Survey of the reproductive features and insemination/mating results in full blood Arabian and Haflinger mare herds on stud farms in west and middle Anatolia

Within a German-Turkish university partnership documentation of reproductive data of brood-mares was performed as a part project of the cooperation contract. In the study Arab, Haflinger and cross-breed mares were included. The mares mainly were housed in big studfarms and a smaller part was kept under small private farms. Almost three quarters of both the Arab and Haflinger mares exhibited an estrous length of 1-4 days, whereas the others showed a heat duration of a period of 5-10 days. In the same group of probands a mean length of sexual cycle of 18-24 days could be observed in 38.2% of the Haflinger. The majority of the other mares in both races documented a cycle duration of more than 25 days. The remarkable short duration of heat is discussed as caused by the sharp change from winter to spring environment conditions in that area. An explanation of the marked long mean cycle interval is difficult and might be caused by inadequate documentation of the data. Conception results and foaling data as 83.4% resp. 78.8% in the Arabs and 76.6% resp. 74.8% in the Haflinger mares are within the international standard. Conception rate and foaling data in the cross-breed (72.3% resp. 55.3%) are low compared with data (96.9% 70.8%) of Arab brood-mares kept under stud condition in that area. These data point out the necessity of improving pre- and postconceptional care of the mares under stud conditions as well as in private keeping.     

Belief in magic and magical medicine. Characteristics of its origin and consolidation in folk medicine for animal medical science

In the evolution of mankind and therefore in the veterinary historiography as well you can find the belief in magic and in magic medicine. In the primitive society our early forefathers began with the magic medicine by domestication and the applying of magic medicine also to animals. Because of witch-hunt and printing the belief in magic was systematized and authorized in the veterinary medicine. With the freedom of trade in the second half of the 19th century the belief in magic and magic medicine flourished also in Germany.     

Estimation of the occupational radiation exposure during radiographic studies of horses]

Radiography of horses in veterinary practice is done normally with quite simple equipment. Thereby radiation protection is easily neglected. In this investigation sources of mistakes are demonstrated. The possible exposure of staff is evaluated by dose measuring over a long period of time. It can be stated that following the most simple radiation protection there will never be a significant exposure of staff.     

The protective effect of adsorbents against ochratoxin A in swine

Adsorption of the mycotoxin ochratoxin A by activated charcoal, various bentonites (acid, alkaline, neutral), and hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate was tested in vitro as well as in feeding experiments with pigs. In vitro tests showed that the 1% addition of activated charcoal leads to complete adsorption of ochratoxin A from aqueous solutions. This effect was not influenced by pH-values ranging from 3-8. In contrast, adsorption by bentonite and hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate occurred primarily in the acid range (pH 3-4). Dietary addition of hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (1%) and acid bentonite (1%, 10%) to ochratoxin A-contaminated feed (1.0 mg/kg) had no effect on the blood or tissue levels of the toxin in pigs. The addition of 1% activated charcoal caused a slight decrease of ochratoxin A in the blood, whereas a tenfold dosage resulted in a 50% to 80% reduction of ochratoxin A levels in both blood and tissue. Reduction of ochratoxin A absorption via the dietary administration of activated charcoal (5%) was confirmed in a 16 week feeding experiment. However, this experiment also showed the serum level of vitamin E to be lower than in the controls receiving adsorbent-free feed.     

CD95/CD95 ligand interactions on epithelial cells in host defense to Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes severe infections, particularly of the lung, that are life threatening. Here, we show that P. aeruginosa infection induces apoptosis of lung epithelial cells by activation of the endogenous CD95/CD95 ligand system. Deficiency of CD95 or CD95 ligand on epithelial cells prevented apoptosis of lung epithelial cells in vivo as well as in vitro. The importance of CD95/CD95 ligand-mediated lung epithelial cell apoptosis was demonstrated by the rapid development of sepsis in CD95- or CD95 ligand-deficient mice, but not in normal mice, after P. aeruginosa infection.