Desperately seeking diarrhoea: outbreak of haemolytic uraemic syndrome caused by emerging sorbitol-fermenting shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H-, Germany, 2009

Infection with sorbitol-fermenting Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H- (sf STEC O157:H-) is rare, but emerging in Europe. The pathogen is typically isolated from paediatric patients with life-threatening haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). It is unclear whether this observation primarily reflects the pathogen's virulence or its complex laboratory diagnosis, not routinely conducted in diarrhoeal patients. In summer 2009, four boys living in the same suburb in Germany developed diarrhoea-associated HUS: three were infected by sf STEC O157:H- and one died. We conducted two analytical epidemiological studies, an extensive search for diarrhoeal cases in potentially exposed groups, and an environmental investigation. Outbreak cases were residents of the suburb diagnosed with HUS, sf STEC O157:H- infection, or both between 24 July 2009 and 25 August 2009. Overall, we ascertained eight cases with a median age of 4 years (range: from 8 months to 9 years). Stool screening of 220 persons led to the identification of only four additional cases: two asymptomatic carriers and two diarrhoeal cases. HUS was strongly associated with visiting a local playground in July, particularly on 16th July (odds ratio = 42.7, P = 0.002). No other commonality, including food, was identified, and all environmental samples (n = 24) were negative. In this localized non-foodborne outbreak, the place of likely infection was a local playground. Sf STEC O157:H- infection apparently limits itself rarely to diarrhoeal illness and progresses frequently to HUS. Therefore, detection of and response to this hypervirulent pathogen primarily relies on HUS surveillance.     

Cuticular hydrocarbons in two parapatric species of ants and their hybrid

Discrimination between nestmates and non‐nestmates in social insects is thought to rely on the pattern of cuticular hydrocarbons. We investigated the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of 2 parapatric sibling ant species, Temnothorax nylanderi (Förster, 1850) and Temnothorax crassispinus (Karavaiev, 1926), and their hybrid. We found that although the profiles show considerable similarities, a discriminant analysis based on the relative peak areas of cuticular hydrocarbons separates the 3 taxa. The profiles of hybrids were not consistently intermediate between those of the paternal species, suggesting either non‐additive interactions among the parental biosynthetic pathways or systematic differences in environment‐derived odor cues.     

Confirmed Exposure to Tick‐Borne Encephalitis Virus and Probable Human Cases of Tick‐Borne Encephalitis in Central/Northern Anatolia,Turkey

Tick‐borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is the aetiological agent of tick‐borne encephalitis (TBE), a potentially fatal central nervous system infection of humans. TBE is endemic in many areas of Europe and Asia; however, very scarce data on TBEV activity are available from Turkey. We aimed to identify TBEV exposure in healthy blood donors and the impact of TBEV in central nervous system infections in Central/Northern Anatolia. Two‐thousand four hundred and fifty four sera, collected from blood donors at Ankara, Konya, Eski?ehir and Zonguldak branches of the Turkish Red Crescent Middle Anatolia Regional Blood Center, were analysed for TBEV serosurveillance. Paired serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples from 108 patients with the diagnosis of aseptic meningitis/encephalitis of unknown aetiology were also evaluated to identify TBE and neuroborreliosis cases. Commercial enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays and indirect immunofluorescence tests were employed for antibody detection. Forty‐seven donor samples (1.9%) were reactive for TBEV IgG. In 25 persons with IgG reactivity (53.1%), risk factors for tick‐borne infections were revealed. One sample from Zonguldak province (1/198; 0.5%) in the Black Sea region of Turkey was confirmed to possess neutralizing antibodies via plaque reduction neutralization test. TBEV IgM was detected in 9.2% (8/108) of the patients. IgM was accompanied by IgG reactivity in two persons where, in one, recent history of a tick bite was also identified. Intrathecal antibody production for TBEV could not be demonstrated. No evidence for Borrelia infections could be found. Confirmed exposure to TBEV and/or an antigenically similar tick‐borne flavivirus is documented for the first time in blood donors in Zonguldak in Northern Anatolia. Probable cases of TBE have also been identified from Central Anatolia. The epidemiology of TBEV activity in Turkey needs to be assessed and benefits of vaccination for general population, risk groups or travellers must be considered.     

Note on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Wahlgreniella nervata</Emphasis> (Gillette, 1908) (Hemiptera: Aphididae): a new pest of Damask rose in Turkey

Alate viviparous females of Wahlgreniella nervata (Gillette) were found on a Damask rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) plantation in Isparta Province, Turkey. The aphid is recorded for the first time from Turkey. Besides, Damask rose is a new host for this species. Brief information about this aphid including a key to the alate females of aphid species known to infest Damask rose in Turkey is provided.     

A contribution to the knowledge of the Turkish aphid (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea) fauna

As a result of the study carried out between 2007 and 2009 in the eastern part of the Black Sea Region of Turkey, 4 genera and 17 species were determined as new records for the Turkish aphid fauna. New recorded species are Aphis arbuti, Aphis cytisorum, Aphis kachkoulii, Cavariella digitata, Chaitophorus kapuri, Chaitophorus longisetosus, Cinara pinivora, Illinoia lambersi, Myzus beybienkoi, Neobetulaphis pusilla, Phyllaphis fagifoliae, Pseudessigella brachychaeta, Schizaphis rotundiventris, Symdobious oblongus, Thecabius lysimachiae, Thelaxes californica and Tinocallis takachihoensis. With these new records, the number of genera increased to 134 and the number of the species in the Turkish aphid fauna amounted to about 480. Since Turkey has a huge range of agricultural crops and a great diversity in its natural flora, research conducted on the Turkish aphid fauna has current and future indications for plant protection.     

Integration of Calneem® oil and parasitoids to control <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Cadra cautella</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Corcyra cephalonica</Emphasis> in stored grain cereals

The compatibility and protectant potential of Calneem® oil derived from the neem tree Azadirachta indica and two parasitoids, Habrobracon hebetor and Venturia canescens, for the control of the rice moth Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and the tropical warehouse moth Cadra cautella Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in stored rice and wheat, were evaluated in the laboratory. Calneem® oil (= neem oil) is a biopesticide produced, registered and marketed in Ghana by AQUA AGRIC Community Projects (AACP/Caldor Ghana Ltd., Tema). It contains 0.3% azadirachtin as its major active ingredient. The oil was emulsified with water using 0.07% soap. Fourth instar moth larvae were held in grain treated with neem oil only, grain treated with one of the parasitoids only, grain treated with a combination of neem and one of the parasitoids, and a control with untreated grain. Neem oil was applied at concentrations from 5,000 to 30,000 ppm. All samples were kept in growth cabinets maintained at 25°C and 65–70% r.h. Adult emergence was recorded after 4 weeks. Parasitoid or neem treatments alone reduced the emergence of C. cephalonica and C. cautella. In general, parasitoid releases were as effective as a combination of neem oil and parasitoids. At the lowest dose, 5,000 ppm, the combination of neem and parasitoid was more effective than the neem alone. The number of adults of H. hebetor and V. canescens that emerged in rice containing either parasitoids alone or in combination with neem oil was similar. This indicates minimal or no adverse effect of neem oil on the two parasitoids. It is thus possible to incorporate neem oil in a well-designed pest management program with parasitoids.     

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