Attempts to eliminate <Emphasis Type="Italic">Candidatus</Emphasis> phytoplasma phoenicium from infected Lebanese almond varieties by tissue culture techniques combined or not with thermotherapy

Elimination of Candidatus phytoplasma phoenicium from two infected Lebanese varieties of almond by using different tissue culture techniques is reported. Except for the oxytetracycline therapy which totally inhibited the development of explants, stem cutting cultures associated with thermotherapy, shoot tip cultures associated or not with thermotherapy, and shoot tip micrografting were all suitable, either for shoot regeneration or for elimination of phytoplasma from the two varieties. However, stem cutting culture coupled with thermotherapy seemed to be the most effective for regeneration of phytoplasma-free plantlets.     

The etiology of foul brood]

Five hundred and thirty-six samples of honeycombs were examined in a laboratory in the years 1971-1974. In all the samples clinically determined as the foul brood, B. alvei was isolated as a pure culture, and enterococci, or both microorganisms were isolated in mixed form. Twenty-five strains of the isolated streptococci were analyzed microbiologically and biochemically; on the basis of their culture and biochemical characteristics five strains were designated as Streptococcus faecalis, 14 strains as Streptococcus faecalis var. liquefaciens, five strains as Streptococcus faecium and one strain as Streptococcus durans. After checking the used taxonomic key of the culture and biochemical classification of B. alvei it may be stated that the culture and biochemical characteristics are stable. The strains of B. alvei (very dried strains), which persisted in the dried slant meat-peptone agar, were viable under the laboratory conditions, which proves the high resistance of the spores to the environment.     

Drought, snails, and large-scale die-off of southern U.S. salt marshes

Salt marshes in the southeastern United States have recently experienced massive die-off, one of many examples of widespread degradation in marine and coastal ecosystems. Although intense drought is thought to be the primary cause of this die-off, we found snail grazing to be a major contributing factor. Survey of marsh die-off areas in three states revealed high-density fronts of snails on die-off edges at 11 of 12 sites. Exclusion experiments demonstrated that snails actively converted marshes to exposed mudflats. Salt addition and comparative field studies suggest that drought-induced stress and grazers acted synergistically and to varying degrees to cause initial plant death. After these disturbances, snail fronts formed on die-off edges and subsequently propagated through healthy marsh, leading to cascading vegetation loss. These results, combined with model analyses, reveal strong interactions between increasing climatic stress and grazer pressure, both potentially related to human environmental impacts, which amplify the likelihood and intensity of runaway collapse in these coastal systems.     

Bioindication of ozone in Estonia by using the tobacco variety Bel W3

The presence of tropospheric ozone was monitored by estimating necrotic flecks on the leaves of the ozone-sensitive tobacco variety Bel W3 in Estonia in 1990 and 1991. The indicator and control plants (variety Samsun) were planted in four localities (Käsmu, northern Estonia; Tartu, central Estonia, with two sites and Kooraste, southern Estonia). The percentage of the leaf area covered with necrotic flecks (necrotic index of the leaf) was determined individually for each leaf from mid-June until the end of September. The mean daily increment of the necrotic index for the period between two observations (typically 6–14 days) was calculated for each plant (NII_plant) and for the site (NII_site). The latter parameter indicates the variability of ozone episodes during the vegatation period. Ozone damage to leaves displayed an irregular pattern throughout the vegetation period, the values of NII_site ranging from 0 to 0.3 (Kooraste, 1990) and 0.9 to 2.8 (Käsmu, 1991). The average NII_site for the vegetation period was highest in northern Estonia (0.77 in 1990 and 1.47 in 1991) and lowest in southern Estonia (0.07 in 1990). High ozone damage in Käsmu can be explained by the close location (70–80 km) of the experimental site to major thermal power plants of Estonia and cities (Tallinn and Helsinki). Higher ozone damage in all the observed sites in 1991 as compared to 1990 can be accounted for different conditions for ozone formation.The number of sunny hours was 27% higher in 1991. In July the difference in sunny hours was almost twofold. It is concluded that ozone damage to plants is likely to occur in sunny summers in Estonia.     

Infection and blood transfusion: a guide to donor screening

In recent years, blood-component therapy has become more accessible in veterinary practice. As with human medicine, care must be taken to minimize the risk of disease transmission from donor to recipient. Determining the appropriate diseases to screen for is complicated by regional variations in disease incidence, the existence of chronic carrier states for some diseases, the difficulty in screening-test selection, and testing cost. The feline diseases considered include retroviral infections, feline coronaviruses, ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis-like), anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum), neorickettsiosis (Neorickettsia risticii), hemoplasmosis (Mycoplasma hemofelis and M. hemominutum, previously feline hemobartonellosis), and cytauxzoonosis (Cytauxzoon felis). The canine diseases considered in this paper include babesiosis (Babesia canis and B. gibsonii,) ehrlichiosis (E. canis and E. ewingii), anaplasmosis (A. phagocytophilum), neorickettsiosis (N. risticii var. atypicalis), leishmaniasis (Leishmania donovani complex), brucellosis (Brucella canis), hemoplasmosis (M. hemocanis, previously canine hemobartonellosis), and bartonellosis (Bartonella vinsonii).     

Medical Management of Pituitary-Dependent Hyperadrenocorticism: Mitotane versus Trilostane

Pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism is a common endocrine disorder in dogs in the United States. Once a diagnosis is established, a decision must be made whether or not to pursue treatment, and if so, which medication to use. Historically, mitotane (Lysodren, o,p'-DDD, Bristol-Myers Squibb, New York) has been the most commonly used treatment for medical management. Its use is complicated and comes with many potential side effects, making many practitioners wary of its use. Recently, trilostane has been proven to be an effective treatment of pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism and is approved for use in other countries. Treatment with trilostane is somewhat simpler and the incidence of side effects seems to be less when compared with mitotane therapy. Either treatment can be a safe and effective method of treatment for pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism when the practitioner and client are well educated regarding their use and an appropriate monitoring protocol is used.     

Comparison of clinical and pathological diagnoses in dogs

Clinical and pathological diagnoses were compared in a prospective study of 145 dogs. A diagnostic work up had been performed on all dogs of which 36 (24.8%) died and 109 (75.2%) were euthanatized. In 119 dogs (82.1%) both a clinical and patholical diagnosis was made, in 20 dogs (13.8%) no pathological diagnosis could be made and in 6 dogs (4.1%) no clinical diagnosis was established. In the 119 dogs the agreement level between clinical and pathological diagnosis was scored by the referring veterinarian together with a pathologist. Total agreement was found in 61 cases (51.3%) and disagreement in 31 cases (26.0%). In the remaining cases (27=22.7%) the pathological diagnosis further specified the clinical diagnosis. Consecutive submission appeared difficult to achieve by the participating veterinarians. However, no major differences in agreement level was present between the veterinarian which succeeded in almost consecutive submissions and the other veterinarians. At necropsy 42 cases were diagnosed as neoplasia, of which 52.4% had been diagnosed clinically. As to infectious diseases 55.0% of these diseases diagnosed at necropsy had been diagnosed clinically. In about 20% of the cases the differences were of clinical significance according to the referring veterinarians. In addition, it was indicated by the clinicians that about 50% of the necropsies revealed findings which could amend future patient care. The results of the study stress the relevance of postmortem examination as crucial part of continuing education and of quality monitoring and assurance in veterinary medicine.