Identification of mycobacterial infections in wild boars in Northern Sardinia, Italy

During a six-month period a region of Northern Sardinia was monitored to check the presence of mycobacterial infections in wild boars. Forty-eight serum and 229 biopsy samples were collected from different animals and examined by both traditional diagnostic techniques (culture, bacterioscopic and molecular tests) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The latter was used to determine the antibody response against both methylated and nonmethylated Heparin-Binding Haemagglutinin (HBHA) protein. Nine mycobacterial strains were isolated: three M. avium ssp. paratuberculosis (Map), three M. avium, one M. interjectum and two M. scrofulaceum strains. By PCR, only one animal was positive for M. bovis, whereas 10 animals were positive for Map. Out of the 48 sera tested, 19 showed a good humoral response to methylated HBHA and 17 to nonmethylated HBHA. Our data provide new information on the prevalence of mycobacterial infection among wild boars in Northern Sardinia and suggest that a more effective program should be developed to monitor mycobacterial infections in the wild animal population.     

Application of 10% imidacloprid/50% permethrin to prevent Ehrlichia canis exposure in dogs under natural conditions

Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) caused by Ehrlichia canis is the most known canine tick-borne disease (TBD) spread throughout the world. Preventing tick bites is a priority to reduce the risk of TBDs and it was the aim of the present study to evaluate the efficacy of a combination of imidacloprid 10% and permethrin 50% (ImPer) (Advantix; Bayer AG, Germany) in a spot-on formulation to control CME under field conditions. On January-March 2005, 845 dogs from two kennels in southern Italy (kennels of Bari (KB)- and Ginosa (KG)), with a history of tick infestation were initially tested by serology and PCR assay for E. canis infection. Data on Leishmania infantum infection were also available from a previous study carried out on the same dog population. One hundred twenty-six dogs (14.9%) presented anti-E. canis antibodies with a relative prevalence of 15.6% (n=65 dogs in KB) and 14.2% (n=61 dogs in KG). Five hundred thirty-five animals found negative both for E. canis and L. infantum infections were enrolled in three groups (Group A--treated with ImPer once a month; Group B--treated every 2 weeks; and Group C--untreated control animals) and monitored for E. canis infection by serology and PCR in November 2005 (first follow-up) and in March 2006 (second follow-up). The E. canis infection was serologically revealed, at the first and/or second follow-up, in 26 animals from Group C in KB and KG (mean incidence density rate (IDR), 13.24%) while in none of the animals from Group A (KB and KG) and only in one animal from Group B (IDR 1.13%) in KG. The final protection efficacy of ImPer ranged from 95.57% to 100% in Groups B and A. At PCR only 15 dogs from KG were positive for Rickettsiales only at the first follow-up and at the sequence analysis two (both in Group C) revealed 100% homology with E. canis sequences while 13 with Anaplasma platys. Four out of 13 A. platys PCR-positive dogs were also seropositive for E. canis at one or both follow-ups. ImPer, by virtue of its repellent and acaricidal activity against ticks, has been shown to be efficacious to prevent E. canis infection in treated dogs living under natural conditions in endemic areas.     

Identification,partial characterization,and use of grey mullet ( Mugil cephalus ) vitellogenins for the development of ELISA and biosensor immunoassays

Vitellogenin (Vtg) has proven to be a sensitive and simple biomarker in determining sex, sexual maturity, and xenoestrogenic effects in fish. Thus, our investigation has been focused on identification, partial characterization, and quantification of grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) Vtg through the use of a variety of biochemical and immunological analytical techniques. Mullet is considered both a promising aquaculture candidate and an important species for improving sediment quality in polyculture systems. In the first part of this work, grey mullet Vtg was purified from plasma of 17β-estradiol (E2)-induced male fish by a one-step chromatographic protocol, and partially characterized. Specific polyclonal antibodies were then raised against the mullet Vtg, and both an indirect ELISA and an optical immunosensor were set up and validated to quantify plasma Vtg. The indirect ELISA and the optical immunosensor assay developed showed linear measuring in the range 56.8–1047.1 ng mL−1 and 70–739 ng mL−1 Vtg concentrations in standard solutions, respectively. The results obtained suggest that the indirect ELISA allows Vtg detection over a wide dynamic range, thus resulting more suitable for rapid and sensitive sample screening. Therefore, we suggest that the direct immunosensor is a promising tool which needs more investigation to improve the sensitivity.     

Fungitoxic activity of four thio-functionalised glucosinolate enzyme-derived products on ten soil-borne pathogens

Enzyme-derived products obtained from thio-functionalised glucosinolates showed high fungitoxicity, a wide activity spectrum and special physicochemical properties, which suggest their potential as alternatives to commercial fumigants for controlling several soil-borne pathogens. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Fungizidleistung von Wirkstoffgruppen mit unterschiedlichen Mode of action gegen Braunrost (Puccinia recondita f.sp.secalis Rob.ex Desm.) in Winterroggen

The economically most damaging disease to winter rye is brown rust (Puccinia recondita f.sp.secalis Rob.ex Desm.). There are fungicides of different drug groups in order to fight brown rust in agriculture. Usually mixtures of different active ingredients with different modes of action can be used for the treatment of fungal pathogens. In experiments single agents like pyrazole-carboxamides, azoles and strobilurines were compared to drug combination products like azole strobilurin, azole-carboxamide, or azole carboxamide-strobilurin mixture and their fungicide performance was determined. The active ingredients Epoxiconazole, Pyraclostrobin, and Fluxapyroxad were tested. In eight trials from 2012 to 2013 Fluxapyroxad reached the highest levels of efficiency for P. recondita. Pyraclostrobin or the combination of Pyraclostrobin and Epoxiconazole showed higher efficiencies than Epoxiconazole or the combination of Epoxiconazole and Metconazole in all trials. The thousand seed weight and income from the harvest reflect the efficiency against P. recondita. Both azole strobilurin mixtures as well as the azole carboxamide mixtures are suitable for the control of leaf rust in agriculture. In order to minimize the risk of resistance to strobilurin and azole carboxamide mixtures should be used alternately.     

Census Report of the <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Potato Virus Y</Emphasis> (PVY) Population in Swiss Seed Potato Production in 2003 and 2008

The status of the Potato virus Y (PVY) in Swiss seed potato production was investigated in the years 2003 and 2008 by analysing 385 leaf samples of field-grown, suspicious potato plants collected in four representative seed control fields. Serological investigations by ELISA showed that in c. 84% of the PVY-positive samples in both years, viruses belonging to the PVY^N group were found. All 124 serologically positive PVY samples collected in 2003 and a selection of 81 isolates of 2008 were further typified by molecular tests and by biological assays on tobacco and potato plants. These tests largely confirmed the predominance of the PVY^N group and, within this group, the prevalence of recombinant PVY^NTN, with 81.4% and 70.4% in 2003 and 2008, respectively. The percentage of PVY^N-Wilga (PVY^N-Wi) increased from c. 6% to 17% between the two years. PVY^O was detected only in 10.5% and 4.9% of all molecularly analysed samples in 2003 and 2008, respectively. The persistent predominance of recombinant PVY^NTN in Swiss seed potatoes indicates that this strain group is now widespread, representing a considerable threat to Swiss seed potato production.