An Experimental Model to Study Resistance Index and Systolic/Diastolic Ratio of Uterine Arteries in Adverse Canine Pregnancy Outcome

The aim of this study was to describe the changes in the resistance index (RI) and systolic/diastolic ratio ( S / D ) of the uterine arteries during mid-pregnancy abortion induction in the dog. Sixteen 30–35 day pregnant bitches were randomly assigned to either a pharmacological protocol to interrupt gestation (n = 8) or were used as untreated control group (n = 8). Doppler assessments of uterine arteries blood flow were carried out before the initiation of the protocol and then every other day up to abortion (treated group) or parturition (control group). All treated bitches aborted 6 ± 1.2 days after initiation of the treatment (while none of the non-treated bitches aborted). Pre-treatment RI and S / D did not differ between groups (p > 0.2) while average post-treatment indexes were (mean ± SD): 0.62 ± 0.1 vs 0.53 ± 0.1 (p < 0.01) and 2.96 ± 0.9 vs 2.23 ± 0.3 (p = 0.01), for the treated and non-treated group respectively. Correlations between days to abortion and RI or S / D were 0.75 (p < 0.01) and 0.79 (p < 0.01) and, −0.78 (p < 0.01) and −0.73 (p < 0.01) for the treated and non-treated groups respectively. In the treated group, correlations between serum progesterone (P₄) concentrations and RI and S / D were −0.76 (p < 0.01) and −0.59 (p < 0.01) respectively. It is concluded that, during induction of abortion, RI and S / D of uterine arteries progressively increased while P₄ decreased.     

Early life history of the black anglerfish Lophius budegassa Spinola, 1807 in the Mediterranean Sea using otolith microstructure

The early life history of the black anglerfish, Lophius budegassa was investigated by otolith (lapilli) increment analysis. Samples of demersal juvenile L. budegassa ranging from 54 to 196 mm total length were collected during bottom trawl surveys in the central Adriatic Sea. By counting increments presumed to be deposited daily in the lapillar otoliths, 88 specimens of L. budegassa were successfully aged. Age estimates of juveniles ranged between 79 and 204 days, indicating that probably the pelagic phase of this species is relatively short and settlement occurs at less than 3 months of life. The analysis of check marks in the core area of lapilli enabled us to determine the period of endogenous feeding, which would last between 15 and 24 days after hatching. Back-calculated hatching dates and, consequently, the spawning season of L. budegassa in the Adriatic Sea was spread over a long period, lasting at least from February to June. The length at age relationship gave an estimate of mean growth rate of approximately 0.8–1.02 mm/day, indicating a faster growth rate of 0+ juveniles L. budegassa than previously thought. The implications of these findings on age estimates discrepancies between previous ageing studies on L. budegassa carried out using different calcified structure (sagittae or illicia) are discussed.     

Bacterial leaf blight of strawberry (Fragaria (x) ananassa) caused by a pathovar of Xanthomonas arboricola, not similar to Xanthomonas fragariae Kennedy & King. Description of the causal organism as Xanthomonas arboricola pv. fragariae (pv. nov., comb. nov.)

A new bacterial disease of strawberry is described. This disease, called bacterial leaf blight of strawberry, is characterized by dry, brown necrotic leaf spots and large brown V-shaped lesions along the leaf margin, midrib and major veins. Symptoms are different from angular leaf spot of strawberry caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas fragariae . Strains of the bacterial leaf blight pathogen were characterized in a polyphasic approach by biochemical tests, fatty acid analysis, protein electrophoresis, serology, PCR, pigment analysis, ice-nucleation activity, AFLP analysis, DNA:DNA hybridization, pathogenicity and host range tests, and compared with a number of reference strains of X. fragariae and other Xanthomonas species. Bacterial leaf blight strains formed a homogeneous group in all tests, completely different from X. fragariae . They were the only strains causing leaf blight of strawberry upon artificial inoculation into strawberry. Fatty acid and protein electrophoretic analysis showed that the strains belong to the phenon X. campestris ( sensu latu , including pathovars now classified as belonging to X. arboricola ). AFLP analysis and DNA:DNA hybridization further clarified their taxonomic position as belonging to X. arboricola. The name X. arboricola pv. fragariae is proposed for the bacterium causing leaf blight of strawberry with strain PD2780 (LMG 19145) as pathovar type strain. Criteria for routine identification are given and the taxonomic status is discussed.