Mars-like soils in the Atacama Desert, Chile, and the dry limit of microbial life

The Viking missions showed the martian soil to be lifeless and depleted in organic material and indicated the presence of one or more reactive oxidants. Here we report the presence of Mars-like soils in the extreme arid region of the Atacama Desert. Samples from this region had organic species only at trace levels and extremely low levels of culturable bacteria. Two samples from the extreme arid region were tested for DNA and none was recovered. Incubation experiments, patterned after the Viking labeled-release experiment but with separate biological and nonbiological isomers, show active decomposition of organic species in these soils by nonbiological processes.     

Comment on "Wetland sedimentation from hurricanes Katrina and Rita"

Turner et al. (Reports, 20 October 2006, p. 449) measured sedimentation from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in coastal Louisiana and inferred that storm deposition overwhelms direct Mississippi River sediment input. However, their annualized hurricane deposition rate is overestimated, whereas riverine deposition is underestimated by at least an order of magnitude. Their numbers do not provide a credible basis for decisions about coastal restoration.     

Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) caused by vaccine strain T1/44 of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides SC

A study was carried out on four adult cattle to assess the pathogenicity of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides SC strain T1/44, currently used as a vaccine for the control of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in Namibia. Post mortem examination 9 weeks after endobronchial inoculation of the vaccine strain to three of the four animals revealed unilateral pleuropneumonic lesions, pleuritis and well-developed sequesters in two of the three inoculated animals and several small sequesters surrounded by pleuropneumonic lesions in the diaphragmatic and apical lobes in one animal. The fourth animal, which was not directly inoculated but was in close contact with the inoculated animals, revealed only an adhesion area of the lung to the ribcage. Serological examination carried out using the complement fixation test (CFT) detected positive titres in all three intubated animals and the indirect CBPP-LppQ-ELISA was positive for two of the three inoculated animals. The contact animal showed no seroconversion. M. mycoides subsp. mycoides SC was isolated from the sequesters of two of the inoculated animals. Isolation of mycoplasmas was not possible from the third inoculated animal due to heavy contamination of the samples by other bacteria, but the presence of M. mycoides subsp. mycoides SC could be evidenced by PCR from clinical samples. The identity of the T1/44 vaccine strain isolated from the sequesters of two animals was confirmed by T1/44-specific PCR analysis and by IS1296 typing using Southern blot. These results clearly show that inoculation of T1/44 vaccine via the endobronchial route can lead to CBPP.     

Color dilution alopecia in a blue Doberman pinscher crossbreed

A 6-year-old male, blue Doberman pinscher crossbreed was presented with coat abnormalities; in particular, flank alopecia and pruritus. Based on medical the history, clinical evidence, and histopathological examination, color dilution alopecia was diagnosed. The dog was with oral melatonin treated for 3 months without success.     

Hypolipidemic effects of Citrus bergamia Risso et Poiteau juice in rats fed a hypercholesterolemic diet

Citrus bergamia Risso et Poiteau fruits have been traditionally utilized, in Calabria (Italy), as a popular remedy for their hypolipidemic properties. C. bergamia juice total phenol content (2474.35+/-38 microg/mL) was evaluated by the Folin-Ciocalteu method; moreover, HPLC analysis led to the identification of naringin (520 ppm), neoeriocitrin (370 ppm), and neohesperidin (310 ppm). The present study was designed to investigate the hypolipidemic effects of C. bergamia juice and its protective effect on liver of hyperlipidemic rats. Chronic administration of C. bergamia (1 mL/rat/day) provoked a significant reduction in serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels and an increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels; moreover, histopathological observations showed, in rats submitted to C. bergamia treatment, a protection of hepatic parenchyma. In addition, fecal neutral sterols and fecal bile acid excretion was found to be increased after C. bergamia treatment. These results suggest that the hypocholesterolemic effect of C. bergamia may be mediated by the increase in fecal neutral sterols and total bile acids excretion. In addition to the hypolipidemic effect, the juice shows radical scavenging activity in the diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test; probably the two effects are related. These observations suggest that the positive intake of C. bergamia may reduce the risk of some cardiovascular diseases through its radical scavenging function and hypocholesterolemic action.     

Artificial reproduction protocol,from spawning to metamorphosis,through noninvasive methods in Patella caerulea Linnaeus, 1758

Controlled reproduction is a requirement for developing effective mollusc cultivation for commercial or restoration purposes. In this study, a protocol for spawning induction using noninvasive methods in limpets was developed, using the common Mediterranean species, Patella caerulea Linnaeus, 1758. Six nonlethal spawning induction treatments were tested: three chemical (two concentrations of H₂O₂ and KCl) and three physical (bubbling, warm and cold thermal shock). All treatments, except thermal shocks, induced the spawning of fertile gametes. Bubbling resulted the best treatment in providing spawning response, being the easiest and least invasive method tested. After eggs fertilization, larval development was followed until metamorphosis, testing fed and unfed conditions. Settlement took place after 7 days. The developed protocol represents a benchmark for further application to other limpets, for aquaculture or repopulation.     

Efficacy of a combination of 10% imidacloprid/50% permethrin for the prevention of leishmaniasis in kennelled dogs in an endemic area

The efficacy of imidacloprid 10%and permethrin 50% (Advantix; Bayer AG, Germany) in a spot-on formulation was evaluated in the field as a control measure to prevent canine leishmaniasis (CanL) in dogs in an endemic area of southern Italy. In February 2005, out of 845 dogs initially tested for CanL, 631 dogs which tested negative (315 from a kennel in Bari (KB) and 316 from a kennel in Ginosa (KG)) in a serological and a parasitological examination were allocated to one of three groups: Group A-treated with imidacloprid 10% and permethrin 50% once a month; Group B-treated every 2 weeks; and Group C-untreated control animals. All the dogs were examined serologically and parasitologically for CanL prior to the start of the study, in November 2005 (end of the sandfly season) and in March 2006 (end of the study). An initial CanL seroprevalence of 24.7% (209 dogs) was detected in KB and KG. In KB Leishmania infection, inferred by positivity in at least one of the three tests performed at the interim or final follow-up, was found in one animal from Group A and in nine from Group C. No positive animals were detected in Group B, thus giving a final protection efficacy of 88.9% in Group A and 100% in Group B. In KG Leishmania infection was identified in one animal from Groups A and B, respectively, and 11 from Group C (protection efficacy of 90.36% in Group A and 90.73% in Group B). The incidence density rates (IDRs) of infection in both Groups A and B at each kennel were statistically significantly lower than that registered in Group C (KB p<0.05 and KG p<0.01). The results clearly show that a combination of imidacloprid 10% and permethrin 50%, by virtue of its repellent activity against sandflies, is effective under both application regimes in preventing CanL in the field in endemic areas.