Serological Evidence for Borrelia burgdorferi Infection Associated with Clinical Signs in Dairy Cattle in Slovakia

In the course of epizootological research on Lyme borreliosis in domestic and farm animals, the serological evidence for the occurrence of this zoonosis in cattle was screened. An ELISA showed that 25.2% of cattle from seven geographical areas in Slovakia were positive for anti-Borrelia IgG antibodies. In particular localities, the seroprevalence ranged from 0.6% to 34.3%. Of 33 cases with clinical signs, 20 ELISA-positive samples were also confirmed in Western blots. The most frequent clinical signs were lameness and swollen joints, but most of the cases were asymptomatic. The occurrence of Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies and suspected clinical signs in cattle of Slovak regions indicates that veterinarians should pay attention to this disease in their clinical practice and include it within the differential diagnosis.     

The in vitro motility response to various anthelmintics of third-stage larvae of Oesophagostomum spp. from pigs

The in vitro activities of thiabendazole, levamisole, pyrantel, morantel and ivermectin against Oesophagostomum spp., the nodular worm of pigs, were determined and compared. The study was carried out using isolates of O. dentatum and O. quadrispinulatum, which had been defined in vivo. Infective larvae were exposed to the anthelmintics for 24 h and then placed in a micromotility meter. All the treatments significantly reduced the motility of the ensheathed L₃ larvae, but the micromotility meter was not able to differentiate between anthelmintic resistant and anthelmintic susceptible isolates.     

Predicting non‐native fish dispersal under conditions of climate change: case study in England of dispersal and establishment of pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus in a floodplain pond

Predictions of future climate change include shifts in patterns of precipitation, evapotranspiration and water run‐off, resulting in increased periods of drought as well as variability and intensity of rainfall events. In the United Kingdom, the non‐native North American sunfish, pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus (L.), is expected to benefit from these changes. We examine how hydrological variability induced by predicted changes in climate will affect the dispersal and spread of pumpkinseed in England by: (i) determining the relationship between discharge regime and pumpkinseed propagule pressure; (ii) examining a newly‐established pumpkinseed population following a flood event in 2007; and (iii) comparing the growth and life‐history traits of this new population with fish collected from the source population to demonstrate how the pumpkinseed's life‐history plasticity contributes to its success as a coloniser. Using Bayesian modelling, we determined that the number of pumpkinseed escapees is likely to increase with increasing discharge. The newly‐established pumpkinseed population showed fast juvenile growth, early age at maturity and small size at maturity. These traits differed significantly from the source population, specifically total length (TL) means at ages 1 and 2 were significantly greater in the new population, whereas TL at age 4 was significantly greater in the source population, and a significantly higher proportion of mature females were found at smaller size classes in the newly established pumpkinseed population. This study demonstrates the potential link between hydrological variability (current and future) and the dispersal of non‐native pumpkinseed, leading to the establishment of new populations.     

On the fracture morphology in wood

Summary Structural changes in spruce and aspen wood samples subjected to axial compression were examined by means of the scanning electron microscope. For comparison, macroscopic model experiments were carried out on tube-shaped samples made of paper so as to represent segments of fibriform xylem cells. The results show that there are fracture patterns characteristic of wood in general and others characteristic of the species of wood. The phenomena characteristic of wood in general are prevalent at the cellular level and in the fracture behaviour of the cell wall layers and perforations. The characteristics of the various species of wood dominate at the level of the growth rings and are decisively influenced by the composition and arrangement of the tissues. The model experiments show that the failure morphology of the individual cells of the xylem may be explained to some extent by their geometry.     

Distribution of Aeolothrips intermedius Bagnall (Thysanoptera: Aeolothripidae) and its potential prey Thysanoptera species on different cultivated host plants

The results of the monitoring of Thysanoptera species on cultivated plants in Slovenia (2000–2001), Croatia (1994–1996), and Serbia and Montenegro (1988–2003) are presented in this study. The aim of the investigation was to study the host plant distribution of the predator Aeolothrips intermedius Bagnall and its potential prey. Banded thrips were found on 30 different host plant species belonging to 16 botanical families, always in mixed populations with phytophagous or facultative phytophagous insects (including 18 Thysanoptera species). On the vegetative parts of the cultivated plants, banded thrips were found less numerous in spite of the massive population of some harmful thrips species. This indicates highly important role of pollen as alternative food for Aeolothrips intermedius.     

Chemical composition of hemicelluloses as a factor participating in the substrate specificity of wood-destroying fungi

Mycelium of twenty species of wood-destroying fungi was cultivated in nutrient solutions with one of the following sugars as the only carbon source: glucose, arabinose, galactose, mannose and xylose. The growth of the species occurring in nature only on the wood of Angiosperms was equal or lower in the solutions with galactose and mannose than in the solution with glucose. The utilization of mannose was practically the same as that of xylose. The species which are specialized in nature in the wood of conifers grow better in the solutions with galactose and mannose, than in the solution with glucose; likewise mannose is beter utilized than xylose. Fungi attacking both kinds of wood do not exhibit any dependence on the utilization of the sugars used in these investigations.     

Technological properties and fire performance of medium density fibreboard (MDF) treated with selected polyphosphate-based fire retardants

ABSTRACT

The objective of the work was to evaluate the efficacy of two new polyphosphate-based fire retardants (FRs) and one commercial product named Siriono^® on the fire performance and physical–mechanical properties of medium density fibreboard (MDF) fabricated in the laboratory from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) wood. The fibres were treated with aqueous solutions of fire retardants, at 12% loading (dry salt on dry wood), and bonded with a melamine urea formaldehyde (MUF) adhesive. The physical and mechanical properties of panels were assessed using the European standards, whereas their fire performance was evaluated using an in-house method and the Cone calorimeter. In overall, the chemicals added enhanced the fire and smoke properties of the panels to varying degrees. Critical FR parameters such as peak heat release rate (peak HRR), total heat release (THR) and total smoke production (TSP) were significantly improved in the FR-treated panels, as exhibited in cone calorimeter tests. However, the internal bond strength of treated panels largely decreased by the addition of fire retardants, while thickness swell and water absorption negatively affected to a significant extent. In contrast, the formaldehyde release of the panels was considerably decreased at the E1 class level, with the incorporation of the polyphosphate-based additives.     

Bemerkungen über die Populationsbewegungen der Mittelmeerfruchtfliege (Ceratitis capitata Vied.) an der jugoslawischen Adriaküste

Zusammenfassung Untersuchungen über den Massenwechsel und die Biologie der MittelmeerfruchtfliegeCeratitis capitata Vied. während der letzen 5 Jahre führten zu folgenden Ergebnissen:1. Die Mittelmeerfruchtfliege, die bis 1947 in ganz Jugoslawien unbekannt war, kommt seit mindestens zehn Jahren auch an der Adriaküste vor.2. Erst im Jahre 1958 erwies sich die Fruchtfliege als Schädling verschiedener Obstarten.3. Wie aus Beobachtungen in Obstanlagen an der Adriaküste hervorgeht, befällt die Fliege in erster Linie Pfirsich, ferner auch Birne, Kaki, Feige, Apfel, Pflaume, Orange und grünen Paprika. Im Laboratorium gelang die Zucht außerdem noch an Banane, nicht aber an Tomate und Trauben.4. ObwohlC. capitata ein polyphages Insekt ist, befällt sie an einigen Stellen, wo sie regelmäßig große Häufigkeit aufweist, nur Pfirsich (Split, Debeli Rti) bzw. nur Kaki (Ankaran). In manchen Obstgärten lebt sie aber an verschiedenen Früchten (Podstrana, Stroanac). Es gibt bei der Fruchtfliege also auf Obstarten spezialisierte Populationen und solche, die an verschiedenen Obstarten vorkommen.5. Unter den in unserem Küstenland herrschenden Klimabedingungen kann die Fruchtfliege in einem Jahr 4–5 Generationen entwickeln. Die Herbstgeneration verpuppt sich Ende Oktober/Anfang November in der Erde, die Imagines verlassen bis Januar die Puppen und warten auf das Reifen der ersten, frühen Pfirsichsorten. Die gleiche Überwinterungsweise wurde auch an der Olivenfliege beobachtet.6. Mit Angelica-Öl versehene Fanggläser brachten nur zum Teil befriedigende Ergebnisse, da dieser Lockstoff nur die Männchen anzieht, aber auch nur in der Zeit, in der die Fliegen überhaupt selten sind. Im Spätsommer und Herbst wirkt ein aus Kleie und Biammonphosphat bereiteter Köder auf beide Geschlechter stark anlockend.