Physiological alterations modulated by rootstock and scion combination in cashew under salinity

In this study we evaluated the influence of rootstocks and scions on physiological disturbances that are induced by salinity in cashew (Anacardium occidentale) plantlets. Two cashew genotypes, CCP 09 and BRS 226, were utilized as rootstocks and scions, resulting in four scion/rootstock combinations by reciprocal grafting. The plantlets were irrigated in absence (control) or in presence of 50 or 200 mM NaCl for 15 days under greenhouse conditions. The plantlets with BRS 226 as rootstocks demonstrated higher transpiration and greater accumulations of Na⁺ and Cl⁻, proline and free amino acids in leaves compared to plantlets that having CCP 09 as rootstocks. The K⁺ content in roots and leaves of all four combinations was not influenced by salinity or by different scion/rootstock combinations. The self-grafting of the BRS 226 genotype showed the highest stability for chlorophyll and Rubisco, exhibiting the highest tolerance to salinity. The scion genotype did not affect any of the studied physiological parameters. The studied physiological disturbances induced by salinity in cashew plantlets were more influenced by rootstock than by scion and these changes were also dependent on compatibility between scion and rootstock.     

Clonal relationships among avian Escherichia coli isolates determined by enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)-PCR

Forty-nine avian Escherichia coli isolates isolated from different outbreak cases of septicemia (24 isolates), swollen head syndrome (14 isolates) and omphalitis (11 isolates), and 30 commensal isolates isolated from poultry with no signs of illness were characterized by enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)-PCR technique and their serotypes were determined. The ERIC-PCR profile allowed the typing of the 79 isolates into 68 ERIC-types and grouped the isolates into four main clusters (A-D), with the omphalitis isolates being grouped with the commensals and separated from the septicaemia and swollen head syndrome. These results indicate that ERIC-PCR is a technique that could replace other molecular characterization techniques such as random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), reinforce previous observations that omphalitis isolates are just opportunistic agents, and are consistent with many reports that specific genotypes are responsible for causing specific diseases. Most of the isolates were either nontypable or rough, supporting the need for alternative methods for typing these isolates.     

Evaluation of Three Enzyme Immunoassays for Diagnosis of Clostridium difficile–Associated Diarrhea in Foals

The aim of the present study was to compare the test performances of three commercial enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) against the toxigenic culture using the cytotoxicity assay as the gold standard. All EIAs showed >78% sensitivity, and the lowest specificity was 92.6%. These results suggest that EIAs could be useful for the diagnosis of Clostridium difficile infection in foals.     

Transrectal bladder prolapse secondary to pelvic fracture in two dogs

This report describes the exteriorisation of the urinary bladder in two dogs as a result of a laceration of the rectum from a traumatic pelvic fracture. Clinical examination and contrast radiography of the bladder were used as diagnostic tools. Both patients were treated with exploratory laparotomy, where traction of the bladder was utilised to pull the bladder through the traumatic rectal laceration allowing the organ to return to its normal anatomical position. This procedure was followed by surgical reconstruction of the rectum, resulting in effective resolution of each case.