Reproducibility and Repeatability of Equine Muscle Thickness Measurements with Ultrasound

This study examined the reproducibility and repeatability of muscle thickness (MT) measurements with ultrasound for the following muscles: extensor carpi radialis, extensor digitorum longus (both flexed and extended), gluteus medius, longissimus lumborum, semitendinosus, and supraspinatus. Three examiners measured thickness of these muscles in five Thoroughbreds on 3 consecutive days. The day of measurement did not have any effect on the mean MT value of the muscles examined (P > .05). The left longissimus lumborum muscle was the only muscle for which the second measurement varied from the first and third (P < .05). The examiners had an effect on the mean coefficient of variation (CV) of the thickness of the flexed left extensor carpi radialis and flexed left extensor digitorum longus. The daily measurements varied more in the case of one of the examiners. Mean CVs higher or close to 10% were reported for both sides of the flexed extensor digitorum longus and for the supraspinatus muscles. The lowest CV was calculated for the longissimus lumborum and the extended semitendinosus (<5%). The largest disagreements between the examiners were observed for both sides of the flexed extensor digitorum longus and the supraspinatus (>10%–<20%). The best agreement was measured for the extended extensor carpi radialis and the longissimus lumborum (>3%–<7%). The results showed that for some muscles, it was difficult to locate the exact anatomical site for taking the MT measurements. To reduce CV, it was suggested that only one examiner should take all the measurements and the whole procedure must be such that it is as comfortable as possible for this particular examiner.     

Kinetics and role of antibodies against intimin β in colostrum and in serum from goat kids and longitudinal study of attaching and effacing Escherichia coli in goat kids

The presence of antibodies to the intimin β-binding region (Int280-β) of attaching and effacing Escherichia coli (AEEC) in serum from 20 goat kids from 2 herds, as well as in goat colostrum, was investigated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, the onset and subsequent pattern of shedding of AEEC from the same goat kids over a 6-mo period was investigated. All the colostrum and serum samples tested contained antibodies against Int280-β. The association between the antibody titer and the isolation of AEEC suggests that antibodies to intimin β do not prevent colonization of the intestine by AEEC in goat kids. The AEEC were generally shed only transiently. Most AEEC isolated from the kids belonged to serogroup O26. Three isolates belonged to serogroup O157. These data show that goat kids may be a reservoir of AEEC that are potentially pathogenic for humans.     

Cytometric analysis of lymphocytes T and B in rabbits infected with non-haemagglutinogenic strains of RHD virus (rabbit haemorrhagic disease)--Rainham, Frankfurt and Asturias

The present paper refers to the cytometric analysis of lymphocytes T (with receptor CD5+), Th (with receptor CD4+), Tc/Ts (with receptor CD8+), lymphocytes CD25+ and lymphocytes B with receptor CD19+ in rabbits experimentally infected with strains of RHD virus--Rainham, Frankfurt and Asturias, not having haemagglutinogenic capacities, which makes them unique, as haemagglutinogenic capacity is a classic and typical property of most strains of this virus. The study was performed in the dynamic system, drawing blood samples from animals at hour 0, namely before the administration of the viral antigen, and then at 4, 8, 12, 24 and 36 h after the infection. The study indicated that Rainham and Asturias strains of RHD virus cause a similar amount of changes as the most immunogenic haemagglutinogenic strains CAMP V-561 and CAMP V-562 of the RHD virus do. In contrast, the Frankfurt strain of the RHD virus is characterised with 5-6-fold lower reactivity in this respect and is most similar to the least immunogenic haemagglutinogenic strain CAMP V-558 of the RHD virus.     

The influence of experimental Yersinia enterocolitica infection on the pregnancy course in sows--preliminary studies. III. Histopathological lesions

The aim of the study was to evaluate the anatomo- and histopathological lesions in internal organs of sows and their stillborn piglets after experimental Y. enterocolitica infection in different phases of pregnancy. Twelve pregnant sows were divided into 4 groups, infected per os on 33 (n = 3), 54 (n = 3) and 89 (n = 3) day of pregnancy with the pathogenic Y. enterocolitica strain isolated from the aborted swine fetus, and uninfected control group. Histopathological examinations of internal organs and intestine samples of stillborn piglets, slaughtered sows and samples of placentas were performed. Anatomo- and histopathological lesions were the most intense in the group of sows infected in the final phase of pregnancy, where the highest number of stillborn piglets was also found. Lesions of internal organs in stillborn piglets suggested a severe generalized bacterial infection. Although the analysis of experimental Y. enterocolitica infection of pregnant sows revealed that the most intense clinical, anatomopathological and histopathological abnormalities were recorded in the group of animals infected in the final phase of pregnancy. Infection in the first phase of pregnancy could have had an influence on the formation of the granulomatous inflammation. Differences in anatomopathological lesions between infected and control animals suggest that the period of pregnancy in which the infection appears could have had an influence on the course of yersiniosis in pigs.     

Effect of quercetin on platelet spreading on collagen and fibrinogen and on multiple platelet kinases

α₂β₁ and α_IIbβ₃ integrins, that support platelet adhesion to collagen and fibrinogen, respectively, share common signaling molecules. The effect of quercetin on platelet static adhesion to collagen and fibrinogen was assessed and correlated with its kinase inhibitory activity. Quercetin strongly abrogated PI3K and Src kinases, mildly inhibited Akt1/2, and slightly affected PKC, p38 and ERK1/2. Quercetin or the combined use of adenosine diphosphate and thromboxane A₂ inhibitors abrogated platelet spreading on these surfaces to a similar extent. We suggest that the inhibitory effect of quercetin on platelet kinases blocks early signaling events preventing a complete platelet spreading.     

Could artificial reforestations provide as much production and diversity of fungal species as natural forest stands in marginal Mediterranean areas?

The aim of this work was to study and describe fungal communities in different habitats in dry Mediterranean areas. The objective was to determine whether artificial reforestations can develop fungal communities as productive and diverse as those found in natural stands. The results could provide ecological and economical implications for forest management in marginal areas, in order to recover the original forest dominated by Quercus, establishing as intermediate stage new forest stands dominated by Pinus which might play an essential role in restoring some type of degraded or marginal areas.     

Soluble carbohydrates content in tomato pollen and its variations along and between blooming periods

The soluble carbohydrates content in the mature (starchless) pollen of the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cv. Platense was studied at several moments of the blooming period in two consecutive years. The aim of the analysis was to evaluate if the content of soluble carbohydrates is relatively constant or if it can fluctuate along the blooming period. No significant variations in pollen viability were recorded along each season. The soluble carbohydrates found and their concentrations can change significantly among samples, but the fluctuations observed did not follow a strongly definite pattern in any season. Reducing sugars predominated; small quantities of a phosphorylated sugar, UDP-glucose, and maltosaccharides were also recorded. The constant presence of maltosaccharides is a novel record for pollen. Sucrose was absent in one season, but present in the other, in low percentages in contrast to reducing sugars. Changes in the soluble carbohydrates content have been usually related with alterations in pollen fertility. However, there may be some flexibility in the metabolism of the pollen studied this time, at least within a certain range, which may allow constant adjustments to maintain acceptable levels of viability despite the variations in the carbohydrates concentrations.     

Modes of action of the protective strain Fo47 in controlling verticillium wilt of pepper

The protective fungus Fusarium oxysporum Fo47 reduces the severity of wilt caused by the soilborne pathogen Verticillium dahliae in pepper. Modes of action responsible for the biocontrol activity were studied. Microscopic observations of fluorescent protein‐transformed strains colonizing the root surface show that the colonization patterns of Fo47 and V. dahliae were similar. Pixel counting of the images obtained by confocal microscopy showed that Fo47 reduces colonization of the root surface by V. dahliae, suggesting a possible role of competition for nutrients at the root surface. Besides these effects on surface colonization, the hormonal pathways activated during priming of plant defence responses were identified by measuring the amount of some phytohormones and their derivatives in roots and stems of pepper. Results showed an early, slight increase of jasmonyl isoleucine, followed by a transient increase of salicylic acid during the pre‐challenged phase of priming and an increase of 12‐oxo‐phytodienoic acid during the challenge phase of priming. The caffeic, ferulic and chlorogenic acids, known to play a role in plant defence reactions, showed a strong antimicrobial activity against V. dahliae in vitro. In pepper roots, Fo47 stimulated the biosynthesis of caffeic acid and primed that of chlorogenic acid. These results demonstrated that the effective control of V. dahliae provided by Fo47 is based on different but complementary mechanisms.     

Molecular tracing of the transmission routes of bois noir in Mediterranean vineyards of Montenegro and experimental evidence for the epidemiological role of Vitex agnus‐castus (Lamiaceae) and associated Hyalesthes obsoletus (Cixiidae)

Epidemiological aspects and transmission routes of bois noir (BN), a grapevine yellows disease induced by ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’, have been exhaustively studied in the affected vineyards of continental Europe but not in the Mediterranean coastal zone. Because ‘Ca. Phytoplasma solani’ and its principal vector Hyalesthes obsoletus presumably originate from the Mediterranean, gaining knowledge of the epidemiological peculiarities of the disease in this area is essential for understanding its global spread and diversification, as well as for designing local management strategies. In this study, molecular epidemiology was applied to trace transmission pathways of ‘Ca. Phytoplasma solani’ in the Mediterranean vineyards of Montenegro, using multilocus sequence typing of tuf, vmp1 and stamp genes of the isolates associated with various hosts. Thus, ‘Ca. Phytoplasma solani’ was tracked from a tentative reservoir plant (inoculum source) through an associated vector population to the infected grapevine. Three pathways of transmission were documented, originating from Urtica dioica, Convolvulus arvensis and Vitex agnus‐castus; however, only the route originating from U. dioica was direct, whereas the latter two were overlapping and could be intermixed. Vitex agnus‐castus is a natural source of ‘Ca. Phytoplasma solani’, representing an important link in disease epidemiology in the Mediterranean and a possible origin of several genotypes occurring in central Europe. Experimental confirmation of the role of Vitex‐associated H. obsoletus in BN transmission in Montenegrin vineyards indicates its tentative role as a vector in the wide area of the Mediterranean, where some of the major wine‐producing regions are located.