[Fundamentals of the microbiome]. / Grundlagen des Mikrobioms.

Until the middle of the 20th century, clinical microbiology was limited to bacterial cultures enabling the detection of pathogenic microorganisms. Knowledge about the mutual relationship between humans and microorganisms has increased slowly. With the introduction of culture-independent analysis methods, comprehensive cataloging of the human microbiome was possible for the first time. Since then, compositional changes in relation to diseases have been studied. The goals of the Human Microbiome Project and MetaHIT include comparative studies of healthy and diseased individuals. Numerous libraries on time- and location-dependent changes of the microbiota composition in human diseases have been created. However, a mathematical correlation does not equal biological or medical relevance. Future research needs to validate the hypotheses generated in these studies in functional experiments and evaluate their true impact on clinical practice.

[Comparison of laboratory diagnostic methods for the detection of infection with the virus of classical swine fever in the early inspection phase: an experimental study]. / Vergleich labordiagnostischer Methoden zum Nachweis einer Infektion mit dem Virus der Klassischen Schweinepest (KSPV) in der frühen Infektionsphase: experimentelle Studie.

Virus isolation in the PK-15 cell culture, two commercial antigen ELISAs, reverse transcriptional-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and flow cytometry have been evaluated to detect viremic pigs in the early period of classical swine fever virus (CSFV) infection. Domestic pigs were experimentally inoculated with the virulent CSFV strain 'Alfort 187' and two field isolates. CSFV isolation and RT-PCR were found to be the most sensitive methods for the detection of highly virulent CSFV in the early period of infection which is characterized by the absence of clinical symptoms. Using antigen ELISAs and flow cytometry CSFV could be detected in infected animals after the onset of clinical signs. After infection with a less virulent CSFV field isolate originating from wild boar, viremic pigs could be identified by direct virus isolation. The reasons for the negative results of the RT-PCR still remain unknown. In conclusion we recommend to modify the procedure (antigen ELISA) for the detection of clinically healthy domestic pigs in accordance with the decision 98/413/EC.

Detection of low-virulent classical swine fever virus in blood of experimentally infected animals: comparison of different methods.

The effectiveness of virus isolation, commercial antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and flow cytometry in detection of a low-virulent classical swine fever virus (CSFV) in blood in the early period of infection was evaluated. Domestic pigs at the age of 6-8 weeks and young wild boars were inoculated with a low-virulent field isolate of CSFV originating from a wild boar. This virus induced serious clinical reaction in only one pig which was naturally infected with Pasteurella multocida. Nine of 13 infected domestic pigs showed viremia. All infected weanling pigs were found viraemic by virus isolation on day 6 post infection (p.i.) but virus-free by RT-PCR. The flow cytometry was apparently not as sensitive as the virus isolation. Two young wild boars infected with the virus were viremic only for the first 2 days p.i. Virus isolation and RT-PCR were of similar sensitivity. Three different commercial antigen ELISAs used were not able to detect viral antigen in any animal.

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Germany.

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) has been described as an epidemic central nervous disorder in cattle from the United Kingdom. The disease is thought to have emerged by an interspecies transmission of the scrapie agent of sheep to cattle, after feeding scrapie-contaminated meat and bone meal (MBM). The disease has caused substantial economic losses for the British cattle industry. Because of strict veterinary regulations for the import of adult British cattle by the European Union and for MBM by most of the member states the spread of BSE to continental Europe could be efficiently controlled, and only few cases have been described outside the UK. Here we report the first German case of BSE diagnosed in a Scottish Highland cow. The affected cow was imported into Germany before the import ban for cattle from the UK was implemented. BSE was confirmed by histopathology, immunohistochemistry, animal experiments, immunoblotting and by electron microscopic detection of scrapie-associated fibrils (SAFs).

[Important virus infections of the respiratory tract in cattle from the clinical point of view]. / Aktuelle Virusinfektionen des Respirationstraktes beim Rind aus klinischer Sicht.

The etiological participation of different viruses in the pneumonia complex of cattle is undisputed. The significance of the individual viruses in the genesis of disease symptoms is still mostly unclear. Since the pneumonia complex of cattle is a multifactorial syndrome, vaccination programs as the only measure of prophylaxis in most cases do not show the desired effect. Against those viral agents causing self-standing diseases of the respiratory tract, specific vaccinations are applicable with success. Prerequisite for their effectiveness, however, is the exact etiological clarification of the cause of disease or of the existing infections respectively in the herd. The frequency of possible viral agents in infections of the respiratory tract in cattle from herds of the province of Schleswig-Holstein found in routine diagnostic work during the last four years is presented in addition.

Effect of fatty acids on the stimulated gastric secretion in man.

Solutions and emulsions of sodium or potassium salts in a series of saturated fatty acids from C8 to C18 were given in a dose of 0.5 g intraduodenally to healthy males or patients with healed duodenal ulcer. A double-lumen Sarles tube with a balloon placed in the proximal duodenum was used. The substances were instilled after a plateau of gastric acid secretion induced by a continuous infusion of pentagastrin was reached. In order to exclude unspecific effects, the test solutions were adjusted to a pH around 7.0 and to plasma isosmolality. Compared with the other tested substances, the emulsion of 0.5 g sodium-oleate was the most effective in inhibiting the stimulated gastric acid secretion. Sodium caprinate and caprylate had a considerable, but smaller effect than oleic acid on the secretory plateau. Palmitate and laurate provoked only a slight decrease in acid secretion. Myristate was ineffective. These results could suggest that different receptors are responsible for fat-induced inhibition of the gastric acid secretion.