First report of multiresistant, mecA-positive Staphylococcus intermedius in Europe: 12 cases from a veterinary dermatology referral clinic in Germany

Resistance to cephalosporins and/or fluoroquinolones by Staphylococcus intermedius has remained low in Europe, with effective drugs generally available for systemic therapy in pets. However, multiresistant, mecA-positive S. intermedius isolated from dogs and cats is now emerging in Europe. Twelve S. intermedius isolates, highly resistant to at least five antimicrobial classes, were isolated from skin and ear infections in 11 dogs and a cat. The 12 isolates represented 23% of all S. intermedius submissions from one veterinary dermatology referral clinic in northern Germany to veterinary diagnostic laboratories during an 18-month period and resistance included cefalexin, methicillin and enrofloxacin. The animals had been referred to the clinic with recurrent superficial pyoderma, deep pyoderma, pododermatitis or chronic otitis, all unresponsive to systemic beta-lactam-antibiotics or fluoroquinolones. Infection resolved in 10 dogs and the cat on a combination of antimicrobial treatment and correction of underlying causes. Four dogs and a cat required systemic and topical therapy; in six dogs topical antimicrobial therapy alone was successful. Phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of the S. intermedius isolates were determined; species identification was confirmed by polymerase chain detection of thermonuclease genes (nuc) and the presence and expression of the gene conferring resistance to all beta-lactam antibiotics (mecA) were demonstrated in all; based on pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, six were indistinguishable, the others closely or possibly related. The emergence of multiresistant, mecA-positive S. intermedius in Europe is alarming. Zoonotic implications, awareness among veterinary laboratories and strategies for the use of antimicrobials in small animal practice need to be considered.     

Treatment of flow-through trout aquaculture effluents in a constructed wetland

A study on effluent treatment with sub-surface flow (SF) constructed wetlands was conducted in a small commercial scale Bavarian (Germany) flow-through trout farm. Under limited spatial and financial conditions a most suitable wetland was constructed. The wetland treatment efficiency at high hydraulic loading rates during raceway runoff and cleaning situation in comparison to sedimentation as initial treatment method was examined.

The constructional solution involved the alteration of six existing sedimentation basins (SB) to SF horizontal flow constructed wetlands with a pre-sedimentation area. As constructional materials only local, cheaply available materials were used in order to reduce the costs. The SF wetland had high treatment efficiencies in the two operational modes examined. During cleaning situation at a hydraulic loading rate (HLR) of 13.6 m/day treatment efficiency for total suspended solids (TSS) was highest and reached 68%. While during raceway runoff situation total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) treatment efficiency of 88% overtopped the efficiency of the other nutrients examined at a HLR of 10.6 m/day. In both treatment situations the SF wetland efficiency was significantly higher than the effect of the SB. SF constructed wetlands treating high hydraulic loading rates accompanied with short retention times were effective on dissolved nutrient treatment only for TAN and nitrite nitrogen (NO₂–N), while other dissolved nutrients like nitrate nitrogen (NO₃–N) and phosphate phosphorous (PO₄–P) showed no or even negative treatment effects through the wetland passage. To reduce these nutrients, other treatment conditions or wetland configurations are needed.     

Tree species admixture increases ecosystem service provision in simulated spruce- and beech-dominated stands

European Journal of Forest Research - Climate-adaptive forest management aims to sustain the provision of multiple forest ecosystem services and biodiversity (ESB). However, it remains largely...     

Taxonomy and evolution of cultivated plants: Literature review 1979/1980

Summary Important papers on taxonomy and evolution of cultivated plants published in 1979 and 1980 were put together and briefly discussed.

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Taxonomie und Evolution der Kulturpflanzen: Literaturübersicht 1979/1980

Zusammenfassung Wichtige Arbeiten über Taxonomie und Evolution der Kulturpflanzen aus den Jahren 1979 und 1980 wurden zusammengestellt und kurz kommentiert.

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: 1979–1980

, 1979–1980 . .

     

Über morphologische Wurzelmerkmale beiTriticum L. undAegilops L. (Gramineae)

Zusammenfassung Die in der Literatur angegebenen Unterschiede in morphologischen Wurzelmerkmalen vonTriticum- undAegilops- Sippen sind allgemein so gering, daß sie auf den Einfluß unterschiedlicher ökologischer Bedingungen zurückgeführt werden können. Für die Klärung taxonomisch-phylogenetischer Fragestellungen sind die vorhandenen Befunde deshalb derzeit nicht einsetzbar.Bei 47 Arten der GattungenTriticum undAegilops wurde die Embryonal-Wurzelzahl bestimmt. Sie beträgt durchschnittlich 3–5 EW/Pfl. Sie ist ein art- und sortentypisches Merkmal, wird aber auch von vielen anderen Faktoren beeinflußt. Bei den untersuchten Arten kann sie zur näheren Charakterisierung der ArtenT. sphaerococcum undA. mutica dienen, die sich darin von den jeweils verwandten Arten besonders deutlich unterscheiden. Das Gesamtwurzelsystem wurde bei den untersuchten Arten eingeteilt in: Embryonalwurzeln, die bereits im Embryo angelegt sind und während und kurz nach dem Keimvorgang auswachsen; sproßbürtige Wurzeln, die während der Bestockung an den Nodien des Sprosses angelegt werden, und Seitenwurzeln, die an anderen Wurzeln entspringen. Die Embryonalwurzeln sind morphologisch recht einheitlich, während die Morphologie der sproßbürtigen Wurzeln sehr vom Erstarkungswachstum des Sprosses beeinflußt wird. Sproßbürtige Wurzeln wachsen immer nur im Zusammenhang mit der Anlage von Seitentrieben aus. Außerhalb des Nodalbereichs entspringen am Sproß keine Wurzeln. Seitenwurzeln können an allen Wurzeln gebildet werden. Sie zeigen den prinzipiell gleichen anatomischen Aufbau wie die Wurzeln, von denen sie abgehen, sind aber stärker reduziert. Die Wurzelfarbe ist vom ontogenetischen Alter des betreffenden Wurzelteils abhängig. Sie verändert sich von anfangs wächsern weiß über gelb nach braun. Der Durchmesser der sproßbürtigen Wurzeln am extrem proximalen Wurzelteil hängt davon ab, welches Ausmaß das Erstarkungswachstum des Sprosses an jenem Nodium erreicht hat, an dem die Wurzel entspringt. In distaler Richtung wird der Durchmesser auf ein den Embryonalwurzeln ähnliches Maß reduziert.

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On Morphological Characters of the Roots inTriticum L. andAegilops L. (Gramineae)

Summary The number of seminal roots of 47 species ofTriticum s. str. andAegilops has been determined. In this character there are differences between species and within species. Most of the species have on an average 3–5 seminal roots per plant, butA. mutica has only one.T. sphaerococcum is characterized by a lower number of seminal roots (3,1) as similarly to the other hexaploid wheat species (3,9–4,4).The terminology of the different root types of a wheat plant is rather confused. This makes the interpretation of published data very difficult. Here the roots are classified into seminal roots, which are present at the embryo, nodal roots, which grow out from the stem, and branch roots, which grow out from other roots. The morphology of a nodal root is highly dependent from the ontogenetic stage of that nodium, from which it originates. The morphology of all roots is heavily influenced by the ecological conditions. That is the reason why it is generally impossible up to now to use morphological characters for taxonomical or phylogenetical purpose.

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Triticum L. Aegilops L. (Gramineae)

Triticum Aegilops, , , . - , . 47 Triticum Aegilops ; 3 5 . , . T. sphaerococcum A.mutica, . ( ) : , ; , . , . . . ; , , , . . - . , , . .

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Herrn Prof. Dr. Drs. h. c.Hans Stubbe zum 75. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Einfluß unterschiedlicher Düngung auf pH,N, C und die Gehalte an CAL-extrahierbarem K und P im Boden

Influence of different fertilization on pH, N, C and CAL-extractable K and P in the soil The influence of different fertilization (mineral fertilizer, different kinds and quantities of farmyard manure and biocompost, horn meal) on soil properties was studied during 8 years of cultivation. The plots were planted and harvested as practised under local farming conditions. The pH of the non-fertilized plots decreased from 5.84 to 5.69, while it was increased by fertilization with farmyard manure or biocompost. N_t in the soil was not influenced by different fertilization. C_t was increased by high biocompost application, stayed constant on the other fertilized plots but decreased on the nonfertilized plots from 1.08 to 0.99%. Without fertilization, plant available nutrients were diminished from 7.3 to 4.3 mg P(CAL) 100 g^?1 and from 22.5 to 13.9 mg K(CAL) 100 g^?1. However, if the plots were fertilized with mineral or organic fertilizer, the nutrient content remained on the initial level. Storing farmyard manure under roof or covering with straw or polyethylene sheet did not affect the criteria of soil studied.     

Taxonomy and evolution of cultivated plants: Literature review 1986 1987

Summary Important papers on taxonomy and evolution of cultivated plants published in 1986 and 1987 were compiled and briefly discussed.

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Taxonomic und Evolution der Kulturpflanzen: Litcraturübersicht 1986/1987

Zusammenfassung Wichtige Arbciton übot Taxonomie und Evolution der Kulturpflanzen aus den Jahren 1986 und 1987 wuzden zusammengestolit und kurz kommentiert.

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: . 1986–1987

, 1986 1987 . .

     

Allium vavilovii M. Popov et Vved. and a new Iranian species are the closest among the known relatives of the common onion A. cepa L. (Alliaceae)

A wild onion species from Karaj valley east of Tehran istaxonomically described as Allium asarense R. M.Fritsch et Matin. Sharing the bubble-like inflated lower scapewith A. vavilovii, the newspecies differs by semi-cylindrical leaves and small flowerswith translucent greenish-yellow tepals from all other knownspecies of Allium sect.Cepa. Molecular data suggest a closerelationship to A. cepa(but to a lesser degree than A.vavilovii) and indicate a still weakerphylogenetic connection of A.oschaninii to the common onion. The questionabout the possible wild ancestor of A.cepa is discussed against this background, and akey for determination of the Oschaninii-alliance of sect.Cepa is presented.