A comparison of the effects of the nematodes Radopholus similis and Pratylenchus goodeyi on growth,root health and yield of an East African highland cooking banana (Musa AAA-group)

We combined two protein-marking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) with a predator gut content ELISA to monitor the movement and feeding activity of commercially-purchased Hippodamia convergens Guèrin-Mèneville (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) under realistic field conditions during two field seasons in central Arizona. The protein-marking ELISAs were used to differentiate released H. convergens from the native beetles. Commercially purchased beetles marked with rabbit immunoglobulin G (IgG) were released into cotton fields and chicken IgG marked beetles were released into adjacent cantaloupe fields. Results showed that the total native beetle abundance in each crop was about the same size. The recovery rates after 15 days for the released beetles were less than 1.0% over all the releases, indicating that they dispersed readily from the release site. Of the recaptured beetles containing rabbit IgG (cotton), 82.2% were recovered in cotton and 11.8% moved to cantaloupe. Of those containing chicken IgG (cantaloupe), 66.5% were recovered in cantaloupe and 33.5% moved to cotton. A predator gut content ELISA was used to determine if there were differences in the frequency of predation of released versus indigenous H. convergens on the silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii Bellows &; Perring (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). The proportion of beetles containing whitefly antigens was always higher for the released beetles than for their native counterparts. Our results demonstrate an approach to combine protein marking and predator gut content ELISAs that allows the simultaneous comparison of feeding and intercrop movement of native and commercially-obtained biological control agents.     

Seasonal Changes in Testicular Cell Morphology in Domestic Male Cats (Felis catus)

The aim of this study was to asses the variation in the morphology of the seminal epithelium in relation to natural photoperiod in male cats. Tom cats (n = 240) were castrated every other week throughout the year. Each testis was fixed in Bouin's solution and cut into sections. The percentage of tubules with round spermatids (RS), elongated spermatids (ES), tailed spermatids (TS), mature spermatids (MS) and the number of Sertoli cells (SC) and Leydig cells (LC) were recorded in each sample. Testicles from males during short days (SHD) had a higher percentage of tubules with RS and ES compared to testicles from males during long days (LHD, 31.3 ± 0.6 vs 2.1 ± 0.6%, p < 0.001; 30.9 ± 0.7 vs 11.0 ± 0.7%, p < 0.001). Conversely, testicles from males during SHD had a lower percentage of tubules with TS and MS compared to testicles from males during LHD (24.5 ± 0.8 vs 29.7 ± 0.8%, p < 0.01; 13.1 ± 1.2 vs 57.0 ± 1.2%, p < 0.01). Furthermore, testicles from males during SHD had a higher number of SC and lower number of LC compared to testicles from males during LHD (11.4 ± 0.1 vs 8.0 ± 0.1%, p < 0.01; 19.2 ± 1.0 vs 38.0 ± 1.0%, p < 0.01). In conclusion, there are seasonal changes in testis cell morphology in the tom which may be related to seasonal sperm production.     

Deep-Sea coral evidence for rapid change in ventilation of the deep north atlantic 15,400 years Ago

Coupled radiocarbon and thorium-230 dates from benthic coral species reveal that the ventilation rate of the North Atlantic upper deep water varied greatly during the last deglaciation. Radiocarbon ages in several corals of the same age, 15.41 +/- 0.17 thousand years, and nearly the same depth, 1800 meters, in the western North Atlantic Ocean increased by as much as 670 years during the 30- to 160-year life spans of the samples. Cadmium/calcium ratios in one coral imply that the nutrient content of these deep waters also increased. Our data show that the deep ocean changed on decadal-centennial time scales during rapid changes in the surface ocean and the atmosphere.     

Confirmation of the occurrence of the chewing louse Bovicola (Lepikentron) breviceps (Insecta: Phthiraptera: Trichodectidae) on alpacas (Lama pacos) in New Zealand

Abstract

AIM: To investigate the cause of classical swine fever (CSF) virus-seropositive animals in a nucleus pig-breeding herd in New Zealand, where porcine circovirus-associated disease had been diagnosed.

CASE HISTORY AND CLINICAL FINDINGS: An exotic disease investigation was undertaken to exclude CSF and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) on a nucleus pig-breeding herd comprising approximately 300 breeding sows, 1,000 weaners, and 650 grower pigs. The herd was experiencing poor reproductive performance in sows, and breeding records showed a declining farrowing rate attributable to a single manager. The growing pigs (10–15 weeks old) were experiencing respiratory disease and wasting, and the mortality rate by pen varied between 9 and 20%. Post-mortem changes in affected grower pigs were consistent with circovirus-associated diseases.

DIAGNOSTIC TESTING: Serological screening using an IDEXX-ELISA gave negative results for PRRS virus antibodies, but two grower pigs and one sow tested positive for CSF virus antibodies. These three seropositive animals remained positive to CSF virus, using three commercial ELISA test kits, over 27 weeks. A newly developed virus neutralisation test (VNT), using a New Zealand isolate of border disease (BD) virus, demonstrated that the seropositive pig sera had higher antibody titres to BD virus than to bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) virus and CSF virus.

PCR performed on tonsil, kidney, ileum and spleen gave negative results for CSF virus, and histopathology on lymph nodes, intestine, lung, kidney, liver and brain showed no evidence of the disease. Virus isolation performed on a number of samples was negative.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The seropositive samples for CSF virus found in this investigation were likely to be a cross reaction to a pestivirus other than CSF virus. The finding of a possible endemic pestivirus capable of being transmitted between sheep and pigs on this farm may explain findings from previous serological survey work in New Zealand, and supports experience elsewhere, where BD virus was found to be the predominant ruminant pestivirus infecting pigs. The results show that pestivirus cross reactivity can result in unexpectedly high titres, and that testing with a full set of (local) pestiviruses is necessary to reach the correct conclusion. The investigation has direct relevance where pig herds with a low seroprevalence are encountered during surveillance for CSF.     

Detection and isolation of Toxoplasma gondii from fresh semen of naturally infected dogs in Southern Brazil

The aim of this study was to isolate Toxoplasma gondii and determine the viability of the parasite in fresh semen samples of clinically healthy adult dogs naturally infected. Eleven seropositive dogs with T. gondii IgG antibodies from southern Brazil were selected to confirm the presence and viability of T. gondii in fresh semen samples using in vitro isolation in Vero cell culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing analysis. The presence of viable T. gondii was confirmed by in vitro isolation and PCR in five semen samples. The ITS1 region of the isolated protozoa (TG S4) was amplified and sequenced. The nucleotide sequence obtained was 99% compatible with the T. gondii DNA sequences stored in the GenBank. It has been shown that T. gondii tachyzoites may be isolated in vitro from fresh semen samples of clinically healthy dogs seropositive for T. gondii.