A new blood parasite within the relict endemic New Zealand gecko Hoplodactylus duvaucelii

Duvaucel geckos (Hoplodactylus duvaucelii) are large endemic lizards that have been extirpated from the New Zealand mainland due to introduced mammalian predators. This species has subsequently become the subject of species translocation conservation management in an endeavour to increase the number of populations and as a part of island ecological restoration. Blood sampling of a captive adult male after tail autotomy led to the discovery of a Rickettsia-like organism within this gecko's erythrocytes. We conclude that this infection was acquired at the gecko's source location, a remote island closed to the general public and lacking potential invasive parasite reservoir reptiles. The likely vector is the native mite Geckobia naultina. This finding represents valuable new baseline information about the health parameters of this threatened species. Particularly in the light of the paucity of reported blood parasitism in New Zealand reptiles, the conservation management of this species through relocation and captive-breeding, and the on-going concerns regarding the introduction of novel parasites to New Zealand.     

Effects of deficit irrigation strategies on cluster microclimate for improving fruit composition of Moscatel field-grown grapevines

The grapevine plays a very important role in the economic, social and cultural sectors of many regions; however vineyards are often grown in regions under stressful conditions and thus they are vulnerable to climate change. The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of partial root-zone drying (PRD) irrigation on vine water relations, vegetative growth, plant microclimate, berry composition and yield components, compared to conventional deficit irrigation (DI, 50% ETc), full irrigation (FI, 100% of ETc) and non-irrigated vines (NI). The study was undertaken in mature ‘Moscatel’ grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.) grown in Pegões, South of Portugal. Compared to the other irrigated treatments, PRD vines showed a better microclimate at the cluster zone with higher incident photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). Within the more open canopies of NI and PRD treatments, berry temperatures were higher than those of denser ones (DI and FI). Compared to the conventional irrigation technique the better microclimate observed in PRD vines was a consequence of a reduction in vine growth, where lower values of leaf layer number, leaf area, canopy wideness, water shoots and shoot weight were observed. In PRD vines we observed a tendency to a development of a deeper root system, while DI and FI showed a more homogeneous root distribution throughout the different soil layers. PRD showed an improvement in berry quality with higher values of flavour precursors, and total phenols concentration without any significant yield reduction compared to DI and FI.     

Bruchpilot promotes active zone assembly, Ca2+ channel clustering, and vesicle release

The molecular organization of presynaptic active zones during calcium influx-triggered neurotransmitter release is the focus of intense investigation. The Drosophila coiled-coil domain protein Bruchpilot (BRP) was observed in donut-shaped structures centered at active zones of neuromuscular synapses by using subdiffraction resolution STED (stimulated emission depletion) fluorescence microscopy. At brp mutant active zones, electron-dense projections (T-bars) were entirely lost, Ca2+ channels were reduced in density, evoked vesicle release was depressed, and short-term plasticity was altered. BRP-like proteins seem to establish proximity between Ca2+ channels and vesicles to allow efficient transmitter release and patterned synaptic plasticity.     

Three cases of prolapse of the nictitans gland in cats

We report three cases of adult cats showing a prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid. Three different breeds were affected: Burmese, Persian and Domestic Short-haired. In all cases, the disorder occurred spontaneously, without any other ocular sign. Surgical replacement of the gland was performed using the Morgan pocket technique. Good esthetic results were obtained, and no recurrence occurred.     

Monitoringergebnisse der Schnellk?fergattung Agriotes (Elateridae, Coleoptera) in den Jahren 2008 bis 2010 in Rheinland-Pfalz

During the years 2008 to 2010 beetles of the genus Agriotes were monitored by means of pheromone traps in Rhineland-Palatinate. Each trap contained the female sexual pheromone of either Agriotes obscurus, A. sordidus, A. lineatus, A. sputator, or A. ustulatus. Beetles of these species could be caught, additionally also specimens of the species A. gallicus, A. acuminatus, and A. pilosellus. Specimens of A. brevis and A. proximus could not be caught, not even in traps with pheromones according to their species. The high frequency of A. sputator in the Upper Rhine Valley and mild river valleys was surprising. This might be an explanation for the increasing damages especially in potatoes during the past seven years. Also the species A. ustulatus occurred mainly in the Rhine Valley. The species A. obscurus was found predominantly in higher altitudes, A. lineatus and A. sputator appeared in the whole area, with varying frequencies. In all, we could determine the composition of Agriotes-species in 27 fields. In two fields traps were exposed in two subsequent years, in one field in three years. The changes in the populations are shown. The beetles collected in some fields were compared with the according wireworms.     

Novel application of square-wave adsorptive-stripping voltammetry for the determination of xanthohumol in spent hops

This paper reports the development of a novel electrochemical assay for xanthohumol (XN) by square-wave adsorptive-stripping voltammetry (SWAdSV) with a hanging mercury drop electrode. The method showed good repeatability (CV < 2%) and linearity (between 10 and 250 μg L(-1)), as well as suitable limits of detection (2.6 μg L(-1)) and quantification (8.8 μg L(-1)). The method was applied for the quantification of this compound in spent hops, and the results obtained were compared with the HPLC-UV method. XN contents determined by the SWAdSV method were 16 ± 1 and 100 ± 4 μg L(-1) for aqueous and methanolic extracts, respectively. The developed new methodology considerably reduces the analysis time, approximately from 25 min (HPLC-UV method) to 7 min, enabling a high sample throughput. In addition, the detection and quantification limits were approximately 5-fold lower than those obtained with the chromatographic method.     

Assessment of the combination of spinosad and milbemycin oxime in preventing the development of canine Angiostrongylus vasorum infections

Angiostrongylus vasorum is an increasingly reported parasite in Europe that develops in dogs after ingestion of infective third stage larvae (L3) that reside in gastropod molluscs which are needed to complete the parasite's life-cycle. Infection can produce a diversity of clinical signs, determined by involvement of the respiratory, neurological, and/or coagulation system, with a likely fatal outcome in the absence of treatment. Few drugs have been shown to reliably prevent infection, and data on treatment of infections is limited. A controlled, randomized, partially blinded laboratory study was therefore executed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a combination tablet of spinosad/milbemycin oxime in dogs inoculated with approximately 250 A. vasorum L3. Sixteen healthy nematode free adult dogs were randomly allocated to two study groups of 8 dogs each. Thirty days post inoculation (dpi) all dogs in the fed state were treated: dogs in group B were treated with spinosad and milbemycin oxime at the dose rates of 45–60 mg/kg and 0.75–1.0 mg/kg bodyweight, respectively, approximately the lower half portion of the expected full unit dose range; dogs in group A were treated with placebo tablets. All dogs were euthanized and necropsied 56–58 dpi. The heart and lungs were examined to determine the presence of A. vasorum. All placebo group dogs were infected at necropsy with counts ranging from 22 to 98 adult worms and a geometric mean worm count of 55.2. In contrast, the geometric mean worm count in the spinosad/milbemycin oxime group was 0.7 with worm numbers ranging from 0 to 8. The results of this study demonstrate that a single treatment with the tablet combination of spinosad and milbemycin oxime administered 30 dpi provided 98.8% preventive efficacy against development of adult A. vasorum infections. Monthly treatments with spinosad and milbemycin oxime have the potential to prevent the establishment of infections with A. vasorum in dogs.     

Giardia duodenalis in colony stray cats from Italy

Giardia duodenalis is the most common intestinal protozoan in humans and animals worldwide, including eight morphologically identical assemblages, infecting pets, livestock, wildlife and human beings. Assemblages A and B are those with the higher zoonotic potential, and they have been detected in several mammals other than humans; the others (C to H) show a higher host specificity. Cats can harbour both the specific Assemblage F and the zoonotic ones A and B. Several studies have been carried out on G. duodenalis genotypes in cats; however, the role of this species in the epidemiology of giardiasis is still poorly understood. In this scenario, the present study carried out the detection and genetic characterization at sub-assemblage level of G. duodenalis from colony stray cats in central Italy. In the period 2018–2019, 133 cat faecal samples were analysed for the presence of G. duodenalis cysts by a direct immunofluorescence assay. Positive samples were subsequently subjected to molecular analyses for assemblage/sub-assemblage identification. Forty-seven samples (35.3%) were positive for G. duodenalis cysts by immunofluorescence. G. duodenalis DNA was amplified at SSU-rDNA locus from 39 isolates: 37 were positive for zoonotic Assemblage A and 2 showed a mixed infection (A + B). Positive results for the β-giardin gene were achieved for 25 isolates. Sequence analysis revealed 16 isolates belonging to Sub-assemblage AII and 8 to Sub-assemblage AIII. One isolate resulted as ambiguous AI/AIII. Large sequence variability at the sub-assemblage level was detected, with several double peaks and mutations, making complex a proper isolate allocation. When compared with previous studies, the 35.3% prevalence of G. duodenalis in cats reported in the present article was surprisingly high. Moreover, all positive cats resulted to be infected with zoonotic assemblages/sub-assemblages, thus indicating stray cats as a possible source of human giardiasis and highlighting the sanitary relevance of cat colonies in the study area.     

Differential alterations in the ability of bovine neutrophils to generate extracellular and intracellular reactive oxygen species during the periparturient period

The periparturient period of a dairy cow is associated with increased incidence and/or severity of certain infectious diseases, including mastitis. It is believed that the heightened physiological demands of calving and initiation of milk production contribute to a state of immunosuppression during this period. Previous studies have indicated that neutrophil production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is a critical element of the host innate immune response to bacterial infection, is impaired in the 1-2week period following calving. However, whether there is comprehensive inhibition of ROS production or selective inhibition of particular ROS remains unknown. The present study provides evidence that neutrophils isolated from cows (n=20) after calving have an increased capacity to generate intracellular ROS and an impaired ability to release extracellular superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide.