Parachlamydia acanthamoebae in domestic cats with and without corneal disease

Corneal samples of cats with and without corneal diseases were screened with a pan‐Chlamydiales PCR and specific PCRs for Parachlamydia, Protochlamydia, Chlamydophila felis, Acanthamoeba and feline herpesviruses (FHV‐1). Several corneal samples tested positive for Parachlamydia and related Chlamydiales, indicating cat exposure to these intracellular bacteria.     

Biochar application to temperate soils: Effects on soil fertility and crop growth under greenhouse conditions

Biochar (BC) application as a soil amendment has aroused much interest and was found to considerably improve soil nutrient status and crop yields on poor, tropical soils. However, information on the effect of BC on temperate soils is still insufficient, with effects expected to differ from tropical soils. We investigated the effects of BC on soil nutrient dynamics, crop yield, and quality in a greenhouse pot experiment. We compared three agricultural soils (Planosol, Cambisol, Chernozem), and BCs of three different feedstocks (wheat straw [WS], mixed woodchips [WC], vineyard pruning [VP]) slowly pyrolyzed at 525°C, of which the latter was also pyrolyzed at 400°C. The BCs were applied at two rates (1% and 3%, which would correspond to 30 and 90 t ha^–1 in the field). Three crops, namely mustard (Sinapis alba L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), and red clover (Trifolium pretense L.) were grown successively within one year. The investigated soil properties included pH, electrical conductivity (EC), cation‐exchange capacity (CEC), calcium‐acetate‐lactate (CAL)–extractable P (P_CAL) and K (K_CAL), C, N, and nitrogen‐supplying potential (NSP). The results show a pH increase in all soils. The CEC increased only on the Planosol. The C : N ratio increased at 3% application rate. Despite improving the soil nutrient status partly, yields of the first crop (mustard) and to a lesser extent of the second crop (barley) were significantly depressed through BC application (by up to 68%); the yield of clover as third crop was not affected. Only the BC from WS maintained yields in the range of the control and even increased barley yield by 6%. The initial yield reduction was accompanied by notable decreases (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn) and increases (Mo) in micronutrient concentrations of plant tissues while nitrogen concentrations were hardly affected. The results of the pot experiment show that despite additional mineral fertilization, short‐term growth inhibition may occur when applying BC without further treatment to temperate soils.     

Critical incidence reporting systems – an option in equine anaesthesia? Results from a panel meeting

ObjectiveTo provide a brief introduction into Critical Incident Reporting Systems (CIRS) as used in human medicine, and to report the discussion from a recent panel meeting discussion with 23 equine anaesthetists in preparation for a new CEPEF‐4 (Confidential Enquiry into Perioperative Equine Fatalities) study.Study DesignModerated group discussions, and review of literature.MethodsThe first group discussion focused on the definition of ‘preventable critical incidents’ and/or ‘near misses’ in the context of equine anaesthesia. The second group discussion focused on categorizing critical incidents according to an established framework for analysing risk and safety in clinical medicine.ResultsWhile critical incidents do occur in equine anaesthesia, no critical incident reporting system including systematic collection and analysis of critical incidents is in place.Conclusions and clinical relevanceCritical incident reporting systems could be used to improve safety in equine anaesthesia – in addition to other study types such as mortality studies.     

IBV野毒感染的诊断

疾病的诊断可通过综合评价鸡群的病史、临床症状、血清学特征及病原分离和鉴定来完成。血清学监测在一定程度上有助于鉴别出野毒感染的时间和特性。。     

Refining breeding methods for organic and low-input agriculture: analysis of an international winter wheat ring test

An increasing interest in sustainable forms of agriculture exists worldwide and the demand for varieties specifically adapted to organic and low-input agriculture is rising. As a consequence, breeding methods need to be refined accordingly. In order to get better insight into needs and possibilities with this regard, a comprehensive ring test was performed from 2006 to 2008 with 14 winter wheat varieties in 36 environments in major cropping regions of Austria, France, Romania and Switzerland. Environments were grouped into 9 different subsets according to input systems, years, and countries. Input system N0 consisted of 13 organic and 6 no-input trials; 17 trials in input system N received various levels of synthetic nitrogen. For grain yield (YLD) and protein yield (PYLD), significant G × E was detected. Countries had a stronger effect on both traits than systems. Overall, it was more efficient to select YLD and PYLD in N, for targeting both systems N and N0. For PYLD, direct testing within a given country was always more efficient than indirect selection. Many traits could be scored equally well in both systems, N and N0, but for some traits particularly important for organic agriculture, such as soil coverage, better differentiation was observed under organic conditions. Therefore, we agree with other authors that a commercially sustainable breeding program for organic and low-input agriculture should combine information from high and low-input levels and from diverse regions. Local testing of varieties, however, remains indispensable.     

Quantitative assessment of physiological and behavioural parameters in healthy dairy cows evoked by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation of the udder

The pain and distress associated with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) of the udder was evaluated by treating 20 healthy dairy cows with an electrical udder stimulator. This generated a sequence of pulses (frequency: 160±10% impulses per second, duration 250 μs) and provided voltage ranges from 0 to 10 volts (±10%). Trials took place on three consecutive days, twice daily after morning and evening milking. Daily sessions were divided into two periods: (1) control (sham treatment) and (2) treatment (real treatment). Physiological (heart rate, respiratory rate, and plasma cortisol concentration) as well as ethological parameters (kicking, weight shifting, and looking backwards to udder) were defined as pain-indicating parameters and observed. Evaluation of data showed that only one parameter (kicking) was significantly increased during real treatment compared to sham treatment. It is concluded that the TENS therapy tested in this study can evoke changes in behaviour (increased kicking) consistent with an experience of pain in some cows.     

First report of Phytophthora cinnamomi in forest stands in Germany

Phytophthora cinnamomi was repeatedly isolated from the rhizosphere of recently dead sweet chestnut trees in the upper Rhine valley. Identification was genetically confirmed by RFLP and sequencing of the ITS‐region. This is the first record of P. cinnamomi on forest land in Germany. Mode of introduction of this invasive species and potential factors favouring establishment are discussed.     

Detection of Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus Infected Cattle – Testing Tissue Samples Derived from Ear Tagging Using an Erns Capture ELISA

A new diagnostic approach testing tissue samples derived from cattle ear tagging for bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) antigen in a commercially available antigen capture enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ACE) was developed. To validate this method, 99 positive and 469 negative samples were tested. With those samples the assay yielded a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of ≥99.6%. Serum and ear tissue samples from 11 persistently infected (PI) BVDV calves were tested. While serum samples were negative after intake of colostrum, the ear tissue samples could be detected positive for BVDV all the time. Testing multiple samples derived from the same ear from PI cattle yielded positive results and low variation. Using cattle ear tags combining the ear tag application with sampling of a small ear tissue plug and testing those tissue samples with an ACE could be a reliable and economic way of BVDV testing.