The "Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut": past, present and future of research in infectious diseases of animals

The Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, founded in 1910 by Friedrich Loeffler, the discoverer of the first animal virus, foot-and-mouth disease virus, is the oldest virological research facility in the world. Beyond viruses, its area of competence has significantly expanded since its foundation and now also covers bacterial, parasitic and prion diseases of livestock, poultry and aquatic animals. Presently located at four sites within Germany (Insel Riems, Jena,Tübingen,Wusterhausen) the tasks of the institute as delineated in the Animal Disease Act encompass research on infectious animal diseases including zoonoses, import/export examinations, epidemiological studies in case of outbreaks of notifiable animal diseases, acting as reference laboratory for notifiable animal diseases and nationwide quality management of diagnosis of notifiable animal diseases. It is obliged to publish and maintain up-to-date diagnostic regimes for notifiable animal diseases, and it publishes a yearly report on animal health in Germany. With the increasing importance of infectious diseases of animals, in particular those potentially harmful to man (zoonoses), the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut will be moving into new facilities including laboratories and animal facilities up to the highest biosafety level at its main site Insel Riems on the occasion of its 100th anniversary.     

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Ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitors. An overview of their history and contribution to medicine and agriculture

Over the past 15 years, an increasing number of ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitors (EBIs) have been introduced in crop protection as fungicides, and in medicine as fungicides and bactericides. Their spectrum of activity and their systemic properties vary widely, depending on structural elements. By their high protective and curative activity the EBIs have greatly improved the level of disease control, both in plants and in man. However, the chemical and biological potential of this group has not yet been fully explored, particularly in the field of growth regulation.     

Comparison of two ruminoscopy techniques in calves

Two different techniques were tested in nine calves to describe endoscopically the visible structures of the rumen and the reticulum. Ruminoscopy using an orally introduced flexible endoscope proved to be unsatisfactory, but when the endoscope was introduced through a ruminal fistula in the left flank into the dorsal and ventral ruminal sacs, the blind sacs, ruminal pillars, the atrium of the rumen, the reticulum and the reticular groove could all be displayed effectively. Indentations of the ruminal wall caused by the left kidney, the spleen and the abomasum could be seen with the endoscope as could reticulo-ruminal contractions. The technique allowed visual evaluation of the mucosal surfaces and movement of the rumen, reticulum and reticular groove. The advantages and disadvantages of ruminoscopy in bovine medicine are discussed.     

The landscape matrix modifies the effect of habitat fragmentation in grassland butterflies

The landscape matrix is suggested to influence the effect of habitat fragmentation on species richness, but the generality of this prediction has not been tested. Here, we used data from 10 independent studies on butterfly species richness, where the matrix surrounding grassland patches was dominated by either forest or arable land to test if matrix land use influenced the response of species richness to patch area and connectivity. To account for the possibility that some of the observed species use the matrix as their main or complementary habitat, we analysed the effects on total species richness and on the richness of grassland specialist and non-specialist (generalists and specialists on other habitat types) butterflies separately. Specialists and non-specialists were defined separately for each dataset. Total species richness and the richness of grassland specialist butterflies were positively related to patch area and forest cover in the matrix, and negatively to patch isolation. The strength of the species-area relationship was modified by matrix land use and had a slope that decreased with increasing forest cover in the matrix. Potential mechanisms for the weaker effect of grassland fragmentation in forest-dominated landscapes are (1) that the forest matrix is more heterogeneous and contains more resources, (2) that small grassland patches in a matrix dominated by arable land suffer more from negative edge effects or (3) that the arable matrix constitutes a stronger barrier to dispersal between populations. Regardless of the mechanisms, our results show that there are general effects of matrix land use across landscapes and regions, and that landscape management that increases matrix quality can be a complement to habitat restoration and re-creation in fragmented landscapes.