Experimental evidence that tryptamine alkaloids do not cause Phalaris aquatica sudden death syndrome in sheep

The acute toxicity for sheep of 3 alkaloids that occur in Phalaris acquatica was examined by intravenous and oral administration. The lowest tested dose rates that produced clinically observed signs were, for 5-methoxy dimethyltryptamine, 0.1 mg/kg body weight intravenously and 40 mg/kg orally; for gramine, 10 mg/kg intravenously and 500 mg/kg orally; and for hordenine, 20 mg/kg intravenously and 800 mg/kg orally. All induced the clinical signs observed in the nervous form of phalaris toxicity, but none induced the cardiac, sudden death, syndrome.     

The epizootology of caprine herpesvirus (BHV-6) infections in goat populations in Greece

Previous preliminary studies had shown that caprine herpesvirus (BHV-6) infections exist in many countries where goats play an economical role. The extensive serum survey made in Greece reveals that the virus must be widespread because more than 50% of the goats have antibodies. The bucks were found to have a higher evidence of infections than the female goats. The kids possessing maternal antibodies became seronegative at the age of 4 months and new antibodies appeared at the age of 7–8 months. Observations in 2 closed goat herds showed that the virus does not spread during the mating and lactating period. Neutralization titres increased or new infections in seronegative animals occurred after the summer when breeding took place. The virus is present in a latent state and recurrent infections are assumed to occur. In spite of that all our efforts to isolate the virus were unsuccessful, even after experimental immunosuppression.     

Morphology of alpaca (Vicugna pacos) embryos in the first third of pregnancy

The breeding of South American camelids is the main economic activity of the high Andean region of South America and it, is potentially, the most profitable resource in of the Puna environmental conditions of the Puna. The duration of the gestation in alpaca is 339.7 ± 12 days. The objective of the present work was to macroscopically and microscopically describe the ontogenic development of the splanchnic cavities of the alpaca and to determine the gestational time in which the post‐cranial ossification centers are observed in the embryos/fetuses of this species, from day 21 to 107 of gestation. The documentation of normal ontogenic development, which is vacant for this period, is of the utmost importance to understand the consequences of the alterations at the different gestational times, as well as for the estimation of the gestational age in the case of abortions. Forty‐seven alpaca specimens of both sexes, at different times of their gestational development, collected during slaughter at local slaughterhouses of the Department of Huancavelica, Peru, were evaluated. Specimens were assigned to seven groups according to their morphological characteristics. The embryogenesis in the alpaca was characterized by a series of changes comparable to those occurring in other mammals with similar gestational periods. Despite these similarities, species differences were found in some organs as stomach, which are observed too in adult individuals.     

Evaluation of the effect of mesotherapy in the management of back pain in police working dog

Objective

To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of mesotherapy in dogs compared with a positive control group.

Insektizide Flächenbehandlung im „Ultra-low-volume”-Verfahren

Zusammenfassung Technisch reines Malathion mit 96% Wirkstoffgehalt kann mit Flugzeugen in einer Aufwandmenge von 0,3–1,2 l/ha ausgebracht werden. Wasser, Öl, Netzoder Haftmittel sind bei dieser neuen Methode (Ultra-low-volume) nicht erforderlich. Wegen des außergewöhnlich geringen Spritzbrühebedarfs sind bei großflächiger Anwendung große Kosteneinsparungen zu erreichen. Es werden kurz Einzelheiten aus den in Kreta zur Bekämpfung der Olivenfliege durchgeführten Versuchen mitgeteilt. Nachdem aufgrund von neuen Versuchen das Verfahren nicht nur von Starrflügelflugzeugen, sondern auch von Hubschraubern und Bodengeräten angewendet werden kann, zeigt sich hier ein neuer Weg des gezielten Einsatzes von Pflanzenschutzmitteln, der auch im kleinparzellierten Mitteleuropa von Interesse sein dürfte. Die Auswirkungen des Verfahrens in toxikologischer und biologischer Hinsicht werden aufgezeigt und zur Diskussion gestellt.(Anm. der Schriftleitung: Das vom Verf. behandelte Verfahren wirft noch ungelöste Probleme in toxikologischer Hinsicht auf, so z. B. wie ist die Rückstandssituation in Verbindung mit der Tolerierung von Insektizid-Höchstmengen? Zurückhaltung bei der Empfehlung der Übertragung auf unsere Verhältnisse erscheint zunächst gerechtfertigt.)     

Influence of the degree of substitution and pretreatments on the surface structure of cellulose nitrate fibres

Summary Cellulose nitrate fibres of three different degrees of substitution (DS) were prepared by heterogeneous reaction. The fibre surfaces were observed in the scanning electron microscope. Apart from the DS the influence of pretreatments such as prenitration and boiling of the fibres prior to nitration was studied. The results reveal an interaction between the cell wall layers and the esterification and swelling capacity of the nitration medium. In all cases the DS was determined by the composition of the nitration medium. A pretreatment influenced the fibre surfaces after nitration. The peculiar role of the primary wall during esterification is emphasized.Supported by the Federal Ministry for Research and Technology (BMFT)