Isolation of Mycobacterium spp. from milking buffaloes and cattle in Nepal

In Nepal, mycobacterial isolates obtained from the milk and feces of buffaloes and cattle that were positive for the single intradermal cervical tuberculin (SICT) tests were genetically identified. A total of 36 mycobacterial strains were isolated from 39% of the buffaloes (14 of 36) and 34% of the cattle (11 of 32). Of the 36 strains, 13 were identified as M. bovis, and these strains were isolated from 17% of the buffaloes (6 of 36) and 16% of the cattle (5 of 32). M. bovis was isolated from both the milk and feces of one buffalo and one cattle, the milk alone of three buffaloes and three cattle, and the feces alone of two buffaloes and one cattle. These results suggest that milking buffaloes and cattle infected with M. bovis exist in Nepal. The remaining 23 strains were atypical mycobacteria. A program for the elimination of bovine tuberculosis should be implemented as soon as possible, and the public health education and proper hygienic practices may be required.     

Population structure of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eleusine</Emphasis> isolates of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pyricularia oryzae</Emphasis> and its evolutionary implications

Population structure of Eleusine isolates of Pyricularia oryzae (Magnaporthe oryzae) was examined using DNA markers. On the basis of rDNA sequences, Eleusine isolates were divided into two groups. One group clustered with Triticum isolates, while the other clustered with Eragrostis isolates. This grouping was supported by DNA fingerprinting with three repetitive elements: MGR586, MGR583, and grasshopper. These results suggest that the population of Eleusine isolates is composed of at least two groups that evolved independently from the original population of P. oryzae. Most of the isolates that were collected just after an outbreak of finger millet blast in the 1970s had almost identical fingerprint profiles although they were collected in distant prefectures. This result supports the idea that the outbreak was caused by seed transmission of a particular strain of Eleusine isolates.