[Copper poisoning of sheep after ad libitum supplementation of rations by a mineral feed]. / Kupfer-Vergiftung von Schafen nach stossweiser Ergänzung der Ration durch ein Mineralfutter.

Within 8 weeks 22 of 400 sheep died with symptoms of Cu intoxication. In the liver of 2 dead sheep Cu contents of 491 and 830 mg/kg dry matter were found. The concentration of copper in the concentrate and other feedstuffs (grass, hay, straw, kale, dried sugar beet pulp) could not explain the development of Cu-toxicosis. The mineral-vitamin-supplement contained 86.7 mg Cu/kg. Obviously the Cu intoxication of previously Cu loaded sheep was provoked by offering the mineral supplement ad libitum (with intervals of 3-4 days), the intake of this mixture reached values up to 400 g/animal and day. By renunciation of mineral supplements in the same flock 7 months later lambs died due to Cu deficiency (Cu content in the liver: 13-14 mg/kg dry matter).

[Detection of toxin-producing strains of Pasteurella multocida in nasal and tonsil swabs, a possibility for the control of atrophic rhinitis in swine breeding herds? Parallel comparison with other research methods]. / Nachweis toxinbildender Stämme von Pasteurella multocida in Nasen- und Tonsillentupfern, eine Möglichkeit zur Uberwachung von Schweinezucht-beständen auf Rhinitis atrophicans? Gleichzeitig ein Vergleich mit anderen Untersuchungsmethoden.

Nasal, and partly tonsil swabs from pigs have been investigated by cell culture and ELISA respectively on toxigenic Pasteurella multocida strains. The controlled animals are from 89 non atrophic rhinitis- and 42 a.r.-positive herds. Toxin forming strains could not be isolated in non suspicious herds. 23 out of 42 infected herds showed toxigenic Pasteurellae. Despite a high increase in sample numbers, Pasteurella could not be detected in 19 infected herds (45%). When diagnosing atrophic rhinitis, we thus recommend to rely only on positive results of isolation. In all other cases, all other methods will have to be used in combination. Further research is necessary to find safe and fast test methods. According to recent experience, the blood-serological toxin screening test can be considered useful.

[Importance of blood serological examinations in the context of rhinitis atrophicans diagnosis]. / Zur Bedeutung blutserologischer Untersuchungen im Rahmen der Rhinitis-atrophicans-Diagnostik.

In a period of three years in 95 breeding-herds, which were free from Rhinitis atrophicans (R. a.), 5001 blood-samples were examined. All samples were examined by the SNT/EBL-cell-culture-test-mostly however by the SNT/ELISA-system- and were free of antibodies against R. a. On the contrary in 6 herds, that had bought swines from latent infected populations, antibodies against the toxin could be found before clinical signs were to be seen and before toxin producing pasteurellas could be discovered, too. In other 4 herds antibodies against R. a. could be found. In the last mentioned herds R. a. was suspected by clinical, bacteriological and pathomorphological examinations. The serological determination of blood may replace the provement of the diameter of the nose by pathomorphological diagnosis. The serological investigation is a good test. After positive results of antibodies comprehensive bacteriological tests should follow. This can be integrated in the diagnostical system of R. a. very easily, because enough blood samples will be taken ordered by the official examinations for European Swinefever- and Aujeszky-disease.

[Field infection with BVD virus in swine: epidemiology and diagnosis]. / Feldinfektion mit BVD-Virus beim Schwein: Epidemiologie und Diagnostik.

In a pig breeding herd in Lower Saxony infertility of breeding sows had been repeatedly observed. Growth retardation and post mortem findings in two piglets gave clinical indication to swine fever/hog cholera. A virus was isolated and typed by monoclonal antibodies as pestivirus not identical with hog cholera virus (HCV). In neutralization tests applying the field isolate, HCV and bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus the sera breeding sows and weaner pigs yielded high neutralizing antibody titres against the pestivirus field isolate but low titres against HCV. Specific antibodies against HCV were ruled out by a complex trapping blocking (CTB) ELISA. Intranasal inoculation of a weaner pig with spleen homogenate led to a short-termed viraemia without clinical signs but seroconversion with high antibody titres against the homologous pestivirus. In an in-contact pig no virus was detected and no antibody demonstrated within a period of 18 weeks.

[Use of an immunoenzyme histochemical method for the improvement of the etiologic diagnosis of Aujeszky's disease in swine]. / Einsatz einer immunenzymhistochemischen Methode zur Verbesserung der ätiologischen Diagnostik bei der Aujeszkyschen Krankheit des Schweines.

With regard to the legal regulations for the diagnosis of Aujeszky's disease in pigs, a retrospective immunoenzymatic study was performed on brains of 20 pigs, in which Aujeszky's disease had been diagnosed based only on clinical, macroscopical and histological findings, although the etiological agent could not be demonstrated neither by immunofluorescent technique nor by virological cultivation. Applying the peroxidase-antiperoxidase-(PAP) method, in 6 of 20 animals (30%) viral antigen of porcine herpesvirus type 1 was demonstrated in situ in at least two of five different locations of the brain. Reasons for negative results in immunohistological and virological investigations are discussed and the significance of the performed immunoenzymatic technique is pointed out.

[Selenium poisoning in fattening swine]. / Selenintoxikation bei Mastschweinen.

A case of selenium toxicosis was observed in fattening pigs. Intoxication was caused by high levels of selenium in a commercial mineral premix. Instead of the recommended dose of 16 ppm Se, the mineral feed contained selenium at concentrations of 657 and 1059 ppm. The ration in use was found to contain more than 14 ppm selenium. Clinical symptoms were observed 5 to 6 weeks after the pigs began consuming the contaminated feed mixture. Feed intake was markedly reduced and animals showed severe lameness due to separation and necrosis of the hoof wall at the coronary band. Some pigs were reluctant to stand. In some cases alopecia was detected. At histopathological examination one animal with paralysis of the hind limbs revealed a focal bilaterally symmetric poliomyelomalacia in the lumbar segment of the spinal cord. Diagnosis was confirmed by high selenium contents of liver, kidneys and blood. After removing the incriminated feed no further pigs developed signs of intoxication. New horn growth was present and lame animals recovered slowly.