The preoperative application of Lavasept reduces the conjunctival flora safely and effectively. The microbicidal efficacy is equal to PVP-iodine, but potentially longer lasting. No signs of local or systemic intolerability were observed. Lavasept may be used as a potential alternative preoperative antiseptic and is suitable for iodine-intolerant patients.

A study on parenteral antibiotic treatment in sheep footrot was conducted on 10 farms in southern Germany to obtain information on the efficacy of gamithromycin under practical use conditions compared with a positive control. On each farm, 20 (10 on one farm) lame sheep were clinically evaluated and divided into two groups. On day 1, sheep were treated once according to group with either long-acting oxytetracycline (OTC) at 20 mg/kg bodyweight or gamithromycin at 6 mg/kg; clinical responses were assessed 21 days later. When compared with day 1, both treatments reduced clinical lameness, as reflected in the reduction in the number of footrot-affected feet (OTC: 79.3 per cent; gamithromycin: 93.7 per cent) and in the severity of the lesions. The difference between the two treatments was significant (P<0.01) with an OR of 6.1 in favour of gamithromycin. Of the 33 sheep that were still lame on day 21, nine mildly affected animals were not re-treated and the remaining 24 sheep were re-treated with gamithromycin. On day 42, all but two (on the same farm) of the 33 sheep were cured, giving an overall response rate in this study to one or two parenteral antibiotic treatments of 99 per cent.

No abstract

Background: Ovine footrot caused by Dichelobacter nodosus (D nodosus) is an infectious disease affecting sheep worldwide. Switzerland plans a nationwide footrot eradication program, based on PCR-testing of interdigital swab samples. The aim of this study was to test for the presence of D nodosus in clinically footrot-free sheep flocks which had been subjected to different treatment strategies, to assess whether they were feasible for the eradication process, especially focussing on antimicrobial flock treatments. Clinical scoring and PCR-results were compared. Ten farms had used hoof bathing and hoof trimming without causing bleeding, ten had used individual treatments and flock vaccines to gain the free status and ten had become free through whole-flock systemic macrolide treatment. For every farm, three risk-based collected pool samples were analysed for the occurrence of virulent and benign D nodosus by PCR detection of aprV2/aprB2. Results: Six flocks from any treatment group tested positive for aprB2 in all pools. Clinical signs were absent at the time of sampling, but some flocks had experienced non-progressive interdigital inflammation previously. Two flocks tested aprV2-positive in the high-risk pool. One of them underwent a progressive footrot outbreak shortly after sampling. Individual retesting indicated, that virulent D nodosus most likely was reintroduced by a recently purchased ram. In the second flock, a ram was tested positive and treated before clinical signs occurred. Conclusions: All treatment strategies eliminated the causative agent and were found to be suitable for implementation in the PCR-based eradication process. PCR-testing proved to be more sensitive than visual scoring, as it also detected clinically healthy carriers. It will be of benefit as a diagnostic tool in elimination and surveillance programs.

The use af Lavasept is safe, well tolerated and reduces the microbiological contamination of the conjunctival fornix effectively. lt provides a more effective reduction of the cfu's than PVP-iodine 1.25% and this effect tends to be prolonged. Lavasept is a good alternative option in ophthalmology for preoperative antisepsis.

Summary Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is a member of the family Bunyaviridae and mainly affects ruminants. It is transmitted by biting midges, first and foremost Culicoides spp., and causes congenital malformations reflected in arthrogryposis–hydranencephaly (AH) syndrome. The aim of this study was to collect data on the emergence of SBV as a new arthropod‐borne disease introduced into Europe in 2011. Germany was located in the core region of the 2011/2012 epidemic. Following two seroprevalence studies in the north‐west of Germany in 2012, this study focused on the epidemiology and distribution of SBV throughout 130 small ruminant flocks in the whole country. Blood samples were obtained of 30 animals per flock and a SBV‐specific questionnaire was used to collect operating data of the farms. The median within‐herd seroprevalence for all 130 flocks tested was 53.3% with a total range from 0% to 100%. The median within‐herd seroprevalence for goats was 30% [interquartile range (IQR): 40.3%] and 57% for sheep (IQR: 43.3%). Small ruminant flocks kept permanently indoors or housed overnight had a significantly lower seroprevalence than flocks kept permanently outdoors. In addition, this study revealed a significantly lower seroprevalence in the north‐east of Germany. These results show that small ruminants in Germany are still at risk of contracting new SBV infections following incomplete seroconversion of flocks especially in the north‐east of Germany. This might contribute to SBV becoming enzootic in central and northern Europe. Furthermore, the survey revealed that housing animals at least during mating and early pregnancy may reduce the risk of new SBV infections and may thus be an option to reduce losses as long as there is no licensed vaccine available on the German market.

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Malaria is a common imported infectious disease in Germany. A total of 931 cases of malaria were reported in Germany in 1999 (1998: 1,008 cases). Most of the infected patients were 24-45 years of age. Eighty per cent of the cases acquired infection in Africa, in Asia (8.5%) and in Central and South America (5%). Plasmodium falciparum accounted for the largest number of cases (80%) followed by Plasmodium vivax (12%). In 1999 60% of all malaria cases were Germans. Most of them travelled for holidays or study purposes. 20 deaths, all attributed to falciparum malaria, were notified in 1999, most of them (19) were German citizens. In 1999 61% of the patients had not taken chemoprophylaxis at all while travelling abroad. Improving prophylactic measures is the only way to reduce the incidence of malaria cases in Germany.