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In this study, organ samples from 426 common seals Phoca vitulina, 298 harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena, 34 grey seals Halichoerus grypus and 10 other marine mammals were assessed for the presence of Brucella species. Forty-seven common seals, 2 harbour porpoises and 1 grey seal were found to be positive for these bacteria. A total of 91 Brucella strains were successfully isolated, due to the fact that Brucella spp. were found in more than one organ sample in 15 animals. The primary organ in which the bacteria were present was the lung. In addition, 2 strains were isolated from lungworms (Parafilaroides spp.). Forty-nine of the isolated strains were selected for further analysis using conventional phenotyping methods. Molecular characterisation was carried out by analysing the IS711 and omp2 loci. With respect to the distribution of the IS711 loci in the genome, the 49 field isolates differed strongly from the terrestrial Brucella species and marginally from the marine Brucella reference strain NCTC12890. Based on the results of the PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) investigation of the omp2 locus, the majority of the Brucella field isolates were classified as B. pinnipediae, recently proposed B. pinnipedialis, possessing 1 omp2a gene and 1 omp2b gene. Two field isolates revealed the presence of 2 omp2a genes, as has been described for Brucella ovis. To our knowledge, these results confirm for the first time the presence of Brucella species in the marine mammal population of the German North Sea. These findings highlight the need for additional research on the relevance of these Brucella species for marine hosts and their environment.

The adrenal gland is a vitally important endocrine gland that occupies a central role in the regulatory mechanisms of the body metabolism. Environmental stress factors lead to permanent strain and overload of the body resulting in structural alterations of the adrenals that in turn are followed by hormonal imbalances. This leads to an increased susceptibility to bacterial and viral diseases. The recurrence of numerous fatalities in the different seal populations of the North Sea (during the years 1988, 1989 and 2002), of the Baikal Lake and Caspian Sea (during the years 2000 and 2001) were the motive for a morphological investigation of the species-specific structure of the adrenal gland of the common seal in order to differentiate environmental stress-induced pathological alterations from the physiological structure of this organ. The study was based on adrenals of 112 common seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) using light microscopic and transmission and scanning electron microscopic methods. The phocine adrenal gland displays several structural characteristics. Originating from the connective tissue organ capsule, narrow and broad septa intersperse the adrenal cortex. These septa contain blastemata as a reserve for the regeneration of hormone-producing cortical cells. Such blastemata are also occurring in the form of an intermediate zone in between the zona glomerulosa and zona fasciculata in the phocine adrenal cortex. Another species-specific characteristic is an inverse part of the adrenal cortex encircling the central vein of the organ. These structural features have to be considered in assessment and definition of pathological alterations of the adrenals as observed in the form of exhausted blastema cell pools in the adrenocortex of seals perished in the mentioned phocine mass mortalities.

Considerable amounts of several saccharide residues (alpha-D-Man, beta-D-GlcNAc, alpha-D-GalNAc, beta-D-Gal, alpha-D-Gal, alpha-L-Fuc, NeuNAc) are demonstrated by lectin histochemistry in the sections of the sebaceous glands, and, particularly, the apocrine tubular glands of the common seal. These sugars may be liberated on the skin surface by microbial activities and, then, represent a general antimicrobial protection mechanism of the skin because of their ability to inhibit the adherence of different bacteria and fungi to the epidermis.

Feasibilities and limits to dispose stranded large whales and the risk of the staff during the salvage and dissection of these animals are described here. The influence on the environment by leaving large marine mammals in the place of stranding are exemplary discussed in connection with the accumulation of toxins of Clostridium botulinum in the food chain as a source of danger for water fowls of the coastal region. Therefore carcasses of whales must be removed from the shore after their stranding. Under special circumstances the carcasses could be lowered into a dune.

Zusammenfassung Die 3 Gleitdruckkorper des M. masseter des Meerscfaweinchens Die 3 Gleitdruckkorper in verschiedenen Portionen des M. masseter des Meerschweinchens werden makro- und mikroanatomisch dargestellt. Besonderer Wert wird auf die Schilderung und Diskussion der Histologic und der Bedeutung eines Cubiculus genannten Kammerfeldes gelegt, das sich haufig an der Stelle einer sonst unter den Sesamkorpern befindlichen Bursa synovialis befindet. Der Cubiculus entsteht durch die Umwandlung des lockeren Bindegewebes in Lamellen, die Synovialiszellen enthalten, welche eine interlamellare Synovia liefern. Deshalb wird ihm der Wert einer Bursavorstufe zuerkannt. Falle, in denen er den Wert einer Ruckbildungsstufe eines Gelenkes besitzt, werden erwahnt. Ferner wird angeregt, zwischen Gleitsehnen, Zugsehnen und Drucksehnen zu unterscheiden. Summary The 3 sliding and pressure bodies in the M. masseter of the guinea pig The three sliding and pressure bodies in the various portions of the masseter of the guinea pig were studied gross anatomically and histologically. Emphasis was placed on the description and discussion of the histology and significance of the so-called cubiculus often seen under sesamoid bodies usually occupied by synovial bursae. Cubiculi are formed by differentiation of loose connective tissue into lamellae containing synovial cells which produce interlamellar synovia; and for this reason they may be regarded as precursors of bursae. Cases in which the cubiculus represents a stage in joint degeneration are mentioned. It is suggested that one should distinguish between sliding tendons, traction tendons and pressure tendons. Resume Les 3 corps presso-glissants du M. masseter du Cobaye Cette etude porte sur l'anatomie macroscopique et microscopique des 3 corps presso-glissants dans differentes portions du M. masseter du Cobaye. On decrit avec un soin particulier et l'on discute, sur la plan histologique, de la signification d'un champ lacunaire appele Cubiculus, differenciation se trouvant situee frequemment a. l'emplacement ou l'on rencontre normalement une bourse synoviale sous les corps sesamoides. L'apparition du Cubiculus resulte de la transformation du tissu conjonctif lâche en lamelles pourvues de cellules synoviales secretant une synovie interlamellaire. On lui reconnait ainsi la valeur d'un premier stade de differenciation d'une bourse. On cite des cas ou il prend la signification d'un repression articulaire. On suggere, en outre, une distinction a faire entre les tendons des glissement, les tendons de traction et les tendons de pression. Resumen Los 3 cuerpos amortiguadores del masetero en el cobayo Se describen los 3 cuerpos que amortiguan deslizamiento y presion en diferentes partes del M. masseter del cobayo, tanto macro como microscopicamente. Se destaca especialmente la importancia y la histologyia de un campo llamado «cubiculus», que se encuentra frecuentemente en el sitio de una bolsa sinovial situada normalmente debajo de los cuerpos sesamoideos. Este cubiculus se desarrolla por la transformacion del tejido conectivo laxo en laminillas que contienen celulas sinoviales que producen una sinovia interlaminillar. Por eso, se lo considera como precursor de una bolsa sinovial. No obstante, se citan tambien casos donde tiene characteristicas de una modificacion retrograda de una articulacyon, insinuandose ademas la diferencia entre tendones tirantes, de deslizamiento y de presion.

Summary From 16 (14 %) out of 112 dead or euthanized seals originating from wildlife and seal orphanages phocine morbillivirus was isolated. The majority of viral isolates in cell cultures was obtained from lung homogenates of 15 out of 71 free-ranging seals (21 %). The virus was isolated by longterm cultivation in roller cultures of seal kidney cells. The phocine morbillivirus was detected by typical cytopathogenic alteration and by peroxidase-linked antibody (PLA) assay, respectively. A neutralization test based on PLA was used for antibody detection in seals using a canine distemper virus (CDV) strain and in parallel one of the phocine morbillivirus isolates. All sera tested were proven to contain neutralizing antibodies of higher titres against the latter virus than against the CDV strain. Several seals furnished morbillivirus isolates and at the same time exhibited neutralizing antibodies of low to medium titres. No viral isolates were obtained from the majority of sick animals with moderate to high neutralizing titres (> 1/1,000). The significance of these findings is discussed in relation to the cause of the mass mortality amongst seals observed in 1988 in the Bay of Heligoland. Zusammenfassung Aus 16 (14%) von 112 verendeten oder notgetoteten Seehunden aus der Wildbahn oder aus Seehund-Aufzuchtstationen konnte phocines Morbillivirus angezuchtet werden. Die Mehrzahl der Virusisolate stammte aus Lungengewebe von 15 der 71 Seehunde in der freien Wildbahn (21 %). Die Virusisolierung erfolgte durch Langzeit-Kultivierung in Rollerkulturen von Seehund-Nierenzellen. Phocines Morbillivirus lies sich aufgrund zytopathischer Veranderungen und einem Immunperoxydase-(PLA)-Test nachweisen. Ein auf dem PLA-Test basierender Neutralisationstest wurde zum Antikorpernachweis unter Verwendung eines Hundestaupe-(CDV)-Virusstammes und parallel eines der phocinen Morbillivirus-Isolate verwendet. Alle gepruften Seren wiesen neutralisierende Antikorper zu hoheren Titern gegen letzteres Virus als gegen CDV-Virus auf. Etliche Seehunde, aus denen Morbilliviren isoliert werden konnten, wiesen niedrige bis mittelhohe Neutralisationstiter auf. Von der Mehrzahl kranker Tiere mit masigen bis hohen Neutralisationstitern (> 1/1000) konnte kein Morbillivirus isoliert werden. Die Bedeutung dieser Ergebnisse wird in Verbindung mit dem Massensterben unter Seehunden in der Deutschen Bucht im Jahre 1988 diskutiert.

Bei der pathologisch-anatomischen Untersuchung von verendeten neugeborenen Seehunden aus dem Elbeastuar konnte nachgewiesen werden, das der Seehundfetus Teile der intrauterin abgestosenen Embryonalbehaarung (Lanugo) vor der Geburt abschluckt. Diese abgeschluckten Haare werden zum Bestandteil des Darmpechs oder Mekoniums. Es werden in diesem Zusammenhang die Ursachen fur eine Darmpechverhaltung unter Berucksichtigung von Umweltstorungen im Bereich der Seehundbanke diskutiert.

From 16 (14%) out of 112 dead or euthanized seals originating from wildlife and seal orphanages phocine morbillivirus was isolated. The majority of viral isolates in cell cultures was obtained from lung homogenates of 15 out of 71 free-ranging seals (21%). The virus was isolated by longterm cultivation in roller cultures of seal kidney cells. The phocine morbillivirus was detected by typical cytopathogenic alteration and by peroxidase-linked antibody (PLA) assay, respectively. A neutralization test based on PLA was used for antibody detection in seals using a canine distemper virus (CDV) strain and in parallel one of the phocine morbillivirus isolates. All sera tested were proven to contain neutralizing antibodies of higher titres against the latter virus than against the CDV strain. Several seals furnished morbillivirus isolates and at the same time exhibited neutralizing antibodies of low to medium titres. No viral isolates were obtained from the majority of sick animals with moderate to high neutralizing titres (greater than 1/1,000). The significance of these findings is discussed in relation to the cause of the mass mortality amongst seals observed in 1988 in the Bay of Heligoland.

International audience; In this paper, we examine the status of French major continuative prosodic con- tours, which are mainly realised as final rises at the boundar y of sentences. We show how to substantiate the common intuition that these contour s convey 'continuation'. We report empirical evidence that indicates that native spe akers cannot distinguish major continuatives and questions in isolated discourse se gments. We then show how to integrate continuatives into a liberal version of Ash er's SDRT. In essence, we propose that any discourse constituent bearing a major cont inuative (i) has a default question interpretation when taken in isolation and (ii) co nstrains attachments at the point where it occurs, when considered in the context of a discourse