Avian mycobacteriosis in companion birds: 20-year survey

The causative agents of avian mycobacteriosis in pet birds are rarely identified. The aim of this study is to add information about the etiology of avian mycobacteriosis. The identification of mycobacterium species in 27 cases of avian mycobacteriosis in pet birds was investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing of a rRNA hypervariable region. Avian mycobacteriosis appeared to be an infrequent diagnosis. Interestingly, a few cases of avian mycobacteriosis were recorded in very young birds. The most commonly affected species were the canary (Serinus canarius), the Eurasian goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) and the red siskin (Spinus cucullatus). All but one bird were infected with Mycobacterium genavense. Mycobacterium avium was identified only in one case.     

Simulation of peak-demand hydrographs in pressurized irrigation delivery systems using a deterministic–stochastic combined model. Part I: model development

This study describes a model named HydroGEN that was conceived for simulating hydrographs of daily volumes and hourly flow rates during peak-demand periods in pressurized irrigation delivery networks with on-demand operation. The model is based on a methodology consisting of deterministic and stochastic components and is composed of a set of input parameters to reproduce the crop irrigation management practices followed by farmers and of computational procedures enabling to simulate the soil water balance and the irrigation events for all cropped fields supplied by each delivery hydrant in a distribution network. The input data include values of weather, crop, and soil parameters, as well as information on irrigation practices followed by local farmers. The resulting model outputs are generated flow hydrographs during the peak-demand period, which allow the subsequent analysis of performance achievable under different delivery scenarios. The model can be applied either for system design or re-design, as well as for analysis of operation and evaluation of performance achievements of on-demand pressurized irrigation delivery networks. Results from application of HydroGEN to a real pressurized irrigation system at different scales are presented in a companion paper (Part II: model applications).     

Aging effects and grape variety dependence on the content of sulfur volatiles in wine

Thirteen sulfur compounds (boiling points from 35 to 231 degrees C), usually considered as possible off-flavoring volatiles, were quantified by a concurrent headspace-solid phase microextraction method coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-MS) on 80 not off-flavoring wines of four varieties (Merlot, Marzemino, and Teroldego as red wines and Chardonnay as a white one) and of five vintages produced in the North Italian Trentino region. The results of the research, the first Italian data-bank per variety on such volatiles, allow us to make a comparison with the data of other winegrowing areas, to investigate the aging effect on the considered volatiles, and, finally, to try a variety discrimination using statistical procedures. Dimethyl sulfide, 3-(methylthio)-1-propanol, diethyl sulfide, and diethyl disulfide were found to increase with time whereas 2-mercaptoethanol and ethylmercaptan showed a decreasing trend. Furthermore, the concentration of several compounds was found to be dependent on the variety. For instance, sulfide, disulfides, benzothiazole, and thioalcohols are at higher levels in Merlot wines, whereas thiols and thioacetates are more abundant in Marzemino and Teroldego wines. Chardonnay products, well apart from the other wines, are the poorest in 3-(methylthio)-1-propanol and rather rich in dimethyl disulfide and in diethyl disulfide, mostly in the aged wines. Applying the principal component analysis to the data, it was possible to demonstrate that Chardonnay and Merlot wines are well-discriminated from the Italian native varietal wines, which on their turn are only partially distinguishable among them. A contribution of these compounds to the variety characteristics of wine is reasonable.     

Assessing the potential of marine Natura 2000 sites to produce ecosystem‐wide effects in rocky reefs: A case study from Sardinia Island (Italy)

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Interleukin-10 expression by real-time PCR and homology modelling analysis in the European sea bass (Dicentrarchus Labrax L.)

In this paper we investigate the interleukin-10 (IL-10) expression and 3D modelling of the European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.). IL-10 is a regulatory cytokine that has been intensively studied in mammals and has been found mainly involved in the suppression or deactivation of activated immune responses. The full-length sea bass IL-10 cDNA consists of 1015 bp and is translated in a predicted molecule of 187 amino acids. A multiple alignment of this peptide with other known sequences showed the conservation of fundamental IL-10 family characteristics. Expression analysis by real-time PCR in control fish showed a high basal expression in the head kidney (HK), followed by gut and brain. In vitro treatment of HK leucocytes with LPS showed an intense increase of IL-10 expression at 4 h and a significant decrease at 24 h, with PHA-L no differences were evidenced. A 3D model for sea bass IL-10 was obtained by accurate homology procedures and putative interaction residues with the IL-10 receptor described. The results suggested that sea bass IL-10 could be involved in anti-inflammatory responses, but further experiments are needed to assess its importance in response to pathogenic agents, vaccinations and immunostimulants.     

Effects of dietary soy isoflavones on estrogenic activity,cortisol level,health and growth in rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

Soy isoflavones (the phytoestrogens genistein, daidzein and glycitein) may act as estrogen receptor agonists or antagonists. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of dietary isoflavones on growth, reproduction and health in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Rainbow trout fed three experimental diets containing different concentrations of isoflavones (0, 500 and 1,500 ppm). Growth, estrogenic activity, plasma estradiol levels, gonadal development, state of stress and histological changes in selected tissues were evaluated at the end of 70 days. Neither growth performance nor the relative mRNA levels of Insulin Growth Factor I (igf‐I) in the liver were influenced by different levels of dietary isoflavones. Plasma and liver vitellogenin (VTG) protein levels and plasma 17‐β‐estradiol (E₂) were unaffected by treatments, although the correlation between plasma levels of E₂ and VTG densitometry values was significant (p < .05). The fish gonadosomatic index (GSI) did not significantly differ among the three experimental groups but correlated with plasma VTG densitometry values (p < .05). Plasma, muscle and fin cortisol concentrations fell within the normal welfare range and were not correlated with isoflavone levels. Histologically, the distal intestine showed a normal morphology with well‐differentiated enterocytes and in the liver hepatocytes were also normal. A supranuclear accumulation of lipid droplets in enterocytes and some lipid droplets in hepatocytes were observed in all tested groups, suggesting an impact of basal dietary lipid on transport/metabolism of fat in the fish. Overall, the present results suggest that the doses of isoflavones tested do not compromise rainbow trout reproduction, growth and health.     

Wide Range Applications of Spirulina: From Earth to Space Missions

Spirulina is the most studied cyanobacterium species for both pharmacological applications and the food industry. The aim of the present review is to summarize the potential benefits of the use of Spirulina for improving healthcare both in space and on Earth. Regarding the first field of application, Spirulina could represent a new technology for the sustainment of long-duration manned missions to planets beyond the Lower Earth Orbit (e.g., Mars); furthermore, it could help astronauts stay healthy while exposed to a variety of stress factors that can have negative consequences even after years. As far as the second field of application, Spirulina could have an active role in various aspects of medicine, such as metabolism, oncology, ophthalmology, central and peripheral nervous systems, and nephrology. The recent findings of the capacity of Spirulina to improve stem cells mobility and to increase immune response have opened new intriguing scenarios in oncological and infectious diseases, respectively.     

Investigation of multiple Felis catus papillomavirus types (-1/-2/-3/-4/-5/-6) DNAs in feline oral squamous cell carcinoma: a multicentric study

Recent evidence suggests a possible association of Felis catus papillomavirus type 2 (FcaPV-2) DNA with feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (FOSCC). In this study, type-specific PCR targeting two genes (L1/E6 or E1/E6) of FcaPV-1/-2/-3/-4/-5/-6 was performed to detect viral DNA in a large amount of FOSCC samples collected in Italy and Austria. FcaPV-1/-2/-3/-4/-5 were detected in 7/113 (6.2%), 7/93 (7.5%), 6/113 (5.3%), 1/113 (0.9%) and 2/113 (1.8%) specimens, respectively, with different prevalences in Italian vs. Austrian samples, whilst FcaPV-6 went undetected. Our results confirms that FcaPV-2 is the most prevalent in FOSCC, followed by FcaPV-1/-3 and suggest that FcaPVs have variable circulation rates in European countries.     

Standardization of canine meningioma grading: Validation of new guidelines for reproducible histopathologic criteria

Canine meningiomas are currently graded using the human grading system. Recently published guidelines have adapted the human grading system for use in dogs. The goal of this study was to validate the new guidelines for canine meningiomas. To evaluate the inter-observer agreement, 5 veterinary surgical pathologists graded 158 canine meningiomas following the human grading system alone or with the new guidelines. The inter-observer agreement for histologic grade and each of the grading criteria (mitotic grade, invasion, spontaneous necrosis, macronucleoli, small cells, hypercellularity, pattern loss and anaplasia) was evaluated using the Fleiss kappa index. The diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) was assessed by comparing the diagnoses obtained with the 2 grading systems with a consensus grade (considered the reference classification). The consensus histologic grade was obtained by agreement between 4 experienced veterinary neuropathologists following the guidelines. Compared with the human grading alone, the canine-specific guidelines increased the inter-observer agreement for: histologic grade (κ = 0.52); invasion (κ = 0.67); necrosis (κ = 0.62); small cells (κ = 0.36); pattern loss (κ = 0.49) and anaplasia (κ = 0.55). Mitotic grade agreement remained substantial (κ = 0.63). The guidelines improved the sensitivity in identifying grade 1 (95.6%) and the specificity in identifying grade 2 (96.2%) meningiomas. In conclusion, the new grading guidelines for canine meningiomas are associated with an overall improvement in the inter-observer agreement and higher diagnostic accuracy in diagnosing grade 1 and grade 2 meningiomas.