Rabies reappeared in Denmark close to its southern border during the autumn of 1977 after having been absent since 1970. A combat area adjacent to the border was immediately established. Measures applied within the area to control the disease included compulsory vaccination of all dogs and a reduction of the fox population by gassing with cyanide, strychnine poisoning and shooting. A total of 371 laboratory confirmed cases of rabies have been recorded during 1977-1980; in 1977 (6), 1978 (163), 1979 (165) and in 1980 (37). Rabies has been reported in the following species: fox (306), cattle (40), marten (18), sheep (5), horse (1) and deer (1). There has been no human, canine nor feline rabies during the epizootic.

Animals↗

PubMed1978

Effect of dry versus wet bowl environment on pet turtles.

Recently hatched, certified Salmonella-free, red-eared slider turtles (Pseudemys scripta elegans) were obtained from a commercial breeder. Half of the turtles were kept in a traditional wet-bowl environment, whereas the other half lived in individual dry-bowl environments, except for 30 minutes each day when they were immersed in water and were fed. Both groups were fed commercial turtle food. During the 26 weeks of the study, individual weight and general observations were recorded for each turtle. Neither Salmonella nor Arizona bacteria were recovered from the turtles, their food, or their bowen environments. Histologic observations were completed on organs of both groups. Turtles maintained in the dry-bowl environment ate poorly, were considerably less active and less developed histologically, and lost significantly more weight than those turtles living in the wet bowl environment. Neither the environment nor the feeding program were found to be satisfactory for prolonged household maintenance of pet turtles.

Animals↗

PubMed1977

Antigenicity of bdellovibrios.

Antigenic relationships between 12 locally isolated bdellovibrios and 3 established reference strains (109D, 6-5-S, and UKi2) were investigated. Antigenicity of the strains was examined by use of the micro-complement fixation test, the serum and complement bactericidal test, and the immunodiffusion test. Antisera were prepared against one of the local strains (MS7) and against one of the established reference strains (UKi2). The complement fixation titers suggest a close relationship among all strains. Immunodiffusion tests produced lines of identity between the homologous strain MS7 and all other strains. It is suggested on the basis of these results that bdellovibrio may possess a common antigen.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

PubMed1977

Bdellovibrio and the intestinal flora of vertebrates.

Bdellovibrio strain MS7 force-fed to fish and frogs via an intragastric tube did not become an integral component of the intestinal microflora. Strain MS7 fed to mice in drinking water was not recovered from the intestinal tract of mice. However, in vitro, the organism multiplied in intestinal contents of frogs and mice. Bdellovibrio inoculated into rabbit ileal loops was greatly reduced in number within 24 h. It was concluded that strains MS7 could be considered nonpathogenic to animals, at least when introduced into the digestive tract, and that it is not feasible at the present time to lyse pathogenic, gram-negative bacteria in the alimentary tract with Bdellovibrio.

Animals↗