Pathogens of bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Bulgarian forests

The occurrence and prevalence of bark beetle pathogens in forest stands in Bulgaria were investigated in 944 specimens belonging to 21 bark beetle species. Protozoa, microsporidia, fungi and nematodes occurred in 19 of all investigated species. The infections were found in the gut (nematodes, gregarines, microsporidia), gonads (microsporidia) and hemolymph (nematodes) of the infected insects. Protozoan species (Gregarina typographi, Gregarina spp.) were detected in eight bark beetle species. Morphometric data about G. typographi and Gregarina spp. are presented. The prevalence of the gregarines varied between 1.4% and 64.2%. Microsporidia of the genera Nosema and Chytridiopsis were revealed in three bark beetle species. The prevalence of microsporidia ranged between 1.5% and 11.8%. This is the first report of a microsporidium in Taphrorychus villifrons and of gregarines in T. villifrons, Pityogenes bistridentatus, P. conjunctus, and Orthotomicus erosus. The fungus Beauveria bassiana was found in 3.4% of Hylurgops palliatus specimens. Nematodes (in gut and haemolymph) were revealed in 19 bark beetle species and their prevalence varied between 10% and 98.5%.     

Use of serology and real time PCR to control an outbreak of bovine brucellosis at a dairy cattle farm in the Nile Delta region,Egypt

Background

Bovine brucellosis remains one of the most prevalent zoonotic infections affecting dairy cattle in developing countries where the applied control programs often fail. We analyzed the epidemiologic pattern of bovine brucellosis in a dairy cattle herd that showed several cases of abortions after regular vaccination with RB51 (B. abortus vaccine). In 2013 thirty dairy cows, from a Holstein-Friesian dairy herd with a population of 600 cattle, aborted five months post vaccination by a regular RB51 vaccine. Blood samples were drawn from milking cows and growing heifers, as well as heifers and cows pregnant up to 6 months. These samples were collected in June 2013 (n?=?257) and May 2014 (n?=?263) and were tested by real time (rt)-PCR as well as serological tests, in particular Rose Bengal Test (RBT), Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA) and Fluorescence Polarization Assay. Tissue specimens were also collected from an aborted fetus and cultured. Isolates were subjected to bacteriological typing tests at the genus and species levels.

Results

Five months post vaccination with RB51 vaccine, Brucella (B.) DNA was detected in blood samples of cows by rt-PCR. The serological tests also revealed the spread of Brucella field strains within the herd in 2013. Four Brucella isolates were recovered from specimens collected from the aborted fetus. These isolates were typed as follows: one B. abortus RB51 vaccine strain and three isolates of B. abortus field strain. The seropositive cows with positive rt-PCR might indicate an infection by the Brucella field strain; while the positive rt-PCR results from seronegative animals may either be due to circulating RB51 vaccine DNA in vaccinated animals or to circulating field strain in infected animals before seroconversion.

Conclusion

The results herein suggest that PCR can be a good supplementary tool in an outbreak situation, if an assay is available that can differentiate vaccine and field strains with a high analytical sensitivity. We recommend using RBT and ELISA in parallel in outbreak situations, to identify as many infected animals as possible during the initial screenings. This test procedure should be repeated for at least three successive negative tests, with one month interval.

     

甘肃省小麦白粉菌群体毒性及小麦品种苗期抗白粉病性分析

由Blumeria graminis f.sp.tritici引起的小麦白粉病是危害甘肃省小麦安全生产的重要病害之一,分析病原菌毒性结构和抗病基因有效性对于指导白粉病的有效控制具有重要意义。2013年对甘肃省小麦白粉菌群体进行毒性分析结果表明,91个供试菌系中,对Pm1、Pm2、Pm3a、Pm3b、Pm3c、Pm3d、Pm3e、Pm3f、Pm4a、Pm4b、Pm5a、Pm6、Pm7、Pm8、Pm19、Pm33、Pm5+Pm6、Pm4+Pm8、Pm4b+Pm5b和PmEra的毒力频率达到70%以上,已无利用价值;对Pm13、Pm16、Pm21和Pm24的毒性频率在15%以下,尚可利用。选用甘肃省不同毒性谱的单孢堆菌系,对35个甘肃省及国内生产品种(系)进行苗期致病性测定,发现仅有‘绵麦37’具有优异抗病性。供试白粉菌系对‘定西40号’等22个品种(系)的毒性频率达到60%以上,甘肃省及中国生产品种中,苗期抗病品种(系)匮乏。     

藕炭疽病病原及生物学特性

 该病为国内首次报道,在南宁、贵港等市县近年来有日趋严重之势。4~5月见病,夏秋时节病重,病叶率达70%以上。     

The role of toll-like receptors in the pathogenesis of Streptococcus suis

Streptococcus suis is an important agent of swine and human meningitis. Sequence type (ST) 7 emerged in China and was responsible for the human epidemic caused by S. suis in 2005. The virulence of S. suis ST7 is greater than the wild type pathogenic S. suis, ST1; however, the mechanisms for this increased pathogenicity are unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the role of different toll-like receptors (TLRs) involved in regulating the host response to the S. suis infection and to speculate on differing mechanisms used by ST7 strains to induce disease. Here we compared two ST7 strains isolated in the 2005 Sichuan outbreak to two ST1 strains. Our data show TLR2, 6 and 9 are involved in the recognition of heat-killed S. suis independent of the ST type. We found the TLR-dependent cytokine production differed between the two types of strains using whole cell lysate proteins. TLR6 played a greater role in cytokine production induced by the whole cell lysate proteins from the ST7 strain than in that induced by the ST1 strain lysates. The data suggest that mechanisms of inflammation induced by S. suis strains differ where this will be useful in designing efficient strategies in combating streptococcal toxic shock-like syndrome caused by the S. suis ST7 strains.     

柴油及其与阿维菌素复配对柑橘全爪螨卵的作用

室内测定了柴油对柑橘全爪螨卵的毒力及其与阿维菌素复配植物油基新型乳油的杀卵作用。结果表明,柴油对柑橘全爪螨卵的LC50为2790.39μg/mL;两种柴油与阿维菌素复配新型乳油1000、750和500倍液3种浓度下的杀卵率均高于90%,其中添加了印楝油的复配剂3浓度的杀卵率与对照药剂24%螺虫乙酯SC 3000倍液相当。     

Historical processes and landscape context influence genetic structure in peripheral populations of the collared lizard (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Crotaphytus collaris</Emphasis>)

Populations at the periphery of a species’ range often show reduced genetic variability within populations and increased genetic divergence among populations compared to those at the core, but the mechanisms that give rise to this core-periphery pattern in genetic structure can be multifaceted. Peripheral population characteristics may be a product of historical processes, such as founder effects or population expansion, or due to the contemporary influence of landscape context on gene flow. We sampled collared lizards (Crotaphytus collaris) at four locations within the northern Flint Hills of Kansas, which is at the northern periphery of their range, to determine the genetic variability and extent of genetic divergence among populations for ten microsatellite loci (n = 229). We found low genetic variability (average allelic richness = 3.37 ± 0.23 SE; average heterozygosity = 0.54 ± 0.05 SE) and moderate population divergence (average F_ST = 0.08 ± 0.01 SE) among our sample sites relative to estimates reported in the literature at the core of the species’ range in Texas. We also identified differences in dispersal rates among sampling locations. Gene flow within the Flint Hills was thus greater than for other peripheral populations of collared lizards, such as the Missouri glade system where most of the mesic grasslands have been converted to forest since the last glacial retreat, which appears to have greatly impeded gene flow among populations. Our findings signify the importance of considering landscape context when evaluating core-peripheral trends in genetic diversity and population structure.     

典型沙漠化地区农户对生态环境变化的感知与适应——以内蒙古自治区杭锦旗为例

沙漠化地区生态环境十分脆弱,理解农户对生态变化的感知与适应策略选择倾向对于制定科学的生态环境治理政策至关重要。采用参与式的农村评估法(PRA)对地处库布其沙漠腹地的杭锦旗不同区域农户的生态环境变化感知与适应进行了调查与对比分析。结果发现:与2000年相比,大部分农户认为当地的生态环境好转了。其中,牧区受访户对生态好转的认知度低于农区;为改善生态环境,农户在生态保护政策的引导下,采取了向二三产业转移劳动力、改变养殖模式、减少牲畜数量、抽取地下水、精耕细作等措施应对生态环境变化。除精耕细作外,牧区农户采用其他适应策略的比例均远高于农区;农户对生态环境变化的感知与适应具有区域差异性和空间层次性,农户对经济机会的响应影响着其对生态环境变化的感知与适应策略选择,并在此基础上提出了改善当地生态环境的政策建议。