Arbovirus isolations from mosquitoes in South Slovakia.

In the years 1973 and 1975 mosquitoes and some other Diptera (Tabanidae, Simuliidae, Hippoboscidae) were tested for virus. 13,924 mosquitoes, 75 horseflies and 60 blackflies were processed in 1973. Five strains of Tahyna virus were isolated from mosquito species Aedes vexans. 3,378 mosquitoes and 12 sheep keds were tested for virus in 1975. Twelve strains of Calovo virus were isolated from Anopheles maculipennis and one strain of Tahyna virus was obtained from Aedes vexans mosquitoes.     

Scanning electron microscopy of Setaria labiatopapillosa (Alessandrini, 1848) from cattle of Kazakhstan.

Surface structures of males and females of Setaria labiatopapillosa were studied by means of scanning electron microscopy at high magnification. It was found that the surface of buccal cavity, lateral appendages, vulva, anus and cloaca differs from the remaining cuticle. The shape of internal and external mouth papillae, amphids, deirids, postdeirid and phasmidial pore was studied. On the surface of the postdeirid are four small papillae arranged in a typical manner around the depression from which projects a needle-like formation. The ventral bands are formed by fine longitudinal parallel folds of the cuticle. Some anomalies in the localization of postcloacal papillae were observed.     

Nerine latent virus: some properties and serological detectability in Nerine bowdenii

Nerine latent virus (NeLV), first found inNerine bowdenii, may occur also in the otherNerine species investigated so far:N. sarniensis, N. flexuosa Alba, andN. Mansellii. Chenopodium amaranticolor, C. quinoa, andGomphrena globosa sometimes reacted with local lesions after mechanical inoculation with NeLV.Nicotiana clevelandii andHippeastrum were symptomless hosts. In this respect NeLV resembled the incompletely describedHippeastrum latent virus (HLV).Serologically NeLV was closely related to HLV and to carnation latent virus (CaLV), but differed from the latter in host plant reaction. A more distant relationship was observed with some other carlaviruses, wheareas NeLV also reacted with an antiserum to potato virus X.Depending on the lot, NeLV could be detected rather reliably with the micro-precipitin test inN. bowdenii Van Roon, but less well in 63. Better results were obtained with the microplate method of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The average particle length was 664 nm, the sedimentation coefficient 155 S and the buoyant density 1.298 g/cm³.NeLV can be considered as a member of the carlavirus group. On basis of priority HLV may be considered as NeLV.     

Phage typing of strains of Staphylococcus aureus from staphylococcal mastitis of dairy cows]

Of 62 strains of Staphylococcus aureus, isolated from milk samples of dairy-cows with staphylococcic mastitis from five agricultural enterprises, 68 p. c. could be typified as bacteriophages. In 42 typified strains, altogether 17 different phage pictures were found, in which case, in the different agricultural enterprises, the number of phage picture fluctuated between 1 and 8. Phage picture 42 D was found and dominated in all the agricultural enterprises. Of the typified strains, 76% could be ranked only into one phage group and 24% in the "M" group (= miscellaneous). Of 32 typified strains, 56.3% belonged to phage group IV, 25% to group III, 12.5% to group I, and 6.2% to group II.     

Phage typization of Staphylococcus aureus strains from staphylococcic mastitis of dairy cows]

Of 62 strains of Staphylococcus aureus, isolated from milk samples of dairy-cows with staphylococcic mastitis from five agricultural enterprises, 68 p. c. could be typified as bacteriophages. In 42 typified strains, altogether 17 different phage pictures were found, in which case, in the different agricultural enterprises, the number of phage picture fluctuated between 1 and 8. Phage picture 42 D was found and dominated in all the agricultural enterprises. Of the typified strains, 76% could be ranked only into one phage group and 24% in the "M" group (= miscellaneous). Of 32 typified strains, 56.3% belonged to phage group IV, 25% to group III, 12.5% to group I, and 6.2% to group II.     

Distribution of Cryptococcus neoformans in a pigeon habitat.

Samples of pigeon droppings were taken from 7 sites in a church tower contaminated with C. neoformans, and the distribution patterns of the fungus were studied. From various sites, 0 to 3 x 10(5) viable C. neoformans particles were recovered per one gram of dry excreta. The factors causing the different density of C. neoformans population in the habitat were: uric acid share of the total nitrogen, creatinine content, sunlight and probably pH. Chemical composition of the substrate is the primary factor in the distribution of C. neoformans in droppings.     

Age-related resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato is associated with the transition to flowering in Arabidopsis and is effective against Peronospora parasitica

As plants mature it has been observed that some become more resistant to normally virulent pathogens. The ability to manifest the Age-Related Resistance (ARR) response in Arabidopsis to Pseudomonas syringae pathovars tomato (Pst) coincided with the transition to flowering in plants both delayed and accelerated in the transition to flowering. ARR was also associated with a change in PR-1 gene expression, such that young plants expressed PR-1 abundantly at 3 days post inoculation (dpi) while mature plants expressed much less. The Arabidopsis ARR response requires SA accumulation via isochorismate synthase (ICS1) [24]. ICS1 was expressed one dpi with virulent and avirulent Pst in both young and mature plants. The ARR response was also effective versus avirulent Pst providing an additional 4-fold limitation in bacterial growth. Arabidopsis ARR was found to be ineffective against two necrotrophs, Erwinia carotovora subspecies carotovora (bacterium) and Botrytis cinerea (fungus) and one obligate biotroph, Erysiphe cichoracearum (fungus). However, mature wild type, SA-deficient sid2 and NahG plants supported little growth of the obligate biotrophic oomycete, Peronospora parasitica. Therefore ARR to P. parasitica appears to be SA-independent, however the level of ARR resistance was somewhat reduced in these mutants in some experiments. Thus, there may be numerous defence pathways that contribute to adult plant resistance in Arabidopsis.     

Estimation of daily and total lactation milk yield of Chios ewes from single morning or evening records

Linear models were developed and evaluated for the estimation of daily (24 h) and total lactation milk yield of dairy sheep from single morning (am) or evening (pm) milking records. A total of 22,908 individual test-day milk records of 5110 ewes of the Chios breed, raised in 46 flocks, were used. Depending on the model, different daily milk yield estimates were derived for each ewe, accounting for lactation number, stage of lactation, season of previous lambing and interval between successive milkings. Daily milk yield was also estimated from doubling the single am or pm record. Actual and estimated yields were compared using root mean square errors (RMSEs), mean absolute differences, an accuracy parameter defined as the ratio of the actual yield variance over the sum of the variances of actual yield and absolute difference, and the product moment correlation between estimated and actual yield. Results were validated on independent datasets. Linear models resulted in less biased and more accurate estimates of the daily milk yield than simply doubling the am or pm record. Root mean square errors decreased by 7-37% and the mean absolute difference was reduced by 1-4% of the average daily yield. Higher accuracy and correlation were obtained from linear model application than doubling. Total lactation milk yield was predicted based on actual daily yield and compared to predictions based on estimated daily yield from am or pm records, as well as directly on single milking records. Root mean square errors obtained when daily yield had been estimated with linear models were 26-35% lower compared to doubling the am or pm yield and 0-13% lower compared to estimating the total lactation yield directly from single milking records. Linear model application also resulted in lower mean absolute difference and higher accuracy and correlation than doubling the am or pm record. Recording the yield of a single milking (am or pm) instead of both can benefit milk recording by reducing its cost and increasing farmer participation. In this context, linear models developed in the present study can be used for the accurate estimation of daily (24 h) and total lactation milk yield from single milking records.     

Nutrition and Health of Dogs and Cats: Evolution of Petfood

Maintaining the health of dogs and cats by feeding wholesome nutritional diets is becoming an important component of responsible pet ownership. Pet owners now seek a long and healthy life for their pet and look to nutrition, as well as to veterinary medicine, to provide such support. Quality of life, measured in terms of reduced incidence of diseases and the ability to maintain an active life, would appear to be able to be enhanced by appropriate nutrition and nutraceutical supplementation. As a consequence numerous improvements in companion animal nutrition have resulted in development of a wide array of foods that provide complete and balanced nutrition. As a result emphasis also has to be placed on product safety and quality parameters, in connection with traceability. The origin of products, including product characteristics and properties, processing conditions and further handling throughout the period chain, is becoming ever increasingly an issue for collective chain management.