Monitoring the appearance and possibility for prevention of the apple sawfly in Croatia

The apple sawfly Hoplocampa testudinea Klug has recently become a widespread pest in Croatian apple orchards. It causes severe damage in the blooming period due to the fact that infested fruit fall off.This article shows results collected over three years of field research on trap catches of sawflies, the period of laying eggs, the appearance of larvae and detection of damage. In the climate of northwestern Croatia, adult sawfly appear in April during the blooming period of the early apple variety of Idared.By monitoring temperatures from January 1, adults were detected when the thermal constant reached 210 day-degrees. Our observations showed that the larvae emerged when the sum of thermal constants reached ca. 110 day-degrees.The investigation of effective control strategies with insecticides showed high efficacy of thiametoxam (Actara), imidacloprid (Confidor), thiacloprid (Calypso) and betacyfluthrin + oxydemeton-methyl (Enduro) and lower efficacy of phosalone (Zolone), chlorpyrifos-methyl (Reldan), and lambda cyhalothrin (Karate).     

Keloidal fibromas and fibrosarcomas in the dog

Sixteen dogs (2-12 years of age) presented with one (n = 15) or two (n = 1) cutaneous nodules (n = 16) or a dermal plaque (n = 1). Intact males (n = 9) and neutered males (n = 4) were more affected than were females (n = 3). Histologically, these lesions were characterized by focal dermal and subcutaneous deposition of thick hyalinized collagen fibers intermingled with fibroblasts, and in 13 of 17 lesions, a variable number of CD18-positive cells were interpreted as reactive macrophages. Fibroblasts in three dogs formed intersecting fascicles, interpreted as evidence of malignant transformation. The terms keloidal fibroma and keloidal fibrosarcoma can be applied to these lesions. Excision was curative in five dogs with keloidal fibroma for which follow-up was available. However, because malignant transformation may occur, wide excision of canine keloidal lesions is warranted.     

Canine T-cell lymphomas: a morphological,immunological, and clinical study of 46 new cases

The aim of this study is to report 46 new cases of canine T-cell lymphomas among a series of 140 lymphomas studied by immunophenotyping (incidence 32.8%). According to the updated Kiel classification adapted to the canine species, 13 were classified as low-grade and 33 as high-grade lymphomas. Among the low-grade lymphomas, five were small clear-cell lymphomas, three were pleomorphic small-cell lymphomas, and five mycosis fungoides. Among the high-grade cases, there were 11 pleomorphic mixed-, small-, and large-cell lymphomas, 6 pleomorphic large-cell lymphomas, 11 lymphoblastic lymphomas, and 5 unclassifiable high-grade plasmacytoid lymphomas. The cytohistologic features were highly suggestive of a T-cell phenotype on the basis of cell morphology (irregular nuclei and clear cytoplasms) (30/46 cases), a T-cell zone pattern, and the presence of hyperplastic postcapillary venules (22/46 cases). All 46 cases were CD3+ CD79a-, and among 34 cases investigated for CD4 and CD8 expression, 13 were CD4+CD8-, 13 were CD8+CD4-, and 8 were CD4CD8 double positive or double negative. The pleomorphic mixed lymphomas were mainly CD4+CD8- (6/7) and the lymphoblastic lymphomas were double positive or double negative (6/8). The main clinical, hematologic, and biochemical features were generalized (28/46) or regional lymphadenopathy (16/46), hepatosplenomegaly (15/46), extranodal involvement (11/46), mediastinal mass (9/46), and leukemia (8/46), which were mainly present in cases of lymphoblastic lymphomas and hypercalcemia (16/46).     

Association between endometritis and urocystitis in culled sows

Slaughterhouse sampling and examination of urogenital tracts of 499 sows and gilts culled for reproductive reasons from 21 Hungarian herds were performed over a 6-year period. The aim was to estimate the prevalence of different urogenital tract lesions, and to provide sensitivity and specificity estimates for macroscopic and bacteriological examinations in the diagnosis of urocystitis and endometritis. Furthermore, the association between endometritis and urocystitis was assessed. The prevalence of main lesions of the urogenital tract was similar to that reported in other studies. The 'sensitivity' of macroscopic and bacteriological methods was determined statistically by taking histopathology as the 'Gold Standard'. As a result, the 'sensitivity' of macroscopic methods for the diagnosis of endometritis and urocystitis was < or = 18.1% and 47.9%, respectively, while the 'sensitivity' of bacteriology for the diagnosis of the same conditions was < or = 31.8% and 63.0%, respectively. The presumed positive association between urocystitis and endometritis was confirmed; it was not confounded by parity. Animals affected by urocystitis had a 3.5 times higher odds to simultaneously have endometritis than animals without urocystitis.     

Follicular and oocyte development in gilts of different age

The aim of the present study was to estimate follicular and oocyte development of the same gilts in three phases of their reproductive life--prepuberal gilt (6 months old), cycling gilt (9.5 months old) and primiparous sow. Follicular development was induced by injections of 1000 IU PMSG followed by 500 IU hCG 72 h later. Cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) were recovered from preovulatory follicles of the left ovary, and follicular fluid (FF) from the right ovary always 34 h after hCG by endoscopy. Altogether, 19 gilts were used in the prepuberal (P) and cycling (C) trials and 12 of them in the primiparous trial (S). Altogether 168, 190 and 82 follicles were aspirated from the left ovary and 106, 125 and 42 COCs recovered (recovery rate 60.5 +/- 26.9, 62.7 +/- 20.9 and 52.9 +/- 21.8%). The average number of follicles was higher in C compared to P (19.7 +/- 6.8 vs. 15.7 +/- 6.8, p = 0.06) and to S (14.2 +/- 4.0, p < 0.05), respectively. More uniform expanded COCs were aspirated from prepuberal and cycling gilts as compared to sows (89.7 and 78.4% vs. 46.3%, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the meiotic configuration in oocytes differed (p < 0.05) between these groups (55.5 and 61.7% vs. 0% Telo 1/Meta 2). Concentrations of progesterone in FF decreased (p < 0.05) from 590.0 +/- 333.6 (P) to 249.1 +/- 72.6 (C) and 161.4 +/- 75.2 ng/ml (S). FF concentrations of oestradiol-17 beta were different between gilts and sows (9.3 +/- 2.9, 21.9 +/- 10.6 and 94.0 +/- 15.9 pg/ml, p < 0.05). The progesterone/oestradiol ratio was 72.1, 15.2 and 4.7. Results indicate a different follicular and oocyte development during the investigated lifetime periods. Cycling gilts should preferably be used in IVF and breeding programs. The lower reproductive potential of primiparous sows is taken into consideration at breeding. Prediction of lifetime performance based on individual ovarian reaction of prepuberal gilts is unsuitable.     

The Control of Varroa destructor Using Oxalic Acid

Twenty-four honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies were used to monitor the efficacy of a solution of 2.9% oxalic acid (OA) and 31.9% sugar against the mite Varroa destructor. Mite mortality was established prior to and after OA treatments, which were conducted in August and September. The treatments resulted in 37% mite mortality as opposed to 1.11% in the controls. OA treatment conducted in September on previously untreated colonies resulted in 25% mite mortality. OA treatments in October and November resulted in approximately 97% mite mortality. These results suggest that OA is effective during the broodless period and less effective when applied to colonies with capped broods. The possible use of OA against the Varroa mite in honeybee colonies as an alternative to routine chemical treatments is discussed.     

Production, Survival, and Evaluation of Solid-Substrate Inocula of Penicillium oxalicum, a Biocontrol Agent Against Fusarium Wilt of Tomato

ABSTRACT Production of conidia of Penicillium oxalicum (ATCC number pending), a biocontrol agent of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, was tested in liquid and solid fermentation. P. oxalicum produced 250-fold more conidia in solid than in liquid fermentation at 30 days after inoculation of substrate. Solid fermentation was carried out in plastic bags (600 cm(3)) especially designed for solid fermentation (VALMIC) containing 50 g of peat/vermiculite (PV) (1:1, wt/wt) with 40% moisture, sealed, sterilized, and then inoculated with 1 ml of a conidial suspension of P. oxalicum (10(5) conidia g(-1) dry substrate), sealed again, and incubated in darkness at 20 to 25 degrees C for 30 days. Addition of amendments to PV in a proportion of 0.5 (wt/wt) significantly increased conidial production of P. oxalicum. The best production was obtained on PV plus meal of cereal grains (barley) or leguminous seeds (lentil) (100-fold higher). Conidial production obtained after 5 days of inoculation was similar to that obtained at 30 days. However, viability of conidia produced in PV plus lentil meal was 35% higher than that of conidia produced in PV plus barley meal. Changes in proportions (1:1:0.5, wt/wt/wt; 1:1:1, wt/wt/wt; 1:0.5:0.5, wt/wt/wt; 1:1:0.5, vol/vol/vol) of components of the substrate (peat/vermiculite/lentil meal) did not enhance production or viability of conidia. Optimal initial moisture in the substrate was 30 to 40%. At lower moistures, significant reductions of production of conidia were observed, particularly at 10%. There was a general decline in the number of conidia in bags with time of storage at -80, -20, 4, and 25 degrees C, or at room temperature (range from 30 to 15 degrees C), with the highest decline occurring from 60 to 180 days. Conidial viability also was reduced with time, except for conidia stored at -20 degrees C. Fresh conidia produced in solid fermentation system or those conidia stored at -20 degrees C for 180 days reduced Fusarium wilt of tomato by 49 and 61%, respectively.     

Specificity of inhibition between Salmonella strains

A phenomenon of inhibition among Salmonella organisms colonizing the gut of young animals can be demonstrated which is important in connection with immunization using live Salmonella vaccines. For practical utilization of this inhibition phenomenon, research into its specificity is very important. In vitro broth culture and animal experiments have shown inhibition to be genus-specific, i.e. there is no inhibition between strains of different genera of Enterobacteriaceae in most cases. The strongest inhibition occurs between isogenic (identical genotype) strains (strain-specific inhibition). This applies to Salmonella and other genera of Enterobacteriaceae. There was a close correlation between the degree of the inhibitory effect and the genetic relatedness of the strains, as has been demonstrated in Salmonella strains of different epidemiological classification. The inhibitory capacity was most pronounced among closely related strains. Clonal strains of Salmonella Enteritidis phage type 4 fully inhibited caecal colonization by Salmonella Enteritidis phage type 4 strains in 65% of the combinations tested in chicks. In broth culture experiments, the share of combinations with complete inhibition was above 90%. A significant inhibitory competence of a selected strongly inhibitory Salmonella Enteritidis phage type 4 strain against the majority of Salmonella Enteritidis field isolates can be expected. However, Salmonella Enteritidis strains of all phase types showed almost no inhibitory competence against other Salmonella serotypes.     

Hierarchical Bayesian model for prevalence inferences and determination of a country's status for an animal pathogen

Certification that a country, region or state is "free" from a pathogen or has a prevalence less than a threshold value has implications for trade in animals and animal products. We develop a Bayesian model for assessment of (i) the probability that a country is "free" of or has an animal pathogen, (ii) the proportion of infected herds in an infected country, and (iii) the within-herd prevalence in infected herds. The model uses test results from animals sampled in a two-stage cluster sample of herds within a country. Model parameters are estimated using modern Markov-chain Monte Carlo methods. We demonstrate our approach using published data from surveys of Newcastle disease and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome in Switzerland, and for three simulated data sets.