, with a protruded central region, corresponding to the area pellucida of the blastoderm. No other developmental abnormality attributable to AF or AFB1 was found.

No abstract