Intermediary metabolic response and gene transcription modulation on the Sub-Antarctic notothenioid Eleginops maclovinus (Valenciennes, 1930) injected with two strains of Piscirickettsia salmonis

Pathogen interactions with cultured fish populations are well studied, but their effects on native fishes have not been characterized. In Chile, the disease caused by bacterial species Piscirickettsia salmonis represents one of the main issues and is considered to be one of the important pathogens in the field of aquaculture. They have been found to infect native fish. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the impact of P. salmonis on native species of local commercial value, as well as the potential impact associated with the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of P. salmonis. Due to this purpose, the native fish Eleginops maclovinus was used in our study. Fish were randomly distributed in tanks and intraperitoneally inoculated with two strains of P. salmonis. No mortality was recorded during the experiment. Cortisol, glucose and total α-amino acid levels increased in fish injected with AUSTRAL-005 strain compared to sham-injected and LF-89-inoculated fish. Moreover, results showed an increase in the activity of carbohydrates and lipids metabolism in liver; and an increase in the carbohydrates, lipids and total α-amino acid metabolism in muscle after injection with AUSTRAL-005. Our results suggest that P. salmonis modulates the physiology of E. maclovinus and the physiological impact increase in the presence of the antibiotic-resistant strain AUSTRAL-005.     

Evaluation of a multi-parent advanced generation inter-cross (MAGIC) introgressed line population for Verticillium wilt resistance in Upland cotton

Verticillium wilt (VW, caused by Verticillium dahliae Kleb) is a destructive fungal soil-borne disease in Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). High levels of VW resistance can be transferred into Upland from Pima cotton (G. barbadense L.) through interspecific introgression breeding. In this greenhouse study, VW resistance was evaluated in a multi-parent advanced generation inter-cross (MAGIC) introgressed line (IL) population, derived from a random mated Barbadense Upland population with five generations of intermating (called RMBUP-C4) between three Upland cotton cultivars and 18 CS-B Upland lines each carrying a pair of G. barbadense chromosome or arm in the TM-1 background. The objectives of this study were to, (1) evaluate VW resistance of 530 MAGIC ILs in the greenhouse; and (2) to identify lines with VW resistance in the MAGIC population based on a total of three replicated greenhouse tests. Approximately 8 plants for each line in each replicate were grown and screened for VW resistance using three parameters i.e., disease leaf severity rating, percentage defoliated leaves, and percentage infected plants, with a total of ~?25,190 plants evaluated. A correlation analysis indicated that the three parameters were significantly and positively correlated with one another in each test. The disease leaf severity rating was the best parameter to assess VW resistance due to its relatively low coefficient of variation and its higher resolution to differentiate resistant genotypes from susceptible ones. Of the 530 genotypes, 5 showed resistance to VW, namely, NMIL348, NMIL518, NMIL405, NMIL290, NMIL307 and had higher levels of resistance to VW with mean disease leaf severity ratings, percentage of defoliated leaves, and percentage of infected plants across three tests ranging from 0.58–1.46, 9.46–26.74, and 25–95%, respectively. These lines can be used as parental lines to improve VW resistance in cotton breeding programs.     

Assessment of cardiac troponin I and C-reactive protein concentrations associated with anesthetic protocols using sevoflurane or a combination of fentanyl, midazolam, and sevoflurane in dogs

ObjectiveTo report serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations in dogs anesthetized for elective surgery using two anesthetic protocols.Study designProspective, randomized clinical study.AnimalsTwenty client-owned dogs presenting for elective ovariohysterectomy or castration.MethodsThe dogs were randomized into two groups. All dogs were premedicated with glycopyrrolate (0.011 mg kg^?1) and hydromorphone (0.1 mg kg^?1) IM approximately 30 minutes prior to induction of anesthesia. Anesthesia in dogs in group 1 was induced with propofol (6 mg kg^?1) IV to effect and in dogs in group 2 with diazepam (0.2 mg kg^?1) IV followed by etomidate (2 mg kg^?1) IV to effect. For maintenance of anesthesia, group 1 received sevoflurane (adjustable vaporizer setting 0.5–4%) and group 2 received a combination of fentanyl (0.8 μg kg^?1 minute^?1) and midazolam (8.0 μg kg^?1 minute^?1) IV plus sevoflurane (adjustable vaporizer setting 0.5–4%) to maintain anesthesia. Serum cTnI and CRP concentrations were measured at baseline and 6, 18, and 24 hours post-anesthetic induction. Biochemical analysis was performed at baseline. Lactate was obtained at baseline and 6 hours post-anesthetic induction. Heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure were measured intra-operatively.ResultsBaseline serum cTnI and CRP concentrations were comparable between groups. A significant difference in serum cTnI or CRP concentrations was not detected post-operatively between groups at any time point. Serum CRP concentrations were significantly increased post-anesthetic induction in both groups, which was attributed to surgical trauma.Conclusions and clinical relevanceThere was no significant difference in serum cTnI and CRP concentrations between anesthetic protocols. Further investigation in a larger number of dogs is necessary to confirm the current findings.     

Blood metabolites and their relationship with production variables in dual-purpose cows in Venezuela

A survey was carried out on 79 lactating Bos taurus/indicus cross-bred cows on three dual-purpose cattle farms to measure the blood concentration of metabolites and to evaluate possible relationships with nutritional status and productive variables. A rotational grazing system on Star grass and other tropical pastures (10-12% CP in leaves) was used and 2-3 kg/cow/day of concentrate were fed on two farms. Restricted calf suckling was used in two herds. Average milk yield sold per farm was 6 kg/day/cow and body condition scores (BCS) were between 3.0 and 3.8 on a scale of one-to-five. On two farms, the average interval from calving to conception (ICC) was more than 145 days. Mean blood concentrations of albumin, globulin, urea, beta-hydroxybutyrate and phosphorus were generally within reference values, but a significant group of cows had low levels of albumin and urea and high levels of globulin. Packed cell volume (PCV) was below normal values, with anemia in 63% of cows during the second trimester of lactation, which was negatively correlated to milk yield. The high incidence of anemia could be related to factors such as hematophagic parasites, not evaluated in this study. ICC values were negatively related to albumin level and could be associated with protein deficiency in the diet or with disease, as globulin values were high in many cows. Based on these diagnoses, an experiment was carried out on one of the farms to evaluate the influence of supplementation with 0.5 kg/cow/day of fish meal. Total milk yield was not influenced by the fish meal and reproductive efficiency was high in the two supplemental treatments. It was shown that supplementation with undergraded protein is not required in these cows.     

First record of Phytomyza gymnostoma Loew (Diptera: Agromyzidae) a leaf mining pest of leeks in Greece

In autumn 2007, an allium leafminer, Phytomyza gymnostoma Loew (Diptera: Agromyzidae), was recorded for the first time in non‐commercial leek crops in the areas of Elassona and Katerini in Central Greece. Leek plants were severely damaged by the leafminer larvae infestation. Typical feeding symptoms were observed, caused by the mining behaviour of larvae within inner and outer leaves of leek plants, resulting in the formation of descending galleries. Pest control was performed locally using commercial insecticides with unknown efficacy mainly due to ignorance of the species biology.