Clinical and patho-morphological investigation of spontaneously occurring Seriodontal isease in dogs

Diagnostic evaluation of, and treatment planning for, different periodontal diseases of dogs are a common problem in veterinary dentistry. Therefore the aim of the present study was to propose a classification for inflammatory periodontal disease. One hundred and twenty-three male and female poodles (from two to over 12 years) were used for the clinical investigations; 120 periodontitis teeth were analysed for pathomorphological signs of inflammation. The recorded data made it possible to differentiate five forms of gingivitis (gingivitis simplex, hyperplastica, ulcerosa, granulomatosa and desquamativa) and three forms of periodontitis (juvenile, rapidly progressive adult and chronic adult periodontitis). The pathomorphological investigations allowed a differentiation between acute progressive inflammation, chronic nonprogressive inflammation, chronic proliferative inflammation and chronic resorptive inflammation. It is concluded that standardised diagnoses as well as the pathomorphological background may be helpful tools for providing effective treatment strategies.     

Pubertal development of male African catfish,Clarias gariepinus. In vitro steroidogenesis by testis and interrenal tissue and plasma levels of sexual steroids

In fish, sex steroids initiate and/or accelerate the maturation of the brain-pituitary-gonad axis. In order to obtain information on the steroid milieu during the pubertal development of male African catfish, we have monitored the conversion of [³H]-pregnenolone and [³H]-androstenedione by testis and [³H]-pregnenolone by interrenal tissue fragmentsin vitro. Pubertal development occurs between two and six months of age. Testicular development proceeds through four main stages that are characterised histologically by the presence of spermatogonia (stage I), spermatogonia and spermatocytes (stage II), spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids (stage III), and all germ cells including spermatozoa (stage IV). 11β-Hydroxyandrostenedione and cortisol were the main products of testes and interrenal tissue, respectively, in all stages of the pubertal development; a change in the steroidogenic pattern was not observed during this period. The interrenal tissue displayed no significant conversion of [³H]-pregnenolone to 11-oxygenated androgens. Blood plasma was analyzed for the presence of five androgens; testosterone, 11β-hydroxytestosterone, 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione, androstenetrione, and 11-ketotestosterone. 11-Ketotestosterone was the quantitatively dominating androgen in the circulation at all stages of development, which was more pronounced in stages III and IV. The obvious differences between thein vitro andin vivo results, namely 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione being the main testicular productvs. 11-ketotestosterone dominating in the blood, may indicate that 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione is converted to 11-ketotestosterone at extratesticular sites.     

DNA‐analysis to monitor fisheries and aquaculture: Too costly?

Evidence from DNA‐analysis is commonplace in human criminal investigations, and while it is increasingly being used in wildlife crime, to date, its application to control and enforcement activities in fisheries and aquaculture has only been sporadic. Contemporary DNA‐analysis tools are capable of addressing a broad range of compliance issues, species identification, mislabelling of fish products, determining the origin of catches and the farm of origin of aquaculture escapees. Such applications have the potential to ensure traceability along the fish product supply chain and to combat consumer fraud and Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing. Nevertheless, DNA‐analysis is not yet used routinely in investigations into compliance with fisheries and aquaculture legislation. One potential reason for this is that DNA‐analysis techniques may have been regarded as too expensive. However, costs have plummeted over the past decade prompting us to objectively assess whether the costs associated with routine use of DNA‐analysis techniques for fisheries and aquaculture control and enforcement activities do constitute an impediment. Based on a number of recent fisheries and aquaculture compliance investigations that incorporated DNA‐analysis, our results indicate that the use of genetic analysis was justified and worthwhile in all cases examined. We therefore conclude that the costs associated with DNA‐analysis do not represent a barrier to the routine adoption of DNA‐analysis techniques in fisheries and aquaculture compliance investigations. Thus, control and enforcement agencies should be encouraged to use such techniques routinely.     

Sulphur and nitrogen content as sulphur deficiency indicator for grasses

In Europe, during the last 30 years, the decrease in sulphur (S) atmospheric depositions has led to S deficient grasslands. Concern for S fertilisation resulted in research about S fertilisation advices and definition of S nutritional diagnostic tools for plants. However, for grasses, S nutrition indicators are still discussed. We propose a diagnostic tool based upon linear relationships linking the sulphur and nitrogen (N) content of grasses. This diagnostic tool is built thanks to data from field and pot trials treated with an algorithm (Bolides) and discriminant analyses. The relationships allow the characterisation of the grass sulphur nutritional status following four categories: certainly sufficient, probably sufficient, probably deficient and certainly deficient. This relation based and tested on a large dataset from literature and own field trials allowed diagnosing correctly 94% of the sulphur sufficient grasses and 71% of the sulphur deficient grasses.     

Blei- und Cadmium-Status Berliner Böden

Lead an cadmium conditions of Berlin soils Pleistocene sediments of Berlin contain 10 mg/kg Pb and 0.1 mg/kg Cd, but debris of the city 80 mg/kg Pb. The topsoils are enriched with 60–100 mg/kg of anthropogenous Pb, near roads more than 200 mg/kg, and with 0.3–0.6 mg/kg Cd. Only low quantities of both elements were soluble in NH₄-acetate, but half of the polluted elements was extractable with AEDTA, the unextractable part being enriched in the clay fraction. Exchange experiments show very high sorption rates of soluble lead, but in case of cadmium sorption was much lower so that this element can percolate especially sandy acid soils with low humus contents in higher amounts.     

Der Nachweis unsichtbarer („physiologischer”) Fluor-Immissionsschädigungen an Waldbäumen durch eine einfache kolorimetrische Bestimmung der Peroxidase-Aktivität

The detection of hidden F-injury of forest trees by a simple colorimetric determination of peroxidase actívity . The paper describes a simple routine method for determining colorimetrically peroxidase activity (p. a.) in foliage of forest tree species, including conifers. The effect of factors such as foliage age, F Content, external F dust, necrosis etc. on p. a. is investigated. Analyses of plants exposed at different distances to F exhalates of an aluminum plant show that with decreasing distance F content and p. a. increase. P. a. thus is an indicator of air pollution effects on tree physiology even in the range where no visible symptoms of injury occur.     

Some remarks on carrot breeding (Daucus carota sativus Hoffm.)

Carrot breeding in the past 150 years has resulted in varieties with high yield, a short growing period, and excellent root colour. Recently, hybrid varieties have demonstrated good uniformity of roots, a quality accepted by most consumers. By contrast, only a few resistant varieties (mainly open-pollinated varieties) are offered by seed companies, most being resistant to Alternaria. Hybrid breeding offers a chance of combining good uniformity and different sources of resistance. Efforts in future breeding should concentrate on the improvement of health and the development of genotypes suitable for cultivation in suboptimal climates and regions, as well as for special applications.     

Freiland-Untersuchungen über die Wirkung verschiedener Insektizide auf das Vorkommen von zwei entomophagenCoccinelliden an Baumwolle in Oberägypten

Zusammenfassung Die Wirkung von 9 Handelspräparaten von Insektiziden (ein Carbamat, 2 Organophosphate, 4 chlorierte Hydrocarbone und 2 chlorierte Phosphorverbindungen) auf das Vorkommen vonCoccinella undecimpunctata undScymnus interruptus in einer Baumwoll-Plantage in Assiut (Ober-Ägypten) wurde geprüft Eine Fläche von 2 Feddan (= 8400 m²) wurde willkürlich in 40 Parzellen geteilt (4 Kontrollparzellen und 4 × 9 Behandlungsflächen) gemäß einem vollständig zufälligen Block-System. Die Käfer wurden in situ auf 50 Sträuchern pro Fläche knapp vor der Behandlung und am 3., 7. und 10, Tag hernach gezählt. Die Behandlung wurde viermal in Intervallen von 15 Tagen, beginnend Mitte Juni, wiederholt. Die Ergebnisse waren folgende:1. Die stärkste Anfangswirkung gegenCoccinella hatte Toxaphen/DDT/Delnav, Sevin, Lebaycid und Methyl-Parathion (70–72% Sterblichkeit in 3 Tagen nach der ersten Behandlung). Die geringste Anfangswirkung hatte Toxaphen/Dilan (um 43% Sterblichkeit in 3 Tagen).2. Die stärkste Anfangswirkung gegenScymnus hatte Sevin (um 88% Sterblichkeit in 3 Tagen) gefolgt von Toxaphen (76% Sterblichkeit). Die geringste Anfangswirkung hatte Toxaphen/Dilan (um 29% Sterblichkeit).3. Die Anfangswirkung stieg mit der Zeit nur in einigen Fällen an, z. B. bei Sevin und Lebaycid gegenCoccinella und bei Toxaphen/Dilan und Toxaphen/DDT/Delnav gegen.Scymnus.4.Scymnus scheint gegen gewisse Verbindungen empfindlicher zu sein alsCoccinella, z. B. gegen Sevin und Toxaphen, und weniger empfindlich gegen andere Verbindungen, z. B. Lebaycid.5. In den meisten Fällen stieg bei Wiederholung der Behandlung die reduzierende Wirkung bei beiden Insekten-Arten an. Solch eine verstärkte Wirkung von Sevin aufCoccinella trat bald und stetig ein.

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Summary The effect of nine commercial insecticides (one carbamate, 2 phosphorous compounds, 4 chlorinated hydrocarbons and 2 combinatins of chlorinated and phosphorous compounds) on the abundance ofCoccinella undecimpunctata andScymnus interruptus on cotton was tested in an area of two Feddans (= 8400 square meters). The area was divided into 40 plots (4 controls and 4 × 9 treatments) according to a complete randomized block system. The beetles were counted in situ on 50 bushes/plot immediately before treatment and on the 3rd, 7th and 10th day thereafter. Application was repeated 4 times at 15 days intervals beginning from mid June. The results showed that:1. The strongest initial effect onCoccinella was that of toxaphene/DDT/delnav, sevin, lebaycid and methyl-parathion (70%–72% mortality in three days after the first application); the weakest initial effect was that of toxaphene/dilan (about 43% mortality in 3 days).2. The strongest initial effect onScymnus was that of sevin (about 88% mortality in 3 days), followed by toxaphene (about 76% mortality). The weakest initial effect was that of toxaphene/dilan (about 29% mortality).3. The initial effect increased by time only in a few cases, e. g. that of sevin and lebaycid onCoccinella and that of toxaphene/dilan and toxaphene/DDT/delnav onScymnus.4.Scymnus seems to be more sensitive thanCoccinella to certain compounds, e. g. sevin and toxaphene and less sensitive to other compounds e. g. lebaycid.5. In most cases repetition of application resulted in an increasing detrimental effect on both insect species. Such a cumulative effect was readily observed and rather steady in the case of sevin onCoccinella.