SONOGRAPHY OF THE MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM IN DOGS AND CATS

Sonography of the musculoskeletal system in dogs and cats was undertaken to evaluate the application of this imaging procedure in orthopedics. In most of the patients a 7,5 MHz linear transducer was used because of its flat application surface and its resolving power. The evaluation of bone by sonography is limited, but sonography can provide addition information regarding the bone surface and surrounding soft tissue. Ultrasound is valuable for assessing joint disease. Joint effusion, thickening of the joint capsule and cartilage defects can be identified sonographically. It is also possible to detect bone destruction. Instabilities are often identified with the help of a dynamic examination. Soft tissue abnormalities of the musculoskeletal system lend themselves to sonographic evaluation. Partial or complete muscles or tendon tears are able to be differentiated and the healing process can be monitored. Most of the diseases that are in the area of the biceps or the achilles tendon, such as dislocation of the tendon, old injuries with scarification, free dissecates in the tendonsheath, tendinitis and/or tendosynovitis can be differentiated by sonography. In addition, with clinical and laboratory findings, it is often possible to make a correct diagnosis with ultrasound in patients with abscesses, foreign bodies, hematomas, soft tissue tumors and lipomas.     

Inactivation of soil-borne plant pathogens during small-scale composting of crop residues

Samples of heavily infested crop residues were incorporated in static compost heaps (2.5–4.6 m³) of the Indore type. Temperature increased to 50–70°C within 6 days depending on the type of crop residues used and the location within the heap. The heat phase (>40 °C) lasted 2–3 weeks and was followed by a c. 5-months maturation phase (<40 °C). Among the 17 pathogens tested, onlyOlpidium brassicae and one of the four formae speciales ofFusarium oxysporum that were tested survived composting, but also their inoculum was greatly reduced.Survival during specific phases of composting was studied by incorporation and retrieval of samples at various stages of the process.F. oxysporum f. sp.melonis was completely inactivated andO. brassicae andPlasmodiophora brassicae were almost completely inactivated during the short heat phase. The three pathogens survived the long-lasting maturation phase without loss of viability. Heat evolved during composting was found to be the most important factor involved with sanitation of crop residues. The possible involvement of fungitoxic conversion products and microbial antagonism is discussed.     

Validation of the specificity and sensitivity of species-specific primers that provide a reliable molecular diagnostic for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xiphinema diversicaudatum</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">X. index</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">X. vuittenezi</Emphasis>

Xiphinema diversicaudatum and X. index are vector nematode species of economic importance in viticulture regions as they can transmit Arabis Mosaic, Grapevine Fanleaf and Strawberry Latent Ringspot viruses to grapevine. Wang et al. (2003) designed species-specific diagnostic primers from ribosomal genes for both these vector species as well as a vector and a non-vector species X. italiae and X. vuittenezi, respectively. Our study aimed to confirm the specificity and determine the sensitivity and reliability of the primers for the two vector species, X. diversicaudatumand X. indexwhen challenged with closely related longidorid species and general nematode communities typical of vineyard soil. With one exception, no PCR product was observed when the primers were tested against six Longidorus, one Paralongidorus and one Xiphinema non-target species. Occasionally (three out of eight replicate PCR reactions) a weak PCR product was noted when primers for X. index were tested with L. elongatus. Furthermore, when challenged with a range of non-target nematode species comprising the nematode community typical of viticulture soil, no PCR product was amplified. An experimental dilution series of extracted DNA rigorously demonstrated that DNA from an equivalent single specimen of the target virus-vector species, X. diversicaudatum and/or X. index, could be detected amongst 1000 equivalent non-targetX. vuittenezi. Also, extracted DNA from an equivalent single target specimen was detected when added to DNA extracted from the overall soil nematode community. The primers were assessed further by using serial mixtures of actual nematodes rather than extracted DNA to simulate field soil. Using this method, a single target nematode could be detected amongst 200 non-target specimens. Given their specificity, sensitivity and reliability, it appears that these diagnostic primers will be of great benefit to phytosanitary/quarantine services related to the viticulture industry.     

Methodische untersuchungen zur Sekundärauswertung von Sortenversuchen Bezüglich der Ertragsstabilität von Sorten mit Hilfe der Ökoregression

In Sortenversuchen sind die Wechselwirkungen Sorten × Orte meist sehr groß und die Mittelwertdifferenzen somit wenig aussagekräftig.

Es wird empfohlen, Landessortenversuche über Landesgrenzen hinweg sekundär regressionsanalytisch auszuwerten, um die Reaktionen von Sorten auf die unterschiedlichen Wachstumsbedingungen der Orte zu erkennen. Auf Aspekte der Auswertung wird näher eingegangen. Die Auswertungsergebnisse der sekundären Auswertung sind für Pflanzenzüchter und Landwirte gleichsam relevant.     

Vaccination of weaner pigs against classical swine fever with the subunit vaccine "Porcilis Pesti": influence of different immunization plans on excretion and transmission of challenge virus

Excretion and transmission of CSFV after vaccination with the CSF subunit marker vaccine "Porcilis Pesti" have been studied using the following different vaccination schedules: Group A--two vaccinations with an interval of 28 d, challenge 14 d after second vaccination (p.v2.); group B--two vaccinations with an interval of 14 d, challenge 14 d later; group C--two vaccinations with an interval of 28 d, challenge at time of booster vaccination; group D--two vaccinations with an interval of 14 d, challenge 7 d p.v2.; group E--single vaccination and infection 14 d later. After infection one sentinel pig was added to the vaccinated and infected pigs of each group. A single vaccination did not induce protective immunity against a CSFV challenge. Double vaccination at a four-week interval protected piglets from clinical infection, and neither viraemia and leukopenia nor virus excretion were detected if infected 14 d p.v2. Two vaccinations at a two-week interval followed by a challenge 7 d p.v2. led to a short viraemia on day 5 p.i. but without excretion of CSFV. Though all other vaccination schedules induced a reduction in virus shedding and a decrease in CSFV replication, in all these cases in-contact controls became infected. The results of transmission of CSFV are discussed in relation to a potential use of subunit marker vaccines in CSF control.     

Bedeutung eines jahreszeitlich unterschiedlichen Einschlagszeitpunktes für das Trocknungsverhalten des Schnittholzes von Fichten (Picea abies (L.) Karst.)

Zusammenfassung:   Die vorliegende Untersuchung hat zum Ziel, die Auswirkungen eines jahreszeitlich unterschiedlichen Einschlagszeitpunktes von Fichten (Winter- und Sommereinschlag) auf die Dimensionsstabilität des daraus erzeugten Schnittholzes zu erfassen und zu quantifizieren. Hierzu wurden jeweils 12 Fichten aus Winter- und Sommereinschlag unmittelbar nach der Aufarbeitung im Bestand zu Bauschnittholz in praxisüblichen Dimensionen verarbeitet. Die Erfassung der trocknungsbedingten Verwerfungen des Schnittholzes erfolgte mittels Vermessung der Kantholzform vor und nach einer technischen Kammertrocknung (Zielfeuchte u = 15 ± 3%). Dabei zeigte sich, dass der saisonal unterschiedliche Zeitpunkt der Fällung der Bäume keinen statistisch abgesicherten Einfluss auf die durchschnittlichen Verwerfungen bzw. die Dimensionsstabilität der daraus erzeugten Kanthölzer hatte.     

Development of a new method for the complete extraction of carotenoids from cereals with special reference to durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.)

Due to the growing interest in the role of carotenoids in human health, their qualitative and quantitative analysis in foods is becoming more and more important. High-performance liquid chromatography has become the method of choice for the determination of these phytochemicals. A crucial step prior to the chromatographic separation is the quantitative extraction from the food matrix which was proven to be impeded in durum wheat. To optimize the extraction procedure, several factors with influence on extractability of carotenoids were investigated. Finally, it was shown that soaking of samples in water for 5 min prior to extraction with organic solvents had the strongest impact on extraction yield and led to the most rapid and gentle method. Contents of carotenoids in the extracts of several durum wheat and corn samples were doubled by soaking in water before extracting with methanol/tetrahydrofuran (1/1, v/v). In light of these findings, literature data on contents of carotenoids in cereal grains have to be viewed critically regarding the extraction procedures employed.     

Performance of the Biocontrol Fungus Piriformospora indica on Wheat Under Greenhouse and Field Conditions

ABSTRACT The endophyte Piriformospora indica colonizes roots of a range of host plants and increases biomass production and resistance to fungal pathogens and, thus has been considered a biocontrol fungus. However, the field performance of this fungus has not yet been tested in temperate climates. Therefore, we evaluated the performance of this fungus in different substrata under greenhouse and practical field conditions. Roots of winter wheat were colonized efficiently, and biomass was particularly increased on poor substrata. In greenhouse experiments, symptom severity of a typical leaf (Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici), stem base (Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides), and root (Fusarium culmorum) pathogen was reduced significantly. However, in field experiments, symptoms caused by the leaf pathogen did not differ in Piriformospora indica-colonized compared with control plants. In the field, Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides disease severity was significantly reduced in plants colonized by the endophyte. Increased numbers of sheath layers and hydrogen peroxide concentrations after B. graminis attack were detected in Piriformospora indica-colonized plants, suggesting that root colonization causes induction of systemic resistance or priming of the host plant. Although the endophyte is not well suited for growth at Central European temperature conditions, it remains to be shown whether P. indica is more suitable for tropical or subtropical farming.     

Discovery of a new avian bornavirus genotype in estrildid finches (Estrildidae) in Germany

Avian bornaviruses (ABV) are known to be the causative agent of proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) in parrots and their relatives (Psittaciformes). A broad range of ABV genotypes has been detected not only in psittacine birds, but also in other avian species including canary birds (Serinus canaria forma domestica) and Bengalese finches (Lonchura striata f. dom.), which are both members of the order songbirds (Passeriformes).During this study 286 samples collected from captive and wild birds of various passerine species in different parts of Germany were screened for the presence of ABV. Interestingly, only three ABV-positive samples were identified by RT-PCR. They originated from one yellow-winged pytilia (Pytilia hypogrammica) and two black-rumped waxbills (Estrilda troglodytes) from a flock of captive estrildid finches in Saxony. The ABV isolates detected here were only distantly related to ABV isolates found in passerine species in Germany and Japan and form a new genotype tentatively called ABV-EF (for “estrildid finches”).