Histopathology of black spot symptoms in sweet orange<Emphasis Type="Italic">s</Emphasis>

In Brazil, citrus black spot (CBS) caused by Guignardia citricarpa is a major disease that has different symptoms on fruit. In this study, fruit of Citrus sinensis infected by G. citricarpa and showing the symptoms false melanosis, freckle spot and hard spot were cross-sectioned and analysed anatomically and histochemically by light microscopy. Immuno-histological assays were performed. All symptoms were accompanied by a thickening of the cuticle. False melanosis lesions did not contain pycnidia and remained restricted to the epicarp or to the first layers of the mesocarp. The stomata in this type of lesion showed phenolic compounds in the guard cells and in the sub-stomatal chamber. In some samples, the guard cells and their surrounding cells lysed, and a wound meristem began to form underneath them. Freckle spot and hard spot lesions had very similar histological alterations to the epicarp and mesocarp, but in our samples only hard spot lesions contained pycnidia. Both of these symptoms were accompanied by protein inclusions. Epidermal and sub-epidermal cells located in the oil-gland region were obliterated, causing alterations in these structures. All symptoms had regions that stained strongly for lipids and phenols.     

Cauliflower stunt associated with a phytoplasma of subgroup 16SrIII-J and the spatial pattern of disease

Since 2000, a disease has occurred with high levels of incidence in crops of cauliflower grown in the green belt area of the city of S?o Paulo, Brazil. The symptoms are characterized by stunting, malformation of the inflorescence, reddening leaves, and vascular necrosis, suggesting infection by phytoplasma. These symptoms are similar to those described in Brassicas species affected by the aster yellows (16SrI) group of phytoplasma. In the present study, a phytoplasma from the 16SrIII-J subgroup was identified in cauliflower plants based on actual and virtual RFLP patterns and phylogenetic analysis, and was distinct from the phytoplasmas frequently associated with aster yellows disease in Brassicas. Pathogenicity assays using dodder confirmed that the identified phytoplasma is the agent of the observed disease, which is here designated as cauliflower stunt. Consequently, this species of Brassica may be recognized as a new host for subgroup 16SrIII-J, which has frequently been found in diverse species cultivated in Brazil. The spatial pattern of diseased plants was determined in ten cauliflower plots of 300 to 728 plants each. All plants in these plots were evaluated by visual assessments, assigned as diseased or healthy and mapped. The dispersion index and Taylor’s power law were determined for various quadrat sizes and the results showed that the diseased plants were distributed in a random pattern in fields with a low disease incidence and in an aggregated pattern in fields with a disease incidence greater than 25?%. According to an isopath area analysis, diseased plants were predominantly present in the field borders, suggesting that the pathogen is possibly introduced by vector(s) from the external area.     

Effect of age and abomasal puncture on peritoneal fluid, hematology, and serum biochemical analyses in young calves

The goals of this study were to evaluate techniques for collection of peritoneal fluid from calves, establish reference ranges for fibrinogen in peritoneal fluid during the 1st month of life, and determine if abomasal puncture would alter peritoneal fluid or hematologic variables. Twenty-two healthy Holstein calves underwent 3 peritoneal fluid collections on day 1, day 15, and day 30 of age. Fibrinogen concentration in peritoneal fluid was 0.20 g/dL and 0.10 g/dL (P < .05) for day 1 and day 30, respectively, and 0.10 at day 15 (P > .05) for calves without abomasal puncture. Plasma fibrinogen concentration was 0.60 g/dL and 0.70 g/ dL (P < .05) for days 15 and 30, respectively, in calves without abomasal puncture. There were no significant differences (P < or = .05) in peritoneal fluid and peripheral blood total protein and fibrinogen concentrations, specific gravity, total and differential cell count, or erythrocyte counts between calves with or without abomasal puncture. We concluded that the reference ranges established for fibrinogen and total protein concentration are important for accurate evaluation of peritoneal fluid in calves for further comparison with similar-aged animals with gastrointestinal-tract or abdominal-cavity disease. Additionally, accidental abomasal puncture does not alter values of fibrinogen, total protein, and nucleated cell count in peritoneal fluid and does not cause apparent clinical abnormalities.     

Effects of bean line pattern mosaic virus on the monocyclic components of rust and angular leaf spot of Phaseolus bean at different temperatures

Monocyclic components (development rate during the incubation period or latent period, lesion density, lesion size and disease severity) of rust ( Uromyces appendiculatus ) and of angular leaf spot ( Phaeoisariopsis griseola ) in two bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris ) cultivars (Rosinha G-2 and Carioca), pre-infected or not with bean line pattern mosaic virus (BLPMV), were determined. Trials were conducted at temperatures in the range from 9 to 27°C for rust and from 12 to 30°C for angular leaf spot. Regardless of viral pre-infection, the effect of temperature on the four monocyclic components followed an optimum curve and could be described by a generalized beta function. Generally, angular leaf spot was favoured by higher temperatures with an optimum for disease severity between 24.2 and 28.3°C compared with 15.9–18.5°C for rust. Pre-infection with BLPMV did not change the shape of the optimum curves for all components, but significantly reduced lesion density and disease severity on both cultivars. The development rates during incubation and latent periods for both fungal diseases were not affected by BLPMV. Pre-infection with virus did not alter the ranking of cultivars with respect to resistance to both fungal diseases.     

Lesion expansion as an epidemic component

ABSTRACT A simulator for the enlargement of cohorts of circular lesions on cohorts of host tissue was used to examine five epidemiological parameters: radial rate (mm day(-1)) of lesion expansion, k (exp); maximum basic infection rate, R (m); proportion of lesion area as infectious, f; initial lesion size (mm(2)), z; and proportion of susceptible host sites, s. Based on the proportion of disease severity at day 50 and the proportion of the total disease that originated solely from lesion expansion, k(exp) was the most sensitive of the five parameters. A radial rate of only 0.1 mm day(-1) resulted in a proportion of >0.7 of the diseased area that came from lesion expansion. In an extensive survey of phytopathological literature, many plant pathogens had radial rates greater than 0.1 mm day(-1), which would result in a proportion of >0.95 of the total disease that comes from lesion expansion. Susceptible host sites, s, was a sensitive parameter, as this determined the host area into which lesions could expand. Naturally, R(m) was a sensitive parameter for the proportion of disease on day 50, as it controlled the overall speed of the epidemic. Initial lesion size was a relatively insensitive parameter, although z interacted significantly with s. The greatest proportion of disease that originated from lesion expansion occurred with fast k(exp), small z, and low values of s, R(m), and f. The model was validated with lesion numbers and severities obtained in natural epidemics of Cercospora medicaginis on alfalfa and Exserohilum turcicum on maize. We recommend that the 'epidemic quintuplet' used to describe polycyclic epidemics be expanded to the 'epidemic sextuplet' with the inclusion of k(exp), since lesion expansion is a major component of many polycyclic epidemics.     

Brain monitoring in dogs using the cerebral state index during the induction of anaesthesia via target-controlled infusion of propofol

The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the cerebral state index (CSI) and the estimated propofol plasma concentrations in dogs during induction of anaesthesia. Fifteen healthy dogs undergoing scheduled routine surgical procedures were enrolled in this study. Target controlled infusion (TCI) software, based on the pharmacokinetic model for propofol, was used to control the syringe pump and to estimate plasma propofol concentrations (PropCp) and the CSI values every five-seconds. Three electrodes placed in the centre of the forehead, on the left side of the forehead and on the left mastoid were used to collect the electroencephalographic (EEG) signal converted by the cerebral state monitor into the CSI. The cerebral electrical changes induced by increasing propofol concentrations appear to be detected by CSI monitoring in dogs. The negative correlation between CSI and PropCp demonstrates that the CSI could be used to assess electrical brain activity in dogs during the induction of anaesthesia with propofol.     

Asian grapevine leaf rust caused by Phakopsora euvitis: an important disease in Brazil

Anthropogenic influences such as tourism and climate change affect ecosystems. One consequence is that invasive species can spread to and colonize novel areas. A recent example of this scenario is the appearance, in the early 2000s in Brazil and Australia, of the plant pathogenic fungus Phakopsora euvitis, which causes Asian grapevine leaf rust. It is speculated that the disease was introduced either by long distance transport of spores in the atmosphere or the import of contaminated plant material. While the disease could be eradicated from the Australian continent it is still present in Brazil. The pathogen has spread successfully throughout most Brazilian grapevine‐growing regions, most probably because of the lack of resistant plant cultivars. Today, the disease is endemic in Brazil. This review was written to highlight the increasing impact of the disease in Brazil and summarizes the current knowledge on the disease monocycle under different environmental conditions and the consequences for grapevine management. Gaps in the present state of knowledge are highlighted with the purpose of stimulating further research aimed at identifying efficient strategies to combat the disease.     

Evaluation of immune response and performance of silver catfish fed functional linseed fibres in response to hypoxia stress

This study was conducted to evaluate the immunostimulating activity and growth promoting of diets supplemented with different rations of soluble and insoluble linseed fibre to Rhamdia quelen under hypoxia‐induced acute stress. For this reason, soluble and insoluble fractions of linseed fibre were concentrated separately and combined into four ratios (1:0.5; 1:1; 1:2 and 1:4), which were added to the diets of silver catfish (6.43 ± 0.12 g) and evaluated in a biological assay, along with a control diet (without addition of linseed fibre). After being fed the experimental diets for 45 days, specimens of silver catfish were submitted to hypoxia‐induced acute stress. They were kept out of water for 60 s. Immediately afterwards, blood and cutaneous mucus were collected for subsequent determination of immunological indicators and stress. After stress, the fish were weighed and measured for performance parameter calculation. The experimental design was completely randomized with five treatments and four replications. The data underwent analysis of variance and the means were compared by Tukey's test (p < .05). The fish fed diets containing the 1:2 and 1:4 soluble:insoluble fibre ratios, showed higher total protein content, globulin, plasma alkaline phosphatase activity, and performance in addition to higher mucoprotein content in the cutaneous mucus of the fish. Regardless of their ratio in the diet, linseed fibre provided higher plasma levels of total immunoglobulins and reduction in cortisol levels. The 1:1, 1:2 and 1:4 diets led to higher levels of total immunoglobulins and alkaline phosphatase activity in cutaneous mucus. The results indicate that linseed fibre has a stress‐ reduction, immunostimulant and a growth promoter effect on silver catfish. The 1:2 or 1:4 soluble: insoluble fibre ratios provided greater stimulation of the target immunological indicators and performance.     

Palm kernel meal (Elaeis guineensis) as a substitute for corn (Zea mays) in diets of Tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum)

Two experiments were carried out to evaluate the effects of palm kernel meal (Elaeis guineensis) as corn (Zea mays) substitutes in tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) diets based on zootechnical performance, health, characteristics of the muscle, yield and economic efficiency. The first one was carried out in a recirculation aquaculture system for 75 days wherein tambaquis received diets with 0% (T0), 25% (T25), 50% (T50), 75% (T75) and 100% (T100) of corn replacement by palm kernel meal. The second experiment, conducted in ponds for 184 days, tambaquis were fed T0 and T25 diets (selected because showed greater weight gain without health damage). Final weight and weight gain of tambaquis were impaired by the increasing levels of this ingredient on diets, and the feed conversion ratio was worse. The protein efficiency ratio and specific growth rate gradually reduced, while the total number of leucocytes and neutrophils gradually increased. Cholesterol and triglycerides decreased in T75 and T100. Variables analysed in experiment 2 were not affected by treatment, except muscle lipids. Palm kernel meal can replace up to 25% of corn in tambaqui diets since it maintains a balance in economic and zootechnical performance of production.