Genome analysis of African swine fever virus isolated in Italy in 1983

An African Swine Fever virus (ASFV) isolated in an 1983 outbreak of the disease in Piemonte, Italy, was related by restriction endonuclease analysis of the viral genome to ASFV strains isolated in the Dominican Republic (1978), Haiti (1981) and Cameroon (1982).     

Population Structure of Phytophthora cinnamomi in South Africa

ABSTRACT Phytophthora cinnamomi isolates collected from 1977 to 1986 and 1991 to 1993 in two regions in South Africa were analyzed using isozymes. A total of 135 isolates was analyzed for 14 enzymes representing 20 putative loci, of which four were polymorphic. This led to the identification of nine different multilocus isozyme genotypes. Both mating types of P. cinnamomi occurred commonly in the Cape region, whereas, predominantly, the A2 mating type occurred in the Mpumalanga region of South Africa. A2 mating type isolates could be resolved into seven multilocus isozyme genotypes, compared with only two multilocus isozyme genotypes for the A1 mating type isolates. Low levels of gene (0.115) and genotypic (2.4%) diversity and a low number of alleles per locus (1.43) were observed for the South African P. cinnamomi population. The genetic distance between the Cape and Mpumalanga P. cinnamomi populations was relatively low (D(m) = 0.165), and no specific pattern in regional distribution of multilocus isozyme genotypes could be observed. The genetic distance between the "old" (isolated between 1977 and 1986) and "new" (isolated between 1991 and 1993) P. cinnamomi populations from the Cape was low (D(m) = 0.164), indicating a stable population over time. Three of the nine multilocus isozyme genotypes were specific to the "old" population, and only one multilocus isozyme genotype was specific to the "new" population. Significant differences in allele frequencies, a high genetic distance (D(m) = 0.581) between the Cape A1 and A2 mating type isolates, significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, a low overall level of heterozygosity, and a high fixation index (0.71) all indicate that sexual reproduction occurs rarely, if at all, in the South African P. cinnamomi population.     

Does the consumption of divergent resources influence risk taking behaviour in juvenile perch (Perca fluviatilis L.)?

Heynen M, Heermann L, Borcherding J. Does the consumption of divergent resources influence risk taking behaviour in juvenile perch (Perca fluviatilis L.)?
Ecology of Freshwater Fish 2011: 20: 1–4. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S     

Thyroid imaging in the dog: current status and future directions

This review describes the advantages and disadvantages of radiography, ultrasonography, and nuclear medicine in the 2 most frequent thyroid pathologies of the dog: acquired primary hypothyroidism and thyroid neoplasia. Ultrasonography and scintigraphy remain the 2 most indicated imaging modalities for these thyroid abnormalities. However, as in human medicine, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging also have potential indications. This is especially the case in the evaluation of the extent, local invasiveness, and local or distant metastases of thyroid neoplasia. Based on experience with different imaging modalities in people, we suggest future directions in the imaging of the canine thyroid gland.     

Campylobacter monitoring in German broiler flocks: an explorative time series analysis

Campylobacter, a major zoonotic pathogen, displays seasonality in poultry and in humans. In order to identify temporal patterns in the prevalence of thermophilic Campylobacter spp. in a voluntary monitoring programme in broiler flocks in Germany and in the reported human incidence, time series methods were used. The data originated between May 2004 and June 2007. By the use of seasonal decomposition, autocorrelation and cross-correlation functions, it could be shown that an annual seasonality is present. However, the peak month differs between sample submission, prevalence in broilers and human incidence. Strikingly, the peak in human campylobacterioses preceded the peak in broiler prevalence in Lower Saxony rather than occurring after it. Significant cross-correlations between monthly temperature and prevalence in broilers as well as between human incidence, monthly temperature, rainfall and wind-force were identified. The results highlight the necessity to quantify the transmission of Campylobacter from broiler to humans and to include climatic factors in order to gain further insight into the epidemiology of this zoonotic disease.