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.     

Establishment techniques in under-sown perennial ryegrass for seed production

Abstract

Establishment methods have proven to be of major importance for grass-seed production. The objective of this research was to test the effect of different sowing techniques on plant establishment and the subsequent seed yield. Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is used as the model grass due to its large importance in Danish agriculture.

In a three-year trial six different methods of under-sowing of perennial ryegrass in a spring barley cover crop were employed. Perennial ryegrass was either sown directly at different depths within the spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) rows or placed 2, 6, or 12 cm from the spring barley rows. Results of dry-matter yield indicate that the best establishment of the grass occurred when placing the grass 6 or 12 cm from the cover-crop row, and this is of importance in less vigorous grasses. Overall, no seed-yield difference has been observed for perennial ryegrass when placing the grass 2, 6, or 12 cm from the cover-crop row. Placement of the ryegrass seed crop 6 cm from the cereal row showed that a significant yield increase of 34–71 kg ha^?1 can be obtained compared with sowing in the cereal row.     

Postharvest decay control and quality retention in litchi (cv. McLean's Red) by combined application of modified atmosphere packaging and antimicrobial agents

The effects of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) [bioriented polypropylene (BOPP-1 or BOPP-2)] in combination with antimicrobial agents Bacillus subtilis, 10⁷ colony-forming units (cfu) ml⁻¹; ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid, calcium disodium salt hydrate (EDTA) (0.1%); or 4-hexylresorcinol (4-HR) (0.15%) on postharvest decay control and quality retention of litchi cv. McLean's Red were assessed as possible replacements for commercial SO₂ fumigation. Fruits dipped in B. subtilis, EDTA or 4-HR (5 min) separately, blow dried (25 °C, 3 min), packed in BOPP-1, held for 18 d at 2 °C, 95% RH, and 2 d at 14 °C, 75% RH were significantly less decayed. The antagonist–BOPP-1 combination also promoted the best bacterial survival during storage. B. subtilis was observed to survive effectively in BOPP-1 (16% O₂, 6% CO₂; 90% RH), but its survival was adversely affected in BOPP-2 (5% O₂, 8% CO₂; 93% RH). Alternaria alternata and Cladosporium spp. were the major decay-causing fungi in BOPP-1 treatments, and Candida, Cryptococcus and Zygosaccharomyces were the predominant yeasts in BOPP-2 treatments. Combination treatments EDTA, 4-HR or B. subtilis in BOPP-1 inhibited polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and significantly reduced pericarp browning and severity. Although the combination treatments EDTA, 4-HR or B. subtilis in BOPP were equally effective in controlling decay and browning, the EDTA and 4-HR affected the natural pinkish-red colour of the pericarp by showing higher h° values (orange–pink). Among the combination treatments, B. subtilis+BOPP-1 had the best potential to control decay, retain the colour and the overall litchi fruit quality during a marketing chain of 20 d.     

Transiliac approach for exposure of lumbosacral intervertebral disk and foramen: technique description

Objective— To describe and evaluate a transiliac approach to the L7–S1 disk and intervertebral foramen in dogs.
Study Design— Cadaver study.
Animals— Fresh canine cadavers (n=10).
Methods— A craniolateral approach was made to each iliac wing of 10 fresh canine mixed breed cadavers. An 18 mm hole was drilled in a standardized position through the iliac wing. The musculature connected to the cranial aspects of the sacral wing was dissected and retracted cranially through this iliac window. Endoscopic exploration of the area was performed.
Results— The foramen and intervertebral disk were clearly observed in all specimens without iatrogenic injury of the L7 nerve branch. Access to the foramen was possible in 16 of 20 specimens without excision of the sacral wing; however, it was always partially excised to observe the intervertebral disk which lies more caudally and ventrally.
Conclusion— Transiliac approach to the lumbosacral joint allows direct exposure of the intervertebral disk and foramen through an iliac window. Endoscopic exploration provided good observation of the intervertebral disk and/or foramen.
Clinical Relevance— Transiliac approach could be used for lateral corpectomy and foraminotomy in dogs with degenerative lumbosacral stenosis caused by ventral or ventrolateral disk protrusion, foramen stenosis, or OCD of the L7–S1 joint. Clinical study will be necessary to evaluate the efficacy of this approach.     

Genomewide association study reveals novel quantitative trait loci associated with resistance towards Septoria tritici blotch in North European winter wheat

Fungal diseases are a major constraint for wheat production. Effective disease resistance is essential for ensuring a high production quality and yield. One of the most severe fungal diseases of wheat is Septoria tritici blotch (STB), which influences wheat production across the world. In this study, genomewide association mapping was used to identify new chromosomal regions on the wheat genome conferring effective resistance towards STB. A winter wheat population of 164 North European varieties and breeding lines was genotyped with 15K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) wheat array. The varieties were evaluated for STB in field trials at three locations in Denmark and across 3 years. The association analysis revealed four quantitative trait loci, on chromosomes 1B, 2A, 5D and 7A, highly associated with STB resistance. By comparing varieties containing several quantitative trait loci (QTL) with varieties containing none of the found QTL, a significant difference was found in the mean disease score. This indicates that an effective resistance can be obtained by pyramiding several QTL.     

Uncommon associations in target resistance among French populations of Myzus persicae from oilseed rape crops

Within the framework of a molecular exploration of target resistance in populations of Myzus persicae on oilseed rapes in France, (1) the S431F mutation (coding gene ace2), although previously reckoned to be rare, revealed to be frequent, (2) M918L (phenotypically characterised) and L932F (both on para) were found for the first time in M. persicae, and (3) a linkage was revealed between M918L and S431F. While until recently populations developing on French oilseed rapes were dominated by genotypes possessing pyrethroid target resistance and esterase overproduction, to date a different type of dominating genotype, equipped with carbamate and pyrethroid target resistance, seems to be invading such fields.