Acute hemorrhagic and necrotizing pneumonia, splenitis, and dermatitis in a pet rabbit caused by a novel herpesvirus (leporid herpesvirus-4)

A 1.5-year-old female rabbit (doe) was presented with a 3-day history of lethargy, anorexia, and mild facial swelling. The animal died shortly after examination and severe, acute hemorrhagic pneumonia was noted grossly. An alphaherpesvirus consistent with leporid herpesvirus-4 was isolated and characterized from this animal. This is the first confirmed report of the disease in Canada.     

Eucalyptus leaf-litter decomposition: Effects of relative humidity and substrate moisture content

A method to determine the effect of relative humidity and substrate moisture content on rates of decomposition of Eucalyptus leaf litter is described. Significant loss of dry weight occurred at relative humidity and moisture content values of 32 and 5% respectively which are values much lower than those at which microbial activity in other systems has been reported. It is likely, however, that biological decomposition is not significant until relative humidity and moisture content values are above 75 and 13% respectively.     

Late frost sensitivity of juvenile <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fagus sylvatica</Emphasis> L. differs between southern Germany and Bulgaria and depends on preceding air temperature

Fagus sylvatica, the dominant native forest tree species of Central Europe, is sensitive to late frost events. Advanced leaf flushing due to climate warming may lead to more frequent frost damage in the future. Here, we explore local adaptation to late frost events at both continental and regional scales and test how moderate climate warming (+1.5°C) affects late frost sensitivity. Short-term leaf injury and height growth after a late frost event were quantified in a common garden experiment with 2-year-old F. sylvatica seedlings. The fully crossed three-factorial design consisted of a late frost manipulation, a continuous warming manipulation and selected provenances (three provenances from western Bulgaria and three from southern Germany). Late frost led to leaf injury and reduced height growth (−7%). Provenances differed in their late frost sensitivity at the regional scale, and local adaptation was detected. At the larger scale, the Bulgarian provenances showed reduced height growth (−17%), while the German provenances did not exhibit growth reduction. The warming treatment prevented late frost damage, while height growth declined by 19% in the reference temperature treatment. This surprising finding was attributed to advanced leaf maturity in the warming treatment. The impact of late frost events on F. sylvatica in a warmer world will depend on timing. An event that damages leaves immediately after leaf flushing appears negligible a few days earlier or later, thereby complicating projections. Local adaptation to late frost is evident at a regional scale. Management strategies should aim at maximizing genetic diversity to adapt to climate change.     

Rhizoctonia solani AG 2-1 as a causative agent of cotyledon rot on European beech (Fagus sylvatica)

Rhizoctonia solani was frequently isolated in the Italian Alps from nursery-grown European beech (Fagus sylvatica) seedlings displaying symptoms of cotyledon rot. Koch's postulates were verified and mode of infection of the associated isolates was investigated with light and scanning electron microscopy. Population structure of the pathogen was investigated by scoring the anastomosis reaction type in pairings between different isolates from the same seedbed. One pathogen genotype showed a large distribution area within the seedbed, this implying that the inoculum had been building up in the seedbed over a longer time period. Hyphal anastomosis tests and sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA indicated that the pathogen belongs to AG 2-1 of R. solani. ITS sequence analysis indicates that the isolates from beech are closely related to R. solani isolates causing a disease on tulip. The striking similarities between the two diseases are discussed.     

New combination for the therapy of canine otitis externa II Efficacy in vitro and in vivo

A new, effective drug combination was developed for the therapy of canlne otitis externa (OE) by taking into consideration the microorganisms most frequently isolated from dogs affected with OE, their combination, their drug sensitivity and the type and incidence of ear canal inflammation. The antlmycotic active ingredient of the combination Is ketoconazoie, Its antlbacteriai component Is gentamlcin suiphate, while its antiphiogistic constltuent is mazipredone hydrochloride. Based upon the results of in vltro pharmacodynamic tests, the antifungal activity of the combination is superior to that of ketoconazoie used alone at the same concentration. A total of 210 dogs affected wlth OE were treated with the combination: 94-2 per cent of them became clinically symptomless and microbioiogicaiiy negative in an average of 8-5 days. No adverse reactions were observed In connection wlth the use of the drug combination. The therapeutic results can be attributed to the hlgh antifungal efficacy of the combhation demonstrated In vltro and to the favourable properties of the solvent mixture.     

Distribution of the spotted-wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) in the north-eastern part of the Carpathian lowlands

Drosophila suzukii (spotted-wing drosophila) spread rapidly during the first decade of the 2000s and then became widely distributed in Europe except for eastern countries. In Hungary, it was detected in 2012 for the first time, but its distribution in the eastern part of the country had been not studied. During the present investigation nine sampling sites in the north-eastern part of the Carpathian lowlands belonging to Hungary, Ukraine and Romania were studied with baited traps. D. suzukii was detected in all seven Hungarian sites and in the one Western Ukrainian site where sampling occurred. Amongst the Hungarian sites, six had not previously been studied and the data provided here are the first for Western Ukraine and the second for this country following the published record from Yalta (Crimea, south-east Ukraine).