Efficacy of an intranasal modified live bovine respiratory syncytial virus and temperature-sensitive parainfluenza type 3 virus vaccine in 3-week-old calves experimentally challenged with PI3V

Two experimental parainfluenza type 3 virus (PI3V) challenge studies were undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of a single intranasal dose of an attenuated live vaccine containing modified live bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) and temperature-sensitive PI3V in 3-week-old calves. In the first study, vaccine efficacy was evaluated in colostrum deprived calves. Nasal shedding of PI3V was highly significantly reduced in vaccinated calves challenged 10 days or 21 days after vaccination. In the second study, vaccine efficacy was assessed in calves with maternal antibodies against PI3V by challenge 66 days post-vaccination. Vaccination also significantly reduced PI3V excretion after challenge in this study. In both studies, clinical signs after challenge were very mild and were not different between vaccinated and control calves.     

Improved control of lettuce drop caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum using Contans combined with lignin or a reduced fungicide application

The use of Contans (Coniothyrium minitans) in Belgian commercial lettuce greenhouses has so far not always fulfilled the expectations of growers. With the aim of improving the efficacy of control of lettuce drop (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum), Contans applied alone and Contans combined with Radix (Trichoderma asperellum and Trichoderma gamsii), Kraft pine lignin and Rovral was compared in three successive lettuce crops in a naturally infested greenhouse. At harvest of each crop, the effect on disease incidence, and the effect on viability and fungal infection of sclerotia buried prior to each crop was evaluated. Contans applied alone negatively affected the sclerotial viability, but did not reduce lettuce drop symptoms. The combination of Contans with Kraft pine lignin, on the other hand, reduced sclerotial viability and lettuce drop compared with the untreated control in the last crop. Furthermore, when Contans was combined with Kraft pine lignin, a higher number of infected sclerotia was observed compared with Contans applied alone. When Radix was added to the combination, there was no extra benefit for the control of lettuce drop. The combination of one Rovral application and Contans resulted in a significant control of lettuce drop together with a negative effect on sclerotial survival. Two Rovral applications, by contrast, reduced the ability of C. minitans to parasitize and kill the sclerotia. To conclude, integration of Contans with a reduced Rovral application and with Kraft pine lignin has potential to improve the control of lettuce drop in commercial greenhouses.     

Die Schneebeere als neue Wirtspflanze der Kirschfruchtfliege

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma – Sézary syndrome in a Boxer

A 7‐year‐old male Boxer with a 3.5‐year history of atopy and food hypersensitivity was presented with multiple poorly circumscribed nodules and maculae of the skin and tongue, and jaundiced mucosal membranes. Cytologic and histopathologic examination of the skin lesions revealed cutaneous epitheliotropic lymphoma. Cells were CD3⁺ and CD8⁺ in flow cytometry. The CBC showed a moderate leukocytosis with 16% atypical lymphocytes with irregularly cleaved nuclei. Flow cytometric phenotyping of peripheral blood showed an elevated proportion of the CD8⁺ T‐lymphocyte subpopulation, indicating a malignant population of T‐cell origin, and the electropherogram of the PCR antigen receptor rearrangement produced a monoclonal peak for TCRγ. Liver enzyme activities were markedly increased and abdominal ultrasound examination showed increased echogenicity of the liver and enlarged abdominal lymph nodes. Fine‐needle aspirates of the liver confirmed infiltration with lymphocytes exhibiting the same morphology as the cells detected in skin and peripheral blood. Treatment was induced with L‐asparaginase, lomustine, and prednisone. Partial clinical remission of the skin and tongue lesions was achieved within 10 days, and hematologic abnormalities resolved. Despite further treatment with L‐asparaginase and lomustine, the dog relapsed within one month and was euthanized. Presence of malignant lymphocytes in skin, peripheral blood, and liver indicate a rare variant of leukemic cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma, equivalent of Sézary syndrome in a dog. This case report describes the use of flow cytometry as a complementary tool for lymphocyte characterization of skin lesions for the first time.     

A comprehensive physical activity promotion programme at elementary school: the effects on physical activity, physical fitness and psychosocial correlates of physical activity

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of a comprehensive physical activity (PA) promotion programme in elementary schools on children's total PA levels, leisure-time PA, physical fitness and psychosocial correlates of PA. DESIGN: A pre-test-post-test design over two school years. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: Sixteen elementary schools (764 children, mean age: 11.2 +/- 0.7 years) were randomly assigned to the intervention condition (n = 8) and the control condition (n = 8). The intervention included a health-related physical education programme, an extracurricular PA promotion programme and classroom-based PA education lessons. In the total sample, leisure-time PA, psychosocial correlates of PA and physical fitness were measured using a PA questionnaire and the Eurofit test battery. In a sub-sample, total PA levels were measured using an accelerometer. RESULTS: According to accelerometer data, children's moderate PA and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) levels decreased less in the intervention schools than in the control schools (P < 0.01). The average time spent on MVPA decreased by 9 min per day in the intervention schools compared with 33 min per day in the control schools. Children in the intervention schools reported significantly more moderate PA in leisure time than the controls (P < 0.05). No overall improvement of physical fitness and no effects on the psychosocial correlates of PA were found. CONCLUSIONS: The comprehensive PA promotion programme was successful in preventing a decline in children's total activity levels. Furthermore, the intervention increased children's PA engagement in leisure time. Therefore, implementation needs to be encouraged.     

Influence of the type of management system on corticosterone transfer into eggs in laying hens

The effect of free-range versus cage management system on corticosterone transfer into the eggs was studied in laying hens. Hungarian Yellow laying hens (age: 21 weeks, body weight: 2.0 +/- 0.5 kg) were divided into two groups in the spring: Group I, free-range keeping (n=15 layers, density: > 0.5 bird/m2) in outdoor runs, with continuous access to a commercial layer feed; Group II, hens kept in battery cages (n=17 layers, density: 2 birds/m2, natural light, continuous access to feed and water). Eggs were collected after a one-week adaptation period on days 2, 7 and 16. Corticosterone (CST) was extracted from homogenised egg samples using an ASE-200 Accelerated Solvent Extractor and then assayed by liquid chromatography linked with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) [Thermo Quest Surveyor high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) interfaced via Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionisation (APCI) ion source to Finnigan/Thermo Quest LCQ Deca MS/MS] using dexamethasone as internal standard with positive APCI ionisation. CST concentrations of whole eggs laid by free-range hens on days 2, 7 and 16 were 0.370 +/- 0.218, 0.259 +/- 0.066 and 0.915 +/- 0.745 ng x g(-1), respectively, while those of eggs laid by caged hens were 0.206 +/- 0.157, 0.223 +/- 0.165 and 0.184 +/- 0.110 ng x g(-1) at the above sampling times. It is concluded that in free-range laying hens the sharp changes of environmental weather conditions significantly increased the corticosterone content of eggs, while the environmentally controlled and closed battery cage management technology resulted in relatively uniform corticosterone concentrations in the whole eggs.