Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis outbreak on a mostly BHV-1 free farm can result in great damage

In a suckler herd with 110 cows (without young stock born in 2003) 5 cows died within 10 days, 6 calves were born dead prematurely and 5 calves were born alive but prematurely. The diagnosis BHV1-infection was based on clinical symptoms and confirmed with PCR. The clinical signs, diagnostic methods, therapy, risk-analysis and prevention are discussed.     

Water acceptance and intake in horses under shipping stress

A study was conducted to measure water acceptance and intake in Quarter Horse mares after transportation (4 h) to a new location, Armstrong Equine Service (AES). Another objective was to increase that water intake by means of a flavor additive (apple or clover). Twelve mares were randomly assigned either New Mexico State University (NMSU) water or AES water then switched in a crossover design and repeated. Mares wore heart rate monitors to measure an indication of stress pretransit for 45 min, in-transit to AES for 4 h and post-transit for 1 h. Mares were weighed pre-and post- transit. Blood was drawn pre-transit and 4 days later before return to NMSU from AES. At AES, water intake was monitored for 4 days in both experiments. During experiment 1, water intake was similar (P=0.5) for both sources of water, except on day 3 when mares consumed more AES water than NMSU water (35 vs 301). Serum Na values in these mares ranged from 127 to 129 mEq/ 1 (132-146 is normal), while serum C1 ranged from 92 to 94 mEqfl (99-109 is normal). In experiment 2, mares were subjected to the same protocol as experiment 1, except that water was from AES. After 4 h transport, six mares continued to AES, where three received clover-flavored water and three received apple-flavored water. Six mares remained at NMSU after transportation, with three receiving apple and three clover flavoring. Flavored water intake was monitored for 2 days. Mares showed clear preference for apple on day 1 (P<.05) and day 2 (P<.07). Without flavoring, mares con- sumed more (P>.05) water at NMSU than AES. Mares adjusted to a new water more easily in a familiar, rather than unfamiliar, environment.     

Presence of bovine herpesvirus 1 gB-seropositive but gE-seronegative Dutch cattle with no apparent virus exposure

Two hundred and thirty-seven of 2052 cattle which had not been vaccinated against bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) were seropositive in a glycoprotein B (gB)-blocking ELISA, but seronegative in a glycoprotein E (gE)-blocking ELISA. In order to detect whether they were latently infected with BHV-1, 10 of them were treated with corticosteroids in an attempt to reactivate putatively latent virus. After successive treatments with dexamethasone and prednisolone, no virus excretion was detected and they showed no increase in antibody titres. In contrast, one gE-seropositive animal re-excreted BHV-1 and had a four-fold increase in antibody titre after the corticosteroid treatments. After slaughter, no BHV-1 DNA could be detected with a sensitive PCR in samples of the trigeminal, cervical and sacral ganglia and spinal cords of the gE-seronegative cattle.     

Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat fingerprints to assess genetic diversity in Tunisian fig (Ficus carica L.) germplasm

The genetic diversity of 18 Tunisian fig cultivars was investigated at the DNA level using the Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) associated with the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Using a set of primers, the most informative ones were selected that were characterized by an important Resolving power value of 29.6. A total of 47 discernible fragments were scored from samples, with a mean of 11.7 fragments per primer. The 90.4% of sample that were polymorphic were scored as molecular markers to examine the Tunisian fig germplasm polymorphism at DNA level. A large genetic diversity as related to ISSR patterns was found within the local Tunisian fig germplasm. An UPGMA dendrogram exhibits the unstructured variability in this crop. Moreover, the principal component analysis shows that the observed diversity was typically continuous. Our data provide a large number of ISSR markers that are useful in the fingerprinting of Ficus carica L. cultivars, and in the understanding of the genetic relationships among these accessions.     

Effect of pollination intensity,frequency and pollen source on fig (Ficus carica L.) productivity and fruit quality

Yield and fruit quality in fig (Ficus carica L.) are highly dependent on cultural practices especially caprification (pollination). However, this technique remains not well controlled in Tunisia. This study was conducted during two successive years, 2009 and 2010, to investigate different pollination conditions, i.e. number of caprifigs and repetitions of caprification on fruiting of two cultivars Bouhouli (San Pedro type) and Zidi (Smyrna type). In addition, the efficiency of four pollen sources was evaluated to identify the most effective pollinator for female cultivar Zidi. The following parameters were recorded: fruit number per shoot, fruit set, productivity, fruit characteristics and vegetative growth.     

The black fig fly Silba adipata (Diptera: Lonchaeidae) as an emerging pest in Tunisia: preliminary data on geographic distribution,bioecology and damage

Phytoparasitica - Frugivorous fruit flies are considered among the most damaging pests of cultivated fruit crops. The most studied ones are those belonging to the Tephritidae family such as the...     

In vitro transport of carbon in the trachea of veal calves

Summary

Carbon transport was studied in vitro in preparations of trachea and bronchus from veal calves. The mean velocity varied from 4.2 mm/min in the main bronchi to 6.3 mm/min in the ventral trachea. In some locations no transport was observed. Stereomicroscopic evaluation of Alcian blue‐phloxine stained mucosal surfaces revealed differences in the appearance of the mucus layer between locations with and without mucus transport. It is concluded that quality and integrity of the mucus layer play an important role in mucus transport.     

Comparative study of pikeperch Sander lucioperca (Percidae; Linnaeus, 1758) eggs and larvae from wild females or from captive females fed chopped marine fish

Morphometric characteristics, proximal composition and fatty acids profiles of eggs and larvae at hatching and mouth opening were studied as indicators for assessing the potential differences between spawns obtained from wild or captive females of pikeperch (Sander lucioperca). Captive females were acclimated to hatchery conditions and fed to satiation with chopped marine fish for more than a year, guaranteeing that captivity covered the full cycle of gonad maturation. The number of larvae obtained from the spawnings did not differ between captive and wild females, but both mean diameter and mean weight of the eggs collected from the captive females were significantly larger. Proximal compositions were similar in eggs and larvae from both groups, but fatty acids (FA) profiles showed striking differences: polyunsaturated FA consisted mainly of linoleic acid in eggs and larvae from wild females, while they consisted mainly of long chains of n-3 series in eggs and larvae from captive females. The diet of captive females largely modified the FA profiles of eggs and of hatching or mouth opening larvae, but did not affect the growth potential of early larvae, demonstrating that they were able to satisfy their early physiological needs regardless of the striking differences in their FA.     

Epizootic of ovine congenital malformations associated with Schmallenberg virus infection

Epizootic outbreaks of congenital malformations in sheep are rare and have, to the best of our knowledge, never been reported before in Europe. This paper describes relevant preliminary findings from the first epizootic outbreak of ovine congenital malformations in the Netherlands. Between 25 November and 20 December 2011, congenital malformations in newborn lambs on sheep farms throughout the country were reported to the Animal Health Service in Deventer. Subsequently, small ruminant veterinary specialists visited these farms and collected relevant information from farmers by means of questionnaires. The deformities varied from mild to severe, and ewes were reported to have given birth to both normal and deformed lambs; both male and female lambs were affected. Most of the affected lambs were delivered at term. Besides malformed and normal lambs, dummy lambs, unable to suckle, were born also on these farms. None of the ewes had shown clinical signs during gestation or at parturition. Dystocia was common, because of the lambs' deformities. Lambs were submitted for post-mortem examination, and samples of brain tissue were collected for virus detection. The main macroscopic findings included arthrogryposis, torticollis, scoliosis and kyphosis, brachygnathia inferior, and mild-to-marked hypoplasia of the cerebrum, cerebellum and spinal cord. Preliminary data from the first ten affected farms suggest that nutritional deficiencies, intoxication, and genetic factors are not likely to have caused the malformations. Preliminary diagnostic analyses of precolostral serum samples excluded border disease virus, bovine viral diarrhoea virus, and bluetongue virus. In December 2011, samples of brain tissue from 54 lambs were sent to the Central Veterinary Institute of Wageningen University Research, Lelystad. Real-time PCR detected the presence of a virus, provisionally named the Schmallenberg virus, in brain tissue from 22 of the 54 lambs, which originated from seven of eight farms that had submitted lambs for post-mortem examination. This Schmallenberg virus was first reported in Germany and seems to be related to the Shamonda, Aino, and Akabane viruses, all of which belong to the Simbu serogroup of the genus Orthobunyavirus of the family Bunyaviridae. These preliminary findings suggest that the Schmallenberg virus is the most likely cause of this epizootic of ovine congenital malformations, which is the first such outbreak reported in Europe.     

Airborne transmission of BHV1, BRSV, and BVDV among cattle is possible under experimental conditions

To control the diseases caused by bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV1), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), and bovine virus diarrhoea virus (BVDV), it is crucial to know their modes of transmission. The purpose of this study was to determine whether these viruses can be transmitted by air to a substantial extent. Calves were housed in two separate isolation stables in which a unidirectional airflow was maintained through a tube in the wall. In one stable, three of the five calves were experimentally infected with BHV1 and later with BRSV. In the BVDV experiment, two calves persistently infected with BVDV (PI-calves) instead of experimentally infected calves, were used as the source of the virus. In all the calves infections were monitored using virus and antibody detection. Results showed that all the three viruses were transmitted by air. BHV1 spread to sentinel calves in the adjacent stable within three days, and BRSV within nine days, and BVDV spread to sentinel calves probably within one week. Although airborne transmission is possibly not the main route of transmission, these findings will have consequences for disease prevention and regulations in control programmes.