Molecular characterization of Listeria monocytogenes and the significance for food hygiene

Research on the pathogen Listeria monocytogenes is a key issue both for the clinical and the food microbiologist owing to the unique pathway of infection and the exposure of humans via contaminated foods. Although, in Austria, the incidence of listeriosis is about 870-fold lower than the incidence for Salmonella infection, the food law manages both foodborne pathogens with a comparable stringency. The current risk management is based on the assumption that environmental L. monocytogenes isolates, from which the pool of "foodborne" isolates is recruited, are of similar pathogenicity compared to clinical and outbreak isolates. This verdict became doubted in the recent years. Characterization of L. monocytogenes by virulence gene sequencing, virulence studies in vivo and in vitro and by molecular typing was considerably stimulating the discussion on virulence variability in L. monocytogenes. This article provides insights in the value of epidemiological follow-up studies by presenting a typing study on 15 cases of listeriosis observed in a district hospital in Turkey. Furthermore results from typing L. monocytogenes either by virulence gene sequencing, mismatch amplification mutation assay or by pulsed field gel electrophoresis are discussed. The close interaction of molecular microbiology with food microbiology both in applied and basic science is currently creating a new discipline of molecular food microbiology. We are convinced that veterinary medicine will contribute to this exiting development in a fruitful way.     

Epidemiology of Fusarium Infection and Deoxynivalenol Content in Winter Wheat in the Rhineland, Germany

Details of our long-term research programme concerning the epidemiology of Fusarium spp. and mycotoxin production are summarized. Evaluation of the occurrence of Fusarium spp., mainly on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum), was carried out by investigating Fusarium infection and mycotoxin contamination. Two to 15% of grains were infested during 1995–1998 at three climatologically differing localities of the Rhineland, Germany. Disease progress was accelerated by rainfall during the flowering season. The species most frequently isolated were Fusarium avenaceum, F. poae, F. culmorum and F. graminearum. The mean deoxynivalenol (DON) content varied from 19gkg^–1 (1995) to 310gkg^–1 (1998) and was not always correlated with disease severity. Organic farming systems showed lower rates of infection with ear blight and lower mycotoxin contamination than conventional farming systems.     

Intraspecific Relationship of Plasmopara halstedii Isolates Differing in Pathogenicity and Geographic Origin Based on ITS Sequence Data

Sequence parts of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nuclear ribosomal DNA were analysed to screen for the intraspecific variability of a non-coding genomic region in 15 Plasmopara halstedii populations of different pathotype and geographic origin. Samples revealed uniformity in a ca. 790 Bp fragment comprising of the ITS-1, 5.8S and front parts of the ITS-2. In contrast, clear differences were found in a ca. 810 Bp fragment of the ITS-2 thus allowing differentiation between populations of pathotype 100, 310 and 330 and a group of populations representing pathotypes 700, 701, 703, 710 and 730. Samples of pathotypes 700 to730 originated from Slovakia, France, and Germany, but were uniform in both ITS sequence parts, thus indicating very recent origin of these highly aggressive physiological races. The potential use of ITS sequences for pathotype differentiation and phylogenetic studies in P. halstedii is discussed.     

Zur räumlichen Verteilung und Gestaltung von Erholungswäldern

Summary One of the essential aims of land planning is to satisfy the people's need for recreation. For this purpose it seems to be efficient to differentiate between “local” recreation and “long-distance” recreation areas and to consider them separatly in regional planning. To determine the location of recreational forests we need appropriate aids for decision making. Therefore activities that bring about deterioration of natural conditions, e.g. water pollution, soil erosion etc., as well as injuries to the optical value of the landscape, are not allowed in natural recreational areas. On the other hand it is possible to delimit forests after an analysis of stand composition and also by interpretation of maps giving the physiological effects of the climate. Above all the habits of the people are of importance, especially when they are based on irrational motives. These factores are of great importance in addition to the sociological conditions of an area and therefore do not allow the organization of long-distance recreation areas from simply a regional point of view. In the case of areas designed for local recreation, however, it might be sufficient to appraise the demands of the people through a regional analysis.

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Herrn Professor Dr. Dr. h. c.Julius Speer zum 65. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Rundschau

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Elektronische Datenverarbeitung in der Forstwissenschaft

Zusammenfassung In der Forstwissenschaft gewinnen neben der herk?mmlichen elektronischen Datenverarbeitung die zahlreichen Formen fortentwickelter automatisierter Datenverarbeitung zunehmende Bedeutung. Wichtigste Voraussetzung für ihre Anwendung ist, da? Rechenanlagen mit ausreichender Maschinenkonfiguration und leistungsf?higem Betriebssystem zur Verfügung stehen und eine angemessene Programmversorgung gew?hrleistet ist, was heute i. d. R. vorausgesetzt werden kann. Daneben mu? eine Reihe personeller und finanzieller Mindestvoraussetzungen geschaffen sein. Die Programmversorgung für die Datenverarbeitung in der Forstwissenschaft der Bundesrepublik stützt sich im wesentlichen auf Programm-Bibliotheken der internationalen EDV-Benutzungsorganisationen und auf Programmquellen aus dem engeren Bereich der mathematischen Statistik, in jüngster Zeit auch zunehmend auf Programmbest?nde forstlicher Fachinstitute des Auslandes und auf eigene Programmentwicklungen. Die vielf?ltigen Einsatzm?glichkeiten der elektronischen Datenverarbeitung in der Forstwissenschaft werden an Beispielen aus der Holzvorratsinventur und Stichprobensimulation, der Ertragstafelforschung, Planungs- und Optimierungstechnik sowie am Beispiel eines neuen ?kologischen Forschungsprojektes dargestellt. Abschlie?end wird auf einige Aussagegrenzen hingewiesen, die bei Auswertung und Interpretation von Datenverarbeitungsergebnissen zu beachten sind. Herrn Professor Dr.E. Assmann zu seinem 65. Geburtstag in Verehrung gewidmet.     

Welche Nutzorganismen sind in Europa für den blologischen Pflanzen- und Gesundheitsschutz verfügbar?

Zusammenfassung Angesichts fehlender Information über die kommerzielle Verfügbarkeit in Europa von Biopräparaten (auf der Basis von Mikroorganismen einschl. der Viren) und von nützlichen Metazoen für biologische Maßnahmen zur Unterdrückung von Schadorganismen wurde an die amtlichen Stellen, ausnahmsweise an Einzelexperten in folgenden Ländern eine Umfrage gerichtet: Frankreich, Großbritannien, Italien, Österreich, Rumänien, Jugoslawien, Schweden, die Schweiz, die Niederlande, Finnland und Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Die Ergebnisse werden in 2 Teilen als ein Momentbild des Zustandes Anfang 1984 vorgelegt. Im Begleittext wird für die Annahme einer Europäischen Zulassungsordnung für Biopräparate plädiert (die als Entwurf bereits vorliegt), um Zeit und Geld zu sparen. Zwischen den einzelnen Ländern bestehen sehr große Unterschiede bezüglich der Verfügbarkeit biotischer Agentien für biologische Verfahren. Einige vielversprechende neue Entwicklungen werden kurz in der Hoffnung vorgestellt, daß sie stimulierend wirken. Allen Kollegen, die bei der Umfrage geholfen haben, sei besonders gedankt.

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Which beneficial organisms are available in Europe for biological plant and health protection

In view of the lack of information concerning the commercial availability in Europe of biopreparations (based on microorganisms including viruses) as well as of beneficial metazoa for biological control of pest organisms, an inquiry was started for the following countries: France, Great Britain, Italy, Austria, Rumania, Yugoslavia, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Finland and Germany Fed. Rep. Results are presented as a momentary picture of the situation in early 1984. A plead is made for the acceptance of an European protocol for registration of biopreparations (which has already been drafted) in order to save money and time. There are great differences between countries in the availability of biotic agents for biological control. Some very promising new developments are briefly reviewed and considered to act in a stimulating way. Thanks are due to those colleagues who helped to obtain the information here presented.

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Mit 2 Tabellen     

Zur Behandlung und Wuchsleistung der Kiefer

European Journal of Forest Research - Anhand yon Wuchsmodellen wird die Bestandesentwicktung der Kiefer bei unterschied-licher Begrüindungsdichte und Bestandesbehandlung dargestellt. Neben...