Exploiting generic platform technologies for the detection and identification of plant pathogens

The detection and identification of plant pathogens currently relies upon a very diverse range of techniques and skills, from traditional culturing and taxonomic skills to modern molecular-based methods. The wide range of methods employed reflects the great diversity of plant pathogens and the hosts they infect. The well-documented decline in taxonomic expertise, along with the need to develop ever more rapid and sensitive diagnostic methods has provided an impetus to develop technologies that are both generic and able to complement traditional skills and techniques. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is emerging as one such generic platform technology and one that is well suited to high-throughput detection of a limited number of known target pathogens. Real-time PCR is now exploited as a front line diagnostic screening tool in human health, animal health, homeland security, biosecurity as well as plant health. Progress with developing generic techniques for plant pathogen identification, particularly of unknown samples, has been less rapid. Diagnostic microarrays and direct nucleic acid sequencing (de novo sequencing) both have potential as generic methods for the identification of unknown plant pathogens but are unlikely to be suitable as high-throughput detection techniques. This paper will review the application of generic technologies in the routine laboratory as well as highlighting some new techniques and the trend towards multi-disciplinary studies.     

Evaluation of a serological test (indirect ELISA) for the diagnosis of sarcoptic mange in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

Sarcoptic mange occurs in many parts of the world and is common in populations of domestic and wild canids, including red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). In recent years, an indirect antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), with higher sensitivity and specificity than traditional diagnostic methods, has been successfully applied in the diagnosis of sarcoptic mange in dogs. The same ELISA has also demonstrated specific antibodies to Sarcoptes scabiei in experimentally infected red foxes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the indirect ELISA when used to detect antibodies to S. scabiei in field sera from Swedish red foxes. One cohort of both infected and non-infected red foxes (cohort 1; n = 88), and one cohort of apparently non-infected foxes (cohort 2; n = 67) were examined for skin lesions and presence of S. scabiei by thorough visual examination at autopsy and skin scrapings. Samples of blood-tinted body liquid from the abdomen or thorax cavity were collected and analysed by the indirect ELISA. The relative sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA at different cut-offs (OD values) were estimated by comparing the test results to the infection status as determined by examination and skin scrapings. The highest combination of relative sensitivity and specificity, calculated based on cohort 1, was 95.4 and 100.0%, respectively. These estimates were constant for cut-offs 0.150-0.225, which included the cut-off based on the mean plus three standard deviations of test results from cohort 2 (0.165). It is concluded that this test can be useful in diagnosis and epidemiological studies of S. scabiei infection in red foxes.     

Ascorbic Acid Effectively Improved Lutein Extraction Yield from Australian Sweet Lupin Flour

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Lutein is a xanthophyll, a bioactive phytochemical that presents itself as colourful pigments in plants. Australian sweet lupin flour has been...     

Investigation on flame retardancy of poly(ethylene terephthalate) for plastics and textiles by combination of an organo-modified sepiolite and Zn phosphinate

Zn phosphinate, organo-modified sepiolite and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) have been melt blended to develop a new flame retardant system for PET plastics and textiles. The combination of Zn phosphinate and sepiolite have been exploited in order to enhance the flame retardancy of PET for both plastics and textiles. The thermal stability of PET blends evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry results remarkably affected by the loaded fillers. The combustion tests by cone calorimetry reveal a relevant decrease of combustion rate and a high increase of fire performance index for both plastics and textiles due to the presence of this novel flame retardant mixture. Analogously, limiting oxygen index has been found increased in a remarkable way.     

Suspected systemic calcinosis and calciphylaxis in 5 horses

Five horses were presented with signs of myopathy along with systemic malaise, hyperfibrinogenemia, hyperphosphatemia, and an elevated calcium phosphorus product (Ca*P). Postmortem findings were consistent with systemic calcinosis, a syndrome of calcium deposition in the tissue of organs including lungs, kidneys, muscle, and heart that has not been previously described in horses.     

Spatial patterns of Bovine Corona Virus and Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus in the Swedish beef cattle population

Background

Both bovine coronavirus (BCV) and bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) infections are currently wide-spread in the Swedish dairy cattle population. Surveys of antibody levels in bulk tank milk have shown very high nationwide prevalences of both BCV and BRSV, with large variations between regions. In the Swedish beef cattle population however, no investigations have yet been performed regarding the prevalence and geographical distribution of BCV and BRSV. A cross-sectional serological survey for BCV and BRSV was carried out in Swedish beef cattle to explore any geographical patterns of these infections.

Methods

Blood samples were collected from 2,763 animals located in 2,137 herds and analyzed for presence of antibodies to BCV and BRSV. Moran''s I was calculated to assess spatial autocorrelation, and identification of geographical cluster was performed using spatial scan statistics.

Results

Animals detected positive to BCV or BRSV were predominately located in the central-western and some southern parts of Sweden. Moran''s I indicated global spatial autocorrelation. BCV and BRSV appeared to be spatially related: two areas in southern Sweden (Skaraborg and Skåne) had a significantly higher prevalence of BCV (72.5 and 65.5% respectively); almost the same two areas were identified as being high-prevalence clusters for BRSV (69.2 and 66.8% respectively). An area in south-east Sweden (Kronoberg-Blekinge) had lower prevalences for both infections than expected (23.8 and 20.7% for BCV and BRSV respectively). Another area in middle-west Sweden (Värmland-Dalarna) had also a lower prevalence for BRSV (7.9%). Areas with beef herd density > 10 per 100 km² were found to be at significantly higher risk of being part of high-prevalence clusters.

Conclusion

These results form a basis for further investigations of between-herds dynamics and risk factors for these infections in order to design effective control strategies.     

Cardiovascular effects of intravenous gadolinium administration to anaesthetized dogs undergoing magnetic resonance imaging

Objective To assess changes in heart rate and arterial blood pressure following intravenous (IV) gadolinium‐based contrast media administration to sevoflurane‐anaesthetized dogs undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Study design Prospective clinical study. Animals Fifty client‐owned dogs (31 male, 19 female; aged 6–156 months; weighing 4.2–45.4 kg; ASA 2–3). Methods Heart rate and oscillometric blood pressures (systolic, mean and diastolic) were recorded at 10 minutes, 5 minutes and immediately pre‐administration of IV gadolinium contrast medium (time 0), then at 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 minutes post‐gadolinium administration. Repeated measures anova was used to compare cardiovascular variables pre and post‐gadolinium administration. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Results There were no significant changes in cardiovascular variables following the IV administration of gadolinium. Conclusions and clinical relevance Administration IV of gadolinium‐based contrast media was not associated with adverse cardiovascular effects in these sevoflurane‐anaesthetized dogs undergoing MRI.     

Perceptions of New Zealand nutrition labels by Māori, Pacific and low-income shoppers

BACKGROUND: In New Zealand the burden of nutrition-related disease is greatest among Māori, Pacific and low-income peoples. Nutrition labels have the potential to promote healthy food choices and eating behaviours. To date, there has been a noticeable lack of research among indigenous peoples, ethnic minorities and low-income populations regarding their perceptions, use and understanding of nutrition labels. Our aim was to evaluate perceptions of New Zealand nutrition labels by Māori, Pacific and low-income peoples and to explore improvements or alternatives to current labelling systems. METHODS: Māori, Samoan and Tongan researchers recruited participants who were regular food shoppers. Six focus groups were conducted which involved 158 people in total: one Māori group, one Samoan, one Tongan, and three low-income groups. RESULTS: Māori, Pacific and low-income New Zealanders rarely use nutrition labels to assist them with their food purchases for a number of reasons, including lack of time to read labels, lack of understanding, shopping habits and relative absence of simple nutrition labels on the low-cost foods they purchase. CONCLUSIONS: Current New Zealand nutrition labels are not meeting the needs of those who need them most. Possible improvements include targeted social marketing and education campaigns, increasing the number of low-cost foods with voluntary nutrition labels, a reduction in the price of 'healthy' food, and consideration of an alternative mandatory nutrition labelling system that uses simple imagery like traffic lights.     

Variety and total number of food items recorded by a true longitudinal group of urban black South African children at five interceptions between 1995 and 2003: the Birth-to-Twenty (Bt20) Study

OBJECTIVE: To report on the variety and total number of food items recorded by a true longitudinal group of urban black South African children (n = 143) from the Birth-to-Twenty Study at five interceptions at the ages of 5 (1995), 7 (1997), 9 (1999), 10 (2000) and 13 (2003) years, respectively. METHODS: Dietary intake was assessed using a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire. Frequencies were calculated per week, for each interception and for all five interceptions combined, using SAS. RESULTS: Five hundred and forty-six different individual food items were recorded 23 480 times for all five interceptions combined. The highest of 124 items was recorded in 1999 contributing 23% of the 546 items recorded. Each of the top 10 items (rice, stiff maize-meal porridge, chicken, sugar, sweets, tea, eggs, full-cream milk, carbonated beverages and oil) contributed between 2.5% and 3% and these items were recorded almost 600 times or more for all interceptions combined (n = 23 840). Rice and stiff maize-meal porridge were the top items recorded 684 and 676 times, both contributing 2.87% and 2.84%, respectively. The variety of food items and the ratio of the food groups to the total number of foods recorded in the present study were not significantly different but the denominators decreased over the five interceptions. CONCLUSION: The variety of food items recorded did not vary between 1995 and 2003 - the fact that new items were not added to the questionnaire as the children grew older could have contributed to this phenomenon. However, there was a difference in the ranking of these items that may suggest a change in eating patterns.