Experimental infection of dogs with various Bartonella species or subspecies isolated from their natural reservoir

Dogs can be infected by a wide variety of Bartonella species. However, limited data is available on experimental infection of dogs with Bartonella strains isolated from domestic animals or wildlife. We report the inoculation of six dogs with Bartonella henselae (feline strain 94022, 16S rRNA type II) in three sets of two dogs, each receiving a different inoculum dose), four dogs inoculated with B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii type I (ATCC strain, one mongrel dog) or type II (coyote strain, two beagles and one mongrel) and B. rochalimae (coyote strain, two beagles). None of the dogs inoculated with B. henselae became bacteremic, as detected by classical blood culture. However, several dogs developed severe necrotic lesions at the inoculation site and all six dogs seroconverted within one to two weeks. All dogs inoculated with the B. v. berkhoffii and B. rochalimae strains became bacteremic at levels comparable to previous experimental infections with either a dog isolate or a human isolate. Our data support that dogs are likely accidental hosts for B. henselae, just like humans, and are efficient reservoirs for both B. v. berkhoffii and B. rochalimae.     

Dendrochronological analysis of the growth and growth-climate relationships of conifers in the region of alkaline dust deposition

Relationships between climate and radial growth of Oxalis-Myrtillus-site type Norway spruce and Scots pine stands under different cement dust loads were investigated. Dendrochronological methods were used. Long-term alkaline (pH 13.2-12.7) dust pollution emitted over 40 years from a cement plant was the reason of alkalisation (pH 7.8-8.1) and high concentrations of K, Ca and Mg in soil of affected territories. Two study sites, Kunda and Malla (2.5 and 5.0 km E from the emission source), were influenced by the dust emissions of the cement plant. Two other study sites, Eru (38 km W) and Revoja (34 km W), were situated on a relatively unpolluted area and served as control sites. The relationships between the radial growth and climate were almost similar on the control and dust-polluted sites. The climatic variables that had a significant effect on the radial growth of Norway spruce at both control and polluted sites were the temperature and precipitation of summer months of the current and preceding years. Specific to the Scots pine stands growing under dust pollution was a significant positive impact of the current spring temperature on the radial growth. A positive effect of precipitation during winter months on the radial growth was found at all sites. A significant negative effect of cement dust on the radial growth of Scots pine stands during the period of large amounts of dust emission (1966-1991) was detected. The effect of cement dust emissions on the radial growth of Norway spruce stands was also negative but weak. The decrease in the dust emissions since 1992 improved the growth conditions at pine stand sites.     

Something old,something new: Historical perspectives provide lessons for blue growth agendas

The concept of “blue growth,” which aims to promote the growth of ocean economies while holistically managing marine socioecological systems, is emerging within national and international marine policy. The concept is often promoted as being novel; however, we show that historical analogies exist that can provide insights for contemporary planning and implementation of blue growth. Using a case‐study approach based on expert knowledge, we identified 20 historical fisheries or aquaculture examples from 13 countries, spanning the last 40–800 years, that we contend embody blue growth concepts. This is the first time, to our knowledge, that blue growth has been investigated across such broad spatial and temporal scales. The past societies managed to balance exploitation with equitable access, ecological integrity and/or economic growth for varying periods of time. Four main trajectories existed that led to the success or failure of blue growth. Success was linked to equitable rather than open access, innovation and management that was responsive, holistic and based on scientific knowledge and monitoring. The inability to achieve or maintain blue growth resulted from failures to address limits to industry growth and/or anticipate the impacts of adverse extrinsic events and drivers (e.g. changes in international markets, war), the prioritization of short‐term gains over long‐term sustainability, and loss of supporting systems. Fourteen cross‐cutting lessons and 10 recommendations were derived that can improve understanding and implementation of blue growth. Despite the contemporary literature broadly supporting our findings, these recommendations are not adequately addressed by agendas seeking to realize blue growth.