The threat of the ambrosia beetle Megaplatypus mutatus (Chapuis) (=Platypus mutatus Chapuis) to world poplar resources

We describe the life cycle of Megaplatypus mutatus (Chapuis)(=Platypus mutatus) and the damage it causes to poplar resourcesin Argentina. This insect, native to the subtropical and tropicalareas of South America, has extended its range into temperateregions, reaching as far south as Neuquén in ArgentineanPatagonia. The damage is caused by the adult insects, whichbore large gallery systems into living poplars (Populus spp.),willows (Salix spp.) and many other broadleaf species, includingimportant fruit trees species such as apples (Malus spp.), walnuts(Juglans spp.) and avocados (Persea spp.). The galleries degradethe lumber and weaken the tree stems, which often then breakduring windstorms. A recent introduction of M. mutatus to Italydemonstrates that this insect can be transported long distancesbetween countries, and therefore presents a threat worldwide—particularlyto poplar cultivation. We review the taxonomic nomenclaturefor this pest, provide a summary of the life cycle, hosts anddamage and summarize actions taken to reduce the risk of introductionof M. mutatus to Canada.     

Plant–soil interactions in wheat and coriander crops driving arthropod assemblies through volatile compounds

Arthropod assemblies are frequently determined by bottom-up interactions that include emission of organic volatile compounds. Therefore, changes in soil characteristics associated with land use history can influence the volatile emissions of plants affecting the structure of arthropod assemblies in croplands. This study aims (1) to study the relationships between soil degradation levels due to land-use history, and the change in particular soil chemical characteristics; (2) to analyze plant–soil interactions quantifying the effect of soil degradation on the production of biomass and grain yield of coriander and wheat crops, and on the production and chemical composition of volatile secondary metabolites in coriander grain; (3) to find the relationship between the analyzed plant–soil interactions and the emission of volatile signals affecting arthropod assemblies; and (4) to determine the relationship between particular chemical soil characteristics and the structure of arthropod assemblies. For these purpose, two experiments were carried out in which volatile compounds were conducted from source plots with soils with different levels of degradation, sown with wheat or coriander, to sink plots with similar soil, sown with wheat. Crops were evaluated on source plots, and the arthropods communities were assessed on sink-plots. Coriander produced high biomass, grain yield and essential oil in the favorable environments and wheat produced higher biomass and grain yield in soil with low degradation than with high degradation. Particular chemical soil elements, for example, Na, Fe, Mn, N and CEC and essential oil components, for example, γ-trepanned, p-cymene, asinine and β-pinene could be involved in the arthropods assemblies. Based on these results, arthropods communities in agricultural systems are, at least, partially controlled by chemical signals, which depend on plant–soil interactions.     

Detection of feline herpes virus 1 via polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry in cats with ulcerative facial dermatitis, eosinophilic granuloma complex reaction patterns and mosquito bite hypersensitivity

Ulcerative dermatitis caused by feline herpes virus 1 (FHV-1) is an uncommon disease characterized by cutaneous ulcers secondary to epidermal, adnexal and dermal necrosis. Differential diagnoses for FHV-1 lesions include, but are not limited to, mosquito bite hypersensitivity and eosinophilic granuloma complex. Histopathological diagnosis of FHV-1 dermatitis is based on the detection of the intranuclear inclusion bodies. In cases where intranuclear inclusions are missing but clinical and histological findings are compatible with FHV-1 dermatitis, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and PCRs have been used. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the presence of FHV-1 by IHC and PCR in skin biopsies and compared the results of the two tests. Sixty-four skin biopsy specimens from cats with compatible lesions were reviewed and tested via PCR and IHC for evidence of FHV-1. Polymerase chain reaction was positive in 12 of 64 biopsies; PCR and IHC were positive only in two of 64 biopsies, and these cases were considered true positive cases. The higher number of PCR-positive cases was possibly attributed to amplification of viral DNA from a live attenuated vaccination, but a previous FHV-1 infection with subsequent amplification of latently inserted FHV-1 could not be excluded. If clinical signs and histopathology suggest FHV-1 infection in the absence of typical inclusion bodies, IHC is the preferred diagnostic test; PCR may be useful for initial screening, but due to false positives is not sufficient for a definitive diagnosis.     

Sedative effects of three doses of romifidine in comparison with medetomidine in cats

ObjectiveTo compare the sedative effects of three doses of romifidine with one dose of medetomidine.Study designProspective blinded experimental cross-over.AnimalsFive adult Domestic Short Hair cats.MethodsCats were administered romifidine at 80, 120 and 160 μg kg^?1 or medetomidine at 20 μg kg^?1 (M20) intramuscularly (IM). Sedative effects were assessed for 3 hours by summing the scores given to posture, auditory response, resistance to positioning, muscular relaxation, and response to noxious stimuli, giving a total sedation score (TS). The area under the curve (AUC) of TS ≥7 (the score considered as clinically useful sedation) was calculated. Times to stages of sedation were determined. Some physiological parameters were measured. Data to compare treatments were analysed by anova or Kruskal–Wallis test as relevant.ResultsAll treatments gave a TS considered clinically useful. There were no significant differences between treatments for times to onset of sedation, maximum TS reached, or AUC. Differences between romifidine treatments for other sedation parameters were not significant but the time to maximum TS and to recovery was shortest in M20. Heart rate (HR) fell significantly with all treatments and, although with M20 it recovered at 65 minutes, it remained significantly depressed for 3 hours after all romifidine treatments. Most cats vomited, and/or hypersalivated after all treatments.ConclusionsDoses of 80, 120 and 160 μg kg^?1 romifidine IM produce sedation in cats which is similar to that following medetomidine 20 μg kg^?1. Recovery from sedation and of physiological parameters was quickest after M20.Clinical relevanceDoses of romifidine considerably lower than those investigated by previous authors give a clinically useful level of sedation, and their use might result in less side effects and a quicker recovery.     

Retrospective comparison of first‐line adjuvant anthracycline vs metronomic‐based chemotherapy protocols in the treatment of stage I and II canine splenic haemangiosarcoma

Splenectomy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy is commonly used to treat canine splenic haemangiosarcoma (HSA), although it is unclear if different treatment protocols may have a similar efficacy. The objective of this retrospective study was to assess outcome in dogs with stage I and II splenic HSA treated with either first‐line adjuvant anthracycline (AC) or metronomic (MC)‐based chemotherapy protocols, by comparing median time to progression (TTP) and median survival time (MST). Medical records of nine institutions were searched for dogs diagnosed with stage I and II splenic HSA that underwent adjuvant treatment with AC‐ or MC‐based protocols following splenectomy. Patients treated with MC following AC were included in an additional group (AMC). Ninety‐three dogs were included: 50 in the AC group, 23 in the AMC group and 20 in the MC group. The overall MST was 200 days (range 47‐3352) and the overall median TTP was 185 days (range 37‐1236). The median TTP of stage I dogs was significantly longer compared to stage II dogs (338 vs 151 days, respectively, P = .028). When adjusting for treatment type, the MST was 154 days for the AC group (range 47‐3352 days), 338 days for the AMC group (range 79‐1623 days) and 225 days for the MC group (range 57‐911 days). The difference in MST and median TTP was not found to be statistically significant between treatment groups. This study suggests that adjuvant MC in canine splenic HSA may result in a similar outcome when compared to other treatment protocols. Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings.     

Chemical and biological control of Fusarium species involved in garlic dry rot at early crop stages

European Journal of Plant Pathology - The aim of the study was to test in vitro and in vivo the efficacy of triazoles and biocontrol agents (BCAs) against Fusarium proliferatum and F. oxysporum,...     

Prevalence and risk factors for carriage of multi-drug resistant Staphylococci in healthy cats and dogs

We investigated the distribution of commensal staphylococcal species and determined the prevalence of multi-drug resistance in healthy cats and dogs. Risk factors associated with the carriage of multi-drug resistant strains were explored. Isolates from 256 dogs and 277 cats were identified at the species level using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation-time of flight mass spectrometry. The diversity of coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CNS) was high, with 22 species in dogs and 24 in cats. Multi-drug resistance was frequent (17%) and not always associated with the presence of the mecA gene. A stay in a veterinary clinic in the last year was associated with an increased risk of colonisation by multi-drug resistant Staphylococci (OR = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.1~5.2, p value LRT = 0.04). When identifying efficient control strategies against antibiotic resistance, the presence of mechanisms other than methicillin resistance and the possible role of CNS in the spread of resistance determinants should be considered.     

Ocular abnormalities in healthy Standardbred foals

Objective To determine the prevalence and describe ocular abnormalities in healthy Standardbred foals within 48 h of birth. Animals One hundred and two neonatal foals. Procedures All foals had an unassisted delivery. On the basis of physical examination and the results of hematological and biochemical parameters, all foals were unaffected by systemic diseases. A complete ophthalmic examination was performed within 48 h of birth. Foals with ocular hemorrhages were re‐examined weekly until the abnormalities were resolved. Results 65/102 (63.7%) foals did not show ocular abnormalities, while in 37/102 (36.3%) cases, ocular abnormalities were present. Retinal and subconjunctival hemorrhages were recorded in 19/102 (18.6%), and in 13/102 (12.7%), respectively. In 4/102 (3.9%) animals, an entropion of the lower eyelid was present. Only one foal (1%) showed a congenital nuclear unilateral cataract. No other ocular abnormalities were detected. However, all foals showed various degrees of remnants of hyaloid system. One week after the first ocular examination, retinal hemorrhages had resolved in 100% of the eyes, whereas subconjunctival hemorrhages had disappeared in all eyes by the second week following the first examination. Conclusions The acquired ocular lesions observed with relatively high frequency in the examined healthy Standardbred foals were ocular hemorrhages, which always showed a good outcome. Although these abnormalities were present at birth, they were not considered strictly congenital but likely acquired during parturition. Instead, congenital ocular abnormalities were rarely diagnosed, and the entropion of the lower eyelid was the most common disease in the breed.     

Outbreak of swimmer's itch in Central Italy: Description,causative agent and preventive measures

Swimmer's itch is caused by the penetration of free‐swimming larvae of trematodes of the family Schistosomatidae in human skin. It is usually reported in people engaged in recreational water activities in freshwater bodies and in most of cases, it is provoked by bird schistosomes of the genus Trichobilharzia. In the summer 2017, many cases of dermatitis were recorded in people bathing in the waters of the Albano Lake (Rome, Italy) and a parasitological investigation was carried out in order to ascertain the causative agent of these cases. Snails of the family Lymnaeidae, natural intermediate hosts of bird schistosomes, were collected from lake shallow waters to detect the presence of trematodes of the genus Trichobilharzia. Pools of maximum 10 snails were placed in Petri dishes, and cercarial emergence was stimulated exposing snails to strong artificial light intensity at 25°C. Three hundred and thirty‐seven snails were collected and screened for the shedding of cercariae. Furcocercariae of the family Schistosomatidae, with a morphology overlapping that of the genus Trichobilharzia, were detected in seven Petri dishes. Assuming that in each positive Petri dish just one snail was shedding furcocercariae, the minimum infectious rate was 2.1%. Molecular analysis of furcocercariae allowed ascribing them to the species Trichobilharzia franki. Snails of the species Radix auricularia were identified as intermediate hosts of the parasite. This is the second record of T. franki causing cercarial dermatitis in Central Italy, the third in Italy. The 2017 was in Italy exceptionally warm and dry. Trematodes are sensitive to changes in temperature, being cercarial production and emission rates temperature dependent. Small increases in water temperature would speed up parasite development and transmission, leading to a manifold increase in cercarial emergence. Moreover, high temperatures raise chances to acquire the infection, due to increased time spent in water by people.