Direct and Residual Contributions of Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation by Legumes to the Yield and Nitrogen Uptake of Maize (Zea mays L.) in the Nigerian Savannah

Field experiments were conducted to determine the direct and residual contributions of legumes to the yield and nitrogen (N) uptake of maize during the wet seasons of 1994 and 1995 at the University Farm, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria, located in the Northern Guinea savannah of Nigeria. Nodulating soybean, lablab, green gram and black gram contributed to the yield and N uptake of maize either intercropped with the legumes or grown after legumes as a sole crop. Direct transfer of N from the nodulating soybean, lablab, green gram and black gram to the intercropped maize was 24.9–28.1, 23.8–29.2, 19.7–22.1 and 18.4–18.6 kg N ha^–1, respectively. However, the transfer of residual N from these legumes to the succeeding maize crop was 18.4–20.0, 19.5–29.9, 12.0–13.7 and 9.3–10.3 kg N ha^–1, respectively. Four years of continuous lablab cropping resulted in yields and N uptake of the succeeding maize crop grown without fertilizer N that were comparable to the yields and N uptake of the succeeding maize crop supplied with 40–45 kg N ha^–1 and grown after 4 years of continuous sorghum cropping. It may therefore be concluded that nodulating soybean, lablab, green gram and black gram may be either intercropped or grown in rotation with cereals in order to economize the use of fertilizer N for maize production in the Nigerian savannah.     

Vaccination of the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) against Mycobacterium bovis infection with bacille Calmette-Guérin: the response to multiple doses.

In New Zealand, the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) is the principal wildlife vector of bovine tuberculosis. Control of infected possum populations contributes to the control of tuberculosis in domestic livestock. Vaccination is potentially a complementary strategy to population control, but to be cost-effective, administration of the vaccine to possums would need to be from an appropriately designed automatic vaccinator. Possums themselves would activate the vaccinator so that it would deliver an aerosol spray of vaccine. There would be no direct way to prevent possums receiving multiple doses of vaccine. This study examined the effect on protective immunity of repeated vaccination. Captive possums were vaccinated with BCG strain pasteur 1173P2 either 12 times at weekly intervals, twice at 6-weekly intervals, or once. Vaccination was by a combination of intranasal aerosol and conjunctival instillation. Eight weeks after the last dose of vaccine, all possums were challenged intratracheally with Mycobacterium bovis strain 83/6235. Vaccination induced a significant immune response as measured by the lymphocyte proliferation assay (LPA). A significant level of protection, as measured by the response to challenge, developed in all the vaccinated possum groups, but protection was greatest in the group vaccinated 12 times. It was concluded that protection would be enhanced if vaccinations were repeated at short intervals (weekly), but no benefit or detriment resulted from revaccination after longer intervals (1-2 months).     

Use of synthetic peptides in virology

A survey of the potential use of synthetic oligopeptides in the field of virology is given. The potential value of synthetic peptides as vaccines and diagnostic antigens is discussed. The advantages compared to conventional vaccines as well as the limitations, e.g. the poor efficiency of immune response, are described.     

Einfluß von nutritiven Faktoren während einer Lernphase auf die Entstehung eines spezifischen Lysinhungers bei Legehennen

Bei 72 einzeln gehaltenen Legehennen wurde die Fähigkeit zur selektiven Lysinaufnahme überprüft. 2 unterschiedliche Alleinfutter auf der Basis von Federmehl (A) oder Maiskleber (B), aber mit dem gleichen defizitären Lysingehalt (0,36%), wurden während einer zweiwöchigen Lernphase jeweils an eine Hälfte der Tiere verfuttert. Anschließend wurden beide Vorbehandlungen in je 4 Gruppen geteilt, und eine der Mangelrationen und eine mit Lysin bedarfsgerecht supplementierte Ration (A+ bzw. B+, 0,64%) in folgenden Kombinationen zur Selbstauswahl über 14 Tage angeboten: A/A+, A/B+, B/A+ und B/B+. Über den prozentualen Rationsanteil am Gesamtfutterverzehr wurde die selektierte Lysinaufnahme ermittelt. Mit beiden Mangelrationen wurde eine Anorexie und in Folge eine Leistungsdepression ausgelöst, die jedoch bei B stärker ausgeprägt war. Die lysinangereicherte Ration wurde in fast allen Fällen innerhalb weniger Tage signifikant und stetig zunehmend bevorzugt, was für einen erlernten Lysinappetit bzw. -hunger spricht. Gleichzeitig wurde eine deutlichere Präferenz für die Federmehlration beobachtet, die bei Gruppe A/B+ nach B sogar zu einer Ablehnung der ergänzten Maiskleberration führte. Vertrautheit bzw. Neuartigkeit und sensorische Qualitäten einer Ration spielten neben den physiologischen Effekten eine bedeutende Rolle bei der Selbstauswahl. Die komplexen Wechselbeziehungen zwischen Futter, hedonistischen Komponenten und Erfahrung für die Entwicklung eines spezifischen Hungers wurden diskutiert.     

Literarische Berichte

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Substitution of vaccinia virus Elstree by modified vaccinia virus Ankara to test the virucidal efficacy of chemical disinfectants

After the eradication of variola in 1980, the smallpox vaccination was considered to be no longer required and was subsequently abandoned mainly because of possible adverse effects of vaccinia virus especially in first‐time vaccinees. Despite a growing number of humans without immunity against vaccinia virus, vaccinia virus Lister Elstree (VACV) is still prescribed for testing virucidal efficacy of chemical disinfectants in the guidelines of the German Veterinary Medical Society [Deutsche Veterinärmedizinische Gesellschaft (DVG)], the German Association for the Control of Virus Diseases [Deutsche Vereinigung zur Bekämpfung der Viruskrankheiten (DVV)] and the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). To evaluate a possible substitution of VACV, with the attenuated modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) the virucidal efficacy of four different DVG‐listed commercially available chemical disinfectants representing different groups of chemicals was tested against these two viruses. Quantitative suspension tests and qualitative carrier tests with poplar wood and gauze were performed. Distinction of VACV and MVA was confirmed by cytopathogenic effects, such as differences in plaque morphology. No significant difference in disinfection efficacy between VACV and MVA was observed for any of the disinfectants tested. Implying that vaccinia virus poses a risk after inadvertent inoculation, our results show that MVA, which does not replicate in humans, should replace VACV in the chemical disinfectant testing guidelines.     

The development of rabies in Switzerland--landscape determines the spread of a wildlife epidemic

The rabies epidemic that reached Switzerland in 1967 developed in response to landscape factors as long as no efficient control strategies were available. The landscape acted either as barrier to the spread of rabies, or it influenced the density of red foxes and thus the habitat of the epidemic. Following the first cases in the canton of Schaffhausen, the whole northwestern Switzerland was infected followed by the eastern Alps, large parts of the Plateau and the Jura mountains. In 1978, in the canton of Valais, the first campaigns of oral immunization of foxes against rabies started. The design of vaccination campaigns during the next two decades was always closely linked to landscape features. Thus, it was possible to free first the Alps and then the Plateau from rabies and finally, at the end of the 1990s, to eliminate it completely within the country. We describe the entire development of the epidemic within the period of 30 years from the first infection up to the last registered case and the final vaccination campaign.     

Effect of immunotherapy with a saline phenol extract of allogeneic tumour on E-rosette counts in horn cancer-affected cattle

The mean percentage of cells forming rosettes with 2-aminoethyl isothiouronium bromide-treated sheep erythrocytes (EAETRFC) in the peripheral blood of 10 horn cancer-affected cattle (40.05 +/- 2.91) was significantly low in comparison to the value in unaffected control animals (58.61 +/- 1.68). Immunotherapy with a saline phenol extract of allogeneic tumour tissue resulted in a gradual increase in the mean percentage of EAETRFC on each subsequent week. The increase was statistically significant from the second week onwards and on the sixth week, the percentage of EAETRFC in horn cancer affected cattle (56.80 +/- 1.38) closely approximated the value in unaffected controls.     

Lymphocyte beta -adrenoceptor downregulation in great danes with occult dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and with DCM and heart failure.

The importance of the adrenergic nervous system in supporting the failing heart has long been known. The adrenergic drive on cardiac structure and function has however some adverse effects, which include myocardial beta-adrenoceptor (beta-AR) downregulation and decreased beta-adrenergic responsiveness to cathecolamines. In dog lymphocytes, beta(1)-AR and beta(2)-AR populations are almost equally represented (with a slight prevalence of beta(2)) and a significant correlation between cardiac and lymphocytic adrenoceptors has been found. The aim of the present study was to investigate possible differences between the concentration of lymphocytic beta-AR in healthy dogs, dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and dogs with occult DCM. Three groups of great danes were considered: a control group (n =10), dogs with DCM (n =9) and dogs with occult DCM (n =4). Lymphocytic beta-AR populations were determined in all dogs. A substantial and significant decrease (P<0.05) in total-AR, beta(1)-AR and beta(2)-AR concentrations in the lymphocytes of dogs with symptomatic DCM and occult DCM compared to the control group was found. Although the mean value of the lymphocyte beta(1)-AR number in the asymptomatic group was double compared to the DCM group, this difference was not statistically significant. We conclude that in dogs beta-AR downregulation occurs early in the course of dilated cardiomyopathy. This finding may suggest the value of early use of a beta-blocker in the therapeutic regimen. Moreover, the continuous monitoring of lymphocytic beta-AR may represent a useful tool for the development of a more effective individual therapy.     

Production of a falcon herpesvirus vaccine.

Ten common kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) were used for this falcon herpes vaccine experiment. Four kestrels were subcutaneously given 1 ml of an attenuated falcon herpesvirus that had originally been isolated from the liver of an American prairie falcon (Falco mexicanus). This virus was then passaged 100 times on chicken embryo fibroblast cells (CEF-cells). Another 4 kestrels were given subcutaneously an inactivated falcon herpesvirus vaccine derived from the same American field strain. This vaccine was concentrated, inactivated by heat and betapropiolactone and emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvans. Two further kestrels served as controls and were not vaccinated. Twenty-one days after vaccination, all 10 kestrels were challenged with passage 3 of the American falcon herpesvirus. The 2 control kestrels died 6 days after challenge and 3 of those given the inactivated herpes vaccine died 9 days after challenge, with typical lesions of herpesvirus inclusion body hepatitis. Before the vaccination experiment, all 10 kestrels were free of serum neutralising antibodies to the falcon herpesvirus. Twenty-one days after vaccination, all 4 kestrels vaccinated with the attenuated vaccine, and one vaccinated with the killed vaccine, had seroconverted, having shown no symptoms to the challenge with a low passage virulent American herpesvirus strain. Following the challenge their antibody titres to falcon herpesvirus increased. No herpesvirus was isolated from any of the cloacal swabs taken during this experiment, indicating that there is no danger for any other birds from the attenuated herpesvirus vaccine. This experiment clearly shows that an attenuated falcon herpesvirus vaccine can protect kestrels from fatal inclusion body hepatitis.