Phenotypic and molecular characterization of Yersinia ruckeri isolates from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum, 1792) in Turkey

The aim of the study was the phenotypic and molecular characterization of Yersinia (Y) ruckeri strains, the causative agent of Enteric Redmouth Disease (ERM), by antibiotyping, random amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) and sodium dodecylsulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) patterns of whole cell proteins. For this aim, a total of 97 Y ruckeri isolates were analyzed. The isolates were distinguished into ten antibiotypes and six phenotypes according to their resistance properties and whole cell protein profiles, respectively. Also, a glycoprotein band of approximately 25.5 kDa was observed in all Y ruckeri strains tested. In all strains, six different RAPD types were observed. In conclusion, Y ruckeri strains isolated from rainbow trout of fish farms in Turkey showed variation according to their phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, and the use of these three typing techniques in double and triple combinations could be more useful for discriminating the strains.     

Comparison of hematological and biochemical parameters in sheep naturally and persistently infected with a border disease virus

In this study, we investigated the changes occurring in the activities of determining the biochemical and hematological parameters in persistently infected sheep with border disease virus (BDV) and control sheep. While cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, high-density lipoprotein, and glucose parameters were found to be statistically different between control and BDV positive groups (p<0.01), total protein, alkaline phosphotase, creatine kinase, amylase, glucose, and high-density lipoprotein were found to be statistically different between control and persistently infected group (p<0.01). Interestingly, all groups were shown only mean corpuscular volume parameter was different (p<0.01). It was found that cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, amylase, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein parameters were different between PI and infected sheep (p<0.01). It was speculated that BDV might effect also the expression of low-density lipoprotein receptor and determination of the changes in BD and its clinical importance might contribute to the veterinarians and scientists studying in this area.     

Prevalence and molecular mechanism of macrolide and lincosamide resistance in staphylococci isolated from subclinical bovine mastitis in Turkey

Macrolide and lincosamide (ML) resistance and the related resistance genes of staphylococci were assessed from cases of bovine subclinical mastitis. Of the 104 Staphylococcus aureus and 62 coagulase negative staphylococcus (CoNS) isolates, 26 (25%) and 12 (19.4%) were resistant to ML, respectively. While constitutive ML resistance phenotype accounted for 15.4% (16/104) of S. aureus and 8.1% (5/62) of CoNS, inducible ML resistance phenotype accounted for 2.9% (3/104) of S. aureus and 3.2% (2/62) of CoNS. Among erythromycin-resistant isolates, single or various combination of different resistance genes were detected. The results of this study showed that ML resistance was prevalent among staphylococci from subclinical bovine mastitis cases in Hatay, Turkey. Therefore, a continuous surveillance is necessary to minimise the spread of antimicrobial-resistant staphylococci.     

Potential of Biosolids from Shrimp Aquaculture as a Fertilizer in Bell Pepper Production

Shrimp biosolids (SB) have value as a fertilizer for bell pepper production, but maximum yields cannot be expected when SB is used alone. Although bell pepper marketable yield increased linearly with SB rate and also with Osmocote (OSM, a slow release encapsulated fertilizer) rate, yield at the highest OSM rate was 92% higher than yield at the highest SB rate. The cultural system that enhanced yield included both the highest rates of SB and OSM which delivered a combined total of 633 N - 253 P - 303 K kg/ha. The sodium in SB needs to be considered carefully whenever this material is used with plants. Apparently, SB persisted in the soil to benefit deeply-rooted crops months after initial application, but it is unknown if continued use of SB may eventually improve soil structure and physical properties.     

EFFECTS OF PLANT GROWTH PROMOTING BACTERIA ON YIELD,GROWTH, LEAF WATER CONTENT,MEMBRANE PERMEABILITY,AND IONIC COMPOSITION OF STRAWBERRY UNDER SALINE CONDITIONS

Plant growth promoting effects of Bacillus subtilis EY2, Bacillus atrophaeus EY6, Bacillus spharicus GC subgroup B EY30, Staphylococcus kloosii EY37 and Kocuria erythromyxa EY43 were tested on strawberry cv. ‘Fern’ in terms of fruit yield, growth, chlorophyll reading value, leaf relative water content (LRWC), membrane permeability and ionic composition of leaves and roots under saline conditions. Compared with 0 mM sodium chloride (NaCl) treatment, the average decrease of yield and LRWC were 51.6% and 21.0%, respectively, when 35 mM NaCl was applied. However, EY30, EY37, and EY43 treatments under saline condition (35 mM NaCl) significantly increased fruit yield (54.4%, 51.7% and 94.9%) compared with 35 mM NaCl treatment without plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB). The LRWC increased from 72.0% in 35 mM NaCl treatment to 88.4%, 86.6%, 84.2%, 83.5%, and 86.2% by EY2, EY6, EY30, EY37, and EY43 applications, respectively. The lowest membrane permeability among the bacterial strains was obtained from EY37 treatment (37) while it was 33 and 58 in 0 mM NaCl and 35 mM NaCl treatments, respectively. The concentration of all plant tissue nutrients investigated [nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg)] with the exception of root phosphorus (P) and Mg concentration significantly decreased with 35 mM salt treatment. Nitrogen content of leaves varied between 3.04 and 3.14% in bacterial treatments under saline conditions while it was 2.71% in 35 mM NaCl treatment. In contrast sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl) of leaves and Cl content of roots were significantly decreased by root inoculation with all bacterial treatments in comparison to 35 mM NaCl treatment with no inoculation. Treatment with Bacillus EY30, Staphylococcus EY37 and Kocuria EY43 to strawberry plants can ameliorative the deleterious effect of salt stress on fruit yield, growth and nutrition. These results demonstrate that PGPB treatment could be offer an economic and simple means to increased plant resistance for salinity stress.     

Egg and larval parasitoids of the beet armyworm<Emphasis Type="Italic">Spodoptera exigua</Emphasis> on maize in Turkey

The present study was conducted to determine egg and larval parasitoids of the beet armywormSpodoptera exigua Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), which is an important but sporadic pest in Turkey. High beet armyworm population levels were recently observed in fields of first and second crop maize in the southeast Mediterranean region of Turkey. The parasitoid species complex and its impact on the pest were analyzed in a 4-year study in first and second crop maize. The braconid larval parasitoidsMicroplitis rufiventris Kokujev,M. tuberculifer Wesmael,Meteorus ictericus Nees,Chelonus obscuratus (Herrich Schäffer) (an egg-larval parasitoid),Apanteles ruficrus (Haliday); the ichneumonid larval parasitoidsHyposoter didymator (Thunberg) andSinophorus xanthostomus Gravenhorst; and the egg parasitoidTrichogramma evanescens (Westwood) were found to be the natural enemies attacking the pest. Among the parasitoid species the solitary endoparasitoidH. didymator was the most prevalent species, being reared from 40.5% of the parasitized larvae found. Higher parasitism rates were recorded on first crop than on second crop maize in every year. Possible reasons for this difference in larval parasitism between two growing seasons include lower population of the pest and reduced insecticide applications in first crop maize fields which permitted higher parasitism. However, parasitoid activity was insufficient to counterbalance the population growth of the pest on subsequent second crop maize.     

Effects of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on yield,growth and nutrient contents in organically growing raspberry

During 2003 and 2005, plant growth promoting effects of two Bacillus strains OSU-142 (N₂-fixing) and M3 (N₂-fixing and phosphate solubilizing) were tested alone or in combinations on organically grown primocane fruiting raspberry (cv. Heritage) plants in terms of yield, growth, nutrient composition of leaves and variation of soil nutrient element composition in the province of Erzurum, Turkey. The results showed that Bacillus M3 treatment stimulated plant growth and resulted in significant yield increase. Inoculation of raspberry plant roots and rhizosphere with M3 and/or OSU-142 + M3, significantly increased yield (33.9% and 74.9%), cane length (13.6% and 15.0%), number of cluster per cane (25.4% and 28.7%) and number of berries per cane (25.1% and 36.0%) compared with the control, respectively. In addition, N, P and Ca contents of raspberry leaves with OSU-142 + M3 treatment, and Fe and Mn contents of the leaves of raspberry with M3 and OSU-142 + M3 applications significantly improved under organic growing conditions. Bacterial applications also significantly effected soil total N, available P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn contents and pH. Available P contents in soil was determined to be increased from 1.55 kg P₂O₅/da at the beginning of the study to 2.83 kg P₂O₅/da by OSU-142, to 5.36 kg P₂O₅/da by M3 and to 4.71 kg P₂O₅/da by OSU-142 + M3 treatments. The results of this study suggest that Bacillus M3 alone or in combination with Bacillus OSU-142 have the potential to increase the yield, growth and nutrition of raspberry plant under organic growing conditions.     

Factors associated with mortality of the overwintering generation of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sesamia nonagrioides</Emphasis> under field conditions

Factors affecting overwintering mortality in the Mediterranean corn stalk borer,Sesamia nonagrioides Lefebvre (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), were investigated under field conditions in the southeast Mediterranean region of Turkey. During two consecutive years larvae and pupae were sampled from December to April in maize plots sown on three different dates. Field-collected larvae and pupae were reared and the emerged parasitoids were recorded. An effect of sowing date on total numbers ofS. nonagrioides was found with reduced populations in the early sown plots. Larval parasitism did not significantly affect overwintering mortality.Habrobracon hebetor (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) caused 11% parasitism and was found only in the first year of the study. Pupal parasitoids were predominantlyIchneumon sarcitorius caucasicus Meyer,Barichneumon sp. andPimpla spuria Gravenhorst (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) and the parasitism level was 11% in both years of the study.     

Survey of actinosporean types (Myxozoa) belonging to seven collective groups found in a freshwater salmon farm in Northern Scotland

A study of the actinosporean fauna of oligochaetes from a freshwater salmon farm in Northern Scotland was carried out from October 1996 to August 1998. Following the examination of 28,387 oligochaete worms belonging to the families Tubificidae, Lumbriculidae, Naididae and Enchytraeidae, five types of echinactinomyxon (four previously described), six types of raabeia (five previously described), three types of synactinomyxon (all previously described), four types of aurantiactinomyxon (three previously undescribed), one type of triactinomyxon (previously described), one type of neoactinomyxum (previously undescribed) and one type of siedleckiella (previously undescribed) were identified. The triactinomyxon type was released from unidentified immature oligochaetes. Of the twenty-one types of actinosporeans found, thirteen types were released from Tubifex tubifex (Müller), three types were released from Lumbriculus variegatus (Müller), three types from both L variegatus and T. tubifex and two types from immature oligochaetes.     

Investigation of bovine brucellosis in the Northeastern Turkey

Bovine brucellosis, caused by Brucella abortus, is a significant problem for both public and animal health in Turkey. This study was conducted on the calving seasons between 2001 and 2006. A total of 626 serum samples of cattle obtained from 27 herds with a history of abortions was examined for Brucella antibodies by RBPT, SAT and ELISA. Of the cattle sera analysed, 221 (35,30%) and 206 (32, 92%) and 247 (39,45%) were found to be positive by RBPT , SAT and ELISA, respectively. B. abortus was isolated from 48 (32,21%) of 149 lung samples and stomach contents of the aborted fetuses. Based on the biochemical tests and the agglutination tests with monospecific A and M antisera, only 3 of the isolates were found to be B. abortus biotype 1 and the remaining 45 were biotype 3. This study also revealed that the dominant biotype of B. abortus was biotype 3 in this region. The determination of the agents responsible for bovine brucellosis and serosurvey of this disease are expected to help better understanding of this zoonotic infection in this region and neighbouring countries.