Toxoplasma gondii in sheep from the Campania region (Italy)

A cross-sectional serological survey was conducted in order to evaluate, irrespective of abortion, the Toxoplasma gondii infection in pastured sheep from the Campania region of southern Italy. A geographical information system was used in order to uniformly sample the ovine farms (n=117) throughout the entire region. Blood and milk samples were collected from 10 adult sheep (>18 months) on each farm (total number=1170 sheep). Serum samples were tested for the presence of IgG antibodies to T. gondii using a commercial indirect fluorescent antibody test. For each farm, the 10 milk samples collected were pooled in order to obtain a single milk sample per farm (total number=117 milk samples). The 77.8% (91/117) of the farms and the 28.5% (333/11,170) of the sheep resulted positive by serology. In addition, the presence of T. gondii DNA was detected by PCR in 4 milk samples out of the 117 examined (3.4%).     

Early post mortem expression of genes related to tenderization in two Italian Simmental young bulls' skeletal muscles differing in contractile type

The early post mortem expression of eight genes potentially involved in meat ageing process and the tenderness of two Italian Simmental young bulls' (Bos taurus) skeletal muscles differing in their contractile type were evaluated. Samples of Longissimus lumborum (LL) and Infraspinatus (IS) muscles were collected from 17 bulls. The messenger RNA (mRNA) abundances of calpain‐1, calpain‐2, calpastatin, caspase 3, caspase 9, heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27), Hsp40 and Hsp70 were detected by quantitative PCR. The myosin heavy chain‐slow and ‐fast isoform content, the pH_48h and the lipid content of the muscles were in line with the contractile and metabolic type. In comparison with the fast LL, the slow IS showed a lower calpain‐1/calpastatin mRNA content ratio after slaughtering and a higher Warner‐Bratzler Initial Yield value after 7 days of ageing. Hsp27 and Hsp70 mRNA abundances were significantly lower in LL than IS, highlighting their potential role in the ageing process of bovine muscles.     

Anti‐nociceptive and sedative effects of romifidine,tramadol and their combination administered intravenously slowly in ponies

ObjectiveTo evaluate the anti-nociceptive and sedative effects of slow intravenous (IV) injection of tramadol, romifidine, or a combination of both drugs in ponies.Study designWithin-subject blinded.AnimalsTwenty ponies (seven male, 13 female, weighing mean ± SD 268.0 ± 128 kg).MethodsOn separate occasions, each pony received one of the following three treatments IV; romifidine 50 μg kg⁻ (R) tramadol 3 mg kg⁻¹ given over 15 minutes (T) or tramadol 3 mg kg⁻¹followed by romifidine 50 μg kg⁻¹ (RT). Physiologic parameters and caecal borborygmi (CB) were measured and sedation and response to electrical stimulation of the coronary band assessed before and up to 120 minutes following drugs administration. Results were analyzed using the Friedman’s test and 2 way anova as relevant.ResultsWhen compared to baseline, heart (HR, beats minute⁻¹) and respiratory rates (f_R, breaths minute⁻¹) increased with treatment T (highest mean ± SD, HR 43 ± 1; f_R 33 ± 2) and decreased with R (lowest HR 29 ± 1 and f_R 10 ± 4) and RT (lowest HR 32 ± 1 and f_R 9 ± 3). There were no changes in other measured physiological variables. The height of head from the ground was lower following treatments R and TR than T. There was slight ataxia with all three treatments. No excitatory behavioural effects were observed. The response to electrical stimulation was reduced for a prolonged period relative to baseline following all three treatments, the effect being significantly greatest with treatment RT.ConclusionTramadol combined with romifidine at the stated doses proved an effective sedative and anti-nociceptive combination in ponies, with no unacceptable behavioural or physiologic side effects.Clinical relevanceSlow controlled administration of tramadol should reduce the occurrence of adverse behavioural side effects.     

Preharvest aminoethoxyvinylglycine treatments reduce internal browning and prolong the shelf-life of early ripening pears

The effect of aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) on internal browning (IB) and keeping quality of early maturing European pears cv ‘Camusina di Genova’ and ‘Camusina di Bonarcado’ was examined over 10 days of storage at 18 °C. AVG was applied at 125 or 250 mg/L 2 weeks before harvest. At harvest fruit treated with AVG was less ripe than control fruit, being significantly firmer and experiencing lower values of maturity stage (based on ground color), maturity index (calculated value) and IB, depending on the AVG dose and cultivar. During storage, there was no treatment-dependent difference in titratable acidity and total soluble solids of juice, while both treatments reduced ethylene and respiration rates, delayed the ripening process and lowered the incidence of IB and the loss of firmness, especially when applied at 250 mg/L. In addition, AVG treatment significantly reduced decay development in both cultivars, mainly when it was applied at 250 mg/L. This effect was related to the delay of ripen and to possible inhibition of ethylene production by the pathogens and/or infected tissues.     

Antiproliferative effects of curcuphenol,a sesquiterpene phenol

Curcuphenol is a sesquiterpene isolated from sponges and plants having several significant biological activities. The present study explored its effect on cell proliferation and apoptosis in Caco-2 human colon cancer cells. It was demonstrated that curcuphenol in concentrations in the range of 29–116 µg/ml inhibited cell proliferation and DNA replication and induced cell death in a dose-dependent manner. The induction of apoptosis was associated with a stimulation of the activity of caspase-3. The findings presented here suggest that curcuphenol has antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic properties.     

Development of Functional Spaghetti Enriched with Long Chain Omega‐3 Fatty Acids

Results concerning the production of spaghetti enriched in long chain (LC) n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and, in particular, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA) are reported. Pasta enrichment was obtained by adding different amounts of integrator (0.6, 1.2, and 1.8%) containing EPA (C20:5 n‐3) and DHA (C22:6 n‐3) in a microencapsulated form to commercial semolina. The addition of 1.2% integrator yielded spaghetti that provides ≈20% of the recommended daily intake of LC n‐3 PUFA with high sensorial acceptability and low loss of LC n‐3 PUFA after cooking (<10%). Thus, spaghetti fortified with EPA+DHA could be used to increase consumption of LC n‐3 PUFA and to decrease the dietary n‐6/n‐3 ratio.     

Resveratrol biosynthesis: plant metabolic engineering for nutritional improvement of food

The plant polyphenol trans-resveratrol (3, 5, 4'-trihydroxystilbene) mainly found in grape, peanut and other few plants, displays a wide range of biological effects. Numerous in vitro studies have described various biological effects of resveratrol. In order to provide more information regarding absorption, metabolism, and bioavailability of resveratrol, various research approaches have been performed, including in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models. In recent years, the induction of resveratrol synthesis in plants which normally do not accumulate such polyphenol, has been successfully achieved by molecular engineering. In this context, the ectopic production of resveratrol has been reported to have positive effects both on plant resistance to biotic stress and the enhancement of the nutritional value of several widely consumed fruits and vegetables. The metabolic engineering of plants offers the opportunity to change the content of specific phytonutrients in plant - derived foods. This review focuses on the latest findings regarding on resveratrol bioproduction and its effects on the prevention of the major pathological conditions in man.     

Detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phoma valerianellae</Emphasis> in lamb’s lettuce seeds

After the reappearance in Italy of a foliar disease of lamb’s lettuce (Valerianella olitoria L. Poll. syn. V. locusta L. Betcke) incited by Phoma valerianellae, we set out to measure the level of seed infection by this fungus, using a plating test, and to develop a molecular method for quick and reliable detection of the pathogen in seeds. All six samples of lamb’s lettuce seed tested were contaminated by P. valerianellae at levels of 0.6% to 15%. Surface disinfection of seeds did not eliminate the contamination and only reduced it to between 0.1% and 10%. The need for a sensitive, reliable and rapid diagnostic method for early identification of the fungus exists. We have developed a PCR-based method to identify the fungus in seeds. Variation within the internal transcribed spacer (ITS1, 5.8S sequences and ITS2) region of the rDNA (ITS) was used to characterize the P. valerianellae strains and to design specific primers within the ITS region.     

Biofumigation with Brassica plants and its effect on the inoculum potential of Fusarium yellows of Brassica crops

The use of Brassica crops as green manure in the so-called biofumigation treatment has been successfully exploited for the management of soilborne pathogens and is gaining interest particularly in the case of less intensive agricultural systems. A study was undertaken to investigate possible negative side-effects of biofumigation in order to prevent possible damage caused by wilt pathogens able to attack both plants used for biofumigation as well as agricultural crops. To do so, firstly the response of different Brassicas, including some used in biofumigation, to the formae speciales of Fusarium oxysporum known for being pathogenic on Brassica crops was evaluated. Secondly, the effect of green manure treatments on yield, quality of crops, and inoculum densities, infection and survival of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. conglutinans and F. oxysporum f. sp. raphani was evaluated. In the second part of the work, four Brassica crops, selected for their response (susceptibility or resistance) to F. oxysporum f. sp. conglutinans and to F. oxysporum f. sp. raphani were evaluated in order to determine their response to the two pathogens during subsequent crops grown in soil where plants were incorporated as green manure into the soil at the end of each cycle. Moreover, the dynamics of the populations of F. oxysporum f. sp. conglutinans and F. oxysporum f. sp. raphani in the soil after several biofumigation cycles was studied. Many of the Brassica crops used for biofumigation tested were susceptible to F. oxysporum f. sp. conglutinans and or to F. oxysporum f. sp. raphani. Green manure treatment, carried out by growing nine cycles of biocidal plants, with a short crop cycle of 30–35 days, did not reduce Fusarium wilts on susceptible Brassica hosts. The population of the pathogen was partially increased as a result of the incorporation of tissues of the susceptible plants. When Brassica crops grown were resistant to the two F. oxysporum pathogens used for soil infestation, green manure simulation did inhibit both pathogens, thus confirming its biocidal activity. The results obtained under our experimental conditions show that biofumigation treatment is not applicable for soil disinfestation on crops susceptible to the same formae speciales of F. oxysporum affecting Brassica species used for biofumigation. Brassica crops resistant to Fusarium yellows should be grown where biofumigation is applied. Moreover, alternation of crops used for biofumigation should be encouraged.     

Epidemiology of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas syringae</Emphasis> pv. <Emphasis Type="Italic">syringae</Emphasis> on tomato

Leaf spot of tomato, incited by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae, has been reported recently in Italy on grafted and non-grafted tomato plants (scion Cuore di Bue, rootstock Solanum lycopersicum x Solanum hirsutum cv. Beaufort). In some greenhouses, more than 80% of plants were affected, with a marked reduction in yield. This work was undertaken in order to understand the effect of the number of hours of incubation at high relative humidity (r.h.) and temperature as well as the effect of the presence of wounds at infection time on the development of leaf spot. A difference in sensitivity to leaf spot was observed in the various cultivars tested, in terms of severity of P. syringae pv. syringae, with “Cuore di Bue” being the most susceptible of these cultivars. The development of leaf spot is mostly favored by the presence of wounds, at temperatures between 15 and 20°C. The severity of the disease is lower at 10 and 25°C and very low at 30°C. Under the most favorable temperature conditions, the presence of wounds is sufficient to allow the development of the pathogen immediately upon incubation at high r.h. The effect of wounds and the relatively low requirement of hours of incubation at high r.h. suggest the need for careful management and handling of plants when temperatures range between 15 and 25°C, and particularly within 15 and 20°C. All operations carried out, particularly at transplant and immediately after, should avoid the creation of wounds.