Xanthogranulomatous inflammation of the small bowel in a dog

A case of xanthogranulomatous inflammation of the small bowel in a 12-year-old male American Staffordshire Terrier is described. Disseminated yellow-white nodules 2 to 3 mm in diameter bulging on the serosal surface of the small bowel, as well as on mesenteric tissue, were detected. Histopathologic examination revealed a nodular collection of foamy cells, mainly involving serosal and muscular layers, associated with necrotic areas, hemorrhages, neovascularization, variable numbers of reactive spindle cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, plasma cells, and rare multinucleated giant cells. Transmural lymphangectasia and mucosal lymphoplasmacytic inflammation were also observed. Both Oil Red O stain and ultrastructural study revealed lipid droplets in the cytoplasm of foamy cells. Lysozyme immunoreactivity was detected in single as well as in clustered foamy cells, while smooth muscle actin was positive in spindle cells and scattered foamy elements. Lymphangectasia associated with lymphoplasmacytic enteritis suggests a component of lymphatic fluid stasis in the pathogenesis of such lesions.     

Whole-tree water balance and indicators for short-term drought stress in non-bearing ‘Barnea’ olives

Drainage-weighing lysimeters allowed monitoring of water balance components of non-bearing olive (Olea europaea cv Barnea) trees over a 3-month period including short-term events of controlled but severe water stress. The objective of the study was to evaluate a variety of soil and plant-based water status and drought stress monitoring methods on the basis of tree-scale evapotranspiration (ET). As the trees entered into and recovered from water stress, meteorological data, actual ET (ET_a), soil water content and changes in leaf turgor pressure were continuously monitored. Additionally, midday measurements of stem water potential, stomatal conductance, canopy temperature, and quantum yield of PSII photochemistry were conducted. Diurnal (dawn to dusk) measurements of all the above were made hourly on days of maximum stress. Shoot elongation rate was measured for periods of stress and recovery. Quantum yield of PSII photochemistry, stomatal conductance, and stem water potential all successfully indicated reductions in whole-tree water consumption beginning at moderate stress levels. These measured parameters fully recovered to the levels of non-stressed trees soon after water application was renewed. Shoot elongation was reduced 25-30% for the 10-day period during and following drought and recovered thereafter to levels of non-stressed trees. Whole-tree ET_a was reduced by as much as 20% even following full recovery of the leaf level parameters, suggesting reduced canopy size and growth due to the stress period. Non-destructive, continuous (turgor pressure) and remotely sensed (canopy temperature) methods showed promising potential for monitoring effects of water stress, in spite of technological and data interpretation challenges requiring further attention.     

Enzyme polymorphism in faba bean (Vicia faba L. minor) accessions. Genetic interpretation and value for classification

Three isozyme sytems glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malic enzyme (ME) have been analysed electrophoretically to study the diversity within and between 33 faba bean (V. faba L. type minor) accessions. For comparison, two cultivars (Vesuvio and Talo) were included in the study. Further objective of this study was to classify populations into genetic similar groups. SOD and GOT showed large variation, while ME presented minor change. Principal components, hierarchical cluster, and canonical discriminant analyses produced five groups with significant differences among them. The alleles with low frequency played a significant role in the discrimination. It was concluded that more detailed investigations regarding genetic aspects of enzyme diversity are needed to support the data here reported. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) distribution modelling improves our understanding of pest range limits

Abstract

Spatial distributions models (SDM) are often used in invasive pest management to understand current and potential distribution. Using data on the well-studied spotted wing drosophila as a model, we compared distribution patterns of the range-limit with commonly applied correlative and mechanistic models. Correlative models risk underestimation whereas simple mechanistic models provide overestimated range predictions, although using both approaches for the spotted wing drosophila improved range-limit predictions. Model choice when dealing with pests is central to the accurate identification of invasive species limit range and consequently for the deployment of monitoring and early detection programs.     

Output of gastrointestinal nematode eggs in the feces of captive gazelles (Gazella dama mhorr, Gazella cuvieri and Gazella dorcas neglecta) in a semiarid region of southeastern Spain.

Feces from 62 captive African gazelles, including Mhorr gazelles (Gazella dama mhorr), Cuvier's gazelles (Gazella cuvieri), and Dorcas gazelles (Gazella dorcas neglecta), were examined over the course of a year to quantitate nematode egg excretion patterns. Strongyloides sp. eggs appeared only in G. dama during the rainy season. Trichostrongylidae egg excretion showed a marked seasonal variation, with very low levels during the dry and hot period, a finding that is probably attributable to hypobiosis of the predominant species (Camelostrongylus mentulatus). Eggs of the Nematodirus sp., predominantly Nematodirus spathiger, were excreted throughout the year. No seasonal pattern was observed in Trichuris sp. egg excretion.     

Wheat and barley cultivars show plant traits acclimation and increase grain yield under simulated shade in Mediterranean conditions

Agroforestry systems are reported as climate‐resilient productive systems, but it is yet unclear how tree shade affects crops performance. The aim of this work was to assess how the phenology, plant traits and grain yield of wheat and barley were affected by shade. In an open greenhouse experiment, we cultivated in pots nine cultivars differing in precocity for each species and imposed three artificial shading levels (S0 ~ 0%, S1 ~ 25%, S2 ~ 50%) at the start of cereal booting. Our results showed that shade speeded up first growth stages in both species, until the starting of milk development. Barley showed consistent phenological responses to the three irradiance levels among cultivars, but not wheat that showed larger phenological differences among cultivars at moderate shade. Deep shade prolonged the time needed for wheat grain ripening. Both species increased grain yield by 15%–20% with shade, driven by shade‐acclimations of plant traits that differed among species. For wheat, grain yield was determined by the assemblage of traits that contribute to yield, such as grain weight, precocity and non‐photochemical quenching, while, for barley, SPAD value, precocity to reach phenological stages, grains per spike and plant height had the strongest influence. These traits varied widely among cultivars and seem of interest to identify best suited cultivars for shading conditions of Mediterranean agroforestry systems.     

Protective effect of oral administration of transgenic tobacco seeds against verocytotoxic Escherichia coli strain in piglets

The use of transgenic plants as delivery system for antigenic proteins is attractive for its simplicity and increases likelihood for local immune response at sites of infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of oral administration of tobacco seeds, expressing the FedA, the major protein of the F18 adhesive fimbriae, and B subunit of verocytotoxin, against verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC) strain in piglets. Forty-three early weaned piglets, were randomly divided into 4 experimental groups: 3 test groups and a control. Treatment groups orally received a bolus, with different dose of tobacco seeds on 0, 1, 2, 14 days post primary administration. After challenge, with 1*10¹⁰ CFU of O138 Escherichia coli strain, piglets showed clinical scores significantly higher in the control group compared to orally immunized groups (P?<?0.05) and the latter showed a faster recovery than in CG. In conclusion, oral administration of recombinant tobacco seeds expressing antigenic proteins against VTEC strains can induce a protective effect against challenger strain in piglets.     

A classical nova,V2487 Oph 1998, seen in x-rays before and after its explosion

Classical nova explosions are very energetic and frequent phenomena caused by explosive hydrogen burning on top of an accreting white dwarf. Observations of the recent nova V2487 Oph 1998 by the X-ray Multi-Mirror satellite (XMM-Newton) provide evidence that accretion (probably on a magnetic white dwarf) was reestablished as early as 2.7 years after the explosion. In addition, positional correlation with a source previously discovered by the R?ntgen Satellite (ROSAT) in 1990 suggests that the site of a nova explosion had been seen in x-rays before the outburst.