Studies on insects and mites causing galls on the leaves of purple willow Salix purpurea L. in the Ojców National Park in Poland

Analytical studies were conducted on the species composition of galls occurring on the leaves of Salix purpurea L. in the Ojców National Park in 1999–2000. The species composition of galls was identical in two consecutive years. Galls were caused by 5species (a total of 480galls). The most numerous species in both years was Pontania viminalis (L.). Index of occurrence frequency and Agrell's index of species co-existence have been calculated. This index reached the highest values in case of Pontania dolichura (Thoms.) and P. viminalis (L.) in 1999 as well as Phyllocolpa leucaspis (Tischb.) and P. viminalis (L.) in 2000.     

Untersuchungen zum endophytischen Befall von Fusarium proliferatum (Matsushima) Nirenberg in geernteten Stangen von Spargel (Asparagus officinalis L.)

Zusammenfassung Erstmalig wurden mit den vorliegenden Untersuchungen Spargelstangen zur Haupterntezeit auf endophytischen Pilzbefall untersucht. Sie zeigen, dass im Ernteprodukt zwar Fusarium proliferatum als potenzieller Mykotoxinbildner zu finden ist. Eine mögliche natürliche Kontamination mit Fumonisinen bestätigte sich nicht. Von den mit F. proliferatum infizierten Stangen wies nur eine Stange mit grau-rosa-orange farbenen Gewebeveränderungen an der Basis sichtbare Symptome auf. Allgemeine Rückschlüsse auf eine mögliche Gefährdung oder Nichtgefährdung des Verbrauchers beim Verzehr von mit F. proliferatum kontaminierten, symptomlosen Stangen können aus der Analyse nicht gezogen werden. Hierzu müssen weitergehende Untersuchungen zur Wirt-Pathogen-Interaktion erfolgen und die phänotypischen und genotypischen Einflussfaktoren in diesem Prozess noch näher untersucht werden.     

Relationships among ecology, demography and diseases of European bison (Bison bonasus)

The bison population in the Bialowieza Forest in Poland has now grown to approximately 300, while the herds in the Belarusian part of the forest total about 240 bison. The first signs of a health problem in these herds appeared in 1980, when two cases of balanoposthitis were detected in two bulls (2 and 5 years of age). Since 1980 research has been conducted to explain the cause of diseases, particularly balanoposthitis, and to monitor the health of bison in Bialowieza Forest. A total number of 614 bison (294 male and 320 female) of different ages was eliminated between 1980 and 2000. Not all the culled bison were examined (postmortem analysis, histopathological, bacteriological, virological and toxicological examinations, serological tests, molecular research). Based on the increase in numbers, reproduction in this population for the past 21 years is generally considered successful. Among 182 male bison eliminated during 1990-2000, only 85, or 47%, of the animals had balanoposthitis. Thus, the percentage of balanoposthitis cases went from 100% during the 1980s down to 47% in the past decade. It appears that the culling process has been a major factor leading to this decrease. It can be assumed that a set of factors is involved in the appearance of the disease (Corynebacterium spp., Bacillus sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Ureoplasma spp, Fusobacterium necrophorum, Streptoccocus spp., Staphyloccocus spp.) while opportunistic infections including nematodes (Onchocerca spp.) are responsible for the occurrence of secondary lesions.     

The localization and connections of suboviductal lymphatic vessels in the bovine uterine broad ligament

The distribution of oviductal lymphatic vessels in the bovine mesosalpinx and bursa ovarica, and their communications with other lymphatics in the uterine broad ligament were examined after exposition of all lymphatic pathways with varicoloured microfil and/or ink-gelatin mixture. However, filling of the lumen of the oviductal infundibulum lymphatics was difficult or impossible because of its slender walls. Lymphatics of the isthmus and ampulla with short precollectors formed branches 1.5-2.0 cm long on both sides: dorsal and ventral of the uterine broad ligament. Collectors with slender and long lymphangions, visible after filling their lumen, encircled the alymphatic area in the parainfundibullar mesosalpinx. The greatest number of lymphatic branches, which originated from the paraisthmal part of the oviductal ampulla were observed in the subovarian area. The characteristic feature was their immediate proximity with uterine and oviductal arterial vessels. Subsequent studies have provided convincing evidence that there are direct connections of lymphatics leaving the oviduct and ovarian sac with lymphatics emerging from the uterus and ovary (after bilateral filling of lymphatics pathways in the whole broad liagment of the uterus). The performed investigations showed particularly characteristic feature in the cow--mixing lymph leaving various reproductive organs in the area of the right and left ligament--before two long collector branches reach the nearest lymphatic node/-s.     

The developmental pattern of c-fos expression in the rat thalamus following open-field stress stimulation

The thalamic nuclei with their defined set of input-output connections are the primary channel for information flow to the cerebral cortex. Several data suggest that neurons of that area are involved in the response to various aversive stimulations. However the pattern of activation seems to depend on the stress model as well as the stage of maturation. In the present study we would like to check which nuclei of the thalamus show expression of c-fos in the response to the "open field test", and how this response pattern changes during the maturation process. 30 rats of age ranged from P0 to P120 (P-postnatal day) were studied. The experimental group was exposed to the "open field test" for 10 minutes. After perfusion and fixation, brains were cut and stained for c-fos with immunohistochemical method. Our results showed that during development the pattern of c-fos activity in the thalamic nuclei after stress stimulation undergoes significant changes. Distinct c-fos expression was observed in the paraventricular nucleus, intergeniculate leaflet and ventral lateral geniculate nucleus. These findings suggest that these nuclei may play a direct role in the stress reaction involved in the response to the "open field test".     

Suitability of SSCP-PCR analysis for molecular detection of quinolone resistance in Campylobacter jejuni

Foodborne infections with Campylobacter spp. are increasing, especially antibiotic resistant strains are emerging. Quinolone resistant isolates can cause failure of therapy in severe clinical infections. Molecular characterisation is needed for the detection of resistant variants of C. jejuni. Therefore 23 isolates from poultry and human medicine as well as three control strains were tested for their minimal inhibitory concentration, their Single-Strand-Conformation-Polymorphism (SSCP)-PCR pattern (a method for the detection of resistance determining point mutations), and their sequence of the quinolone resistance determining region (QRDR). Six different SSCP types could be identified: two types for quinolone resistant isolates and other types containing so called silent mutations without influence on the resistance. A genotypic monitoring of the quinolone resistance in C. jejuni can be useful for the early detection of new resistance variants. As a screening method for detection of point mutations in the QRDR the SSCP-PCR can be applied. Compared to other genotypic methods the SSCP-PCR is less time and cost consuming and needs only standard technical equipment.     

Involvement of high-density lipoprotein in stimulatory effect of hormones supporting function of the bovine corpus luteum

The hypothesis that epinephrine (noradrenaline, NA) enhances utilisation of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) by bovine luteal cells and that this process involves phospholipase (PL) C and protein kinase (PK) C intracellular pathway was tested. Luteal cells from days 2-4, 5-10 or 11-17 of the oestrous cycle were preincubated for 20 h. Subsequently DMEM/Ham's F-12 medium was replaced by fresh medium and the cells were treated for 6 h as follows: In Experiment I with HDL (5-75 micrograms cholesterol per ml), NA, isoprenaline (ISO) or luteinising hormone (LH). In Experiment II cells were incubated for further 24 h in deficient medium (without FCS) and next treated as in Experiment I. In Experiment III cells were stimulated with NA, ISO or LH alone and together with HDL. In Experiment IV cells were treated with PLC inhibitor (U-73122) or with PKC inhibitor (staurosporine) or stimulator (phorbol 12-myristrate 13-acetate) and with either NA, insulin or LH. Only luteal cells from days 5-10 of the cycle responded on HDL and beta-mimetics (P < 0.05). LH stimulated progesterone secretion from the luteal cells during all stages of the cycle (P < 0.001). Cells incubated in deficient medium and supplemented with HDL secreted as much progesterone as those stimulated by LH in all stages of the cycle. Beta-mimetics were unable to enhance the stimulatory effect of HDL. Blockade of PLC had no influence on progesterone secretion from cells treated with either NA or LH, but this did impair the stimulatory effect of insulin (P < 0.05). Similarly, blockade of PKC by staurosporine impaired (P < 0.05) the effect of insulin only but not that observed after LH or NA treatment. We suggest that: (a) noradrenergic stimulation does not enhance utilisation of cholesterol from HDL for progesterone secretion; (b) the fasting of luteal cells seems to activate enzymes responsible for the progesterone synthesis; (c) effect of NA on progesterone secretion from luteal cells does not involve the PLC-PKC pathway.     

Histopathological changes in green muscle disease of turkeys

In this study, results of histopathological investigations of meat samples collected from turkeys with macroscopically recognized green muscle disease were compared with those obtained from turkeys without macroscopic signs of this syndrome. The histopathological lesions were assessed based upon the self-designed 7-grade scale of the intensity of changes. The greatest intensity of the histopathological alterations were found in the smaller pectoral muscle collected from turkeys in which macroscopical signs of the green muscle disease were observed. Similar changes were also found in the greater pectoral muscle, however, they were less intense than those determined in the smaller pectoral muscle.     

Matrix metalloproteinase activity in tumor, stromal tissue, and serum from cats with malignancies

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are enzymes that play key roles in angiogenesis, tumor invasion, and metastasis in a wide variety of species. The purpose of this study was to evaluate pro and active MMP 2 and 9 concentrations in tumor, normal stromal tissue, and serum from tumor-bearing cats. We hypothesized that serum concentrations of pro and active forms of MMPs 2 and 9 would be predictive of MMP concentrations in tumor tissue and that these MMP concentrations would correlate with the histopathologic grade of the malignancies. Pro and active forms of MMPs 2 and 9 were determined by gelatin zymography and subsequent computerized densitometry from tumor and nearby stromal tissue and serum from 49 cats with various malignancies. The serum concentrations of MMPs from these tumor-bearing cats were compared with serum concentrations of MMPs from 44 normal cats of similar age and gender. Measurable concentrations of MMPs 2 and 9 were found within tumor, stromal, and serum samples. Mean concentrations of total pro and active MMPs 2 and 9 within tumor tissue were significantly higher (P values <.0001, .0031, <.001, and .0064, respectively) when compared with stromal tissue from the same animals. Serum MMP concentrations from tumor-bearing cats were higher than those from normal cats. Poor correlation was found between serum MMP concentrations and tissue MMP concentrations of increasing histologic grades of malignancies.     

Canine mast cell tumours: a review of the pathogenesis, clinical features, pathology and treatment

Mast cells (MCs) are well known for their neoplastic transformation in solitary and multiple cutaneous mast cell tumours (MCTs), as well as visceral and systemic mastocytosis. Dogs have a unique risk of developing cutaneous MCTs, and they account for 7% to 21% of all canine skin tumours. The aetiology of canine MCTs is unknown but is probably multifactorial. This article reviews up-to-date knowledge on the pathogenesis, the clinical presentation, the clinical prognostic factors, the diagnostic workup including clinical staging, cytological findings, histological findings and the various grading systems which have been evaluated based on morphology, the assessment of proliferation markers and other factors such as vessel density. Furthermore, detailed information about current treatment protocols for canine cutaneous MCTs is provided.