The occurrence of reflexes and reactions in cattle following stunning with a captive bolt at the slaughterhouse

The difference in the frequency of the occurrence of reflexes/reactions in 355 cows (average weight 505.5 ± 7.9 kg) and 262 bulls (average weight 735.6 ± 8.4 kg) following stunning with a Matador SS 3,000 B trigger‐activated captive bolt gun (Termet) was determined. The stun shot more than 2 cm from the ideal position was found in 79.6% of animals. Vocalization, corneal reflex, rhythmic breathing, blinking, eyeball rotation and the absence of tongue protrusion occurred more frequently in bulls (p < .05). Spontaneous limb movements and nystagmus occurred more frequently in cows (p < .05). No difference between bulls and cows was determined in the occurrence of a response to painful stimuli or attempts to regain normal posture. No dependency was determined between the frequency of the occurrence of a reflex/reaction and the distance of the stun shot from the ideal point on the skull for any of the monitored signs. This study shows that the occurrence of reflexes/reactions following the stunning of cattle with a captive bolt is not only dependent on the position of the shot if placed within a 9 cm radius from the ideal point on the cattle skull.     

Drivers of forest fire occurrence in the cultural landscape of Central Europe

Context

Wildfires in temperate Central Europe have traditionally been perceived as a mere consequence of human activity without any relevance to natural forest development, despite their documented frequent occurrence. As a result, knowledge about local fire ecology and patterns of wildfire occurrence in the landscape is lacking.

Objectives

We aimed to reveal the factors influencing the spatial distribution of forest fires in the Czech Republic as a model area for the broader region. Specifically, we aimed to (1) find out which factors influence the occurrence and frequency of the forest fires at the country scale and in a selected fire-prone region; (2) examine the relationship of lightning strikes and their polarity with wildfire incidence; (3) identify the conditions determining areas with naturally driven fire-prone conditions.

Methods

We took data on 15,985 wildfire records and explored their spatial distribution using GIS layers of human, topographic, climatic and vegetation composition factors. We analysed the data using GLM and hierarchical partitioning methods.

Results

Wildfire occurrence was controlled mostly by environmental factors whereas wildfire frequency was strongly driven by human factors. In the selected fire-prone region, the effect of environmental factors was even more pronounced and wildfire frequency was also driven, albeit marginally, by lightning strikes of positive polarity.

Conclusion

The pattern of wildfire occurrence in the Czech Republic was similar also to those from regions where wildfire is considered a natural part of local ecosystems. We identified the areas with natural fire-prone conditions which probably led to the development of local fire-adapted ecosystems.

     

Immunohistochemical localization of phospholipase D in strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) fruits

Phospholipase D, the key enzyme involved in membrane phospholipid catabolism, was localized in strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) fruits during development using immunohistochemical techniques. Typical structural features such as the nucleus, cell wall, plasma membrane, mitochondria and vacuole were noticeable in cells of young strawberry fruits. Cytoplasmic structural features were less pronounced in fully grown and turning red fruits, except cell wall, which was considerably enlarged. Also, extensive microvesiculation from the plasma membrane was noticeable in ripening fruits. The number of visible gold particles indicative of phospholipase D increased during development. Phospholipase D was found to be associated with membranous structures and vacuole. Interestingly, gold-particles could also be observed in the cell wall space in ripening fruits suggesting that cytosolic contents may have leaked into the cell wall space as a result of membrane deterioration and loss of compartmentalization. The role of phospholipase D during development and ripening of strawberry, a non-climacteric fruit, is discussed.     

Overview of the Third International Workshop on Swine Leukocyte Differentiation Antigens.

The aim of the Third International Workshop on Swine Leukocyte Differentiation Antigens (CD workshop), supported by the Veterinary Immunology Committee (VIC) of the International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS), was to standardize the assignment of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) reactive with porcine leukocyte differentiation antigens and to define new antibody clusters, using nomenclature in accordance with human and ruminant CD nomenclature, as agreed at the summary meeting of the Second International Swine CD Workshop in Davis, 1995: only mAb with proven reactivity for the orthologous porcine gene product or cross-reactivity for the human gene products, were given the full CD nomenclature, all other allocations were prefixed with "w". As in previous workshops, the overall organization was entrusted to the chair and first author, with support by the chair of the previous workshop and second author. In addition to the existing 26 pig leukocyte CD/SWC determinants established in previous workshops, this workshop established/confirmed another 11 CDs for pig leukocytes, identified by a total of 21 mAb: CD11R1 (2 mAb), CD11R2 (1 mAb), CD11R3 (4 mAb), wCD40 (1 mAb), wCD46 (4 mAb), wCD47 (3 mAb), wCD49d (1 mAb), CD61 (1 mAb), wCD92 (1 mAb), wCD93 (1 mAb) and CD163 (2 mAb).     

Plant polyphenols can directly affect ovarian cell functions and modify toluene effects

The influence of toluene alone and in combination with plant polyphenols apigenin, daidzein or rutin on viability, proliferation (proliferating cell nuclear antigen accumulation), apoptosis (Bax accumulation) and release of progesterone (P), testosterone (T) and estradiol (E) in cultured porcine ovarian granulosa cells was evaluated. Toluene reduced ovarian cell viability, proliferation and E release; it promoted P release, demonstrating no effect on apoptosis or T output. Apigenin alone failed to affect cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis and P and T release, but stimulated E release, promoting the inhibitory action of toluene on proliferation, preventing and even reversing the stimulatory effect of toluene on apoptosis and P. Daidzein alone reduced cell viability and promoted T release, preventing and reversing the stimulatory effect of toluene on cell proliferation. Rutin administration reduced cell viability and E output, promoting the inhibitory action of toluene on cell viability and stimulatory effect on P release, and preventing the inhibitory action of toluene on E release. Toluene reduced apigenin- and rutin-induced E release, promoting action of daidzein on cell viability. These observations suggest the action of toluene and plant polyphenols on ovarian cell functions and the functional interrelationships between these molecules in the ovary.     

IncN plasmids carrying bla CTX-M-1 in Escherichia coli isolates on a dairy farm

The aim of the study was to compare the prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli bovine isolates on a conventional dairy cattle farm with high consumption of parenteral and intramammary cephalosporins (farm A) and on an organic dairy farm with no cephalosporin use (farm B). ESBL-producing E. coli were isolated from rectal swabs and milk filters by selective cultivation on MacConkey agar with cefotaxime (2mg/l). ESBL genes were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing, and the genetic diversity of the isolates was determined by XbaI pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Conjugative transfer, incompatibility group, and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) profiles of the ESBL-carrying plasmids were studied. Higher prevalence (39%, n(rectal samples in cows)=309) of CTX-M-1-producing E. coli isolates was found on farm A compared to farm B (<1%, n(rectal samples in cows)=154; 0%, n(rectal samples in calves)=46). Using PFGE, the isolates from farm A were divided into nine pulsotypes. In all ESBL-positive isolates, the bla(CTX-M-1) gene was carried on 40 kb IncN conjugative plasmids of three related HincII restriction profiles. Horizontal gene transfer through transmission of IncN plasmids harboring bla(CTX-M-1) as well as clonal dissemination of a particular clone seems to be involved in dissemination of CTX-M-1-producing E. coli isolates in cows on the farm using cephalosporins in treating bacterial infections. The study demonstrates a possible role of cephalosporin use in the widespread occurrence of CTX-M-1-producing E. coli on the conventional dairy cattle farm compared to the organic farm.     

Immune development in jejunal mucosa after colonization with selected commensal gut bacteria: a study in germ-free pigs

The immunological structure of the porcine jejunal lamina propria in germ-free piglets was compared with that of their counterparts associated with two strains of commensal Escherichia coli, A0 34/86 serotype O83:K24:H31 and the O86 E. coli strain, up to 20 days post-colonization. In the antigen-presenting compartment, both dendritic cells (DC) and cells expressing CD163, probably macrophages were investigated. In addition we also assessed the number of CD2+/CD3+ (T) cells. In contrast to some previous reports, we show a total lack of both DC and T cells for germ-free animals in the diffuse lymphoid tissue of villi and crypts of the jejunum. Association with either strain of commensal E. coli had a profound effect on the immune structure and resulted in extensive recruitment of DC to the lamina propria and of T cells to epithelium and lamina propria. The data suggest that the earliest immigrant cells were monocytes, which soon acquired the phenotype of mucosal DC. T cells migrated in at a slightly slower rate. Nevertheless, the response could be extremely rapid: within 3 days of colonization with O83, the magnitude of this response was comparable to that observed 20 days post-colonization.     

Effects of Endo- and Ectomycorrhizal Fungi on Physiological Parameters and Heavy Metals Accumulation of Two Species from the Family Salicaceae

There is increasing interest in poplars and willows due to their biomass production and phytoremediation potential. They host two major types of mycorrhizal fungi that can substantially modulate the physiology of their hosts. In this study, the effects of endo- and ectomycorrhizal fungi on growth, physiological parameters, and heavy metals accumulation were studied in a pot experiment using Salix alba L. and Populus nigra L. The mycorrhizal fungi were inoculated separately and in combination to a soil substrate polluted by a mixture of heavy metals (mainly Cd, Pb, and Zn). Tree species differed in their mycorrhizal affinities, with poplar being colonized predominantly by Glomus intraradices and willow by Hebeloma mesophaeum. H. mesophaeum increased willow height and biomass, while G. intraradices decreased poplar height. The photosynthetic rate remained unchanged, and only minor changes were observed in the relative composition of photosynthetic pigments. Poplar photosynthetic rates and levels of photosynthetic pigments declined, while the epicuticular waxes in leaves increased toward the end of the experiment, irrespective of the inoculation. H. mesophaeum strongly reduced the accumulation of Cd and Fe in willow and poplar shoots, respectively. Our results support the use of selected mycorrhizal strains to tune phytoremediation outcomes in their plant hosts.     

The cone index is a weak predictor of soil disturbance on forest soils of the Western Carpathians

Soil compaction is one of the primary causes of soil degradation. Predicting the soil disturbance by assessing the cone index of the soil is becoming popular, due to the simplicity of measuring it with a cone penetrometer. This paper is focused on assessing, whether the cone index is a suitable predictor of soil compaction on cambisols, luvisols, and rendzic leptosols. Overall, we measured penetration resistance, bulk density, moisture content, and rut depth on 250 locations in forests of the Western Carpatians. The mean penetration resistance of the undisturbed soil was 4.33 and 4.41 MPa in the ruts of the skid trails; the mean cone index of the undisturbed soil was 5.46 MPa; the mean bulk density of undisturbed soil was 0.95 g cm^?3; the mean moisture content of the undisturbed soil was 24%; the mean rut depth was 6 cm, and the maximal rut depth was 38 cm. Spearman’s correlation analysis showed that the relationship between the mean rut depth and the cone index was statistically insignificant, and the relationship between the maximal rut depth and the cone index was, though significant, weak (R = ?0.20).     

Irrigation with diluted seawater improves the nutritional value of cherry tomatoes

The aim of this study was to assess whether the nutritional value of cherry tomato can be improved by irrigating plants with diluted seawater (12%; EC = 10 mS/cm in comparison with a control at EC = 4 mS/cm). Berries of cherry tomato cv. Naomi were analyzed at the red-ripe stage for the contents of NADPH and NADP+ as well as for the amounts of the main antioxidants, such as ascorbic acid, lipoic acid, tocopherols, and phenolic acids. As compared to the controls, the fruits of salt-treated plants showed a higher titratable acidity and a higher concentration of reducing sugars. The fruits picked from tomato plants irrigated with diluted seawater produced berries characterized by a higher nutritional value. Following salinity, berries showed higher amounts of vitamin C, vitamin E, dihydrolipoic acid, and chlorogenic acid. It was hypothesized that protocatechuic, vanillic, caffeic, and ferulic acids were utilized to counteract the damaging effects of salinity-induced oxidative stress, allowing tomato fruits to maintain a high reduced status even following salinization.