Results of herd health management in veal calf production

The aim of this study was to document experience gained with herd health management in veal calf production and to describe the calves' most frequent health problems. Fifteen farms with an 'all-in-all-out' animal flow system and 20 farms with a continuous animal flow system were investigated and data on animal movements, housing, feeding, medical treatments, and management were collected. Cadavers underwent pathological examination, and data were recorded from the carcasses of slaughtered calves. On the 15 'all-in-all-out'-farms, 2'747 calves were clinically examined by the contract-veterinarian upon arrival at the farm, and 71,1 % of the calves showed at least one sign of illness. The main causes of death were with 54,9 % digestive disorders (a perforating abomasal ulcer being the most frequent diagnosis), followed by respiratory diseases (29,6 %, mainly pneumonia). The meat color of 25 % of the carcasses was red. Calves from farms with the continuous animal flow system, which recruit mainly animals originating from the same farm, showed significantly better results regarding antibiotic use, performance and carcass quality than those calves from farms with the 'all-in-all-out'-system.     

Soil nematode communities of Alpine summits–site differentiation and microclimatic influences

Nematode communities and the differences in microclimatic conditions were studied on three summits (altitude 1900–2250 m a.s.l.) in the calcareous Alps of Austria (Styria). Family composition and trophic structure (feeding types) were assessed and were analysed for (1) between-summit variation, and (2) differences between summit plots facing the four compass directions, i.e. microclimate variation. Soil temperatures were recorded at all plots.The summits differed significantly in family composition in that the lowest summit strongly deviated from the other two summits similar in altitude. Total nematode abundance and diversity were similar, however, among summits (342–444 individuals per 100 g dry soil, 18–23 families per summit). Maturity indices (3.0–3.3) and the plant parasite indices (2.4–2.6) were also within a narrow range. The most pronounced result was that nematode abundances on the south or east facing side were higher, by a factor of 4, than on the northern and western sides. This pattern applied to most families and feeding types, albeit to varying degrees. Across all summits nematode diversity and family composition were correlated with winter temperature minima. Total nematode abundance, however, covaried with annual mean temperature and growing season duration within summits.We conclude that nematode assemblages are potentially good bioindicators of climate change. They reacted sensitively and predictably to microclimatic conditions, sampling techniques are inexpensive and well standardized. Furthermore, feeding types can be determined with minimal taxonomic skills and largely reflect results based on classification by family.     

T cells against a bacterial heat shock protein recognize stressed macrophages

Heat shock proteins are evolutionarily highly conserved polypeptides that are produced under a variety of stress conditions to preserve cellular functions. A major antigen of tubercle bacilli of 65 kilodaltons is a heat shock protein that has significant sequence similarity and cross-reactivity with antigens of various other microbes. Monoclonal antibodies against this common bacterial heat shock protein were used to identify a molecule of similar size in murine macrophages. Macrophages subjected to various stress stimuli including interferon-gamma activation and viral infection were recognized by class I-restricted CD8 T cells raised against the bacterial heat shock protein. These data suggest that heat shock proteins are processed in stressed host cells and that epitopes shared by heat shock proteins of bacterial and host origin are presented in the context of class I molecules.     

Fe-Mg interdiffusion in (Mg,Fe)SiO3 Perovskite and lower mantle reequilibration

Fe-Mg interdiffusion coefficients for (Mg,Fe)SiO3 perovskite have been measured at pressures of 22 to 26 gigapascals and temperatures between 1973 and 2273 kelvin. Perovskite Fe-Mg interdiffusion is as slow as Si self-diffusion and is orders of magnitude slower than Fe-Mg diffusion in other mantle minerals. Length scales over which chemical heterogeneities can homogenize, throughout the depth range of the lower mantle, are limited to a few meters even on time scales equivalent to the age of Earth. Heterogeneities can therefore only equilibrate chemically when they are stretched and thinned by intense deformation.     

The molecular mechanisms of scrapie encephalopathy and relevance to human neurodegenerative disease.

We have investigated alterations in the structure and function of nuclei isolated from normal and pathological brains in a number of neurodegenerative diseases including scrapie and Alzheimer's disease. Here we summarize both general and specific changes in chromatin structure, gene expression, and neuropathological features for each encephalopathy and compare them in terms of their molecular biological similarities and differences. While both scrapie and Alzheimer's disease share a number of common alterations in genomic organization and gene activity during the pathogenic process, each neurological disease appears to operate on fundamentally different mechanisms.     

Die Ultrastruktur der Meerschweinchen-Subplazenta

The significance of the subplacenta, a special organ present only in hystricomorphous rodents, is generally not known. In the present study of the ultrastructure of this organ the subplacentas of 35 conventional, domestic, genetically undefined guinea pigs during the 19th to the 65th day of their pregnancy were used. The subplacentas were fixed by immersionand studied histologically on semi-thin sections and by transmission electronmicroscopy. The findings clarify the development and regression of the maternal blood lacunae. Hereby wasshown that the subplacenta in none of its developmental stages was supplied simultaneouslyby maternal and fetal blood. The function of the subplacenta is seen in the preparation of anot yet identified but ultrastructurally visible secretion.     

An epizootiologic study of anthrax in Falls County, Texas.

In June and July, 1974, an anthrax epizootic in Falls County, Texas, resulted in the death of 236 animals (228 cattle, 5 horses, 2 mules, and 1 pig) on 48 premises. Death rates were highest for horses (18.2%) and bulls (16.8%). The epizootic was apparently precipitated by drought, and infection appeared to be the result of ingesting intrinsically contaminated soil and grass. Human illness was not associated with the epizootic.     

Bluetongue disease: impact of the 2008 vaccination on fertility in supervised dairy herds

In June 2008 the compulsary nationwide vaccination against BTV-8 (Bluetongue virus serotype 8) was started. After a short time, several owners complained about undesirable effects of the vaccination on fertility and milk quality. Data from 47 dairy farms, regularly supervised by herd health practitioners, were analysed in order to clarify a possible connection between vaccination and fertility. Both vaccinations given each cow for basic immunization were evaluated according to their effects on conception rate and pregnancy. In model calculations the first vaccination had no significant effect on the first service conception rate (FCR), the all service conception rate (ACR) and on the abortion rate. The second vaccination led to a significantly reduced FCR when the cow was inseminated within 20 days of being vaccinated and to a significantly worse ACR when inseminated 10 days before or after vaccination. However, these individually established reductions of the insemination rate had only little influence on overall data.