Findings of Yersinia in slaughter pigs, synantropic animals and workers in meat products in a defined region

In 15 selected stocks in the Strakonice district, 507 slaughter pigs, 708 small terrestric mammals and 110 free-living birds were examined in a two-year period (1986-1987) to study the occurrence of carriers of yersiniae and their elimination. Rectal smears from 243 persons working in livestock production were examined in the same way. Standard bacteriological methods, recent examination procedures (Aulisio et al., 1980; Aldová, 1981) and a diagnostic antiserum (03 IMUNA Sarisské Michalany) were used for the examination. The following results were obtained: In pigs: 1. yersiniae were detected in 65 cases (12.8%); of this, in 31 cases they occurred in the tonsils, in 35 cases in ileum, and twice in the ileocaecal lymph nodes. 2. Epidemiologically significant Y. enterocolitica 4;03 was detected in 28 cases (5.5%); of this, 22 times in the tonsils, 7 times in ileum, and once in the ileocaecal lymph nodes. 3. The seasonal nature of the occurrence of yersiniae was confirmed in 1986, with maxima in winter-spring, but in 1987 their occurrence declined substantially to less than a quarter. In the small mammals, yersiniae were detected 28 times (4%); of this, 7 times in common field mouse, 11 times in common vole, 5 times in house mouse, twice in shrew, once in Apodemus flavicollis, and once in Apodemus sp. 2. Y. enterocolitica 4;03 was detected twice (0.26%), both cases in the house mouse. Other results: 1. In all the 110 free-living birds the examination for yersiniae had a negative result; 2. in the rectal smears of 243 persons employed in livestock production, yersiniae were identified twice (0.8%)--in one case Y. enterocolitica 1, in the other Y. enterocolitica biovars 1 and 2.     

Tithonia diversifolia (Mexican sunflower) in south-western Nigeria: occurrence and growth habit

A reconnaissance survey of the occurrence of Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A, Gray in south western Nigeria was carried out along the major highways linking Ibadan to major towns be-tween April and August in 1991 and 1992. The survey revealed that T, diversifolia is prominent along the Ibadan—Oyo—Ogbomoshollorin, Iba-dan—Abeokuta and Oyo—lseyin—Saki roads, and common along the Ibadan—lwo—Osogbo—Offa, Ibadan—Ife—Akure, Ife—Ondo and Ibadan—Ijebu Ode roads It is rare along Ibadan—Ikeja, Akure-Ado Ekiti—Kabba, Ilorin—Jebba, and Ijebu Ode—Benin City—Asaba roads. T. diversifolia is a shallow-rooted annual/perennial broad-leaved plant that grows to a height of 5 m or more and varies from highly branched at low populations (< 5 plants m^-2) to practically unbranched at high populations (> 30 plants m^-2). Under natural conditions in the Ibadan area (7°25'N, 3°54'E), T. diversifolia is established from seed in March—April, flowers between September and November and produces mature seed by Decemher—January. Seed is disseminated between January and March by shedding. Under frequent slashing or in a valley bottom with a high water table, or on river banks T. diversifolia behaves as a perennial shrub and flowering under this condition occurs sporadically throughout the year.