Genetic typing of recent classical swine fever virus isolates from Croatia

During a period of 5 years (1997-2001) several outbreaks of classical swine fever (CSF) were recorded in Croatia. For genetic typing, fragments of 150 nucleotides within the 5'-non-translated region (5'-NTR) and 190 nucleotides within the E2 glycoprotein coding gene of nine field isolates that were derived from domestic pigs and wild boars were used. For better epizootiological understanding, isolates from other European countries were included in the study. The results show that the isolates belong to subgroups 2.1 and 2.3 of CSF virus. Isolates from subgroup 2.1 were collected from domestic pigs during sporadic outbreaks in June 1997 and are genetically closely related. A genomic similarity between these isolates and CSF virus isolates from pigs in other European countries from the same year could also be confirmed. In contrast, the isolate from October 1997 was found to be a member of subgroup 2.3, and is closely related to European CSF virus isolates from outbreaks in the last decade in Western and Central European countries. These results show that two different sources of CSF virus caused outbreaks in Croatia during the same year. Furthermore, a close relationship was found between an isolate from a domestic pig in 1999 and isolates of subgroup 2.3 that originated from Croatian wild boars.     

Newcastle disease antibody titre is dependent on serum calcium concentration

Chickens were fed diets having optimal, high, and low levels of calcium for 42 days. Serum samples were collected at 14, 28 and 42 days of age, and serum calcium and haemagglutination inhibition titres for Newcastle disease virus were measured. The chickens were vaccinated at 14 days for Newcastle disease. Antibody titres were significantly increased by high dietary calcium and depressed by low dietary calcium. Mean titre was 2.5 (log2) for the optimal diet, 3.2 for the high-calcium diet, and 1.6 for the low-calcium diet. Antibody titres were dependent on serum calcium concentration (r2 = 0.98 at 14 days, 0.99 at 28 days, and 0.78 at 42 days).     

Correlations between shape index and shell deformation of hens’ eggs over a laying year

The egg shape index and shell deformation of 2466 pullet and 2214 hen eggs have been studied each week over a period of 45 weeks. The weekly and 5‐week averages were utilised for correlation analysis.

A pronounced negative correlation between shape index and shell deformation variations was found for both pullet and hen eggs. The pullet egg correlation coefficient, determined on the basis of the weekly and 5‐week averages, was ‐0.605 and ‐0.885, respectively; while the corresponding values for hen eggs were ‐0.433 and ‐0.510.

It has been pointed out that although a correlated variation of shape index and shell deformation with time might be due to specific conditions, it is reasonable to assume that if the time‐dependent changes of the relevant properties were taken into account in the investigations, an improved correlation might be expected.     

Effect of β-aminobutyric acid on phytoplasma-infected Catharan-thus roseus shoots

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - ß-aminobutyric acid (BABA) is a simple, nonprotein amino acid that exhibits postinfectional activity against nematodes, fungi, bacteria and tobacco...     

Morphology of the third eyelid and superficial gland of the third eyelid on pig fetuses

The morphological and histological examinations of the third eyelid and superficial gland of the third eyelid were conducted in pig fetuses coming from the 20th, 24th, 27th, 30th, 35th, 50th, 63rd, 94th and 112th day of gestation. The morphological examinations were carried out by applying the method of macroscopic preparation with a forehead magnifying glass and binocular (magnification 1.5-5.0x). In order to make anatomical elements more visible, 60-80% absolute alcohol and 0.5-4% acetic acid solution were used for the examinations. On the 20th, 24th, 27th and 30th day of gestation, the whole fetuses were collected for the histological examinations. The whole eyeball with developing accessory organs was collected from the pig fetuses on the 35th day of gestation. On the 50th, 63rd, 94th and 112th day of gestation, only the superficial gland with the third eyelid was collected. Staining with haematoxylin-eosin (H-E) and Azan method was performed. On the 20th, 24th, 27th and 30th day of gestation, the primordia of the glandular epithelium were not found in the examined material. The process of the third eyelid and superficial gland formation starts on the 35th day of gestation. On the 50th and 63rd day of gestation, the gland surrounding the cartilage of the third eyelid is composed of the high amount of loose connective tissue and gland cells which give rise to excretory segments. On the 94th day of gestation, the gland lobes become visible, the efferent ducts form. On the 112th day, the cartilage of the third eyelid assumes the appearance of the mature hyaline cartilage. The excretory segments are composed of simple cuboid epithelium with a large, round nucleus arranged less or more peripherally. Their number increases 2- or even 3-fold at the end of gestation.     

Mycobacterial infection of pigs in Croatia

During a five-year period (2000 to 2004) 74,342 pigs were tested by the intradermal tuberculin test in Croatia. Of them, 248 (0.33%) pigs were positive and 91 (0.12%) were found to be suspicious in 7 out of the 13 farms included in the study. Gross pathological changes characteristic of tuberculosis were observed in tuberculin-positive and/or suspicious swine. Mycobacterium was isolated from the lymph nodes of 183 out of 234 swine (78.2%). For better epidemiological understanding, isolates were typed by conventional methods, PCR and hybridisation. The results show that most of the isolates belonged to the Mycobacterium avium complex (175 isolates, 95.7%). Other isolates belonged to M. fortuitum (6 isolates, 3.3%), M. chelonae (1 isolate, 0.5%), and M. peregrinum (1 isolate, 0.5%). Isolated strains of the M. avium complex were identified as M a. avium (37 isolates, 21.1%) and M. a. hominissuis (138 isolates, 78.9%).     

First description of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Croatia and phylogenetic analysis of partial PCV2 sequences

This report describes the first case of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in wild boar in Croatia. During the winter season of 2004, eight wild young piglets (of approximately 2 to 5 months of age) were found dead in a fenced hunting area. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out on mesenteric lymph nodes and all animals yielded positive results. In one of these animals diagnosis of PMWS was established based on the three key diagnostic criteria including the clinical manifestation, moderate lymphoid lesions consisting of lymphocyte depletion and granulomatous inflammation, and detection of the presence of PCV2 genome within the lymphoid lesions by in situ hybridisation (ISH). Three additional wild piglets had also mild PMWS-like lesions and a low amount of PCV2 was also found. No PMWS-like lesions or PCV2 genome were detected in the rest of the wild piglets studied. Three PCR-positive isolates were partially sequenced, which confirmed the diagnosis of PCV2 and demonstrated that the three sequences were genetically identical. The phylogenetic analysis of a representative PCV2 isolate indicated that its sequence (DQ875444) is grouped in a separate branch with Hungarian isolate (AY256460) and differs from any of the annotated sequences.