Infection process of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium graminearum</Emphasis> in oats (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Avena sativa</Emphasis> L.)

Fusarium head blight in small grain cereals has emerged as a major problem in the Nordic countries. However, the impact of this disease in oats has been less investigated than in other cereals. For this reason we have studied the infection process (the optimal time of infection and infection pathways) of Fusarium graminearum in oats and its subsequent effects on kernel infection, deoxynivalenol (DON) content and germination capacity. In a field experiment the oat cultivar Morton was spray-inoculated at different developmental stages, and the highest kernel infection and DON content and lowest germination percentage were observed when inoculation took place at anthesis. Field grown oats affected by a natural Fusarium head blight epidemic and spray-inoculated field and greenhouse oats were used to study the infection pathway. Results showed that the fungus entered primarily through the floret apex into the floret cavity, where it could infect via the internal surfaces of the palea, lemma and caryopsis. Both visual symptoms and fungal infections started at the apical portions of the florets and progressed to the basal portions. Hyphae of F. graminearum grew more profusely on the anthers than on other floret parts during initial stages of infection. Disease development within the oat panicle was slow and is primarily by physical contact between adjoining florets, indicating that the long pedicels give Type II resistance in oats.     

Characterization of biofumigated Ralstonia solanacearum cells using micro-Raman spectroscopy and electron microscopy

Essential oils of palmarosa, lemongrass, and eucalyptus have shown promise as biofumigants for control of the bacterial wilt disease of edible ginger (Zingiber officinale) caused by Ralstonia solanacearum race 4 in previous potting medium studies. Biochemical changes in R. solanacearum cells were evaluated with micro-Raman spectroscopy following treatment with essential oils at different concentrations (0.04, 0.07, and 0.14% [vol/vol] of culture medium) and changes in cell structure were observed using electron microscopy. All treatments except palmarosa oil at 0.04% caused significant reductions in levels of amino acids, purine and pyrimidine bases of nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids, as indicated by significant reduction in Raman peak heights at 621, 1,003, and 1,031 inverse centimeters (cm(-1)) (phenylalanine); 643, 827, 852, 1,158, and 1,172 cm(-1) (tyrosine); 758 cm(-1) (tryptophan); 725, 782, 1,337, and 1,578 cm(-1) (adenine, cytosine plus uracil, adenine, and adenine plus guanine, respectively); 1,097 cm(-1) (carbohydrates); and 1,127, 1,450, and 2,932 cm(-1) (lipids) compared with untreated controls. Lemongrass oil treatments were the most effective in degrading cellular components. Scanning electron microscopy of palmarosa and lemongrass-oil-treated cells showed rupture of cell walls and cell debris but no degradation was noted for eucalyptus-oil-treated cells. Palmarosa- and lemongrass-oil-treated cells were positively stained with uranyl acetate when viewed by transmission electron microscopy whereas controls and eucalyptus-oil-treated cells were negatively stained, indicating that the cell membranes were intact. The viability of eucalyptus-oil-treated cells was confirmed by cell culture following treatment. Micro-Raman spectroscopy is a powerful tool which can be further employed to better understand effects of fumigants and other bactericides on bacterial cells.     

Voluntary Intake of Four Hay Types by Horses

Alfalfa, teff, oat, and wheat hays were fed to eight mature horses to determine voluntary intake of each hay type. After a 2-week adaptation period during which each horse was offered all four hay types each day, a 4-week study was conducted in which two horses were offered each type of hay each week, usually at the rate of 2.2% of initial body weight. Refused feed was collected and weighed the last 5 days of each week to calculate voluntary intake. Horses consumed significantly more alfalfa hay than the other hays. Wheat and teff hays were consumed in significantly lower amounts than alfalfa, but significantly more than oat hay. Across the 5 days during which voluntary intake was measured each week, hay consumption increased each day, reaching levels significantly greater than day 1 by day 4, when measured as a percentage of body weight, and day 5 when measured as a percentage of feed offered. Only alfalfa hay, at the amount consumed, met 100% of nutrient requirements for digestible energy, crude protein, lysine, calcium, and phosphorus for horses in maintenance condition. Teff hay met all nutrient requirements except digestible energy. Neither wheat nor oat hays met 100% of any of these nutrient requirements. Alfalfa and teff hays averaged about 12% nonstructural carbohydrate content (NSC), whereas wheat and oats hays contained about 30% NSC. The lower NSC content of the alfalfa and teff hays makes these more suitable for horses with problems related to carbohydrate metabolism or for refeeding starving horses.     

Characterization of pruritus in canine atopic dermatitis,flea bite hypersensitivity and flea infestation and its role in diagnosis

Background – In dogs, flea infestation (FI), flea bite hypersensitivity (FBH) and canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) have been mainly characterized by their lesions but never by their pruritus. In clinical practice, many of these dogs exhibit only pruritus. Hypothesis/Objectives – The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of pruritus in these dermatoses and their potential usefulness for diagnosis. Animals – Dogs included were selected from the Oniris clinical data. Cases were selected in which the dogs had only one of the three dermatoses diagnosed. The diagnosis of CAD was based on Prélaud’s criteria and positive intradermal tests except flea; for FBH by compatible clinical signs and a response to an intradermal test with flea allergen; and for FI by the presence of fleas. Moreover, in each group, other primary pruritic skin diseases were excluded. Methods – Location, behavioural manifestations, seasonality and quantification of the pruritus were evaluated. The statistical analysis used chi‐squared test with a P‐value <0.05. Results – Three hundred and forty‐six dogs were analysed, 91 with CAD, 110 FI and 145 FBH. The period (season) of onset was not statistically different either for each dermatosis or among the three dermatoses. Some locations were highly specific for one dermatosis as follows: ventral abdomen/medial surface of thigh (chewing) and radius/carpus/tibia/tarsus (chewing) in FI; back/dorsolumbar area (chewing) and tail (chewing) in FBH; and paws (chewing/licking) and face/neck (rubbing) in CAD. Conclusions and clinical importance – Some features of pruritus could be suggestive of the causal disease, with possible diagnostic value in pruritic dogs.     

Opportunities and challenges for smallholder pig production systems in a mountainous region of Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, China

China’s small-scale pig keepers are the largest community of pork producers worldwide. About 56 % of the world's pigs originate from such systems, each producing 2–5 head per year. This study analyzes pig smallholders in Xishuangbanna, a prefecture of Yunnan Province. Categorical principal component analysis and two-step cluster analysis were used to identify three main production systems: livestock-corn-based (LB; 41 %), rubber based (RB; 39 %), and pig based (PB; 20 %) systems. RB farms earn high income from rubber and fatten cross-bred pigs, often using purchased feeds. PB farms own similar-sized rubber plantations and raise pigs, with fodder mainly being cultivated and collected in the forest. LB farms grow corn, rice, and tea while also raising pigs, fed with collected and cultivated fodder as well. About one third of pigs were marketed (LB, 20 %; RB, 42 %; PB, 25 %), and local pig meat is highly appreciated in the nearby town. High mortality, low reproductive performance, and widespread malnourishment are the systems' main constraints. Basic training in hygiene and reproduction management could significantly increase production; most effective measures would be counterbalancing seasonal malnourishment and exploration of locally available protein feeds. Through support by external expertise, farmers could more effectively trade their pigs at lucrative town markets.     

Isolation, mouse pathogenicity, and genotyping of Trypanosoma cruzi from an English Cocker Spaniel from Virginia, USA

Trypanosoma cruzi was demonstrated in blood smears and heart tissue from a 5-year old, female, English Cocker Spaniel that had never been outside of the state of Virginia, USA. Plasma from the dog was positive in a commercially available immunochromatographic dipstick assay for T. cruzi and negative in an immunochromatographic dipstick assay for visceral Leishmania spp. The plasma from the dog had an indirect immunofluorescent antibody titer of 1:800 against epimastigotes of T. cruzi while the titer was 1:50 against promastigotes of L. infantum. The parasite was isolated from the blood in vitro from the dog (TcVT-1 isolate) and used to experimentally infect female C3H and ICR mice. The parasite was nonpathogenic for experimentally inoculated mice. DNA was isolated from parasites grown in vitro and used to determine that the genotype of T. cruzi present in the dog was genotype TcIV. This genotype is common in raccoons, Procyon lotor, in North America and suggests that raccoons may serve as reservoirs for canine infection.     

Evaluation of high-molecular weight adiponectin in horses

Objective-To characterize adiponectin protein complexes in lean and obese horses. Animals-26 lean horses and 18 obese horses. Procedures-Body condition score (BCS) and serum insulin activity were measured for each horse. Denaturing and native western blot analyses were used to evaluate adiponectin complexes in serum. A human ELISA kit was validated and used to quantify high-molecular weight (HMW) complexes. Correlations between variables were made, and HMW values were compared between groups. Results-Adiponectin was present as a multimer consisting of HMW (> 720-kDa), low-molecular weight (180-kDa), and trimeric (90-kDa) complexes in serum. All complexes were qualitatively reduced in obese horses versus lean horses, but the percentage of complexes < 250 kDa was higher in obese versus lean horses. High-molecular weight adiponectin concentration measured via ELISA was negatively correlated with serum insulin activity and BCS and was lower in obese horses (mean ± SD, 3.6 ± 3.9 μg/mL), compared with lean horses (8.0 ± 4.6 μg/mL). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-HMW adiponectin is measurable via ELISA, and concentration is negatively correlated with BCS and serum insulin activity in horses. A greater understanding of the role of adiponectin in equine metabolism will provide insight into the pathophysiology of metabolic disease conditions.     

Efficient surveillance of pig populations using oral fluids

Currently virus surveillance in swine herds is constrained by the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of sampling methods. The objective of this study was to assess the value of using oral fluids collected by barn personnel as a method of surveillance based on PCR testing. Approximately 12,150 pigs in 10 wean-to-finish barns on 10 farms were monitored for the presence of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), influenza A virus (IAV), and Torque teno virus genogroups 1 (TTV1) and 2 (TTV2) by sampling oral fluid specimens. Oral fluid samples were collected from 6 pens at each site starting at the time of pig placement (～3 weeks of age) and continuing thereafter at 2-week intervals for a period of 18 weeks. Data were analyzed both on a pen basis and barn basis. Overall, 508 (85%) samples were positive for PCV2, 73 (12%) for PRRSV, 46 (8%) for IAV, 483 (81%) for TTV2, and 155 (26%) for TTV1 during the study period. The estimated arithmetic means of the quantitative PCR-positive oral fluids for PCV2, PRRSV, and IAV were 1×10(4.62), 1×10(4.97), and 1×10(5.49)per ml. With a single exception, all barns were positive for PCV2 and TTV2 at every sampling point in the study. Virus detection varied among barns, particularly for IAV and PRRSV. The pen level, cumulative distribution of agent combinations between all 10 barns were statistically different. The most commonly observed patterns were PCV2+TTV2 (239 pen samples, 40%), PCV2+TTV1+TTV2 (88 pen samples, 15%), and PCV2 alone (66 pen samples, 11%). This "proof-of-concept" project showed that a variety of viruses could be detected either intermittently or continuously in pig populations and demonstrated that barn herd virus status is highly variable, even among barns in the same production system. Oral fluid sampling is a promising approach for increasing the efficiency and cost effectiveness of virus surveillance in swine herds.