Frequency of mutations associated with fungicide resistance and population structure of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycosphaerella graminicola</Emphasis> in Tunisia

The occurrence of fungicide resistance in Mycosphaerella graminicola populations from Tunisia was investigated by examining mutations known to be associated with strobilurin and azole resistance. Few mutations associated with fungicide resistance were detected. No evidence for strobilurin resistance was found among 357 Tunisian isolates and only two among 80 sequenced isolates carried mutations associated with azole resistance. A network analysis suggested that these mutations emerged independently from mutations found in previously described European populations. The population genetic structure of M. graminicola in Tunisia was analyzed using variation at 11 microsatellite loci. Populations in Tunisia were characterized by high gene and genotype diversity. All populations were in gametic equilibrium and mating type proportions did not deviate from the 1:1 ratio expected under random mating, consistent with regular cycles of sexual reproduction. In combination with a high degree of gene flow among sampling sites, M. graminicola must be considered a pathogens with high evolutionary potential. Thus, control strategies against Septoria blotch in Tunisia should be optimized to reduce the emergence and spread of resistant isolates.     

Baseline toxicity and stage specificity of recently developed reduced‐risk insecticides chlorantraniliprole and spinetoram to obliquebanded leafroller,Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

BACKGROUND: Studies were designed to assess baseline toxicity of the two recently developed reduced‐risk insecticides chlorantraniliprole and spinetoram to obliquebanded leafroller (OBLR), Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris), and to determine stage‐specific effects of these products on OBLR, so that these new chemicals could be judiciously incorporated into IPM programs by targeting only the most susceptible stages of OBLR. RESULTS: Both chlorantraniliprole and spinetoram were highly effective against neonate OBLR larvae at much lower doses than conventional standard azinphosmethyl. Most of the mortality caused by spinetoram occurred during the 4 day exposure period, while significant delayed mortality was observed as a result of chlorantraniliprole treatment during the 7 day recovery period, indicating that chlorantraniliprole is a slower‐acting compound compared with spinetoram. Unlike broad‐spectrum predecessors, the toxicity of chlorantraniliprole significantly increased with larval age. Similarly, the toxicity of spinetoram increased as larvae grew from neonates to third instars. CONCLUSION: Chlorantraniliprole and spinetoram are highly effective against OBLR larvae, regardless of larval age. Incorporation of these reduced‐risk chemistries into IPM programs for OBLR would lead to effective management of this pest in tree fruit systems. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

A survey on the feeding of eventing horses during competition

Summary This study aims at the comparison of the actual feeding of horses with the recommendations from the literature, and it studies the effects of feeding and exercise on several blood metabolic parameters before and after exercise. Blood samples were collected from 25 horses during one‐star eventing competitions and evaluated for blood glucose, insulin, lactate, free fatty acids and triglyceride levels. Questionnaires on the feeding practices of the horses were evaluated. The questionnaires revealed that during training, and on tournament days, horses received on average 4.3 kg of concentrate per day (min. 1.54 kg, max. 8 kg). The statistical analysis showed no significant effect of the amount of concentrate fed before exercise on the measured blood values. Oil was supplied as a supplementary energy source to 30% of the horses, but most of them only received very small quantities (0.02–0.4 l/day). Five horses (20%) had no access to salt supplements at all, and eleven horses (45%) had no access to salt on tournament days. Fifteen horses (60%) were supplied with mineral feed. Twenty‐one horses (84%) had daily access to pasture during the training period. During competition, 55% of the horses received roughage ad libitum, compared with 37% during training. The majority of the horses received less roughage on days before the cross‐country competition. It could not be ascertained whether feeding a large amounts of roughage had a beneficial effect on performance, because only a few horses in this study were fed with very restrictive roughage. Feeding of most of the horses was in agreement with the recommendations from the literature, except the need for sodium and chloride. The sodium and chloride need for sport horses may be overestimated in literature and needs to be re‐evaluated.     

Successful treatment of a pancreatic pseudocyst by omentalisation in a dog

CASE HISTORY A 3-year-old male Labrador retriever was presented with a history of dietary indiscretion followed by vomiting and abdominal pain.

CLINICAL FINDINGS AND TREATMENT: Abdominal ultrasonography revealed the presence of a fluid-filled cystic structure in the region of the pancreas. Flocculent, dark fluid was drained from the cystic structure during exploratory celiotomy prior to resection of the lateral cystic wall. Omentum was sutured into the cystic cavity to provide drainage and enhance immune response. A jejunostomy feeding tube was placed. Post-surgical care consisted of antibiotic therapy. The dog was clinically normal at 1 and 7 months post-operatively and the pancreas appeared normal on final ultrasonographic examination.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This case describes the use of omentum to provide physiological drainage of a pancreatic pseudocyst. This surgical technique may help clinicians manage patients with this condition in the future.     

Male pseudohermaphroditism in a Labrador Retriever,and a review of mammalian sexual differentiation

CASE HISTORY: An 8-month-old Labrador Retriever was referred with a history of ambiguous external genitalia.

CLINICAL FINDINGS AND TREATMENT: Clitoromegaly within apparent vulval folds, and an adjacent subcutaneous mass were noticed on external examination. An intra-abdominal testicle, with epididymis and suspected vas deferens ducts, was found during exploratory celiotomy. Incision over the subcutaneous mass revealed the accompanying testicle. Clitoridectomy was performed and an os clitoris removed. Normal juvenile testes were diagnosed on histology of the gonads. Chromosomal studies revealed a normal 78, XY male chromosomal constitution. Due to the combination of a male karyotype (78, XY), the presence of testicular tissue in the gonads, and the appearance of the external genitalia, a diagnosis of male pseudohermaphroditism (MPH) was made.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This case presents the first report of MPH in a Labrador Retriever, and highlights the diagnostic steps recommended when confronted with a dog with ambiguous external genitalia.     

Ursachen kleinräumiger Ertragsschwankungen im bayerischen Tertiärhügelland und Folgerungen für eine teilschlagbezogene Düngung

Site effects of small-scale yield variation in the Tertiary hills north of Munich (Germany) and conclusions for site specific farming The effect of numerous soil factors on small-scale yield variation of winter wheat and spring barley were examined: soil structure and soil texture, soil nitrate content and soil water at different times, P_CAL-, K_CAL-, N_t- and C_t-content, pH, soil microbiology characteristics, relief, root growth and important plant diseases. The varying annual influence of soil parameters on crop yield was interrelated with climatic factors. In soils with low sand content soil productivity was largely influenced by soil structure. This effect was less pronounced on soils with medium sand content. On sandy soils, however, yield was reduced by available water capacity. Yield potential was also lowered by frequent cereal growing associated with take-all root desease of winter wheat. High yield variation from year to year confirmed that a site-specific crop management should consider annual variability of yield in addition to soil conditions and yield measurement. Site-specific N fertilization should be adapted to the actual progress of plant growth.     

Emergence and early evolution of fungicide resistance in North American populations of Zymoseptoria tritici

Although fungicide resistance in crop pathogens is a global threat to food production, surprisingly little is known about the evolutionary processes associated with the emergence and spread of fungicide resistance. Early stages in the evolution of fungicide resistance were evaluated using the wheat pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici, taking advantage of an isolate collection spanning 20 years in Oregon, USA, and including two sites with differing intensity of fungicide use. Sequences of the mitochondrial cytb protein conferring single‐mutation resistance to QoI fungicides and the nuclear CYP51 gene implicated in multiple‐mutation resistance to azole fungicides were analysed. Mutations associated with resistance to both fungicides were absent in the 1992 isolates, but frequent in the 2012 collection, with higher frequencies of resistance alleles found at the field site with more intensive fungicide use. Results suggest that the QoI resistance evolved independently in several lineages, and resulted in significant mitochondrial genome bottlenecks. In contrast, the CYP51 gene showed signatures of diversifying selection and intragenic recombination among three phylogenetic clades. The findings support a recent emergence of resistance to the two fungicide classes in Oregon, facilitated by selection for mutations in the associated resistance genes.     

Acute toxicity in five dogs after ingestion of a commercial snail and slug bait containing iron EDTA

This case series of five dogs describes the effects of ingesting large amounts of an iron EDTA snail-bait product. In all cases signs of toxicity occurred between 6 and 24 h after ingestion and included abdominal pain and haemorrhagic gastroenteritis. Two of the dogs had pretreatment serum iron levels measured and in both cases the levels were above normal limits. All of the dogs were treated with iron chelation therapy and supportive care including intravenous fluids, analgesics, gastric protectants and antibiotics. Chelation therapy with desferrioxamine mesylate did not cause adverse effects in any of the dogs and all survived to discharge. The effects of iron EDTA snail bait in dogs requires further study and minimum toxic doses need to be established.