Onchocerca gutturosa and Onchocerca lienalis in cattle: variation in length of microfilariae by site of recovery

Dermal microfilariae recovered from specimens obtained from umbilical and cervical sites of cattle infected with adult Onchocerca gutturosa alone or with adults of O gutturosa and O lienalis were measured and compared with uterine microfilariae obtained directly from gravid female worms of each species. Uterine microfilariae of O gutturosa were longer than dermal microfilariae obtained from cattle harboring only adults of O gutturosa. Dermal microfilariae were recovered from umbilical and cervical sites in these cattle. Those found at the cervical site had lengths equal to or greater than lengths of microfilariae recovered from the umbilical site. There was a significant (P less than 0.0001) shift in length across populations of microfilariae of O gutturosa from various sites in its bovine host, with a progressive decrease in length between microfilariae recovered from the worm's uterus, microfilariae from the cervical dermis, and microfilariae from the umbilical dermis, respectively. A similar direct comparison was not possible for microfilariae of O lienalis, because none of the cattle was infected with only adult worms of this species. In an indirect comparison, microfilariae of O lienalis were identified at the umbilicus, but their presence in the cervical region could not be determined unequivocally because of confounding of microfilariae length by concurrent infection with O gutturosa. Uterine microfilariae from O lienalis were longer than uterine microfilariae of O gutturosa, although a degree of overlap in the range of measurements existed between species.     

Effects of extracerebral dopamine on salsolinol‐ or thyrotropin‐releasing hormone‐induced prolactin (PRL) secretion in goats

The aim of the present study was to clarify the effect of extracerebral dopamine (DA) on salsolinol (SAL)‐induced prolactin (PRL) secretion in goats. An intravenous injection of SAL or thyrotropin‐releasing hormone (TRH) was given to female goats before and after treatment with an extracerebral DA receptor antagonist, domperidone (DOM), and the PRL‐releasing response to SAL was compared with that to TRH. DOM alone increased plasma PRL concentrations and the PRL‐releasing response to DOM alone was greater than that to either SAL alone or TRH alone. The PRL‐releasing response to DOM plus SAL was similar to that to DOM alone, and no additive effect of DOM and SAL on the secretion of PRL was observed. In contrast, the PRL‐releasing response to DOM plus TRH was greater than that to either TRH alone or DOM alone and DOM synergistically increased TRH‐induced PRL secretion. The present results demonstrate that the mechanism involved in PRL secretion by SAL differs from that by TRH, and suggest that the extracerebral DA might be associated in part with the modulation of SAL‐induced PRL secretion in goats.     

Histological lesions in vascular tissues of bovine herpes virus type 4-infected rabbits

The gamma-herpes virus bovine herpes virus type 4 (BoHV-4) is distributed worldwide in cattle populations with unknown pathogenicity. Bovine endothelial cells were recently shown to be susceptible to BoHV-4 infection in vitro and this virus accelerated the cholesterol-induced atherosclerotic process in rabbits. In this study, the in vivo effect of BoHV-4 on cardiovascular tissue was investigated by intravenous infection of rabbits fed a cholesterol free diet. Inflammatory lesions of vascular tissue in aortic and valvular endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells were detected by H&E staining, PCR, IF, EM immunohistochemistry, while virus isolation was used to detect virus particles. Acute and chronic vasculitis, signs of chronic endocarditis, with mononuclear cell accumulation and a fresh thrombus was found. Herpes viruses have already been thought to initiate cardio-vascular disorders, now this paper shows that a bovine gamma-herpes virus could also be a causative agent of vascular lesions in mammals fed a normal diet. BoHV-4-infection of rabbits could serve as a useful animal model for research into virus-induced human cardio-vascular diseases.     

Graph theory in action: evaluating planned highway tracks based on connectivity measures

Maintaining connectivity among local populations in a fragmented landscape is crucial for the survival of many species. For isolated habitat patches, stochastic fluctuations and reduced gene flow can lead to high risk of extinction. The connectivity of the landscape is especially crucial for the carabid species living in the fragmented forests of the Bereg plain (NE Hungary and W Ukraine) because a highway will be constructed through the plain. Our purpose is to (1) evaluate the impacts of three possible highway tracks, (2) suggest a solution that is realistic with less impact on connectivity than other plans and (3) discuss how to decrease the disadvantageous effects of each track. Our results, based on a network analysis of landscape graph of patches and ecological corridors, indicate that the intended highway could have deleterious consequences on forest-living carabids. Relatively simple actions, like the establishment of stepping stones, could compensate for the loss of habitat connectivity and promote the survival of carabids, or minor modifications in one possible track could diminish its adverse effects. While many other studies would be needed for a comprehensive assessment of the biotic impact of the highway, we provide an example on the usefulness of network analysis for land use management. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

The effect of gamma irradiation on the MOE of various species

Gamma irradiation is a simple and effective method to sterilize wood and stop fungal decay. Unfortunately, little is known of the effect of this method on other properties of wood. The purpose of the present study was to establish the relationship between irradiation dosage and the elastic characteristics of wood. The longitudinal and transverse dynamic MOE of five wood species were measured periodically between subsequent irradiation phases. There was a steady decrease in MOE as gamma dosage increased, for all species included. The extent of this decrease was different between the examined species. The experimental data suggests that the MOE of lower density species decreases more sharply than that of higher density ones. Interpolation between the experimental data points shows that the necessary dose for fungal sterilization does not significantly reduce the MOE of the species involved in this study.     

Changing of fat content and fatty acid profile of reared pike (Esox lucius) fed two different diets

Fat content and fatty acid profile of two pike yearling groups grown on two different diets were compared. The groups originated from culture on artificial feed. One group (cultured pike fed first pellet then prey‐fish (PF)) was fed with natural food, live prey‐fish, while the other one (cultured pike fed exclusively pellet (PP)) by trout feed through a 3‐month experimental period. Growth of pike was lower with PP than with PF. The trout feed resulted in an increase of the fat content of fillet and the formation of abdominal fat depots. Feeding of natural food decreased the fat content. The proportion of the saturated fatty acids in fillet was higher in the (PF) group. The n‐6 fatty acids (arachidonic C20:4n‐6 and docosatetraenic C22:4n‐6 acids) were lowest in PP‐fed pike. Regarding total n‐3 fatty acids ratio there was no significant difference between the groups, but the level of α‐linolenic (C:18:3n‐3) acid showed significant difference among groups.     

In vivo activity of native GnRHs and their analogues on ovulation in the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell)

Four distinct forms of native gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) and two newly designed analogues were tested for their in vivo activity to induce ovulation in African catfish. The effects of these peptides on ovulatory parameters were compared with those of carp pituitary and [d ‐Ala⁶, Pro⁹‐NEt]‐mammalian GnRH analogue (mGnRHa), two tested ovulation‐inducing agents in African catfish. Assessment of ovulation was carried out by determining the ovulation ratio and the relative quantity of egg produced. From the results of the experiments, the order of potency of the native GnRH peptides is summarized as chicken GnRH‐II (cGnRH‐II) >salmon GnRH (sGnRH) >mammalian GnRH >chicken GnRH‐I (cGnRH‐I). Chicken GnRH‐II was as potent as mGnRHa while cGnRH‐I was totally ineffective. The new d ‐Orn⁶‐cGnRH‐II and d ‐Orn⁶‐sGnRH with a substitution at position 6 with d ‐isomer residue were as potent as the most extensively used mGnRHa, indicating that the position 6 modification might be more crucial than the substitution at the C‐terminal. On the basis of our results, the potential use and incorporation of cGnRH‐II and sGnRH for the development of more generic spawning induction therapies are suggested.     

Plant circadian clocks increase photosynthesis, growth, survival, and competitive advantage

Circadian clocks are believed to confer an advantage to plants, but the nature of that advantage has been unknown. We show that a substantial photosynthetic advantage is conferred by correct matching of the circadian clock period with that of the external light-dark cycle. In wild type and in long- and short-circadian period mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana, plants with a clock period matched to the environment contain more chlorophyll, fix more carbon, grow faster, and survive better than plants with circadian periods differing from their environment. This explains why plants gain advantage from circadian control.     

Advances in sunflower downy mildew research

This review summarises the progress in research on sunflower downy mildew as reported in publications of the past 10 to 15 years, the period since the last comprehensive review on Plasmopara halstedii. Particular attention is paid to subjects that showed much progress and may be of particular interest to sunflower pathologists, mycologists or molecular biologists. Accordingly, single sections are devoted to the problems of taxonomic and phylogenetic aspects, host specificity, the host—pathogen interaction including resistance phenomena, as well as epidemiology and disease management. Reflecting the progress achieved in some fields and illuminating the deficits in others should stimulate the reader's interest in this very significant pathosystem.     

Occurrence of Platyarthrus schoblii (Isopoda, Oniscidea) and its ant hosts in Hungary

The myrmecophilous Platyarthrus schoblii Budde-Lund, 1885 is widely distributed and native in the Mediterranean region. In Hungary it was first found at Budapest, in 2001, in a colony of Lasius neglectus van Loon, Boomsma and Andrásfalvy, 1990 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). This invasive and polygynous ant species is dispersing in an antropochorous way throughout Europe. There are 16 known colonies of L. neglectus in Hungary. Fourteen of them have been surveyed for the isopod, which was detected in eight cases (57%). In addition to L. neglectus, the isopod has been recently found with other native ant species [Lasius niger (Linnaeus, 1758), Lasius emarginatus (Olivier, 1791) and Tetramorium caespitum (Linnaeus, 1758)] in the country. We have also found the joint occurrence of P. hoffmannseggii Brandt, 1833 and P. schoblii. The co-occurrence and joint expansion of the ranges of L. neglectus and P. schoblii indicates their co-habitation and antropochorous dispersal while the appearance with L. emarginatus, L. niger and T. caespitum supports our hypothesis about possible adoption by different ant species.