Anastomosis Groups, Pathogenicity and Sensitivity to Fungicides of Rhizoctonia solani Isolates Collected on Potato Crops in France

A collection of 241 isolates of Rhizoctonia solani obtained from potato plants grown in different areas in France was characterized for anastomosis grouping, symptomatology on tubers of different cultivars and sensitivity to three fungicides. Most isolates collected belonged to (anastomosis groups (AGs)) AG 3, but 2% and 4% of the isolates were AG 5 and AG 2-1. AG 3 and AG 2-1 isolates were mostly obtained from sclerotia on tubers, but all AG 5, some AG 3 and some AG 2-1 isolates were recovered from superficial tuber alterations, like deformations, corky or scabby lesions. Sclerotia were formed on tubers produced by healthy stem cuttings grown in soil artificially infested with AG 3, but not on tubers grown in soil infested with either AG 5 or AG 2-1. No variation in susceptibility to sclerotial formation was observed among five potato cultivars. In all cases, a large proportion of tubers showed superficial corky lesions, often associated with deformations. The proportion of tubers with lesions and deformations was highest in soil infested with AG 2-1 and significantly lower on cv. Samba in all treatments. All isolates were highly sensitive to flutolanil, iprodione and pencycuron, except the AG 5 isolates, moderately sensitive to pencycuron. These results show that, although AG 3 is the most common R. solani group on potato in France, AG 5 and AG 2-1 may be present. Isolates differed for pathogenicity. In vitro sensitivity to fungicides varied among AGs.     

Polymorphism of 14α-demethylase Gene (CYP51) in the Cereal Eyespot Fungi Tapesia acuformis and Tapesia yallundae

Cereal eyespot fungi Tapesia acuformis and Tapesia yallundae are closely related species which show different behaviours upon treatment with sterol 14-demethylase inhibitors (DMIs). T. acuformis is naturally resistant to DMIs belonging to the triazole family and susceptible to the imidazole ones, whilst T. yallundae is sensitive to both inhibitors. Cloning of the target enzyme gene, CYP51, from the two species revealed an important polymorphism between them. Further sequencing of CYP51 from sixteen T. acuformis and eleven T. yallundae strains with different phenotypes with regards to resistance to DMIs confirmed that at least eleven variations are species related. Among them, a conserved phenylalanine residue at position 180, found both in T. yallundae and in all known CYP51 proteins from filamentous fungi and yeast, was replaced in T. acuformis by a leucine. Therefore, a leucine at 180 could be possibly involved in natural resistance of T. acuformis to triazoles. Other mutations were observed in some resistant strains, sometimes simultaneously, but in contrast to what was reported for other filamentous fungi, where a mutation at the 136 position of the CYP51 gene product seemed to correlate with resistance to DMIs, we did not find a clear relationship between a given mutation and a particular phenotype. This result suggests that resistance to DMIs could have a polygenic nature in Tapesia. We took advantage of species-related variations to develop a PCR-based assay allowing rapid and easy discrimination between field strains of the two species.     

Distribution of Salmonella serovars and phage types on 80 Ontario swine farms in 2004

The objective of this study was to describe the distribution of Salmonella spp. on Ontario grower-finisher pig farms. Eighty swine farms were visited from January through July 2004. On each farm, fecal samples were collected from 5 pens, 2 rectal samples and 1 pooled sample from fresh manure on the floor per pen. Salmonella was isolated from 91 (11%) of the 800 rectal samples and 73 (18%) of the 397 pooled samples. Overall, Salmonella was recovered from 37 (46%) of the 80 farms. On each positive farm, Salmonella was cultured from 1 to 7 pigs or 1 to 5 pens. Of the 37 farms, 18, 13, 5, and 1 yielded 1, 2, 3, and 4 serovars, respectively. The most common serovars were S. Typhimurium var. Copenhagen, S. Infantis, S. Typhimurium, S. Derby, S. Agona, S. Havana, and S. enterica subsp. I:Rough-O. The 3 most frequent phage types were PT 104, PT 104a, and PT 104b. There was a statistically fair agreement between samples collected directly from pigs and pooled pen samples in determining the Salmonella status at the pen and farm level (kappa = 0.6, P < 0.0001). However, in 62 pens, Salmonella status, serovars, or phage types differed between the pig and pooled pen samples. The distribution of Salmonella on the swine farms in this study indicates that, in developing an intervention strategy, priority should be given to farms positive for S. Typhimurium var. Copenhagen. Also, the variation in Salmonella status between pig and pooled pen samples deserves consideration in a sampling strategy.     

Effect of a Nonsurgical Embryo Transfer Procedure and/or Altrenogest Therapy on Endogenous Progesterone Concentration in Mares

Endogenous progesterone levels may decline after transcervical embryo transfer in some mares. Progestogen therapy is commonly used to support endogenous progesterone levels in embryo transfer recipient mares or those carrying their own pregnancy. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of the transcervical transfer procedure and/or altrenogest therapy on luteal function in mares. Mares were assigned to one of six treatment groups: group 1 (untreated control; n = 7 cycles), group 2 (sham transfer, no altrenogest; n = 8 cycles), group 3 (sham transfer plus altrenogest; n = 8 cycles), group 4 (pregnant, no altrenogest; n = 9 mares), group 5 (pregnant plus altrenogest; n = 9 mares), and group 6 (nonpregnant plus altrenogest; n = 10 cycles). Mares in groups 4-6 were bred and allowed an opportunity to carry their own pregnancy. Blood samples were collected for 22 days beginning on the day of ovulation. Sham embryo transfer (groups 2 and 3, combined) did not result in a decline in endogenous progesterone levels compared with control mares (group 6). However, sham embryo transfer did result in luteolysis and an abrupt decline in endogenous progesterone levels in one of the 16 (6.2%) sham-transferred mares. Altrenogest therapy in sham-transferred mares (group 3) was associated with lower endogenous progesterone levels on days 10, 12, and 13 postovulation when compared with sham-transferred mares that did not receive altrenogest (group 2). Administration of altrenogest to pregnant mares (group 5) was associated with lower concentrations of endogenous progesterone from days 14 to 18 and on day 21 compared with endogenous progesterone levels in pregnant mares not administered altrenogest (group 4). In conclusion, a transcervical embryo transfer procedure can cause luteolysis in a low percentage of mares. Altrenogest therapy may be associated with a reduction in endogenous progesterone secretion, presumably mediated by a reduction in pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH) release and a decrease in luteotropic support.     

Prevalence of the causative agents of equine piroplasmosis in the South West of The Netherlands and the identification of two autochthonous clinical Theileria equi infections

Equine piroplasmosis (EP) has not been considered indigenous in The Netherlands. However, following the detection of an apparently indigenous subclinical Babesia caballi infection in a horse on Schouwen-Duiveland (an island in the Zeeland Province), a survey was undertaken between May and September 2010 to assess the prevalence of the causative agents of EP in the South-West of The Netherlands. Blood samples from 300 randomly selected horses were tested for specific antibodies against Theileria equi and B. caballi using an indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT), and for parasite DNA using a specific polymerase chain reaction combined with reverse line blotting (PCR-RLB). Twelve of the horses (4%) were seropositive for EP. Of these, nine (75%) were positive (titre?1:160) for B. caballi alone and three (25%) were also positive for T. equi. PCR-RLB detected T. equi DNA in five horses (1.6%), two of which were seronegative. Four (1.3%) of the positive horses (three positive for T. equi and one for both B. caballi and T. equi) were considered truly indigenous. During the study, two indigenous ponies from a farm situated outside the sampling area were diagnosed with acute clinical piroplasmosis characterized by severe anaemia and pyrexia. Blood smears showed T. equi - like inclusions in red blood cells, and T. equi infection was confirmed in both ponies by PCR-RLB. The initial subclinical B. caballi infection, the survey results and the two acute clinical EP cases confirmed the autochthonous transmission of B. caballi and T. equi infections in The Netherlands.     

Cloning and sequence analysis of the complementary DNA for feline preproparathyroid hormone

OBJECTIVES: To clone and sequence the cDNA for feline preproparathyroid hormone (preproPTH) and to compare that sequence with other known parathyroid hormone (PTH) sequences. SAMPLE POPULATION: Parathyroid glands from 1 healthy cat. PROCEDURES: A cDNA library was constructed in lambda phage from feline parathyroid gland mRNA and screened with a radiolabeled canine PTH probe. Positive clones were sequenced, and nucleic acid and deduced amino acid sequences were analyzed and compared with known preproPTH and PTH sequences. RESULTS: Screening of approximately 2 X 10(5) recombinant plaques revealed 3 that hybridized with the canine PTH probe; 2 clones comprised the complete sequence for feline preproPTH. Feline preproPTH cDNA consisted of a 63-base pair (bp) 5'-untranslated region (UTR), a 348-bp coding region, and a 326-bp 3'-UTR. The coding region encoded a 115-amino acid peptide. Mature feline PTH consisted of 84 amino acids. Amino acid sequence analysis revealed that feline PTH was > 83% identical to canine, bovine, swine, equine, human, and macaque PTH and 69, 71, and 44% identical to mouse, rat, and chicken PTH, respectively. Within the region responsible for hormonal activity (amino acids 1 to 34), feline PTH was > 79% identical to other mammalian PTH sequences and 64% identical to the chicken sequence. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The amino acid sequence of PTH is conserved among mammalian species. Knowledge of the cDNA sequence for feline PTH may be useful to investigate disturbances of calcium metabolism and alterations in PTH expression in cats.     

Genetic diversity in Tunisian olive accessions and their relatedness with other Mediterranean olive genotypes

Eighty-four olive accessions obtained from the National Conservatory of Boughrara-Sfax (Tunisia), previously evaluated for morphological traits, were analysed with 47 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. They were compared with other olive genotypes originated from Eastern or Western Mediterranean. The highest and lowest similarities between genotypes, estimated by simple matching algorithm, were 0.98 and 0.40, respectively. A dendrogram based on Ward's method and a factorial correspondence analysis (FCA) showed that most of Tunisian accessions are closely related to olive genotypes originating from the Eastern Mediterranean and some are clustering with genotypes originated from the Western Mediterranean. These findings suggested multiple and complex origin of Tunisian olive. A comparative study between a previous morphological analysis and current RAPD assay was carried out and discussed.     

The use of epidemiology to enhance production animal research

The approach to understanding the impact of management and disease in production animal systems has evolved with the advent of both routine on-farm data collection and new analytic epidemiology techniques. Epidemiology provides a tool to describe the host-agent-environment triad and the impact of multiple variables on productivity and health recognized by production animal veterinarians in their day-to-day work. Field trials enable veterinarians to systematically test whether or not a new treatment improves the health of the animal populations in their geographic region and under their production systems. Hypothesis-specific coding techniques, such as hierarchical variables, are used in a systematic manner to understand well-defined biological phenomenon. Clustering at multiple levels has provided the challenges of measuring management changes in each level. Using random effects models allow us to determine the relative importance of each level on the dependent variable. As epidemiologists, we have taken advantage of analytic techniques used in other fields of science. Geo-spatial statistics has been used to understand the clustering and spread of diseases and more recently, to interpret the laboratory findings related to the introduction of an exotic strain of the influenza virus. Dr. Martin, through his work as a veterinary epidemiologist and that of people he has influenced, has been an international leader in promoting the optimal health and productivity of animal populations and of ensuring the safety of foods of animal origin and preventing animal-related disease in humans.     

Diagnosis and surgical removal of brain abscesses in a juvenile alpaca

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 1-month-old female alpaca was examined because of progressive clinical signs consistent with an intracranial lesion. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Clinical signs included signs of depression, lethargy, tetraparesis, and neck weakness. Two large isointense intracranial masses could be seen on T1-weighted magnetic resonance images. On T2-weighted images, the masses contained concentric rings of hypointense and hyperintense material. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: 2 abscesses were removed via a craniotomy that incorporated removal of the sagittal crest and surrounding skull and transection of the sagittal sinus. The bony deficit was replaced with polypropylene mesh. The alpaca recovered within 2 weeks and was fully integrated into the herd within 1 month after surgery. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Findings indicated that surgical removal is a feasible means of successfully treating intracranial abscesses in juvenile alpacas.