A Tremor Syndrome With a Central Axonopathy in Scottish Terriers

A central axonopathy in 2 male and 1 female Scottish Terrier puppies from 3 different but related litters is reported. Clinical signs consisting of severe whole-body tremors and ataxia were first detected at the age of 10 to 12 weeks. They worsened with activity and excitement and diminished during rest or sleep. Two dogs also had paraparesis. In 1 dog the neurological deficits progressed over several months. Neuropathological examination revealed widespread axonal changes, vacuolation, and gliosis in the white matter of the central nervous system.     

Particle Size Distribution in Two Lipid Emulsions Used for the Enrichment of Artemia nauplii as a Function of Their Preparation Method and Storage Time

The present study examined the distribution of particle sizes in two experimental standardized lipid emulsions (distributed by ICES, International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) as a function of the preparation method (hand shaking or ultrasonic blending) and as a function of storage time. A 24-h enrichment trial compared the incorporated HUFA levels in the nauplii of Artemia franciscana .
The emulsion droplets in the 50% HUFA emulsion (ICES 50, ethyl ester based) were much smaller than in the 30% HUFA emulsion (ICES 30, triacylglycerol-based) in which 90% of the droplets had a diameter below 12.3 μm as compared to 1.3 pn in ICES 50. The blending method highly affected particle sizes. High-shear blending instead of the classical hand shaking of the emulsion of both ICES 30 and 50 reduced the mean particle size from 5.06 to 1.07 μm and from 0.38 to 0.11 μm, respectively. The particle size distributions remained stable during the 1-wk storage, suggesting the absence of agglomeration or bacterial development. The fatty acid composition of 24-h enriched Artemia reflected differences in the HUFA profile of the emulsions, but was independent of observed differences in the size of the particles.     

Calculation of hydraulic conductivities of horizons in some major soils in Wisconsin

Hydraulic conductivity between saturation and a tension of 100 cm water was calculated with moisture-retention data for nine soil horizons and compared with results from in situ measurements with the crust test. Agreement was good for sandy, apedal soil horizons with simple packing voids but only if matching factors were used. Results were unreliable in clayey, pedal soil horizons in which a few relatively large planar and tubular pores determine K in the measured tension range, whereas the greatest fraction of total porosity is composed of fine pores inside peds that hardly contribute to flow. Varying the number of pore classes (n) and the water-filled porosity at saturation made no significant difference in the calculations for the apedal soils, but drastically changed the shape of the calculated curves for the pedal soils. Matching factors based on K_sat measurement had to be used for all studied soil horizons, indicating that Marshall's pore-interaction model never predicted K_sat accurately.     

Unsprouted potato tubers treated with gibberellic acid (GA3)

Summary Tubers (still unsprouted after an eight months' storage period) of the late varietyLibertas with slow growth in youth and few stems were treated with gibberellic acid (GA₃) in 1958 and 1959. Two sprayings gave similar results as dipping for 15 minutes. 25 ppm probably had more effect than 12,5 ppm. During both years the treatment resulted in more and longer sprouts and more stems, although the number of stems is usually less than the number of sprouts. Emergence was not accelerated and in both years yields tended to be lower. In 1958 all yields reached a high level, treatment gave a non-significant lower yield, but there was a greater number of tubers especially in the 25–40 mm seed-class. In 1959 the size and the number of tubers were affected by second growth owing to the unusually dry summer with short spells of rainy weather. In this year presprouted tubers emerged 10 days earlier than treated and non treated, unsprouted seed, which for a long period gave the crop a lead in haulm growth and even a permanent lead in tuber yield.

---

Zusammenfassung Von der sp?ten SorteLibertas, die in ihrer Jugend ein langsames Wachstum zeigt und wenig Stengel entwickelt, wurden ungekeimte Knollen (nach 8-monatiger Lagerung) in den Jahren 1958 und 1959 mit Gibberellins?ure (GA₃) behandelt. Eine zweimalige Spritzung ergab zumindest ?hnliche Ergebnisse wie das Eintauchen w?hrend 15 Minuten. 25 ppm hat wahrscheinlich eine bessere Wirkung, wie 12,5 ppm. In beiden Jahren ergab die Behandlung mehr und l?ngere Keime sowie mehr Stengel, obzwar die Anzahl der Stengel gew?hnlich nicht so hoch ist, wie die Anzahl der Keime. Es zeigte sich keine Beschleunigung des Auflaufens, jedoch eine Tendenz für einen geringeren Ertrag in beiden Jahren. In 1958 waren alle Ertr?ge hoch und die Behandlung ergab eine nicht signifikante Ertragsverminderung, jedoch eine gr?ssere Knollenzahl (insbesondere in der Saat-Gr?ssenklasse, 25–40 mm). In 1959 war die Gr?sse und die Anzahl der Knollen infolge des ungew?hnlich trockenen Sommers mit kurzen Regenperioden durch Mehrwüchsigkeit beeintr?chtigt. In diesem Jahr sind die vorgekeimten Knollen um 10 Tage früher aufgelaufen, was den Pflanzen im Vergleich zu den behandelten und nicht behandelten ungekeimten Pflanzgut einen l?ngeren Vorsprung im Krautwuchs und einen dauerhaften Vorsprung in der Knollenbildung gab.

---

Résumé Des tubercules non germés (après stockage pendant huit mois) de la variété tardiveLibertas, à lente croissance de début et à petit nombre de tiges, ont été traités à l'acide gibberellique (GA₃) en 1958 et en 1959. Deux pulvérisations donnaient des résultats au moins égaux à ceux d'une immersion de 15 minutes. La concentration de 25 millionièmes est probablement plus efficace que celle de 12,5 millionièmes. L'une et l'autre année, les tubercules traités avaient des germes plus nombreux et plus longs et un plus grand nombre de tiges, bien que le nombre de tiges ne soit généralement pas aussi grand que le nombre de germes. La levée ne fut pas accélérée et il se manifesta une tendance de diminution du rendement. En 1958, toutes les récoltes furent bonnes, le traitement entra?nant une diminution non significante de la récolte mais faisant augmenter le nombre de tubercules (particulièrement dans la catégorie de semenceaux de 25–40 mm). En 1959, la grosseur et le nombre des tubercules furent influencés par croissance secondaire (excroissance) par suite de l'été exceptionnellement sec avec de courtes périodes de pluie. Cette année-là, les tubercules prégermés levèrent 10 jours plus t?t que les plants non prégermés, traités et non traités, de sorte que le développement du feuillage fut supérieur pendant une longue période et que celui des tubercules fut supérieur jusqu'à la récolte.

     

Fucose-Rich Sulfated Polysaccharides from Two Vietnamese Sea Cucumbers Bohadschia argus and Holothuria (Theelothuria) spinifera: Structures and Anticoagulant Activity

Fucosylated chondroitin sulfates (FCSs) FCS-BA and FCS-HS, as well as fucan sulfates (FSs) FS-BA-AT and FS-HS-AT were isolated from the sea cucumbers Bohadschia argus and Holothuria (Theelothuria) spinifera, respectively. Purification of the polysaccharides was carried out by anion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel column. Structural characterization of polysaccharides was performed in terms of monosaccharide and sulfate content, as well as using a series of non-destructive NMR spectroscopic methods. Both FCSs were shown to contain a chondroitin core [→3)-β-d-GalNAc-(1→4)-β-d-GlcA-(1→]_n bearing sulfated fucosyl branches at O-3 of every GlcA residue in the chain. These fucosyl residues were different in pattern of sulfation: FCS-BA contained Fuc2S4S, Fuc3S4S and Fuc4S at a ratio of 1:8:2, while FCS-HS contained these residues at a ratio of 2:2:1. Polysaccharides differed also in content of GalNAc4S6S and GalNAc4S units, the ratios being 14:1 for FCS-BA and 4:1 for FCS-HS. Both FCSs demonstrated significant anticoagulant activity in clotting time assay and potentiated inhibition of thrombin, but not of factor Xa. FS-BA-AT was shown to be a regular linear polymer of 4-linked α-L-fucopyranose 3-sulfate, the structure being confirmed by NMR spectra of desulfated polysaccharide. In spite of considerable sulfate content, FS-BA-AT was practically devoid of anticoagulant activity. FS-HS-AT cannot be purified completely from contamination of some FCS. Its structure was tentatively represented as a mixture of chains identical with FS-BA-AT and other chains built up of randomly sulfated alternating 4- and 3-linked α-L-fucopyranose residues.     

Serotyping of Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae in the Netherlands: with emphasis on heterogeneity within serotype 1 and (proposed) serotype 9

Four hundred and forty-three Dutch field isolates of Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae were serotyped by rapid slide agglutination (RSA) using specific antisera against serotypes 1 to 5 and against the recently proposed types 6 to 9. The predominant serotypes were 9 (49%) and 2 (32%). Serotypes 1, 3, 5, 7 and 8 were isolated in small numbers: together they accounted for 3% of the total. Five percent of the isolates were not typable either due to autoagglutination or because they were not agglutinated by any of the available antisera. The remaining 49 strains (11%) agglutinated in more than one antiserum and could therefore not be properly classified. Forty-four of these 49 strains agglutinated in both anti type 1 and anti type 9 serum. Antigenic relationships between serotype 1, serotype 9 and isolates reacting with both antisera were studied using immunodiffusion and RSA with adsorbed sera. Serotype 9 strains appeared not to be a homogenous group. Isolates agglutinating exclusively in anti type 9 serum can be divided into two groups: one closely related and another hardly related to serotype 1. Serotype 9 reference strain 13261 belongs to the latter. Type 1 + 9 strains have antigens in common with serotypes 1 and 9, but they also have their own specific antigenic material. Such strains are proposed as a new serotype 10.     

Deal stem disease of asparagus caused by Fusarium culmorum

Deal stem disease in asparagus is characterized by yellow dead stems with reddish lesions, mostly at soil level. There are two types of infection. The first one with lesions on the base of the stem at soil level, as a result of which the stem dies off. In the second type of infection the lesions appear higher up on the stems, while stems remain mostly green. The disease was proved to be caused byFusarium culmorum. This fungus is mainly spread through the soil. Air dispersal was demonstrated but seems of little importance to disease incidence.     

Prevalence of campylobacter in pigs during fattening; an epidemiological study

Summary

Numerous epidemiological reports implicate foods of animal origin as vehicles of human campylobacteriosis. Pigs are probably an important reservoir of campylobacter and a potential source of human infection. In order to improve our knowledge of the epidemiology of campylobacter in pigs, the prevalence of campylobacter and its contamination of feed were monitored in eight pig farms. Faeces samples of pigs aged 11 and 22 weeks, and samples of rectal, ileal and gastric content at a slaughterhouse were collected for bacteriological examination. On 5 farms, subsequent groups of pigs housed in the same stalls was sampled, too. A selection of the campylobacter isolates was characterized with a genetic typing method (RFLP). More than 85% of the sampled porkers were shown to be intestinal carriers of campylobacter at all stages of fattening. Subsequent groups of pigs housed in the same stalls were all carriers, too. The level of campylobacters in the faeces tended to decrease as the pigs got older. There was no difference in the frequency and level of infection with campylobacter between porkers on different farms. The feeding system (wet feed versus dry pellets) did not seem to influence the prevalence of campylobacter although wet feed gave lower counts of Enterobacteriaceae in the faeces.

RFLP‐typing showed a high diversity of campylobacter strains at each sampling on the farm. Similarities were seen between strains isolated during two subsequent samplings of the same group of pigs, but not between strains isolated on the same farm from subsequent groups of pigs housed in the same stall. This suggests that the piglets were already infected at a young age on the breeding farm.     

In vitro markers for virulence in Yersinia ruckeri

In this study, different traits that have been associated with bacterial virulence were studied in Yersinia ruckeri. Two isolates that had been shown to cause disease and mortality in experimentally infected rainbow trout were compared with five avirulent isolates. Both virulent isolates showed high adhesion to gill and intestinal mucus of rainbow trout, whereas the majority of non‐virulent strains demonstrated significantly lower adhesion. A decrease in adherence capability following bacterial treatment with sodium metaperiodate and proteolytic enzymes suggested the involvement of carbohydrates and proteins. All strains were able to adhere to and invade chinook salmon embryo cell line (CHSE‐214), fathead minnow epithelial cell line (FHM) and rainbow trout liver cell line (R1). One non‐virulent strain was highly adhesive and invasive in the three cell lines, whereas the virulent strains showed moderate adhesive and invasive capacity. The internalization of several isolates was inhibited by colchicine and cytochalasin‐D, suggesting that microtubules and microfilaments play a role. For all strains, intracellular survival assays showed a decrease of viable bacteria in the cells 6 h after inoculation, suggesting that Y. ruckeri is not able to multiply or survive inside cultured cells. Analysis of the susceptibility to the bactericidal effect of rainbow trout serum demonstrated that virulent Y. ruckeri strains were serum resistant, whereas non‐virulent strains were generally serum sensitive.