A prospective epidemiological, clinical, and clinicopathologic study of feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus infection in 435 cats from Greece.

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) are retroviruses causing significant morbidity and mortality in cats. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical and clinicopathologic aspects of FeLV and FIV infections in different populations of cats in Greece, including client-owned cats, stray cats and cats who live in catteries. A total of 435 cats were prospectively enrolled. Serological detection of FeLV antigen and FIV antibody was performed using a commercial in-house ELISA test kit. The results showed that 17 (3.9 %) and 40 (9.2 %) of the 435 cats were positive for FeLV antigen and FIV antibody, respectively, whereas 5 (1.1 %) had concurrent infection with FeLV and FIV. Factors that were associated with FeLV antigenemia, based on multivariate analysis, included vomiting, rhinitis, infection with FIV, neutropenia, decreased blood urea nitrogen and increased serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations. Factors associated with FIV seropositivity included male gender, older age, outdoor access, weight loss, fever, gingivostomatitis, skin lesions and/or pruritus and hyperglobulinemia. Various clinical signs and laboratory abnormalities were found to be significantly associated with retroviral infections, suggesting that current guidelines to test all sick cats should be followed, taking into particular consideration the high-risk groups of cats found in this study.

Residues of cypermethrin in field-treated grapes and raisins produced after various treatments.

Residues of the synthetic pyrethroid insecticide cypermethrin in fresh grapes of cv. Thomson Seedless and in raisins were studied. The commercial formulation Cymbush10% EC was applied according to the label onto the typical seedless variety and on a seed-producing clone. Samples were collected at time zero and at 15 or 21 days post-application. The raisins were produced either by submersion for 3 min in an aqueous solution of 3% potassium carbonate and 1% ethyl oleate, and dried for 15 days under direct sunlight or were dried without chemical processing. A gas chromatographic method was used for the analysis of residues. The residues in the grapes at the recommended preharvest interval (15 days) ranged from 0.23 to 0.41 mg kg(-1), whereas those in raisins ranged from 0.25 to 0.46 mg kg(-1).

Field trials to determine residues of chlozolinate in table grapes.

Chlozolinate (Serinal) is a dicarboximide fungicide used in southern European countries principally on grapes. Maximum residue levels have not yet been set by FAO/WHO and are under evaluation in the EU. Field trials have been carried out in Greece on two varieties of table grapes (Cardinal and Victoria) during two consecutive years to assess residues remaining after application according to good agricultural practice. Analysis using a multiresidue method with gas chromatography (ECD) showed that the parent compound decays with a first-order rate constant of 0.057 +/- 0.011 day(-)(1) and that residues had fallen below the proposed MRL of 5 mg/kg in all samples by 21 days postapplication (the proposed PHI). The contribution of the main metabolite, S1, to the total residue is generally <20%. Washing removes a substantial amount (up to 80%) of chlozolinate, which appears to be nonsystemic on grapes, thus reducing real consumer exposure to this pesticide.