[Composting of poultry carcasses as an alternative method for disposal in case of an outbreak of an epizootic disease: first results]. / Kompostierung von Geflügeltierkörpern als alternative Beseitigungsmöglichkeit im Tierseuchenkrisenfall: erste Ergebnisse.

Composting of poultry carcasses represents an alternative method for disposal in case of an outbreak of an epizootic disease. Two composting experiments, each with a different construction of the compost pile, were carried out in a stable. In the first experiment two layers of turkey carcasses were formed. This compost pile covered with straw was directly built on the ground. In the second experiment no layers of carcasses were formed, and it was assembled on straw bales covered with plastic foil. One part of this compost pile was covered with straw, the other one was additionally covered with plastic foil. In the first experiment in the upper layers of the compost pile temperatures of up to 54.9 degrees C were reached and the decomposition of carcasses was very advanced with no soft tissues remaining after 30 days. In contrast temperatures of only 45.2 degrees C were reached in the lower layers and decomposition was far less advanced. This difference in decomposition was most likely caused by the temperature difference observed. In the second experiment the near complete decomposition seen in the upper layers of the compost pile at the first trial, was not achieved. Decomposition was more advanced in the straw covered part of this compost pile than in the part covered with straw and plastic foil. On the other hand, higher temperatures of up to 48.4 degrees C were measured in the lower layers of this compost pile most likely as a result of the increased heat insulation in particular to the ground.

[Occurrence of foot and mouth disease--a historical survey]. / Das Auftreten der Maul- und Klauenseuche--ein historischer Uberblick.

FMD--the most economically significant animal disease in the world during the last two centuries--has caused the last great panzootic from 1965 to 1967 in Europe. Since then it has become possible to eradicate centres of the epidemic still being present on the continent, mainly by means of the annual mass vaccination of cattle combined with rigid antiepizootic measures which include culling of infected animals. During the years after however there has been sporadic outbreaks again and again. They were mainly caused by virus that escaped from FMD laboratories and by the application of vaccines with residual infectiousity but also to an increasing extent they resulted from virus brought in from endemic regions of the world. The now as before high incidence of FMD in Asia and in wide parts of Africa and South America--after all 71 countries in these regions have been affected by outbreaks of FMD, the classic carrier disease, from 1998 to 2000--resulted in the spread of virus over far distances due to the globalization of world trade and the increasing traveling favoured by modern traffic facilities. Since 1980 in Europe particularly virus strains from the Middle East but also from other parts of Northern Africa and Asia have dominated the epidemiological situation such as the current epizootic in the United Kingdom and the outbreaks resulting from in three other member states of the European Union. In accordance with the EU guidelines the control of occurring outbreaks is exclusively carried out by stamping out. The limits of this procedure have become clearly obvious during the current epizootic in Britain. The use of emergency vaccination in the Netherlands shows a practicable alternative to the excessive mass culling of both infected animals and those being suspected of. The plurality and variability of the causative agent require a permanent observation of the epidemiological situation and of the virus strains involved in order to prevent the disease and to ensure the diagnosis and the topicality of the vaccines being available in the vaccine banks. Long-term success in the global combat against FMD can only be achieved on the basis of close international co-operation intended to restrain the disease significantly in the still endemically infected regions.

Experiments on an early protection against foot-and-mouth disease virus.

The influence of the peptide diacetylsplenopentin (SP5) on an early protection of guinea pigs against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) was investigated. 80% protection was achieved if SP5 was applied in a dose of 2 mg one day before challenge with FMD virus (FMDV) type O1 Lausanne strain. In comparison with this a conventional commercial adsorbate vaccine protected guinea pigs about 7 days after vaccination. An earlier protection can be obtained in general by vaccination with a higher content of the immunogen. A tenfold increase of the 146 S particle dose in a conventional oil adjuvanted FMDV vaccine protected pigs about 2 days earlier as observed after inoculating a "normal" vaccine (about 11 days).

[Chemosynthetic peptides against foot-and-mouth disease--immune response to free and carrier bound peptides of the VP1 of O1-Kaufbeuren]. / Chemosynthetische Peptide gegen Maul- und Klauenseuche--Immunantwort gegen freie und trägergebundene Peptide des VP1 von O1-Kaufbeuren.

Three peptides of main epitope of FMD virus O1-Kaufbeuren, VP1 (16, 21, 31), were found to induce in the 130-160 sequence range, in free and/or carrier-bonded form, virus-neutralising antibodies in guinea pig, rabbit, mouse, swine, and cattle. Five carrier proteins were tested, with thyroglobulin, next to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), being most effective for 16-peptides (145-160) and 21-peptides (141-160 Tyr161). To protect guinea pig from FMD, minimum dosage of 21-peptide was found to be 2 x 8 micrograms. The immunogenic spectrum of peptides and conjugates proved to be broader than that of monovalent vaccines of inactivated virus. Free peptides were found to be also capable in vitro of inhibiting virus infection.

[Riems foot-and-mouth disease oil emulsion vaccines for swine. 1. Development and testing of highly effective and well-tolerated foot-and-mouth disease vaccine for swine using Dessauer oil adjuvants]. / Riemser MKS-Olemulsionsimpfstoffe für Schweine. 1. Mitteilung: Entwicklung und Erprobung hochwirksamer und gut verträglicher MKS-Vakzinen für Schweine unter Verwendung von Dessauer Oladjuvanzien.

Swine plays a very particular role in FMD epizootiology. It is, therefore, absolutely necessary to have highly effective vaccines available for this species at all times. They have to ensure early buildup of long-lasting strong immunity even after one single application. Since the effectiveness of conventional adsorbate vaccines had proved to be insufficient, monovalent and trivalent oil emulsion vaccines were specifically developed of swine, using a GDR-made oil adjuvant. Stable immunity is very soon induced by them to endangered pig stock even against the immunologically problematic sub-types O1 and A5 after one single subcutaneous (s.c.) application of 2 ml (monovalent) or 5 ml (trivalent). Application establishes in s.c. connective tissue an oil emulsion depot that leads to formation of a vaccination granuloma. The immunocompetent cells identified in the latter are morphologically correlated to adjuvant action.

[Riems foot-and-mouth disease oil emulsion vaccines for swine. 2. Use of foot-and-mouth 2-component oil emulsion vaccines in practice]. / Riemser MKS-Olemulsionsimpfstoffe für Schweine. 2. Mitteilung: Einsatz von MKS-2-Komponenten-Olemulsionsvakzine in der Praxis.

Riems FMD two-component oil emulsion vaccine was subcutaneously applied (5 ml) under field conditions to 855 store pigs of different age groups (trivalent--O1, A5, C). It produced early onset of lasting strong immunity against the three above FMD virus types. General condition of the animals and their body weight development were not adversely affected. Pea-size to walnut-size vaccination granulomas were recorded on slaughter as locally delimited reactions in 15 to 20 percent of vaccinated animals and were found to be morphologically correlated to adjuvant action. They were easily removed from the carcasses by excision of the vaccination point, with only minor loss of slaughter substance.

Synthetic peptides against foot-and-mouth disease--immunization with VP1-peptides of type O1-Kaufbeuren.

Coupled synthetic peptides, representing the sequences of amino acids 130-160, 141-160 and 145-160 of foot-and-mouth disease virus O1K protein VP1, induced virus-binding and virus-neutralizing antibody response in guinea pigs, rabbits, and pigs. We also detected antibody response in guinea pigs after immunization with uncoupled peptides and in cattle with 21 aa-peptide-Keyhole-limpet hemocyanin (-KLH). The best results were obtained from 21 aa-peptide-KLH and 31 aa-peptide with or without KLH or thyroglobulin as carrier. Our preliminary results show the induction of virus-neutralizing antibodies to be obviously influenced by length of the peptide as well as by the kind of carrier and coupling.

[A hitherto unknown reaction pattern in vertebrate cells (RiV). 2. The protective effect of RiV particle preparations against foot-and-mouth disease in guinea pigs]. / Ein bisher unbekanntes Reaktionsmuster in Vertebratenzellen (RiV). 2. Mitteilung: Die Schutzwirkung von RiV-Partikel-Präparaten gegen Maul- und Klauenseuche bei Meerschweinchen.

Further observations concerning the previously described RiV-particles are reported. They were isolated from a diploid cell line of bovine origin, embryonal duck fibroblasts and BHK-21 cells. A protective effect against foot-and-mouth-disease virus in guinea pigs could be observed following inoculation with the RiV-preparation of bovine origin. All 3 preparations isolated from the 3 cell lines showed immunologic cross reactions.