HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kornegay, E. T. Articles by Hoefer, J. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kornegay, E. T. Articles by Hoefer, J. A.

Urease Toxicity in Growing Swine^1,2,

Michigan State University,⁴ East Lansing^,5

Abstract

Three trials were conducted to determine the effects of large intraperitoneal injections of jackbean urease upon growing swine and its relationship to ammonia toxicity. Plasma urea N levels were significantly decreased and plasma ammonia N levels were significantly increased following injections of urease (50, 75 and 100 modified SU/lb. BW). Serum urease activity and potassium levels were increased, and serum sodium levels were unchanged in pigs given a large dose of urease. The urine ammonia N concentration was increased and the urine urea N concentration was unchanged when pigs were injected with urease. There was an elevation of rectal temperature of treated pigs in Trials I and II with no change in Trial III. Pigs in Trials I and II showed tetany, while those in Trial III did not. Post-mortem examination revealed excess fluid in the peritoneal and pericardial cavities, congested and hemorrhagic lungs, and hyperemic mucous membranes. Effects of urease and hemagglutinin were confounded in Trial III, and this could explain the difference in results obtained as compared to Trials I and II.

¹ Published with the approval of the Director of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station as Journal Article No. 3293.

² This study was supported in part by a grant from the Rackham Foundation.

³ Present address: Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers—The State University, New Brunswick, N. J.

⁴ The data reported herein are a portion of a thesis submitted to the School of Advanced Graduate Studies, Michigan State University by the senior author in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree.

⁵ Department of Animal Husbandry.