Analytical sensitivity of air samplers based on uniform point-source exposure to airborne Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and swine influenza virus

Research and surveillance activities involving airborne pathogens rely on the capture and enumeration of pathogens suspended in aerosols. The objective of this study was to estimate the analytical sensitivity (detection threshold) of each of 4 air samplers for Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and swine influenza virus (SIV). In a 5-min sampling period under controlled conditions, the analytical sensitivity of the AGI-30 (Ace Glass, Vineland, New Jersey, USA), AGI-4 (Ace Glass), SKC BioSampler (SKC, Eighty Four, Pennsylvania, USA), and Midwest Micro-Tek sampler (Midwest Micro-Tek, Brookings, South Dakota, USA) was calculated at 1 × 10^1.1, 1 × 10^1.3, 1 × 10^1.1, and 1 × 10^1.2 median tissue culture infectious dose (TCID₅₀) equivalents for PRRSV and 1 × 10^1.4, 1 × 10^1.1, 1 × 10^1.6, and 1 × 10^1.2 TCID₅₀ equivalents for SIV [per 60 L (5-min sampling period)]. Despite marked differences in sampler design, no statistically significant difference in analytical sensitivity was detected between the samplers for collection of artificially produced aerosols containing cell-culture-propagated PRRSV or SIV.     

Effects of humus content,farmyard manuring,and mineral‐N fertilization on yields and soil properties in a long‐term trial

Investigations carried out at Field F3 of the Halle long‐term fertilization trials using data from 1974 to 1983 showed that with adequate supply of mineral N‐fertilizer soil organic matter (SOM) had no significant effects of yield. Similarly enhanced SOM did not justify a reduction of mineral N (Stumpe et al., 2000). The studies presented here examine the effects of the SOM differences existing after the termination of those trials in 1986 up until 1997 (then mainly differences of hardly decomposable SOM) in comparison to farmyard manuring with enhanced mineral N application (3‐factor‐experiment). As with total SOM, hardly decomposable SOM did not directly affect yields. The effects of FYM treatment observed at lower mineral‐N levels were compensated for by enhanced mineral‐N supply. The direct effect of FYM (40 t ha^—1) corresponded to a mineral‐N supply of about 60 kg ha^—1 and the residual effect to about 20 kg ha^—1. The differences of the C‐content in the soil at the beginning of the present studies continued throughout the experimental period of 12 years. In addition, significant differentiation has been caused by FYM and N fertilization in comparison to unfertilized treatments. The major finding is that differences in SOM content do not lead to yield differences on physically good soils (chernozem‐like soils) if appropriate compensation by mineral‐N fertilization takes place.     

Verbleib des 15N nach einmaliger Verabreichung von markiertem Düngerstickstoff im Dauerversuch Ewiger Roggenbau Halle

Fate of ¹⁵N after one single application of labelled N fertilizer in the long-term experiment Eternal Rye Cropping Halle To elucidate the fate of N in the long-term field experiment with continuous rye cropping in Halle, Germany (Haplic Phaeozem derived from sandy loess; mean annual precipitation: 466 mm) micro plots (9 m²) were established within the NPK main plot in 1993 and 1994 and the routine N dose (60 kg N ha^—1 a^—1) was once applied as ¹⁵N labelled fertilizer. In the subsequent four years each micro plot was analyzed for the ¹⁵N withdrawn with grain and straw and that remaining in the soil after harvest. Parallel to this, micro plots on the unfertilized main plot received a single dose of 5 kg ha^—1 of high-label ¹⁵N in order to achieve labelling of the annual N input from the air (˜40 kg ha^—1 a^—1) and to follow its fate. — In the NPK treatment about one third of the labelled fertilizer N applied (= *N) was taken up by the rye in the first year, while nearly half of it remained in the soil (0—100 cm), and 10—15% was not recovered (most likely lost via leaching). During the following three years the amount of *N remaining in the soil decreased from 32.7 kg ha^—1 to 21.5 kg ha^—1. However, less than half of the remobilized *N had been taken up by the crop. On the unfertilized plot the uptake of *N was lower at the end of the experiment compared to the NPK plot, while the loss exceeded the comparative figure correspondingly.     

Sensitivity profiles of Mycosphaerella graminicola and Phytophthora infestans populations to different classes of fungicides

Prior to the use of fungicides, the baseline sensitivity of individuals in a pathogen population may already differ by a factor of 10 to 100 between the least and the most sensitive isolates. In Mycosphaerella graminicola populations, this factor, measured in vitro, was 5 to 20 for both the strobilurin analogue azoxystrobin (baseline) and the triazole cyproconazole which has been in use for several years. In Phytophthora infestans populations, this factor, measured in a leaf disc assay, was about 100 for azoxystrobin (baseline), up to 1000 for the cyanoacetamide cymoxanil and >10000 for the phenylamide oxadixyl; both of the latter have been used for many years. In M. graminicola, cross-sensitivity was present between all azole fungicides for the majority of the isolates, whereas no correlation was found between triazoles and azoxystrobin. Despite the existence of cross-sensitivity between azoles, ‘box-and-whiskers’ plots revealed large variations in the sensitivity profiles of some triazoles; isolates resistant to triazoles have not been detected in M. graminicola populations. In P. infestans populations, the proportion of the phenylamide-resistant sub-population increased during the season more rapidly in treated than in untreated fields, but it was low at the beginning of the next season in all fields. During disease epidemics, the fitness of phenylamide-resistant P. infestans isolates, as characterised by lesion size, was higher than that of the sensitive isolates, but after the overwintering period, the recovery of resistant isolates was apparently lower. The presence of both A1 and A2 mating types of P. infestans in European populations, although at different frequencies, allows sexual recombination and increased genetic diversity, affecting sensitivity and fitness. Such mixed populations can still be adequately controlled by using sound anti-resistance strategies. ©1997 SCI     

Breeding for Fusarium head blight resistance in wheat—Progress and challenges

Fusarium head blight is among the most extensively studied fungal diseases of wheat and other small grain cereals due to its impact on yield and quality, but particularly due to its potential to produce mycotoxins, which are harmful to humans and animals. Since our last comprehensive review on QTL mapping and marker-assisted selection for FHB resistance in wheat in 2009, numerous studies have been conducted to identify, validate or fine-map resistance QTL. The main aim of this review is to update and summarize findings on FHB resistance breeding of wheat published during the last decade. Furthermore, we compiled a user-friendly table listing FHB resistance QTL data providing a valuable resource for further FHB resistance research. The role of morphological and phenological traits on FHB resistance and possible consequences for resistance breeding are discussed. This review concentrates current knowledge on breeding for FHB resistance and suggests strategies to enhance resistance by deploying molecular breeding methods, including marker-assisted and genomic selection.     

Optimizing sampling effort within a systematic design for estimating abundant escapement of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) in their natal river

The upstream migration of adult sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) in the Horsefly River was monitored by a DIDSON imaging sonar during the dominant stock-cycle year 2005 using a systematic 20-min h⁻¹ sampling scheme. We used a subset of these data collected between 16 and 29 September to investigate whether this sampling protocol was justified based on temporal variation in the salmon migration data. During post-processing, the 20-min sequence was split into two 10-min periods and the number of migrating salmon was counted separately. Cross- and autocorrelation analysis showed that estimates from the first and second 10-min samples were similar (r = 0.65) and variation between them (i.e., within the hour) was random, supporting the conclusion that systematic-hourly sampling is a defensible sampling design for acoustic enumeration when temporal variation in fish migration is unknown a priori. Using a simple benefit–cost model (statistical reliability of point estimates of salmon escapement–sampling effort), we recommend a minimum sampling effort of 10-min h⁻¹ and a maximum effort of 20-min h⁻¹ for projects using a systematic sampling scheme in which the goal is to estimate total upstream salmon escapement. An alternative sampling approach targets high-passage events such as diurnal peaks or periods when total daily upstream escapement exceeds 25 000 fish d⁻¹, for increased sampling effort while reducing sampling effort during low-passage periods. This design will improve the statistical reliability of the resulting point estimates of upstream escapement relative to that achievable with a systematic effort with no overall change in total sampling effort over the course of the migration period.     

Medical and surgical management of traumatic elbow luxation in a juvenile ferret.

Elbow luxation is a common orthopedic injury in the ferret. The injury is usually caused by trauma but can also occur spontaneously. The most successful treatment involves a combination of surgical and medical intervention. Surgical treatment includes open reduction of the elbow joint and stabilization with orthopedic implants. Medical treatment includes external coaptation, analgesia, and prevention of infection. Owner compliance also plays an important role in return to full function of the luxated ferret elbow joint.