[Human Single Drug Exposures to Non-opioid Analgesics Reported to the Poisons Information Centre Erfurt from 2003 to 2012]. / Humane nichtopioide Analgetika-Monoexpositionen im Einzugsbereich des Giftnotrufes Erfurt von 2003-2012.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Because of their frequency, non-opioid analgesics (NOA) single drug exposures registered by Poisons Information Centre (PIC) Erfurt have been studied over a decade. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of frequencies, circumstances of exposure, symptom severity, and age groups in NOA single drug exposures received by the PIC Erfurt from the beginning of 2003 to the end of 2012 was undertaken. RESULTS: Of all 4749 NOA single drug exposures, the 10 most frequent were caused by paracetamol (n=1 686), ibuprofen (n=1 439), acetylsalicylic acid (n=456), dipyrone (n=274), diclofenac (n=267), flupirtine (n=138), naproxen (n=41), etoricoxib (n=36), indomethacin (n=24), and dexketoprofen (n=19). Paracetamol single drug exposures increased from 158 in 2003 to 216 in 2007 and fell afterwards to 133 in 2012. Ibuprofen single drug exposures continously rose from 57 in 2003 to 258 in 2012. Adults were more often involved in NOA (53.8%) and all single drug exposures (54.1%) than children (45.9% and 45.6%, respectively). Suicidal attempts were more frequent in NOA (43.1%) than in all single drug exposures (34.2%), whereas accidental exposures or exposures in abuse were less often (33.4 and 0.2%, 46.0 and 0.9% respectively). NOA single drug exposures resulted mostly in none to minor symptoms (77.0%) and rarely in moderate (2.1%) or severe symptoms (1.0%). One adult was found dead after probable ingestion of 32 g of acetylsalicylic acid in suicidal intention. CONCLUSIONS: Because many NOA are over-the-counter drugs, it is difficult to obtain data on their use. PIC data could provide information on the NOA use in the population.

[Unilateral spinal anesthesia : Literature review and recommendations]. / Einseitige Spinalanästhesie : Literaturübersicht und Handlungsempfehlung.

Unilateral spinal anesthesia is a cost-effective and rapidly performed anesthetic technique. An exclusively unilateral block only affects the sensory, motor and sympathetic functions on one side of the body and offers the advantages of a spinal block without the typical adverse side effects seen with a bilateral block. The lack of hypotension, in particular, makes unilateral spinal anesthesia suitable for patients with cardiovascular risk factors e. g. aortic valve stenosis or coronary artery disease. Increasing numbers of surgical procedures are now being performed on an outpatient basis. Until now, spinal anesthesia has been considered unsuitable for this, not only because of the high incidence of intraoperative hypotension and postoperative urinary retention but also because of the prolonged postoperative stay before home discharge. This is not the case with unilateral spinal anesthesia: motor function returns rapidly, the incidence of urinary retention is extremely low, and patients are usually eligible for home discharge sooner than after bilateral spinal anesthesia or general anesthesia. The success of the technique depends on a number of factors. In addition to the local anesthetic, its concentration and dose, and the baricity of the injected solution, the shape of the spinal needle, the injection speed, the patient's position during injection, and the time the patient remains in this position after injection are equally important parameters. A number of intrathecally applied adjuvant drugs are used to give a more intense and/or longer-lasting block. For this review, we collated the published data on unilateral spinal anesthesia from journals with an impact factor greater than 1.0 and defined an optimized method for performing the technique. In order to achieve an exclusively unilateral block one should use 0.5 % hyperbaric bupivacaine injected at a rate of 0.33 ml/min or slower. During the injection and the following 20 min the patient should lie in the lateral decubitus position on the side intended for surgery with knees drawn to the chest. An injection of 5 mg (1 ml) hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5 % provides an hour-long block to T 12, and a dose of 7.5 to 10 mg (1.5-2.0 ml) extends the block to T 6. Adding clonidine (0.5 to 1.0 µg/kg BW) to the injection prolongs the duration of the block to approximately two to three hours. During the 20-minute fixation period, the cephalad spread of the block can be influenced to a certain extent by raising or lowering the head of the table.

Importance of foot and mouth disease vaccine purity in interpreting serological surveys.

The aim of this study was to determine whether the degree of purity achieved in conventional vaccines against the foot and mouth disease virus in Argentina interferes with the interpretation of seroepidemiological surveys for confirming the absence of viral activity, which are performed to support the recognition of free zones practising vaccination. The evaluation of 168 vaccine series due to be marketed in Argentina (2006-2012) and subjected to official control testing in cattle, as well as repeated vaccination of cattle and other species using vaccines with high antigen concentrations, demonstrated that they did not induce antibodies to non-structural proteins (NSPs). The results show clearly that vaccines with satisfactory potency do not induce a response to NSPs, even by forcing the immune response through more concentrated doses with multiple valences and revaccination protocols at shorter irtervals than in vaccination campaigns. These results confirm that the vaccines used in routine vaccination programmes have a degree of antigen purification consistent with the needs observed on the basis of sampling for serological surveillance. Moreover, serological surveys conducted in 2006-2011 by Argentina's official Veterinary Services--the National Health and Agrifood Quality Service (SENASA)--on more than 23,000 sera per year from cattle included in the vaccination programme, in order to confirm the absence of virus circulation, revealed an average 0.05% of reactive results, consistent with the specificity of the tests. In conclusion, the vaccines produced by conventional methods and with proven potencythat are available in Argentina are sufficiently purified to ensure thatthey do not interfere with the interpretation of sampling for serological surveillance performed to support the recognition of FMD-free zones practising vaccination.

[Human exposures to veterinary medicines reported to the Poisons Information Centre Erfurt from 2003 to 2012]. / Humane Tierarzneimittelexpositionen im Einzugsbereich des Giftnotrufes Erfurt 2003-2012.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The purpose of this study was to get information on all human exposures to veterinary medicines (HEVM) reported to the Poisons Information Centre (PIC) over a 10-year period. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all HEVM was undertaken and a comparison was made to all human exposures (HE) registered by the PIC from the beginning of 2003 to the end of 2012 according to frequencies, circumstances of exposure, symptom severity, age groups, and substances involved in HEVM. RESULTS: In total, 389 cases of HEVM with 409 veterinary medicines were registered (0.30% of all HE, 360 monoexposures). The relative frequency of children and adults in HEVM (children: 52.4%, adults: 46.0%) and all HE (children: 48.7%, adults 48.7%) was the same with significant (p<0.05) differences in some age subgroups. The portion of accidental exposures was significantly (p<0.05) higher in HEVM (83.3%) than in all exposures (59.3%), whereas the portion of suicidal exposures was significantly (p<0.05) lower (HEVM: 6.4%, all exposures: 23.6%). Most frequent veterinary medicines (ATCvet) in HEVM were antiparasitic substances, insecticides and repellents (n=185), substances for the nervous system (n=48), substances for the cardiovascular system (n=35), and immunologicals (n=35). HEVM mostly resulted in no or mild symptoms (83.8%) and rarely in moderate (10/389, 2.6%) or even severe symptoms (5/389, 1.3%). In 4 of 5 cases of HEVM with severe symptoms, veterinary surgeons used products for animal euthanasia (n=3) or methadone (n=1). Once, self-medication with anthelmintics for several days by a goatherd resulted in transient blindness. CONCLUSIONS: In comparison to other HE, HEVM are rare. Most accidental HEVM in laymen result only in none to mild symptoms. If veterinary surgeons, however, swallow or inject products for animal euthanasia or opioids in suicidal intention, severe symptoms can be expected.

Surgical pleth index-guided remifentanil administration reduces remifentanil and propofol consumption and shortens recovery times in outpatient anaesthesia.

BACKGROUND: The surgical pleth index (SPI) is an index based on changes in plethysmographic characteristics that correlate with the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. It has been proposed as a measure of the balance between nociception and anti-nociception. The goal of this study was to test whether it could be used to titrate remifentanil in day-case anaesthesia. METHODS: A total of 170 outpatients were given total i.v. anaesthesia with propofol and remifentanil. The patients were randomized to have the remifentanil dose either adjusted according to the SPI (SPI group) or to clinical parameters (control group). The propofol dose was adjusted according to entropy in both groups. The consumption of anaesthetic drugs, recovery times, and complications were compared. RESULTS: The mean [standard deviation (SD)] remifentanil and propofol infusion rates in the SPI and control groups were 0.06 (0.04) vs 0.08 (0.05) µg kg(-1) min(-1) and 6.0 (2.1) vs 7.5 (2.2) mg kg(-1) h(-1), respectively (both P<0.05). The mean (SD) times to eye opening were -0.08 (4.4) and 3.5 (4.3) min and to extubation were 1.2 (4.4) and 4.4 (4.5) min in the SPI and control groups, respectively (both P<0.05). There was no difference between the groups with regard to satisfaction with the anaesthetic or intensity of postoperative pain. No patient reported intraoperative awareness. CONCLUSIONS: Adjusting the remifentanil dosage according to the SPI in outpatient anaesthesia reduced the consumption of both remifentanil and propofol and resulted in faster recovery.

[Age rationing : means of resource allocation in healthcare systems]. / Altersrationierung : Mittel zur Ressourcenverteilung im Gesundheitswesen.

The necessity of limiting resource in healthcare systems is becoming increasingly more evident. The population has requirements especially in the field of healthcare which are principally unlimited. However, there are only limited financial resources which can be used to satisfy the wishes of the population. For this reason rationing models are being discussed increasingly more often. One example of these models is called age rationing which means that defined services are only offered to patients up to a particular age. The aim of this article is to discuss the model of age rationing in the context of an optimized use of resources in the healthcare system.

Activity tracker-based intervention to increase physical activity in patients with type 2 diabetes and healthy individuals: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: One relevant strategy to prevent the onset and progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) focuses on increasing physical activity. The use of activity trackers by patients could enable objective measurement of their regular physical activity in daily life and promote physical activity through the use of a tracker-based intervention. This trial aims to answer three research questions: (1) Is the use of activity trackers suitable for longitudinal assessment of physical activity in everyday life? (2) Does the use of a tracker-based intervention lead to sustainable improvements in the physical activity of healthy individuals and in people with T2DM? (3) Does the accompanying digital motivational intervention lead to sustainable improvements in physical activity for participants using the tracker-based device? METHODS: The planned study is a randomized controlled trial focused on 1642 participants with and without T2DM for 9 months with regard to their physical activity behavior. Subjects allocated to an intervention group will wear an activity tracker. Half of the subjects in the intervention group will also receive an additional digital motivational intervention. Subjects allocated to the control group will not receive any intervention. The primary outcome is the amount of moderate and vigorous physical activity in minutes and the number of steps per week measured continuously with the activity tracker and assessed by questionnaires at four time points. Secondary endpoints are medical parameters measured at the same four time points. The collected data will be analyzed using inferential statistics and explorative data-mining techniques. DISCUSSION: The trial uses an interdisciplinary approach with a team including sports psychologists, sports scientists, health scientists, health care professionals, physicians, and computer scientists. It also involves the processing and analysis of large amounts of data collected with activity trackers. These factors represent particular strengths as well as challenges in the study. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial is registered at the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform via the German Clinical Studies Trial Register (DRKS), DRKS00027064 . Registered on 11 November 2021.

Polyphasic analyses of methanogenic archaeal communities in agricultural biogas plants.

Knowledge of the microbial consortia participating in the generation of biogas, especially in methane formation, is still limited. To overcome this limitation, the methanogenic archaeal communities in six full-scale biogas plants supplied with different liquid manures and renewable raw materials as substrates were analyzed by a polyphasic approach. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was carried out to quantify the methanogenic Archaea in the reactor samples. In addition, quantitative real-time PCR (Q-PCR) was used to support and complete the FISH analysis. Five of the six biogas reactors were dominated by hydrogenotrophic Methanomicrobiales. The average values were between 60 to 63% of archaeal cell counts (FISH) and 61 to 99% of archaeal 16S rRNA gene copies (Q-PCR). Within this order, Methanoculleus was found to be the predominant genus as determined by amplified rRNA gene restriction analysis. The aceticlastic family Methanosaetaceae was determined to be the dominant methanogenic group in only one biogas reactor, with average values for Q-PCR and FISH between 64% and 72%. Additionally, in three biogas reactors hitherto uncharacterized but potentially methanogenic species were detected. They showed closest accordance with nucleotide sequences of the hitherto unclassified CA-11 (85%) and ARC-I (98%) clusters. These results point to hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis as a predominant pathway for methane synthesis in five of the six analyzed biogas plants. In addition, a correlation between the absence of Methanosaetaceae in the biogas reactors and high concentrations of total ammonia (sum of NH(3) and NH(4)(+)) was observed.

Methanogenic population dynamics during semi-continuous biogas fermentation and acidification by overloading.

AIMS: This study was to investigate the methanogenic community in a biogas reactor from start-up to acidification conditions. Furthermore, reliability and accuracy of the applied quantitative real-time PCR method (Q-PCR) was briefly evaluated. METHODS AND RESULTS: A mesophilic (37 degrees C), maize silage fed, continuously stirred tank reactor was surveyed. It was operated semi-continuously with increasing daily organic loading rates (OLRs) to reach acidification. Gas production and organic acid composition were measured. Methanogenic community structure was determined by 16S rDNA-based Q-PCR to estimate the abundance of key methanogenic micro-organisms. 16S rDNA of hydrogenotrophic Methanobacteriales was most abundant at OLRs of >or=3.7 g dry organic matter (DOM) l(-1) day(-1). By contrast, that of aceticlastic Methanosaetaceae predominated at lower OLRs but disappeared at OLRs of >or=4.1 g DOM l(-1) day(-1). At the same OLR, the propionate concentration increased dramatically indicating the acidification of the digester. Application of internal standards to examine Q-PCR's accuracy revealed that the detected amount of 16S rDNA may vary within one log cycle. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the absence of Methanosaetaceae might be taken as biological indicator for process' instability. Inhibitory effects on Q-PCR analyses could not be determined based on the spiking experiments. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: In this study, reactors' microbiology was observed over time using Q-PCR. Insights into the abundance of different methanogens might be used to improve the performance of biogas reactors.

Determination of methanogenic Archaea abundance in a mesophilic biogas plant based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis.

Energy production of renewable raw material is of increasing importance for sustainable energy production. As an indispensable prerequirement for further upgrading of technical equipment and operation modes of biogas plants, a deeper knowledge of the microbial community responsible for methane formation is crucial. To overcome these limitations a mesophilic biogas plant converting pig manure, maize silage, and grains of crop was sampled and subsequently analysed by construction of a methanogenic Archaea specific 16S rRNA gene clone library combined with PCR-RFLP analysis and group-specific quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Seventy percent of all analysed clones belonged to the order Methanomicrobiales, whereas 13% belonged to Methanosarcinales, 6% belonged to the Methanobacteriales group, and 11% of all detected clones were assigned to the CA11 and Arch1 cluster. Comparable percentages were obtained with qPCR: 84% of all detected 16S rRNA gene copy numbers were affiliated with the Methanomicrobiales, while only 14% belonged to the Methanosarcinales and 2% to the Methanobacteriales order. In conclusion, both approaches detected similar archaeal groups and revealed nearly the same abundance, pointing to a predominance of hydrogenotrophic methanogens in the biogas plant.

Cubic versus spherical magnetic nanoparticles: the role of surface anisotropy.

The magnetic properties of maghemite (gamma-Fe2O3) cubic and spherical nanoparticles of similar sizes have been experimentally and theoretically studied. The blocking temperature, T(B), of the nanoparticles depends on their shape, with the spherical ones exhibiting larger T(B). Other low temperature properties such as saturation magnetization, coercivity, loop shift or spin canting are rather similar. The experimental effective anisotropy and the Monte Carlo simulations indicate that the different random surface anisotropy of the two morphologies combined with the low magnetocrystalline anisotropy of gamma-Fe2O3 is the origin of these effects.

Development and characterization of a bovine serum evaluation panel as a standard for immunoassays based on detection of antibodies against foot-and-mouth disease viral non-capsid proteins.

The widespread perception of the effectiveness of applying tests based on the detection of antibodies against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) viral non-capsid proteins (NCPs) to assess virus circulation irrespective of vaccination triggered the demand for international standards to evaluate the comparative performance of the upcoming assays against the OIE Index test developed at the Pan American Foot-and-Mouth Disease Center, PAHO/WHO. To this end, a panel was developed composed of 34 cattle sera from animals with an unambiguous exposed/infected status, covering serotypes O, A and C, obtained either under experimental conditions or from the field in regions with different epidemiological situations. Reference values in the Index test and their reproducibility in other laboratories, data on stability as well as results in four other commercial kits and one in house test were obtained. The characteristics of the panel which comprise adequate preparation following international guidelines, a broad range of antibody reactivity, proper stability and the ability to assess comparative diagnostic sensitivity, make it suitable as a reference standard to evaluate if tests equivalent to the OIE Index method are used in support of FMD control programs and by trading partners, and also whether they maintain their standards of diagnostic performance.

Archaea diversity within a commercial biogas plant utilizing herbal biomass determined by 16S rDNA and mcrA analysis.

AIMS: The Archaea diversity was evaluated in an agricultural biogas plant supplied with cattle liquid manure and maize silage under mesophilic conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two different genes (16S rRNA; methyl-coenzyme-M-reductase, MCR) targeted by three different PCR primer sets were selected and used for the construction of three clone libraries comprising between 104 and 118 clones. The clone libraries were analysed by restriction fragment polymorphism (RFLP). Between 11 and 31 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were detected and assigned to orders Methanomicrobiales, Methanosarcinales and Methanobacteriales. Over 70% of all Archaea OTUs belong to the order Methanomicrobiales which mostly include hydrogenotrophic methanogens. Acetotrophic methanogens were detected in minor rates. Similar relative values were obtained by a quantitative real-time PCR analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The results implied that in this biogas plant the most of the methane formation resulted from the conversion of H(2) and CO(2). SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study reports, for the first time, a molecular analysis of the archaeal community in this type of agricultural biogas plants. Therein the hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis seems to be the major pathway of methane formation. These results are in contrast with the common thesis that in biogas fermentations the primary substrate for methanogenesis is acetate.

Acute pancreatitis and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) has multiple clinical manifestations and risk factors, but the events that actually trigger acute episodes of TTP are often unclear. We describe the case of a 56-year-old woman who presented with clinical signs and symptoms of TTP and acute pancreatitis. We discuss whether pancreatitis was due to ischemic pancreatic damage caused by microvascular platelet clumping in the frame of TTP, or whether acute pancreatitis, a disorder that results in an intense systemic inflammatory response, may be a triggering event for acute episodes of TTP.

[Reduction in no flow time using a laryngeal tube: comparison to bag-mask ventilation]. / "No-flow-time"-Reduzierung durch Einsatz des Larynxtubus: Vergleich zur Beutel-Masken-Beatmung.

OBJECTIVE: In 2005 the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) published the new guidelines for Advanced Life Support (ALS). One of the aims was to reduce the no flow time (NFT), without chest compression in the first period of cardiac arrest. Furthermore the guidelines recommend that endotracheal intubation should only be carried out by personnel experienced in this procedure. METHODS: An attempt was made to evaluate whether the use of the laryngeal tube suction (LTS-D) for emergency airway management could contribute to reduce NFT compared to bag-mask ventilation (BMV). In a randomised prospective study 50 participants were asked to perform standardised simulated cardiac arrest management on a full-scale simulator following a one-day cardiac arrest training. Each participant was randomised into the LTS-D and the BMV group for airway management. At the end of each scenario an evaluation of the use of each ventilation procedure by the participants was made by means of a questionnaire. RESULTS: During the manikin scenario (430 s for LTS-D and 420 s for BMV) there was a significant difference in the overall NFT comparing the use of the LTS-D vs. BMV (105.8 s, range 94-124 s vs. 150.7 s, range 124-179 s; p<0.01). This corresponded during the whole scenario to a proportion of 24.6% (LTS-D) or 35.9% (BMV). Using the LTS-D all participants were able to ventilate the manikin successfully (tidal volume 500-600 ml). In a subjective evaluation of the different airway management procedures by the participants more than 90% expressed a positive opinion about the LTS-D with respect to ease of insertion and safety of ventilation. CONCLUSION: The use of the LTS-D on a manikin by emergency physicians after standardised cardiac arrest training significantly reduces the NFT in comparison to BMV. Therefore the LTS-D seems to be a good alternative to BMV during a simulated cardiac arrest scenario.

Efficacy of a high quality O1/Campos foot-and-mouth disease vaccine upon challenge with a heterologous Korean O Mya98 lineage virus in pigs.

In 2010 serotype O foot-and-mouth disease virus of the Mya98 lineage/SEA topotype spread into most East Asian countries. During 2010-2011 it was responsible for major outbreaks in the Republic of Korea where a monovalent O/Manisa vaccine (belonging to the ME-SA topotype) was applied to help control the outbreaks. Subsequently, all susceptible animals were vaccinated every 6 months with a vaccine containing the O/Manisa antigen. Despite vaccination, the disease re-occurred in 2014 and afterwards almost annually. This study focuses on the in vivo efficacy in pigs of a high quality monovalent commercial O1/Campos vaccine against heterologous challenge with a representative 2015 isolate from the Jincheon Province of the Republic of Korea. Initially, viral characterizations and r1 determinations were performed on six viruses recovered in that region during 2014-2015, centering on their relationship with the well characterized and widely available O1/Campos vaccine strain. Genetic and antigenic analysis indicated a close similarity among 2014-2015 Korean isolates and with the previous 2010 virus, with distinct differences with the O1/Campos strain. Virus neutralisation tests using O1/Campos cattle and pig post vaccination sera and recent Korean outbreak viruses predicted acceptable cross-protection after a single vaccination, as indicated by r1 values, and in pigs, by expectancy of protection. In agreement with the in vitro estimates, in vivo challenge with a selected field isolate indicated that O1/Campos primo vaccinated pigs were protected, resulting in a PD50 value of nearly 10. The results indicated that good quality oil vaccines containing the O1/Campos strain can successfully be used against isolates belonging to the O Mya98/SEA topotype.

Antigenic and immunogenic spectrum of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine strain O1 Campos against representative viruses of topotypes that circulated in Asia over the past decade.

Identifying vaccine strains to control outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease virus that could spread to new regions is essential for contingency plans. This is the first report on the antigenic/immunogenic relationships of the South American O1/Campos vaccine strain with representative isolates of the three currently active Asian type O topotypes. Virus neutralization tests using O1/Campos post-vaccination sera derived from cattle and pigs predicted for both species acceptable cross-protection, even after single vaccination, established by r1 values and by expectancy of protection using monovalent or polyvalent vaccines. The results indicate that effective oil vaccines containing the O1/Campos strain can be used against Asian isolates, expanding the scope of O1/Campos strain included in vaccine banks to control emergencies caused by Asian viruses, even on single-dose vaccination, and to cover the need of effective vaccines in Asia during systematic vaccination.

Development of an inhibition ELISA test for the detection of non-capsid polyprotein 3ABC in viral suspensions destined for inactivated foot-and-mouth disease vaccines.

The use during the last decade of immuno-enzymatic tests based on the detection of antibodies to the non-capsid proteins (NCPs) of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) to assess viral circulation, irrespective of vaccination, supported the incorporation into the OIE code of the 'free from FMDV with vaccination' category and opened the way to a 'vaccination to live' policy. Eradication programmes in South America include systematic vaccination accompanied by large serosurveys through NCP antibody testing to ensure the absence of residual viral activity. For correct interpretation of serosurveys, a major prerequisite is that vaccines made of semi-purified preparations of inactivated virions do not contain levels of NCPs, which upon proper presentation conditions, could induce an antibody response under the conditions for field immunization. This work describes the development of an inhibition ELISA to detect NCP polyprotein 3ABC in viral suspensions destined for vaccine production as an in-process control during vaccine manufacture. Antibody responses against NCP 3ABC in vaccinated and revaccinated cattle, induced by vaccines with different purification processes and formulations, are discussed.

[Biological research and security institutes]. / Institutos de investigación y seguridad biológica.

The threat of using biological material for ago-bioterrorist ends has risen in recent years, which means that research and diagnostic laboratories, biological agent banks and other institutions authorised to carry out scientific activities have had to implement biosafety and biosecurity measures to counter the threat, while carrying out activities to help prevent and monitor the accidental or intentional introduction of exotic animal diseases. This article briefly sets outthe basic components of biosafety and biosecurity, as well as recommendations on organisational strategies to consider in laboratories that support agro-bioterrorist surveillance and prevention programs.

Prevalence of naturally occurring viral infections, Mycoplasma pulmonis and Clostridium piliforme in laboratory rodents in Western Europe screened from 2000 to 2003.

In this report prevalence rates of rodent viruses in laboratory animals are presented based on routine serological screening of mouse and rat colonies from European institutes. The prevalences found during the period 2000-2003 are compared with those reported for 1981-1984 and 1990-1993. It is shown that some infections were eliminated from laboratory animal colonies (e.g. K-virus and polyomavirus) by taking preventative measures whereas other infections such as mouse hepatitis virus and parvoviruses remained at a high rate. Further decreases in prevalence rates in the last 10 years were found for infections such as pneumonia virus of mice, reovirus type 3, Sendai virus, sialodacryoadenitis/rat coronavirus and Mycoplasma pulmonis. The introduction of new detection methods showed that mouse parvovirus and rat parvovirus, both members of the Parvoviridae family, remain a major threat to laboratory mice and rats. Guinea pig cytomegalovirus and para-influenza virus appeared to be the most prevalent agents among laboratory guinea pigs. The importance of a standardized, up-to-date screening programme is discussed.