Epidemiology of bovine tick-borne diseases in southern Italy

This investigation was carried out in an area covering part of three southern Italian regions: Campania, Basilicata and Apulia. Eighty-one farms were involved using the formula suggested by Thrusfield; they were equally distributed over the area which was subdivided into 81 geo-referenced sub-areas. In May and June 1999 from a total of 506 cattle, older than 18 months, blood-samples were taken and ticks were collected and identified. Serum samples were tested for antibodies of Bahesia bigemina, Babesia bovis and Anaplasma marginale with an ELISA technique. Eight farms (9.8%) out of the 81 examined were positive for B. bigemina only, 3 (3.7%) for A. marginale only, and 70 (86.4%) for both. None of the animals of any farm was found to be positive for B. bovis. Out of the 506 sera tested, 117 (23.1 %) were positive for B. bigemina only, 58 (11.5%) forA. marginale only and 250 (49.4%) for both species; 81 (16.0%) were negative for all of them. Ticks were collected on animals on 62 (76.5%) out of the 81 farms. Adult ticks (1 410) were collected and identified; the highest number belonged to the Rhipicephalus bursa species (65.5%), followed by Rhipicephalus turanicus (8.6) and Haemaphysalis punctata (8.4). The results showed that B. bigemina, A. marginale and their potential vectors are common in the area examined and indicated that there is a risk for animals imported from tick-borne disease-free areas.     

四川葡萄病毒病发生种类及其危害状况调查

根据中意国际合作项目“四川无病毒果苗繁育中心”的要求 ,为了弄清四川葡萄产区内病毒病的种类、危害程度及其流行规律 ,中意双方成立了联合工作组 ,并于 2 0 0 2年 9月在成都龙泉及攀枝花两地开展了葡萄病毒病的田间普查和采样。考察期间共收集葡萄枝样 5 0份 ,随后送往意大利巴厘大学 ,经双抗体和三抗体夹心酶联免疫吸附法测试 ,共检出了6种危险性病毒种类及株系。现对它们在田间的症状表现及其流行趋势作如下阐述。1　葡萄卷叶病 (GLRaV)　　葡萄卷叶病由长线形病毒引起 ,主要致病原因是病毒粒子在葡萄茎干的筛管中大量繁殖 ,堵塞筛管…     

Copromicroscopic and molecular assays for the detection of cancer-causing parasitic nematode Spirocerca lupi

Spirocerca lupi (Nematoda, Spirurida) is a life-threatening parasitic nematode of dogs that is presently emerging in several countries. Nonetheless, canine spirocercosis is neglected and underestimated, mainly due to diagnostic limitations inherent to clinico-pathologic, diagnostic imaging and laboratory methodologies. Given the significant benefit of improved diagnosis, the present work evaluated the reliability of a recently described copromicroscopic approach, the FLOTAC technique, as well as a PCR-based assay with that of traditional coproscopic techniques to diagnose S. lupi infection. Ninety-four faecal field samples were collected from two endemic areas (i.e. 29 and 65 from Kenya and Israel, respectively) and processed using different coproscopic examination techniques. In particular, set I (Kenyan samples) comprised the modified flotation with Sheather's sugar solution and merthiolate-iodine-formalin technique, while set II (Israeli samples) comprised a flotation technique with zinc sulphate solution, a modified sugar flotation procedure and the FLOTAC method. All samples were also subjected to a semi-nested PCR protocol specific for a region internal to the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene of S. lupi. The coproscopic examinations showed low sensitivity and high variability, demonstrating the unreliability of the conventional methods for detecting S. lupi eggs. Nonetheless, the FLOTAC technique scored the highest number of positives and significantly higher number of S. lupi eggs per microscopic field compared to the other coproscopic methods. Additionally, of the coproscopically negative samples, 9 (45%) Kenyan and 21 (38.2%) Israeli samples scored molecularly positive using the PCR-based approach. The potential implications and perspectives for canine spirocercosis of these coproscopic and molecular diagnostic methodologies evaluated herein are discussed.     

The influence of land abandonment on forest disturbance regimes: a global review

Landscape Ecology - Since the nineteenth century, rural areas have experienced progressive abandonment mostly due to socioeconomic changes, with direct and indirect effects on forest disturbance...     

Saliva,an Alternative Biologic Matrix to Detect Glucocorticoid Treatment in Calves: Experimental Contribution

Veterinary Research Communications - Cabassi, E., Miduri, F., Di Lecce, R., Marin, A., Ferri, L. and Corradi, A., 2007. Saliva, an alternative biologic matrix to detect glucocorticoid treatment in...     

A database program for enhancing irrigation district management in the Ebro Valley (Spain)

In the last decade irrigation districts in the Ebro Valley of Spain have started to use database applications to enhance their management operations. Such applications often put more emphasis on administrative issues than on water management issues. A new irrigation district management software called “Ador” is presented in this paper. This database application has been designed to overcome limitations identified in an analysis of the software used in the study area. Ador can be used in irrigation districts independently of the type of irrigation system (surface, sprinkler or trickle) and the type of irrigation distribution network (open channel or pressurised). It can even be used in irrigation districts combining different types of irrigation systems and different types of irrigation distribution networks. The software can be used with minimum district information. The goals are to manage detailed information about district water management and to promote better on-farm irrigation practices. Ador is currently used to enhance management of 62 irrigation districts accounting for some 173,000 hectares in the Ebro Valley.     

Activity of extracts from wild edible herbs against postharvest fungal diseases of fruit and vegetables

The use of plant extracts could be a useful alternative to synthetic fungicides in the management of rot fungi during postharvest handling of fruit and vegetables. The aim of this study was to assess the in vitro and in vivo activity of extracts obtained from nine wild edible herbaceous species (Borago officinalis, Orobanche crenata, Plantago coronopus, P. lanceolata, Sanguisorba minor, Silene vulgaris, Sonchus asper, Sonchus oleraceus, and Taraxacum officinale) against some important postharvest pathogens, i.e. Botrytis cinerea, Monilinia laxa, Penicillium digitatum, P. expansum, P. italicum, Aspergillus carbonarius, and A. niger. Phenolic composition of all extracts was evaluated by HPLC. Several derivatives of caffeic acid, of the flavones apigenin and luteolin, and of the flavonols kaempferol and quercetin, were identified. Extracts from S. minor and O. crenata showed the highest efficacy in all the trials. In particular, S. minor completely inhibited in vitro the conidial germination of M. laxa, P. digitatum, P. italicum, and A. niger and strongly reduced those of B. cinerea; O. crenata extract showed a lower but still significant reduction of conidial germination on all the tested fungi. Moreover, the extracts from both species were effective in reducing the germ tube elongation also when a slight inhibition of conidial germination was observed. In many cases, a dose effect was observed, with an increase of antifungal activity as the phenolic concentration increased. In trials performed on wounded fruit, S. minor extract completely inhibited brown rot on apricots and nectarines; O. crenata extract strongly reduced grey mould, brown rot, and green mould on table grapes, apricots and nectarines, and oranges, respectively. The inhibition efficacy of extracts was ascribed to the presence of some caffeic acid derivatives and/or flavonoids. HPLC phenolic analyses provided useful information to identify the possible active compounds.     

Potential synergistic effect of Melia azedarach fruit extract and Beauveria bassiana in the control of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) in cattle infestations

The use of a concentrate emulsion of Melia azedarach green fruits and a suspension of the fungus Beauveria bassiana was evaluated in the control of Rhipicephalus microplus on artificially infested cattle. The evaluation was conducted following the protocol established by the Brazilian Agriculture Ministry. Five groups of 4 or 5 animals were allocated to one of the following treatments: emulsion concentrate of M. azedarach at 0.25% (T AZED 0.25%), emulsion concentrate of M. azedarach at 0.5% (T AZED 0.5%), B. bassiana at 2.4 × 10(8) conidia (T BASS), association of the concentrate of M. azedarach at 0.25% with B. bassiana at 2.4 × 10(8) conidia (T AZED 0.25%+BASS), and control (untreated). The association of the two compounds provided better results than any one isolated treatment, indicating compatibility or perhaps a synergy between M. azedarach and B. bassiana. This treatment resulted in fewer engorged females (129 ± 70) than in the control group (233 ± 82), showing high performance against all developmental stages of the tick. Results revealed an apparent synergistic effect of M. azedarach and B. bassiana in the control of R. microplus that should be further investigated.     

Evolution of clinical, haematological and biochemical findings in young dogs naturally infected by vector-borne pathogens

Longitudinal studies evaluating the evolution of clinical, haematological, biochemical findings in young dogs exposed for the first time to multiple vector-borne pathogens have not been reported. With the objective of assessing the evolution of clinical, haematological and biochemical findings, these parameters were serially monitored in naturally infected dogs throughout a 1-year follow-up period. Young dogs, infected by vector-borne pathogens based on cytology or polymerase chain reaction, were examined clinically and blood samples were obtained at seven different follow-up time points. Dogs were randomized to group A (17 dogs treated with a spot-on formulation of imidacloprid 10% and permethrin 50%) or to group B (17 dogs untreated). In addition, 10 4-month-old beagles were enrolled in each group and used as sentinel dogs. At baseline, Anaplasma platys was the most frequently detected pathogen, followed by Babesia vogeli, Bartonella spp., Ehrlichia canis and Hepatozoon canis. Co-infections with A. platys and B. vogeli, followed by E. canis and B. vogeli, A. platys and H. canis and A. platys and Bartonella spp. were also diagnosed. In dogs from group B, abnormal clinical signs were recorded at different time points throughout the study. No abnormal clinical signs were recorded in group A dogs. Thrombocytopenia was the most frequent haematological alteration recorded in A. platys-infected dogs, B. vogeli-infected dogs and in dogs co-infected with A. platys and B. vogeli or A. platys and Bartonella spp. Lymphocytosis was frequently detected among dogs infected with B. vogeli or co-infected with A. platys and B. vogeli. Beagles were often infected with a single pathogen rather than with multiple canine vector-borne pathogens. There was a significant association (p<0.01) between tick infestation and A. platys or B. vogeli, as single infections, and A. platys and B. vogeli or A. platys and Bartonella spp. co-infections. This study emphasizes the clinical difficulties associated with assigning a specific clinical sign or haematological abnormality to a particular canine vector-borne disease.