3株非致病性镰刀菌Fusarium oxysporum菌株对番茄枯萎病的生物防治效果

对3株非致病镰刀菌Fusariumoxysporum菌株IF 23、251/2和MSA35对于番茄枯萎病的生物防治效果进行了初步研究。温室盆栽试验表明:3株菌株对番茄枯萎病均有一定的抑制作用,其中105CFU/g浓度的IF 23菌株的防治效果最好;基质灭菌对于番茄枯萎病也有一定的抑制作用。     

Sequential solidification/stabilization and thermal process under vacuum for the treatment of mercury in sediments

Purpose  

Millions of cubic meters of sediments are dredged every year in the world. About 10–20% on weight basis of this material is contaminated by organic and/or inorganic pollutants. This work presents the laboratory tests performed to study a system for the remediation and reuse of mercury-contaminated sediments. The treatment is based on a cement-based granulation step (solidification/stabilization (S/S)), followed by a thermal process under vacuum during which volatile and semi-volatile compounds are removed. The experiments focused on: (1) cement hydration reactions; (2) pollutant removal efficiencies; and (3) leaching behavior, in relation to temperature and duration of the thermal process. Mercury speciation was also investigated.     

The Combined Toxic and Genotoxic Effects of Chromium and Volatile Organic Contaminants to Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata

In this report, the toxic effect of TCE (trichloroethylene), PCE (tetrachloroethylene), and potassium dichromate on P. subcapitata was investigated. The test was conducted at different concentrations of pollutants, starting from the European Community limit values defined for each analysed contaminant. Mixtures of pollutants were also tested to verify the combined effect of algae cells. Results suggest that both TCE and PCE were able to reduce P. subcapitata growth and metabolism starting from 0.05 and 0.02 mg L^?1 of contaminant, respectively. PCE seems to be substantially more toxic than TCE. Chromium produces a clear effect on algae growth and esterase activity only starting from 1 mg L^?1 of potassium dichromate; this result confirms the suitability of EU limit value. AFLP analysis showed that all tested pollutants produce DNA mutations probably due to oxygen radicals. Generally, chromium, at high concentrations, is more toxic and genotoxic that TCE or PCE. Test performed with a mixture of pollutants showed a synergic effect of chromium and organic compounds suggesting that the membrane damage induced from organic substances should increase the chromium cellular access.     

A case of an apparent infestation by Proisotoma spp. springtails (Collembola: Isotomidae) in a cat

This case report is presumed to be the first case of infestation of a cat by springtails which are small arthropods closely related to insects. The organisms, found by skin scrapings, were identified as Proisotoma spp. (Collembola: Isotomidae). The cat presented with dermatological lesions (itchy, furfuraceous dermatitis), and we speculate that they were due to this infestation. The pathogenic role of the Collembola was hypothesized because of the large number of organisms, the presence of eggs indicating an active reproduction cycle, the lack of other pathogens (fleas, mites or lice) and the clinical recovery accompanied by the disappearance of Collembola following treatment. The owner seemed to be affected by the infestation, because a few days after having purchased the cat, she developed a pruriginous papular dermatitis on the neck and the arms, which disappeared shortly after treatment of the kitten and a careful washing of all of its toys and other accoutrements.     

Sialic acid and sialyltransferase activity in serum and tissues of dogs with mammary tumors

In humans, the glycosylation pattern of serum and of membrane glycoproteins is associated with invasiveness of tumors: specifically, α2,6-sialylation and α2,3-sialylation are associated with metastasizing and nonmetastasizing tumors, respectively. In turn, the type of sialylation depends on the activity of α2,6 or α2,3 sialyltransferase (ST) enzymes. Because of the high prevalence of metastasizing tumors with biological behavior similar to the human counterpart, female dogs with metastasizing neoplasms could provide a good animal model for investigating the potential roles of sialic acid (Sia) and ST enzymes in the pathogenesis of metastatic tumors. The aims of this study were (1) to validate a solid-phase method based on lectin staining of serum and tissue homogenates to investigate sialylation and ST activity and (2) to compare the results obtained with this method and with lectin staining and to collect preliminary information on sialylation and ST activity in dogs with (n = 8) and without (n = 8) mammary tumors. The data recorded in healthy dogs revealed that serum and tissue glycoproteins are prevalently characterized by a α2,6 sialylation, but ST-α2,3 seems to be the most active enzyme in both samples. Sia-α2,3 and ST-α2,3 activity decreases in serum and tissues of dogs with tumors, especially in a dog with metastasis, suggesting that the equilibrium between ST-α2,6 and ST-α2,3 activity shifts toward the former, as reported in humans.     

Development of Real-Time PCR for in wood-detection of Ceratocystis platani, the agent of canker stain of Platanus spp.

Ceratocystis platani is a quarantine fungal pathogen agent of canker stain, a destructive disease affecting Platanus. Despite its diagnosis being critical for disease control, there is still no effective diagnostic tool as all known mycological and biological detection assays are problematical. In this study we developed highly effective Real-Time PCR methods based on the use of an intercalating dye, EvaGreen, and on a Taqman probe. We designed primers and probe on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA, and used them for the amplification and detection of a 95?bp C. platani amplicon. Inference of standard curves revealed that both Real-Time procedures have similar and high values of amplification efficiency when applied to a range of templates, e.g. genomic fungal DNA and DNA extracted from diseased wood. The methods were sensitive with a detection limit of 10?fg???l^?1? C. platani genomic DNA. They were specific as they did not yield any detection signal when applied to non-target fungal taxa colonizers of Platanus wood. Reliability was demonstrated through the positive detection of a collection of C. platani isolates and of wood samples collected from naturally infected trees. Robustness was positively verified through detection on artificially infected trees, which were tested at different times after death, up to 27?months. Generating a standard curve with a target-amplicon-containing plasmid enabled an absolute quantification and a comparison between the discoloured wood of resistant and susceptible genotypes. The importance of the methods for studies on pathogen epidemiology and host resistance is also discussed.     

Effect of some rare earth elements on the growth and lanthanide accumulation in different Trichoderma strains

Accumulation of rare earth elements (REE) in the soil may be due to the use of REE enriched fertilizers and to contamination by REE containing wastes. Although widely used in China for soil and foliar dressing of crops, little is known about the effect of REE applications on the soil microbial community. The effect of REE on the growth of biological control strains of Trichoderma atroviride and Trichoderma harzianum was investigated in vitro using either a mix of different REE containing different amounts of lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, gadolinium nitrate and lanthanum nitrate alone in comparison to treatments with potassium nitrate and water. In plate tests applied concentrations ranged from 0.1 mM to 300 mM for lanthanum and REE mix and from 0.1 mM to 900 mM for the potassium solution. In liquid culture tests applied concentrations ranged from 0.001 mM to 100 mM for lanthanum and REE mix and from 0.003 mM to 900 mM for the potassium solution. ICP-MS, TEM and TEM X-ray microanalysis were used to study the accumulation of REE in fungal biomass. All the Trichoderma strains showed a good tolerance to the presence of REE in the culture media. Some growth enhancing effects were observed in liquid cultures of T. harzianum strains but not in T. atroviride. Accumulation of REE in fungal biomass, both at intracellular level and in the extracellular matrix, was observed.     

Reflux esophagitis in three cats associated with metaplastic columnar esophageal epithelium

Gastroesophageal reflux is a relatively common condition in dogs and cats and may lead to secondary reflux esophagitis. A consequence of chronic gastroesophageal reflux that is well described in humans is Barrett's esophagus, which is the replacement of the normal squamous epithelium of the distal esophagus with metaplastic columnar epithelium. Three cats with clinical and endoscopic signs of chronic esophagitis had metaplastic columnar epithelium on biopsy of the distal esophageal mucosa. Suspected underlying causes were cardial incompetence and sliding hiatal hernia. Two cats had complete resolution of the clinical signs after treatment. One cat was euthanized.     

Hormonal and metabolic adaptation to fasting: effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis and reproductive performance of rabbit does

To assess the impact of acute caloric shortage on reproduction, rabbit does were either fed ad libitum (control, AL), or fasted for 24 (STF) or 48 h (LTF) before induction of ovulation with GnRH injection. Blood samples were collected during the last 3 h of fasting, and the following 4 h after GnRH injection, when feed was provided again, to measure plasma concentrations of LH, estradiol-17beta, leptin, insulin, T3, corticosterone, glucose, and NEFA. Before re-feeding, plasma leptin, insulin, and T3 concentrations were lower (P < or = 0.01) in both fasted groups than in controls, but then gradually increased following realimentation to match those of controls. During fasting, corticosterone levels were higher (P < or = 0.01) in LTF than in STF and AL does, but decreased to control values soon after realimentation. During fasting, plasma glucose concentrations did not differ among groups, but upon re-feeding they markedly increased (P < or= 0.01) both in STF and LTF does. NEFA levels were also more elevated (P < or = 0.01) in fasted rabbits than in controls, and rapidly decreased (P < or = 0.01) after re-feeding. Following GnRH injection, LH peak was lower (P < or = 0.01) in LTF than in AL and STF does. Estradiol-17beta showed higher pulse frequency and amplitude in AL than in STF and LTF does. Compared to controls, receptivity rate of STF and LTF artificially inseminated does declined respectively by -20.5% (P < or = 0.05) and -22.7%, and fertility rate by -23.9% (P < or = 0.05) and 21.4%, but no difference was found in ovulation rate. In summary, nutritional status of does, as modified by fasting, greatly influenced fertility, metabolic and reproductive hormones.