Cellular and humoral immune responses of Senegalese sole,Solea senegalensis (Kaup), following challenge with two Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida strains from different geographical origins

The present study aimed to investigate leucocyte responses to inflammation as well as some innate immune parameters of Senegalese sole, Solea senegalensis, following challenge with two strains of Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida belonging to the European and Japanese clones described for this bacterium. Pathogenicity assays were performed to assess the virulence of each Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida strain for sole. Subsequently, fish were intraperitoneally injected with phosphate‐buffered saline (control) or two concentrations (2 × 10² and 2 × 10⁶ CFU mL^?1) of each bacterial strain and sampled after 6 and 24 h. Results showed that the European isolate induces a higher degree of response than the Japanese strain. While blood neutrophilia and monocytosis correlated well with the increase in neutrophil and macrophage numbers in the peritoneal cavity, fish infected with the European isolate presented higher peritoneal cell numbers than fish challenged with the Japanese strain. In addition, alternative complement pathway activity and respiratory burst of head kidney leucocytes increased significantly in fish infected with the European isolate. The enhanced innate immune response displayed by Senegalese sole challenged with the European isolate is probably due to the higher degree of virulence presented by this Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida strain.     

Antiparasitic efficacy of dietary administration of trichlorfon (Masoten®) in the control of Neoechinorhynchus buttnerae (Neochinorhynchidae) in Colossoma macropomum (Serrasalmidae)

Aquaculture International - This study investigated the efficacy of trichlorfon against Neoechinorhynchus buttnerae, as well as its palatability, residue analysis, and the blood parameters of...     

Evolution of forest cover in Portugal: A review of the 12th–20th centuries

Portugal's forests in the 12th century were dominated by the Fagaceae represented by Quercus and Castanea, and several pine species.From the 12th century onwards, forests underwent changes in their management starting with protection and ultimately leading to intense exploitation. The massive naval construction during the maritime expansion(mainly in the 15th–16th centuries) involved felling of approximately 5 million trees mainly Quercus suber, Pinus pinea and other Quercus species. Cumulative fuel-wood consumption of 959 Mm3 during 1300–1854 was attributed to demographic expansion while the deforestation rate during 1636–1854 accounted for a minimum of 72.6% and a maximum of 96% of total forest cover. The volume of timber used in railway sleepers from 1856 onwards might have reached 0.5 Mm3. The last quarter of the 20th century increased the forest cover of Portugal through the World Bank program of Eucalyptus globulus reforestation.     

The influence of the ethanol pumping of wheat straw and of the beating of pulp on the resulting paper sheets

This paper reports on the influence of independent variables in the pulping of wheat straw (viz. cooking temperature and time, and ethanol concentration), and of the number of PFI beating revolutions to which the pulp is subjected, on the yield and Shopper-Riegler index of the pulp, and on the breaking length, stretch, burst index and tear index of the resulting paper sheets. By using a central composite factor design and the BMDP software suite, equations that relate each dependent variable to the different independent variables were obtained that reproduce the experimental results for the dependent variables with errors less than 25% at temperatures, times, ethanol concentrations and numbers of PFI beating revolutions in the ranges 140–180°C, 60–120 min, 40–80% and 0–1750, respectively. Ensuring the optimal Shopper-Riegler index for the pulp (73.18°SR), and also the optimal breaking length (6276 m), stretch (2.57%) and burst index (3.72 kN/g) for the papers sheets, entails using a high temperature (180°C), a large number of PFI beating revolutions (1750) and medium-to-high ethanol concentration and time values; these conditions, however, decrease the tear index for the paper sheets below the optimum level (4.60 mNm²/g). A high temperature and a large number of PFI beating revolutions, in conjunction with a low ethanol concentration (60%) and a short time (60 min), can be used to save solvent and increase the production; the values thus obtained for the dependent variables differ by less than 30% from their optimum levels in the worst case.     

Methods of inoculation and evaluation of Erwinia psidii in eucalypt

The dieback and wilting caused by Erwinia psidii are emerging eucalypt diseases that have been observed since 2014 in the south and central‐south regions of Brazil. Field observations have shown variability in disease severity resistance among Eucalyptus spp. clones and species. It is hypothesized that this variability is due to genetic resistance. To confirm this hypothesis, inoculations in genetically distinct eucalypt plants are necessary. However, lack of an inoculation method and disease assessment makes difficult to select resistant genotypes for use in commercial plantations or genetic breeding programmes. Three inoculation methods were tested on eight clones of Eucalyptus spp. Among them, inoculum deposition with bacteria‐impregnated toothpick on the axillary buds was the simplest and most effective, capable to reproduce the disease symptoms observed under conditions of natural infection. We also developed a rating scale for disease assessment. Among eight clones tested, only Clone 1 (Eucalyptus saligna) and Clone 2 (Eucalyptus urophylla) were resistant.     

Erysiphe australiana: the cause of powdery mildew on Lagerstroemia speciosa in Brazil

Powdery mildew symptoms and signs were observed on seedlings of Lagerstroemia speciosa within an ornamental plant nursery in Viçosa, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Signs were most prominent as intense mycelial growth and sporulation on the shoots, new branches and leaves, which led to tissue necrosis. Based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of ITS and 28S rDNA sequences, the powdery mildew pathogen of L. speciosa was identified as Erysiphe australiana, a well‐known powdery mildew pathogen infecting Lagerstroemia spp. worldwide. To our knowledge, this is the first report of E. australiana causing powdery mildew on L. speciosa in Brazil.     

Co-infection with Mycoplasma haemofelis and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' in three cats from Brazil

The two most common haemotropic Mycoplasma of cats, Mycoplasma haemofelis and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' have been identified using molecular techniques in all continents, except Antarctica. We report the first molecular characterization in South America of a dual infection with M haemofelis and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' in three domestic cats. The 16S ribosomal RNA gene was amplified in three anaemic cats in which haemoplasma organisms were seen attached to the erythrocytes in the peripheral blood smear. Bands of the expected size for M haemofelis and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' were observed in all three cats. The 393 bp segment of one of the amplicons had a similarity value of 100% to M haemofelis, whereas the other amplicon, a 192 bp segment, was 100% similar to 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum'. After diagnosis, two cats received blood transfusion and they were all treated with doxycycline. All three cats recovered uneventfully.     

A comparison of the uterine proteome of mares in oestrus and dioestrus

Proteomic analysis of mare uterine flush fluid provides a minimally invasive technique for studying protein changes associated with the oestrous cycle. The aim of this study was to identify differentially abundant proteins in the uterine flush fluid of mares in oestrus and dioestrus. In this study, uterine flush fluid samples were collected from eight reproductively healthy mares in either oestrus (n = 5) or dioestrus (n = 3). Proteomic analysis was performed using liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry. Of 172 proteins identified, six proteins (immunoglobulin lambda‐like polypeptide 1, haemoglobin subunit alpha, alpha‐1B‐glycoprotein, serotransferrin, apolipoprotein A‐1, and haemoglobin subunit beta) were significantly more abundant in oestrus. These proteins may contribute to the endometrial defence system through roles in inflammation, immunity or antimicrobial activity. In other species, some of these proteins have been described as immunoglobulins, negative acute phase proteins or defence agents against micro‐organisms. During dioestrus, immunoglobulin alpha‐1 chain C region‐related, complement factor I, CD 109 antigen and uterocalin, were significantly more abundant. Research in other species suggests that these four proteins contribute to the immune response through proposed immunoregulatory characteristics, complement system involvement or roles in B cell–T cell interactions. In conclusion, ten differentially abundant proteins were identified in the uterine flush fluid of mares in oestrus and dioestrus. Targeted studies on these proteins could elucidate their role in uterine defence mechanisms during the oestrous cycle in the mare.