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Bei Untersuchungen von 100 Feldhasenseren aus dem Jahr 1994 und von 402 Feldhasenseren aus dem Jahr 1997 auf Antikorper gegen EBHSV (EBHSV-AK) mit einem Antikorper-ELISA konnten 20% resp. 10% Reagenten ermittelt werden. Die Blutproben stammten von frisch erlegten Feldhasen verschiedener hessischer, angrenzender rheinland-pfalzischer und zweier auserhalb dieser Region liegender Reviere. Die festgestellten Titerhohen — im Jahr 1994 bis 10.000, im Jahr 1997 bis 100 — differierten zwischen den beiden Zeitraumen. Signifikante Unterschiede ergaben sich hinsichtlich des Anteils der serologischen Reagenten in den einzelnen Revieren. Eine Beziehung zwischen der Zahl der Reagenten und der meist durch Scheinwerfertaxation geschatzten Besatzdichte ergab sich nicht. In den Seren von 1994 mit der Hamagglutinationshemmungsreaktion (HAH) ermittelte Antikorper gegen RHDV zeigten eine weitgehende Unabhangigkeit von den jeweiligen EBHSV-Antikorpertitern. Bei bis zu einem Jahr alten Jungtieren liesen sich EBHSV-AK in gleicher Frequenz und Hohe nachweisen wie bei Alttieren. Die vorliegenden Daten weisen auf eine zuruckgehende Bedeutung des EBHS fur die Hasenpopulationen der untersuchten Gebiete hin.

In blood samples of seven captive equid species from four German zoos EHV-1 specific antibodies were detected in 76% and EHV-4 specific antibodies in 73% of the 55 animals, whereas 93% were tested positive for EHV-2 and EHV-5, respectively. In only one blood sample from a Przewalski's wild horse EHV-4 DNA was amplified by PCR. From seven Przewalski's wild horses EHV-2, and from another one EHV-5 was isolated by cocultivation. The identity of the virus isolates was verified by PCR and restriction enzyme digestion.

A consensus primer PCR approach was used to (i) investigate the presence of herpesviruses in wild and zoo equids (zebra, wild ass, tapir) and to (ii) study the genetic relationship of the herpesvirus of pigeons (columbid herpesvirus 1) to other herpesvirus species. The PCR assay, based on degenerate primers targeting highly conserved regions of the DNA polymerase gene of herpesviruses, was modified by using a mixture of degenerate and deoxyinosine-substituted primers. The applicability of the modification was validated by amplification of published DNA polymerase genes of 16 herpesvirus species and of the previously uncharacterized DNA polymerase genes of equine herpesvirus 3 (EHV-3) and equine herpesvirus 5 (EHV-5). The modified assay was then used for partial amplification of the polymerase of columbid herpesvirus 1 which is presently classified as a β-herpesvirus based on biological criteria. Sequence analysis of amplicons obtained from four different viral strains revealed a close relationship of columbid herpesvirus 1 to members of the subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae, especially to Marek’s disease herpesvirus. This was confirmed by characterization of additional 1.6 kb of the columbid herpesvirus 1 polymerase. Consensus PCR analysis of blood samples from zebras, a wild ass and a tapir revealed amplicons showing high percentages (>50%) of sequence identity to DNA polymerases of γ-herpesviruses. In particular, the zebra and the wild ass sequence were closely related to each other and to the polymerases of the equine γ-herpesviruses EHV-2 and EHV-5 with sequence identities of >80%. This is a first indication that novel γ-herpesviruses are present in wild and zoo equids.

This study describes the occurrence of clinical keratoconjunctivitis in a Spanish red deer(Cervus elaphus) population 150 km south of Madrid. Necropsy findings, microbiological and serological results are reported. In September 1996 a total of 28 carcasses of stags were inspected, of which 11 (39%) showed macroscopic lesions of keratitis or keratoconjunctivitis. Conjunctival swabs and frozen tissue samples of the eyeballs were taken from six stags and used for isolation trials ofMoraxella sp. andMycoplasma sp., Smears and histological sections were stained with Stamp technique for the detection ofChlamydia psittaci. None of these pathogenic organisms could be detected. Serum samples were taken from 19 red deer of different age and sex and tested for antibodies againstChlamydia psittaci by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay as well as against three different alpha-herpesviruses (bovine herpesvirus-1, caprine herpesvirus-1, cervid herpesvirus-1) by virus neutralization test. Antibodies againstChlamydia psittaci were detected in 16 samples (84%), while none of the tested individuals was seropositive against any of the three alpha-herpesviruses. The serological results indicate, that this Spanish red deer population has been exposed toChlamydia psittaci and therefore this pathogen agent might be involved in the infection process of keratoconjunctivitis in this deer population.

Objective Numerous reports have shown the influence of renin, nitric oxide (NO) and the endothelin (ET) systems for regulation of blood pressure and renal function. Furthermore, interactions between these peptides have been reported. Aim of our study was to investigate the relative contribution of these compounds in long-term renovascular hypertension/renal ischemia. Methods Hypertension/left-sided renal ischemia was induced using the 2K1C-Goldblatt rat model. Renal renin, ET-1, ET-3 and endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) gene expression was measured by means of RNAse protection assay at different timepoints up to 10 weeks after induction of renal artery stenosis. Results Plasma renin activity and renal renin gene expression in the left kidney were increased in the clipped animals while eNOS expression was unchanged. Furthermore, an increase in ET-1 expression and a decrease of ET-3 expression was detected in early stenosis. Conclusions While renin is obviously involved in regulation of blood pressure and renal function in unilateral renal artery stenosis, ET-1, ET-3 and endothelium derived NO do not appear to play an important role in renal adaptation processes in long-term renal artery stenosis, although ET-1 and ET-3 might be involved in short-term adaptation processes.