Pharmacokinetic evaluation of ceftiofur in serum, tissue chamber fluid and bronchial secretions from healthy beef-bred calves.

Ceftiofur is a new broad spectrum cephalosporin marketed for the treatment of acute bovine respiratory disease. In this investigation ceftiofur was administered by intramuscular injection, at 24 h intervals, to healthy beef-bred calves for four days at dosages of 2.2 and 4.4 mg/kg of body weight, with 4 wk intervals between dosing regimens. Serum, tissue chamber fluid (TCF), and bronchial secretion (BS) concentrations of ceftiofur were measured by microbiological assay after the first and fourth dose of each dosing regimen. Peak serum concentrations (Cmax) of 8.8 micrograms/mL and 17.3 micrograms/mL were obtained approximately 2 h (Tmax), the time of mean peak concentration) after single injections of 2.2 mg/kg and 4.4 mg/kg, respectively. The Cmax was increased approximately twofold following multiple doses of 2.2 mg/kg (Cmax = 13.1 micrograms/mL) and 4.4 mg/kg (Cmax = 24.1 micrograms/mL). Ceftiofur accumulated slowly into TCF and peak concentrations were found to be approximately 14% of those observed in serum after the first dose and approximately 24% after multiple dosing. Concentrations of ceftiofur in BS were obtained rapidly with peak concentrations reaching 45% of the serum Cmax after the first dose. After multiple dosing the Cmax for BS was approximately 25% of the serum Cmax. This study found that both the 2.2 mg/kg and 4.4 mg/kg dosing regimens resulted in continuous serum, TCF and BS concentrations of ceftiofur that exceeded the minimal concentration required to inhibit the bacteria most frequently isolated from calves with acute bovine respiratory disease.     

A new approach to managing health in Swine operations

It is proposed that just as the stethoscope and thermometer are fundamental tools for individual medicine, production and health recording systems are fundamental tools for effective population medicine. Treatment and control of clinical diseases as the primary objective is no longer considered appropriate for livestock population. Disease in populations now describes a deviation between what is happening and what is expected to happen. This redefinition of disease implies that it is of multifactorial origin and thus a different problem solving approach must be implemented. Therefore, a swine enterprise must be considered as a system, a set of interdependent components continuously interacting to produce pork. As a system, it is characterized by certain properties: change, environment, counterintuitive behavior, drift to low performance, interdependency, and organization. A redefinition of diseases implies also that they are not only “treated” but managed. Management consists of planning, monitoring, evaluation, and analysis. For this process to be implemented successfully, a goal-directed recording system providing a farm-based infrastructure for problem solving is essential. Clinical problem solving (diagnosis) is thus based on epidemiological and demographic methods.     

Bicarotid Trunk in the Domestic Cat

The origin of the pair of common carotid arteries in the cat is inadequately described, and there are conflicting accounts in English veterinary anatomy textbooks published in the USA. We found one‐quarter of 40 adult domestic cats dissected had a bicarotid trunk (5 female, 5 male). When present, the bicarotid trunk arose from the brachiocephalic trunk approximately midway between the expected origins of the more frequently independently arising left and right common carotid arteries, and on average, it was 5.6 mm in length. Our findings make the incidence, topographical and measurement information available so that students and veterinarians can be aware of this not insignificant variation in branching of the major arteries, forming a bicarotid trunk, in the cranial mediastinum of domestic cats.     

Efficacy of Giardia vaccination in the treatment of giardiasis in cats

OBJECTIVE: To assess efficacy of Giardia vaccination as a treatment for giardiasis in experimentally infected cats. DESIGN: Original study. ANIMALS: 16 young-adult cats. PROCEDURE: Cats were experimentally infected by orogastric administration of Giardia cysts. On weeks 4, 6, and 10, cats in the treatment group (n = 8) were given Giardia vaccine SC. For the first 28 weeks after infection, 3 fecal samples from each cat were examined weekly for Giardia cysts, and cyst numbers were counted. Fecal consistency was scored daily for the duration of the study. Results from vaccinated and unvaccinated cats were compared by logistic regression. RESULTS: All cats became infected and were shedding Giardia cysts by the end of week 2. Throughout the study, diarrhea was rare and was mild and transient when it did occur. By week 28, 5 of 8 vaccinated cats and 7 of 8 control cats had patent Giardia infections. Magnitude of infection, based on number of fecal samples with cysts and number of cysts per sample, decreased progressively in both groups over time. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Administration of 3 doses of a Giardia vaccine did not completely eliminate the organism from experimentally infected cats in the study period. Since clinical signs were minimal in both groups of cats, it could not be determined whether vaccination lessened severity of clinical disease. Results may have been negatively influenced by the large inoculation dose. Whether Giardia vaccination is an effective treatment for giardiasis in naturally infected cats remains to be determined.     

Retrospective study of 46 cases of feline haemobartonellosis in Israel and their relationships with FeLV and FIV infections

Forty-six cats with clinical haemobartonellosis were studied; 75 per cent of the cats of known age were two-and-a-half years old or younger, 50 per cent were intact males and 19.5 per cent were castrated males. The predominant signs of the disease were tachypnoea, lethargy, depression, anorexia, infestation with fleas, pale mucous membranes, icterus, emaciation, dehydration, splenomegaly, anaemia, leucocytosis, increased activities of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, and azotaemia. Thirty-eight per cent of the cats that were tested for feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) antigen were positive, and 22 per cent of those tested for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) antibodies were positive. The prevalence of both FeLV and FIV was much higher than in the general Israeli cat population. The cats infected with both Haemobartonella felis and FeLV had a significantly lower body temperature, were more anaemic and the mean cell volume of their erythrocytes was greater than in the cats with haemobartonellosis alone.     

Land-cover and structural changes in a western Norwegian cultural landscape since 1865, based on an old cadastral map and a field survey

Many studies of land-cover and structural changes in cultural landscapes have used historical maps as a source for information about past land-cover. All transformations of historical maps onto modern coordinate systems are however burdened with difficulties when it comes to accuracy. We show that a detailed land survey of the present landscape may enable transformation of an old cadastral map directly onto the present terrain with very high accuracy. The detailed resulting map enabled us to locate remnants of semi-natural grasslands and man-made structures with continuity from 1865 and to test hypotheses about relationships between landscape changes and landscape characteristics. The main land-cover change 1865–2002 was decrease of arable fields, and addition of three new land-cover classes: horticultural, orchard and abandoned areas. Of the 330 man-made structures present in 1865, only 58 remained in 2002, while 63 new structures had been built after 1865. We found that semi-natural grasslands with continuity since 1865 were situated on ground with significantly lower production capacity than mean 1865 production capacity. The man-made structures with continuity since 1865 were also associated with areas with significantly lower production capacity than the 1865 mean, situated in significantly steeper terrain but not further from the hamlet. Our study illustrates the potential of digitised and accurately transformed historical cadastral maps combined with detailed field surveys for analysis of land-cover and structural changes in the cultural landscape.     

Preliminary study of ethylene oxide sterilization of full-thickness cortical allografts used in segmental femoral fracture repair

Full-thickness canine cortical allografts were cleanly harvested, sterilized with ethylene oxide, and stored at room temperature. The allografts were incorporated into canine segmental femoral fracture repairs and compared clinically, radiographically, and morphologically with control femoral cortical autografts for function of the limb, graft acceptance, and bone union. Sterility was maintained and the cortical allografts were well accepted by the host animals, resulting in full use of the limb which was subjected to surgical operation. The allografts showed healing patterns similar to those of the autografts, as determined by radiographic, gross, and histologic evaluation of the proximal and distal host-graft interfaces. Evaluations were made monthly. The host-graft interfaces of the allografts and autograft were filled with woven bone with adjacent vascular invasion and remodeling of the graft at the final 4th-month evaluation.     

Der Einfluß von Außenfaktoren auf das Wanderverhalten der Deutschen Schabe,Blattella germanica (L.) (Blattodea,Blattellidae), in einer Mülldeponie

Mass propagation of the German cockroach in refuse tips may result in an increased emigration of this species into the surrounding area of the tip and thus in a heavy infestation of nearby buildings. Therefore, knowledges about the migration behavior are important when refuse tips are managed or projected. The influence of several environmental factors (as sun, day time, wind, temperature, season, light intensity) on the running behavior of the German cockroach was investigated under outdoor conditions. The most important results are as follows:

1. The reaction of young larvae (especially of L₁ and L₂) on the investigated factors differs considerably from that of older larvae and adults. As the young larvae do not emigrate, their behavior can be neglected in respect to the questions discussed here.
2. During sunshine, the position of the sun is primarily responsible for the direction of the migration. The highest percentage of the cockroaches walks directly towards the sun or a few grade right and left from the sun. When the sun is covered by clouds, the variation in the running direction is very high and many cockroaches migrate even into the direction opposite to the sun.
3. From morning to evening, the main migration direction is shifting from east to west, following the position of the sun.
4. Wind direction (at speeds of less than 5 m/sec.) and temperature (within the activity range of the cockroaches from approximately 18 to more than 30°C) have no recognizable influence upon the migration direction.
5. The clearest reaction of the running cockroaches towards the position of the sun was noticed during the main migration-time in the year (June and July).
6. The results of these investigations confirm former findings made in the field during a mass emigration of the German cockroach from a refuse tip.

     

Der Einfluß verschiedener Schädlingsbekämpfungsmittel auf Eiparasiten der GattungTrichogramma (Hym.,Trichogrammatidae)

Zusammenfassung Um den Einfluß verschiedener Insektizide und Fungizide auf Schlupfwespen der GattungTrichogramma zu prüfen, wurde deren Parasitierungsleistung bei Dauerkontakt mit dem betreffenden Mittel untersucht. Mit unbehandelten Apfelzweigen wurden solche verglichen, die mit den Fungiziden Dithane, Orthozid 50 und Ferbam F 40 bzw. den Insektiziden Ryania, Basudin R, Dipterex, Thiodan oder Metasystox gespritzt waren. Das Alter der Rückstände betrug 0, 24 bzw. 72 Stunden.Alle drei genannten Fungizide reduzierten die Parasitierung in den verschiedenen Varianten erheblich.Das spezifisch gegen Tortriziden wirkende Ryania zeigte praktisch keine toxische Wirkung. Die Anzahl der parasitierten Eier lag entweder gleich hoch wie bei den unbehandelten Kontrollen oder in einem Fall sogar erheblich höher.Die übrigen 4 Insektizide töteten die Schlupfwespen in kurzer Zeit ab, so daß in keinem Fall eine Parasitierung erzielt werden konnte.Noch nicht abgeschlossene Lebensdauerversuche bestätigen die erzielten Ergebnisse.Die Möglichkeiten und Probleme einer gemeinsamen Anwendung vonTrichogramma und Schädlingsbekämpfungsmitteln im Obstbau werden diskutiert.

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Summary To examine the influence of various insecticides and fungicides upon egg-parasites of the genusTrichogramma, their efficiency of parasitization at permanent contact with the concerning pesticide was checked. With untreated applebranches were compared those ones, which were treated with the fungicides Dithane, Orthozid 50 or Ferbam F 40 and the insecticides Ryania, Basudin R, Dipterex, Thiodan or Metasystox resp.All three fungicides reduced the parasitization in the different variations considerably.Ryania, which shows a specific effect against tortricides, had no toxical influence on,Trichogramma.The other four insecticides killed the parasites within a short time, so that in no case a parasitization could be achieved.Investigations concerning the duration of life confirmed the result of the parasitization investigations.The possibilities and problems of a combined application ofTrichogramma and pesticides in apple orchards are discussed.

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Dem Leiter des Instiltutes für Biologische Schädlingsbekämpfung, Herrn ORR. Dr. J. Franz bin ich für wertvolle Hinweise und jederzeitige Hilfe dankbar. — Durchgeführt mit Unterstützung der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Untersuchungen über die Entwicklung von Vorratsschädlingen an Früchten einheimischer Bäume und Sträucher

Zusammenfassung In Laboratoriumsuntersuchungen wurde die Eignung von sechs auch im Winter im Freien vorkommenden Wildfrüchten als Entwicklungs- und Fraßmedium für zehn Vorratsschädlinge getestet.Unbeschädigte Früchte von Stieleiche (Quercus robur), Roteiche (Qu. borealis), Roßkastanie (Aesculus hippocastanum) und Buche (Fagus sylvatica) konnten von keiner der geprüften Käfer- und Mottenarten befallen werden.An oder in beschädigten oder geschälten Früchten von Stieleiche und Buche konnten sich jeweils sieben Vorratsschädlinge entwickeln. Am wenigsten waren Hagebutte und Roteichel als Entwicklungsmedium geeignet.Die Schlüpfrate lag fast immer unter der in der Kontrolle. Nur beiSitophilus granarius schlüpften aus Stieleicheln mehr Imagines als aus Kontrollweizen.Das breiteste Nahrungsspektrum hatten im VersuchOryzaephilus surinamensis, Stegobium paniceum, Ephestia kuehniella undPlodia interpunctella mit je 5 der 6 getesteten Wildfrüchte.Die Buchecker bot allgemein die beste Entwicklungsmöglichkeit. Nur die Arten mit Innenbefall (Sitophilus granarius, S. oryzae undSitotroga cerealella) konnten an ihr keine neue Generation aufbauen.Der Einfluß auf die Entwicklungsdauer war je nach Wildfrucht und Schädling sehr unterschiedlich. Am wenigsten wich sie beiEphestia kuehniella von der normalen Dauer (an einem Gemisch aus Haferflocken, Weizenkleie und Glyzerin) ab.Da Vorratsschädlinge relativ häufig im Freiland gefunden werden können, vor allem in der Nähe von Silos und anderen Vorratslagern, ist nicht auszuschließen, daß Wildfrüchte ihnen eine zeitweise Überlebensmöglichkeit bieten und so, wenn auch sicher relativ selten, als Infestationsquelle dienen können.

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Investigations about the development of stored products insects at fruits of indigenous trees and shrubs

In laboratory experiments the suitability of six fruits of indigenous trees and shrubs, which are also available in the field during wintertime, was tested as food and development medium for ten stored products insects.Undamaged fruits of oaks (Quercus robur andQu. borealis), horse chestnuts (Aesculus bippocastanum) and beech (Fagus sylvatica) could not be attacked by any of the tested beetles and moths.Damaged or peeled fruits ofQu. robur andF. sylvatica, however, served as development medium for seven pests. The least fitted substrates were hipberries (Rosa canina) and acorns ofQu. borealis.The number of adults emerging from the wild fruits was normally lower than that from control mediums. An exception was found inSitophilus granarius developing in acorns ofQu. robur. Oryzaephilus surinamensis, Stegobium paniceum, Ephestia kuehniella andPlodia interpunctella had the broadest food spectrum with five fruits each.The beechnut offered the best possibilities for development. Only those insects living inside of seeds (Sitophilus granarius, S. oryzae andSitotroga cerealella) were not able to form a new generation in this fruit.The influence upon the length of the development period was different according to fruit and pest species. The slightest difference, compared with a normal medium (rolled oat, wheat bran and glycerine) was found in the mediterraneum flour moth (E. kuehniella).As stored products insects can be found relatively often in outdoor biotopes, especially in the surrounding of silos or stores, it can not be excluded that fruits of wild plants may offer—at least for a certain period—a possibility for survival. Thus they may act from time to time as a source of infestation.

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Mit 2 Abbildungen und einer Tabelle

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Herrn Prof. Dr.J.M. Franz zum 75. Geburtstag gewidmet.