Versuche mit Herbiziden in Gemeiner Ringelblume (Calendula officinalis L.) in Sachsen-Anhalt und Thüringen

Between 2000 and 2005 12 experiments with 18 herbicides were carried out in marigold in experimental stations and on marigold fields of Thuringian farms. The main objective of the tests was to get the necessary data for the authorization procedure according to the regulations of §?18 a PflSchG. Marigold plants are very susceptible against some herbicides Betanal Progress, Goltix Compact + ?l, Kontakt 320 SC, Lentagran WP und Stefes IPU. These herbicides and cause severe damages on this culture. The use oft the herbicides Bandur, BASTA and further herbicides with the active ingredient Glufosinat was authorized for the application in marigold according the regulations of §?18 a PflSchG in the past. The herbicides Devrinol FL, Fusilade MAX, Goltix 700 SC, Roundup UltraMAX und Targa Super can be used in artichoke according the regulations of §?18 b PflSchG. These herbicides aren??t enough for the chemical control of weeds likeEchinochloa spec.,Galinsoga spec., Polygonum spec. in marigold. In addition to the application of the herbicides mechanical measures are necessary.     

AN INFECTED HIP PROSTHESIS IN A DOG DIAGNOSED WITH A 99mTC-CIPROFLOXACIN (INFECTON) SCAN

This case report describes the use of the 99mTc-labeled radiopharmaceutical ciprofloxacin (Infecton) in a case of hip prosthesis loosening in a dog. Serial planar radiographs were not conclusive, and culture of the synovial fluid was negative. Antibiotic treatment did not result in improvement of the lameness. Scintigraphy was performed with 99-Tc-Infecton, a tracer claimed to be specific for infection. Antibiotic treatment was interrupted 6 weeks prior to the examination. Planar and tomographic images at 3 h and at 24 h postinjection showed increased activity along the acetabulum and the proximal femoral bone surrounding the femoral prosthesis, indicating focal infection. Bacteriology performed after removal of the implant revealed Pseudomonas aeruginosa.     

IGF-1 receptor signaling pathways and effects of AMPK activation on IGF-1-induced progesterone secretion in hen granulosa cells

IGF-1 plays a key role in the proliferation and differentiation of granulosa cells. However, the molecular mechanism of IGF-1 action in avian granulosa cells during follicle maturation is unclear. Here, we first studied IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) expression, IGF-1-induced progesterone production and some IGF-1R signaling pathways in granulosa cells from different follicles. IGF-1R (mRNA and protein) was higher in fresh or cultured granulosa cells from the largest follicles (F1 or F2) than in those from smaller follicles (F3 or F4). In vitro, IGF-1 treatment (10(-8)M, 36h) increased progesterone secretion by four-fold in mixed F3 and F4 (F3/4) granulosa cells and by 1.5-fold in F1 granulosa cells. IGF-1 (10(-8)M, 30min)-induced increases in tyrosine phosphorylation of IGF-1R beta subunit and phosphorylation of ERK were higher in F1 than in F3/4 granulosa cells. Interestingly, IGF-1 stimulation (10(-8)M, 10min) decreased the level of AMPK Thr172 phosphorylation in F1 and F3/4 granulosa cells. We have recently showed that AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) is a protein kinase involved in the steroidogenesis in chicken granulosa cells. We then studied the effects of AMPK activation by AICAR (5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside), an activator of AMPK, on IGF-1-induced progesterone secretion by F3/4 and F1 granulosa cells. AICAR treatment (1mM, 36h) increased IGF-1-induced progesterone secretion, StAR protein levels and decreased ERK phosphorylation in F1 granulosa cells. Opposite data were observed in F3/4 granulosa cells. Adenovirus-mediated expression of dominant negative AMPK totally reversed the effects of AICAR on IGF-1-induced progesterone secretion, StAR protein production and ERK phosphorylation in both F3/4 and F1 granulosa cells. Thus, a variation of energy metabolism through AMPK activation could modulate differently IGF-1-induced progesterone production in F1 and F3/4 granulosa cells.     

Parotid duct transposition in dogs: a retrospective review of 92 eyes from 1999 to 2009

Objective The aim of this study was to perform a retrospective review of parotid duct transposition (PDT) in the dog to determine the rate and nature of complications, the success and failure rates and to evaluate owner satisfaction. Methods Medical records of 56 dogs (92 eyes) that underwent PDT and subsequent follow‐up by a veterinary ophthalmologist were reviewed. Forty owners (40 dogs/66 eyes) were contacted by telephone and 37 owners (37 dogs/60 eyes) also completed a visual analog scale questionnaire. Statistical evaluation included Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests, one‐way analysis of variance and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis with Wilcoxon and Log‐rank tests. Results The mean follow‐up was 38.7 months (range 1–109 months). The surgical success rate was 92% (85/92 eyes). Total failures (8%, 7/92 eyes) were because of severe saliva intolerance (n = 5 eyes) and PDT failure (n = 2 eyes). The complication rate was 50% (46/92 eyes) of which 61% (28/46 eyes) were managed medically and 39% (18/46 eyes) required further surgery. Ninety percent (36/40) of owners indicated that they would proceed with surgery again. Statistically significant improvements in owner perception of ocular comfort, number of daily topical treatments, ocular wetness, and postoperative vision were identified. Conclusions This study shows that PDT is a successful procedure based on clinical findings and in terms of owner perception. It has also demonstrated that PDT improves ocular comfort and vision in medically refractive cases of keratoconjunctivitis sicca, and that a low level of on‐going management is required in 33% of cases.     

Neospora caninum: Serological follow-up in dairy cows during pregnancy

We conducted a longitudinal study to follow-up the anti-Neospora caninum serologic status in 30 initially seropositive and 83 initially seronegative cows during their pregnancy. Study cows were blood-sampled every other month during pregnancy until parturition. Blood serum samples were screened for anti-N. caninum antibodies by ELISA. Cows that seroconverted were re-tested by immunoblot as a confirmation test. Among 30 seropositive cows, 28 cows remained seropositive during the whole pregnancy, whereas 2 cows transiently tested negative at least once during pregnancy. Among 83 seronegative cows, 82 cows remained seronegative and 1 cow tested positive three times during the sixth, eighth and last month of pregnancy. As only 2 out of 30 seropositive animals and 1 out of 83 animals changed their serologic status during pregnancy, the study results indicate that there is only a minor temporal instability of anti-N. caninum antibody reactivity in adult cattle.     

Dirofilaria immitis prevalence in a canine population in the Samana Peninsula (Dominican Republic) - June 2001

Dirofilaria immitis, the etiological agent for heartworm disease, is a zoonotic, vector-borne parasite. The dog is the most common natural host. Heartworm disease is present in all US states, as well as in South and Central America, Asia, Europe, Africa and Australia [. Prevalence of feline heartworm disease - a global review. In: Proceedings of the Heartworm Symposium'95, Auburn, Alabama, USA, 31 March-2 April, 1995. American Heartworm Society, Batavia, USA, pp. 79-86]. According to Menda [Menda, J.A., 1989. Transplacental migration of Dirofilaria immitus microfilariae. Companion Anim. Pract. 19 (6-7), 18-20], 18% of the canine population in the city of Santo Domingo tested positive for heartworm using the Filar Assay Kit. In the year 2000, clinical veterinarians from the Samana Peninsula in the Dominican Republic stated that the incidence of heartworm was minimal (Goodman, personal communication). In this small epidemiological study performed during the summer of 2001, 104 dogs from the Samana Peninsula were tested for heartworm antigen with the WITNESS HW Test and a wet mount evaluation for microfilaria under light microscopy. It was found that 18.2% of the canine population tested positive according to either one or both of the diagnostic methods. It would be advisable to apply prevention measures to control Dirofilaria immitis infection in the canine population of the Samana Peninsula in the Dominican Republic.     

Antigen quantification as in vitro alternative for potency testing of inactivated viral poultry vaccines

Abstract

Routine batch control of licensed inactivated viral vaccines for poultry usually includes a potency assay as a measure of vaccine efficacy. Potency assays often consist of vaccination‐challenge experiments in the target species or in laboratory animals. Instead of measuring the protection of vaccinated animals against virulent pathogens, the serological response after vaccination can be quantified for some vaccines. In vitro antigen quantification assays would be attractive alternatives for the current potency assays because the time and costs involved could be greatly reduced and animal use could be avoided. Such in vitro assays will only be acceptable when the correlation between results and efficacy or potency has been demonstrated convincingly.

The results of our studies on antigen quantification assays indicate that, in principle, quantification of viral antigens from inactivated oil‐adjuvanted vaccines is feasible and reproducible using specially developed antigen capture ELISAs in combination with specific software for statistical analysis of the ELISA data. We have developed methods to quantify the haemagglutination‐neuraminidase (HN) and fusion (F) proteins of Newcastle disease virus (NDV), the viral protein 3 (VP3) of the infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), and the spike‐1 (S1) protein of the infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). Vaccination experiments with inactivated ND vaccines indicate that the in vitro quantified HN‐ or F‐proteins of NDV are reliable indicators of the serological response after vaccination.     

Phylogenetic correlation of Greek and Italian orf virus isolates based on VIR gene

Thirteen orf virus isolates obtained during the time period between 1995 and 2004 from crusted scab lesions of nine sheep and four goats from different geographical areas of Greece and Italy with suspected contagious ecthyma infection were analyzed. DNA of all isolates was successfully amplified by PCR with the primers 045F-045R and identified them as parapox virus. Partial DNA sequence of orf virus interferon resistant (VIR) gene, phylogenetic analysis of the available isolates and amino acid comparison of the interferon resistance protein encoded by this genomic region was carried out. According to the results of the present report a precise characterisation of the genomic region studied might provide evidence for the genetic variation and movement of the circulating orf virus strains.     

Transtracheal wash from a puppy with respiratory disease

A 4-month-old, intact male Boxer puppy was presented to the Animal Emergency and Critical Care Services of South Florida because of nasal discharge, dehydration, dyspnea, and coughing. The dog had been diagnosed with intestinal parasites and kennel cough approximately 10 days before presentation. Lateral and ventrodorsal radiographs of the thorax revealed an increased bronchointerstitial pattern throughout the lungs. A transtracheal wash was performed. On cytologic examination of direct, Wright-Giemsa-stained smears, small basophilic coccoid structures (0.3-0.9 microm in diameter) were observed in low to moderate numbers within neutrophils and adherent to epithelial cells. The small size of the organisms raised suspicion for Mycoplasma. Culture of the transtracheal wash fluid resulted in growth of a Mycoplasma sp. The patient was treated with enrofloxacin and amoxicillin/clavulanate and made a full recovery. Recognizing Mycoplasma in transtracheal washes could aid in recommending the appropriate culture media or immunologic techniques, which could result in an accurate diagnosis of mycoplasmosis.     

Use of monthly collected milk yields for the detection of the emergence of the 2007 French BTV epizootic

Two culicoides-borne diseases, Bluetongue (BTV) and Schmallenberg, have emerged in the European cattle population since 2006. Other diseases transmitted by these vectors could emerge. This justifies the development of syndromic surveillance programs whereby one or several indicators would be routinely monitored for the early detection of emerging diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate milk yield from milk recording in dairy cattle as an indicator to be included in an emerging disease surveillance system. It was hypothesized that emergences would result in episodes of low milk production clustered in space and time. The 2007 BTV epizootic in France was used as a case study. Because it had already emerged in neighbouring countries, the disease emergence was expected and notification was mandatory. Herd-test-day milk productions were predicted for the entire country for 2006 and 2007 from herd historical data using linear mixed models. The differences between observed and predicted milk productions were averaged per week and per municipality and used as input for a space-time prospective scan statistic. Log likelihood ratios (LLR) associated with clusters were used to define alarms. The threshold chosen was a trade-off between detection timeliness and the number of false alarms per week. The first four BTV notifications occurred on the 12th (two notifications), 13th and 27th of July 2007. The 12th of July was considered to be the date of emergence. Alarms occurring before the 1st of March 2007 were considered to be false alarms. Using an LLR of 50, there were an average of 1.7 false alarms per week and the BTV emergence was detected seven weeks after emergence. Using an LLR of 100, there were an average of 0.8 false alarms per week and the BTV emergence was detected 9 weeks after emergence. Detection may have been delayed because of a discontinuation of milk recording between mid-July and mid-August. The first cluster with an LLR > 100 located in the emergence area was further investigated. A difference between observed and predicted production of >1 kg/cow/day was observed around the time of emergence. However, a difference of equal magnitude was observed during the year preceding the outbreak. Milk production predicted from herd history alone did not allow the detection of the 2007 BTV emergence in France. Further research should be conducted on improving the prediction of test-day milk yield and on combining it with other indicators based on routinely collected data.