Spread of potato virus Y in potato cultivars (Solanum tuberosum L.) with different levels of sensitivity

The aim of this work was to correlate the appearance of the symptoms, multiplication and spread of virus after mechanical inoculation of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars showing different levels of susceptibility and sensitivity to Potato virus Y^NTN (PVY^NTN). The potato cultivars used were the resistant cultivar Sante and susceptible cultivars Igor, Pentland squire and Désirée. The spread of the virus PVY^NTN in infected plants was monitored using different methods: DAS-ELISA, tissue printing, immuno-serological electron microscopy and real-time PCR. In all three susceptible cultivars, the virus was detected in the inoculated leaves 4–5 days after inoculation. From there virus spread rapidly, first into the stem, then more or less simultaneously to the upper leaves and roots. Real-time PCR was shown to be very sensitive and enabled viral RNA to be detected in non-inoculated leaves of susceptible cultivar Igor earlier than other methods. Therefore, for exact studies of plant–virus interaction, a combination of methods which detect viruses on the basis of their different properties (coat protein, morphology or RNA) should be used to monitor the spread of viruses.     

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli and their bacteriophages as a model for the analysis of virulence and stress response of a food-borne pathogen

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) are a subgroup of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) that are able to cause serious food-borne intestinal diseases which can be followed in 5 to 15% by extraintestinal sequelae such as the hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). One of the major pathogenicity factors of EHEC is the production of one or more Shiga toxins (Stx), which act as inhibitors of protein biosynthesis and have profound effects on the signal transduction and immunological response in eukaryotic cells. The stx genes are located in the genome of heterogeneous, lambdoid, functional or cryptic bacteriophages and are expressed during the phage life cycle. Due to the linkage between the phage life cycle and stx expression, STEC and their bacteriophages are useful as a model for the analysis of stress response and virulence of this food-borne pathogen.     

Expression of porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) in melanomas of Munich miniature swine (MMS) Troll

Porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) are integrated in the genome of all pig breeds. Since some of them are able to infect human cells, they might represent a risk for xenotransplantation using pig cells or organs. However, the expression and biological role of PERVs in healthy pigs as well as in porcine tumours is largely unknown. Since we and others have recently shown overexpression of a human endogenous retrovirus, HERV-K, in human melanomas, we studied the expression of PERVs in melanomas of selectively bred Munich miniature swine (MMS) Troll. This breeding herd of MMS Troll is characterised by a high prevalence of melanomas, which histologically resemble various types of cutaneous melanomas in humans. Several genetic factors have been defined when studying inheritance of melanomas and melanocytic nevi in MMS Troll. Here we show that the polytropic PERV-A and PERV-B as well as the ecotropic PERV-C are present in the genome of all melanoma bearing MMS Troll investigated. Most interestingly, in the spleen, but not in other organs, recombinant PERV-A/C proviruses were found. PERV expression was found elevated in melanomas when compared to normal skin and viral proteins were expressed in melanomas and pulmonary metastasis-derived melanoma cell cultures. During passaging of these cells in vitro the expression of PERV mRNA and protein increased and virus particles were released as shown by RT activity in the supernatant and by electron microscopy. Genomic RNA of PERV-A, -B and -C were found in pelleted virus particles. Although PERV expression was elevated in melanomas and pulmonary metastasis-derived cell cultures, the function of the virus in tumour development is still unclear.     

Residues of zeta‐cypermethrin in bovine tissues and milk following pour‐on and spray application

The depletion of zeta‐cypermethrin residues in bovine tissues and milk was studied. Beef cattle were treated three times at 3‐week intervals with 1 ml 10 kg^?1 body weight of a 25 g litre^?1 or 50 g litre^?1 pour‐on formulation (2.5 and 5.0 mg zeta‐cypermethrin kg^?1 body weight) or 100 mg kg^?1 spray to simulate a likely worst‐case treatment regime. Friesian and Jersey dairy cows were treated once with 2.5 mg zeta‐cypermethrin kg^?1 in a pour‐on formulation. Muscle, liver and kidney residue concentrations were generally less than the limit of detection (LOD = 0.01 mg kg^?1). Residues in renal‐fat and back‐fat samples from animals treated with 2.5 mg kg^?1 all exceeded the limit of quantitation (LOQ = 0.05 mg kg^?1), peaking at 10 days after treatment. Only two of five kidney fat samples were above the LOQ after 34 days, but none of the back‐fat samples exceeded the LOQ at 28 days after treatment. Following spray treatments, fat residues were detectable in some animals but were below the LOQ at all sampling intervals. Zeta‐cypermethrin was quantifiable (LOQ = 0.01 mg kg^?1) in only one whole‐milk sample from the Friesian cows (0.015 mg kg^?1, 2 days after treatment). In whole milk from Jersey cows, the mean concentration of zeta‐cypermethrin peaked 1 day after treatment, at 0.015 mg kg^?1, and the highest individual sample concentration was 0.025 mg kg^?1 at 3 days after treatment. Residues in milk were not quantifiable beginning 4 days after treatment. The mean concentrations of zeta‐cypermethrin in milk fat from Friesian and Jersey cows peaked two days after treatment at 0.197 mg kg^?1 and 0.377 mg kg^?1, respectively, and the highest individual sample concentrations were 2 days after treatment at 0.47 mg kg^?1 and 0.98 mg kg^?1, respectively. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of oral administration of electrolyte pastes on rehydration of horses

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the composition of electrolyte pastes formulated for oral administration influences voluntary water intake (WI) by horses recovering from furosemide-induced dehydration. ANIMALS: 6 horses. PROCEDURES: Voluntary WI, body weight, and blood and urine constituents were measured before and after induction of dehydration by furosemide administration and overnight withholding of water; these same variables also were measured during a 36-hour rehydration period. Each horse was evaluated 4 times with random application of 4 treatments (electrolyte pastes) that provided 0.5 g of KCl/kg of body weight, 0.5 g of NaCl/kg, 0.25 g of NaCl and 0.25 g of KCl/kg, or no electrolytes (control treatment). Electrolyte pastes were administered 3 times (4, 8, and 12 hours after start of the rehydration period). RESULTS: Administration of all electrolyte pastes resulted in significantly greater voluntarily WI, compared with the control treatment, and was accompanied by significantly greater recovery of body weight when NaCl was a component of the paste. Administration of NaCl and NaCl-KCl pastes tended to produce a state of transient hyperhydration; however, electrolyte administration also resulted in significantly greater urine production and electrolyte excretion during the final 24 hours of the rehydration period. Adverse effects of oral administration of hypertonic electrolyte pastes were not observed. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Oral administration of electrolyte pastes to dehydrated horses increases voluntary WI and improves rehydration during the rehydration period. Rehydration is more rapid and complete when NaCl is a component of the electrolyte paste.     

Economic Impact of Double‐Crested Cormorant,Phalacrocorax auritus,Depredation on Channel Catfish,Ictalurus punctatus,Aquaculture in Mississippi,USA

The Yazoo River Basin of Mississippi, USA, supports the largest concentration of hectares devoted to channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, aquaculture production in North America. The Yazoo Basin also supports large numbers of resident, wintering and migrating fish‐eating birds, with the Double‐crested Cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus, implicated as the most serious depredating species. We used data from aerial surveys of numbers and distribution of cormorants in the Yazoo Basin and on commercial catfish ponds during winters (November–April) 2000–2001 and 2003–2004 to refine estimates of regional economic losses due to cormorant depredation. In both periods, the greatest monthly estimates of cormorant foraging occurred from 1 January to 31 March. Losses in terms of biomass, number, and dollar value were greater for foodfish ponds than fingerling ponds. Monthly weighted estimates of catfish consumed were 1775.3 and 1346.6 m.t. over winters 2000–2001 and 2003–2004, respectively. Total estimated losses for foodfish and fingerling ponds in 2000–2001 were $11.56 and $0.48 million, respectively, and in 2003–2004 were $5.22 and $0.40 million, respectively. Maximum dollar loss occurred during March in 2000–2001 and during February in 2003–2004. In this study, the volatility in variable production costs and nominal sales price, and distribution of cormorants on pond types and regionally were key factors in resulting economic loss estimates.