Resseliella sp. (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) attacking field beans (Vicia faba L.)

In 1981 and 1982, the stems of Vicia faba in England were often infested by larvae of Resseliella sp. Attacks were widespread, most noticeable in June and July, and most frequent on winter beans, although the spring crop was also attacked. Larvae were associated with epidermal lesions, these usually being caused by Fusarium or Botrytis. It was concluded that attacks of the Cecidomyiid were secondary, exploiting existing injuries. Some insecticide treatments against Sitona lineatus also decreased infestation by Resseliella.     

Leiomyoma in the nasal cavity of a dog

A 7‐year‐old, 34‐kg, neutered male Labrador retriever was presented with a 1‐year history of intermittent sneezing with occasional left‐sided epistaxis. CT revealed a mass in the left nasal cavity. Histopathological analysis of rhinoscopy‐guided tissue biopsies was consistent with chronic necrotic and ulcerative rhinitis. Surgical debridement by ventral rhinotomy was subsequently performed and histopathological diagnosis was leiomyoma. Complete resolution of the nasal discharge and reduced sneezing frequency were observed after surgery. Fourteen months postoperatively, CT detected no regrowth of the mass.     

Lleida Bat Lyssavirus isolation in Miniopterus schreibersii in France

Bat rabies cases are attributed in Europe to five different Lyssavirus species of 16 recognized Lyssavirus species causing rabies. One of the most genetically divergent Lyssavirus spp. has been detected in a dead Miniopterus schreibersii bat in France. Brain samples were found positive for the presence of antigen, infectious virus and viral RNA by classical virological methods and molecular methods respectively. The complete genome sequence was determined by next‐generation sequencing. The analysis of the complete genome sequence confirmed the presence of Lleida bat lyssavirus (LLEBV) in bats in France with 99.7% of nucleotide identity with the Spanish LLEBV strain (KY006983).     

Variation in the decay resistance of larch to fungi

? Decay resistance of larch (Larix sp.) to fungi was evaluated on heartwood samples belonging to 3 species (L. decidua, L. kaempferi and their hybrid), 3 races of European larch (polonica, sudetica and alpine), 13 wood lots (populations) and 313 trees.

? Larch wood appeared, on average, as moderately durable although a high variability was observed. At the sample level as well as at the mean individual tree level, durability ranged from class 1 to 5 according to EN 350-1 standard. At the population level, larch wood varied from ‘durable’ to ‘slightly durable’. Genetics played a major role in decay resistance at the species, provenance and tree levels. Environmental factors such as the position of heartwood samples and the age of trees were also identified as a source of variability.

? The most durable wood was not necessarily from old native alpine stands of European larch: some young larches from faster growing lowland origins also produced durable wood.

? Genetic improvement of larch wood durability appeared therefore likely by the selection of the best populations for decay resistance as well as from the selection of individuals.

     

作物长势监测系统在作物产量预测应用中的探讨

通过对作物长势监测系统(Crop Growth Monitoring System,CGMS)在黑龙江省四大作物产量预测中的应用进行改进并检验。结果表明,应用CGMS对四大作物(玉米、大豆、水稻、小麦)的系统参数进行分区处理是可行的,解决了用统一的一组参数对复杂气候区域作物生长过程模拟的局限性,提高了CGMS在复杂气候条件下的预测应用效果;并提出了CGMS在应用上存在的问题及今后的研究方向。     

A methodological approach for ecotoxicological characterization of non-hazardous sediments for their beneficial reuse

Purpose

In France, the beneficial reuse of sediments is conditioned upon a demonstration of environmental acceptability for each scenario. Such evidence has to be provided in application of the NF EN 12920 +A1 standard methodologies. Before the application of risk assessment methodology, the HP14 hazard property must be measured using specific bioassays. However, sediments may have ecotoxicological impacts despite a non-hazardous classification. The application of a battery of bioassays sensitive to non-hazardous sediments could allow to select sediments before choosing the beneficial reuse option.

Materials and methods

First, HP14 methodologies were applied on the studied sediments. These sediments had to be managed on shore according to French legislation. Then, following recommendations from a previous study, other ecotoxicological tests and modified ecotoxicological tests from HP14 methodology were selected. Ostracods mortality and growth tests were selected as a complement because its sensitivity to sediment ecotoxicity is known. To take into account the effects of extraction method and liquid/solid ratio on ecotoxicological impact of sediments, ecotoxicological tests have been applied to percolates. They have been obtained from up-flow percolation tests following the standard NF EN 14405. For each percolate, the rotifer clones reproduction test and the ostracod mortality and growth tests were performed.

Results and discussion

Contaminant analyses of sediments studied reveal differences in contamination between non-hazardous sediments. The majority of ecotoxicological tests carried out in the HP14 test batteries do not differentiate between non-hazardous sediments with low ecotoxicity. However, inhibition of rotifer reproduction and inhibition of plant germination and growth tests can be used. Among the complementary bioassays performed, the ostracods growth inhibition and multigenerational Daphnia reproduction inhibition tests are especially sensitive. Bioassays performed on percolates reveal low ecotoxicities that were not detected with conventional bioassays. For these tests, maximum ecotoxicities are observed on the first percolates for most of the tested sediments, and ecotoxicity effects decrease with the increase in the liquid/solid ratio.

Conclusions

The results enable us to propose a bioassay battery able to highlight the intrinsic toxicity of non-hazardous sediments. This is achieved through bioassays and using up-flow percolation columns to detect low ecotoxicity. This battery can be integrated into the SEDIMATERIAUX approach to ensure the choice of the beneficial reuse option for such sediment. As some of the proposed bioassays remain unsuitable for marine sediments, future studies will adapt the methodology to the presence of marine salts.

     

Acquisition of haemoglobin-bound iron by Histophilus somni

Histophilus somni is an important pathogen of cattle and sheep. H. somni requires iron and can use ruminant transferrins as iron sources for growth. Here, we investigated the abilities of bovine (strains 649 and 2,336) and ovine (strains 9L and 3384Y) isolates of H. somni to acquire iron from haemoglobins. Using growth assays, the bovine isolates were shown to acquire iron from bovine haemoglobin, but not from ovine, porcine or human haemoglobins; the ovine isolates, however, failed to use any of these haemoglobins as iron sources for growth. In solid phase binding assays, the bovine isolates, grown under iron-restricted conditions in the presence of bovine haemoglobin, bound not only bovine but also ovine and human haemoglobins. Competition binding assays indicated that all three haemoglobins were bound by the same receptor(s) and SDS-PAGE of membrane fractions revealed that expression of haemoglobin-binding activity was associated with the production of an approximately 120-kDa outer membrane protein. PCR approaches allowed the amplification and sequencing of hgbA, and also hugX and hugZ homologues from strains 649, 9L and 3384Y. While hgbA of strain 649 was predicted to encode an HgbA precursor that is processed to yield a mature, 123.9-kDa haemoglobin-binding protein, the hgbA genes of strains 9L and 3384Y were predicted to give rise to truncated products. RT-PCR experiments revealed that in strain 649, hugX, hugZ and hgbA are co-transcribed and iron-regulated and additional sequencing suggested that in strain 2336, expression of HgbA is subject to phase variation involving a poly C tract within hgbA.     

Degradation of cyclins D in pseudorabies virus (PRV) infected proliferating cells

The pseudorabies virus code for an ICP0 protein which is half the size of the HSV1 ICP0 protein. In this work, we made the assumption that some function might have been lost in the ICP0 from PRV. One function attributed to the ICP0 from HSV1 was the stabilization of cyclins D. We then looked at the stability of these cyclins during the lytic infection with the PRV. Our results show that cyclins D are not stabilized during infection with the PRV. These results are in accord with recent data from the literature.     

Atypical pneumonia associated with a Mycoplasma isolate in a kitten

An atypical case of Mycoplasma pneumonia with an unusual radiographic and computed tomographic pattern was diagnosed in a Siamese kitten. The cat showed no response to broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy including enrofloxacin. The administration of doxycycline led to a dramatic clinical and radiographic improvement.