Phage typing of strains of Staphylococcus aureus from staphylococcal mastitis of dairy cows]

Of 62 strains of Staphylococcus aureus, isolated from milk samples of dairy-cows with staphylococcic mastitis from five agricultural enterprises, 68 p. c. could be typified as bacteriophages. In 42 typified strains, altogether 17 different phage pictures were found, in which case, in the different agricultural enterprises, the number of phage picture fluctuated between 1 and 8. Phage picture 42 D was found and dominated in all the agricultural enterprises. Of the typified strains, 76% could be ranked only into one phage group and 24% in the "M" group (= miscellaneous). Of 32 typified strains, 56.3% belonged to phage group IV, 25% to group III, 12.5% to group I, and 6.2% to group II.     

Phage typization of Staphylococcus aureus strains from staphylococcic mastitis of dairy cows]

Of 62 strains of Staphylococcus aureus, isolated from milk samples of dairy-cows with staphylococcic mastitis from five agricultural enterprises, 68 p. c. could be typified as bacteriophages. In 42 typified strains, altogether 17 different phage pictures were found, in which case, in the different agricultural enterprises, the number of phage picture fluctuated between 1 and 8. Phage picture 42 D was found and dominated in all the agricultural enterprises. Of the typified strains, 76% could be ranked only into one phage group and 24% in the "M" group (= miscellaneous). Of 32 typified strains, 56.3% belonged to phage group IV, 25% to group III, 12.5% to group I, and 6.2% to group II.     

Distribution of Cryptococcus neoformans in a pigeon habitat.

Samples of pigeon droppings were taken from 7 sites in a church tower contaminated with C. neoformans, and the distribution patterns of the fungus were studied. From various sites, 0 to 3 x 10(5) viable C. neoformans particles were recovered per one gram of dry excreta. The factors causing the different density of C. neoformans population in the habitat were: uric acid share of the total nitrogen, creatinine content, sunlight and probably pH. Chemical composition of the substrate is the primary factor in the distribution of C. neoformans in droppings.     

The effects of agricultural fields and human settlements on the use of rivers by wildlife in the mid-Zambezi valley,Zimbabwe

After the eradication of the Tse-Tse fly in the Mid-Zambezi valley, human settlements and fields extended mainly along the main rivers. In order to investigate the consequences of this human development on wildlife diversity we monitored three rivers of the Mid-Zambezi valley in Zimbabwe: Angwa, Manyame and Kadzi. The rivers were divided in segments of 200 m which were checked for spoors in order to assess the number of species and the number of individuals that used the segments. Human settlements were also recorded. We used a GIS to define the spatial characteristics of the fields present along the rivers, and related them to the distribution and abundance of wild species spoors in the river beds and banks. Our results show that the number of species in one segment of the river decreased with the increasing size of the field area bordering the segment. For all the major ungulate species, the numbers of individuals recorded per segment decreased with increasing field area. A similar trend was observed for small and medium-sized carnivores, though they were in lower numbers when present. Our analyses thus confirm that the extension of human agriculture in wildlife areas has an impact on most wild species, but we also define some threshold value of field size above which there seem to be an acceleration of the decrease in wildlife density and diversity: 3.2 ha for medium and small herbivores and carnivores; only the elephant seem to tolerate larger field area with a threshold value of 32 ha.This revised version was published online in May 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Identification ofTomato Mottle Taino Begomovirus strains in Cuban potato fields

The presence of a begomovirus in potato plants with yellow mottle symptoms was determined for the first time in Cuba. The incidence of typical begomovirus-like symptoms in potato plants in some regions of Havana province (Güira de Melena, San José de las Lajas, Güines and Boyeros) during the growing seasons from 1992 to 1998 was in general low. However, in some cultivars belonging to the National Program for Potato Genetic Improvement, the incidence reached 100%. Yield losses, determined in 1992 and 1994, ranged as high as 19% to 56.33% depending on the cultivar. Characterization of the causal agent was done by light microscopy, host range (graft and mechanical transmission), DNA hybridizations, polymerase chain reaction, and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Nucleotide sequence of the amplified fragments revealed the presence ofTomato mottle Taino virus. The virus was transmittedvia tubers and has been detected in mixed infections withPotato virus X and withPotato leaf roll virus. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Oct. 20, 2003. The first two authors contributed equally to this work.     

Effect of chitin on biological control activity of Bacillus spp. and Trichoderma harzianum against root rot disease in pepper (Capsicum annuum) plants

Two bacterial isolates and one strain of Trichoderma harzianum were tested alone and in combination with chitin for efficacy in control of root rot disease caused by Phytophthora capsici and Rhizoctonia solani in pepper plants under greenhouse conditions. These bacteria (Bacillus subtilis HS93 and B. licheniformis LS674) were isolated from repeatedly washed roots of pepper plants. In in vitro assays, HS93, LS674 and T. harzianum were antagonistic against P. capsici and R. solani and produced high levels of chitinase. Seed treatment and root drenching with bacterial suspensions of HS93 with 0.5% chitin was more effective against Phytophthora and Rhizoctonia root rot than addition of the organisms without chitin. LS674 and T. harzianum reduced Rhizoctonia but not Phytophthora root rot. In two greenhouse tests, seed treatment and root drenching with HS93 amended with chitin enhanced its biocontrol activity against P. capsici but not on R. solani. The effects of LS674 and T. harzianum against R. solani were significantly enhanced when they were used as suspensions with 0.5% chitin for root drenching, but this had no effect on P. capsici. In both greenhouse experiments, the use of 0.5% chitin alone for root drenching reduced Rhizoctonia root rot. Reduction of root rot disease was accompanied by increased yield. These results show that the antagonistic activity of HS93, LS674 and T. harzianum may be stimulated by chitin resulting in significant improvements in their effectiveness against pathogens.     

Adherence of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 to swine buccal epithelial cells involves fibronectin

The swine pathogen Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 was investigated for its ability to adhere to swine, rat, and human buccal epithelial cells (BEC). The highest number of bacteria adhered was to swine BEC. This binding ability was affected by heating, extreme pH, treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate, ethylenediamine tetraacetate, or periodate, and proteolysis, suggesting that cell-surface glycoproteins participate in adherence and that adherence is based mostly on ionic interactions. Mannose and swine fibronectin may play a direct role in this interaction. Convalescent-phase serum from naturally infected pigs inhibited the adhesion. There was a correlation between bacterial pathogenicity as well as host specificity and the capacity for adherence to swine BEC. Adhesion to swine BEC provides a convenient method to study in vitro the adherence of A. pleuropneumoniae and other pathogens of the pig respiratory tract.     

Distribution of alpha‐neoendorphin,ACTH (18–39) and beta‐endorphin (1–27) in the alpaca brainstem

Using an immunocytochemical technique, we have studied in the alpaca brainstem the distribution of immunoreactive structures containing prodynorphin (alpha‐neoendorphin)‐ and pro‐opiomelanocortin (adrenocorticotrophin hormone (18–39) (ACTH), beta‐endorphin (1–27))‐derived peptides. No peptidergic‐immunoreactive cell body was observed. Immunoreactive fibres were widely distributed, although in most of the brainstem nuclei the density of the peptidergic fibres was low or very low. In general, the distribution of the immunoreactive fibres containing the peptides studied was very similar. A close anatomical relationship occurred among the fibres containing alpha‐neoendorphin, ACTH or beta‐endorphin (1–27), suggesting a functional interaction among the three peptides in many of the brainstem nuclei. The number of fibres belonging to the prodynorphin system was higher than that of the pro‐opiomelanocortin system. A moderate/low density of immunoreactive fibres was observed in 65.11% (for alpha‐neoendorphin (1–27)), 18.18% (for ACTH) and 13.95% (for beta‐endorphin) of the brainstem nuclei/tracts. In the alpaca brainstem, a high density of immunoreactive fibres was not observed. The neuroanatomical distribution of the immunoreactive fibres suggests that the peptides studied are involved in auditory, motor, gastric, feeding, vigilance, stress, respiratory and cardiovascular mechanisms, taste response, sleep‐waking cycle and the control of pain transmission.