Retrospective analysis of seizures associated with feline infectious peritonitis in cats

Seizures have been reported frequently in feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) but have not been studied in detail in association with this disease. The purpose of this study was to perform a retrospective analysis of neurological signs in a population of 55 cats with a histopathologically confirmed neurological form of FIP. Seizure patterns were determined and it was attempted to relate occurrence of seizures with age, breed, sex and neuropathological features. Fourteen cats had seizure(s), while 41 cats had no history of seizure(s). Generalised tonic-clonic seizures were seen in nine cats; and complex focal seizures were observed in four patients. The exact type of seizure could not be determined in one cat. Status epilepticus was observed in one patient but seizure clusters were not encountered. Occurrence of seizures was not related to age, sex, breed or intensity of the inflammation in the central nervous system. However, seizures were significantly more frequent in animals with marked extension of the inflammatory lesions to the forebrain (P=0.038). Thus, the occurrence of seizures in FIP indicates extensive brain damage and can, therefore, be considered to be an unfavourable prognostic sign.     

The BfT-GermVet monitoring program--aims and basics

To determine the current status of antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial pathogens from animals in Germany, the Bff-GermVet monitoring program was initiated as a complementary program to the German national monitoring program GERM-Vet conducted by the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL). In the Bff-GermVet program, a total of 1,626 bacterial strains, obtained during a 27-month period (01/2004-03/2006) from 31 indications, was screened for susceptibility against 22 antimicrobial agents and two combinations of antimicrobial agents. Selected bacteria were additionally tested for their susceptibility against additional three combinations of antimicrobial agents and the corresponding single substances.This paper describes the overall aims and the structure of the program with particular reference to the sampling strategy, the methodology for susceptibility testing and the interpretive criteria used for evaluation of the results.     

Susceptibility of bacterial pathogens against lincomycin/spectinomycin (1/2), penicillin G/neomycin (1/1), and penicillin G/dihydrostreptomycin (1/1) as determined in the BfT-GermVet monitoring program 2004-2006

A total of 368 bacterial pathogens, including 72 coagulase-positive and coagulase-variable staphylococci, 97 beta-haemolytic streptococci, 51 Escherichia coli, 75 Pasteurella multocida, 25 Mannheimia haemolytica, 25 Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and 23 Arcanobacterium pyogenes, were investigated for their susceptibility to the three combinations of antimicrobial agents lincomycin/spectinomycin (1/2), penicillin G/neomycin (1/1), and penicillin G/dihydrostreptomycin (1/1) in comparison to their susceptibility to the corresponding single substances. When comparing the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) determined for any of the three combinations with those for the single substances, the lowest MIC of one of the two substances usually determined the MIC of the combination.This observation was made for all three combinations and all bacterial pathogens tested.Thus, it is assumed that the combination of lincomycin with spectinomycin as well as that of penicillin with either neomycin or dihydrostreptomycin resulted in an extended spectrum of target bacterial pathogens rather than in an increase in antimicrobial efficacy.     

Acquisition and ecological characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactuca serriola</Emphasis> L. germplasm collected in the Czech Republic,Germany, the Netherlands and United Kingdom

Expeditions were conducted in the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands and United Kingdom in 2001 (partly 1998) to study Lactuca serriola L. (prickly lettuce, compass plant) geographic distribution, ecology, habitat characteristics and occurrence of diseases and pests on this species. During these missions the seed material of L. serriola L. was collected in an east–west transect of these four countries. The European transect where seeds were collected and field observations were made represents a relatively large area between 2°34′50′′ W–17°32′46′′ E and 47°40′42′′–54°04′19′′ N. The seed material was used for regeneration, inclusion in the national genetic resources collections of individual countries and for research purposes in follow-up studies. During the missions, 50 locations with occurrence of L. serriola L. were visited (16 in Czech Republic and Germany, 10 in UK and 8 in the Netherlands). Individual seed lots of sixteen different plants were collected at each location (L. serriola L. population). Thus, in total 800 seed samples were collected. In Czech Republic and Germany L. serriola L. f. serriola dominated in all observed populations, in the Netherlands both f. serriola and f. integrifolia occurred in pure or mixed stands, whereas in the United Kingdom L. serriola L. f. integrifolia (S.F. Gray) S.D. Prince et R.N. Carter was dominant. L. serriola L. was recorded at various altitudes (−4 to 410 m), different habitats (ditches, along roads, fields and field margins, ruderal places, pavements and parking sites, fallow fields), individual populations varied substantially in size (20 to >1000 plants), area covered (25–10,000 m²), and the structure and character of associated plant communities. Natural infections by downy mildew (Bremia lactucae Regel) and powdery mildew (Golovinomyces cichoracearum (DC.) V.P. Gelyuta) were observed in some populations. B. lactucae Regel was recorded only in Czech Republic, G. cichoracearum (DC.) V.P. Gelyuta was more common in continental Europe. General and specific aspects of L. serriola L. geographic distribution and ecology are discussed.     

Response of wild Cucumis species to inoculation with Pseudomonas syringae pv. lachrymans

Under controlled inoculation, a set of 49 accessions belonging to 16 wild species and varieties of the genus Cucumis was tested for resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. lachrymans. There was no complete resistance to this pathogen in Cucumis accessions, but limited necrotization of leaves was observed in four accessions (C. africanus (PI 203974), C. anguria var. longipes (CUC 28/1974), C. melo subsp. conomon Baj-Gua (CUM 238/1974), C. zeyheri (PI 299572)). There were some quantitative differences between Cucumis accessions in disease symptom development.     

Wild Lactuca species,their genetic diversity,resistance to diseases and pests,and exploitation in lettuce breeding

Current knowledge of wild Lactuca L. species, their taxonomy, biogeography, gene-pools, germplasm collection quality and quantity, and accession availability is reviewed in this paper. Genetic diversity of Lactuca spp. is characterized at the level of phenotypic and phenological variation, variation in karyology and DNA content, biochemical traits, and protein and molecular polymorphism. The reported variation in reaction to pathogens and pests of wild Lactuca spp. is summarized, including the viral pathogens (Lettuce mosaic virus-LMV, Mirafiori lettuce virus/Lettuce big vein virus-LBV, Beet western yellows virus-BWYV, Tomato spotted wilt virus-TSWV, Cucumber mosaic virus-CMV, Lettuce necrotic stunt virus-LNSV), bacterial pathogens (corky root-Rhizomonas suberifaciens, bacterial leaf spot-Xanthomonas campestris pv. vitians), fungal pathogens (downy mildew-Bremia lactucae, powdery mildew-Golovinomyces cichoracearum, anthracnose-Microdochium panattoniana, stemphylium leaf spot-Stemphylium spp., sclerotinia drop-Sclerotinia spp., verticillium wilt-Verticillium dahliae, fusarium wilt-Fusarium spp., pythium wilt-Pythium tracheiphylum, P. uncinulatum), nematodes (potato cyst nematode-Globodera rostochiensis, root-knot nematode-Meloidogyne spp., incognita, hapla, javanica, enterolobii), insects and mites (the green lettuce aphid-Nasonovia ribisnigri, the green peach aphid-Myzus persicae, the potato aphid-Macrosiphum euphorbiae, leafminer-Liriomyza spp., L. langei). The approaches used to exploit wild Lactuca spp. in lettuce breeding (interspecific hybridization, cell and tissue culture, transformation) are dicussed, and known examples of lettuce cultivars with traits derived from wild Lactuca spp. are described.     

Comparison of Two Methods for Assessment of In Situ Jet-fuel Remediation Efficiency

In 1997, total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) remediation started at a former Air Force Base, which operated from 1940 to 1991. TPH had been released to soil and groundwater at the site by military activities. The TPH was 70% jet fuel and the affected area covered 28 ha. Remediation involved a combination of technologies, including removal of volatile organic compounds using soil vapor extraction and air sparging, free product vacuum recovery and aerobic biodegradation of organics with oxygen supplied by the air sparging system, along with nutrient addition. The primary remedial method was found to be biodegradation, which has removed 93% of the contaminants from the site to date. A significant aspect of the remedial action was performance monitoring, including documentation of remediation efficiency. The goal of the research was to assess the relative accuracy of methods commonly used for monitoring in situ TPH remediation. Two such methods were selected for the research: monitoring change in soil TPH concentration (specified as non-polar extractable substances) and monitoring respiration activity in soil with a subsequent stoichiometric mass balance to estimate the mass of TPH destroyed. The study demonstrated that both of the methods provided comparable results regarding the effectiveness of in situ TPH remediation, despite the fact that their methodologies are very different.     

Histological aspects of Cucumis melo PI 313970 resistance to Podosphaera xanthii and Golovinomyces cichoracearum

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Cucumis melo accession PI 313970 possesses numerous genes for race-specific resistance to powdery mildew incited by Podosphaera xanthii. It also exhibits...     

Species spectra,distribution and host range of cucurbit powdery mildews in the Czech Republic,and in some other European and Middle Eastern countries

The occurrence and geographic distribution of powdery mildew on cucurbits was studied in the Czech Republic, Austria, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands, as well as in Turkey and Israel, during the period 1995–2000. In total, 599 leaf samples with powdery mildew symptoms were collected from cucurbits from 166 locations within the Czech Republic; an additional 69 samples were collected from 42 locations elsewhere. Two powdery mildews (Golovinomyces cichoracearum and Podosphaera xanthii) were identified. The host range included the cultivated cucurbits (Cucumis melo, C. sativus, Cucurbita pepo, C. maxima, and Citrullus lanatus) and several other species. P. xanthii was the only powdery mildew pathogen found in Spain, Israel, and Turkey. P. xanthii and G. cichoracearum were detected in the other surveyed countries, occurring in both mixed infections and separately. In the more northerly latitudes and higher elevations, G. cichoracearum is more often the single species. G. cichoracearum was the dominant powdery mildew species in the Czech Republic (detected in 98.8% of the locations there); P. xanthii was found as the lone species in 1.2% of locations. At 28.4% of locations, G. cichoracearum was found with P. xanthii as mixed infections. The hyperparasitic fungus Ampelomyces quisqualis was found in 30% of the samples from the Czech Republic and was also recorded in Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Switzerland, and Great Britain.