The emergence of parvoviruses of carnivores

The emergence of canine parvovirus (CPV) represents a well-documented example highlighting the emergence of a new virus through cross-species transmission. CPV emerged in the mid-1970s as a new pathogen of dogs and has since become endemic in the global dog population. Despite widespread vaccination, CPV has remained a widespread disease of dogs, and new genetic and antigenic variants have arisen and sometimes reached high frequency in certain geographic regions or throughout the world. Here we review our understanding of this emergence event and contrast it to what is known about the emergence of a disease in mink caused by mink enteritis virus (MEV). In addition, we summarize the evolution of CPV over the past 30 years in the global dog population, and describe the epidemiology of contemporary parvovirus infections of dogs and cats. CPV represents a valuable model for understanding disease emergence through cross-species transmission, while MEV provides an interesting comparison.     

The dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitor NVP-DPP728 reduces plasma glucagon concentration in cats

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogues and inhibitors of its degrading enzyme, dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV), are interesting therapy options in human diabetics because they increase insulin secretion and reduce postprandial glucagon secretion. Given the similar pathophysiology of human type 2 and feline diabetes mellitus, this study investigated whether the DPPIV inhibitor NVP-DPP728 reduces plasma glucagon levels in cats. Intravenous glucose tolerance tests (ivGTT; 0.5 g/kg glucose after 12 h fasting) and a meal response test (test meal of 50% of average daily food intake, offered after 24 h fasting) were performed in healthy experimental cats. NVP-DPP728 (0.5–2.5 mg/kg IV or SC) significantly reduced glucagon output in all tests and increased insulin output in the ivGTT. Follow-up studies will investigate the potential usefulness as therapy in diabetic cats.     

Tree morphology responds to neighbourhood competition and slope in species-rich forests of subtropical China

Trees are able to respond to their local biotic and abiotic environment with morphological adjustments which improve resource acquisition and, thus, growth. In forests, light is broadly recognised as one of the major factors determining growth, and morphological responses comprise changes in crown architecture and stem stature. On sloping terrain, the interplay of phototropism and gravitropism may further affect morphological growth characteristics. However, different tree species are expected to show species-specific responses. In this study, we analysed three growth characteristics of tree individuals belonging to four species of two functional groups (evergreen: Schima superba, Castanopsis eyrei, deciduous: Quercus serrata var. brevipetiolata, Castanea henryi) in a species-rich Chinese subtropical forest. Crown projection area, relative crown displacement and stem inclination were related to biotic (local species richness, functional richness, competition, stand age) and abiotic (slope aspect and inclination, soil depth) variables in the local neighbourhood of the tree individuals. We hypothesised that (i) there are species-specific differences in the morphological response of crown architecture and stem stature and (ii) that crown size and asymmetry as well as stem inclination are influenced by both, biotic and abiotic factors. In contrast to our expectations we were unable to reveal any species-specific differences in any of the three growth characteristics. The results of mixed effects models showed that crown area was mainly affected by the target tree's dbh and biotic variables related to neighbours (competition, functional diversity), whereas stem inclination was mainly influenced by slope. Relative crown displacement was influenced by both, biotic and abiotic variables. We conclude that growth responses resulting in crown displacement and stem inclination seem to be an important mechanism to ameliorate foraging for light in our study area, but that these responses appear to be species-independent. The interplay of stem inclination and crown displacement allows for a plastic response of tree individuals in biotically and abiotically heterogeneous environments. Our results indicate that forest management in this region should focus on functionally diverse stands which are promoting crown area positively resulting in increased growth rates of individual trees.     

First report of black scurf on carrot caused by binucleate Rhizoctonia AG-U

Black scurf on carrot roots was found in Hokkaido, Japan, in 2010. An isolate of a binucleate Rhizoctonia was obtained from sclerotia on the root surface. This isolate was identified as anastomosis group (AG)-U based on cultural characteristics, hyphal fusions and the sequence of ribosomal DNA-internal transcribed spacer region. The AG-U isolate caused black scurf symptoms on carrot roots in an inoculation test. The reference isolate of Rhizoctonia solani AG-2-2 IV, which causes carrot root rot, a disease with symptoms that differ from the black scurf symptom. This is the first report of carrot black scurf caused by binucleate Rhizoctonia AG-U.     

First report of white leaf rot on Chinese chives caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG-2-1

Delayed sprouting and white rot of leaf tips were found on Chinese chives in a greenhouse in Hokkaido, Japan, in the spring of 2006 and 2007. The causal fungus was identified as Rhizoctonia solani anastomosis group (AG)-2-1 and discriminated from the leaf rot pathogen R. solani AG-4 HG-I in terms of pathogenicity. Symptoms and the time of year that the disease occurs also apparently differ for the two pathogens. This is the first report of white leaf rot on Chinese chive caused by R. solani AG-2-1.     

The paradigm of consumer-driven and responsive supply chains: an integrated project approach

Summary

This paper describes an integrated project approach that forms the basis of the studies on consumer-driven innovative and responsive supply chains in ISAFRUIT Pillar 1. This integrated approach leads to a wide range of in-depth results on trends, preferences, and innovativeness of the European consumer in the context of fruit, and on product innovation, chain innovativeness, and transition strategies for the European fruit industry. Differences in, for instance, preferences for different fresh, prepared, and processed fruit products across consumers and across consumption situations, and differences in consumer innovativeness in the context of novel fruit products, lead towards a cross-cultural European segmentation and a variety of consumer-driven fruit chain strategies to valorise the added value of fruit products. Inputs from social, natural, and technical sciences are combined to optimise true consumer-driven innovativeness.     

Endocrine effects of GnRH agonist application to early pregnant gilts

The hypothesis of the present study was that a GnRH agonist application at early pregnancy would alter the pattern of the key reproductive hormones LH and FSH, and subsequently that of estradiol (E2) and especially progesterone (P4), and improve the conditions for embryo survival in early pregnant gilts. Therefore, the endocrine effects of a GnRH agonist (GnRHa) application to gilts (n=11 GnRHa treated, n=9 saline Controls) were studied in blood samples from the Vena cava caudalis. GnRHa injected on Day 12 after insemination induced elevated (P<0.01) LH and FSH levels for at least 180 min. However, subsequent LH concentrations were not altered up to Day 21 of pregnancy. LH pulse number, estimated in 6-h period samples on Days 13, 15 and 17, was not influenced by treatment and pregnancy. LH pulse amplitude was decreased (P<0.05) on Days 13 to 17 in pregnant gilts of both groups, but not in nonpregnant animals. In pregnant GnRHa-treated gilts, the basal LH level was elevated compared with the Controls (P<0.01). Additionally, differences (P<0.05) in basal LH were present between the pregnant and nonpregnant animals. The P4 and E2 secretion pattern was not affected by GnRHa. P4 concentrations increased (P<0.01) from Day 10 to Day 14 regardless of the treatment. P4 revealed a pulse-like pattern, but without a definite relation to the LH pulse characteristics. Also, pregnancy rate (73 vs. 67%) and the number of fetuses (12.8 ± 2.3 vs. 11.6 ± 2.3) were unaffected in the treated and Control gilts, respectively. The present study did not confirm the initial hypothesis that a GnRHa-mediated LH effect could alter ovarian steroid secretion and favorably support early embryo development and pregnancy outcome.     

A comparative study of clinical manifestations,haematological and serological responses after experimental infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum in two Norwegian sheep breeds

Background

It has been questioned if the old native Norwegian sheep breed, Old Norse Sheep (also called Norwegian Feral Sheep), normally distributed on coastal areas where ticks are abundant, is more protected against tick-borne infections than other Norwegian breeds due to a continuously high selection pressure on pasture. The aim of the present study was to test this hypothesis in an experimental infection study.

Methods

Five-months-old lambs of two Norwegian sheep breeds, Norwegian White (NW) sheep and Old Norse (ON) sheep, were experimentally infected with a 16S rRNA genetic variant of Anaplasma phagocytophilum (similar to GenBank accession number {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"M73220","term_id":"148293"}}M73220). The experiment was repeated for two subsequent years, 2008 and 2009, with the use of 16 lambs of each breed annually. Ten lambs of each breed were inoculated intravenously each year with 0.4 ml A. phagocytophilum-infected blood containing approximately 0.5 × 10⁶ infected neutrophils/ml. Six lambs of each breed were used as uninfected controls. Half of the primary inoculated lambs in each breed were re-challenged with the same infectious dose at nine (2008) and twelve (2009) weeks after the first challenge. The clinical, haematological and serological responses to A. phagocytophilum infection were compared in the two sheep breeds.

Results

The present study indicates a difference in fever response and infection rate between breeds of Norwegian sheep after experimental infection with A. phagocytophilum.

Conclusion

Although clinical response seems to be less in ON-lambs compared to NW-lambs, further studies including more animals are needed to evaluate if the ON-breed is more protected against tick-borne infections than other Norwegian breeds.