The short- and long-term effect of single high-dose intra-operative electron beam irradiation of retroperitoneal structures--an experimental study in dogs.

Intra-operative electron beam radiotherapy is a new treatment modality. The abdomen is the area of greatest potential applicability of IORT and therefore its effect on retroperitoneal structures was investigated in a canine model. The retroperitoneal structures tolerate 30 to 40 Gy well, with the exception of the radiation-sensitive ureter which showed fibrosis. Twenty to 25 Gy is within the safe dose limits for the clinical application of IORT.

[Various cases of cysticercosis in sheep in the Netherlands]. / Enkele gevallen van cysticercosis bij schapen in Nederland.

During the period from January to March 1985, approximately ninety cases of Cysticercus ovis infection in sheep were observed in a slaughter-house in The Netherlands. Investigations into the cause of this infection showed that dogs kept by the owners of the slaughter-house, had in all likelihood been the source of contamination.

[Cleaning and disinfection of cattle trucks (author's transl)]. / Reiniging en ontsmetting van veetransportwagens.

When the Order on 'Disinfection of Motor Vehicles and Trailers, 1976' failed to fulfil its purpose in practice, the present authors made a closer examination of the bacteriological state of cattle trucks, both before cleaning as required by law and after cleaning and disinfection. The supposition that loading platforms lined with aluminum are more readily cleaned than are wooden platforms, was verified by the results. Moreover, it was found that aluminium-lined platforms can be adequately cleaned with cold water. Markedly superior results are not obtained when hot water (approximately 80 degrees C) is used. An effective disinfectant should be applied after cleaning to reduce bacteriological contamination to a further extent. When the loading platforms have been cleaned using a high-pressure syringe, satisfactory results are obtained by disinfection with a one per cent solution of Halamid or a solution of Stafilex (750 ppm of active chlorine). To ensure an effective control of disease in animals, the loading platforms of cattle trucks should be cleaned and disinfected daily after use. The above disinfectants are useful for this purpose but sodium hydroxide is unsuited because of its corrosive effect.

[Incidence of Listeria monocytogenes in the intestinal contents of broilers on different farms (author's transl)]. / Het voorkomen van Listeria monocytogenes in darminhoud van mestkuikens.

The intestinal contents of 3,090 broilers, one day to five weeks of age, from 1,025 broiler houses, were examined for the presence of Listeria monocytogenes. L. monocytogenes was isolated in 243 cases, i.e. 23.7% of the broiler houses, 58.8% were of type 1, 35.5% of type 4b, 1.2% were of type 5 and 2.4% of the strains could not be typed. In spite of cleaning and disinfection after the chickens had been taken to the poultry slaughterhouse, reinfection occurred in the broiler houses in 16.9% of the cases; this occurred as many as eight times in succession. Various serotypes were isolated on one farm. Listeria organisms in the intestinal contents of healthy broilers do not affect the growth rate. Contaminated deep-litter (chips of white deal-wood) is a potential danger for man and animals, especially when used inn loose-housings on cattle farms.

Diagnosis of Johne's disease in cattle: a comparison of five serological tests under field conditions.

Sera from 775 adult milking cattle on 13 farms in Friesland and from 359 of the same cattle taken during the following year, were examined for evidence of infection with M johnei by the complement fixation, fluorescent antibody, haemagglutination, haemagglutination-lysis and immunodiffusion tests. Eighteen animals, not clinically affected but which had serologically positive tests were slaughtered and M johnei was isolated in cultures from 16. The fluorescent antibody test was as sensitive as the complement fixation test. The other tests were relatively insensitive and would only be of value as confirmatory tests in the presence of reactions to the first two tests. It is concluded that the use of the fluorescent antibody and the complement fixation test together was of value in detecting sub-clinical Mycobacterium johnei infection.

Acute severe mastitis in cows of the Dutch-Friesian Breed (author's transl). / Mastitis acuta gravis bij de Fries-Hollandse koe

One hundred cases of severe acute mastitis are reported. Bacteriological examination of the milk was negative in 23% of the cases. E. coli was most frequently found to be the causative organism (23%), followed by St. aureus (19%), C. pyogenes (10%), Str. dysgalactiae (9%), Str. agalactiae (5%) and a number of other pathogenic agents such as atypical streptococci, Str. uberis, haemolytic streptococci, Aerobacter aerogenes, Kl. pneumoniae, a clostridium and P. multocida. In several cases, a tentative diagnosis may be based on the clinical symptoms, which is then found to be correct on bacteriological examination of the milk. The prognosis will vary with the causative organism. Treatment was life-saving in more than 90% of the cases, the milk-producing capacity of the affected quarter being completely preserved in 36% and partly preserved in 27% of the cases.

Listeria-encefalitis in cows through litter from a broiler-farm.

In a loose-housed herd four cows are emergency-slaughtered, within some weeks, because of symptoms of encefalitis. From the brains of these cows, as well as from the litter, coming from broilers, that had been put in the cow-stables before, Listeria monocytogenes type 4b has been isolated. At the same time an investigation was made from faeces/intestinal contents of broilers. Out of the contents of 2.373 intestines, 1% of about 2.300.000 broilers ready for use, coming from 146 farms, 4.1% L.monocytogenes has been isolated. Six broiler farms are infected, at two farms it occurred even for the second time. Three times it concerned L.monocytogenes type 4b, two times type 1 and one strain could not be serotyped.

[Comparative studies on the effectiveness of intramammary treatment of clinical mastitis cattle (author's transl)]. / Een vergelijkend onderzoek naar de effectiviteit van intramammaire behandeling van klinische mastitis bij het rund

To study the effectiveness of intramammary treatment of clinical mastitis in cattle, three different suspensions containing antibiotics for intramammary injection were compared in a field trial in the provinces of Friesland and North Brabant. Milk samples from the clinically abnormal as well as from the clinically normal quarters were examined for pathogenic bacteria and cell counts were made prior to treatment, within one week after treatment and within three weeks after treatment. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by laboratory studies in approximately 90 per cent of the cases in which quarters were abnormal. However, 50 per cent of the clinically normal quarters also showed increased cell counts and/or bacterial infection. Treatment of these quarters should therefore be considered. Apart from regional variations as regards the character of the mastitis and the results of treatment, there were no significant differences between the effects of the three suspensions. Clinical recovery occurred in approximately 90 per cent of the cases, the pathogenic bacteria disappeared in approximately 75 per cent of the cases and the increased cell counts were restored to normal in approximately 60 per cent of the abnormal quarters.

[The occurrence of listeria encephalitis in cattle in a loose housing after the use of litter, infected with listeria bacteria, from a broiler farm. To what extent do listeria bacteria occur in the gut contents of broilers (author's transl)]. / Het ontstaan van listeria-encefalitis bij runderen op een ligboxenstal na gebruik van met listeria-bacteriën besmet strooisel van een mestkuikenbedrijf. In welke mate komen listeria-bacterin in darminhoud van mestkuikens voor?

In a loose housing, four cows had to be slaughtered as an emergency measure within a few weeks because of symptoms of encephalitis. Listeria monocytogenes of type 4 b were isolated both from the brains of these cows and from the litter previously spread in the cow stables, which was obtained from a broiler farm. At the same time an investigation of the occurrence of Listeria bacteria in the faeces/gut contents of broilers was undertaken. From the contents of 2373 intestines, representing 0.1 per cent of about 2,300,000 broilers from 146 farms, Listeria monocytogenes were isolated in 4.1 per cent of the birds. The infection occurred on six broiler farms, two of them exhibited recidivation. Listeria monocytogenes of type 4 b were involved three times, type 1 was concerned on two farms, and one strain could not be typed.

[A case of cutaneous actinomycosis (streptothricosis) in cattle, caused by dermatophilus congolensis (author's transl)]. / Een geval van huidactinomycose (streptothricosis) bij het rund, veroorzaakt door dermatophilus congolense

A skin condition in cattle, associated with crusted lesions on the back, flanks, neck, head and skin of the udder was found to be cutaneous actinomycosis (streptothricosis) caused by D. congolensis, which is common in tropical regions during the rainy season. This actinomycete was isolated for the first time from cattle in the Netherlands in the case reported. Data culled from the literature as well as the diagnosis and treatment of the patient are discussed.