First Report of an Outbreak of African Horsesickness Virus Serotype 2 in the Northern Hemisphere

A case of a rapidly fatal disease in polo horses caused by African horsesickness (AHS) virus serotype 2 is described. The pattern of polo tournaments, environmental/management conditions (moist and warm), as well as probable importation strategies with no regard for import control and quarantine, favored introduction and spread of the virus. The outbreak, which involved a large number of horses, was characterized by severe respiratory distress, fever, supraorbital edema, and death. This is the first time a widespread epidemic of AHS has been reported in Nigeria and this is the first report of AHSV serotype 2 in the northern hemisphere. In addition, we amplified the complete genome of the virus using RNA extracted from clotted blood. This report indicates that AHS is expanding its geographical territory northwards and assuming a new microbial ecology.     

Development and evaluation of a real-time polymerase chain reaction test for the detection of Theileria parva infections in Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer) and cattle

Corridor disease, caused by the tick-borne protozoan parasite Theileria parva, is a controlled disease in South Africa. The Cape buffalo is the reservoir host and uninfected buffalo have become sought-after by the game industry in South Africa, particularly for introduction into Corridor disease-free areas. A real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for detection of T. parva DNA in buffalo and cattle was developed to improve the sensitivity and specificity of the official diagnostic test package in South Africa. Oligonucleotide primers and hybridization probes were designed based on the 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene. Amplification of control DNA using Theileria genus-specific primers resulted in detection of T. taurotragi and T. annulata, in addition to T. parva. A T. parva-specific forward primer was designed which eliminated amplification of all other Theileria species, except for Theileria sp. (buffalo); however only the T. parva product was detected by the T. parva-specific hybridization probe set. The real-time PCR assay requires less time to perform, is more sensitive than the other molecular assays previously used in T. parva diagnostics and can reliably detect the parasite in carrier animals with a piroplasm parasitaemia as low as 8.79 x 10(-4)%.     

Light and electron microscopic observations on the development of Babesia bigemina in larvae, nymphae and non-replete females of Boophilus decoloratus

In Boophilus decoloratus infected by transovarian passage with B. bigemina, primary schizogony occurred as a continuous repetitive process in all 3 stages of the tick's life cycle spent on the host. The primary schizonts and the large merozoites (= vermicules) produced by them were observed in the gut epithelium, haemocytes, muscles, ad peritracheal cells. Secondary schizogony which led to the formation of small merozoites (= infective forms) occurred mainly in the salivary glands, but was also observed in the cortex of the synganglion. Mature small merozoites were observed in nymphal and adult ticks only. An infective stabilate was prepared from nymphae collected on Day 14 and Day 15 post larval infestation. The infections resulting from intravenous injection of the stabilate had a prepatent period of 8 days.     

Advances in application of climate prediction in agriculture

Agricultural ecosystems and their associated business and government systems are diverse and varied. They range from farms, to input supply businesses, to marketing and government policy systems, among others. These systems are dynamic and responsive to fluctuations in climate. Skill in climate prediction offers considerable opportunities to managers via its potential to realise system improvements (i.e. increased food production and profit and/or reduced risks). Realising these opportunities, however, is not straightforward as the forecasting skill is imperfect and approaches to applying the existing skill to management issues have not been developed and tested extensively. While there has been much written about impacts of climate variability, there has been relatively little done in relation to applying knowledge of climate predictions to modify actions ahead of likely impacts. However, a considerable body of effort in various parts of the world is now being focused on this issue of applying climate predictions to improve agricultural systems.

In this paper, we outline the basis for climate prediction, with emphasis on the El Niño-Southern Oscillation phenomenon, and catalogue experiences at field, national and global scales in applying climate predictions to agriculture. These diverse experiences are synthesised to derive general lessons about approaches to applying climate prediction in agriculture. The case studies have been selected to represent a diversity of agricultural systems and scales of operation. They also represent the on-going activities of some of the key research and development groups in this field around the world. The case studies include applications at field/farm scale to dryland cropping systems in Australia, Zimbabwe, and Argentina. This spectrum covers resource-rich and resource-poor farming with motivations ranging from profit to food security. At national and global scale we consider possible applications of climate prediction in commodity forecasting (wheat in Australia) and examine implications on global wheat trade and price associated with global consequences of climate prediction.

In cataloguing these experiences we note some general lessons. Foremost is the value of an interdisciplinary systems approach in connecting disciplinary knowledge in a manner most suited to decision-makers. This approach often includes scenario analysis based on simulation with credible models as a key aspect of the learning process. Interaction among researchers, analysts and decision-makers is vital in the development of effective applications — all of the players learn. Issues associated with balance between information demand and supply as well as appreciation of awareness limitations of decision-makers, analysts, and scientists are highlighted. It is argued that understanding and communicating decision risks is one of the keys to successful applications of climate prediction.

We consider that advances of the future will be made by better connecting agricultural scientists and practitioners with the science of climate prediction. Professions involved in decision making must take a proactive role in the development of climate forecasts if the design and use of climate predictions are to reach their full potential.     

The Transfer of Resistance to the Russian Wheat Aphid from Triticum monococcum L. to Common Wheat

Two Triticum monococcum accessions were found to be highly resistant to the Russian wheat aphid. An attempt was made to transfer the resistance to common wheat through direct hybridization or by using bridge species. In each of the four crossing strategies tried, a gradual loss of resistance occurred as hybrids with higher ploidy levels were obtained. It appeared that the level of resistance observed was directly proportional to the ratio of the Triticum monococcum genome relative to other genomes. This would indicate suppression of the resistance gene(s) by the added genomes or dilution of its product(s) by those of homoeoloci. The degree of protection afforded by the gene(s) at the hexaploid level may prove to be small. Plants suspected to be homozygous for the resistance gene(s) were identified; however, further backcrossing to common wheat will be required to improve their agronomic types and meiotic regularities.     

Kinetics of antibody formation after the reactivation of bovine herpesvirus-1 infection in cattle

Holstein heifers previously infected with bovine herpesvirus-1 were treated with corticosteroids to reactivate latent infection. The kinetics of serum immunoglobulin (Ig) M, IgG1, and IgG2 antibody formation were determined. The secondary immune response which developed as a consequence of virus reactivation was characterized by an anamnestic IgG antibody response. Secondary IgG1 and IgG2 antibody formation constituted the IgG antibody response. In addition, secondary IgM antibody formation was elicited by this form of bovine herpesvirus-1 antigenic exposure.     

An attempt to improve the immunization of sheep against heart-water by using different combinations of 3 stocks of Cowdria ruminantium

Neither sheep immune to the Ball 3, the Kwanyanga or the Mara stocks of Cowdria ruminantium nor those immunized with combinations of these 3 stocks were protected against challenge with the Mali stock. Against challenge with the Welgevonden stock, however, immunization with each of the 3 combinations and with single stocks effected a protective immunity.     

Chronological Development of Mycoplasma hyorhinis and Mycoplasma hyosynoviae Infections in Cultures of a Swine Synovial Cell Strain

The sequential development of Mycroplasma hyorhinis and Mycoplasma hyosynoviae was observed in cultures of a swine synovial fluid cell strain. An early transitory filamentous phase was observed with M. hyorhinis infection followed by the development of cell-associated, relatively large, round structures and some ring forms. Infection with M. hyorhinis was characterized by a generalized distribution of the organism and a severe cytopathic effect.

Infection with M. hyosynoviae was represented by the development of circumscribed foci of small pleomorphic structures and a milder effect on the cells. At a high multiplicity of infection, this organism became associated with the cytoplasmic membranes of the cells.