Experimental infection of pregnant ewes with bovine viral diarrhea virus type-2 (BVDV-2): effects on the pregnancy and fetus

The reproduction effects of bovine viral diarrhea virus type-2 (BVDV-2) infection were investigated in ewes inoculated with a non-cytopathic BVDV-2 isolate at three stages of gestation. Virus inoculation was followed by a transient viremia, accompanied by a transient and mild hyperthermia and nasal discharge in a few animals. Some ewes were sacrificed at different time-points after virus inoculation to study the kinetics of fetal infection. Infectivity and viral antigens were detected in placentomes from day 7 to 36 post-inoculation (pi) and in fetal fluids and tissues between days 10 and 28 pi. Cardiac petechial hemorrhages and hemoperitoneum accompanied by a severe fibrinous ulcerative placentitis were observed in fetuses examined at days 21, 28 and 36 pi. Inoculation of ewes at days 55-60 of gestation resulted in a prolonged virus replication in placentomes and fetal tissues; ewes that were allowed to proceed with pregnancy had 77% of abortions or fetal and perinatal deaths. Seven stillbirths, unviable and viable lambs born to these ewes were virus-positive at birth. Infectious virus was repeatedly isolated from leukocytes of two lambs up to 2 and 6 months of age, indicating they were persistently infected. Ewes inoculated at days 65-70 of gestation had 66.6% of fetal and perinatal losses. Three viable lambs born to these ewes were healthy, BVDV antibody-positive and virus-negative. A transient viral replication in placentomes and in a few fetal tissues, followed by the rise of fetal neutralizing antibodies and virus clearance was the result of inoculating ewes at days 120-125 of gestation. Lambs born to these ewes were healthy, antibody-positive and virus-negative. These results demonstrate that the biology of BVDV-2 infection in pregnant sheep is essentially similar to that of BVDV-1 in pregnant cattle and sheep. These features make this species an attractive animal model for studying the pathogenesis of congenital BVDV-2 infection.     

Bestimmung von nichtaustauschbarem Ammonium in Böden mit einer Halbmikromethode

Determination of non exchangeable Ammonia in Soils by a semicro method A semi-micro version (sample weight 0,1 g) for the determination of nonexchangeable NH₄⁺ of soils, based on the method of Silva and Bremner (1966) is described. The results of the semi-micro version are compared with the original method. The regression-coefficient is r = 0,9906. Analysis time is reduced by a factor of 2, reagent needs approximately by a factor of 20. Exactness and reproducibility are satisfactory for routine measurements. Pampean soils from Argentina, analyzed with the semi-micro method contain between 50 and 90 ppm nonexchangeable NH₄⁺.     

Estimating microbial biomass N in soils with and without living roots: Limitations of a pre-extraction step

Special net-closed soil containers were used in a pot experiment with low and high plant densities to give soil samples with and without roots. Soils from the containers were analysed either by the fumigation-extraction method or by a modified procedure starting with a pre-extraction and sieving step to remove plant roots from the samples. In the extracts NO ₃ ^- -N, NH ₄ ⁺ -N, organic N, and total N were measured. Microbial biomass N was calculated from the differences in total N in fumigated and unfumigated soils. Different plant densities had almost no influence on the values of the N compounds using either method. In soils with roots, significantly more organic N (and total N) was found by the fumigation-extraction method compared to soils without roots while no differences were obtained using pre-extractions and sieving. Though the organic N content in pre-extracts from soils with roots was significantly higher than from soils without roots, the NO ₃ ^- -N and NH ₄ ⁺ -N content was lower. Significant differences in biomass N in soils with and without roots were found only with the fumigation-extraction method. Biomass N levels calculated using the results after pre-extraction and sieving were about 50% lower than levels detected using fumigation-extraction alone. With the use of special net-closed soil containers, not only were soil samples produced with and without roots, but it was also possible to induce a rhizophere in the soils. A comparison of the two methods using these soils clearly demonstrated that the method used has profound influence on the final biomass N results. While higher biomass levels were found by fumigation-extraction in soils with roots, because root N becomes extractable after fumigation, the use of a pre-extraction and a sieving step may underestimate the total biomass N content due to the pre-extraction of microbial N (especially from rhizosphere microorganisms) from the sample. Nevertheless, pre-extraction and sieving followed by fumigation-extraction does seem to be the preferable method for biomass N measurement in comparative studies, because in most cases only minor errors will occur.     

Einfluß langjähriger Gülledüngung auf den Nährstoffhaushalt des Bodens. 2. Mitteilung: Bindung und Löslichkeitskriterien der Bodenphosphate

Influence of long-term slurry application on soil nutrients. 2. Fractions and solubility criteria of soil phosphorus Fractions and solubility criteria of soil phosphorus accumulated by long-term slurry application were investigated. The following results were obtained:

• – Slurry application mainly resulted in higher concents of inorganic phosphorus, especially Fe-Al-P, even in deeper soil layers.
• – The accumulation of inorganic phosphorus resulted in an increase of phosphorus availability in all conventional extraction methods used, as well as in higher phosphorus concentration of the soil solution.
• – In the upper soil layers of luvisols and in the deeper soil layers of diluvial sandy soils organic phosphorus was enriched, but did not significantly influence phosphorus intensity and delivery.
• – Compared to soils supplied with mineral fertilizers there are no particularities in phosphorus dynamics, from which differences in the interpretation of “available” phosphorus values with respect to phosphorus recommendation scales could be concluded.

     

Comparing validation of four ELISA-systems for detection of Salmonella derby- and Salmonella infantis-infected pigs

The objective of this study was the comparative evaluation of four indirect Salmonella ELISA tests at study time approved in Germany to detect Salmonella infection in pigs.Three tests are based on a LPS-antigen mix and directed against specific IgG antibodies. The fourth test is based on a purified S. Typhimurium whole-cell lysate antigen and discriminates between Salmonella-specific IgM-, IgA-, and IgG- antibodies. In a longitudinal study, two groups of six weeks old hybrid piglets were orally infected with a porcine S. Infantis or S. Derby strain. Clinical and bacteriological parameters were monitored weekly during an observation period of 130 days after infection and serum samples were investigated in parallel with the respective ELISAs. Apparently, the LPS-based ELISA systems used in this study failed to recognize S. Infantis-infected pigs although those animals shed the pathogen in high amounts throughout the study until day 81 post infection (p. i.). In contrast, the isotype-specific Salmonella Typhimurium whole-cell-lysate based ELISA was capable of detecting Salmonella-infected pigs from day ten p. i. at all tested serotypes and revealed the highest sensitivity in detection of S. Infantis-infected pigs. Furthermore, it became apparent that the often used surveillance cut-off value of 40 OD% is not appropriate for intra-vitam detection of S. Infantis- and S. Derby-infected pigs. In contrast, the cut-off values of the ELISAs given by the suppliers result in considerable higher detection rates.     

A pulsar, the heliosphere, and pioneer 10: probable mimicking of a planet of PSR B1257+12 by solar rotation

Doppler data generated with the Pioneer 10 spacecraft's radio carrier wave between 1987 and 1995 show a 25.3-day periodicity which is related to the solar rotation. The timing data of the pulsar PSR B1257+12 also show a periodicity of 25.34 days, which has been explained as a signature of the pulsar's barycentric motion in response to the existence of a small moon-like object. However, because PSR B1257+12 is located close to the ecliptic and because the timing variations are in the range of microseconds, it is likely that the pulsar signal is affected by the same mechanism acting on the Pioneer 10 Doppler data. Hence, the hypothesized inner planet around PSR B1257+12 is probably an artifact of the heliosphere.