Time-dependent infection probability of classical swine fever via excretions and secretions

Several routes contribute to the spread of classical swine fever (CSF) during outbreaks of this disease. However, for many infected herds in recent epidemics, no route of virus introduction could be indentified. To obtain more insight into the relative importance of secretions and excretions in transmission of CSF virus, a model was developed. This model quantified the daily transmission probabilities from one infectious pig to one susceptible pig, using quantitative data on: (a) virus excretion by infected pigs, (b) survival of virus in the environment and (c) virus dose needed to infect susceptible pigs. Furthermore, the model predicted the relative contribution of secretions and excretions to this daily probability of infection of a susceptible pig. Three virus strains that differed in virulence were evaluated with the model: the highly virulent strain Brescia, the moderately virulent strain Paderborn and the low virulent strain Zoelen. Results suggest that it is highly probable that susceptible pigs in contact with Brescia or Paderborn infected pigs will be infected. For a pig in contact with a Zoelen infected pig, infection is less likely. When contact with blood is excluded, the predicted overall probability of infection was only 0.08 over the entire infectious period. The three strains differed in the relative contribution of secretions and excretions to transmission, although blood had a high probability of causing infection of a susceptible pig when in contact with a pig infected with any strain. This supports the statement that during outbreaks, control measures should ideally be based on the characteristics of the specific virus strain involved, which implies the development of strain-specific measures.     

Investigation on the susceptibility to club root

Summary Club root (Plasmodiophora brassicae) is a destructive disease of several cruciferous crops in practically all countries. The cultivation of resistant varieties offers the best possibility for control.This disease causes in some areas of the Netherlands considerable damage to turnips which are frequently grown as a catch crop in many regions; other cruciferous crops are generally grown on a much smaller scale.On badly infested plots we found a yield reduction ranging from 35–80%, depending on the method of calculation. In foreign literature (Findley, Van Slijcken andLindfors) figures ranging between 15–100% are reported.Crops and varieties with an abundant foliage give with an equal infection a smaller yield reduction than crops and varieties with a smaller amount of leaves.The affected part has a somewhat higher dry matter content and a higher N-content in the dry matter. The content of sugar is considerably lower.Resistance of some crops and of many turnip and swede varieties has been investigated by means of field experiments, carried out in several years. The infection by club root fluctuates, so that a great many replications are required.Table 1 gives a summary of the susceptibility of some fodder crops. Contrary toKarling and others we found that Chinese radish is not immune.As to the turnip types we refer to Table 2. The varieties belonging to the types Halflong green top yellow, Halflong purple top white, Flat round yellow turnip, and Round yellow-fleshed turnip are less susceptible than varieties belonging to the other types. Within the type Halflong purple top white to which the principal varieties of the Netherlands can be ranged, there appears to exist the greatest variation in susceptibility. Several foreign varieties stated as resistant were more or less badly affected (Table 3).The percentage of destroyed plants correlates with the percentage of affected plants.Resistance may correlate with sweet taste. Some resistant varieties are now being investigated in the Netherlands.The results of some of our trials suggested the existence of physiological strains of club root within the crop turnips. Several examples of such physiological races in various crops have been mentioned in literature.In breeding work we consider it advisable to allow for the existence of physiological strains of club root within the crop turnips.

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Samenvatting Knolvoet (Plasmodiophora brassicae) is in praktisch alle landen een belangrijke ziekte voor verschillende kruisbloemige gewassen. De verbouw van resistente rassen biedt nog de beste perspectieven voor de bestrijding, omdat andere maatregelen vaak op practische bezwaren stuiten.Deze ziekte veroor zaakt in sommige streken van Nederland nogal schade bij het gewas stoppelknollen, dat in tal van streken veelvuldig wordt verbouwd; andere kruisbloemige gewassen worden gewoonlijk minder intensief verbouwd.Op zwaar besmette percelen constateerden wij een opbrengstderving van 35–80 %, afhangende van de wijze van berekening. In de buitenlandse literatuur (Findley, van Slijcken enLindfords) vindt men opgaven van 15 %– 100 %, verband houdende met vatbaarheid der rassen en zwaarte van besmetting. Schade kan veroorzaakt worden door wegvallen van zeer jonge planten, groeiremming, aantasting van het te oogsten deel of door snelle rotting.Bladrijke gewassen en bladrijke rassen geven bij gelijke aantasting een geringere oogstderving dan minder bladrijke gewassen en rassen.Het aangetaste deel heeft een wat hoger drogestofgehalte en een hoger N-gehalte in de drogestof. Het suikergehalte is belangrijk lager.Door middel van veldonderzoek op een achttal percelen, uitgevoerd in verschillende jaren, is de resistentie van enkele gewassen en bij stoppelknollen en koolrepen van vele rassen nagegaan. De besmetting door knolvoet is per perceel wisselvallig, zodat zeer veel herhalingen gewenst zijn.Tabel 1 geeft een indruk van de vatdaarheid van enkele voedergewassen.In tegenstelling metscKarling en anderen voden wij, dat Chinese zomeramenas niet immuun is. Bij koolrapen waren de ,,Gele groenkoppen enigszins resistent in vergelijking met andere rassen.Voor de stoppelknollentypen zij verwezen naar tabel 2. De rassen behorend rot de typen ,,Halflange gele groenkop, ,,Halflange witte blauwkop, ,,Platronde gele, Platronde gele en Ronde gele (Gele boterknollen) zijn minder vatbaar dan ressen behorende tot de overige typen. Binnen het type Halflange witte blauwkop, waaronder de belangrijkste rassen in Nederland gerangschikt kunnen worden, blijkt de grootste variatie in vatbaarheid te bestaan. Verschillende buitenlandse, als resistent beoordeelde rassen werden meer of minder zwaar aangetast (tabel 3).Het percentage weggevallen planten correleert met het percentage aangetaste planten.Resistentie lijkt wel verenigbaar met zachte smaak. In Nederland zijn thans enige resistente rassen in onderzoek.Op enkele proefvelden gaven de uitkomsten ons aaleiding tot de veronderstelling, dat er physio's bestaan binnen het gewas stoppelknollen.Er zijn verschillende voorbeelden in de literatuur vermeld van physio's bij verschillende gewassen.Er is verder nog een voorbeeld gegeven, waaruit blijkt, dat men voorzichtig moet zijn met conclusies hierover.Bij de veredeling lijkt het ons gewenst met de mogelijkheid van het bestaan van verschillende physio's binnen het gewas stoppelknollen rekening en houden.

     

Genetic population differentiation and connectivity among fragmented Moor frog (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rana arvalis</Emphasis>) populations in The Netherlands

We studied the effects of landscape structure, habitat loss and fragmentation on genetic differentiation of Moor frog populations in two landscapes in The Netherlands (Drenthe and Noord-Brabant). Microsatellite data of eight loci showed small to moderate genetic differentiation among populations in both landscapes (F _ST values 0.022 and 0.060, respectively). Both heterozygosity and population differentiation indicate a lower level of gene flow among populations in Noord-Brabant, where populations were further apart and have experienced a higher degree of fragmentation for a longer period of time as compared to populations in Drenthe. A significant isolation-by-distance pattern was found in Drenthe, indicating a limitation in dispersal among populations due to geographic distance. In Noord-Brabant a similar positive correlation was obtained only after the exclusion of a single long-time isolated population. After randomised exclusion of populations a significant additional negative effect of roads was found but not of other landscape elements. These results are discussed in view of improving methodology of assessing the effects of landscape elements on connectivity. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Conservative treatment of a comminuted cervical fracture in a racehorse

The 'classical' or 'Hangman' neck fracture involves the odontoid peg (process) of the second cervical vertebra (C2), and is described as an axial, dens or odontoid peg fracture in both the veterinary and human literature. Possible surgical treatment in both foals and adult horses requires a technique that allows decompression, anatomical alignment and stabilisation of the odontoid fracture. A limited number of surgical cases in foals have been reported in literature, but never in an adult horse. A mature Irish Thoroughbred racehorse was diagnosed with a type 2a odontoid peg fracture. Clinical signs included reluctance to move the head and neck, a left hind limb lameness and a neurological status of grade 2. The horse was treated conservatively and raced successfully five months after the diagnosed injury.