Induction of host defence enzymes by the endophytic bacterium Serratia marcescens,in banana plantlets

Pre-inoculation with the endobacterium Serratia marcescens (strain UPM39B3) induced the production of host defence enzymes such as peroxidase, polyphenoloxidase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase, total soluble phenols and lignothioglycolic acid in banana plantlets. The levels of these enzymes were evidently higher in plantlets pre-treated with the endobacterium compared to the control. The production of host-induced enzymes benefitted the crop plants as they may have a role in suppressing Fusarium wilt incidence in the plantlets. This was evident when plantlets pre-treated with the endobacterium showed a lower disease severity (50%) compared to diseased plantlets lacking the endobacterium (74%). The results of this study thus highlight the potential of the isolate Serratia marcescens (strain UPM 39B3) as a biological control agent for Fusarium wilt management in bananas, reducing disease severity via stimulation of host defences.     

MPN-PCR enumeration of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Campylobacter</Emphasis> spp. in raw chicken meats and by-products

The goal of this study is to enumerate Campylobacter in chicken meats and by-products. In the current investigation, results showed that raw chicken meats and chicken by-products were contaminated with Campylobacter ranging from <3 to 4600 MPN·g⁻¹. Campylobacter jejuni showed a higher number compared to Campylobacter coli in the chicken samples. The current study showed that the percentage of chicken livers and gizzards harbored a higher number of Campylobacter (10³–10⁴ MPN·g⁻¹) than other chicken parts at 33.3% and 9.2%, respectively. The different concentrations of Campylobacter between chicken meats and chicken byproducts reflect the differences in the contamination level. The data on Campylobacter concentration in chicken meats and by-products will be useful in risk analysis.     

Obtaining of a symbiotic product based on lactic bacteria, pollen and honey

This study presents the evolution of a Lactobacillus plantarum 2s strain and of a Lactobacillus acidophilus 1a strain on media containing pollen and honey. The following parameters were determined: CFU value, lactic acid production, sugar consumption and presentation of the final product. The researches were performed during 72 h, in tightly closed recipients, at a temperature of 37 degrees C, containing various quantities of milled or non-milled pollen (P1: 20 g non-milled pollen, 3 g honey, 5 mL distilled water; P2: 20 g milled pollen, 3 g honey, 5 mL distilled water; P3: 20% non-milled pollen, 3% honey; P4: 20% milled pollen, 3% honey). The media were very well homogenized before inoculation. The inoculation was made only after the medium gained a homogenous consistency. The inoculum consists of a 48 h culture of Lactobacillus plantarum 2s and Lactobacillus acidophilus, on LE medium, in equal proportions. The testing of the nutritive value of the symbiotic product was made on wistar rats, males and females, divided into lots of 10 animals each. The animals were administered symbiotic product every day, in their food, in intakes of 2 mg kg(-1) (lot I), 20 mg kg(-1) (lot II) and 200 mg kg(-1) (lot III), compared to a control. During the 4 weeks of the experiment, no lethality cases were recorded in any of lots, or in control. The animals involved in the experiment were examined daily and did not present changes of appetite, of behavior or clinical signs of disease.     

Species identification of Trichinella isolates from China

Two species of Trichinella were identified from China by means of PCR amplification of the mitochondrial small subunit ribosomal DNA and the expansion segment V region of the ribosomal DNA. Seven isolates originating from domestic pig and one isolate originating from dog showed identical DNA banding pattern to Trichinella spiralis, and two isolates from dog showed DNA banding pattern identical to Trichinella nativa. Sequence analysis of the 5S rDNA inter-gene spacer region from the ten Trichinella isolates confirmed the existence of only two Trichinella species and revealed the inner species genetic variation within T. spiralis and T. nativa.     

Trichinella species circulating among wild and domestic animals in Romania

Trichinellosis is one of the most important zoonotic diseases in Romania. Even though the disease is a serious public health concern, only a limited number of Trichinella isolates have been identified at the species level; in the past, all larvae were assumed to be Trichinella spiralis. The present study was conducted to identify Trichinella spp. circulating among wild and domestic animals in Romania, using PCR-based methods. Trichinella spp. larvae originating from 54 wild and 23 domestic mammals were examined. No Trichinella spp. larvae were detected in muscle samples of 182 birds. T. spiralis and Trichinella britovi were the only two species identified in the 40 isolates that yielded a positive PCR result. Overall, T. britovi was more prevalent (n = 26; 65%) than T. spiralis (n = 14; 35%). T. spiralis was the predominant species found in domestic animals (n = 9; 75%), while T. britovi was more prevalent in wildlife (n = 24; 86%). No mixed infections were found. The highest prevalence of Trichinella infection was detected in wolves (11/35; 31%), in European wild cats (4/28; 14%), and in red foxes (5/71; 7%). The distribution of Trichinella spp. in Romania does not show a species-specific clustering; both of the two species found were present over the entire range of counties studied.     

Response of some moss species to different controlled environmental conditions in order to use in Landscaping

Nowadays, integrating moss among decorative plants in urban landscape architecture can be an important alternative to horticulture. Especially using moss design for covering roofs and walls it could be an interesting element to improve the life/-airquality. Introducing moss design using hydroponic systems requires finding the best technologies for cultivating the species that can be used by landscape architecture. The study has been performed at the University of Applied Science Osnabrueck, Germany, in 2015 and it consisted in testing several species of common moss in what concerns their behavior to environmental conditions controlled in the greenhouse, with the scope of hydroponic growing. 6 species of moss: Totula ruralis Hedw., Camptothecium sericeum Hedw, Ceratodon purpureus Hedw., Grimmia pulvinata Hedw, Racomitrium aciculare Hedw. and Bryum capillare Hedw., have been transplanted from a natural habitat to the greenhouse and their behavior to different water dosing and light intensity was checked. After the observations made using the principle of rating, it was concluded that the species Grimmia pulvinata and Ceratodon purpureus adapted the best to the controlled environment and this quality makes them suitable to be used in landscape design.     

Utilisation of a sperm quality analyser to evaluate sperm quantity and quality of turkey breeders

1. A relatively new instrument known as a Sperm Quality Analyzer (SQA) offers a rapid assessment of sperm quality and quantity by providing a sperm quality index (SQI). The SQA measures a combination of the intensity of sperm activity and motile concentration by determining the number and amplitude of sperm movements per second in a capillary tube as detected through light beam interference. 2. Because the SQA has not been tested for its potential use in turkeys, the objective was to determine if the SQA could accurately respond to changes in turkey sperm concentration, viability, and motility in semen collected from turkey breeders. 3. The effect of varying concentrations of sperm on SQI values was evaluated by diluting replicate pools of semen from 4 different aged turkey breeder flocks with saline. Results from all 4 flocks showed that semen dilutions greater than 20-fold resulted in a linear decline in SQI values. 4. Additional in vitro analysis evaluated the effects of turkey sperm viability on the SQI under conditions of constant sperm concentration. Incubated, live sperm was mixed in various proportions with thawed, dead sperm to determine changes in viability. Increased proportions of dead sperm caused a decline in the SQI. 5. To assess sperm motility, turkey semen was incubated under either aerobic (motile) or anaerobic (immotile) conditions. Varied amounts of immotile and motile sperm samples were mixed. A linear increase in the SQI was observed as per cent motile sperm increased. 6. These results indicate that the SQA can respond to differences in turkey sperm concentration, viability, and motility using in vitro analyses.     

Use of a sperm quality analyser on semen of turkey breeders to monitor storage time effects and age-related changes during a reproductive cycle

1. A relatively new instrument known as a Sperm Quality Analyzer (SQA) offers a rapid assessment of sperm quality and quantity by providing a sperm quality index (SQI). The SQA measures the intensity of sperm activity and motile concentration by determining the number and amplitude of sperm movements per second in a capillary tube as detected through light beam interference. 2. The objectives of the current study were to determine if the SQA could accurately reflect changes in semen quality that occur with prolonged storage of semen and to determine the variation and change in SQI values among individual breeding male turkeys during their semen production cycle. 3. The effect of storage time on SQI values was evaluated by diluting semen with extender and placing the semen on an oscillating shaker at 4 degrees C for 8 h. The SQI values and sperm viability, expressed as % dead sperm, were recorded hourly. The SQI readings declined linearly with increased storage time while % dead sperm increased linearly with increased semen storage. 4. Semen from 220 individual males was analysed monthly for 9 months. Semen diluted 50-fold with saline had lower SQI values during pre- and post-peak phases of production (months 1, 7, 8, and 9 as compared with months 2 to 6 of semen production). The highest SQI values occurred during months 2 to 6. The largest variation in SQI values occurred during months 1 (CV = 26%) and 9 (CV = 31%) with a CV that averaged 16% for the remaining months. 5. Correlation analysis of SQI values for each bird averaged over 9 months with individual male SQIs for each month showed monthly correlation coefficients that ranged from 0.22 to 0.63. 6. These results indicate that the SQA accurately assessed the decline in sperm quality that occurs with prolonged storage of turkey semen and reflected age-related changes in semen quality and quantity that occurred during a semen production cycle of turkey breeders. In addition, the semen quality rank of some turkey breeders in a population changed with age.