Health status of free-ranging ring-necked pheasant chicks (Phasianus colchicus) in North-Western Germany

Being a typical ground-breeding bird of the agricultural landscape in Germany, the pheasant has experienced a strong and persistent population decline with a hitherto unexplained cause. Contributing factors to the ongoing negative trend, such as the effects of pesticides, diseases, predation, increase in traffic and reduced fallow periods, are currently being controversially discussed. In the present study, 62 free-ranging pheasant chicks were caught within a two-year period in three federal states of Germany; Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein. The pheasant chicks were divided into three age groups to detect differences in their development and physical constitution. In addition, pathomorphological, parasitological, virological, bacteriological and toxicological investigations were performed. The younger chicks were emaciated, while the older chicks were of moderate to good nutritional status. However, the latter age group was limited to a maximum of three chicks per hen, while the youngest age class comprised up to ten chicks. The majority of chicks suffered from dermatitis of the periocular and caudal region of the head (57-94%) of unknown origin. In addition, intestinal enteritis (100%), pneumonia (26%), hepatitis (24%), perineuritis (6%), tracheitis (24%), muscle degeneration (1%) and myositis (1%) were found. In 78% of the cases, various Mycoplasma spp. were isolated. Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) was not detected using an MG-specific PCR. Parasitic infections included Philopteridae (55%), Coccidia (48%), Heterakis/Ascaridia spp. (8%) and Syngamus trachea (13%). A total of 8% of the chicks were Avian metapneumovirus (AMPV) positive using RT-PCR, 16% positive for infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) using RT-PCR, and 2% positive for haemorrhagic enteritis virus (HEV) using PCR. All samples tested for avian encephalomyelitis virus (AEV), infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) or infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) were negative. The pool samples of the ten chicks were negative for all acid, alkaline-free and derivative substances, while two out of three samples tested were positive for the herbicide glyphosate. Pheasant chick deaths may often have been triggered by poor nutritional status, probably in association with inflammatory changes in various tissues and organs as well as bacterial and parasitic pathogens. Theses impacts may have played a major role in the decline in pheasant populations.

Infektassoziierte akute posteriore multifokale plakoide Pigmentepitheliopathie

Die akute posteriore multifokale plakoide Pigmentepitheliopathie (APMPPE) ist eine seltene entzündliche Erkrankung in der tiefen sensorischen Netzhaut auf der Ebene des retinalen Pigmentepithels (RPE) und der Choriokapillaris. Es sind bevorzugt junge hellhäutige, oft myope Erwachsene zwischen 20 und 30 Jahren betroffen. Die Ätiologie ist bislang unbekannt. Aufgrund des gehäuften Auftretens im Anschluss an Infektionserkrankungen wird eine infektiöse Genese angenommen. Es handelt sich um eine meist bilaterale Erkrankung, die i. d. R. monophasisch und selbstlimitierend verläuft und durch eine plötzliche, jedoch in aller Regel nur vorübergehende Visusminderung charakterisiert ist. Rezidive sind sehr selten. Bei fovealer Beteiligung kann es zu einer dauerhaften Visusminderung kommen. Eine wirksame Therapie ist nicht bekannt. Aufgrund des prognostisch günstigen Spontanverlaufs steht oftmals ein abwartendes Verhalten mit engmaschigen Befundkontrollen im Vordergrund. Anhand von einem Fallbeispiel aus unserer Sprechstunde sollen das klinische Bild, Diagnostik und Therapiemöglichkeiten demonstriert werden.

The effect of landscape structure on the distribution of brown hare Lepus europaeus in farmlands of Germany and Poland

Habitat management should be an important part of the brown hare (Lepus europaeus) conservation, but the habitat requirements of this species are not fully recognised. The aim of our research was to estimate these requirements by analysing the effect of various agricultural landscape structure features on the distribution of hares in five agricultural areas in Germany and Poland. The local density of hares was assessed in the spring and autumn of 2006 by using the method of spotlight–strip counts on 9–15 subareas in each research region. The structure of agricultural landscape has been described for each subarea: the share of grain, other crops and grasses as well as the density of crop edges and uncultivated places with wild vegetation. The density of hares was considerably higher in Germany than in Poland (18.8–48.4 vs. 4.1–9.5 indiv./km²). The hare density was positively correlated with non-grain crops in an area, with crop edges in two areas and with wild vegetation without trees in two areas, and negatively correlated with grassfields in two areas. The occurrence of wild vegetation without trees affected the hare density only in the study areas, where this habitat was relatively rare (<3 km/km²). It was suggested that proper projects aimed at habitat management for brown hares should be elastic, i.e. the projects should be modified depending on the structure of local landscapes. Moreover, the protection and creation of structures with wild vegetation among cropland seem to be considerable methods of brown hare or generally wildlife conservation; therefore, such measures should be an important part of agro-environmental packages.

[Corneal ulcers in systemic autoimmunologic diseases]

BACKGROUND

Keratolysis is a rare severe complication following systemic autoimmunologic diseases. Despite of complex therapeutic treatments, the prognosis is very poor.

PATIENTS

Ten eyes from seven patients with corneal ulcers were reported (age 45 - 73 years, mean 63 years; 6 women, 1 man). The corneal ulcer was perforated in 7 eyes. Five patients suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, and one patient developed a Sjögren's syndrome. Besides, one patient had shown both autoimmunologic diseases. After clinical attendance, visual acuity in the eyes with nonperforated ulcers was between 0.1 and 0.4, and in the eyes with perforated ulcers between light perception and 0.2.

RESULTS

In 7 eyes with perforated corneal ulcers an emergency tectonic conjunctival plasty and, 1 - 2 days later, a keratoplasty had been performed. Postoperatively, local therapies had been initiated with antibiotic and immunosuppressive eyedrops as well as with conventional drops for dry-eye symptoms. Because of the autoimmunologic diseases of the patients, a systemic immunosuppressive therapy had been arranged. Follow-up period had been between 4 weeks and 3,5 years (mean 16 months). In the three eyes with nonperforated ulcers which received an antibiotic and immunosuppressive treatment, visual acuity was found at 1 / 20 and 0.4. However, in spite of stabilized findings in the 5 eyes with perforated ulcers, the visual acuity was in this case only between light perception and 0.05. One patient with a perforated ulcer and one patient with a recurrent corneal perforation after keratoplasty refused further operative procedures. Finally, both eyes had to undergo evisceration.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite of intensive local and systemic immunosuppressive as well as operative therapies, corneal ulcers associated with autoimmunologic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome) may cause a marked decrease of visual acuity or the loss of an eye. With regard to the healthy eye, an immunosuppressive therapy for life is most important.

[Change of retinal oxygen saturation in healthy subjects and in early stages of diabetic retinopathy during breathing of 100% oxygen]

BACKGROUND

Disturbances in the microcirculation are a source of retinal diabetic alterations. Comprehensive studies of blood flow parameters have been performed, but it is not known how ageing, duration of diabetes, blood sugar, glycolysed haemoglobin and elevated systemic blood pressure act in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The arterial and venous oxygen saturation (aOS, vOS) were measured with a Jena Ophthalmo Spectrometer in 28 healthy subjects (NP) (30.3 +/- 13.1 years), 31 Type I diabetics (T I) (42.2 +/- 12.9 years), and in 25 Type II diabetics (T II) (58.9 +/- 6.9 years), suffering form mild or moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, before, during breathing of 100 % oxygen for 6 minutes, and after respiration of air during 10 minutes.

RESULTS

Before oxygen breathing, the venous oxygen saturation in diabetics increased with age. During breathing of 100 % oxygen, the vOS increased considerably by 20 % in all groups. The arterio-venous difference of oxygen saturation was decreased with age in diabetics, but there was no dependence on age in normals. In Type II diabetics, the vOS before oxygen breathing was increased with HbA1c. There was also a positive correlation between vOS and blood pressure before oxygen breathing.

CONCLUSION

Healthy subjects and diabetics in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy exhibit comparable changes of oxygen saturation during breathing of 100 % oxygen. Measurements of venous OS are most evident. First differences were detectable between diabetics and normals in the normalisation after oxygen respiration.

Structured Diabetes Therapy and Education Improves the Outcome of Patients with Insulin Treated Diabetes Mellitus

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

JEVIN (Jena's St. Vincent Trial) is a prospective, 10 year follow-up, population-based survey of all insulin treated patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus aged 16 to 60 years and living in the city of Jena (100,000 inhabitants), Thuringia, Germany. It aims to show the effects of implementation of the St. Vincent Declaration and to evaluate the effect of recent changes in the health care system and new treatment strategies.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

190 patients (83% of the target population), 244 patients (90%) and 261 patients (90%) were studied in 1989/90, 1994/95 and 1999/2000, respectively.

RESULTS

Up to 1994/95, the HbA1c of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus increased (1994/95: 8.50+/-1.80% versus 1989/90: 7.83+/-1.60%, p=0.002). For patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, it remained constant (9.01+/-2.06% versus 9.17+/-1.60%, n. s.). During the period from 1994/95 to 1999/2000, there was a substantial improvement in the relative HbA1c of both, patients with type 1 (7.62+/-1.55%, p<0.0001), and with type 2 diabetes (7.57+/-1.29%, p<0.0001). Up to 1999/2000, 87.7% of the patients with type 1 (1989/90: 0%, 1994/95: 73.2%) and 96.6% of the patients with type 2 diabetes (1989/90: 0%, 1994/95: 89.7%) participated in TTP's. The incidence of acute and the prevalence of long-term complications remained constant.

CONCLUSIONS

Results of the population-based, prospective trial to optimise patients' quality of diabetic control suggest: For patients with insulin treated type 2 diabetes mellitus, excellent treatment can be available by primary care physicians interested, educated and highly engaged in diabetes therapy. Moreover, structured diabetes therapy consisting of treatment and teaching programmes, regular self-monitoring, patients' insulin dose adjustment and patients' empowerment, should be offered to all patients with diabetes mellitus.

Improvement of the quality of diabetes control and decrease in the concentrations of AGE-products in patients with type 1 and insulin-treated type 2 diabetes mellitus: results from a 10 year-prospective, population-based survey on the quality of diabetes care in Germany (JEVIN)

BACKGROUND

Advanced glycation end (AGE)-products are a complex group of compounds that have been implicated in diabetes related long-term complications. Up to the present only few data exist about serum levels of the AGE-proteins N-epsilon-Carboxymethyllysine (CML) and pentosidine in patients with diabetes mellitus.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In the present 10-year, population-based trial of a selection-free cohort of patients with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus, serum CML and pentosidine levels were examined in correlation to the patients' quality of diabetes control and the prevalence of diabetes related long-term complications.

RESULTS

Following the reunification of Germany in 1989 the health care system was decentralised. Up to 1994/95 the relative HbA1c (HbA1c/mean normal) of patients with type 1 diabetes increased (1.65 +/- 0.35 versus 1.52 +/- 0.31, p = 0.002). For patients with type 2 diabetes it remained constant (1.75 +/- 0.4 versus 1.78 +/- 0.31, p = 0.669). During the following period (from 1994/95 to 1999/2000) specialised diabetes care, structured treatment and teaching programmes (TTP), intensified insulin therapy and blood glucose self-monitoring for all patients were broadly implemented. This was accompanied by a substantial improvement in the relative HbA1c of both, patients with type 1 (1.48 +/- 0.3, p<0.0001), and insulin-treated type 2 diabetes mellitus (1.47 +/- 0.25, p<0.0001). During the same period the mean concentration of the AGE-product CML in the sera of patients with type 1 and insulin-treated type 2 diabetes decreased (type 1: 1994/95: 1158.1 +/- 410.0 ng/ml versus 1999/2000: 938.5 +/- 422.4 ng/ml, p<0.0001, type 2: 1994/94: 1244.7 +/- 1231.3 ng/ml versus 1999/2000: 970.9 +/- 458.6 ng/ml, p = 0.007). For pentosidine the same tendency was found for patients with type 1 diabetes (1994/95: 253.6 +/- 280.7 pmol/ml versus 1999/2000: 148.2 +/- 91.4 pmol/ml, p<0.0001). For patients with type 1 diabetes there was a positive correlation between the relative HbA1c-value calculated over the total follow-up period of 10 years and the CML-concentration in 1999/2000 (r = 0.405, p = 0.017). In 1999/2000 a reduced creatinine clearance (</=80 ml/min) was found in 7.8% of patients with type 1 and 14.9% of patients with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes. In comparison to patients with a normal creatinine clearance, patients with a reduced creatinine clearance had not only higher creatinine-concentrations in the sera and higher values of albuminuria but also significantly higher pentosidine levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Comparing the data of 1999/2000 with those from 1994/95, there was not only a substantial improvement in patients' quality of diabetes control but also a decrease in the concentration of AGE-products. In patients with diabetes mellitus the AGE-products seem to be mainly influenced by the quality of diabetes control. The decline in renal function leads to increased serum pentosidine levels in patients with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus. Thus it seems that in patients with reduced renal function, higher levels may either play a causal role in the development and progression of nephropathy or they are an epi-phenomenon caused by the decrease in urinary excretion.

[Neuritis of the optic nerve after vaccinations against hepatitis A, hepatitis B and yellow fever]

BACKGROUND

Vaccinations are preventive measures against serious infections. In relation to the number of vaccinations per year, the incidence of severe complications is extremely low.

PATIENT

Two weeks after vaccinations against hepatitis A, hepatitis B and yellow fever in preparation for a trip to Africa a 21-year-old woman experienced an acute and irreversible loss of vision to 0,05 and nasal visual field defect in the left eye. Whereas vision acuity did not recover the scotoma disappeared within 6 weeks. Cerebrospinal fluid showed a lymphocytic pleocytosis. Oligoglonale bands were absent. Pathological parameters were not presented in the serum. The MRI showed a hyperintense thickening of optic nerve,as well as a hyperintense focus in right temporal side using the T(2)W-Sequence.

CONCLUSION

Only few cases have been reported with neurological complications, such as encephalitis, following vaccinations each of the above mentioned. As no other causes for the inflammation were found, the optic nerve involvement must have been caused by the vaccination. Which of the three vaccinations caused encephalitis can not be classified.

[YAG laser capsulotomy in multifocal intraocular lenses]

INTRODUCTION

Multifocal intraocular lenses (MIOLs) have been implanted with good results for several years. Because the light is distributed between two or more focuses, there is slight light reduction for every picture. Capsular fibrosis can cause additional reduction of the amount of light to the retina.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A diffractive MIOL 811X from Pharmacia & Upjohn was implanted in 40 eyes of 40 patients. Within 1 year postoperatively, 13 patients underwent YAG Laser capsulotomy between the 4th and the 6th month. Before and after the YAG laser the visual acuity for distance and near vision was tested. In addition, a contrast test (Ginsburg test) was performed.

RESULTS

Before YAG laser capsulotomy, the visual acuity for distance without correction was 0.5 (+/- 0.17) and near vision J 2.4 (+/- 1.4). After the YAG laser procedure, uncorrected visual acuity improved to 0.65 (+/- 0. 21) for distance and J 1 (+/- 0) for near vision. With the best distance correction the distance vision was 0.85 (+/- 0.18) and near vision was J 1.77 (+/- 0.89) before capsulotomy. After the YAG laser treatment, patients reached with best correction a visual acuity of 1.1 (+/- 0.24) at distance and J 1 (+/- 0) at near vision. The contrast equivalent acuity increased from 20/70 before the YAG laser treatment to 20/40 after ward.

DISCUSSION

Patients with a MIOL feel early visual discomfort due to capsular fibrosis. In most cases the patients still have good visual acuity, but decreased contrast sensitivity. Early YAG laser capsulotomy increases the visual acuity and the contrast sensitivity significantly.

[The course of ovulation in gilts after the use of two GnRH injections for ovulation stimulation]

The status of ovulation and amount of ovulated follicles in 410 gilts which had received differentiated pretreatment produced evidence to the feasibility of substitution of HCG by Gn-RH vet. "Berlin-Chemie" to stimulate ovulation. Yet, 2 injections are necessary with an adequate interval between them and with appropriate dosage. The highest synchronisation effect in all experimental variants was obtained from 350 and 750 micrograms of Gn-RH with 50 minutes in between or 750 plus 750 micrograms of Gn-RH with an interval of 40 minutes. Ovulation was most reliably stimulated by 500 I.U. of HCG.

[Antimicrobial chemoprevention in colorectal interventions: a single parenteral dose at the start of surgery is adequate]

The effectivity in reducing septic complications after colorectal operations of oral 1 g Neomycin plus 0.25 g Metronidazol t.i.d. on the last preoperative day vs. intravenous single dose 5 g Mezlocillin plus 0.5 g Metronidazole was tested by sequential medical plan. There was no statistically significant difference between both chemoprophylaxis groups (p = 0.10). It is concluded that the intravenous chemoprophylaxis should be preferred because of the lowest dosage and therefore the fewest side-effects.

Results of quality control surveys of radioimmunological determinations of thyrotropin in newborns

Within the quality control scheme of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Klinische Chemie, seven quality control surveys of thyrotropin (TSH) determinations in blood dried on filter paper have been carried out since 1980. Ninety-six screening laboratories from 12 European countries took part in these surveys. In a single survey each participant usually analysed four different samples; each of these consisted of three spots of dried blood spiked with defined amounts of thyrotropin. For the evaluations of the surveys the participants were asked to give information about their analytical results, and from these, their diagnostic classifications. The medians of the analytical results correlated well with the given thyrotropin concentrations, but the individual estimations from different laboratories varied greatly. Major discrepancies of classification were also apparent, both in the given thyrotropin concentrations and in the individual estimations. Two special collaborative studies with nine selected laboratories showed on the one hand that analysis of the largest possible part of the dried blood sample can help to optimize the precision of the results; on the other hand, considerable drawbacks related to the reagents and the methods were sometimes observed.

[Collaborative tests of steroid hormone determinations: accuracy and precision of analytic results]

In the years 1977 to 1981, 14 quality-control surveys for the determination of steroid hormones were performed in cooperation with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Klinische Chemie. Hereby the laboratories participating could in each case analyze the following steroids: aldosterone, cortisol, oestradiol-17 beta, oestriol, progesterone, and testosterone. In the light of the results an investigation was made as to whether, in the course of time, an improvement in the accuracy or in the precision of the determinations had been attained, and to what extent the determinations depend on the qualities of the test material. A clear improvement in the accuracy of the results of the analyses could only be ascertained for oestradiol-17 beta. For aldosterone and cortisol, values were found in pool-plasma whose medians were significantly above the definitive values. An improvement in precision could be noted especially with oestradiol-17 beta and to lesser degrees with cortisol and oestriol. The kind of test material--plasma which contained only the hormones to be analyzed on the one hand, and, on the other hand, pool-plasma, which also contained all endogenous hormones--had no influence on the precision of the results from various laboratories. Low concentrations of the individual steroids led--on the basis of the methodological principle of radioimmunoassays--in almost all cases to a reduced interlaboratory precision in regard to values. The accuracy of the analysis values was considerably impaired only with aldosterone and oestradiol-17 beta by low concentrations: the medians here were in part twice as high as the definitive values.

[Results of quality control surveys for urinary calculus analyses]

In 1980 and 1981, four quality control surveys for urinary calculus analyses were carried out, within the framework of external quality controls of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Klinische Chemie. During these quality control surveys the participating laboratories received a total of 16 samples (eight pure substances and eight mixtures of two components), to be analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. For the qualitative analyses, a laboratory could provide simplified descriptions of the analytes - for example, without stating the number of molecules of the water of crystallization; or, to the extent permitted by the mode of analysis, the exact chemical composition could be presented. Of 1283 analyses, 818 (64%) attained the goals of the simplified analysis. The most frequent errors in chemical analyses were false negative and false positive results for calcium oxalate, and false negative results for calcium phosphate. Laboratories using analysis by infrared spectroscopy also submitted the biggest proportion of incorrect analyses for these components. The most reliable results were produced by X-ray-diffraction: 86% of the results in this category represented correct differentiated analyses. The generally accurate results achieved by some participants using chemical analysis suggest, however, that - in addition to the principle of analysis used - the qualification of the operator is an important determinant in the reliability of the results.

[Ultrasonic biometry of the fetal crown-rump length between 7 and 20 weeks gestation (author's transl)]

In 370 examinations on 258 patients with known gestational age crown-rump length (CRL) of the fetus was determined by sonar between 7 and 20 weeks. From the results the mean and "2 SD" limits of CRL were derived by means of a non linear regression analysis. The measurements were further analysed to determine gestational age for a given CRL. Besides a velocity curve of CRL growth was calculated. It showed a maximum of 1.8 mm per day at 14 weeks. It was confirmated that sonar measurements of crown-rump length are very useful to estimate maturity of the fetus. The accuracy was found to be best in early measurements (+/-6 days at 7 weeks -+/-11 days at 20 weeks). In regard to clinical decisions reading errors have to be taken into consideration. To avoid them control examinations should be carried out.

The rabies information system--a model for a common information system in human and veterinary medicine

An information system is described in the field of rabies, which realizes the integration of information streams from human medicine as well as from veterinary medicine by help of computers. This rabies information system is based on a homogeneous and coordinated system of surveillance in connection with prophylaxis and control of rabies. It includes a modification of the case record, suggested by the WHO-Expert-Committee on Rabies. The aims of this rabies information system are: to make obvious the epizootiological situation with formation and change of foci, to show the epidemiological importance of special animals and to recognize the epidemiological situation. All this has to be fulfilled in an integrated system. Furthermore optimal treatment is guaranteed by express diagnostics and earliest possible special treatment of high-risk groups by the co-operation of human and veterinary medicine. The rabies information system was generally introduced in the GDR in 1970. It has proved to be practicable and effective especially by standardization of diagnostics, recording exposure of the patient, his treatment and partly automated evaluations of situation records and documentation of efficiency.

[Trypsin-inhibitory - capacity in humans to respirable allergens or irritants (author's transl)]

The trypsin-inhibitory-capacity was measured with a gelatine-film-technique after JAMES et al, in 520 persons suffering from complaints of upper and/or lower airways in connection with exposure to respirable allergens and/or irritants. As a control group 214 blood donors were examined. After determination of normal range, relations to age, sex, smoking habits, ventilatory parameters, bronchial reactivity, sedimentation rate of blood cells, alpha1-globuline and IgE were examined. In workers exposed to enzymes mean values to trypsin-inhibitory-capacity were found to be in normal range. Determination of trypsin-inhibitory-capacity is proposed to be used in examinations of workers who are to be exposed to enzymes.

[Ultrasound in obstetrics. Marking sheets, documentation, programming of summative data. Translation of code into full text (author's transl)]

Report on system of documentation and electronic data analysis of results of ultrasound examinations as used for 5 years at the obstetric department of Bonn University. Special marking sheets were used for primary data collection. Storage and analysis were handled with the author's own programming language SEQAS (Voigt, 1971). The system has worked well. 4 types of sheets used for coding are shown and program examples given.