Pasteurella haemolytica A1 and Bovine Respiratory Disease: Pathogenesis

The severe fibrinonecrotic pneumonia associated with pneumonic pasteurellosis usually results from colonization of the lower respiratory tract by Pasteurella haemolytica biotype A, serotype 1(A1). Despite recent research efforts, the authors lack a detailed understanding of the interactions and host response to P. haemolytica in the respiratory tract. The authors hypothesize that management and environmental stress factors or viral infection alters the upper respiratory tract (URT) epithelium allowing P. haemolytica to colonize the epithelium. Once the URT is colonized, large numbers of organisms enter the lung where they interact with alveolar macrophages. Endotoxin, released from the bacteria, crosses the alveolar wall where it activates pulmonary intravascular macrophages, endothelium, neutrophils, lymphocytes, platelets, complement, and Hageman factor leading to complex interactions of cells and mediators. It is the progression of this inflammatory response with neutrophil influx that is ultimately responsible for the pulmonary injury. Leukotoxin is a major virulence factor of P. haemolytica that allows it to survive by destroying phagocytic cells. At subcytolytic concentrations it may also enhance the inflammatory response by activating cells to produce mediators and release reactive oxygen metabolites and proteases.     

Detection of Chlamydiaceae in ocular swabs from Australian pre‐export feedlot sheep

Infectious Ovine Keratoconjunctivitis (IOK) is a contagious ocular disease of sheep. A range of organisms have been observed as the aetiological agents of IOK. In this study, the presence of chlamydial pathogens (C. pecorum, C. abortus, C. psittaci) in conjunctival swabs was tested for. The swabs were collected from sheep with varying grades of IOK in an Australian pre‐export feedlot. The sheep had been rejected from a shipment because of the eye disease. The relative contribution of chlamydial pathogens to IOK and the rejection of animals was evaluated. In total, 149 conjunctival swabs were taken from rejected sheep (IOK Grades 1 to 6; n = 126) as well as those with healthy eyes (Grade 0; n = 23). Screening for chlamydial pathogens was done using species–specific qPCR assays. Chlamydial DNA was detected in 35.6% (53/149) of conjunctival samples. C. pecorum was the most predominant species with an overall prevalence of 28.9% (43/149). C. psittaci prevalence was 6.7% (10/149). Both organisms were detected in healthy as well as IOK‐affected eyes. All swabs tested negative for C. abortus. The results from this study demonstrate that Chlamydia spp can be readily detected in sheep presenting with IOK. The zoonotic C. abortus was not detected in any of the samples in this study, providing further evidence to the suggestion that this pathogen remains absent from Australia. Although the exact contribution of Chlamydia spp in the IOK pathogenesis is unclear, such studies are anticipated to be of benefit to Australian domestic and live export production systems.     

Estimating direct genetic and maternal effects affecting rabbit growth and feed efficiency with a factorial design

The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the significance of neonatal environment on feed efficiency. For that purpose, rabbits from a line selected for residual feed intake (RFI) during 10 generations (G10 kits) were cross‐fostered with non‐selected control does (i.e., G0 line), and reciprocally. In parallel, sibs were fostered by mothers from their original line. Nine hundred animals were raised in individual (N = 456) or collective (N = 320) cages. Traits analysed in this study were body weight at 32 days and at 63 days, average daily gain (ADG), feed intake between weaning and 63 days (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and RFI. The maternal environment offered by does from the line selected for RFI deteriorated the FCR of the kits, independently of their line of origin, during fattening (+0.08 ± 0.02) compared to FCR of kits nursed by G0 does. The line, the type of housing and the batch were significant effects for all the measured traits: G10 kits were lighter than their G0 counterparts at 32 days (?82.9 ± 9 g, p < 0.0001) and at 63 days (?161 ± 16 g, p < 0.0001). They also had a lower ADG (?2.36 ± 0.36 g/day, p < 0.0001), RFI (?521 ± 24 g/day, p < 0.0001) and a lower FI (?855 ± 31 g, p < 0.0001), resulting in a more desirable feed efficiency (FCR: ?0.35 ± 0.02). There was no significant difference in the contrast of G10 and G0 performances between collective and individual/digestive cages (p > 0.22): ?2.35 g/day versus 2.94 g/day for ADG, ?0.39 versus ?0.40 for FCR, ?577 g versus ?565 g for RFI and ?879 g versus ?859 g for FI, respectively). Thus, no genotype‐by‐environment (housing) interaction is expected at the commercial level, that is, no re‐ranking of the animals due to collective housing.     

Unipodal stance influences radiographic evaluation of foot balance in horses

Lifting the contralateral forelimb (unipodal stance) is often used as a method of restraint in horses. This experimental one group pretest, posttest study was conducted to evaluate the effects of unipodal stance on quantitative radiographic parameters in equine forefeet. Seven nonlame horses were randomly selected. Lateromedial (LM) and dorsopalmar (DP) projections were acquired for both forefeet, squarely placed on blocks, using two X‐ray generators. Radiographs of each foot were acquired first in a bipodal stance, immediately followed by the same radiographic projections obtained in a unipodal stance. The following measurements were recorded for each stance: distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) space width on both projections; mediolateral joint balance as the difference between lateral and medial DIPJ space widths on DP projections; extensor process‐to‐middle phalangeal condyle distance; and deep digital flexor tendon angle on LM projections. A matched pairs design and Student's t‐test with a 95% confidence level were used to test for statistical significance. Compared to a bipodal stance, lateral DIPJ space width was significantly reduced on unipodal DP views, whereas mediolateral joint imbalance and to a lesser extent medial DIPJ space width were significantly increased. On unipodal LM views, there was a significant higher degree of DIPJ flexion. These findings suggest that stance should be carefully taken into consideration when measuring radiographic parameters in equine forefeet, especially if assessing foot balance and conformation, as unipodal stance significantly affects the mediolateral balance of the DIPJ on DP radiographs and significantly alters the phalangeal axis on LM radiographs.     

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images improve habitat suitability models

Context

The ability to detect ecological networks in landscapes is of utmost importance for managing biodiversity and planning corridors.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to evaluate the information provided by a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image for landscape connectivity modeling compared to aerial photographs (APs).

Methods

We present a novel method that integrates habitat suitability derived from remote sensing imagery into a connectivity model to explain species abundance. More precisely, we compared how two resistance maps constructed using landscape and/or local metrics derived from AP or SAR imagery yield different connectivity values (based on graph theory), considering hedgerow networks and forest carabid beetle species as a model.

Results

We found that resistance maps using landscape and local metrics derived from SAR imagery improve landscape connectivity measures. The SAR model is the most informative, explaining 58% of the variance in forest carabid beetle abundance. This model calculates resistance values associated with homogeneous patches within hedgerows according to their suitability (canopy cover density and landscape grain) for the model species.

Conclusions

Our approach combines two important methods in landscape ecology: the construction of resistance maps and the use of buffers around sampling points to determine the importance of landscape factors. This study was carried out through an interdisciplinary approach involving remote sensing scientists and landscape ecologists. This study is a step forward in developing landscape metrics from satellites to monitor biodiversity.

     

A comparison of the somaclonal variation level of Rosa hybrida L. cv Meirutral plants regenerated from callus or direct induction from different vegetative and embryonic tissues

Summary Flowering plants of Rosa hybrida L. cv Meirutral have been obtained either from direct regeneration of adventitious shoots on leaf and root fragments, or through organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis on calli derived from anther, ovule, petal, sepal, receptacle, leaf, stem internode, root and zygotic embryo tissues. The calli derived from floral parts exhibited rhizogenesis. In this case direct induction of adventitious shoots from selected roots had to be performed in order to generate plants. A histological study of the morphogenetic calli was carried out. The plants regenerated directly and those regenerated from calli of leaf, stem internode, root and zygotic embryo tissues, together with reference plants propagated by cuttings, were compared on a phenotypic basis by taking into account petal number, form and colour, and plant growth habit. From these observations, it can be concluded that directly regenerated plants are as stable as reference plants while plants regenerated from callus are unstable, especially those derived from zygotic embryo tissues.Abbreviations BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - 2,4-D 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - GA3 gibberellic acid - IAA 3-indole-acetic acid - MS Murashige and Skoog - NAA 1-naphthalene acetic acid     

Sentinel-2 images reveal functional biophysical heterogeneities in crop mosaics

Landscape Ecology - Identifying landscape structure and understanding its functions are crucial for biological control. However, the relationship between the crop mosaic phenological heterogeneity...     

Molecular analysis of the Arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis

The molecular analysis of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis started at the beginning of this decade. The paper summarises the work of the ‘Laboratorium für Molekulare Genetik arbuskulärer Mykorrhiza’ at the MPI für terrestrische Mikrobiologie in Marburg on three major topics. Firstly, the plant response to the mycorrhizal colonisation was analysed using both, targeted and non‐targeted approaches. As an example, the localisation of the gst1 mRNA in potato mycorrhiza is shown. Second, molecular techniques were established to analyse gene expression of the fungal partner of the symbiosis. We present a differential RNA display analysis of spore germination in two AM fungi and the cloning of a gene from Glomus mosseae that shows expression at all stages of the fungal life cycle. In the last part, we introduce the work we are carrying out with a new root endophytic fungus, Piriformospora indica. Infection experiments on maize showed that despite the fungus performs as a root necrotroph, it has a positive effect on plant growth.     

Distribution of glyphosate and of its target enzyme inside wheat plants

Enolpyruvylshikimate phosphate (EPSP) synthase activity has been measured in different organs of 1–14-day-old wheat seedlings growing in culture chambers. Enzyme activity was first detected after two days, and reached its maximum value at day 4. It remained almost unchanged for 14 days thereafter. During germination, one of the most important sources of enzyme was the seed scutellum. Later, the developed leaves contained 43% of the whole stock of enzyme. Although the enzyme distribution was not identical under light or in the dark, there was no evident light induction of EPSP synthase. High enzyme activity was found in the coleoptile, continuing for the whole life-time of this organ, and which might be associated with its lignification. Five to 40% of the total enzyme was found in the roots, reaching a maximum at 14 days. At this stage, glyphosate applied to the first grown leaf was phloem-transported to the sink organs, with no clear relationship being shown between EPSP synthase activity and herbicide quantity in each organ. At day 4, glyphosate treatment, by soaking the seedlings in the herbicide solution, was followed by an active phloem transport from the scutellum to the growing parts. The average internal concentration of radiolabelled compounds (glyphosate plus its possible derivatives) which induced wheat seedling growth decrease, was shown to reach 50 to 100 μM under our conditions.