BURNEm ANTmODIES IN CALVES CONCENTRATED IN A LARGE-CAPACITY CALF HOOSE ' IN AN AREA WITH ENDEMIC INCIDENCE OF Q FEVER t ' LITERAK
Lit erA k A.: C;oxiella bu~tii antibodies in calves concentrated in a large-capacity calf house in an area with endemic incidence of latent Qfever. Acta vet. Bmo.63. 1994:' 6~. A total of 539 calves in a large-capacity calf house in the district of StJakonice (Czech Republic) were examined serologically for Coxiella burnet;; antibodies in 1988-1990 using the complement-fixation test. The antibodies were detected in 6% (3.6 to 8.4%. 95% confidence limits) of calves up to 14 days of age. in 1.5% (0.3' to 2.7%. 95% confidence limits) of calves aged 3 mOnths and in no animals aged 6 months. The calves showing antibodies after arrival at the large-capacity calf house within 14 days of age came from 13 different farms of the district. It is concluded that calves are not responsible for the spread of Q fever in herds even under the open-turnover system. Coxiella burnetii. calves. antibodies. CFT The presence of Coxiella burnetii antibodies in cattle in the South-Bohemian region of the Czech Republic was investigated by Lis At et a1. (1989) during a two-year period. Using the complement-fixation test, they demonstrated C. burnetii antibodies in 16.5% of747 animals. mostly producing cows. coming from 23 farms. a e hAl! e k et a1. (1985) using the microagglutination reaction found C. burnetii antibodies in 10.8% of 370 cattle coming from 17 farms of the southern part of the Sumava region. In spite of a rather large proportion of serum-positive reagents. marked clinical manifestations of Q fever in these areas were not observed. The incidence of C. burnetii antibodies among calves in the South-Bohemian region was mentioned by a e h AI! e k et a1. (1985) only very briefly: 58 calves were examined upon arrival at a large-capacity calf house with negative results and in only one of them C. burnetii antibodies were detected before the animals were put to graze. The present study was designed to assess the serum prevalence of C. burnerii antibodies in calves shifted to a large-capacity calf house from different farms in the South-Bohemian region that; considering the observations reported by Li s At etal. (1989) and a e h AI! e ketal. (1985). can be regarded as one of endemic incidence of latent Q fever. Observations on C. burnetii antibodies among calves in other parts of the world were reported a. o. by Sawyer etal. (1973). Gossler and Burtschell (1973) and Adeseyun eta!. (1984). Materials and Methods' Calves were examined for C. burnetii antibodies on three occasions: upon arrival at a large-capacity calf house. after 3 months of their stay in the calf house upon change from milk feeding to vegetable feeding and before leaving the calf house at 6 months of age. The large-capacity calf house under study was located in the northern part of the district of Strakonice (Map No.1). From its catchment area 40 calves arrived each week, which represented about 60% of all calves born on the farms of this area. The calves were examined from the 21st ofJanuary to the II th ofJuly 1990. The blood samples were withdrawn at 3-month intervals. A total of 539 calves were examined; one examination only was carried out in 208 animals. 2 examinations also in 208 animals and 3 examinations in 123 animals. Upon arrival of the calves at the calf house within 14 days of age 400 examinations were carried out, 328 examinations were carried out on 3-month old animals and 265 examinations were conducted on animals aged 6 months. Thus the total number of examinations was 993. The detection of C. burnetii antibodies was made with the complement-fixation test using the micromethod technique with phase 2 antigen (Bodibion. Bioveta Nitra). The starting titre was 8 or 10. The sera with antibodies were diluted in two-fold steps to find the highest positive titre. Results c. burnetii antibodies were found in 6% (3.6 to 8.4%, 95% confidence limits) of calves up to 14 days of age, in 1.5% (0.3 % to 2.7 %, 95 % confidence limits) of 3-month old calves and were not detected in calves aged 6 months (Table 1).
Epidemiology and significance of Q fever in Czechoslovakia.
Over the last 35 years most parts of Czechoslovakia have experienced Q fever. Of particular note were outbreaks in factories processing imported cotton, wool and hides that had been contaminated in their countries of origin. Some areas of the southern part of Central Slovakia became a natural focus of Q fever with the Dermacentor marginatus tick being the main vector of coxiellae. Currently, Coxiella (C.) burnetii infection appears to be dormant in the country since only sporadic cases are encountered. Cattle vaccination practiced since 1980 may have contributed to the decreasing incidence of human Q fever.
LABORATORY AND FIELD TESTING OF SEED SPACING UNIFORMITY FOR SUGARBEET PLANTERS
Five planter configurations were evaluated for seed spacing uniformity at three field speeds using a seed 
location method in the field and a laboratory method involving an opto-electronic sensor system. Planter seed spacing 
uniformity was described using the Coefficient of Precision (CP3) measure. Results showed that CP3 measures 
determined using the laboratory test method were significantly different from those determined using the field test method. 
This indicated the laboratory test method cannot be used to predict planter seed spacing uniformity in the field. Seed 
spacing uniformity determined in laboratory tests was higher than, or equal to, seed spacing uniformity determined in 
field tests. This indicated the laboratory test method may be useful to screen out planters or planter units with poor 
uniformity of seed metering. Field testing of the planters that perform well in laboratory tests must be conducted to 
adequately determine the seed spacing uniformity of those planters in the field. Results from laboratory and field tests 
could be useful in determining areas for improvement of planters or planter units.