Isolation and pathogenicity of Colletotrichum spp. causing anthracnose of strawberry in south west Spain

Anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum spp., is a major disease of cultivated strawberry, Fragaria × ananassa. This study identifies the Colletotrichum spp. which causes strawberry anthracnose in the southwest of Spain. A survey of the region was carried out, and the strains isolated were identified as C. acutatum by using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with genus and species-specific primers, demonstrating that this species is currently the causal agent of strawberry anthracnose in the studied region. The pathogenicity of C. acutatum and C. gloeosporioides strains was evaluated on two principal strawberry cultivars (cvs Camarosa and Ventana) under field conditions, the latter being more pathogenic than the former.     

Prospects for management strategies of invasive crayfish populations with an emphasis on biological control

• 1. The white‐clawed crayfish, Austropotamobius pallipes (Lereboullet), is the only freshwater crayfish indigenous to Great Britain and Ireland. It has a widespread, though declining distribution in England and parts of Wales but does not occur naturally in Scotland.
• 2. The North American signal crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus (Dana), is not native to Europe and was introduced to Britain in the 1970s. The signal crayfish out‐competes the native white‐clawed crayfish as it is larger and more aggressive. It is also responsible for the introduction and spread of crayfish plague, which has devastated white‐clawed crayfish populations in Europe.
• 3. Signal crayfish populations are causing significant changes to the equilibrium of native flora and fauna through increased grazing and predation pressures; they also contribute to habitat degradation through burrowing.
• 4. Manual removal of crayfish using traps and pond trials with biocides have met with moderate success in reducing crayfish numbers and containing populations. However, with new populations of signal crayfish being reported each year within the UK, there is now an urgent need to develop a strategy with which to eradicate or contain their spread.
• 5. Signal crayfish have populated many habitat types in the UK, each of which may require a different control strategy; hence no single strategy or universal solution is likely to be attainable.
• 6. Signal crayfish are susceptible to various biocides and microbial pathogens but significant scientific research will be required to develop safe biological control methods and integrated pest management (IPM) strategies to control these invasive organisms. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

     

VH1-44 gene usage defines a subset of canine B-cell lymphomas associated with better patient survival

The use of specific immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (VH) genes has been associated with increased patient survival in human B-cell lymphomas (hBCL). Given the similarity of human and canine BCL (cBCL) in morphology and clinical treatment, we examined the choice of VH in cBCL and determined whether VH gene selection was a distinct feature associated with survival time in dogs. VH gene selection and mutational status in 52 cBCL, including 29 diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (cDLBCL, the most common subtype of cBCL), were analyzed by comparison with the 80 published canine germline VH gene sequences. We further examined the prognostic impact of the subgroups defined by these features on canine survival. We found that VH1-44 was preferentially expressed in the majority of the 52 cBCLs (60%) as well as in the majority of the cDLBCL subset (59%). VH1-44 gene expression was associated with a statistically better overall survival (p = 0.039) in cBCL patients, as well as in the cDLBCL subset of patients (p = 0.038). These findings suggest that VH gene selection in cBCL is not random and may therefore have functional implications for cBCL lymphomagenesis, in addition to being a useful prognostic biomarker.     

Ericaceous shrubs affect black spruce physiology independently from inherent site fertility

Vegetative layering of black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.] B.S.P.) is the principal mode of regeneration for over mature, uneven-aged stands subject to long fire cycles (>300 years) in northeastern Québec, Canada. However, growth response of black spruce layers following disturbance by fire or harvest can be slow, due to a lag of morphological acclimation and potential nutrient limitation. This phenomenon can be accentuated if black spruce is associated with ericaceous shrubs such as Kalmia angustifolia and Rhododendron groenlandicum, which are known to interfere with conifer growth through direct and indirect competition. Such interactions can result in productive stands being converted to unproductive heathlands. It is not known whether these effects of ericaceous shrubs on black spruce are accentuated on low fertility sites, or if the impacts are independent of inherent site fertility. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of ericaceous shrubs on both resource availability and on functional traits of black spruce advance regeneration across a gradient of site fertility (as defined by a site classification system). We monitored black spruce advanced regeneration physiology and soil nutrient availability over two growing seasons on a gradient of ecological site types in northeastern Québec (Canada). The eradication of competing vegetation favored higher soil NH₄-N and K availability, with increases of 67% and 28% compared to control conditions, respectively. Black spruce photosynthesis rate (A) and foliar K content were higher in plots where vegetation was eradicated, compared to the control plots, but did not vary among ecological site types. Photosynthesis did not appear to be limited by nitrogen or water relations, but was possibly limited by a deficit of foliar K⁺, probably resulting from reduced availability following sequestration by the ericaceous root systems. The absence of interaction between inherent site fertility and the eradication of ericaceous shrubs suggests that vegetation management of ericaceous shrubs must be planned independently from the ecological site type.     

Evaluation of concentration of voriconazole in aqueous humor after topical and oral administration in horses

OBJECTIVE: To determine penetration of topically and orally administered voriconazole into ocular tissues and evaluate concentrations of the drug in blood and signs of toxicosis after topical application in horses. ANIMALS: 11 healthy adult horses. PROCEDURE: Each eye in 6 horses was treated with a single concentration (0.5%, 1.0%, or 3.0%) of a topically administered voriconazole solution every 4 hours for 7 doses. Anterior chamber paracentesis was performed and plasma samples were collected after application of the final dose. Voriconazole concentrations in aqueous humor (AH) and plasma were measured via high-performance liquid chromatography. Five horses received a single orally administered dose of voriconazole (4 mg/kg); anterior chamber paracentesis was performed, and voriconazole concentrations in AH were measured. RESULTS: Mean +/- SD voriconazole concentrations in AH after topical administration of 0.5%, 1.0%, and 3.0% solutions (n = 4 eyes for each concentration) were 1.43 +/- 0.37 microg/mL, 2.35 +/- 0.78 microg/mL, and 2.40 +/- 0.29 microg/mL, respectively. The 1.0% and 3.0% solutions resulted in significantly higher AH concentrations than the 0.5% solution, and only the 3.0% solution induced signs of ocular toxicosis. Voriconazole was detected in the plasma for 1 hour after the final topically administered dose of all solutions. Mean +/- SD voriconazole concentration in AH after a single orally administered dose was 0.86 +/- 0.22 microg/mL. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicated that voriconazole effectively penetrated the cornea in clinically normal eyes and reached detectable concentrations in the AH after topical administration. The drug also penetrated noninflamed equine eyes after oral administration. Low plasma concentrations of voriconazole were detected after topical administration.     

A genetic map of macadamia based on randomly amplified DNA fingerprinting (RAF) markers

The first genetic linkage map of macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia and M. tetraphylla) is presented. The map is based on 56 F₁ progeny of cultivars ‘Keauhou’ and ‘A16’. Eighty-four percent of the 382 markers analysed segregated as Mendelian loci. The two-way pseudo-testcross mapping strategy allowed construction of separate parental cultivar maps. Ninety bridging loci enabled merging of these maps to produce a detailed genetic map of macadamia, 1100 cm in length and spanning 70–80% of the genome. The combined map comprised 24 linkage groups with 265 framework markers: 259 markers from randomly amplified DNA fingerprinting (RAF), five random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), and one sequence-tagged microsatellite site (STMS). The RAF marker system unexpectedly revealed 16 codominant markers, one of them a putative microsatellite locus and exhibiting four distinct alleles in the cross. This molecular study is the most comprehensive examination to date of genetic loci of macadamia, and is a major step towards developing marker-assisted selection for this crop. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Influence of water quality and temperature on adhesion of high and low virulence Flavobacterium columnare strains to isolated gill arches

The ability of Flavobacterium columnare ( Flexibacter columnaris ) to attach to the gills of common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., was evaluated using a gill perfusion model. A comparison between a high and a low virulence strain of F. columnare was made and evaluated in comparison to results obtained previously with an in vivo model. The ion composition of the water of the organ bath in which the gills were suspended was varied and the influence on adhesion processes assessed. Experiments were carried out to examine the influence of water quality (i.e. nitrite and organic matter) and temperature on the capacity of the bacteria to adhere. It was found that the high virulence strain adhered more readily than the low virulence strain, as was found during the in vivo experiments. Moreover, it was observed that adhesion of the high virulence strain was enhanced by a number of factors. These were immersion of the gill in bivalent, ion-rich water, the presence of nitrite or organic matter, and high temperatures.     

Epidemiology and cost of Lyme disease‐related hospitalizations among patients with employer‐sponsored health insurance—United States, 2005–2014

An estimated 300,000 cases of Lyme disease occur in the United States annually. Disseminated Lyme disease may result in carditis, arthritis, facial palsy or meningitis, sometimes requiring hospitalization. We describe the epidemiology and cost of Lyme disease‐related hospitalizations. We analysed 2005–2014 data from the Truven Health Analytics MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters Databases to identify inpatient records associated with Lyme disease based on International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD‐9‐CM) codes. We estimated the annual number and median cost of Lyme disease‐related hospitalizations in the United States in persons under 65 years of age. Costs were adjusted to reflect 2016 dollars. Of 20,983,165 admission records contained in the inpatient databases during the study period, 2,823 (0.01%) met inclusion criteria for Lyme disease‐related hospitalizations. Over half of the identified records contained an ICD‐9‐CM code for meningitis (n = 614), carditis (n = 429), facial palsy (n = 400) or arthritis (n = 377). Nearly 60% of hospitalized patients were male. The median cost per Lyme disease‐related hospitalization was $11,688 (range: $140–$323,613). The manifestation with the highest median cost per stay was carditis ($17,461), followed by meningitis ($15,177), arthritis ($13,012) and facial palsy ($10,491). Median cost was highest among the 15‐ to 19‐year‐old age group ($12,991). Admissions occurring in January had the highest median cost ($13,777) for all study years. Based on extrapolation to the U.S. population, we estimate that 2,196 Lyme disease‐related hospitalizations in persons under 65 years of age occur annually with an estimated annual cost of $25,826,237. Lyme disease is usually treated in an outpatient setting; however, some patients with Lyme disease require hospitalization, underscoring the need for effective prevention methods to mitigate these serious cases. Information from this analysis can aid economic evaluations of interventions that prevent infection and advances in disease detection.     

A COMPARISON OF THE ROSTROCAUDAL OPEN MOUTH AND ROSTRO 10° VENTRO-CAUDODORSAL OBLIQUE RADIOGRAPHIC VIEWS FOR IMAGING FLUID IN THE FELINE TYMPANIC BULLA

Fluid within the tympanic bulla is an indication of middle ear disease. Radiography has a relatively low accuracy for the detection of soft tissue opacification in the tympanic bulla, and the most useful radiographic projection, the rostrocaudal open mouth (RCd (open mouth)), is technically difficult to perform in dogs and cats. An alternative projection for the feline tympanic bulla, the rostro 10 degrees ventro-caudodorsal oblique (R10 degrees V-CdDO), was compared to the RCd (open mouth) in 41 feline cadaver heads with the tympanic bullae randomly filled with KY jelly. Computed tomography was used as the gold standard. Each tympanic bulla was recorded as being positive or negative for soft tissue opacification. Although there was no significant difference between the accuracy of the two views, the R10 degrees V-CdDO was subjectively more accurate and easier to perform, and in a live patient may be performed without the need for general anesthesia. The R10 degrees V-CdDO projection is a good alternative to the RCd (open mouth) projection for detecting otitis media in the cat.