Copper Resistance in Pseudomonas syringae Strains Isolated from Mango Is Encoded Mainly by Plasmids

ABSTRACT Bacterial apical necrosis of mango, elicited by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae, limits fruit production in southern Spain and Portugal. Examination of a collection of P. syringae pv. syringae isolates for copper resistance showed that 59% were resistant to cupric sulfate. The survey of a mango orchard revealed an increase in frequencies of copper-resistant bacteria after repeated treatments with Bordeaux mixture. These data suggest that selection of copper-resistant strains could be a major reason for control failures following management with copper bactericides. Most copper-resistant isolates harbored plasmids, although the majority of them contained a 62-kb plasmid that also was present in copper-sensitive strains. The 62-kb plasmids were differentiated by restriction enzyme analysis and hybridization to copABCD DNA. The most frequently found copper-resistant plasmid type (62.1) was transferable by conjugation. Southern blot hybridizations showed that genetic determinants partially homologous to copABCD were present in all the copper-resistant strains examined, and usually were associated with plasmids; these determinants were not detected in copper-sensitive strains. The selective pressure exerted by copper bactericide sprays on the diversity of copper resistance determinants in bacterial populations of mango is discussed.     

Effects of genetic entry and competition by neighbouring trees on growth and wood properties of cloned Norway spruce (Picea abies)

? The aim of this work was to study both the effects of genetic entry and competition by neighbouring trees on growth, yield, wood density traits and fibre properties of 20 Norway spruce clones grown in an experimental trial located in southern Finland. The material included 10 Finnish clones, 2 Russian clones and 8 provenance-hybrids clones, the latter ones representing crosses between Finnish and foreign parent trees.

? We found that, compared to growth and yield, wood density traits and fibre properties showed, on average, lower phenotypic variations. Moreover, significant differences could be observed among the clones regardless of the trait (p < 0.05). Conversely, on average, no clear differences could be found between Finnish, Russian and provenance-hybrids clones in most of the studied traits.

? The marked differences among the clones, and lack of clear differences among the provenances suggested that any ranking, regarding different traits, should be based on individual clones. The phenotypic correlations between different traits ranged from moderate to strong suggesting that selection based on one trait would affect other traits. Regardless of clone, the growth of trees (e.g. breast height diameter) decreased and the wood density increased with increasing competition by neighbouring trees, which was expressed by competition index.

     

Comparative evaluation of experimental challenge by intraperitoneal injection and cohabitation of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L) after vaccination against Piscirickettsia salmonis (EM90‐like)

The Chilean aquaculture has been challenged for years by piscirickettsiosis. A common prophylactic measurement to try to reduce the impact from this disease is vaccination, but the development of vaccines that induce satisfactory protection of the fish in the field has so far not been successful. Experimental challenge models are used to test vaccine efficacy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of experimental vaccines after challenge by the two most widely used challenge routes, intraperitoneal injection and cohabitation. A total of 1,120 Atlantic salmon were vaccinated with non‐commercial experimental vaccines with increasing amounts of an inactivated Piscirickettsia salmonis EM90‐like isolate. Differences in mortality, macroscopic and microscopic pathological changes, bacterial load and immune gene expression were compared after challenge by different routes. The results revealed a similar progression of the diseases after challenge by both routes and no gross differences reflecting the efficacy of the vaccines could be identified. The analysis of the immune genes suggests a possible suppression of the cellular immunity by CD8 T cell and with this stimulation of bacterial survival and replication. Comparative studies of experimental challenge models are valuable with regard to identifying the best model to mimic real‐life conditions and vaccines’ performance.     

TRANSLATING THE MULTI-ACTOR APPROACH TO RESEARCH INTO PRACTICE USING A WORKSHOP APPROACH FOCUSING ON SPECIES MIXTURES

● Challenges in reconciling multi disciplinarity with clear expressions of single disciplinary concerns. ● Participant involvement was created bridging the gap between academia and practice. ● Collaboration potentials with actor networks to co-produce shared visions were recognized. ● A common language was developed concerning unfounded perceptions of barriers for change. ● The workshop was effective for producing a shared picture of research needs. The EIP-Agri multiactor approach was exemplified during a 3-day workshop with 63 project participants from the EU H2020 funded project “Redesigning European cropping systems based on species MIXtures”. The objective was to share firsthand experience of participatory research among researchers who were mostly not familiar with this approach. Workshop participants were divided into smaller multidisciplinary groups and given the opportunity to interact with representatives from eight actor positions in the value chain of the agrifood cooperative Terrena located in Western France. The four stages of the workshop were: (1) key actor interviews, (2) sharing proposed solutions for overcoming barriers, and (3) developing possible interdisciplinary concepts. Expressions of frustration were recorded serving both as a motivation for group members to become more aware of the scientific concerns and practices of their colleagues, as well as a recognition that some researchers have better skills integrating qualitative approaches than others. Nevertheless, the workshop format was an effective way to gain a common understanding of the pertinent issues that need to be addressed to meet overall multiactor-approach objectives. Working with the actor networks was identified and emphasized as a means to overcome existing barriers between academia and practice in order to coproduce a shared vision of the benefits of species mixture benefits.     

Prevalence of and risk factors for increased serum levels of allergen-specific IgE in a population of Norwegian dogs

Background

The importance of different allergens in association with IgE production and canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) has been poorly studied and few studies exist on factors influencing allergen-specific IgE antibodies in serum. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the prevalence of elevated IgE levels to different environmental allergens in Norwegian dogs with a suspicion of CAD. The secondary aim was to identify risk factors associated with elevated serum levels of allergen-specific IgE.

Results

The study sample consisted of serum from 1313 dogs of 161 different breeds. All samples were submitted for serologic IgE-testing (Fc epsilon R1 alpha-based ELISA) based on suspicion of CAD. Overall, 84.3% of the dogs had elevated IgE levels to one or more of the allergen(s). The predominant allergens amongst the positive results were the indoor allergens (Acarus siro 84.0%, Dermatophagoides farinae 80.2%, Tyrophagus putrescentiae 79.9%). Sheep sorrel was the most commonly encountered outdoor allergen (40.0%). Only 2.6% of the dogs with elevated IgE levels were positive to flea saliva.The test results varied significantly depending on when the serum samples were taken. Samples taken during summer and autumn more often came out positive than samples taken during winter and spring. Geographical variations were also demonstrated. A greater proportion of females than males had positive test results, and more females than males tested positive to outdoor allergens. The mean age was significantly higher in the dogs testing positive than amongst the dogs testing negative. The allergen-specific IgE levels varied with breed. The boxer was the only breed with a significantly higher proportion of positive test results compared to the other breeds. Boxers also had a higher prevalence of elevated IgE levels to outdoor allergens, whereas the Rottweiler had a higher prevalence of elevated IgE levels to indoor allergens compared to the other breeds.

Conclusions

IgE hypersensitivity was most often associated with indoor allergens. Outdoor allergens were of minor importance and IgE reactivity to flea saliva was rare. Breed differences in allergen-specific IgE levels were identified. Season of sampling, and the dogs’ geographical localisation, sex and age also affected the results of the IgE analysis.     

Forest fragmentation, climate change and understory fire regimes on the Amazonian landscapes of the Xingu headwaters

Understory fire modeling is a key tool to investigate the cornerstone concept of landscape ecology, i.e. how ecological processes relate to landscape structure and dynamics. Within this context, we developed FISC??a model that simulates fire ignition and spread and its effects on the forest carbon balance. FISC is dynamically coupled to a land-use change model to simulate fire regimes on the Amazonian landscapes of the Xingu Headwaters under deforestation, climate change, and land-use management scenarios. FISC incorporates a stochastic cellular automata approach to simulate fire spread across agricultural and forested lands. CARLUC, nested in FISC, simulates fuel dynamics, forest regrowth, and carbon emissions. Simulations of fire regimes under modeled scenarios revealed that the major current and future driver of understory fires is forest fragmentation rather than climate change. Fire intensity proved closely related to the landscape structure of the remaining forest. While climate change may increase the percentage of forest burned outside protected areas by 30% over the next four decades, deforestation alone may double it. Nevertheless, a scenario of forest recovery and better land-use management would abate fire intensity by 18% even in the face of climate change. Over this time period, the total carbon balance of the Xingu??s forests varies from an average net sink of 1.6?ton?ha^?1?year^?1 in the absence of climate change, fire and deforestation to a source of ?0.1?ton?ha^?1?year^?1 in a scenario that incorporates these three processes.     

Can Enhanced Awareness Change Local School Children’s Knowledge of Carnivores in Northern Tanzania?

We used a four-day program with a pre-test–post-test approach on 355 selected school children to investigate the influence of a wildlife education project on the acquisition of knowledge about large carnivores in Loliondo, Tanzania. After the school program was completed, a significantly higher number of school children correctly identified six carnivore species, compared to when the same identification task was administered prior to the initiation of the school program. This increased knowledge is important for the conservation of large carnivores in general and of African wild dogs, in particular, because the post-test results showed that most school children considered wild dogs to be an important part of the ecosystem. In areas experiencing human– carnivore conflict, it is important to include conservation education programs in school curricula as early as possible to enable students to gain knowledge of large carnivores and their role in ecosystems.     

A case-control study of risk factors for canine atopic dermatitis among boxer, bullterrier and West Highland white terrier dogs in Sweden

Environmental and dietary risk factors for the development of canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) in the high-risk breeds of boxer, bullterrier and West Highland white terrier were assessed in a case-control study. A logistic regression model was developed to evaluate their relative importance in 58 cases from 12 practices in Sweden and 61 unaffected controls, matched to cases by breed and year of birth. The final model included a random error term for 'examining veterinarian', as dogs from the same practice were not considered independent. No effect of gender, season of birth, environment, vaccination or de-worming practices on the odds of developing CAD was detected. The main finding was that feeding a diet including noncommercial products to the bitch during lactation had a protective effect on the development of CAD in her offspring; the odds of developing CAD were twice as high among offspring from bitches that were not exposed to home-made/noncommercial diets [95% confidence interval (CI) of the odds ratio: 1.2-3.8]. The population attributable fraction for not feeding home-made diets to the lactating bitch was estimated as 0.4 (95% CI: 0.04-0.63). Randomized controlled clinical trials are needed to further support the finding of a potential protective role of diet in CAD development.     

Sediment management and the renewability of floodplain clay for structural ceramics

Background, aim, and scope  

The Netherlands has vast resources of clay that are exploited for the fabrication of structural ceramic products such as bricks and roof tiles. Most clay is extracted from the so-called embanked floodplains along the rivers Rhine and Meuse, areas that are flooded during high-discharge conditions. Riverside clay extraction is—at least in theory—compensated by deposition. Based on a sediment balance (deposition versus extraction), we explore the extent to which clay can be regarded as a renewable resource, with potential for sustainable use. Beyond that, we discuss the implications for river and sediment management, especially for the large engineering works that are to be undertaken to increase the discharge capacities of the Rhine and Meuse.     

Morbidity of insured Swedish cats during 1999-2006 by age, breed, sex, and diagnosis

The aim of the study was to describe patterns of morbidity, as reflected by reimbursed claims for veterinary care among cats covered by a Swedish insurance company during 1999-2006. The annual incidence rates of having at least one veterinary care event were calculated overall and stratified by sex, age, breed, diagnosis and urban/other location. The total rate was 875 (95% CI 858-892) cats with claims per 10,000 cat-years at risk. The Siamese, Burmese, and the Abyssinians had high rates of claims, compared to the Norwegian Forest cat, the Maine Coon, the European Shorthair and domestic cats. The most common causes for insurance claims were trauma, gastrointestinal and lower urinary tract problems and there was substantial breed, sex and age variation for certain problems. For example, among cats under 9 years of age, the rate for lower urinary tract problems was 2-3 times higher in males than females.