Symptomless Spread of Blight-inducing Strains of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris on Cabbage Seedlings in Misted Seedbeds

Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris induces two types of symptoms, namely, black rot and blight. Black rot symptoms are V-shaped lesions and black veins on the leaf, and blight symptoms are sudden collapse of interveinal tissues following the lack of veinal necrosis at early stages of infection. These two symptoms can occur simultaneously. However, the tendency to induce either symptom type is strain-dependent. Six strains were evaluated for their rate and pattern of spread in misted seedbeds by using strain-specific monoclonal antibodies and miniplate enrichment/ELISA. Data on pathogen incidence was defined as the presence of the pathogen in or on plants rather than visual symptoms. The results indicated that blight-inducing strains spread to more seedlings than black rot-inducing strains. The high incidences of blight-inducing strains in experimental plots were associated with non-randomness of spatial pattern of pathogen spread, indicating that high incidence is primarily due to the spread from adjacent plants by leaf contact and water splash. Most ELISA-positive seedlings were symptomless, indicating that the sensitivity of the system used in this study was adequate for detection of latent or epiphytic spread.     

Effect of oxidized fish oil, vitamin E and ethoxyquin on the histopathology and haematology of rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson

Abstract. Rainbow trout were fed for 24 weeks on practical diets containing varying concentrations of oxidized fish oil, with or without supplementation of vitamin E and ethoxyquin. Serum biochemistry, haematology and histopathology were investigated to measure the relative protection offered by vitamin E (DL–α–toco–pherol acetate) and/or a synthetic substitute (ethoxyquin), against highly or extremely oxidized oil with peroxide values of 120 or 314mEq/kg oil respectively. Groups fed highly or extremely oxidized oils without DL–α–tocopherol acetate supplementation, and with or without supplemental ethoxyquin, exhibited lower red blood cell numbers, haemoglobin content, haematocrit, and increased haemolysis. In addition, fish from these groups had increased, abnormally developing polychromatocytes, splenic haemosiderosis and hepatic ceroidosis. The results indicate that vitamin E protects better and at lower concentrations than does ethoxyquin, and that supplementation with 33 mg of DL–α–tocopherol acetate/kg is adequate to prevent vitamin E deficiency signs when feeding practical diets containing 7.5 % of a highly oxidized oil. Supplementation with ethoxyquin alone to diets containing highly oxidized oil appeared to exert partial protection, but did not increase the level of protection when added simultaneously with DL–α–tocopherol acetate. The data support the theory of a general antioxidant function for vitamin E, and suggest that mortalities ensuing from vitamin E deficiency are due to the cumulative effects of liver dysfunction and anaemia.     

Pathology of bacterial gill disease: sequential development of lesions during natural outbreaks of disease

Abstract. This study examines the sequential pattern of bacterial colonization and the sequential development of branchial lesions during typical outbreaks of bacterial gill disease (BGD) among four groups of commercially reared rainbow trout fingerlings, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Richardson). During a 5-month monitoring regime, prior to the onset of natural outbreaks of BGD, gill morphology of examined fish remained unaltered. Bacterial colonization of the gills was immediately preceded by several gill changes which were widely present in fish from all groups under study. These changes, which were detectable at the ultrastructural level only, included cytoplasmic blistering and degeneration of the microridges of the superficial filament epithelium, in addition to slight topographical irregularity of the filament tips suggestive of mild hyperplasia. Bacterial colonization began at these altered filament tips before spreading to more proximal regions of the filament and adjacent lamellar surfaces. Explosive increases in proportional morbidity and mortality coincided with the development of the following gill lesions: extensive bacterial colonization of lamellar surfaces, lamellar epithelial hydropic degeneration and necrosis, and lamellar oedema. In contrast, gill lesions such as lamellar fusion, epithelial hyperplasia and various metaplastic responses were detected later either as subacute (3–5 days) or chronic (7–14 days) changes. The role of epithelial necrosis as an important event during BGD is discussed as a possible mechanism leading to the development of sub-acute and chronic gill lesions.     

Proliferative kidney disease: first reported outbreak in North America

Abstract. Proliferative kidney disease (PKD) was diagnosed in rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson, at the Hagerman, Idaho, State Fish Hatchery. Wild fish from Riley Creek, one of the hatchery water supplies, were infected with PKD organisms. Clinical signs, gross pathology and histopathology of affected fish were typical of those reported for PKD in salmonids from European hatcheries. In addition to lesions normally seen, we observed a severe vasculitis and occlusion of renal and hepatic vessels. Ultrastructure of the PKD organism and possible inclusion body production sites are described. The disease outbreak was complicated by the presence of other infectious diseases. This is the first recorded outbreak of PKD in North America.