Retrospective Study Evaluating Seroprevalence of Hepatitis E Virus in Blood Donors and in Swine Veterinarians in Italy (2004)

Hepatitis E is an emerging viral disease in developed countries, with sporadic cases occasionally linked to the consumption of raw or undercooked pork, wild boar or deer meat. Cases due to transfusion or transplantation have also been reported. In developed countries, hepatitis E is considered a zoonosis and pig is the main reservoir. In the last few years, several studies conducted in Europe reported variable seroprevalence rates among the general population, ranging between 0.26% and 52.5%. A higher seroprevalence was described among workers who come in contact with pigs. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of anti‐HEV IgG and IgM antibodies in blood donors (170) and in pig veterinarians (83). Archival sera were collected in Italy in 2004. The observed seroprevalence was 9.64% and 8.82% in veterinarians and blood donors, respectively. Overall, only three sera from blood donors were positive for IgM, but no HEV‐RNA was detected.     

Influence of copper on the adsorption and desorption of paraquat, diquat, and difenzoquat in vineyard acid soils

Retention of the cationic herbicides paraquat (PQ), diquat (DQ), and difenzoquat (DFQ) in two vineyard soils with a different management history and retention capacity was examined. The influence of copper on the ability of the soils to retain the herbicides was determined by comparing the results of adsorption and desorption tests on untreated and Cu-enriched soil samples, and also on soils that were previously treated with EDTA to extract native copper. The three herbicides were strongly adsorbed by both soils. Soil 1 exhibited linear adsorption isotherms for PQ and DFQ with partition coefficients, KD, of 1.28 x 103 and 1.37 x 103 L kg-1, respectively, and a Freundlich-type isotherm for DQ with a linearized partition coefficient, KD*, of 1.01 x 103 L kg-1. On the other hand, soil 2 exhibited curved isotherms and smaller KD* values (viz. 106, 418, and 28 L kg-1 for PQ, DQ, and DFQ, respectively). Using EDTA to extract copper from the soils released new sites for the herbicides to bind. The three herbicides exhibited strong hysteresis in the adsorption-desorption process. Extracting copper decreased the percent desorption of PQ and DQ; on the other hand, it decreased the affinity of DFQ for the resulting vacant adsorption sites. Similarly, competitive adsorption tests with copper and the herbicides revealed that the metal was only capable of displacing DFQ from adsorption sites. The behavior of this herbicide in the soils was consistent with a specific adsorption model. The disparate behavior of the two soils toward the herbicides was a result of the adsorption sites in soil 1 being less extensively occupied than those of soil 2 in the adsorption tests. The effect of copper on the adsorption of DFQ in the two soils was acceptably reproduced by an adsorption model involving Coulombic and specific sorption with competition from the metal.     

Influence of film wrapping and fludioxonil application on quality of pomegranate fruit

Pomegranates are sensitive to low temperatures. When fruit are exposed to temperatures below 5–6 °C chilling injury appears as pitting of the skin, browning of the white segments separating the arils and discoloration of the arils, and husk scald, which generally is more severe at temperatures of 6–10 °C. The main objective of this work was to assess the effectiveness of individual film packaging, applied as a stand alone treatment or in combination with fludioxonil, on reducing the occurrence of husk scald, weight loss and decay. Fruit were dipped in an aqueous mixture containing 600 mg L^?1 fludioxonil, wrapped or not wrapped with a polyolephinic heat-shrinkable film and stored at 8 °C and 90% RH for 6 or 12 weeks plus one additional week of simulated shelf-life at 20 °C and 65–70% RH. Respiration rate decreased both in cold storage and at 20 °C. Ethylene production was not detected during cold storage; its rate increased upon transfer to 20 °C, but results were inconsistent. Control fruit deteriorated at a very high rate, due to excessive weight loss, skin browning and decay. Film wrapping almost completely inhibited weight loss and husk scald and preserved fruit freshness for the whole storage time. There was no statistical difference in decay incidence between wrapped and control fruit after 6 or 12 weeks of storage and after the first shelf-life, while after the second shelf-life, wrapped fruit had significantly higher decay levels. By contrast, fludioxonil, both alone and in combination with wrapping, effectively controlled mold development, resulting in 50–67% less decay than control fruit after 12 weeks at 8 °C plus one week shelf-life. Control fruit showed minor changes in nutritional compounds as well as in total polyphenols, anthocyanins and antioxidant activity, while higher losses were detected in film-wrapped fruit during storage at 20 °C.     

Partial ostectomy of the dens to correct atlantoaxial subluxation in a pony

Objective: To report a surgical technique that allows decompression and anatomic re‐alignment for management of subluxation of the atlantoaxial articulation. Study Design: Clinical report. Animals: Four‐year‐old Welsh Section B pony gelding. Methods: Attempts at closed reduction of subluxation of the atlantoaxial articulation under general anesthesia were unsuccessful, so a ventral surgical approach allowing partial ostectomy of the dens of the axis was used to facilitate reduction. Result: Recovery from surgery was uneventful and the pony remained comfortable without neurologic deficits. Both neck stiffness and ataxia resolved. Radiographic examination at 5 days and 6 months postoperatively showed normal anatomic position of the dens of the axis and stabilization of the atlantoaxial joint. Conclusion: Partial ostectomy of the dens using a ventral approach can be used to facilitate reduction of atlantoaxial subluxation.     

Hormone effects on in vitro proliferation and rooting of Grevillea explants

Explants of Grevillea rosmarinifolia A. Cunn. and Grevillea×semperflorens F.E. Brigs ex Mullig., obtained from vegetative stem segments, were grown on a modified MS medium, which was supplemented with different contents of cytokinins (BA or K) to evaluate optimal conditions for bud proliferation. Auxins (NAA or IBA) were tested to evaluate rooting.

The multiplication rate was often higher in G. rosmarinifolia than in G.×semperflorens. Explant activity varied significantly depending on the cytokinin type and its concentration. The addition of cytokinins to the culture medium often promoted an increase in the number of shoots produced by each propagule, but at the highest BA concentration, shoot differentiation was inhibited in Grevillea×semperflorens. Only the higher concentrations studied (5–10 mg/l) produced better results with K, whereas BA was more effective at 1–2 mg/l. Rooting efficiency of the young shoots was lower in G. rosmarinifolia than in G.×semperflorens. IBA promoted root development in both species and was more effective at the highest concentration (1 mg/l). NAA gave better results at low concentrations (0.2 mg/l) in G. rosmarinifolia, while it had slight or negative effect on rooting of G.×semperflorens.     

Role of the "National Reference Centre for Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) detection" in the official control of food and feed

The National Reference Centre for Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) detection was established in 2002 within the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Lazio e Toscana, with the aim of providing scientific and technical support to the National Health System and to the Ministry of Health within the scope of the regulation of GMO use in food and feed.The recently adopted EU legislation on GMOs (Regulation CE no. 1829/2003 and no. 1830/2003) introduced more rigorous procedures for the authorisation, labelling and analytical control of food and feed consisting, containing or derived from GMOs. The National Reference Centre, besides its institutional tasks as one of the laboratories of the Italian National Health System, collects and analyses data and results of the national official control of GMOs; carries out scientific research aimed at developing, improving, validating and harmonising detection and quantification methods, in cooperation with other scientific institutions, the Community Reference Laboratory and within the European Network of GMOs laboratories (ENGL); collaborates with the Ministry of Health in the definition of control programmes and promotes educational and training initiatives. Objectives defined for 2004-2006, activities in progress and goals already achieved are presented.