A new root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne silvestris n. sp. (Nematoda: Meloidogynidae), parasitizing European holly in northern Spain

High infection rates of European holly ( Ilex aquifolium ) feeder roots by an unknown root-knot nematode were found in a holly forest at Arévalo de la Sierra (Soria province) in northern Spain. Holly trees infected by the root-knot nematode showed some decline and low growth. Infected feeder roots were distorted and showed numerous root galls of large (8–10 mm) to moderate (2–3 mm) size. Morphometry, esterase and malate dehydrogenase electrophoretic phenotypes and phylogenetic trees of sequences within the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) demonstrated that this nematode species differs clearly from other previously described root-knot nematodes. Studies of host-parasite relationships showed a typical susceptible reaction in naturally infected European holly plants, but did not reproduce on a number of cultivated plants, including tomato, grapevine, princess-tree and olive. The species is described here, illustrated and named as Meloidogyne silvestris n. sp. The new root-knot nematode can be morphologically distinguished from other Meloidogyne spp. by: (i) roundish perineal pattern, dorsal arch low, with fine, sinuous cuticle striae, lateral fields faintly visible; (ii) female excretory pore level with stylet knobs, or just anterior to them, EP/ST ratio about 0·8; (iii) second-stage juveniles with hemizonid located 1 to 2 annuli anterior to excretory pore and short, sub-digitate tail; and (iv) males with lateral fields composed of four incisures, with areolated outer bands. Phylogenetic trees derived from maximum parsimony analysis based on 18S, ITS1-5·8S-ITS2 and D2–D3 of 28S rDNA showed that M. silvestris n. sp. can be differentiated from all described root-knot nematode species, and it is clearly separated from other species with resemblance in morphology, such as M. ardenensis , M. dunensis and M. lusitanica .     

Resistant accessions of wild Psidium spp. to Meloidogyne enterolobii and histological characterization of resistance

Meloidogyne enterolobii has been reported in some states of Brazil and other countries causing severe damage on commercial guava (Psidium guajava). The use of resistant varieties is the most effective way to manage nematode parasitism. This study screened 51 accessions of Psidium spp. selected from the Psidium Germplasm Collection (Embrapa) to look for resistance against M. enterolobii. Six months after inoculation, nematode reproduction factor (RF) was used to assess resistance. The following species were resistant to M. enterolobii: P. cattleianum (yellow guava), P. friedrichsthalianum (Costa Rican guava), Acca sellowiana (feijoa) and P. rufum (purple guava). All 43 wild accessions of P. guajava were susceptible, as well as three accessions of P. guineense (Brazilian guava), one of P. acutangulum (pear guava) and the susceptible control P. guajava cv. Paluma. When used as rootstocks under greenhouse conditions, P. cattleianum and P. friedrichsthalianum were compatible with cv. Paluma; however, in greenhouse and field conditions only 50% of both scions survived. No apparent hypersensitive response (HR) was seen in the resistant guava P. cattleianum and P. friedrichsthalianum. Juveniles were able to develop normal feeding sites similar to those in susceptible roots 6–13 days after inoculation (dai). From 27 to 32 dai, giant cell deterioration was observed and nematodes showed arrested development. The majority of nematodes failed to reach maturity and did not begin laying eggs in resistant roots. These results suggested that the induction of resistance is relatively late in this pathosystem.     

不同水平玉米赤霉烯酮对断奶仔猪血清代谢产物和肝肾组织病理学影响

目的】玉米赤霉烯酮（zearalenone, ZEA）是由谷物及其产品滋生禾谷镰刀菌产生的一种具有雌激素活性的真菌毒素。试验研究不同水平玉米赤霉烯酮污染日粮对断奶仔猪血清代谢产物、肝肾组织病理学和肝脏超微结构的影响。【方法】将20头健康三元（斯格×长×大）杂交断奶母猪（10.36±1.21）kg按照体重随机分为4个处理,仔猪采用试验笼单独饲养。对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验1、2和3组分别在基础日粮的基础上添加ZEA 1.1、2.0和3.2 mg·kg^-1。预饲期7 d,正式期18 d。试验结束后,对仔猪禁食12 h后进行前腔静脉空腹采血,分离血清,待测血清代谢产物含量。采血后,仔猪电击致死放血屠宰,切取肝脏和肾脏组织块迅速固定于10%的福尔马林溶液,待做组织切片检测。切取0.5 mm³大小的肝脏组织块,迅速用2.5%戊二醛磷酸盐缓冲液固定,待做电镜切片进行超微结构观察。【结果】与对照组相比,3.2 mg·kg^-1 ZEA处理组仔猪血清胆红素显著高于对照仔猪（P＜0.05）,而血清球蛋白和甘油三酯则显著低于对照组（P＜0.05）。随日粮ZEA水平的增加,血清球蛋白和甘油三酯呈一次线性降低（P＜0.05）。与对照组相比,1.1、2.0和3.2 mg·kg^-1 ZEA处理组肝细胞肿胀,颗粒变性。与对照组相比,2.0 和3.2 mg·kg^-1 ZEA处理组肾小管上皮细胞颗粒变性,管腔变窄,有些管腔内充满大量透明底状物或蛋白尿。2.0和3.2 mg·kg^-1 ZEA处理组肝细胞膜上可见自噬体和嗜中性白细胞。【结论】2.0 mg·kg^-1的ZEA足以诱导仔猪的肝肾毒性,此结果对人类健康和指导动物生产具有重要的借鉴意义。     

感染鲤疱疹病毒Ⅱ型(CyHV-2)的异育银鲫血液生理生化指标及相应组织学变化

于江苏大丰金鹿合作社采集三种状态的异育银鲫Carassius auratus gibelio样本,试验1组(H)来自未发生过鲤疱疹病毒(Cy HV-2)病的2个池塘(面积200×667m2),即为无Cy HV-2病症状的病毒携带者;试验2组(IH)和试验3组(I)为正在发病的2个池塘(面积200×667m2),IH组有轻微的Cy HV-2病症状,而I组为典型的Cy HV-2病症状,测定其血成分、血清生化指标,并观察肠道和肝胰脏的组织病理学,以探讨异育银鲫感染鲤疱疹病毒Ⅱ型(Cy HV-2)的发病机制。结果表明:IH组和I组鲫除淋巴细胞百分比显著升高外(P0.05),中性粒细胞和单核细胞百分比、红细胞和血栓细胞数、血红蛋白、血栓细胞压积均显著低于H组(P0.05);I组淋巴细胞百分比显著高于IH组(P0.05),而中性粒细胞百分比却显著低于IH组(P0.05),其他各项指标无显著差异。IH组和I组除天门冬氨酸基转移酶/丙氨酸氨基转移酶、白蛋白、白球比例比H组显著升高外(P0.05),胆碱酯酶和碱性磷酸酶活性、总胆汁酸、甘油三酯、高密度脂蛋白/低密度脂蛋白均显著下降(P0.05)。I组与IH组结果比较,天门冬氨酸基转移酶、天门冬氨酸基转移酶/丙氨酸氨基转移酶、白蛋白、白球比例均出现显著升高(P0.05),而胆碱酯酶、碱性磷酸酶出现显著下降(P0.05),总胆汁酸含量下降了38倍,下降明显,其他均无显著变化。扫描电镜观察发现,H组红细胞表面光滑完整,IH和I组均有一定的损伤;相比H组,IH组、I组的肝胰脏和肠道的组织结构损伤,且随着患病严重性的增加而加重。     

Distribution of haemic neoplasia of soft‐shelled clams in Prince Edward Island: an examination of anthropogenic factors and effects of experimental fungicide exposure

Haemic neoplasia was first considered a disease of concern for soft‐shell clams in Prince Edward Island (PEI) when it was diagnosed as the cause of mass mortalities in 1999. The aetiology of the disease remains elusive, but has been associated with environmental degradation. In this study, a 2‐year (2001–2002) geographic and seasonal survey was conducted for haemic neoplasia, using histology, in soft‐shell clams from PEI. In addition, using geographic information system, the association between anthropogenic factors in the watersheds at sites affected by haemic neoplasia and the prevalence of the disease was investigated. Finally, histopathological changes were assessed in soft‐shell clams experimentally exposed to four concentrations of chlorothalonil for 27 days. Haemic neoplasia could not be induced at any concentration of chlorothalonil. Clams exposed to a concentration of 1000 μg L^?1 of the fungicide, however, exhibited an LC50 of 17 days. Although this information provides additional toxicity information (LC50) for soft‐shell clams, further experiments are required to assess longer term exposure to the fungicide. The highest prevalences of haemic neoplasia in PEI were found in North River and Miscouche (28.3–50.9% and 33.0–77.8%, respectively). No clear seasonal patterns were found. There was a correlation between haemic neoplasia prevalence and watersheds with a high percentage of potato acreage and forest coverage (P = 0.026 and P = 0.045, respectively), suggesting a link between anthropogenic activity and the prevalence of the disease.     

Pathology of female mice experimentally infected with an in vitro cultured strain of Trypanosoma equiperdum

Dourine, caused by infection with Trypanosoma equiperdum, is one of the trypanosomiasis in equids. The clinical course of dourine is long-term, ranging from 1–2 months to several years. Since the pathogenesis of dourine has not yet been elucidated, experimental studies using mouse infection models are needed. Although mice are not susceptible to most T. equiperdum strains, some strains can infect mice. Even in such strains, infected mice develop rapidly transient parasitemia and die within 2–8 days. Therefore, mice experimentally infected with these T. equiperdum strains are not suitable for mouse infection models to analysis the pathogenesis of dourine. A sequential method of isolating parasites from dourine-affected horses and adapting them to in vitro cultures using soft agarose media was recently developed. Various T. equiperdum strains adapted to in vitro conditions have been established using this technique. We used one of these strains, the T. equiperdum IVM-t2 strain. In the present study, T. equiperdum IVM-t2 strain inoculated mice developed periodic parasitemia during the experimental period of 60 days. Histopathologically, vaginitis and dermatitis were observed. These findings were comparable to those of dourine-affected horses. Therefore, mice infected with T. equiperdum IVM-t2 strain may be a valuable tool for pathological, immunological, and parasitological in vivo research, and will contribute to investigations on the mechanisms underlying the disease process and the host-parasite relationship.     

Effects of azithromycin on tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): health status evaluation using biochemical,physiological and morphological biomarkers

Bacterial diseases cause tilapia's high‐mortality outbreak. This study investigated the toxicity of azithromycin (AZT), a macrolide antibiotic that has been considered a possible therapeutic drug for tilapia aquacultural use. The 48‐h acute toxicity (50% lethal concentration, LC50; 48 h) of AZT was determined for Oreochromis niloticus. Thereafter, fish were exposed to 0, 1, 50 and 100 mg L^?1 AZT during 14 days (chronic exposure) and measured the haematological variables, the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST) and the concentration of glutathione (GSH), protein carbonyl and lipid peroxidation in the liver; histopathology was analysed the liver, gills and kidneys. The LC50; 48 h was >100 mg L^?1. No fish died during chronic exposure. Haematocrit and haemoglobin concentration increased in fish exposed to 50 and 100 mg L^?1, and the total number of leucocyte and thrombocyte increased after exposure to 100 mg L^?1 AZT, suggesting a stimulation of defence cell production. In the liver, the antioxidant enzyme activities did not change, but GST activity and the GSH level increased in fish exposed to 100 mg L^?1 AZT. Oxidative stress did not occur. Histopathological index (HI_L) indicates moderate liver damage; minor histological changes in the gill and no change in the kidneys. AZT was considered non‐toxic for O. niloticus after acute exposure and, although it causes moderated histopathology in the liver after chronic exposure, this antibiotic may be an alternative against bacterial infections, depending on its efficacy to control bacterial disease in fish.     

Plasma proteins,hepatic enzymes,thyroid hormones and liver histopathology of Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus, 1758) exposed to an oxadiazin pesticide,indoxacarb

Indoxacarb is a relatively new pesticide from oxadiazin class, which is used near carp ponds for agricultural purposes. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine indoxacarb effects on common carp (Cyprinus carpio). The fish were exposed to 0 (control), 0.75, 1.5 and 3 ppm of indoxacarb over 21 days and plasma biochemical characteristics and liver histopathology were examined. Exposure to indoxacarb induced fall in total protein after 21 days. Globulin increased after 7 days and then decreased after 14‐ and 21‐day exposure. Plasma alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase activities increased in 1.5 and 3 ppm treatments after 7‐day exposure. Indoxacarb exposure significantly decreased plasma alkaline phosphatase after 7 days with no change at the second and third samplings. After 7 days, plasma T₃ levels had no significant change; however, it decreased after 14 days in the 1.5 and 3 ppm treatments and also reduced after 21‐day exposure to the 3 ppm treatment compared to the control group. Plasma T₄ level only decreased significantly in the 3 ppm treatment compared to the control group after 21 days. Different histopathological symptoms such as necrosis, hyperaemia, sinusoidal space extension, pyknotic nuclei, leucocyte infiltration and melanomacrophage aggregates were observed after 21‐day exposure to indoxacarb. The symptoms intensity was dependent on indoxacarb concentration. In conclusion, the present results show that indoxacarb exposure adversely affects common carp health and welfare, which consequently may induce serious problems in this species aquaculture.     

Gyrodactylus salmonis infection impairs the olfactory system of rainbow trout

Monogenean worms are ectoparasites that are known to be infectious to a wide variety of fish. Few species of monogenean parasites have been reported in the olfactory chamber of fish in current peer‐reviewed literature. However, the impacts of these parasites on the olfactory system are not well understood. In this study, the effects of Gyrodactylus salmonis on the olfactory system structure and performance were investigated in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The olfactory performance of the infected fish was examined using an electro‐olfactography (EOG) technique, while the ultrastructure of the olfactory rosette was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy (LM). The infected rainbow trout displayed reduced responses to two standard olfactory cues (L‐alanine and TCA). The SEM micrographs revealed that many regions of the olfactory epithelium in the infected fish were heavily pitted and the LM examination of the olfactory epithelium showed local proliferation of mucous cells in the sensory regions as compared to the control group. The results of this study demonstrated that G. salmonis causes physical damage to the olfactory system of fish that lead to olfactory impairment.     

舟山地区大棚凡纳滨对虾生长缓慢病因的调查分析

2013年以来,浙江省舟山地区大棚养殖的凡纳滨对虾(Penaeus vannamei)普遍出现生长缓慢、养殖成功率低的现象。为了查明该原因,本研究采用分子生物学和组织病理学等方法对引起对虾生长缓慢的病因开展了调查分析。结果显示,采集的270份病虾样本中,对虾肝肠胞虫(Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei,EHP)PCR阳性检出率高达85.19%,传染性皮下及造血器官坏死病毒(infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus,IHHNV)检出率为0;所有采集的病虾样本中也未分离到常见的致病菌;54份正常的对虾样本中EHP和IHHNV均未检出。将病虾PCR扩增产物进行序列测定和比对分析,结果获得的序列片段与Gen Bank中已有EHP相关序列相似性高达99.55%;病虾的肝胰腺组织病理切片观察显示,在虾肝胰腺组织中可观察到处于各个生长发育阶段的EHP。通过上述研究,初步认为EHP是引起舟山地区大棚养殖对虾生长缓慢的一个重要病原。