Compound odontoma in three dogs

Three young, female dogs were operated for compound odontoma. All tumors were considered stage III with treatment consisting of partial mandibulectomy or maxillectomy. Microscopic examination of the resected tissue confirmed the diagnosis. Relatively aggressive, resective surgery resulted in prolonged tumor-free intervals.     

Identification of Resistance to Barley Leaf Stripe Using a Pyrenophora graminea Transformant Expressing β-glucuronidase

A Pyrenophora graminea strain expressing the -glucuronidase gene (GUS) was obtained via genetic transformation, and used to follow the penetration of the pathogen inside barley germinating seeds and the colonization of host tissues. Significant differences between resistant and susceptible barley cultivars were observed in the colonization of artificially-infected embryos by the fungus. These results suggest that the GUS transgenic strain of P. graminea will be useful for the early screening of barley cultivars for resistance to leaf stripe disease.     

Evaluation of a modified hemimandibulectomy for treatment of oral neoplasms in dogs

A modified hemimandibulectomy was performed for treatment of oral neoplasms in 21 dogs. Intra- and postoperative evaluations included assessment of procedure difficulty, complications, mastication, cosmesis, and the time interval between surgery and recurrence of the neoplasm or clinical evidence of metastasis. Malignant melanoma was the most common neoplasm treated using this technique. The modified hemimandibulectomy was uncomplicated with minimal intraoperative hemorrhage. Three dogs had difficult mastication at 24-hours following surgery, while 5 dogs had partial wound dehiscence. Wound infection was diagnosed in 1 dog. All owners considered the postoperative outcome to provide acceptable cosmesis. Local neoplasm recurrence was documented in 5 dogs and distant (pulmonary) metastasis was diagnosed in 5 different dogs following surgery. The technical modification described in this study seemed to provide for improved mastication during the acute postoperative period compared with other hemimandibulectomy techniques performed by the authors.     

Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca ST53 exploits pit membranes of susceptible olive cultivars to spread systemically in the xylem

Xylella fastidiosa subspecies pauca strain De Donno (XfDD) ST53 is the causal agent of olive quick decline syndrome, a severe disease first described in Apulia, Italy. Although the two local cultivars Cellina di Nardò and Ogliarola Salentina showed high susceptibility, traits of resistance to the bacterium were found in the cultivar Leccino. Previous studies in field-grown olives suggested that vascular occlusions and anatomophysiological properties of the different cultivars played a role in the olive response to XfDD. The present investigation reports observations at the early stage of the infection on artificially inoculated olives. Electron microscope studies showed that XfDD exploits the pit membranes (PMs) of the susceptible cultivar Cellina di Nardò to spread systemically. In this cultivar, PMs were degraded upon XfDD infection, suggesting activity of bacterial cell wall-degrading enzymes. Moreover, occluded vessels contained an amorphous electrondense matrix resembling gum. Conversely, in Leccino, occluded vessels were mainly filled by callose-like granules that tightly entrapped XfDD cells. In addition, PMs from Leccino had a compact undegraded structure that was not permeable to XfDD. Our study suggests that exploitation of PMs is a key event in the infection process of X. fastidiosa subsp. pauca ST53 in susceptible olive cultivars.     

Detection of enzymatic activity and partial sequence of a chitinase gene in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Metschnikowia pulcherrima</Emphasis> strain MACH1 used as post-harvest biocontrol agent

Two antagonistic yeast strains Metschnikowia pulcherrima MACH1 and Rhodotorula sp. PW34 were tested for their efficacy against Botrytis cinerea in vitro and in vivo on apples. Metschnikowia pulcherrima strain MACH1 showed higher inhibition of B. cinerea compared to the strain PW34 in vitro on potato dextrose broth. Further, yeast strain MACH1 showed higher efficacy in reducing grey mould on apples compared to PW34 and the untreated control. In addition, partially purified extracellular proteins from strain MACH1 showed an inhibition to B. cinerea in vitro. The antagonistic yeast strains were tested for their efficacy to produce chitinases in different liquid media, including apple juice, amended with or without cell wall preparations (CWP) of B. cinerea. The study showed a higher production of chitinases from M. pulcherrima strain MACH1 when compared to PW34. Interestingly, the strain MACH1 secreted higher chitinases in the presence of cell wall fractions of B. cinerea. For this reason, the chitinase gene of strain MACH1 was amplified using PCR reactions and the nucleotide sequence data showed high homology to chitinases of other yeast strains. The results of the current study show that M. pulcherrima strain MACH1 has the ability to secrete chitinases in different liquid media including apple juice, and the enzyme could be involved in the post-harvest biological control of B. cinerea.     

A geostatistical approach for the stock assessment of the edible sea urchin, Paracentrotus lividus, in four coastal zones of Southern and West Sardinia (SW Italy, Mediterranean Sea)

Quantitative surveys of the edible sea urchin, Paracentrotus lividus, were conducted in four fishing zones of Sardinia (Southern Italy, Mediterranean Sea), in Autumn 2007. A total of 120 stations were geo-located along a bathymetric gradient ranging from 0 to 10 m. A geostatistical method was used to evaluate spatial patterns in density and to estimate harvestable stocks. Variographic analyses showed that the isotropic Gaussian and spherical models successfully explained the spatial structure of sea urchin assemblages in these areas. Density maps obtained by punctual kriging showed that sea urchin populations tend to be patchy rather than uniform in their density distribution. A combination of mapping and size categories was used to generate diverse scenarios of harvestable stocks (specimens ≥50 mm in diameter) before the start of the current fishing season. We conclude that the geostatistical approach, which takes into consideration the spatial autocorrelation structure of the populations in small areas, seems to be a good estimator of P. lividus density and biomass and for the assessment of its harvestable stocks, and thus provides an initial step towards a scientific approach to the management of local sea urchin fisheries.     

Antinociceptive activity of Maytenus rigida stem bark

Ethanol extract of Maytenus rigida stem bark and its fractions were assessed for antinociceptive activity in tail-flick test in rats. The activity was located in the chloroform, ethyl acetate and aq.methanol fractions. Phytochemical screening revealed that catechin was the only common class of compounds present on the ethanol extract as well as on the active fractions. 4'-Methylepigallocatechin, isolated from the ethyl acetate and aq.methanol fractions, showed antinociceptive effect in the tail-flick test (75 mg/kg; p.o.), which was reversed by the opiate antagonist naloxone (3 mg/kg; i.p.).     

Progeny testing of maize (Zea mays) genotypes for grain yield and yield components,Striga resistance and Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. strigae compatibility

Maize cultivars with resistance to Striga spp. and compatible to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. strigae (FOS) are an economical, sustainable and environmentally Striga control option. This study's objective was to determine the type and magnitude of gene action controlling grain yield and yield-related components, Striga resistance, FOS compatibility and to select promising maize genotypes for an integrated Striga management approach. Ninety-nine experimental hybrids, generated by a North Carolina mating design II, were evaluated with and without FOS treatment at three Striga-infested sites in western Tanzania. The general (GCA), and specific combining ability (SCA) effects were significant (P < .05) for all the assessed traits with and without FOS except, Striga damage ratings eight (SDR8), and 10 (SDR10) weeks after planting with FOS treatment. FOS-treated progenies had fewer emerged Striga plants than untreated controls. Parental genotypes such as SITUKA M1, TZA4010, TZA4016, TZA4203, JL01, JL05, JL13 and JL17 showed negative GCA effects for all Striga parameters and positive GCA effects for grain yield. The new progenies and selected parents are recommended for Striga resistance breeding.