Cutaneous histiocytoma in a goat

A cutaneous histiocytoma involving the scrotum was diagnosed in a 14-month-old French Alpine buck. A wedge biopsy was taken for histologic examination. The remaining tumor regressed spontaneously and had completely resolved within six months of initial observation.     

Equine humoral immune response to Rhodococcus (Corynebacterium) equi

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed to test equine serum for the presence of antibodies to Rhodococcus (Corynebacterium) equi. Experimental ponies had no detectable antibody to R equi before exposure to the bacterium. After experimental inoculation, animals in groups that received live R equi subcutaneously or intranasally/intratracheally developed high titers to R equi. Noninoculated controls remained seronegative. Serum was also collected from horses of various ages that were naturally exposed to R equi. There was a wide range of anti-R equi titers in these horses. Because experimentally infected horses seroconverted when some naturally infected foals did not seroconvert, the function of antibody in resistance to R equi infection remains unknown.     

Farmer awareness of cow longevity and implications for decision-making at farm level

The aim of this study was to investigate if farmer awareness of longevity can explain why the longevity of dairy cows does not increase in Sweden, despite the fact that the genetic trend for longevity in Swedish dairy cattle is positive. In this study, farmers’ decisions were put in the forefront through a qualitative study with semi-structured interviews. The results showed that farmers seemed well aware of biological factors related to cow longevity, that they think the demands on dairy cows have increased over time and that they correlate the higher demands to shorter longevity. However, the farmers had not worked explicitly with longevity of their own herd. There are subjective management decisions behind a culling of a dairy cow, and the reporting of culling reasons does not mirror the farmer’s reasoning behind the decisions, which is a key factor determining longevity.     

Die Bekämpfung resistenter Stubenfliegen (Musca domestica L.) mit Diazinon

Zusammenfassung In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird die Wirkung des Diazinons gegenüber resistenten und normal-sensiblen Stubenfliegen beschrieben. Es handelt sich dabei um Untersuchungsergebnisse, die im Laboratorium und in der Praxis gewonnen wurden. Die im Laboratorium für diese Experimente verwendeten resistenten Stubenfliegen gehören einem Stamm (K₁) an, der seit einigen Jahren ununterbrochen mit DDT-Wirksubstanz selektioniert wird und eine Resistenzhöhe erreicht hat, wie sie bei Wildstämmen aus dem In- und Ansland nie festgestellt werden konnte. Auch gegenüber allen anderen gebräuchlichen Insektiziden weisen diese Stubenfliegen eine mehr oder weniger stark erhöhte Widerstandsfähigkeit auf.Die praktischen Untersuchungen mit Präparaten auf der Basis von Diazinon wurden in Dörfern des Kantons Wallis durchgeführt. Eine groß angelegte Erhebung in dieser Gegend zur Abklärung des Resistenzstatus hat ergeben, daß die Stubenfliegen mit keinem der bisher bekannten Insektizide mehr wirksam bekämpft werden können.In Untersuchungen, die in zwei aufeinander folgenden Jahren durchgeführt wurden, konnte nachgewiesen werden, daß Ställe, die mit Diazinon-Spritzpulvern behandelt worden waren, während mehrerer Wochen fliegenfrei blieben. Die Stubenfliegen, die sich zur Zeit der Applikation in den Ställen befanden, wurden innert höchstens 15 Minuten in irreversible Rückenlage gebracht und starben sehr rasch.Weder beim Personal, das die Großversuche durchführte, noch bei der Lebware, die zum Teil bei der Applikation versuchshalber in den Ställen belassen wurde, konnten irgendwelche nachteiligen Folgen festgestellt werden.Diazinon läßt sich in Wohnräumen in den üblichen Formen wie Sprays, Aerosole und Rä uchermittel mit gutem Erfolg gegen Fliegen, Mücken und andere Hausinsekten anwenden. Die Direktwirkung ist nicht so ausgeprägt wie beim Pyrethrum, übertrifft aber die meisten gebräuchlichen Insektizide. Wesentlich ist, daß es bei den resistenten Stubenfliegen keine Reversibilität der Intoxikation gibt, d. h. daß die einmal in Rückenlage gebrachten Tiere sich nicht wieder erholen. Beläge von Sprays auf Basis von Diazinon haben eine mehrwöchige Dauerwirkung.Die Resultate aus Versuchen mit Altlarven resistenter und normalsensibler Stubenfliegen zeigen, daß Diazinon über eine gute larvizide Wirkung verfügt und sich zur Bekämpfung von Stubenfliegenlarven in Gruben, Dunghaufen usw. erfolgreich anwenden läßt.Die bisherigen Erfahrungen mit Diazinon lassen den Schluß zu, daß mit diesem neuen Insektizid resistente Stubenfliegen mit gutem Erfolg bekämpft werden können.Die chemischen und physikalischen Eigenschaften des Diazinons gestatten dessen Anwendung in allen für die Insektenbekämpfung gebräuchlichen Formen.Thiophosphorsäure - [2 - isopropyl - 4 - methyl-pyrimidyl - (6)] diäthylester.Gysin, H.: Un nouveau groupe de substances à activité insecticide.Gasser, R.: Expériences sur la lutte contre les araignées rouges avec de nouveaux acaricides.Grob, H.: Expériences sur la lutte contre les aphides avec de nouvelles substances à base d'uré thanes et d'esters phosphoriques.Vorträge am IIIe Congrès International de Phytopharmacie, Paris, Sept. 1952.     

Conversion of single-layered Scots pine monocultures into close-to-nature mixed hardwood forests: effects on parasitoid wasps as pest antagonists

In the north Saxon lowlands (near Torgau), effects of conversion of pure pine stands (Pinus sylvestris L.) into mixed stands by planting deciduous trees [Fagus sylvatica L. and Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl] were investigated on parasitoid wasps as pest antagonists. The effects of planting deciduous trees in pine stands were investigated using the strategy of space-for-time substitution including advanced plantations of beech and oak of different age classes. Wasps were captured at 4-week intervals by ground photoeclectors (GPE, n=6, 1 m²) and flight-interception traps (FIT, n=8), placed in the tree crown layer during the vegetation period (April–October) of 2000. A total of 32,479 parasitoid wasps belonging to 30 families were caught in the traps. Fifty-nine percent of individuals were representatives of families relevant as antagonists of forest insect pests: Ichneumonidae, Braconidae, Pteromalidae, Eulophidae, Mymaridae, Trichogrammatidae, and Scelionidae. Compared to the pure pine stand, individual numbers of most families of parasitoid wasps were statistically significantly higher in mixed stands with deciduous trees. The clearest promoting effects of deciduous trees on parasitoid wasps were manifested in the oldest age classes of advanced beech and oak plantations. Oak exerted stronger effects than beech. This applied especially to the tree crown layer, the stratum with the highest spatial correlation between important phytophagous pine pests and relevant parasitoids. The increased structural diversity of the stands and the broader spectrum of potential hosts are regarded as key factors for the promoting effects of advanced plantings of deciduous trees in pine stands on the community of parasitoid wasps.     

Comparison of 11 herpesvirus isolates from tortoises using partial sequences from three conserved genes

Herpesviruses are an important cause of epidemic disease in tortoises. There are at least two serologically distinct herpesviruses capable of infecting tortoises. Methods for the diagnosis of herpesvirus infections in tortoises include virus isolation and a number of different PCRs. We have compared 11 virus isolates collected from various species in different countries over several years using sequences from three different viral genes. During this study we used four different PCR protocols described for the diagnosis of herpesvirus infections in tortoises. The protocols used included two based on portions of the DNA polymerase gene, one targeting the UL5 homologue, and one targeting the UL39 homologue. Comparison of the methods showed that the tortoise herpesvirus-specific protocols were all serotype specific. Sequences of the obtained amplicons were compared with one another and with sequences of herpesviruses available in GenBank. The sequence alignments showed that the tortoise herpesviruses were most closely related to members of the subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae. They also showed that the tortoise isolates could be clearly divided into two genogroups.     

Immune responses and protection by vaccine and various vaccine adjuvant candidates to virulent porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

Various vaccine adjuvant candidates were assessed with the modified-live porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (MLV PRRSV) (Ingelvac PRRS MLV) vaccine. Their influence on humoral-mediated immune (HMI) and cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses as well as protection from virulent PRRSV challenge (MN-184) was evaluated. Ninety seronegative pigs were randomly divided into nine groups of 10 pigs. One group received MLV vaccine alone. Five groups received MLV vaccine with either bacterial endotoxin-derived adjuvant (ET), mixed open reading frame 5 (ORF5) peptides derived from various PRRSV isolates, porcine interferon alpha (IFNalpha), polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid stabilized with polylysine and carboxymethylcellulose (poly-ICLC), or porcine interleukin-12 (IL-12). One group did not receive MLV vaccine but was immunized with ORF5 peptides conjugated with cholera toxin (ORF5 peptide/CT). Two groups served as challenged and unchallenged non-vaccinated controls. Four-color flow cytometry was utilized to simultaneously identify three major porcine T-cell surface markers (CD4, CD8, and gammadelta TCR) and detect activation marker CD25 (alpha chain of IL-2 receptor) or intracellular IFNgamma. The MLV PRRSV vaccine alone successfully primed CD4(-)CD8(+)gammadelta- T-cells as demonstrated by a significant increase in %IFNgamma+ cells when live PRRSV was used as a recall antigen. Booster immunizations of mixed ORF5 peptides and co-administration of IL-12 with MLV PRRSV vaccine significantly enhanced IFNgamma expression by some T-cell subsets (CD4(-)CD8(+)gammadelta+ and CD4(-)CD8(-)gammadelta+ for mixed ORF5 peptides and CD4(+)CD8(+)gammadelta- and CD4(-)CD8(+)gammadelta+ for IL-12). All groups receiving MLV-vaccine with or without adjuvants had reduced lung lesions after challenge. The group immunized with only ORF5 peptide/CT did not have significant T-cell recall responses and was not protected from challenge. Expression of IFNgamma by several T-cell subsets correlated with reduced lung lesions and viremia, whereas expression of CD25 did not. Expression of surface CD25 did not correlate with IFNgamma production. PRRSV ELISA s/p ratio prior to challenge also correlated with reduced lung lesions and viremia. In conclusion, booster immunizations of the mixed ORF5 peptides and co-administration of IL-12 effectively enhanced the CMI response to MLV vaccine. However, neither adjuvant significantly contributed to reducing clinical effects when compared to MLV alone.     

Generation of a synthetic memory trace

We investigated the effect of activating a competing, artificially generated, neural representation on encoding of contextual fear memory in mice. We used a c-fos-based transgenic approach to introduce the hM(3)D(q) DREADD receptor (designer receptor exclusively activated by designer drug) into neurons naturally activated by sensory experience. Neural activity could then be specifically and inducibly increased in the hM(3)D(q)-expressing neurons by an exogenous ligand. When an ensemble of neurons for one context (ctxA) was artificially activated during conditioning in a distinct second context (ctxB), mice formed a hybrid memory representation. Reactivation of the artificially stimulated network within the conditioning context was required for retrieval of the memory, and the memory was specific for the spatial pattern of neurons artificially activated during learning. Similar stimulation impaired recall when not part of the initial conditioning.     

Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Prototheca zopfii in a dog with enteric signs

This is a case report of enteric protothecosis caused by Prototheca zopfii in an eight-year-old male mixed breed dog with a history of chronic bloody diarrhea, loss of appetite and weight loss. Algae were isolated from rectal scrapings in defibrinated sheep blood agar and dextrose Sabouraud agar. Cytological evaluation showed the presence of globular and cylindrical organisms with a defined capsule and variable number of endospores, characteristic of the genus Prototheca, in the rectum of the animal. Scanning electron microscopy of P. zopfii strains at different development stages confirmed the diagnosis of algal infection. Molecular identification using a conserved 18S rDNA gene sequence determined that the strain belonged to genotype 2. This report describes success on treatment of canine protothecosis, diagnosed based on clinical, cytological, microbiological, scanning electron microscopy and genotypical findings.