A complication probability planning study to predict the safety of a new protocol for intracranial tumour radiotherapy in dogs

Technical advances make it possible to deliver radiation therapy for canine intracranial tumours in fewer fractions, under the assumption of equivalent tumour control. With the aim of estimating the late toxicity risk profile for various tumour sizes and locations, the present paper evaluates the normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) values for the intracranial organs at risk. By making isoeffect calculations, a new 10‐fraction radiation protocol was developed with the same tumour control probability (TCP) as a currently used 20‐fraction standard protocol, and complication risk profiles for brain, brainstem and optic chiasm were modelled using a representative population of 64 dogs with brain tumours. For >59% of cases, the new 10‐fraction protocol yielded an acceptable, low risk estimate of late toxicity (<10%). Our calculations suggest that it may be safe to treat small to intermediate‐sized tumours that are neither located near the optic chiasm nor at the brainstem with 10 daily fractions of 4.35 Gy.     

The raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in Germany--an established Neozoon as host and vector for parasites and other pathogenes

Some invasive wildlife species have the potential to act as additional host and vector species for parasitic and other infectious diseases. We used the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonides), a carnivore species that has its origin in Asia, as an example to demonstrate biological and ecological prerequisites which enables an invasive species to occupy a new habitat permanently. Studies conducted during the last ten years identified a total of 23 endoparasites, two ectoparasites, six bacterial or protozoan species and five viruses, found in the Nyctereutes procyonoides ussuriensis subspecies in its newly occupied range or in N. procyonoides koreensis in its original range. Results of studies in Finland and Germany furthermore showed that biological characteristics of the raccoon dog make this carnivore an appropriate host or vector for a variety of parasites and infectious diseases. This may result in a growing importance of this invasive carnivore for the epidemiology of transmissible diseases in Germany. Especially with regard to zoonotic disease outbreaks, the raccoon dog should therefore be paid more attention in disease prevention and eradication strategies.     

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius among dogs admitted to a small animal hospital

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) among dogs admitted to a small animal hospital during a 17-month period, to characterize these isolates and to initially screen for possible factors associated with MRSP carriage. Swabs were taken from the nose/pharynx and the perineum as well as from wounds and skin infections (if present) of 814 dogs before entering the small animal hospital. A questionnaire for background information was completed. The staphylococcal species and methicillin resistance were confirmed pheno- and genotypically. The identified MRSP isolates were characterized by SCCmec typing, testing for susceptibility to 25 antimicrobial agents and SmaI-directed pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. A first screening for possible risk factors for MRSP carriage was performed by means of unifactorial contingency tables and CART analysis. Sixty (7.4%) dogs were positive for MRSP. All MRSP isolates harboured a type II-III SCCmec cassette and showed extended resistance to antimicrobial agents. Fifteen different SmaI patterns were observed. The major factors that clustered with MRSP carriage were former hospitalization and antibiotic treatment within the last six months before sampling. This study showed that only a minor part of the sampled dogs carried multi-resistant MRSP isolates. The facts that prior hospitalization and/or antibiotic therapy are potential associated factors for MRSP carriage underline the necessity of a judicious use of antibiotics in small animal medicine.     

QuEChERS multiresidue method validation and mass spectrometric assessment for the novel anthranilic diamide insecticides chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole

The gas-phase dissociation reactions of chlorantraniliprole (Rynaxypyr) and cyantraniliprole (Cyazypyr) have been studied in triple-quadrupole, ion trap, and orbitrap mass spectrometers equipped with electrospray and desorption electrospray ion sources, revealing the formation of odd-electron fragment ions, the structures of which were elucidated. The odd-electron fragments were unusually abundant, and their formation is proposed to occur via a tricyclic intermediate. The applicability of the QuEChERS multiresidue method for the quantitation of chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole was also assessed in this study. Four matrices representative of oily, watery, acidic, and dry crop groups were tested, with a targeted limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 0.01 mg/kg. Average recoveries ranged between 87 and 107%, with relative standard deviations (RSD) of ≤ 8%. Linear calibration functions with correlation coefficients r > 0.99 were obtained. The study provides an expansion of the QuEChERS method to include anthranilic diamides and a mass spectrometric assessment for these two novel agrochemical active ingredients.     

Essai de conservation des pommes de terre en atmosphère contrôlée

Résumé Un essai a été effectué avec les 5 principales variété de consommation et de garde cultivées en Suisse. L'air ambiant se composait de 2% d'oxygène et un taux de CO₂ variant de 1–12%. Les températures ont été fixées à 8 et 10°C et l'humidité relative à 85–90%. La variété Bintje a présenté la meilleure aptitude à ce genre de conservation et Eba la plus médiocre. Pour les deux années suivantes, les essais ont été limités à la variété Bintje. L'oxygène variait de 2 à 15% et le CO₂ a été maintenu constant à 6%. Les pertes par deshydratation ont atteint l à 3% et celles causées par la pourriture 2 à 12% après 120 à 178 jours de conservation en atmosphère contr?lée. La qualité organoleptique des tubercules s'est dégradée en raison d'une accumulation très forte des sucres, en particulier le saccharose. Ce type de conservation semblerait également favoriser certains parasites fongiques. Un effet inhibiteur de la germination a été observé.

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Summary Sprout inhibiting chemicals must be used when potatoes are stored for more than 3 4 months at 8°C. However, tuber metabolism can be regulated and sprout growth inhibited by controlled atmosphere storage. A 3-year study was carried out at the Federal Agricultural Research Station in Changins. In 1978, 5 main table and industrial cultivars grown in Switzerland were tested. The storage atmosphere contained 2% O₂ and CO₂ concentrations of 1,6 or 12%. The temperature was maintained at 8°C and the relative humidity at 85–90% (Table I). This first experiment showed that the cultivars tested varied widely in their storage characteristics. Losses were greatest with cv. Eba, whereas cv. Bintje appeared to store best (Table 2). In 1979 and 1980 only cv. Bintje grown in different regions was used. Oxygen concentrations were 2,6 or 15% and CO₂ concentration was maintained constant at 6%. Temperatures were 8 or 10°C and relative humidity 85 or 95%. Minimum ventilation was maintained throughout the period. Weight losses were 1 3% and losses due to decay 2 12% after 120 178 days of storage (Table 3). Under these conditions, cooking quality was seriously affected because of the marked build-up of sugars, particularly sucrose (Tables 4 and 5). Tuber flesh tended to be more oxidised after cooking (Table 7). The storage conditions also favoured fungal decay caused byFusarium spp. A satisfactory degree of sprout inhibition was obtained. Tubers treated with a sprout inhibiting chemical and stored under normal conditions had better cooking and industrial utilisation qualities than those stored in controlled atmospheres.

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Zusammenfassung Die Kartoffellagerung w?hrend mehr als 3 bis 4 Monate bei einer Temperatur von 8°C ben?tigt die Anwendung von Keimhemmungsmitteln. Die kontrollierte Atmosph?re wirkt auf den Knollenmetabolismus ein und sollte somit erm?glichen das Keimwachstum zu hemmen. W?hrend 3 Jahren wurde an der Landwirtschaftlichen Forschungsanstalt Changins ein Kartoffelagerungsversuch in kontrollierter Atmosph?re durchgeführt. Im Herbst 1978 wurde der Versuch mit 5 in der Schweiz angebauten Lager- und Speisesorten angelegt. Folgende Lagerungsbedingungen wurden gew?hlt: Sauerstoff (O₂) 2% und Kohlendioxyd (CO₂) je nach Verfahren 1 bis 12%. Die Temperaturen betrugen 8°C und 10°C. Dieser erste Versuch zeigte bedeutende Unterschiede im Lagerverhalten zwischen den einzelnen Sorten, wobei Eba die gr?ssten Verluste aufwies und Bintje die geringsten (Tab. 2). In den Jahren 1979 und 1980 wurde der Versuch mit der Sorte Bintje aus verschiedenen Herkünften durchgeführt. Der Sauerstoffgehalt variierte von 2 bis 15% und der Kohlendioxydgehalt wurde konstant bei 6% gehalten. Die Temperaturen betrugen 8 und 10°C und die relative Luftfeuchtigkeit 85–90%. Die Belüftung wurde kontinuierlich und minimal gehalten. Die Gewichts-und F?ulnisverluste betrugen nach 120 bis 178 Lagerungstagen 1 3%, respektiv 2 12% (Tab. 3). Die Speisequalit?t der Kartoffeln hat sich unter diesen Bedingungen deutlich verschlechtert unter anderem infolge erh?hter Zuckeranreicherung und speziell von Saccharose (Tab. 4 und 5). Es wurde eine erh?hte Tendenz zur Oxydation der Knollen nach dem Kochen beobachtet (Tab. 7). Diese Lagerbedingungen begünstigen einige Pilzf?ulnisse, vor allem verursacht durchFusarium-arten. Es wurde eine befriedigende Keimhemmung w?hrend der Lagerung beobachtet. Mit Keimhemmungsmitteln und in natürlicher Luft gelagerte Knollen zeigten im Vergleich zu denen in kontrollierter Atmosph?re gehaltenen Kartoffeln eine bessere Speise- und Verarbeitungsqualit?t.

     

The effect of long term bentonite administration on mixed element metabolism in dwarf goats

Pigmy goats were experimentally examined for the effects of subchronic oral applications of high doses of GDR-made bentonite on their mass element status (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium sodium, potassium). The argillaceous mineral caused slightly reduced incorporation of calcium in the bones. Bentonite-related reduction of alkaline phosphatase activity cannot be ruled out as a causative factor. Magnesium concentrations in blood serum and liver of bentonite-treated pigm goats were lower with significance than those recorded from controls. Phosphorus, sodium, and potassium metabolism was not substantively altered by bentonite application. A sodium substitution effect might possibly be achieved by admixture of bentonite to feed rations.     

Identification of a Truncated Tn1721‐like Transposon Located on a Small Plasmid of Escherichia coli Isolated from Varanus indicus

Summary The 9.1 kb plasmid pDEWT1 was isolated from an Escherichia coli strain obtained from the faeces of a free‐living lizard (Varanus indicus) in Indonesia. This plasmid mediated tetracycline resistance via a tet gene of hybridization class A. Molecular analysis of a 7755 bp segment of plasmid pDEWT1 including the tetR‐tet(A) region and its flanking areas suggested that pDEWT1 harboured a truncated copy of the tet(A)‐carrying transposon Tn1721 in which the part responsible for chemotaxis and transposition functions was lost. Analysis of the sequences at the integration site revealed the presence of the 5‐bp direct repeat TACTT. The sequences upstream and downstream of the integration site showed striking homology to sequences of a non‐coding region detectable on a small cryptic plasmid from Yersinia enterocolitica.