Soil solarization with biodegradable materials and its impact on soil microbial communities

The application of soil solarization (SS), one of the most promising techniques for the control of soilborne pathogens, is seriously limited by the drawback regarding the disposal of the used plastic materials. A possible solution to this problem is the use of biodegradable plastics. The aim of this study was to make comparisons between the impact of SS performed with biodegradable materials and that of SS with plastic films and other pest management techniques (i.e. organic matter amendment, calcium cyanamide and Dazomet fungicide application) on crop productivity, soilborne disease incidence, weed suppression, and soil chemical (total N, NH₄-N, nitrate, available phosphorus, organic matter, hydrolysis of fluorescein diacetate) and microbial (cultivable Pseudomonas, DGGE fingerprinting of bacterial 16S- and fungal 28S rRNA gene fragments from total soil community DNA) parameters. We carried out field experiments in two types of soil with different textures (clay and sand) artificially inoculated with Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici (vs. tomato) and Sclerotinia minor (vs. lettuce).The temperature of soils covered with solarizing materials was always higher than that of bare soils, but plastic cover was more effective and consistent in rising soil temperature compared to biodegradable materials. Plant growth promotion by SS was limited, especially compared to Dazomet and organic matter applications, and a positive effect was observed only for lettuce in the clay soil. Differently, both plastic and biodegradable solarizing materials were effective in reducing lettuce drop caused by S. minor. Weed development was significantly suppressed by Dazomet application and SS with plastic film, while control with biodegradable materials was limited. SS had a variable and limited effect on chemical and microbial parameters, with a general tendency to reduce richness of bacteria and fungi. Dazomet caused the most pronounced reduction of the microbial community diversity in both soil types and a significant stimulation of the fluorescent Pseudomonas group. Organic amendment significantly enhanced the organic matter content, the hydrolysis of fluorescein diacetate and the Pseudomonas population. Among all measured soil parameters, the size of the fluorescent Pseudomonas population emerged as the most important factor affecting crop productivity.The results of this experimentation show the potential of using biodegradable solarizing materials in place of plastic films, but also indicate the need for improving their properties to obtain performances comparable to those of other pest management techniques.     

An atypical case of respiratory actinobacillosis in a cow

A not pregnant 4-year-old Jersey cow was presented with the sudden appearance of respiratory noise, nasal discharge and moderate respiratory difficulty. Upon physical examination a snoring-like noise, extended head and neck position, exaggerated abdominal effort, bilateral nasal discharge and left prescapular lymph node enlargement were noted. Sub-occlusion of the initial portion of the respiratory tract was suspected. Radiographic and endoscopic examinations revealed a pedunculate mass on the dorsal aspect of the rhinopharynx, which was removed with endoscopically assisted electrosurgery. Histologic examination revealed a chronic pyogranulomatous inflammation with eosinophilic club-like bodies surrounding small colonies of rod-shaped bacteria. Results of histochemical staining were consistent with Actinobacillus-like bacteria and a diagnosis of respiratory actinobacillosis was reached. Surgery and antibiotic therapy were resolutive, as demonstated by an endoscopic check at the second month after surgery, even without the association of the traditional iodine cure, which is regarded as the treatment of choice for actinobacillosis.     

Effects of the radiometric properties of innovative biodegradable mulching materials on snapdragon cultivation

Research on the application of innovative biodegradable materials for substrate mulching in greenhouse floricultural cultivation was carried out in Southern Italy. A transparent biodegradable film and a transparent biodegradable spray coating were compared with a commercial transparent low density polyethylene film. The biodegradable film was a starch based extruded material, the sprayed coating was created from a polysaccharide solution. The materials were used to mulch the peat and perlite growing media contained in trays during snapdragon cultivation in order to increase the substrate temperature and hasten early growth. The climate variables inside and outside the greenhouse and the growing medium temperature under the mulching materials were recorded. Biometrical data, such as mean blooming time, plant height and spike length, were collected. The laboratory radiometric tests showed that the biodegradable mulching materials had a lower solar transmissivity in comparison to the low density polyethylene film. The capacity to reduce the long wave infrared thermal losses was higher for the biodegradable mulches: the long wave infrared transmissivity coefficient was 53.9% for the low density polyethylene film, 12.1% for the biodegradable film and 8.2% for the spray coating. The increase of the growing medium temperature allowed the harvest of the snapdragon grown in the mulched trays 7 days before that of the flowers grown in the un-mulched trays. At the end of the crop cycle the disposal of the biodegradable mulching materials was carried out fragmenting and mixing them with plant residue and the growing medium. The residue biodegraded in almost 1 month for the spray coating and in about 12 months for the biodegradable film.     

Incidence of Poisonings in Domestic Carnivores in Italy

Veterinary Research Communications -     

Post-operative analgesic effects,after orthopaedic surgery in the dog,of loco-regional ropivacaine and bupivacaine blockade using the nerve locator technique: 159 cases

Veterinary Research Communications -     

Avian Community Response to Grazing Intensity on Monoculture and Mixed Florida Pastures

Monoculture and mixed pastures in Florida provide habitat for a variety of resident and migratory bird species. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of grazing on vegetation structure and bird species richness and abundance in grazed monoculture and mixed pastures. Study pasture units were subject to four cattle grazing intensities: 0 = nongrazed (control), 15 = low, 20 = medium, or 35 = high animal units (AU) per pasture unit (no cattle, 1.3, 1.0, and 0.6 ha · AU^?1, on monoculture pastures and no cattle, 2.1, 1.6, and 0.9 ha · AU^?1, on mixed pastures). Monoculture pastures displayed a greater decrease in spatial heterogeneity of the vegetative community in the presence of grazing than mixed pastures. An increase in grazing intensity led to declines in total avian species richness and abundance and species richness within short-distance migrant, neotropical migrant, and permanent resident guilds on monoculture pastures. Declines in total species richness and abundance and neotropical migrant guild species richness and abundance were observed on mixed pastures subject to increasing grazing intensity. However, species richness within short-distance migrant and urban guilds and abundance within the grassland guild increased on this pasture type in the presence of grazing. Loss of spatial heterogeneity typically results in a lack of suitable habitat for birds that occupy the extremes of the vegetation structure gradient. This can lead to a loss of species richness and abundance. For the majority of avian guilds, a low grazing intensity of 1.3 ha · AU^?1 and 2.1 ha · AU^?1 on monoculture and mixed pasture, respectively, is recommended to maintain abundance. However, these grazing intensities may result in declines in species richness. Ultimately, if a range of avian species are to be supported on monoculture and mixed pastures, spatial heterogeneity of plant structure and composition must be maintained.     

Tenoscopy of the navicular bursa: a new therapeutic approach for horses affected by “palmar pain syndrome.” Endoscopic technique review and personal experiences

Tenoscopy of the navicular bursa has been recently introduced as a diagnostic and therapeutic treatment in cases of palmar foot pain syndrome. A deep digital flexor tendon transthecal approach was suggested in 1999, and the endoscopic technique has been reviewed. Smith and coworkers have recently reported good and promising results. An anatomic cadaver limb study was performed, and the endoscopic technique was evaluated. Subsequently, a 14-year-old Argentine mare, affected by palmar foot pain syndrome, was treated. Clinical data, MRI and endoscopic findings, and a 6-month follow-up evaluation are reported.

     

Veterinary ocular microbiome: Lessons learned beyond the culture

Ocular pathogens cause many painful and vision‐threatening diseases such as infectious keratitis, uveitis, and endophthalmitis. While virulent pathogens and pathobionts play important roles in disease pathogenesis, the scientific community has long assumed disruption of the ocular surface occurs prior to microbial colonization and subsequent infection. While nonpathogenic bacteria are often detected in corneal and conjunctival cultures from healthy eyes, cultures also frequently fail to yield growth of common ocular pathogens or nonpathogenic bacteria. This prompts the following question: Is the ocular surface populated by a stable microbial population that cannot be detected using standard culture techniques? The study of the microbiome has recently become a widespread focus in physician and veterinary medicine. Research suggests a pivotal symbiotic relationship with these microbes to maintain healthy host tissues, and when altered is associated with various disease states (“dysbiosis”). The microbiota that lives within and on mammalian bodies have long been known to influence health and susceptibility to infection. However, limitations of traditional culture methods have resulted in an incomplete understanding of what many now call the “forgotten organ,” that is, the microbiome. With the introduction of high‐throughput sequencing, physician ophthalmology has recognized an ocular surface with much more diverse microbial communities than suspected based on traditional culture. This article reviews the salient features of the ocular surface microbiome and highlights important future applications following the advent of molecular techniques for microbial identification, including characterizing ocular surface microbiomes in our veterinary species and their potential role in management of infectious and inflammatory ocular diseases.