Outbreak investigation identifies a single Listeria monocytogenes strain in sheep with different clinical manifestations, soil and water.

Listeria (L.) monocytogenes causes orally acquired infections and is of major importance in ruminants. Little is known about L. monocytogenes transmission between farm environment and ruminants. In order to determine potential sources of infection, we investigated the distribution of L. monocytogenes genetic subtypes in a sheep farm during a listeriosis outbreak by applying four subtyping methods (MALDI-TOF-MS, MLST, MLVA and PFGE). L. monocytogenes was isolated from a lamb with septicemia and from the brainstem of three sheep with encephalitis. Samples from the farm environment were screened for the presence of L. monocytogenes during the listeriosis outbreak, four weeks and eight months after. L. monocytogenes was found only in soil and water tank swabs during the outbreak. Four weeks later, following thorough cleaning of the barn, as well as eight months later, L. monocytogenes was absent in environmental samples. All environmental and clinical L. monocytogenes isolates were found to be the same strain. Our results show that the outbreak involving two different clinical syndromes was caused by a single L. monocytogenes strain and that soil and water tanks were potential infection sources during this outbreak. However, silage cannot be completely ruled out as the bales fed prior to the outbreak were not available for analysis. Faeces samples were negative, suggesting that sheep did not act as amplification hosts contributing to environmental contamination. In conclusion, farm management appears to be a crucial factor for the limitation of a listeriosis outbreak.

Building up and sharing knowledge for better decision making on soil and water conservation in a changing mountain environment - the WOCAT experience

For successful implementation of any soil and water conservation (SWC) or sustainable land management practice, it is essential to have a proper understanding of the natural and human environment in which these practices are applied. This understanding should be based on comprehensive information concerning the application of the technologies and not solely on the technological details. The World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT) is documenting and evaluating SWC practices worldwide, following a standardised methodology that facilitates exchange and comparison of experiences. Notwithstanding this standardisation, WOCAT allows flexible use of its outputs, adapted to different users and different environments. WOCAT offers a valuable tool for evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of SWC practices and their potential for application in other areas. Besides collecting a wealth of information, gaps in available information are also exposed, showing the need for more research in those fields. Several key issues for development- oriented research have been identified and are being addressed in collaboration with a research programme for mitigating syndromes of global change.

Preliminary results of the relation between ice viscosity and water content using an inverse method

One of the outstanding problems of the modelling of temperate ice dynamics is the limited knowledge on the rheology of temperate ice and, in particular, on how the rate factor depends on the liquid water content. Though it is well known that the rate factor depends strongly on the water content, in practice the only available experimentally-based relationship is that by Duval (1977), which is only valid for water contents up to 1%. However, actual water contents found in temperate and polythermal glaciers are sometimes substantially larger.

Biological effects and interactions of pesticides in a soil-plant-water microcosm /

Mode of access: Internet.

Effectiveness of soil and water conservation practices for pollution control /

Mode of access: Internet.

Review of the soil and water conservation provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985 [microform] : hearings before the Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, and Rural Development of the Committee on Agriculture, House of Representatives, One Hundredth Congress, second session, March 28, 1988, Logansport, IN, and April 13, 1988.

"Serial no. 100-69."

Oil-in-water content monitor developmental program summary /

Supersedes report no. CG-D-188-75 (Dec. 1975)--with the same title.

Soil and water conservation investigations, progress report.

"Mimeographed for use of technical workers."

Soil and water conservation research needs. A report from Soil Conservation Service to Agricultural Research Service.

Cover title.

Teaching soil and water conservation : a classroom and field guide.

Mode of access: Internet.

Soil and water conservation districts : Status of organization, by States, approximate acreage and farms in organized districts, as of July 1, 1968.

Cover title.

Soil conservation [microform] : hearing before the Subcommittee on Soil and Water Conservation of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, United States Senate, Ninety-seventh Congress, Congress, first session, August 31, 1981--Burlington, Iowa.

CIS Microfiche Accession Numbers: CIS 82 S161-1

Oversight on proposed modifications in soil and water conservation policy [microform] : hearing before the Subcommittee on Soil and Water Conservation of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, United States Senate, Ninety-seventh Congress, second session, Tuesday, March 30, 1982.

CIS Microfiche Accession Numbers: CIS 82 S161-21