Molecular diversity of methanogens in fecal samples from Bactrian camels (Camelus bactrianus) at two zoos

Animals are dependent on mutualistic microbial communities that reside in their gastrointestinal track for essential physiological functions such as nutrition and pathogen resistance. The composition of microbial communities in an animal is influenced by various factors, including species, diet and geographical location. In this preliminary study, the population structure of fecal methanogens in Bactrian camels (Camelus bactrianus) from two zoos was studied using separate 16S rRNA gene libraries for each zoo. While methanogen sequences belonging to the genus Methanobrevibacter were dominant in both libraries, they showed significant differences in diversity (p=0.05) and structure (p<0.0001). Population structure analysis revealed that only two operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were shared between libraries, while two OTUs were unique to the Southwick Zoo library and seven OTUs were unique to the Potter Park Zoo library. These preliminary results highlight how methanogen population structures can vary greatly between animals of the same species maintained in captivity at different locations.     

Plant age and timing of epidemic initiation affect mycosphaerella blight in field pea

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Mycosphaerella blight (Mycosphaerella pinodes) occurs throughout western Canada and can severely reduce seed yield and quality of field pea (Pisum...     

Characterization of Ascochyta isolates and susceptibility of pea cultivars to the ascochyta disease complex in Alberta

The relative virulence of 109 Ascochyta isolates collected from pea fields in Alberta from 1996 to 1998 were evaluated on 10-day-old seedlings by the excised leaf-assay technique. Twenty-eight isolates were avirulent, while the others produced lesions of various sizes on pea leaves. DNA samples from 86 isolates were amplified by the RAPD technique using PCR with single primers. One dominant genotype of Ascochyta pisi was identified throughout Alberta, but variations in virulence were not clearly differentiated by the RAPD technique. Five Ascochyta isolates, four virulent and one avirulent, were used to assess the susceptibility of 20 field pea cultivars available in Alberta, including 13 yellow types and seven green types. Based on symptom development, the yellow-type cultivars Swing, Eiffel and Delta, and the green-type cultivar Orb, were the most susceptible. Of yellow-type cultivars, Voyageur, Carneval and Montana were most resistant to A scochyta infection.     

Influence of cultivar resistance and inoculum density on root hair infection of canola (Brassica napus) by Plasmodiophora brassicae

The impact of cultivar resistance and inoculum density on the incidence of primary infection of canola root hairs by Plasmodiophora brassicae, the causal agent of clubroot, was assessed by microscopy. The incidence of root hair infection in both a resistant and a susceptible cultivar increased with increasing inoculum density, but was two‐ to threefold higher in the susceptible cultivar; the relationship between root hair infection and inoculum density was also substantially stronger and more consistent in the susceptible cultivar. In the susceptible cultivar, the root hair infection rate peaked between 6 and 8 days after sowing and then declined. In the resistant cultivar, it increased over the 14‐day duration of each study. It appears that examination of root hair infection by microscopy in a bait crop of susceptible canola could serve as a useful tool for estimating P. brassicae inoculum levels in soil. In a separate trial, the relationship between inoculum density and clubroot severity, plant growth parameters, and seed yield was assessed under greenhouse conditions. Inoculum density in the susceptible genotype was strongly and positively correlated with clubroot severity and negatively correlated with plant height and seed yield. In addition, a single cropping cycle of the susceptible cultivar contributed significantly higher levels of resting spores to the soil in a greenhouse test than did a cycle of the resistant cultivar, as assessed by quantitative PCR and microscope analysis.     

Efficacy of Vapam fumigant against clubroot (Plasmodiophora brassicae) of canola

Clubroot, caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae, has become a serious threat to canola (Brassica napus) production in western Canada. Experiments were conducted under greenhouse and field conditions to assess the effect of Vapam fumigant (dithiocarbamate; sodium N‐methyldithiocarbamate) on primary and secondary infection by P. brassicae, clubroot severity, and growth parameters in canola. Preliminary trials showed a 12–16‐fold reduction in primary and secondary infection and clubroot severity at all of the Vapam application rates (0·4–1·6 mL L^?1 soil) assessed. Vapam was also found to be effective in reducing clubroot severity and improving seed yield of canola under field conditions. Application of Vapam at soil moisture levels in the range of 10–30% (v:v) had a large effect on both disease severity and infection rates and plant growth parameters. The results suggest that Vapam can effectively reduce clubroot severity and may be useful for the treatment of transplant propagation beds in brassica vegetable production, and for the containment of small, localized clubroot infestations in commercial canola crops.     

Anthrax in wildlife in the Luangwa Valley, Zambia

An abnormally high mortality among hippos (Hippopotamus amphibius) in the Luangwa River valley between June and November 1987 and estimated to number more than 4000 deaths was attributed to anthrax. Several other species, particularly Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer) and elephant (Loxodonta africana), appear to have been affected. A smaller outbreak of anthrax in hippos occurred between August and September 1988, approximately 100 km up-river. A field study was arranged in August 1989 to assess the extent of environmental contamination by Bacillus anthracis and the risks to people in the area, to study possible methods of control and to equip local laboratory staff for continued monitoring of the disease. The study confirmed the enzootic status of the region. The characteristics of the outbreaks of anthrax in 1987 and 1988, and the results of the field study are described.     

Gross, histological and scanning electron microscopic appearance of dorsal fin rot in farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., parr

The gross, histological and scanning electron microscopic appearance of dorsal fin rot in farmed Atlantic salmon parr, Salmo salar L. is described. The lesions were grouped into seven categories: (1) peripheral erosion and ray splitting; (2) peripheral erosion with some nodularity; (3) severe nodularity with differing degrees of tissue loss; (4) extensive to total loss of the dorsal fin; (5) smooth thickening of the dorsal fin; (6) haemorrhagic dorsal fin lesions; and (7) healed dorsal fin rot lesions. The main sign of injury was clefts extending through the epithelium. These injuries were consistent with bites from other parr. During healing from such wounds, damaged cells sloughed from the surface, and there was swelling and hyperplasia in the remaining cells. The majority of the thickening in the fins was the result of epithelial hyperplasia with a variable cellular inflammatory response. The distal epithelium of fins with severe fin rot (i.e. nodular and eroded) was rough, irregular and swollen with superficial nodular extensions. Wounds in all stages of repair were more numerous in such areas. Fin rays were frequently observed protruding from the abnormal epithelium at the distal edge of the fin. With the exception of the isolation of Aeromonas salmonicida from a small number of cases, no significant bacterial involvement was detected. Under scanning electron microscopy, bacteria were only detected on the exposed fin rays and not in association with the abnormal epithelium. In the majority of cases, the dorsal fin was either the only fin damaged or the most severely damaged. It is suggested that the hyperplastic response to numerous bite wounds is responsible for the accumulation of abnormal epithelium typical of dorsal fin rot in farmed Atlantic salmon parr.     

A comparative molecular study of the presence of “Candidatus arthromitus” in the digestive system of rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), healthy and affected with rainbow trout gastroenteritis

Observations were made using histopathological techniques in conjunction with a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol for the specific detection of “Candidatus arthromitus” on DNA extracted from wax‐embedded tissues and fresh digestive contents of rainbow trout. Samples positive for “Candidatus arthromitus” DNA included fish with rainbow trout gastroenteritis (RTGE), clinically normal cohabiting fish, and apparently healthy controls from RTGE positive and RTGE negative sites. The results obtained from the PCR were confirmed by nucleotide sequencing. “Candidatus arthromitus” DNA was found in distal intestine as well as in sections of pyloric caeca, suggesting that both these locations are appropriate for molecular detection of “Candidatus arthromitus” DNA in trout. Furthermore, rainbow trout fry distal intestinal samples from two different hatcheries where RTGE had not been reported were also positive. Differences in “Candidatus arthromitus” DNA detection between paraffin wax‐embedded and fresh digestive content samples from the same fish suggested that it may be predominantly epithelium‐associated in healthy trout. Parallel histopathological observations indicated that pyloric caeca are the preferred site for visualizing segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB) in trout with RTGE. The results of this study showed that the presence of SFB was not invariably associated with clinical disease and that more information is required to understand the role of these organisms.