Standard and Swedish variant types of the hybrid alder Phytophthora attacking alder in Hungary

A new Phytophthora disease of common alder (Alnus glutinosa) similar to that previously reported in several countries in Europe has been observed in Hungary. Based on these earlier studies, the alder Phytophthora was considered likely to be a hybrid between P cambivora and a P fragariae-like species: across Europe a range of new alder Phytophthora is spreading that comprise a range of heteroploid hybrids including a 'standard' hybrid type and several other hybrid types termed 'variants'. Phenotypic and molecular features of the pathogen in Hungary were characterised and compared with isolates from elsewhere. The morphologies of five isolates from one region (Hévíz) resembled the common, 'standard' type, whereas the three isolates from another region (Hanság) exhibited traits similar to those of one of the 'variant' types, ie the Swedish 'variant'. Molecular markers of these two groups of Hungarian isolates also represented a good fit to those of the standard type and the Swedish variant, respectively. Isozyme patterns and profiles of restriction fragments of the entire internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region or mitochondrial DNAs and of RAPD-PCR products did not differ within a group, but distinct polymorphisms were exhibited between the two groups of isolates. Southern analysis of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) revealed the homologous nature of co-migrating bands of P cambivora and the isolates of alder Phytophthora. Furthermore, restriction fragment profiles of the ITS region of ribosomal DNAs and the mtDNAs were consistent with reported biparental origin of alder Phytophthora. The hybrid status of these continuously evolving pathogens raises many issues and challenges concerning efficient control measures.     

Epidemiology and characterization of animal Salmonella enterica subspecies Enterica serotype typhimurium DT104 in Hungary

Reports on the internationally emerging significance of multiresistant zoonotic Salmonella in animals and man prompted studies to estimate the significance of multiresistant Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serotype Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) phage type DT104 of animal origin in Hungary. A collection of 231 strains (primarily of goose, turkey, poultry and porcine origin from the years 1997-1998) was tested for resistance against 7 selected antibiotics (ampicillin, chloramphenicol, enrofloxacin, nalidixic acid, streptomycin, tetracycline and sulphamethoxazole). Strains with resistance against 3 or more were defined as multiresistant. All strains were phage typed using Felix-Callow's S. Typhimurium phage typing system, and 91 of them (suspect DT104) were also typed according to Anderson's definitive typing (DT) system. In this study, 14% of animal strains from 1997-1998 was classified as DT104, for which turkey, pig and duck seemed to be the main carriers, and the multiresistant non-DT104 strains represented a further 6% of this collection. The prevalence of DT104 was highest among strains of turkey origin (50%), followed by strains of pig (29%), chicken (25%), duck (19%), and goose (3%) origin. The other DT104 related phage types (DT12 and U302) were only detected in the case of 4 strains (2 of porcine, and one each of turkey and of goose origin). The DT104 corresponded to the Felix-Callow types 2/3 or 2c/3 in each case, except in the case of 3 turkey strains where they corresponded to type 35/3. Nalidixic acid resistance was detected in all multiresistant turkey strains and in some of other animal origin but none of these strains were resistant to enrofloxacin. A retrospective analysis (based on the above relationship) indicated that S. Typhimurium strains corresponding to DT104 could be present and increase in the Hungarian farm animal population from about 2% to 20% between 1985 and 1990, in a manner similar to the emergence of human DT104, as reported elsewhere (Pászti et al., 2000). The 91 suspect DT104 strains were also tested for plasmid profile and for spvC gene indicating the presence of the large serotype specific plasmid (Ssp). No characteristic plasmid profile could be attributed to S. Typhimurium DT104. The serovar-specific large plasmid was detected by PCR for spvC in 100% of DT104 strains and in 77% of the non-DT104 strains. The virulence of two DT104 strains was tested in orally infected day-old chicks and compared with virulence of 4 non-DT104 strains. Higher colonizing virulence of DT104 strains could be established as compared to the other strains.     

Porcine adenoviruses: an update on genome analysis and vector development

Although porcine adenoviruses (PAdV) are present in the swine populations worldwide, they usually do not cause any disease, or the infection is only manifested in a mild diarrhoea or respiratory signs. The importance of adenoviruses, however, is constantly growing as there is a possibility of developing them into viral vector vaccines against more significant swine pathogens. A short summary of the well-established facts of porcine adenoviruses is given and recent developments of the genetic analysis of these viruses are discussed in detail. The possibilities of vector development and examples of vector vaccines already reported in the literature are mentioned.     

Ability of chromosome 4H to compensate for 4D in response to drought stress in a newly developed and identified wheat–barley 4H(4D) disomic substitution line

A spontaneously developed wheat–barley 4H(4D) disomic substitution line was identified cytogenetically using genomic in situ hybridization (GISH), multicolour fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and microsatellite markers. The ability of the barley 4H chromosome to compensate for wheat 4D in response to mild drought stress was also investigated. In the barley cv. 'Betzes' and the 4H(4D) substitution line, mild osmotic stress induced intensive stomatal closure, resulting in reduced water loss through transpiration and unchanged relative water content in the leaves. As the CO₂ assimilation rate remained relatively high, the water use efficiency, which is an important factor associated with drought tolerance, increased extensively under mild osmotic stress in these lines. In the case of the parental wheat genotypes, however, mild drought stress induced less intense stomatal closure and a greater decrease in the CO₂ assimilation rate than in barley or in the substitution line, resulting in unaugmented or reduced water use efficiency. The results demonstrate that genes localised on the 4H chromosome of barley were able to increase the water use efficiency of the wheat substitution line, which is suitable for improving wheat drought tolerance through intergeneric crossing.     

Mitteilung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für angewandte Entomologie

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Different reactions of central and marginal provenances of Fagus sylvatica to experimental drought

Climate extremes are expected to increase in frequency and magnitude as a consequence of global warming, threatening the functioning, services and goods of forest ecosystems. Across Europe, the ecologically and economically important tree species Fagus sylvatica is expected to suffer particularly under such conditions. The regional introduction of provenances from drier and warmer climates is one option to adapt beech forest ecosystems to these adverse effects of climate change. Marginal populations from the drought-prone southern and north-eastern edges of the species’ distribution come into focus in search of suitable candidates for Central European deciduous forests. Here, we test three marginal provenances (Spain, Bulgaria and Poland) and three provenances from the centre of the distribution range (Germany) for their response to drought in two different soil types (sand, loam) in a full factorial common garden experiment in Landau, Germany. Drought impacted all growth parameters negatively (leaf damage +22 % (percentage points), height ?40 % and diameter increment ?41 %), and the sandy substrate exacerbated this effect. However, provenances differed in their response to drought and soil type. Evidence for a local adaptation to summer drought was detected, especially in terms of mortality rates. The Bulgarian and Spanish provenance showed a stable performance under drought conditions (BG ?27 % in diameter increment; ES ?32 %), compared to the Polish (?48 %) or the most sensitive German provenances (?57 %), yet for Bulgaria on a low level of total increment. This may indicate a trade-off between drought tolerance and growth. Therefore, a sole focus on drought-resistant marginal provenances seems to not be conducive, as they might be less adapted to other climatic factors, e.g. frost, as well. However, intermixed with local Central European provenances, these may act as functional insurance in future drought-prone forest stands.     

Determination of carcinoembryonic antigen and cancer antigen (CA 15‐3) in bitches with tumours on mammary gland: preliminary report

The aim of this work was to determine levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cancer antigen (CA 15‐3) in the blood serum of 45 bitches. A modified procedure was used to determine the CEA and CA 15‐3 markers with the human kits using the radioimmunoassay method. Samples collected from extirpated tumour of mammary glands were histologically processed and classified as per WHO guidelines. The average age of animals with tumour was 10.00 ± 2.2 years; for healthy bitches average age was 4.2 ± 3.2 years. Values of CEA and CA 15‐3 were considered positive, if they exceeded 0.23 ng mL^?1 and 7 IU mL^?1, respectively. Average levels of CEA in the tumour group were 0.25 ± 0.06 versus 0.20 ± 0.03 in healthy bitches (P = 0.0001). The average CA 15‐3 value in bitches with tumour was 8.58 ± 1.27 versus 5.14 ± 1.34 in healthy animals (P < 0.0001).