Rectovaginal fistula with anal atresia in 5 dogs

Five dogs with rectovaginal fistula and atresia ani that had been treated by surgical correction of the malformations were studied retrospectively. Ages at presentation varied from 1 to 3 months and weight from 350 g to 7.5 kg. The histories included voiding of feces through the vulva, with or without tenesmus, usually observed after weaning. Atresia ani, presence of feces in the vaginal canal, abdominal distention, and discomfort on abdominal palpation were observed during clinical examination. Also, 3 dogs had partial tail agenesis. In all dogs, the rectovaginal fistula was isolated and transected, the vulvar and rectal defects were closed separately, and the atresia ani was repaired. Normal defecation was restored, but 1 dog had fecal incontinence that subsequently resolved. One dog died 2.5 months postoperatively, and follow-up was done on the others for periods ranging from 1.6 year to 7.7 years. Surgical correction in dogs with rectovaginal fistula and atresia ani may result in a favorable outcome, if it is done early.     

Behaviour of cadmium and nickel in a soil amended with sewage sludge

Various urban and industrial sewage sludges were applied to a soil at two doses (50 and 100 t ha⁻¹ y⁻¹) during eight years in a field experiment. The soil was analysed at two depths (0–30 and 30–60 cm) for extractable cadmium and nickel. In general these trace metal increased with dosage. However, cadmium formed complexes with organic matter and nickel bound to iron and manganese oxides. Hence, the available fractions of these metals constituted a small proportion of the total content. The results obtained show a low risk of contamination due to the available fractions of these metals at sludges dosages of up to 100 t ha⁻¹. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simultaneous detection and identification of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pepino mosaic virus</Emphasis> (PepMV) isolates by multiplex one-step RT-PCR

A RT-PCR was developed for the simultaneous detection and identification of three groups of Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV): European/Peruvian, Chilean 1/US1 and Chilean 2/US2 groups, followed by a restriction analysis that allowed the separation of the European, Peruvian, Chilean 2 and US2 isolates (patent pending). The multiplex RT-PCR reaction was performed by a mix of six primers that amplified a part of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene of PepMV plus an internal control. Amplifications resulted in a 980 bp, 703 bp or 549 bp PCR product for European/Peruvian, Chilean 1/US1 or Chilean 2/US2 groups, respectively. For the identification of the isolates present within the European/Peruvian and Chilean 2/US2 groups, the amplified PCR fragments were directly digested with SacI enzyme. The multiplex RT-PCR method presented higher sensitivity to detect CH1/US1 isolates in field samples than the RFLP-PCR method described by Hanssen et al. (European Journal of Plant Pathology 121:131–146, 2008). The detection limit observed with the multiplex RT-PCR was equal to or 3,125 times higher when compared to single RT-PCR or ELISA-DAS and molecular hybridisation methods, respectively. The use of the multiplex RT-PCR method in routine analysis of field tomato samples allowed the detection of 36.2 and 33.4% more positives when compared to the serological and molecular hybridisation methods, respectively, and the identification of plants infected with one, two or three isolates of PepMV.     

The activity of amino acids produced by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paenibacillus macerans</Emphasis> and from commercial sources against the root-knot nematode <Emphasis Type="Italic">Meloidogyne exigua</Emphasis>

The rhizobacterium Paenibacillus macerans was grown in tryptic soy broth and after separating the cells by centrifugation the activity of fractions of the supernatant was tested against Meloidogyne exigua juveniles. From HPLC analyses and spectral data, the most active fractions were found to contain alanine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, threonine and valine, which were probably produced by bacterial hydrolysis of proteic nutrients. Amino acids from commercial sources were then assayed to confirm these results and to evaluate their potential for the control of nematodes. LC₅₀ of 26 and 283 μg ml⁻¹ were shown for the nematicide aldicarb and L-cysteine respectively when tested on M. exigua juveniles. At a concentration 38.4 times>LC₅₀, the amino acid diminished the nematode population on coffee plants to values statistically equal to those obtained with aldicarb at a concentration 19.2 times>LC₅₀.     

Location of the self-incompatibility gene on the almond linkage map

A progeny obtained from the almond cross ‘Ferragnès’בTuono’ (Prunus amygdalus Batsch) was used to study the self-incompatibility trait in three different ways: fruit set, pollen tube growth and stylar ribonuclease activity. As expected from the genotypes of the parents, all progeny appeared phenotypically as self-compatible. However, the progeny could be scored for the segregation of stylar ribonuclease isozymes and thus allowed the incompatibility locus to be placed on the almond linkage map.     

Determination of polyphenolic profiles of Basque cider apple varieties using accelerated solvent extraction

Polyphenols in the peel and pulp of 15 Basque cider apple varieties were determined by accelerated solvent extraction followed by reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection. It was observed that the polyphenolic composition in apple peel depended on varieties, whereas the main classes of phenolic compounds in apple pulp were flavan-3-ols and hydroxycinnamic acids in all cases, representing both together between 86 and 95% of total polyphenols assayed.     

Distribution of total aflatoxins in milled fractions of hulled rice

Two varieties of hulled rice artificially contaminated with aflatoxins at five different levels were processed by dehulling and polishing methods. Contamination levels ranged from 356 to 818 microg/kg and from 244 to 645 microg/kg in medium and long grain rice, respectively. After physical processing, four different milled fractions were obtained (hull, bran, polished broken grains, and polished whole kernels). The fractions were analyzed for total aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, and G2) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Aflatoxins were removed in fractions intended for human consumption (polished broken grains and polished whole kernels) at rates up to 97%. They were found throughout all fractions, but higher contamination levels were detected in hull and bran fractions than in unprocessed kernels and polished fractions. Regardless of the rice variety, the aflatoxin distribution pattern depended on the initial contamination level and type of milled fraction but not on the duration of polishing.