Hereditary nasal parakeratosis in Labrador Retrievers

Hereditary nasal dermatitis is reported in 14 Labrador Retrievers and 4 Labrador Retriever crosses. This appears to be a newly described inherited disorder for which an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance is suspected. The lesions were first noted between 6 and 12 months of age. Histopathological analysis revealed parakeratotic hyperkeratosis, often with marked multifocal accumulation of proteinaceous fluid between keratinocytes within the stratum corneum and superficial stratum spinosum. There was also a sub-basal lymphoplasmacytic infiltration within the superficial dermis. Immunohistochemistry staining for IgG (n = 4), distemper and papillomaviruses (n = 4) were negative, as were serum antinuclear antibody serology (n = 4) and fungal culture (n = 7). Electron microscopy revealed an altered cornification process: retention of nuclear chromatin, absence of lamellar bodies and marked intercellular oedema. Dogs did not respond to oral administration of zinc methionin (n = 3), cephalexin (n = 4), vitamin A alcohol (n = 1) or topical tretinoin (n = 1). Improvement of the lesions was obtained with topical vitamin E (n = 2), petroleum jelly (n = 2), and propylene glycol (n = 5).     

Fasting influences steroidogenesis, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels and mRNAs expression for VEGF, VEGF receptor type 2 (VEGFR-2), endothelin-1 (ET-1), endothelin receptor type A (ET-A) and endothelin converting enzyme-1 (ECE-1) in newly formed pig corpora lutea

This study was designed to verify whether fasting influences vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production and VEGF, VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) as well as endothelin (ET) system members (endothelin converting enzyme-1, ECE-1; ET-1; endothelin receptor type A, ET-A) mRNA expression in pig corpora lutea; furthermore, we wanted to assess whether fasting affects steroidogenesis in luteal cells. Eight prepubertal gilts were induced to ovulate and were randomly assigned to two groups: (A) n = 4, normally fed; and (B) n = 4, fasted for 72 h starting 3 days after ovulation. At the end of fasting, ovaries were removed from all the animals and corpora lutea (CLs) were collected. VEGF and steroid levels in luteal tissue were determined by ELISA and RIA, respectively; VEGF, VEGFR-2, ET-1, ET-A and ECE-1 mRNAs expression was measured by real-time PCR. VEGF protein levels were similar in the two groups, while all steroid (progesterone, testosterone, estradiol 17beta) concentrations were significantly (P < 0.001) higher in CLs collected from fasted animals compared with those from normally fed gilts. VEGF, VEGFR-2, ET-1 and ECE-1 (but not ET-A) mRNA expression was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in fasted versus normally fed animals. The overall conclusion is that all the parameters studied are affected by feed restriction, but the mechanisms activated at luteal level are possibly not fully adequate to compensate for nutrient shortage.     

Suppression of Rhizoctonia root-rot of tomato by Glomus mossae BEG12 and Pseudomonas fluorescens A6RI is associated with their effect on the pathogen growth and on the root morphogenesis

Rhizoctonia solani root-rot is a major soilborne disease causing growth and yield depression. The ability of Glomus mosseae BEG12 and Pseudomonas fluorescens A6RI to suppress this soilborne disease in tomato was assessed by comparing the shoot and root growth of plants infested with R. solani 1556 when protected or not by these beneficial strains. The epiphytic and parasitic growth of the pathogenic R. solani 1556 was compared in the presence and absence of the biocontrol agents by microscopical observations allowing the quantification of roots with hyphae appressed to epidermal cells (epiphytic growth) and of roots with intraradical infection (parasitic growth). The root architecture of the tomato plants under the different experimental conditions was further characterized by measuring total root length, mean root diameter, number of root tips and by calculating degree of root branching. G. mosseae BEG12 and P. fluorescens A6RI fully overcame the growth depression caused by R. solani 1556. This disease suppression was associated with a significant decrease of the epiphytic and parasitic growth of the pathogen together with an increase of root length and of the number of root tips of inoculated tomato plants. The combined effects of G. mosseae BEG12 and P. fluorescens A6RI on pathogen growth and on root morphogenesis are suggested to be involved in the efficient disease suppression.     

The toxic effect of diflubenzuron on Spodoptera littoralis eggs and on their respiration

The mortality rates of Spodoptera littoralis eggs of different ages when dipped in aqueous dilutions of a liquid diflubenzuron formulation were investigated. Eggs 2-3 days old were less sensitive than younger eggs, 0-1 day old. The respiratory rate of eggs 0-1 day old, 1 or 2 days after treatment, was the same as in the control. Eggs in the control hatched on the next day; on this day, respiration in the treated eggs decreased rapidly, but further decrease was then gradual and the base line was not reached until 11 days after treatment, or 9 days after the maximum respiratory rate had been obtained. The curve with diflubenzuron resembled that obtained with parathion.     

The effect of IKI-7899, a new chitin synthesis inhibitor,on larvae ofTribolium castaneum andSpodoptera littoralis

The effect of IKI-7899 and diflubenzuron on larval development and emergence ofTribolium castaneum and ofSpodoptera littoralis was determined. The LC₅₀ of IKI-7899 at adult emergence ofT. castaneum larvae fed the compound in their diet and the ED₅₀ of S.littoralis larvae treated topically were approximately one-sixth those of diflubenzuron.     

Egg-sterilizing effect of benzoylphenylureasvia the adult stage of the nitidulid beetleCarpophilus hemipterus

The effect of a 24-h exposure of adults ofCarpophilus hemipterus to artificial diets treated on the surface with different concentrations of benzoylphenylureas, on the hatchability of eggs laid during the subsequent 14 days, was investigated. The order of persistence of sterilization at 5 ppm was chlorfluazuron (IKI-7899), 12 days > XRD-473, 10 days > diflubenzuron, 6 days > teflubenzuron (CME 134), 4 days. Three of the substances (chlorfluazuron, diflubenzuron and teflubenzuron) had no direct ovicidal effect whenC. hemipterus eggs were dipped in 1000 ppm dilutions, but the larvae that hatched from the treatments died within 2 days.     

Comparative Study of Genetic Diversity and Pathogenicity Among Populations of Verticillium Dahliae from Cotton in Spain and Israel

Genetic diversity and phenotypic diversity in Verticillium dahliae populations on cotton were studied among 62 isolates from Spain and 49 isolates from Israel, using vegetative compatibility grouping (VCG), virulence and molecular assays. In Spain, defoliating V. dahliae isolates (D pathotype) belong to VCG1, and non-defoliating isolates (ND) belong to VCG2A (often associated with tomato) and VCG4B (often associated with potato). The D pathotype was not identified in Israel. The ND pathotype in Israel is comprised of VCG2B and VCG4B. Isolates in VCG2B and VCG4B ranged in virulence from weakly virulent to highly virulent. The highly virulent isolates induced either partial defoliation or no defoliation. Virulence characteristics varied with inoculation method and cotton cultivar. Highly virulent isolates from Israel were as virulent as D isolates from Spain under conditions conducive to severe disease. The D pathotype is pathologically and genetically homogeneous, whereas the ND pathotype is heterogeneous with respect to virulence, VCG, and molecular markers based on single-primer RAPD and on PCR primer pairs.     

Development and application of a real-time TaqMan(®) qPCR assay for detection and quantification of 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemolamae' in South American camelids

Two alpacas from a herd in southwest Switzerland died for unknown reasons. Necropsy revealed chronic weight loss and pale mucous membranes. Infection with hemotropic mycoplasmas was suspected and subsequently confirmed by molecular methods. In order to investigate the epidemiological situation in this herd, a real-time TaqMan(?) qPCR assay for the specific detection and quantification of hemoplasma infection in South American camelids was developed. This assay was based on the 16S rRNA gene and amplified 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemolamae' DNA, but not DNA from other hemoplasmas or non-hemotropic mycoplasma species. The lower detection limit was one copy/PCR, and the amplification efficiency was 97.4%. In 11 out of 24 clinically healthy herd mates of the two infected alpacas, 'Candidatus M. haemolamae' infection was confirmed. No correlation was found between bacterial load and clinical signs or anemia. The assay described herein enables to detect and quantify 'Candidatus M. haemolamae' and may be used in future studies to investigate the prevalence, pathogenesis and treatment follow-up of hemoplasma infections in South American camelids.