Back muscle necrosis of pigs.

The clinical signs and pathological features of back muscle necrosis (BMN) in four pigs from three English pig herds were similar to those recorded in pigs from mainland Europe. The observations made support the view that BMN is a special manifestation of the porcine stress syndrome. Diagnosis of acute BMN can be made clinically supported by the analysis of plasma creatine phosphokinase activity and can be confirmed post mortem by macroscopic and microscopic observation on the back muscles.     

Virus infections in cattle and sheep in Scotland 1975-1978

Over the four-year period 1975-78 attempts were made to identify virus in samples from 1231 outbreaks of disease in cattle, and 682 outbreaks of disease in sheep. A virus identification was possible in 26 per cent of these disease outbreaks. The nature and significance of these virus infections is discussed.     

Observations on a heard of beef cattle maintained in a tsetse area

Summary Three groups of Boran cattle were maintained under different trypanocidal drug regimes for 29 months in an area of “medium” tsetse challenge. The development of immunity to trypanosomiasis in the cattle was assessed on the basis of changes in trypanocidal drug requirement, development of parasitaemia, ability to maintain normal blood values, growth and response to challenge after the withdrawal of the drugs. Observations were also made on serum antibody content by immunofluorescence and on serum immunoglobulin levels. Cattle treated with Berenil on the development of clinical disease developed a partial immunity to trypanosomiasis after two years. Cattle treated as a group with Berenil on the development of patent parasitaemia in any one animal of the group did not develop immunity. Cattle treated as a group with Samorin using the same criterion for treatment developed a degree of immunity to the disease. It was concluded that group treatment with Samorin was the most suitable of the three regimes examined for the maintenance of beef cattle in a tsetse infested area.

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Resumen Se mantuvieron tres grupos de ganado Boran durante 29 meses bajo differentes regímenes terapéuticos en un área donde la concentración de moscas tsetse era mediana. Se llevó a cabo la evaluación del desarrollo de la inmunidad contra la tripanosomiasis teniendo como base los diferentes cambios en el requerimiento de drogas, desarrollo de parasitemia, abilidad para mantener los valores sanguíneos normales, crecimiento y respuestas a la descarga de parásitos después del retiro de la terápia. Se hicieron también observaciones del nivel de anticuerpos séricos por inmunofluorescencia y se determinó el nivel de inmunoglobulinas. Los animales tratados con Berenil cuando mostraban signos clínicos de la enfermedad, desarrollaron una inmunidad parcial a la tripanosomiasis después de dos a?os. Los animales tratados en grupo con Berenil cuando se detectó parasitemia en cualquier animal del grupo no desarrollaron inmunidad. El ganado tratado con Samorin en base de grupo siguiendo el mismo criterio para el tratamiento, desarrolló cierto grado de resistencia a la enfermedad. Se concluye que el tratamiento de grupo utilizando Samorin fue el mejor de los tres regímenes estudiados para el mantenimiento de ganado de carne en un área infestada de moscas tstse.

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Résumé Trois groupes de bovins Boran ont été maintenus vingt neuf mois, sous différents traitements trypanocides, dans une zone “moyennement” infestée de tsé-tsé. Le développement de l'immunité à la trypanosomiase a été évalué à partir des changements dans les besoins en trypanocides, du développement de la parasitémie, de l'aptitude à maintenir les valuers normales du sang, de la croissance et de la réaction à l'infection après la suppression des médicaments. Des observations ont aussi été faites sur la présence d'anticorps sériques par immunofluorescence et sur les teneurs en immunoglobines sériques. Le bétail traité au Berenil à l'apparition de signes cliniques a été partiellement immunisé au bout de deux ans. Dans le groupe du bétail traité au Berenil à l'apparition d'une parasitémie évidente, aucun animal n'a présenté d'immunité. Le groupe de bovins traité au Samorin, selon les nêmes critères a été bien immunisé.

     

Models based on weather for the development phases of the sheep tick, ixodes ricinus L.

The epidemiology of tick-transmitted disease cannot be understood until those factors considered important to the life-cycle of the tick are properly investigated. Existing experimental results on the development of different stages of the tick life-cycle have been examined with a view to obtaining biological development rates for the purpose of predicting development under field conditions where temperature fluctuates. Field studies carried out in Ireland have enabled the predicted development times to be compared with those observed for several stages of the tick life-cycle. It is hoped that the models presented will clarify the importance or otherwise of climate to tick development and explore the potential of formulating a successful prediction system for tick activity. Ultimately such a system should aid control of tick-transmitted diseases.     

The effects of pre-sowing seed treatments on the germination and emergence of lettuce seeds at high salt concentrations

Radicle emergence in lettuce seeds cultivar ‘Hilde’ was reduced by NH₄NO₃ above 8×10^?2M, while radicle extension was inhibited by 8×10^?2M NH₄NO₃ and no seedlings emerged. Inhibition of radicle emergence by 8 and 16×10^?2M NH₄NO₃ was prevented by soaking seeds for 4 h before sowing in a mixture of $\text{GA}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>4</mtext><mtext>7</mtext>}}$ and kinetin+phosphate buffer, and was partially prevented by soaking them for 4 h before sowing in phosphate buffer. These treatments did not prevent inhibition of radicle emergence by 32×10^?2M NH₄NO₃, but seeds soaked in growth regulators or phosphate buffer before sowing and taken from this NH₄NO₃ solution after 7 days and washed to remove excess salt gave 45–52% germination compared with 12 % for untreated seeds. Pre-treatment of the seeds did not prevent the inhibitory effect of NH₄NO₃ on radicle extension. In field experiments seeds treated with growth regulators + phosphate buffer or phosphate buffer alone gave a higher final percentage emergence from soils given 125 kg N/ha than did untreated seeds.     

Effect of intravenous administration of dextrose or lactated Ringer's solution on seizure development in dogs after cervical myelography with metrizamide

The effect of fluid (5% dextrose in water or lactated Ringer's solution) administered intravenously on the development of seizures after cervical myelography with metrizamide was studied in 10 dogs. In a crossover experimental design, 8 dogs were used twice. Urine output was measured during the second part of the study to determine whether diuresis was a factor affecting seizure development. Dogs given 5% dextrose in water had significantly (P less than 0.05) fewer seizures than did dogs given lactated Ringer's solution. This was attributed to an increase in CSF glucose concentration and was not associated with diuresis.     

Veterinary information: the current situation and future trends.

Veterinary science is well supplied with abstracting and indexing hournals. Both experience and an investigation undertaken for the Food and Agriculture Organisation indicate that they are comprehensive in scope and subject coverage. Computer operation of information services is now routine, and mechanised alerting and retrospective services are available. A veterinary round table was set up in 1973 by the Commission of the European Communities to attempt to improve veterinary information. The round table is conducting a detailed study of the value of the available machine information systems to veterinarians and is compiling a multi-lingual thesaurus. In addition, it is investigating the need for a new review journal, methods of recording animal disease incidence and variations in the needs of the different types of veterinarians for information. The use of machine information systems is expected to become more widespread in the near future. Many will be available on-line, a method of working which offers great advantages in speed and flexibility of operation.