Production of Beauvericin by Different Races of Fusarium Oxysporum F. sp. Melonis, The Fusarium Wilt Agent of Muskmelon

Fourty-four strains of Fusarium oxysporum were isolated from plants of melon with Fusarium wilt symptoms. Among these strains, thirty-nine were characterized for their pathogenicity on melon. Thirty-seven strains belonged to known races of F. oxysporum f. sp. melonis, while two strains were non-pathogenic. Four strains belonged to race 0, seven to race 1, four to race 2, and twenty-two to race 1,2. Beauvericin was produced by thirty-six strains in a range from 1 to 310gg^–1. Eight isolates of race 1,2 did not produce the toxin. In addition, of the two non-pathogenic strains, only one strain produced the toxin (290gg^–1). The production of enniatin A₁, enniatin B₁, and enniatin B was also investigated. Enniatin B was the only enniatin detected, being produced by eleven strains belonging to all the races, with a range of production from traces to 60gg^–1. Finally, melon fruits belonging to two different cultivars (Cantalupo and Amarillo) were artificially inoculated with one strain of F. oxysporum f. sp. melonis (ITEM 3464). Beauvericin was detected in the fruit tissues of both cultivars at a level of 11.2 and 73.8gg^–1, respectively. These data suggest that the production of both the toxins is not related to the pathogenicity of F. oxysporum f. sp. melonis, nor to the differential specificity of the races. The results confirm that beauvericin is a common metabolite of phytopathogenic Fusarium species.     

The 'BSE Strategic Project' of the National Council of Research: Results of Four Years of Research

Veterinary Research Communications -     

Neospora caninum infection in a clinically healthy calf: parasitological study and serological follow-up

In this study a case of congenital infection in a clinically healthy calf is reported. The mother showed high antibody levels (IFAT) at 230 days of gestation (IgG titres > or = 1:1600, IgM titres > or = 1:320) and the parasite was isolated from placental cotyledonary villi at calving. The IgM values are indicative of a recent infection in the third trimester of gestation. The calf was monitored serologically for IgM and IgG from birth until slaughtering, at 8 months of age. IgM titre showed a peak at birth, while IgG peak was observed at 40-60 days of age. Parasitic isolation was obtained by biological tests using Swiss mice or VERO cell cultures inoculated with brain and spinal cord tissues. The parasitic presence in the calf was also evidenced in the myocardium with immunohistochemical method. The results are very important because they demonstrate that the period of gestation in which the cow becomes infected is an important factor in the pathogenesis of N. caninum induced abortion: in fact, the acquisition of infection in the third trimester of gestation allowed the foetus to develop a sufficient grade of immunocompetency to limit parasite multiplication with the result of a calf born clinically healthy.     

Intensive Intravenous Infusion of Insulin in Diabetic Cats

Background

Remission occurs in 10–50% of cats with diabetes mellitus (DM). It is assumed that intensive treatment improves β‐cell function and increases remission rates.

Hypothesis

Initial intravenous infusion of insulin that achieves tight glycemic control decreases subsequent insulin requirements and increases remission rate in diabetic cats.

Animals

Thirty cats with newly diagnosed DM.

Methods

Prospective study. Cats were randomly assigned to one of 2 groups. Cats in group 1 (n = 15) received intravenous infusion of insulin with the goal of maintaining blood glucose concentrations at 90–180 mg/dL, for 6 days. Cats in group 2 (n = 15) received subcutaneous injections of insulin glargine (cats ≤4 kg: 0.5–1.0 IU, q12h; >4 kg 1.5–2.0 IU, q12h), for 6 days. Thereafter, all cats were treated with subcutaneous injections of insulin glargine and followed up for 6 months. Cats were considered in remission when euglycemia occurred for ≥4 weeks without the administration of insulin. Nonparametric tests were used for statistical analysis.

Results

In groups 1 and 2, remission was achieved in 10/15 and in 7/14 cats (P = .46), and good metabolic control was achieved in 3/5 and in 1/7 cats (P = .22), respectively. Overall, good metabolic control or remission occurred in 13/15 cats of group 1 and in 8/14 cats of group 2. In group 1, the median insulin dosage given during the 6‐month follow‐up was significantly lower than in group 2 (group 1: 0.32 IU/kg/day, group 2: 0.51 IU/kg/day; P = .013).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Initial intravenous infusion of insulin for tight glycemic control in cats with DM decreases insulin requirements during the subsequent 6 months.     

Evaluation of ‘di Romagna’ and ‘Frenchgrey’ shallots for quality characters connected to bulb colourand volatile oil content and composition

Local landraces of shallot from the Romagna region(Northern Italy) and North-western France, called Scalogno di Romagna and French grey,respectively, have recently been evaluated for morphological,biochemical and molecular characters. These populations appeared very different from common shallots and onions, so were re-classified as Allium oschaninii O.Fedtsch., whereas almost no variability was observed within these types. Four di Romagna and three French accessions were grown in Italy, and further evaluated for quality characters such asbulb colour and volatile oil content and composition. Colour was measured by means of a tristimulus colorimeter. Volatile oil was extracted by hydrodistillation and its components separated and identified by GC/MS. Colour parameters differentiated thedi Romagna from the French greyaccessions. Essential oil composition differed from what has been reported for most other Alliums, by a lower amount of1-propenyl- substituents. No individual oil component allowed a good differentiation of the two geographic origins.However, the French and di Romagna accessions were perfectly separated by the discriminant analysis of oil composition.Minor 1-propenyl- components seemed more critical for discrimination. The shallot types examined seemed biochemically differentiatedfrom Allium cepa. Variation in the examined quality characters was detected both between the two provenances and among the accessions of common geographic origin.     

Influence of light and pH on growth and nitrogenase activity on temperate-grown Azolla

Summary We investigated the influence of light intensity and pH on growth and acetylene reduction in three strains of Azolla filiculoides and one strain of A. pinnata cultivated under ambient conditions in Naples, Italy. A. pinnata showed maximum growth and acetylene reduction activity at 65% of natural light intensity (82 Klux) and at pH 5–7. In contrast, three A. filiculoides strains showed maximum values in a wider range of light intensity (50–100%) and pH (5–9). All optimal growth conditions of light intensity and pH were obtained from the determination of doubling time for dry and fresh weight increases. The lowest doubling time for all strains was in the range 2.7–3.3 days. Under these optimal conditions, the acetylene reduction activity rates were 46 nmol ethylene h^–1 mg^–1 dry weight for two strains of A. filiculoides from California, and 90 nmol for A. filiculoides from Naples and A. pinnata from Tancheng, Peoples Republic of China. These values correspond to those reported for strains of A. filiculoides and A. pinnata cultivated in areas outside Italy where the use of Azolla as biofertilizer has resulted in increased crop production. Therefore, the strains studied here may have a similar potential in Southern Italy as a source of biomass, dry matter and nitrogenous compounds.Research work supported by CNR, Italy. Special grant I. P. R. A. Sub-project 1. Paper No. 814