On the mode of action of the organophosphorus fungicide Hinosan

Samenvatting In onderzoek naar werkingsmechanismen van fungicide organische fosforverbindingen werd aangetoond dat Hinosan bijPiricularia oryzae tussenprodukten van de chitinesynthese kan doen ophopen. Dit duidt op een beïnvloeding van de chitinesynthese. De verbinding heeft ook een effect op de permeabiliteit van de celwandmembraan. Waarschijnlijk is dit effect primair verantwoordelijk voor de fungitoxiciteit van Hinosan en moet de remming van de chitinesynthese als een indirect effect worden beschouwd.     

Analysis of Mammalian Masticatory Mechanisms: Progress and Problems

Direct measurement of bone movements and muscle activation in mammalian mastication is now possible. Early results indicate that the patterns are quite variable and depart from the stereotyped versions sometimes reported. Most mammals masticate unilaterally; only a few chew simultaneously on both sides. Orbital movements are complex and three-dimensional. While most muscles are active during the reduction phase, it is difficult to define phases by sharp transitions of activity. The fascicles of pinnate muscles differ in fiber architecture and physiology; they tend to function at different times and with distinct mechanical advantages. Interspecific diversity and marked responses to food consistency and size, still preclude generalizations. Improved methods for comparisons among orbits, for correlation of forces and excursions, and automated correlations of movements, forces and electromyograms are beginning to be available and need to be more generallv applied to analysis.     

Breakdown of pisatin by some fungi pathogenic to Pisum sativum

Samenvatting Aan een voedingsmedium, geïnoculeerd met elk der schimmelsFusarium oxysporum f. sp.pisi ras 1,Mycosphaerella pinodes (pathogenen van de erwt),Cladosporium cucumerinum, Colletotrichum lindemuthianum enMonilinia fructigena (niet-pathogenen van de erwt) werd pisatine toegevoegd. Na incubatie gedurende een week werd het medium gecentrifugeerd. Zowel de bovenstaande vloeistof als het mycelium werd onderzocht op de aanwezigheid van pisatine. Uit de U.V.-absorptiespectra van de vloeistof en alcoholextracten van het mycelium blijkt, dat beide pathogenen het pisatine kunnen afbreken, maar de drie niet-pathogenen niet.     

Estimated BVDV-prevalence, -contact and -vaccine use in dairy herds in Northern Portugal

A study to evaluate BVDV-prevalence, recent -contact and -vaccine use in dairy herds in the "Entre Douro e Minho" (EDM) region in North Portugal was carried out in 124 dairy herds in 2003. Herds were visited to ascertain BVDV-vaccine use and to collect a bulk tank milk (BTM) sample and serum from 1268 cattle to analyse BVDV-antibodies using an NS2-3 ELISA. Fifty-three percent of farmers used inactivated BVDV-vaccines whilst the remaining farmers were not presently using BVDV-vaccines. BMT-antibody results included 35% positives, 25% negative and 39% inconclusive, and were similar in vaccinated and non-vaccinated herds (p>0.05) and allowed estimating a 10% BVDV herd-prevalence from prior knowledge of the relationship between BMT-antibody results and probability of PI cattle in the herd. Overall individual seroprevalence was 27% and was 23% in non-vaccinated and 36% in vaccinated cattle (p<0.05). Contact of the herd with BVDV was assessed according to seroprevalence in young and adult cattle in the herd and it was estimated that 35% of herds were infected or had recent contact with BVDV, 40% were not infected and did not have recent contact with BVDV and the BVDV-infection and -contact status of remaining herds was undetermined. The results from this study indicate BVDV is endemic and BVDV-vaccines are widespread in the dairy-cattle population in EDM region in Portugal.