Familial canine pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism in wirehaired Dachshunds

Canine pituitary hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's disease) caused by neoplasia of the corticotrope cells is one of the most common endocrine diseases especially in smaller dog breeds. Cushing's disease was diagnosed in eleven wire-haired Dachshunds and for further six wire-haired Dachshunds Cushing's disease was suspected on the basis of clinical signs. A joined pedigree could be ascertained for all these 17 dogs. Eleven of these dogs were so closely related to each other, that they were summarized in four nucleus families. Two fullsiblings were examined by means of clinical, laboratory diagnostic and morphological methods. The main lesions consisted of atrophic dermatosis with alopecia, increase of activity of liver enzymes in plasma and bilateral adrenocortical hyperplasia and therefore corresponded to the typical signs of a secondary hyperadrenocorticism. A rather unusual finding was the pituitary carcinoma in one of these dogs. Similarly to human patients affected by hyperadrenocorticism, real-time PCR analysis showed a 2.9-fold increase of expression of the canine MDR1 gene in the liver of one affected wirehaired Dachshund. This study documents the first familial occurrence of pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism in wirehaired Dachshunds, the overexpression of the MDR1 gene in the dog and the third case of familial hyperadrenocorticism in dogs ever described.     

DNA vaccines encoding the envelope protein of West Nile virus lineages 1 or 2 administered intramuscularly,via electroporation and with recombinant virus protein induce partial protection in large falcons (Falco spp.)

As West Nile virus (WNV) can cause lethal diseases in raptors, a vaccination prophylaxis of free-living and captive populations is desirable. In the absence of vaccines approved for birds, equine vaccines have been used in falcons, but full protection against WNV infection was not achieved. Therefore, two DNA vaccines encoding the ectodomain of the envelope protein of WNV lineages 1 and 2, respectively, were evaluated in 28 large falcons. Four different vaccination protocols were used, including electroporation and booster-injections of recombinant WNV domain III protein, before challenge with the live WNV lineage 1 strain NY99. Drug safety, plasmid shedding and antibody production were monitored during the vaccination period. Serological, virological, histological, immunohistochemical and molecular biological investigations were performed during the challenge trials. Antibody response following vaccination was low overall and lasted for a maximum of three weeks. Plasmid shedding was not detected at any time. Viremia, mortality and levels, but not duration, of oral virus shedding were reduced in all of the groups during the challenge trial compared to the non-vaccinated control group. Likewise, clinical scoring, levels of cloacal virus shedding and viral load in organs were significantly reduced in three vaccination groups. Histopathological findings associated with WNV infections (meningo-encephalitis, myocarditis, and arteritis) were present in all groups, but immunohistochemical detection of the viral antigen was reduced. In conclusion, the vaccines can be used safely in falcons to reduce mortality and clinical signs and to lower the risk of virus transmission due to decreased levels of virus shedding and viremia, but full protection was not achieved in all groups.     

Oligogenic control of resistance to soil‐borne viruses SBCMV and WSSMV in rye (Secale cereale L.)

Rye production in European growing areas is constrained by the soilborne cereal mosaic virus (SBCMV) and the wheat spindle streak mosaic virus (WSSMV). To date, no European rye cultivars are known to exhibit resistance against these viruses. In this study, we pursued a quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping strategy to identify genomic regions for resistance to SBCMV and WSSMV in rye. Three populations, each comprising 100 lines segregating for resistance to SBCMV and/or WSSMV, were evaluated for disease response at two years in three locations in Germany where soils are naturally infested with SBCMV and WSSMV. In the combined analysis across environments, one QTL for SBCMV resistance on chromosome 5R explained 31.9% of the phenotypic variation in one of the populations. For WSSMV resistance, one QTL explaining up to 64.0% of the phenotypic variation was detected on chromosome 7R in each of the three populations. On the Triticeae homoeologous group 5, we found evidence for synteny of the major QTL for SBCMV resistance between the wheat and rye genomes.     

Pflanzenschutz mit Pflanzenextrakten (Botanicals): Hintergründe,zwei Fallstudien,Schlussfolgerungen und Standortbestimmung

Plant extracts (botanicals) are of special significance for plant protection, especially in organic farming. This is due to their origin, specific modes of action, toxicological and ecotoxicological properties as well as to ever changing legal, patent, economic and social/political issues. This paper surveys this complex background and presents data on two selected botanicals which pertain to the use of extract fractions from Glycyrrhiza glabra (sweet wood) for control of Bremia lactucae (downy mildew) in lettuce and azadirachtin for control of leafhoppers in Melissa officinalis L. Both compounds exhibited good effects in the greenhouse which were less pronounced or absent in the field. The effects of sweet wood were strongest when applied twice preventively at 5?% concentration. In the greenhouse, this resulted in a lower number of infected plants and smaller leaf areas attacked by the downy mildew pathogen at high disease pressure. Azadirachtin (plant protection chemical NeemAzal®-T/S in combination with the additive Trifolio S-forte; 1.5 l/ha + 3 l/ha in 600 l water per hektar, 3 applications, interval 7 days) was better in controlling leaf hoppers than natural pyrethrins in combination with rapeseed oil (Spruzit Schädlingsfrei; 6 l/ha in 1,000 l water per hektar, 1 application) in the greenhouse and exhibited very high insecticidal efficacy almost equivalent to that of thiacloprid (Calypso 480 SC; 0.12 l/ha in 400 l water per hektar, 1 application) at moderate disease pressure. Thiacloprid, however, is not applicable in organic farming. In order to introduce these promising results in practical plant protection further fundamental studies are needed. These can only be realized by a joint effort of private companies, research and plant protection institutions, as well as public funding bodies. This article is not meant as a presentation of “perfect” results, it is rather an example of the problems and pitfalls that need to be overcome during development of a botanical and its applications. They are the reason why the market for botanicals will remain small.     

1H NMR based metabolic profiling in the evaluation of Japanese green tea quality

Classification of tea quality is now mainly performed according to the sensory results by professional tea tasters. However, this evaluation method is inconsistent in differentiating their qualities. A combination of a (1)H NMR technique and a multivariate analysis was introduced to the quality evaluation of green tea by means of a metabolomic technique. A broad range of metabolites were detected by (1)H NMR spectrometry. The principal component analysis (PCA) was used to reduce the complexity of the (1)H NMR spectra data set and provided the quality discrimination result. It offered an extensive clue for classification and quality assessment without any prepurification method. A set of green teas from a Japanese tea contest were analyzed by (1)H NMR to classify the quality with respect to that judged by tea tasters and to conceive a quality prediction model. Metabolic profiling and fingerprinting of (1)H NMR spectra of green teas with different quality were studied. PCA showed a separation between the high- and the low-quality green teas. The taste marker compounds contributing to the discrimination of tea quality were identified. Reliable prediction models were obtained by the partial least-squares projection to latent structure (PLS) analysis together with a preprocessing filter of both orthogonal signal correction (OSC) and a combination between OSC and wavelet transform algorithms.     

Priming effects of sugars,amino acids,organic acids and catechol on the mineralization of lignin and peat

The ¹⁴C‐labeled substrates glucose, fructose, alanine, glycine, oxalic acid, acetic acid, and catechol were incubated at 20 °C in a model system that consisted of sand mixed with lignin or peat (3 % C_org). Each substrate was added at either 80 or 400 μg C (g sand)^—1. During 26 days of incubation with an inoculum extracted from forest soil, the amount of CO₂ evolved was measured hourly. The amount of ¹⁴CO₂ was determined after 4, 6, 12, 19, and 26 days. After 26 days of incubation, each substrate showed priming effects, but not in all examined treatments. Most substrates stimulated the degradation of the model substances (positive priming effects). Negative priming effects only were found in the lignin system with oxalic acid and catechol addition at both concentrations. The strongest positive priming occurred in the peat system with the oxalic acid addition of 80 μg C g^—1 where 1.8 % of the peat were mineralized after 26 days, compared to 0.7 % in the control. The addition of 400 μg alanine‐C g^—1 caused the strongest increase in lignin mineralization, amounting to 3.9 % compared to 2.8 % in the control. During the incubation the extent of priming changed with time. Most substrates caused the strongest effects during the first 4 to 10 days of incubation. The extent of priming depended on substrate type, substrate concentration, and organic model substance. Possibly this is due to the activation of different microorganisms.     

“Current-IPM-Fit”: a new proposal for enhanced efficacy labelling of plant protection products

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - In the European Union, plant protection products (PPP) undergo an intensive evaluation procedure including toxicology, ecotoxicology, fate and residues...     

Endopeptidase EP-1 as a Marker for the Eyespot Resistance Gene Pch-1 from Aegilops ventricosa in Wheat Line 'H-93-70'

Biochemical marker endopeptidase EP-1 was used to determine that an eyespot resistance gene, transferred from Aegilops ventricosa to the hexaploid wheat line ‘H-93-70’ is located on the long arm of the chromosome 7D.     

Influence of difloxacin-contaminated manure on microbial community structure and function in soils

Difloxacin (DIF) belongs to the fluoroquinolones, a frequently detected group of antibiotics in the environment. It is excreted in pig manure to a large extent and may consequently reach soils in potentially effective concentrations via manuring. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of DIF-spiked manure on microbial communities and selected functions in soils in a microcosm experiment up to 1 month after application. To test a dose dependency of the effects, three different concentrations of DIF (1, 10 and 100 mg/kg of soil) were used. Microcosms with application of pure manure, as well as untreated microcosms served as control. The addition of pure manure resulted in an increase of microbial biomass and soil respiration as well as a reduced bacteria/fungi ratio. Due to the fast and strong immobilisation of DIF, effects of the antbiotic compound were only visible up to 8 days after application (microbial biomass; respiration; potential denitrification; ratio of bacteria/fungi). As expected these short-term effects resulted in reduced potential denitrification rates as well as a reduced bacteria/fungal ratio in the treatments were DIF has been applied. Surprisingly, microbial biomass values as well as respiration rates were increased by DIF application. Other parameters like nitrate and ammonium content in soil were not influenced by DIF application at any time point. Long-term effects (32 days after application) were only visible for the potential nitrification rates. For those parameters that were influenced by the DIF application a clear dose dependency could not be described.     

BSE infectivity in jejunum, ileum and ileocaecal junction of incubating cattle

ABSTRACT: To establish bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) public health protection measures it is important to precisely define the cattle tissues considered as specified risk materials (SRM). To date, in pre-clinical BSE infected cattle, no evidence of the BSE agent had been found in the gut outside of the ileal Peyer's Patches. This study was undertaken to determine when and where the pathological prion protein (PrPSc) and/or BSE infectivity can be found in the small intestine of cattle 4 to 6 months of age, orally challenged with BSE. Samples of the jejunum, the ileum and the ileocaecal junction from 46 BSE infected cattle, culled from 1 up to 44 months post infection (mpi) were examined by immunohistochemistry. Samples from cattle 8 mpi to 20 mpi were additionally studied by PTA Western blot, rapid tests, and by mouse (TgbovXV) bioassay. In doing so nearly all of the cattle, from 4 up to 44 mpi, had detectable amounts of PrPSc and/or infectivity in the distal ileum. In the distal ileum clear time-dependent variations were visible concerning the amount of PrPSc, the tissue structures affected, and the cells involved. BSE infectivity was found not only in the ileum and ileocaecal junction but also in the jejunum. The systematic approach of this study provides new data for qualitative and quantitative risk assessments and allows defining bovine SRM more precisely.