T and B lymphocytes in horses persistently infected with equine infectious anaemia virus

The percentage of T and B lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of horses chronically infected with equine infectious anaemia (EIA) virus was determined and the results were compared with the percentage of these cells in healthy uninfected horses. Cells with membrane receptors for sheep erythrocytes (T and active T lymphocytes) were determined by E and A rosette techniques, while cells with receptors for the C3b component of complement and those with receptors for mouse erythrocytes (B lymphocytes), were determined by the EAC rosette method. The percentage of Fc positive cells was assayed by the EA rosette test.The majority of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from both uninfected and EIA-infected horses formed rosettes of each kind with only three erythrocytes indicating a low density of the corresponding receptors on the cell membrane under the condition of the assays used. The percentage of T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of diseased horses (52.4±1.6%), as detected by E rosettes, was significantly (p<0.01) higher than in control animals (42.4±3.5%). In clinically healthy horses 8.9±1.1% of PBL were identified by A rosettes as active T cells, whereas animals with a chronic form of EIA had a much lower (p<0.001) percentage of these cells (4.7±0.7%). In the B lymphocyte subpopulations the percentages of cells bearing Fc and C3b receptors were markedly elevated (p<0.001) in EIA-infected horses (24.7±0.8% and 42.8±2.2% respectively) as compared to uninfected animals (15.1±1.4% and 29.6±1.2% respectively). Receptors for mouse erythrocytes, as yet undescribed on equine PBL, were demonstrated in approximately equal proportions on lymphocytes from EIA-infected (24.8±1.5%) and uninfected horses (24.3±2.1%).     

Yersiniosis in zoo marmosets (Callitrix jacchuss) caused by Yersinia enterocolitica 4/O:3

The aim of this research was to describe two fatal cases of Yersinia enterocolitica bioserotype 4/O:3 infection in non-human primates and to characterise the isolates by PCR and PFGE. In July 2004, two marmosets (Callitrix jacchuss) born in captivity in Zagreb Zoo, died following a few days of intermittent diarrhoea in intervals of 2 weeks. The pathomorphological diagnosis of the female (born in 1997) and the male (born in 1995) marmoset, was disseminated miliary necrosis of the liver. Y. enterocolitica 4/O:3 was isolated from both livers showing that monkeys are susceptible to this bioserotype. The ail gene, which is an essential chromosomal virulence factor in pathogenic Y. enterocolitica isolates, was present in the marmoset isolates. Two different PFGE patterns were obtained from the isolates of the male liver with NotI enzyme. One genotype of the male marmoset isolate was indistinguishable from the genotype of the female marmoset isolate when NotI, ApaI and XhoI enzymes were used indicating a common infection source for the marmosets. The genotypes of the marmoset isolates differed only slightly from one human (of seven Croatian isolates) and from one pig isolate (representing a common genotype found among human and porcine isolates in Germany) suggesting that raw pork fed to the marmoset could have been the infection source.     

Analysis of Possible Influence of Conjugated Linoleic Acid on Growth Performance and Losses of Piglets

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of supplementing the feed ration for lactating sows with the conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on the growth performance and losses of piglets from birth to weaning. The monitoring comprised 20 litters in control and 20 litters in experimental group of Czech Large White × Czech Landrace hybrid combination sows. The control group was given a standard feed mixture for lactating sows, and experimental group was fed with the feed mixture supplemented with 2% of CLA, from the day of farrowing to the weaning of piglets, that is for the time of 28 days. The results of the experiment indicate the significantly better parameters of the numbers of reared piglets in the experimental group and the related lower level of losses of piglets from birth to weaning (p < 0.01). However, the feed mixture for lactating sows enriched in conjugated linoleic acid had no significant effect on the growth performance of piglets from birth to weaning (p > 0.05). Sows in the experimental group showed earlier onset of post‐partal oestrus after weaning of piglets (p < 0.05). These findings demonstrate that the supplementation of diet for lactating sows with CLA can improve survival of piglets from birth to weaning and shortening of weaning‐to‐oestrous interval in sows.     

Genetic Analysis of Dobrava–Belgrade Virus from Western Serbia – A Newly Detected Focus in the Balkan Peninsula

Dobrava–Belgrade virus (DOBV) is a hantavirus species that causes the most severe form of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Europe. DOBV has been detected in three Apodemus rodents: A. flavicollis, A. agrarius and A. ponticus. These emerging viruses appear throughout the Balkan Peninsula including Serbia as its central part. In this study, we examined the seroprevalence, molecular epidemiology and phylogenetics of DOBV from A. flavicollis captured at six Serbian localities. Furthermore, we applied microsatellite typing of host animal genome to analyse the role of host kinship in DOBV animal transmission. The overall IgG seropositivity rate over 3 years (2008–2010) was 11.9% (22/185). All seropositive samples were subjected to RT‐PCR and DNA sequencing for S and L genome segments (pos. 291–1079 nt and 2999–3316 nt, respectively). DOBV was genetically detected in three samples from mountain Tara in western Serbia, a newly detected DOBV focus in the Balkans. No sequence data from human cases from Serbia are available for the studied period. However, collected DOBV isolates in this work phylogenetically clustered together with isolates from Serbian human cases dating from 2002, with 1.9% nucleotide divergence. We determined the level of kinship between seropositive and seronegative animal groups and found no significant difference, suggesting that horizontal virus transmission in the studied population was the same within and among the hatches. Our findings are the first genetic detection of DOBV in rodents in Serbia. We confirm wide and continuous hantavirus presence in the examined parts of the Balkans, underlying the necessity of continual monitoring of hantavirus circulation in A. flavicollis.     

Multi Criteria Assessment of Zero Residue Apple Production

During the 2008–2010 growing seasons, an alternative ‘zero residue apple production system’ was compared with integrated apple production with cvs ‘Idared’, ‘Golden Delicious’, ‘Jonagold’ and ‘Gala’ in commercial orchards at several locations throughout Slovenia, using data envelopment analysis (DEA), and multi criteria assessment by an analytical hierarchical process (AHP). The principle of the ‘zero residue apple production’ is a combination of integrated (IP) and organic apple production. During the first 3 months of the growing season (1 April–30 June), pesticides used in IP with rapid degradation (8–10 applications) were used to control pests and diseases. During the second part of the season from 1 July to harvest, organic products (6–12 applications) were employed compared with 19–25 applications overall in IP. The goal of the alternative system was to reduce the amount of applied conventional pesticides by 40 % and to minimize pesticide residues in fruits to below the limit of 0.5 % of the legal maximum residue level (MRL) or below the residue concentrations of 0.005–0.01 mg/kg and to retain the high long-term level of yield, fruit quality, and net income per hectare. The number of pesticide residues was reduced from 4.2–5.5 in IP to 1.8–3.4 in zero residue cultivation, while 3 year average yields (class 1 fruit) were 4–9 % lower than in IP. The break even prices ranged from € 0.31 for Idared in IP, € 0.34 for ‘Elstar’ of both production systems to € 0.35/kg for zero residue cultivated ‘Golden Delicious’. Overall, a price increase of just € 0.02/kg for residue free apples would make this new ‘zero residue apple production’ profitable then representing a realistic alternative to the standard integrated apple production system.     

Effect of finishing treatments on heat resistance of one- and two-layered fabrics

A series of cotton knitted fabrics was produced and finished according to three different recipes in order to compare the changes of their heat resistances. The heat resistance was measured using the sweating guarded hotplate. Measurements were carried out on one layer of produced knitted fabrics, as well as on two layers of fabrics. The results indicated significant influence of all carried finishing treatments to the decrease of heat resistance of knitted fabrics. It was shown that the high influence of finishing treatment to the total heat transfer trough fabric remains if the fabric is worn with additional knitted fabric layer. The presented results and performed statistical analysis indicated significant effect of finishing treatments to the changes of fabric parameters and furthermore to the changes of heat resistance what directly affects the total thermophysiological comfort of knitwear.     

Herschel detects a massive dust reservoir in supernova 1987A

We report far-infrared and submillimeter observations of supernova 1987A, the star whose explosion was observed on 23 February 1987 in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a galaxy located 160,000 light years away. The observations reveal the presence of a population of cold dust grains radiating with a temperature of about 17 to 23 kelvin at a rate of about 220 times the luminosity of the Sun. The intensity and spectral energy distribution of the emission suggest a dust mass of about 0.4 to 0.7 times the mass of the Sun. The radiation must originate from the supernova ejecta and requires the efficient precipitation of all refractory material into dust. Our observations imply that supernovae can produce the large dust masses detected in young galaxies at very high redshifts.     

The influence of the sowing time on the intensity of attack by the panicle generation of frit fly

Summary Early sowing of winter and spring barley and oats are in general more effective in relation to the attack of frit fly panicle generation than the later sowing, with the exception of late varieties.Meanwhile, we must have in mind that favourable weather conditions in autumn may enable the insects to prolong their activity and to attack the early sowing crops.As well, drought in autumn and low temperature in the spring which occur very often in this area, delay the germination and sprouting so that the heading time of early sown crops coincides with the time of late sown ones.

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Zusammenfassung Die Fritfliege ist einer der wichtigsten Gersten- und Haferschädlinge in Jugoslawien. Die größten Schäden werden durch die zur Zeit der Rispenbildung auftretende Generation verursacht. Bei Versuchen wurde ermittelt, daß die Ertragseinbuße bei einigen Gerstenvarietäten 80% erreichte.Die chemischen Bekämpfungsmöglichkeiten gegen die Fritfliege sind beschränkt. Indirekte Maßnahmen zur Zeit der Aussaat könnten die Befallsintensität während der Rispenbildung erheblich verringern.Die Befallsintensität steht in direkter Abhängigkeit vom Aussaattermin. Bei früher Aussaat ist die Ertragsminderung viel geringer. Wir empfehlen daher in großen Teilen Jugoslawiens, so früh wie möglich im Frühjahr mit der Aussaat zu beginnen.Die gleiche Empfehlung gilt auch für den Anbau von Wintergerste und -hafer, die vom Befall der Herbstgeneration der Fritfliege und einiger anderer im Frühherbst noch aktiver Schädlinge bedroht sind. Die Möglichkeiten einer frühzeitigen Aussaat in dieser Jahreszeit sind allerdings manchmal durch ungünstige Wetterbedingungen in den betreffenden Gebieten begrenzt.

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Résumé En Yougoslavie, l'oscinie (Oscinella frit L.) est l'un des pires parasites de l'orge et de l'avoine. Les plus grands dégâts sont causés par la panicule-génération de cette mouche. Au cours d'expériences, le pourcentage des céréales endommagées atteignait 80 pour certaines variétés d'orge.Les possibilités de lutte chimique contre l'oscinie sont limitées. Des mesures de lutte indirecte au moment des semailles pourraient être d'une grande importance du fait qu'elles réduisent l'intensité d'infestation par la panicule-génération de l'oscinie.L'intensité de l'infestation par la panicule-génération dépend directement de l'époque des semailles. Lorsque les semis sont effectuées de bonne heure, le nombre de grains endommagés est plus bas que lorsque les semis sont faits plus tard. C'est pourquoi l'auteur recommande de procéder dans une grande partie de la Yougoslavie à des semailles de printemps précoces.Il fait les mêmes recommandations pour les semailles d'orge et d'avoine d'hiver. En ce cas, l'auteur étudie l'infestation par la génération de mouches écloses en automne et par d'autres parasites encore atcifs au début de l'automne. Il n'est parfois guère possible de semer de bonne heure à cette saison là, étant donné les conditions atmosphériques défavorables qui règnent dans les régions dont il est question.

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The paper was presented to the VIth International Congress of Plant Protection, Vienna, 1967.