Behavioral studies of piglets and rabbits with special consideration of necessary supplies and avoidance of injury]

After introducing remarks on the meaning of the ethology of farm animals about the evaluation of housing systems the own examinations about piglets in the rearing period and about housing systems of rabbits held in groups respectively will be demonstrated. By these examinations choice experiments have proved true. For estimating and evaluating the ethological experimental results the concept of the meeting of requirements and avoidance of damage is an important point. The animals requirement can be found out in reference systems. Those investigated results are used as guiding-line for the evaluation of the dates found under practical conditions. The merits of Tschanz concerning the ethology of farm animals will be appreciated.     

Fungicidal activity and chemical constitution. Part XXI: The activity of substituted 1, 4-naphthoquinones and quinoline-5, 8-diones against apple powdery mildew

Several series of alkyl-substituted amino-, bromo-, chloro-, fluoro- and hydroxy-1, 4-naphthoquinones, as well as some 6-alkylaminoquinoline-5, 8-diones and 7-alkyl-6-hydroxyquinoline-5, 8-diones were prepared and tested as protectant fungicides against apple powdery mildew (caused by Podosphaera leucotricha). While most of the compounds did not reduce infection when applied at 10^?3M, several 3-alkyl-2-bromo-and 3-alkyl-2-chloro-1, naphthoquinones were found to have ED₅₀ values below 50 × 10^?5M.     

Stickstoffdüngung von Roten Johannisbeeren

A nitrogen fertilization trial (0–60–120–180 kg N/ha annually) with the red currant cultivar ‘Rovada’ was carried out from 2000 to 2003. N-fertilization did not influence yield or quality of the berries; only the length of clusters was influenced significantly. Forty-four to 52 kg N/ha of the yearly amount of N-fertilizer were taken up by the plants. In most cases, this nitrogen uptake was luxury consumption. Yearly N-fertilization with 30 kg to 60 kg N/ha is recommended.     

Alterations in phytosterol profiles of Galium aparine following treatment with BAS 480F

The following are extended summaries based on posters presented at the 8th International Congress of Pesticide Chemistry (IUPAC), held in Washington, DC, USA 4–9 July 1994. They are entirely the responsibility of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board of Pesticide Science.     

Differentiation of synovial tissue to fibrocartilage as exemplified by the suprapatellar cartilage of the rabbit

Using the suprapatellar cartilage of the rabbit as a model, it is shown both light and electronmi-croscopically that the synovial layer and its connective tissue substrate can differentiate to form fibrocartilage with typical chondrocytes. In einer vorangegangenen Untersuchung (Loeffler /Bidier , 1984) konnten wir nach-weisen, daß sich bei der Synovialgrubenbildung das Bindegewebe und die Deckzellen, zumindest jene vom Typ B, aus dem Knorpelgewebe, vor allem aus den oberflächlichen Schichten enrwickeln. Um die damit gezeigte enge Beziehung zwischen der Synovialis und der Gelenkknorpeloberfläche auch durch ein Modell mit gegenläufiger Tendenz anschau-lich zu machen, suchten wir nach einem entsprechenden Objekt. Nachdem die lichtmikroskopischen Untersuchungen über díe Entwicklung der Cartilago suprapatellaris (C. s.) im Kniegelenk der Kaninchen (Chisiu /Constantinescu , 1974a–c u. Frey , 1981) Hinweise dafür lieferten, daß sich bei dieser Tierart postnatal die proximal der Patella gelegene Synovialis in die C. s. umwandelt, sollten diese Vorgänge lichtoptisch an Dünnschnitten sowie elektronenmikroskopisch (TEM) detaillierter abge-klärt werden. Dabei wurden nur die Oberfläche der Synovialis bzw. der Cartilago berücksichtigt, weil die Umwandlungsvorgänge in den tieferen Schichten als lichtoptisch hinreichend abgeklärt anzusehen sind (Frey , 1981).     

A non-invasive observation parameter to complement sediment bioassays using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Myriophyllum aquaticum</Emphasis>

Purpose  

The objective of this study was to modify a sediment contact protocol to a multiwell plate exposure system which supplements measurement of the fresh weight change (FWC) using the non-invasive effective quantum yield of energy conversion at photosystem II (PS II) reaction centres (Y(II)) in parallel. Since Y(II) is a functional parameter and FWC represents a whole-plant structural response, the determination of a more pronounced response in one of these parameters may hint at the mode of action of contaminants. By the observation of Y(II) at different time points, extrapolation of effect development over time may be gained from modelling.     

A serological study of canine herpesvirus-1 infection in a population of breeding bitches in Norway

Background

Canine herpesvirus-1 (CHV1) causes a fatal hemorrhagic disease in neonatal puppies and is associated with infertility in female dogs. This study was conducted to assess the status of CHV1 infection in bitches in proestrus or estrus and to investigate possible risk factors by a detailed questionnaire. Blood samples were collected from healthy bitches (n = 193) not vaccinated against CHV1, aged one year or older and admitted for estrus control to the Canine Reproductive Clinical Unit, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science. The serum samples were analysed by immunoperoxidase monolayer assay and serum titers were recorded as the reciprocal value of the highest dilution producing specific cell staining.

Results

Altogether, 85.5% of the dogs had CHV1 titers ≥ 80 and were classified as positive. Mean age for dogs included in the study was 4.2 years (95% CI 4.0-4.5), and there was no difference in age between seronegative dogs vs seropositive dogs. When grouping the seropositive dogs into three categories according to the magnitude of the titer, a total of 38.8% of the bitches displayed a weakly positive titer of 80, 44.8% had moderately positive titers of 160 or 320 and 16.4% of the dogs fell into the strongly positive category with titer of ≥640. No association was demonstrated when comparing CHV1 antibody titers to fertility parameters such as previous matings, pregnancies, whelpings, puppies born or condition of puppies. Further, there was no difference in seroprevalence between bitches that had been abroad for a period of time and dogs only living within a Norwegian environment. Samples from dogs collected in summer and fall displayed moderate to high antibody titers indicating recent infection with CHV1. Season, previous birth, and participation in competitions/shows explained 67-78% of the variation in antibody titer.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that CHV1 infection is common in breeding bitches in the eastern part of Norway. Associations with putative risk factors were not identified. However, season, previous whelping, and participation in competitions/shows explained 67-78% of the variation in antibody titer.