Virucidal efficacy of four new disinfectants

Virucidal efficacy was evaluated for four recently available disinfectants: chlorine dioxide, potassium peroxymonosulfate, a quaternary ammonium compound, and citricidal (grapefruit extract). Sodium hypochlorite (3%) and tap water were used as positive and negative controls respectively. Feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirus, and feline parvovirus were exposed to the manufacturers' recommended dilutions of the evaluated disinfectants. Both chlorine dioxide and potassium peroxymonosulfate completely inactivated the three viruses used in this study. These disinfectants can aid in controlling nosocomial transmission of viruses with less of the deleterious effects of sodium hypochlorite. The quaternary ammonium compound evaluated in this study and citricidal were not effective against feline calicivirus and feline parvovirus.     

Regional brain monoamine concentrations and their alterations in bovine hypomagnesaemic tetany experimentally induced by a magnesium-deficient diet

Monoamines are important brain neurotransmitters. An investigation was carried out to determine if hypomagnesaemic tetany was associated with alterations in regional brain monoamine concentrations in bovines. The results, established in cows with normal magnesium status, demonstrated that regional differences existed in the distribution and concentration of brain monoamines in the adult bovine, which were similar to those in other species. In magnesium-deficient cows, severe hypomagnesaemia and lowered cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) magnesium concentrations were associated with significant alterations in monoamine concentrations in some brain regions. Alterations in 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) concentrations in the corpus striatum, and dopamine (DA) in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum were recorded. These regions play an important role in both voluntary and involuntary motor function, and therefore these alterations may play a role in the aetiology of hypomagnesaemic tetany. However, there was no significant change in DA concentrations in the corpus striatum (the main dopaminergic region in the brain) associated with hypomagnesaemia. In addition, a significantly lower norepinephrine (NE) concentration in the corpus striatum of hypomagnesaemic animals was also recorded. Norephinephrine is generally excitatory and therefore lowered NE concentrations would be expected to result in depression rather than stimulation of motor function.     

Skeletal muscle lymphoma in a bullmastiff

A 16-month-old, neutered male bullmastiff was presented for acute onset of massive swelling of the right hind limb. Primary skeletal muscle lymphoma was diagnosed based on cytopathology, surgical biopsy, and necropsy findings. Cutaneous metastases developed during the hospitalization, and additional metastases were found in the heart and thoracic wall. Primary skeletal muscle lymphoma is a rare form of lymphoma in dogs and should be considered as a differential diagnosis for acute, soft-tissue swelling of the limb.     

Pathogenesis-related gene expression in rice is correlated with developmentally controlled Xa21-mediated resistance against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae

Disease resistance mediated by the resistance gene Xa21 is developmentally controlled in rice. We examined the relationship between Pathogenesis Related (PR) defense gene expression and Xa21-mediated developmental disease resistance induced by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). OsPR1a, OsPR1b, and OsPR1c genes were cloned and their induction was analyzed, in addition to the OsPR10a gene, at the juvenile and adult stages in response to a wildtype Xoo strain that induces a resistance response (incompatible interaction) and an isogenic mutant Xoo strain that does not (compatible interaction). We found that the adult stage leaves are more competent to express these OsPR1 genes and that the Xa21 locus is required for the highest levels of induction.     

Effects of pheromone loading, dispenser age, and trap height on pheromone trap catches of the oriental fruit moth in apple orchards

The effects of field aging (0–28 days) and pheromone loading rate on the longevity of red rubber septa loaded with the sex pheromone blend of the oriental fruit mothGrapholita molesta (Busck), were evaluated in North Carolina apple orchards in 2002. Separate field tests examined the influence of trap height and pheromone loading rate of rubber septa on trap catches of adultG. molesta males in an abandoned orchard. The loss of the major pheromone component, (Z)-8-dodecenyl acetate (Z8–12:OAc), from red rubber septa over a 4-week period exhibited a relatively constant release rate with 30, 100 and 300 μg pheromone. Trap catch was significantly higher in pheromone traps placed in the upper canopy than in those in the lower canopy. Pheromone traps baited with 100μg lures caught more moths compared with those loaded with 300 μg. There was no apparent relationship between pheromone trap catch and septa age, with trap catch appearing to be primarily a function ofG. molesta population density. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting May 14, 2006.     

News from the Scientific Organising Committee Learning new tricks to treat old dogs

Treating elderly pets and maximising your practice returns will be in focus at this year's AVA Annual Conference. The Scientific Organising Committee is delighted that such distinguished international and local speakers have agreed to give presentations in the Small Animal (Geriatric Medicine and Surgery) and Practice Management streams at the conference.
The AVA Conference will be at Hobart's Wrest Point Conference Centre from May 21–26, 2006. To see the full program and to register online visit www.ava.com.au/avaconference.     

Ausnahmen von Quarantäneauflagen für Forschungs- und Züchtungszwecke

Specific harmful organisms whether singly or associated with plants shall not be introduced into the European Community. All activities which would involve these organisms are not allowed. The authorities can make under defined requirements an exception for activities for trial or scientific purposes and for work on varietal selections. The responsible body has to determine conditions which must be satisfied in the case of introductions, movements or activities, in order to ensure that there is no risk of harmful organism spreading. The legal basis is the Commission directive 95/44/EC transferred into German legislation by the Pflanzenbeschauverordnung.     

Fibrocartilaginous emboli in a tayra (Eira barbara): a case report.

An 8-yr-old male tayra (Eira barbara) was presented with acute onset of pelvic limb paralysis. Radiography was unremarkable. Neurologic examination showed signs consistent with an intramedullary lesion between the second thoracic and fifth lumbar spinal cord segments. The animal's condition did not improve after 4 days of aggressive glucocorticoid therapy, and euthanasia was performed. Histologic examination of the spinal cord showed amorphous emboli suggestive of cartilaginous fragments within spinal veins. A diagnosis of fibrocartilaginous emboli was made, the first known case in a mustelid.     

The pathogenic helminth parasites of eels

Although 63 and 55 species of helminths have been reported from each species of Atlantic eel and from 29 to 19 for each species of Pacific eel only the monogeneans Pseudodactylogyrus bini and P. anguillae and the nematode Anguillicola crassus, originally specific to species of Pacific eels, can be considered serious pathogens. None of the three are normally pathogenic to their preferred natural eel host species in the wild. Pseudodactylogyrus spp. only cause serious local gill damage when present on a host in large numbers under optimal conditions that facilitate transmission. This is the case in eel aquaculture, where infections can be controlled by drugs. Anguillicola crassus is only pathogenic to Anguilla anguilla and A. rostrata when Atlantic eels are introduced to the far east or when the parasites have been introduced to Europe. Here the parasite life cycle differs in that A. crassus can infect a wide range of intermediate hosts, employ paratenic hosts and survive as larvae for months in the swimbladder wall. This makes it an excellent colonizer. Its major pathogenic effects on eels result from haemorrhaging in, and thickening of, the swimbladder wall. It reduces the oxygen concentration in the swimbladder, reducing its ability to function as a hydrostatic organ, and increases the stress response of eels. In shallow lakes at warm temperatures this can result in mass mortalities. It is also feared that the parasite affects the ability of eels to migrate to the Sargasso Sea and so contributes to the decline in eel populations. Control by drug treatment is possible in culture, but not in the wild.