Quantitative and qualitative analysis of alkaloids composition in the seeds of a white lupin (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lupinus albus</Emphasis> L.) collection

White lupin (Lupinus albus L.) has unexploited potential as a crop plant due to its high seed yield as well as protein and oil content in seeds. Well-characterized collections of gene resources are very important for breeding as a source of genetic variation. This paper presents the results of analyses for total content and qualitative composition of alkaloids in seeds of 367 L. albus accessions from the Polish Genebank. Accessions were divided into four classes of origin: wild collected material, land races, breeding lines, and cultivars. Apart from the expected broad variation as well as strong differentiation in the alkaloid content, a clear influence of domestication was observed. This was shown as an apparent decrease in the alkaloid content in breeding lines and cultivars classes. The total alkaloid content varies from 0.02 to 12.73% of the seed dry weight. Six major alkaloids (abundance >1%) were revealed: lupanine (28.22–94.49%, mean 76.06% in total content), 13-hydroxylupanine (0.10–32.78%, mean 8.23%), multiflorine (0.00–21.67%, mean 5.52%), albine (0.00–18.55%, mean 4.48%), angustifoline (0.24–12.14%, mean 2.07%), 11,12-seco-12,13-didehydromultiflorine (0.00–12.28%, mean 1.74%). Owing to its abundance, lupanine was found to be the most closely correlated to the total alkaloid content.     

Prevention of renal infection and urinary shedding in dogs by a Leptospira vaccination

Prevention of urinary shedding of Leptospira interrogans spp. by chronically infected dogs remains a key objective of the vaccination in dogs against leptospirosis which is a zoonotic disease. An inactivated bivalent vaccine composed of Leptospira interrogans serovars icterohaemorrhagiae [L. icterohaemorrhagiae] and canicola [L. canicola] bacterins was tested for its ability to protect puppies against a challenge exposure with L. icterohaemorrhagiae. The vaccine was administered twice at a 3-week interval to six puppies aged from 8 to 9 weeks. Six other puppies were used as unvaccinated controls. All puppies were challenged 2 weeks after the second vaccine injection by intraperitoneal (IP) administration of L. icterohaemorrhagiae (day 0). Clinical signs, haematological and biochemical changes and evidence of Leptospira in blood, urine and kidney were monitored for 4 weeks after the challenge exposure (days 0-28). Puppies were euthanised on day 28 for post-mortem and histological examinations of liver and kidney. Control group presented clinical pictures of severe or subclinical infection. One dog developed severe clinical signs (hypothermia, depression, anorexia, abdominal pain, dehydration, icterus, weight loss) and died on post-infection day (PID) 7 due to an acute renal failure. Gross and microscopic lesions were in accordance with this clinical pattern. In the five remaining control dogs, the challenge exposure induced mainly a systemic infection including leptospiraemia, leptospiruria and renal carriage. The vaccinated group remained healthy throughout the study period. In conclusion, immunisation with a Leptospira vaccine was shown to protect dogs against symptomatology and leptospiraemia, urine shedding and renal infection.     

Typing of Yersinia Enterocolitica Isolates by ITS profiling, REP- and ERIC-PCR

Thirty-five Yersinia enterocolitica strains isolated from humans, pigs and foxes were analysed by genotyping including intergenic transcribed sequence (ITS) profiling, REP- and ERIC-PCR. ERIC-PCR revealed the presence of seven different genotypes. Amplification of the 16S-23S rDNA spacer region by ITS profiling gave similar results with nine different genotypes. REP-PCR was found to be more discriminatory for typing of Y. enterocolitica than ERIC-PCR and ITS profiling. Fifteen different DNA patterns were obtained by this technique. Based on data obtained by three methods it was found that: (i) Y. enterocolitica strains belonging to the same serotype can represent different genotypes and vice versa; (ii) isolates recovered from humans, pigs and foxes exhibit limited heterogeneity and, independent of the origin, one or two prevailing genotypes were always observed; and (iii) many human Y. enterocolitica isolates shared common genotypes with porcine isolates.     

Hematological changes during the course of canine babesiosis caused by large Babesia in domestic dogs in Warsaw (Poland)

In the presented study we evaluated the hematological changes in samples of blood obtained from 248 dogs naturally infected with large Babesia. The evaluation included red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), leucocyte counts, thrombocyte counts, mean platelet volume (MPV), morphology of erythrocytes and leucogram. The most common disorders in affected dogs were thrombocytopenia and anisocytosis. The count of erythrocytes below reference values was detected in 26.2% of dogs and 31.4% of affected animals presented hematocrit below the reference values. Hemoglobin concentration below the reference values was noted in 29% of dogs, an increase of MCHC above normal values was detected in 21% of examinated dogs and MCV below normal values was recognized in 2% of dogs. 60.5% of dogs presented anisocytosis, 25% poikilocytosis, 23.8% polychromasia, 19.7% hypochromia and 4.4% erythroblastosis. Thrombocytopenia was detected in 99.5% of dogs, but only 15.3% of examined animals showed increase of MPV, which suggests a response of the bone marrow. 36.3% of dogs had neutropenia, and 21.8% presented a left shift, 14.9% had the lymphocytosis and 7.2% lymphopenia.     

Decorin concentrations in canine normal and neoplastic mammary gland tissues

In the present study, the concentration of decorin in canine normal and neoplastic mammary gland tissues was examined to understand the potential role of decorin in development and progression of canine mammary tumours. The homogenates of 48 mammary gland tumours (10 benign and 38 malignant) and 10 samples of normal canine mammary gland tissue were used in the study. The presence and quantification of decorin was examined in the homogenates using Western blot and specific canine ELISA. Western blotting confirmed the presence of decorin both in the normal mammary gland tissues and in the mammary gland tumours. The concentration of decorin was significantly higher (p < .05) in the benign tumours and non-metastatic malignant tumours than in the normal mammary gland. The concentration of decorin was significantly lower (p < .05) in the malignant tumours with metastasis to regional lymph nodes compared with benign tumours and non-metastatic malignant tumours. No significant differences were found in the level of decorin between the benign and the non-metastatic malignant tumours. Both the histological type of malignant tumours and the histological grade did not significantly affect the concentration of decorin. These findings suggest that neoplastic transformation in the canine mammary gland leads to increase in the decorin protein synthesis. The reducing decorin concentration in canine malignant mammary tumours appears to facilitate the metastatic spread of these tumours.     

How geographic and climatic factors affect the adaptation of Douglas-fir provenances to the temperate continental climate zone in Europe

European Journal of Forest Research - The contribution of Douglas-fir (Df) to European forests is likely to increase as the species is a potential adaptation option to climate change. In this...