Genetic diversity of the pine pathogen Lecanosticta acicola in Slovenia and Croatia

Brown spot needle blight (BSNB), a disease of pine trees caused by the fungus Lecanosticta acicola, has been known in Slovenia since 2008 and in Croatia since 1975. Recent outbreaks in Slovenia prompted this study to compare L. acicola populations in these two neighbouring European countries. Sixty-nine isolates collected from three pine species (Pinus mugo, P. halepensis and P. nigra) were used to determine the phylogenetic relationships, genetic structure, and reproductive strategy of the pathogen. EF1-α sequences showed that Slovenian and Croatian isolates share a common ancestry with individuals from central and northern Europe. Population structure analysis revealed four distinct population clusters of L. acicola in these two countries, generally corresponding to their respective geographic location and host. An unequal ratio of mating types and a low overall genetic diversity in the population indicated a strong influence of asexual reproduction. Although some of the oldest recorded European occurrences of BSNB are from Croatia, this study provided no evidence that the population studied in Croatia was the source of the sampled outbreaks in Slovenia. Recent outbreaks of L. acicola in Slovenia are most likely due to introductions from other, yet to be identified, sources.     

有机基质臭氧消毒设备设计与试验

为实现有机基质的绿色、高效消毒,设计了有机基质臭氧消毒设备。基于离散元软件EDEM建立了有机基质颗粒模型,根据有机质物料输送及抛撒动力学特性与臭氧消毒工艺流程,利用Solid Works软件构建了有机基质臭氧消毒设备结构模型,并对两种模型进行接触参数标定。以有机基质倾尽角为评价指标,以抄板弯折角、转筒转速、填充率为试验因素,进行了三因素五水平正交旋转组合仿真试验。根据仿真结果,利用Design-Expert软件回归分析法建立倾尽角回归数学模型,对有机基质臭氧消毒设备模型中的抄板弯折角、转筒转速、填充率进行了参数优化与试验验证。结果表明,在各因素取值范围内,抄板弯折角对有机基质倾尽角影响极显著,转筒转速对倾尽角影响显著,填充率对倾尽角影响不显著;有机基质臭氧消毒装置最优作业参数组合为:抄板弯折角124.23°、转筒转速6.29 r/min,此时物料倾尽角仿真值为89.3°。臭氧消毒灭菌性能试验验证结果为:臭氧初始质量浓度64.2 mg/m~3,消毒60 min后,细菌灭菌率88.9%,真菌灭菌率97.9%,能够满足有机基质消毒生产要求。     

喀斯特森林近地表层覆盖对碳酸盐岩红土蒸发过程的影响

蒸发是西南喀斯特地区薄层土壤水分损失的主要途径,浅层土壤水分的存蓄对喀斯特地区农业生产和生态恢复至关重要。以西南喀斯特森林碳酸盐岩红土为研究对象,基于室内蒸渗试验设置4个苔藓生物量(0,0.32,0.64,0.95 kg/m~2)和3个松针生物量(0,0.32,0.64 kg/m~2)共12种处理,分析森林近地表层覆盖对碳酸盐岩红土蒸发过程及表层温度时空分布的影响规律,并对比3种蒸发模型(Black、Rose、空气动力学蒸发模型)在喀斯特森林碳酸盐岩红土的适用性。结果表明:苔藓和松针覆盖显著降低累积蒸发量和蒸发速率(P0.05),接种苔藓0.95 kg/m~2和覆盖松针0.64 kg/m~2处理比裸土累积蒸发量小36.9%;苔藓和松针导致土壤含水量显著增加(P0.05);苔藓和松针增加了表层土壤的平均温度,松针对土壤温度的提升作用强于苔藓;Black、Rose和空气动力学模型均能较好地模拟碳酸盐岩红土蒸发过程,Black蒸发模型的拟合精度高于Rose和空气动力学蒸发模型。研究结果能为西南喀斯特地区的水量平衡分析提供理论支撑并加强对喀斯特森林地表水文过程的认知。     

Comparison of outcomes following treatment of septic calcaneal bursitis by needle or bursoscopic lavage: A retrospective study of 29 horses

Sepsis of the calcaneal bursae (CB) presents significant treatment challenges with limited clinical data available in the literature. The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to assess the clinical outcomes associated with CB lavage using either a through-and-through needle or bursoscopic technique. Clinical records of 29 horses treated for septic calcaneal bursitis using either technique between 2005 and 2019 were reviewed. Fisher’s exact test was used to assess statistical significance between first surgical technique and success at first surgery (i.e. not requiring >1 lavage), survival to discharge and return to work (RTW). Bursoscopy was performed in 13/29 (44.8%) cases, and needle lavage in 16/29 (55.2%). In the needle group, 12 (75%) horses were discharged following the first surgery. Four had repeat interventions; two (12.5%) had needle lavage and two (12.5%) had bursoscopy. Of the two horses to have repeat needle lavage, one was subjected to euthanasia and one discharged, and of the two that underwent bursoscopy, one was discharged and one received a third bursoscopy prior to discharge. In the bursoscopy group, seven (53.8%) were discharged and three (23.1%) were subjected to euthanasia following the first surgery. Three (23.1%) received a second bursoscopic lavage with one discharged, one subjected to euthanasia and one having a third bursoscopic lavage prior to discharge. Overall, 18/24 (75%) followed up cases RTW, 10 (55.5%) from the needle group, eight (44.4%) the bursoscopy group. No statistically significant differences between first surgical technique used and success at first surgery (no subsequent lavage(s) required), survival to discharge or return to work were detected. The main limitations of this study are that it is a retrospective study, has a small population with limited statistical power and potential selection bias. No statistically significant differences existed between the outcomes of the two techniques, contrary to the belief that bursoscopic lavage is superior. Larger, multicentred studies, with greater statistical power are required to further assess this relationship.     

红花山玉兰组织培养外植体的选择及其消毒方法

为筛选出红花山玉兰组织培养适宜的外植体类型及其消毒方法，为红花山玉兰的无性繁殖提供技术支持，对灭菌时间、外植体类型和取材时间等进行研究。结果表明：茎段和顶芽的存活率分别为40．0％和33．33％，较叶片和叶柄的存活率高，且茎段和顶芽的存活率较叶片的存在显著差异，二者的死亡率均与叶柄和叶片的存在显著差异；茎段和顶芽为适宜的外植体。茎段在6月取材优于12月，且采用0．1％的升汞消毒10 min，其存活率为40．0％；顶芽在6月和12月取材均可，消毒后去除托叶能够有效地降低顶芽的污染率，提高其存活率。最佳消毒组合：先用75％的酒精表面喷洒预处理，再用0．1％的升汞消毒10 min，之后去除顶芽的托叶。该方法污染率和死亡率低，存活率最高，依次分别为6．67％、7．78％和85．55％，且芽启动率高。     

Can water disinfection prevent the transmission of infectious koi herpesvirus to naïve carp? – a case report

Hygienic measures such as disinfection are important tools for the maintenance of fish health in aquaculture. While little information is available on the disinfection of water intended for fish containment, Huwa‐San^®, a disinfectant used in food and water industries, was used for daily treatment at concentrations of approximately 60 ppm over a total period of 3 months (experiment 1) with a 3‐week treatment‐free interval after 2 months (experiment 2). During this period, koi herpesvirus (KHV) was added to the water of two aquaria, one used as a normal contact control, the other one receiving daily water disinfectant treatments that prevented KHV infection of carp. In the second experiment, Huwa‐San^® treatment was interrupted and KHV infection was prevalent. However, when naïve fish were introduced to the same aquarium after re‐application of disinfectant, KHV could not be detected in those naïve fish. Whilst KHV could not be detected in samples where disinfectant had been applied, it was present in samples of naïve fish cohabiting with infection contact control animals which had undergone no disinfectant treatment over experiments 1 and 2. The results presented here show that water treatment with a disinfectant may prevent transmission of infectious KHV to naïve carp cohabited with infected carp.     

Effect of disinfection with peracetic acid on the microbial community of a seawater aquaculture recirculation system for Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

When tropical shrimps are kept in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), one of the limiting factors is the maintenance of a sufficient water quality, and therefore, often disinfectants like peracetic acid (PAA) are added to the water either as prophylactic or treatment measure. In this study, PAA in concentrations of 0.1 mg/L, 1 mg/L and 10 mg/L was applied continuously for 56 days to small-scale seawater RAS stocked with Litopenaeus vannamei. Treatment with 0.1 mg/L did not result in a reduction in the total bacterial amount and therefore was not effective. A concentration of 10 mg/L led to significant changes in the chemical water parameters already after 2 days and was therefore not recommendable. A concentration of 1 mg/L led to increased levels of ammonia and nitrite within 2 days and to a significant increase in the bacterial amount in the water, most probably due to an enhanced growth of heterotrophic bacteria. The microflora showed significant fluctuations, and there were indications that the welfare of the shrimps was affected. Using 1 mg PAA/L for prophylactic use is therefore also not recommendable but might be an alternative option for short-term treatment in cases of disease outbreaks.     

Salmonella Infantis and Salmonella Enteritidis specific bacteriophages isolated form poultry faeces as a complementary tool for cleaning and disinfection against Salmonella

Salmonellosis represents an important public health concern. Several authors point out the inefficiency of the cleaning and disinfection protocols to remove the bacteria from the field. For this reason, innovative techniques, as bacteriophages, could be implemented to control the bacteria. The main objectives of this study were to assess the effect of bacteriophages against Salmonella Infantis and Salmonella Enteritidis on farm surfaces, and to evaluate bacteriophage procedure application as sanitiser against Salmonella in field conditions. Thus, most prevalent serovars in poultry production were selected (Salmonella Infantis and Salmonella Enteritidis) to contaminate farm facilities. Then, two specific bacteriophages isolated from poultry faeces were applied against them. Results showed Salmonella Infantis and Salmonella Enteritidis decreased of 4.55 log₁₀CFU/mL and 3.85 log₁₀CFU/mL, respectively; the maximum reduction in Salmonella was the 5^th day, after 10⁸ PFU/mL and 10³ PFU/mL bacteriophage application. These results highlight bacteriophages as a promising tool together with cleaning and disinfection.     

Use of a foaming disinfectant and cleaner to reduce aerobic bacteria on poultry transport coops

Poultry transportation coops are rarely washed and have been demonstrated to be a point of cross-contamination of broiler carcasses. Foaming disinfectants and cleaners, commonly used within processing plants, may be used to clean and disinfect poultry transportation coops. In this study, homogenized fecal material was evenly applied to the floors of precleaned broiler transportation coops and allowed to dry. Treatments consisted of a water rinse, a foam additive alone, foaming cleaner, and a disinfectant plus a foam additive. All foaming treatments were applied using a compressed air foam system (2,271 L/min; 600 gal/min), similar to what firefighters would use. A high-pressure water rinse (HPWR) was added prior to or following the treatments to determine whether rinsing prior to product application or rinsing after product application would improve efficacy. Based on our data, a compressed air foam system may be used in combination with a commercially available disinfectant or foam cleaner to reduce aerobic bacteria on the surfaces of commercial broiler transportation coops. Furthermore, the addition of a HPWR did not further reduce the level of aerobic bacteria on broiler transportation coop floors.     

土壤日晒在绿色植保中的应用与展望

土壤消毒主要用于土壤病虫草害防控。过去几十年,土壤主要采用化学药品熏蒸消毒,不合理使用容易造成环境污染。土壤蒸汽消毒、火焰消毒和热水浇灌等需要专门的仪器设备,且存在能耗较高、灭生性强、容易破坏土壤结构等缺点。目前,土壤日晒技术受到意大利、美国、以色列等70多个国家农业科学家的广泛关注,但在中国依然处于初级阶段。本文总结了国内外学者关于土壤日晒对农业病虫草害、土壤肥力、农作物产量等方面的影响与应用,分析了土壤日晒存在的局限性,并对土壤日晒在未来农业绿色防控上的应用前景进行了展望,以期为农产品无公害生产提供理论依据和实践参考。