SONOGRAPHY OF THE MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM IN DOGS AND CATS

Sonography of the musculoskeletal system in dogs and cats was undertaken to evaluate the application of this imaging procedure in orthopedics. In most of the patients a 7,5 MHz linear transducer was used because of its flat application surface and its resolving power. The evaluation of bone by sonography is limited, but sonography can provide addition information regarding the bone surface and surrounding soft tissue. Ultrasound is valuable for assessing joint disease. Joint effusion, thickening of the joint capsule and cartilage defects can be identified sonographically. It is also possible to detect bone destruction. Instabilities are often identified with the help of a dynamic examination. Soft tissue abnormalities of the musculoskeletal system lend themselves to sonographic evaluation. Partial or complete muscles or tendon tears are able to be differentiated and the healing process can be monitored. Most of the diseases that are in the area of the biceps or the achilles tendon, such as dislocation of the tendon, old injuries with scarification, free dissecates in the tendonsheath, tendinitis and/or tendosynovitis can be differentiated by sonography. In addition, with clinical and laboratory findings, it is often possible to make a correct diagnosis with ultrasound in patients with abscesses, foreign bodies, hematomas, soft tissue tumors and lipomas.     

Waldschutz gegen Borkenkäfer: Der Beitrag von Duftstoffmeteorologie und Populationsdynamik

Zusammenfassung Mit theoretischen Modellen kann die Effektivität verschiedener Ansätze (z. B. Fallenzahl und-abstand, Ködermenge und-abgaberate) für den Einsatz von synthetischen Pheromonen in Pest-Management-Systemen verglichen werden. Das GAUSS-sche Modell, das von einer Normalverteilung der Konzentrationsabnahme um eine Lockstoffquelle ausgeht, wurde benutzt, um fürT. lineatum die lockwirksame Reichweite und die Konkurrenzsituation von Naturköder und Falle abzuschätzen. Bei 100 000 /ha und 2 Wochen Flugdauer ergeben sich für (+)-Lineatin (Reaktionsschwelle 0,1 ng/m³, Produktion 6,43 ng//d, Produktionsdauer 3 d/) mittlere Tagesraten von 128,6 g/ha bzw. eine Gesamtproduktion von 1,929 mg/ha. Die lockwirksame Reichweite x_max beträgt je nach Wetterlag für 1T. lineatum- 20–40 cm, für Fallen mit 1 CONREL-Faser (Abgaberate 10 g/d [+]-Lineatin) 13–16m. Für eine 10fach höhere lockwirksame Reichweite sind nach dem Modell etwa 100fach, in der Praxis nach verschiedenen Autoren sogar 200fach stärkere Köder erforderlich.In Freilandversuchen über die Relation von Fangleistung und Beifängen unterschiedlicher Fangsysteme waren die Coleoptera (bes. Rhizophagidae und Staphylinidae) am häufigsten. In Trichterfallen lagen die Beifänge mit 9,2% deutlich höher als in Schlitzfallen (1,2%). Das Giftpolter hatte demgegenüber das größte Beifangspektrum; hier traten auch Ordnungen auf, die von anderen Fangsystemen nicht betroffen waren.Massenfang kan prinzipiell in Holzhöfen und Waldbeständen erfolgreich durchgeführt werden. Allerdings ist das Problem der Beifänge noch ungelöst und die Relations von potentieller Vermehrung der Borkenkäfer und maximal möglicher Populationsreduzierung durch Fallenfang unbekannt. Zudem kann eine nach Massenfang geringere Populationsdichte im Folgciahr durch zunehmende Reproduktionsraten oder durch ersatzweise Einnischung (competive displacement) anderer Borkenkäferarten ausgeglichen und damit der Forstschutzeffekt zunichte gemacht werden.

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Bark beetle control: contribution of pheromone meteorology and population dynamics

The use of semiochemicals in pest management systems of bark beetles is viewed in relation to optimization of resources investment, comparing beetle numbers in univoltine, requisitegoverned woodboringTrypodendron lineatum (Oliv.) with multigeneration bark inhabitingIps typographus (L.). The efficiency of different numbers of and distance between traps and pheromone load of dispensers was analysed using steady state models and comparing results with published and own field data. Competition between traps and beetle-infested logs, attractive distance and overlap of pheromone plume was compared forT. lineatum using models which assume a GAUSS distribution of concentration decrease around a pheromone source. For (+)-lineatin (reaction threshold 0.1 ng/m³, production 6.43 ng//d, duration of production 3 d/), 100,000 /ha and a flight period of 2 weeks, daily mean production is 128.6 g/ha. Attractive distance x_max is 20–40 cm for 1T. lineatum- and 13–16 m for a trap with 1 CONREL-dispenser (mean release rate 10 g/d (+)-lineatin). A 10-fold increase of attractive distance x_max needs a 100-fold increase of pheromone release rate according to the model, and 200-fold according to field experiments.In field experiments, Coleoptera (esp. Staphylinidae and Rhizophagidae) were the most abundant non-target trap catches. Insecticide-treated trap logs had the widest range of non-target insects including orders that were not affected by the non-insecticide trapping systems. Mass trapping can be successful in logging areas and/or forests. However, the exclusion of non-target insects still is an unsolved problem and we still have only limited knowledge on potential population increase of beetles and maximum reduction that can be achieved by trapping. Also, population levels reduced by mass trapping can be compensated by increasing reproductive effort of the succeeding generation and/or competitive displacement by secondary bark beetle species.

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Mit 5 Abbildungen und 2 Tabellen

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Mit Unterstützung der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft.

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Nach einem Vortag bei der Fortbildungstagung des Hessischen Forstvereins in Solms/Lahn am 23. Mai 1991.

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Herrn Prof. Dr. Dr.G. Wellenstein zum 85. Geburtstag.     

Karambole (Averrhoa carambola L.)

The carambola (Averrhoa carambola L., family Oxalidaceae) is believed to have originated in Sri Lanka and the Moluccas but it has been cultivated in southeast Asia and Malaysia for many centuries. The evergreen tree is slow-growing, has a rounded crown and reaches 6 to 9 m in height. The 5- to 6-angled fruits (6 to 15 cm long and up to 9 cm wide) have thin, waxy, orange-yellow skin and juicy, yellow flesh. The fruit has a more or less pronounced oxalic acid odor and the flavor ranges from very sour to middle sweetish. The carambola is a tropical and subtropical tree, it can tolerate freezing temperature (?2°C) for short periods and sustain little damage. Trees can be propagated by seed, grafting, budding, and air layering. Tissue culture propagation has met only limited success. Plant spacing varies with growing region and cultural practices. Tree training is practiced intensively in different countries. Harvest timing and postharvest handling are critical to successful marketing of fresh fruit. Carambola is a nonclimateric fruit. Growers carefully harvest fruit by hand at color break — light green fruit with yellow color. The storage conditions should be 5 to 10°C and 85 to 95% relative humidity. Most carambola fruit is eaten fresh, used in salads, desserts, and cooked as star-shaped slices; fruit can also be dried, canned and frozen. The leaves have been eaten as a substitute for sorrel. Commercial production occurs in Taiwan, Malaysia, southern China, the Philippines, Australia, USA (Florida, Hawaii), Brazil, Suriname and Guyana. Production and consumption appears on the rise throughout the world and will most likely increase as selection and breeding for superior tasting cultivars with improved handling characteristics and storage conditions are found.     

Influence of inorganic fertilizers and organic amendments on soil organic matter and soil microbial properties under tropical conditions

 Soil organic matter level, mineralizable C and N, microbial biomass C and dehydrogenase, urease and alkaline phosphatase activities were studied in soils from a field experiment under a pearl millet-wheat cropping sequence receiving inorganic fertilizers and a combination of inorganic fertilizers and organic amendments for the last 11 years. The amounts of soil organic matter and mineralizable C and N increased with the application of inorganic fertilizers. However, there were greater increases of these parameters when farmyard manure, wheat straw or Sesbania bispinosa green manure was applied along with inorganic fertilizers. Microbial biomass C increased from 147 mg kg^–1 soil in unfertilized soil to 423 mg kg^–1 soil in soil amended with wheat straw and inorganic fertilizers. The urease and alkaline phosphatase activities of soils increased significantly with a combination of inorganic fertilizers and organic amendments. The results indicate that soil organic matter level and soil microbial activities, vital for the nutrient turnover and long-term productivity of the soil, are enhanced by use of organic amendments along with inorganic fertilizers. Received: 6 May 1998     

RADIOGRAPHIC ANATOMY OF THE CRIBRIFORM PLATE (LAMINA CRIBROSA)

The radiographic appearance of the cribriform plate was investigated in 16 canine cadaver heads. The cribriform plate appeared as a "V"-shaped multilinear bone-opaque stripe in the caudal nasal region in projections perpendicular to the hard palate in 6 dogs with a skull index between 50.00 and 54.00. In 9 dogs with a skull index between 55.40 and 74.40, the cribriform plate had a more "C"-shaped and sharp appearance. In vertically oblique projections with an obliquity greater than 20 degrees, the cribriform plate lost its sharp outline and finally (40 degrees) disappeared. In lateral projections the cribriform plate appeared as a "C"-shaped interrupted bone-opaque stripe in all 16 dogs. In more brachycephalic dogs frontal bone structures superimposed on the cribriform plate on ventrodorsal and dorsoventral views and accentuated the radiographic appearance of the plate. Vertically oblique views separated both structures to produce two lines.     

Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide concentration in warmblood horses with heart valve regurgitations

ObjectivesThis study measured plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) concentration in horses with heart valve regurgitations (HVR) with and without atrial and ventricular dilatation.BackgroundIn humans and small animals, plasma ANP concentration is increased in heart disease and correlates with the severity of clinical signs and heart enlargement.Animals, materials and methodsTen healthy horses (control) and 36 horses with HVR were evaluated by auscultation, electrocardiography, echocardiography, and determination of plasma ANP.ResultsControl horses demonstrated mean plasma ANP concentration of 21 ± 5.4 pg/mL. Of the 36 horses with HVR, 17 horses possessed normal echocardiographic heart size (group 1), 10 horses had a left atrial dilatation (group 2) and 9 horses had both left atrial and ventricular dilatation (group 3). Mean plasma ANP concentration of groups 1, 2 and 3 was 20.1 ± 5.6 pg/mL, 22.9 ± 11.0 pg/mL and 27.6 ± 17.4 pg/mL, respectively. The plasma ANP concentrations of HVR and control horses were not significantly different. The highest ANP concentrations were observed in horses with atrial and ventricular dilatation. No correlation between left atrial or ventricular size, weight, or sex and the plasma ANP concentration was found.ConclusionsNo significant differences in plasma ANP concentration was observed between groups. Further study, especially in horses with clinical signs of heart failure is needed.