A Severe Hellenic CMV Tomato Isolate: Symptom Variability in Tobacco, Characterization and Discrimination of Variants

A severe strain of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) originating from an infected tomato plant (Gastouni-Olympia, Greece) was isolated in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi nc), after three serial local lesion passages in Chenopodium quinoa and designated CMV-G. CMV-G induces yellow mosaic (YM) symptoms in tobacco. When CMV-G was passed mechanically through C. quinoa, phenotypic variants inducing YM or green mild mosaic (MM) in tobacco were isolated. Aphid transmission, from different hosts, appears to be an effective approach for separating MM variants of CMV-G from YM variants. In particular, aphid transmission from zucchini proved to be very efficient in selecting for MM variants. In contrast, aphids transmitted only YM variants from tomato plants. Molecular characterization of CMV-G and its progeny resulted in their classification in the CMV subgroup IB, free of satellite RNA, being the first discovery of the subgroup IB in Greece. In the Solanaceae family (tobacco, tomato, pepper) YM variants induced more severe symptoms than the MM variants. YM and MM phenotype was stable in tobacco for all seven passages tried using the obtained YM and MM variants. Cross-protection experiments showed that an isolated MM variant was able to protect tobacco plants against a challenge infection by a YM variant.     

Eine Waldstation für Tannenlausstudien

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

First evidence and molecular characterization of Babesia vogeli in naturally infected dogs and Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks in southern France

Babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne disease of animals and humans caused by intraerythrocytic protozoa of the genera Babesia and Theileria. In France canine babesiosis has a high prevalence with Babesia canis thought to be the main aetiological agent of the disease. Babesia vogeli has already been reported to occur in Europe and in other countries around the Mediterranean Sea. The tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus, the main known vector of B. vogeli, occurs in southern France. However, only one case of a B. vogeli infected dog has been reported to date in France. To gain further insight into the prevalence of Babesia and Theileria infections in dogs and ticks of the R. sanguineus complex, a study was conducted in a veterinary practice in the south of France from January to September 2010. Twelve bloods from dogs and 36 R. sanguineus ticks were analyzed using PCR and sequencing. For the analysis of ticks, a new primer was designed to specifically amplify the B. vogeli 18S rRNA gene. Four dogs (33.3%) and 8 ticks (22.2%) were found to be infected with B. vogeli. This approach has thus revealed for the first time a cluster of cases of canine babesiosis caused by B. vogeli in France and highlights the need to systematically screen for pathogens potentially responsible for canine babesiosis at the species level using suitable molecular tools.     

Skull size and shape variation in Psammomys spp. (Rodentia,Gerbillinae) from Tunisia,with emphasis on the impact of allometric variation on species recognition

In Tunisia both Psammomys obesus and P. vexillaris are found. These taxa have been the subject of taxonomic controversy for some time, due to variability in the classical morphological characters used for taxonomic recognition. In this study we investigated skull size and shape variation in the genus Psammomys by using geometric morphometrics to evaluate the extent of intra- and interspecific shape variation and explicitly tested for the impact of allometric shape variation on species discrimination. Eleven populations of the two species from 10 localities in Tunisia were studied. Statistical analyses of size and shape showed large size variation within P. obesus, but no shape differences were revealed among populations of this species. Interspecific analysis revealed that P. vexillaris had the smallest skull. Principal component analysis and Procrustes distances showed good discrimination between the two species after removal of the allometric component of shape variation. The results obtained show that allometric-related shape variation could mask discrimination between the two Psammomys species. This finding might explain the uncertainty in classification of these species in the past. The interspecific allometric-free phenotypic differences observed may be associated with adaptive processes linked to the different environmental and trophic preferences of the two species.     

Canine spermatozoa—What do we know about their morphology and physiology? An overview

Spermatozoa are unique cells because of their morphological and physiological characteristics. They are produced during the process called spermatogenesis. Spermatogenesis consists of three phases: spermatocytogenesis, spermiogenesis and spermiation, during which spermatozoa undergo several changes. Spermatogenesis takes place within the seminiferous tubules containing two types of cells—the germ cells and the Sertoli cells—that alongside the Leydig cells, which play an important role when it comes to normal fertility. Everything is regulated by the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis and specific hormones due to multi-hormonal feedback systems. Spermatozoa possess morphological and physiological features, which are sometimes completely different from what is observed in various somatic cells. What is more, canine spermatozoa have specific characteristics making them special compared to the spermatozoa of other mammalian species. The metabolic energy production, which is crucial for the appropriate functioning of spermatozoa, can be fuelled by different metabolic pathways utilizing different chemical substrates. Inseparable from the oxidative phosphorylation process is the production of reactive oxygen species, which are both essential and toxic to spermatozoa. Furthermore, epididymis is a very important structure, responsible for the transport and maturation of spermatozoa, which are then stored in the last segment of epididymis—the epididymal cauda. Moreover, the retrieval of spermatozoa from the epididymides is crucial for the development of assisted reproduction techniques and sperm cryopreservation methods. The information gained from the research on domestic dogs might be transferred to their wild relatives, especially those species categorized as endangered.     

Chronic canine ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis): a retrospective study of 19 natural cases

Nineteen dogs from Greece with chronic ehrlichiosis were studied. The dogs exhibited bicytopenia or pancytopenia, bone marrow hypoplasia, seroreactivity to Ehrlichia canis (E. canis) antigens, and had no history of drug or radiation exposure. Anorexia, depression, severe bleeding tendencies, hypoalbuminemia, and increased serum alanine aminotransferase activity were also hallmarks of the disease. All these animals eventually died, irrespective of the treatment applied. Some dogs were also serologically positive for Rickettsia conorii, Leishmania infantum (L. infantum), and Bartonella vinsonii subspp. berkhoffii. Polymerase chain reaction testing of bone marrow samples revealed E. canis, Anaplasma phagocytophilia, Anaplasma platys, and L. infantum in some dogs. Concurrent infections did not appear to substantially influence the clinical course and final outcome of the chronic canine ehrlichiosis.     

Effects of machine-milking on the bacterial flora of teat duct and mammary gland of ewes

In total, 308 paired-samples of teat duct material and milk, were collected before and 50-70 min after machine-milking, from 30 ewes. Samples were processed bacteriologically. For analysis of results, we compared changes in bacterial isolation following milking, for duct and milk samples; statistical significance was assessed by the Sign Test. Bacteria were isolated from 18 (6%) duct and 19 (6%) milk samples collected before the milking procedure; respective figures after it, were 81 (26%) and 33 (11%). In 77 (25%) cases, bacteriological findings in the two duct samples of each pair were different; in seven cases bacteria were isolated only before, whilst in 70 cases bacteria were isolated only after milking (P < 0.005); respective results for milk samples were 26 (8%): 6 and 20 cases (P = 0.693). The majority of bacterial isolates were staphylococci, accounting for 63% of 99 isolates. The milking procedure predisposes to entrance of bacteria into the teat duct; however, increased bacterial isolation from the teat did not result to increased mammary infections, likely as a consequence of defence mechanisms present in healthy teats.     

A randomised, blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial with allopurinol in canine leishmaniosis.

A total of 45 non-uremic dogs, with clinical signs indicating leishmaniosis, entered the study. Diagnosis was confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) on serum and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on bone marrow samples. The dogs were randomly allocated into Group A (n=37) that received allopurinol (10mg/kg B.W., per os, twice daily) for 4 consecutive months, and Group B (n=8) that were placebo-treated. Clinical signs were scored just before and at monthly intervals throughout the study period, in a blinded and independent fashion. Complete blood count, serum biochemistry profile, urinalysis, lymph node and bone marrow parasitology, IFA and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) serology and bone marrow PCR were carried out at the beginning and at the end of the trial. A total of three Group A and one Group B dogs died of end stage kidney disease that developed during the trial. In Group A animals that endured the trial there was a significant improvement in the general body condition, conjunctivitis, peripheral lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, masticatory muscle atrophy, ulcerative stomatitis, epistaxis, exfoliative dermatitis, cutaneous ulcerations, blepharitis and nasodigital hyperkeratosis. The same observation was made for anemia, lymphopenia, hyperproteinemia, hyperglobulinemia, hyperphosphatemia, increased alkaline phosphatase activity and the low albumin/globulin ratio. By contrast, no improvement of any kind was seen in Group B dogs. Lymph node and bone marrow parasite numbers were significantly decreased in Group A animals. In Group B, that occurred only in the lymph nodes. Apart from remission of clinical signs and restoration to normal of clinicopathological abnormalities, allopurinol did not eliminate Leishmania organisms, as the PCR result on bone marrow was still positive in all the dogs that finished the trial.     

Mycoplasma infections in farm animals: specific prevention of infectious (contagious) agalactia in the sheep and goat

The authors of this paper have produced live vaccine to cope with infectious agalactia in goat. The vaccine (culture) was used on 360, 924 goats kept on ajmaks in Bajanchongor and Gobi-Altaj, in 1986. The number of pathologically affected goats went down by a factor of 4.5, as compared to 1985. Mortality was reduced to one third. Abortions declined by a factor of 2.6 and infertility among goats by 1.6. The conclusion is that sheep of the Mongolian breed are not susceptible to infectious agalactia. Large-scale production tests of live cultures supported hopes for successful action on this infectious disease under Mongolian conditions.     

Die Bestimmung der Tiefgefriertauglichkeit von Bullensperma mit Hilfe des Objektträgertestes

Inhalt Es Wurde versucht, 276 Ejakulate von 50 Bullen der Rasse Deutsche. Fleckvich mit Hilfe eines einfachen Objekträgertestes ohne die im Ruutineverfahren üblichen Maβnahmen (Adaption, Einfrieren) auf ihre Gefriertauglichkeit zu testen. Dies erfolgte durch einen Vergleich der Auftauraten von verdünnten Spermaproben gleich nach dem Tiefgefrieren ohne Adaption auf Objektträgern und von solchen die nach 6–8stündigcr Adaption routinemäβig in Ampullen bzw. Pailletten eingefroren wurden. Die Untersuchungen führten zu folgenden Ergebnissen: 1. Die Auftaurate von Spermaproben, die ohne Adaption auf Objektträgern im Stickstoffdampf eingefroren wurden, lassen bis zu einem gewissen Grade eine Vorausbestimmung des Einfrierergebnisses und damit der Tiefgefriertauglichkeit eines Ejakulates zu. Bullen, deren Sperma im Objektträgertest ein Auftaurate von über 20% zeigt, werden als gefriertauglich, jene mit einer Spermienmotilität nach dem Auftauen der Objektträgerproben von unter 5% als gefrieruntauglich und solche, deren aufgetautes Sperma 5% bis 20 % motile Spermien aufweisen, als bedingt tauglich angesprochen. 2. Zur Beurteilung eines Bullen hinsichtliclz der Gefriertauglichkeit seines Spermas reicht die Testung von 3 Ejakulaten aus. 3. Der Objektträgertest ist leicht durchführbar und zeitsparend. Er ist für die Auswahl der Bullen hinsichtlich der Gefriertauglichkeit ihres Spermas für die Praxis allerdings nur bedingt einsatzfähig, da ein groβer Teil der Stiere doch noch routinemäβig nachgetestet werden muβ. Er bringt eindeutige Ergebnisse nur dann, wenn die Auftaurate höchstens 5% und deutlich mehr als 20 % beträgt. Contents (The determination of the suitability for deep freezing of bull semen using a slide test) . 276 ejaculates from 50 bulls of ther German Fleckvieh breed were studied for deep freezing suitability using a simple slide test without the routinely used mea.rures (adaptation, freezing). A comparison was made of the thawing rates of diluted semen samples immediately after deep-freezing without adaptation on slides and after 6–8 hours adaptntion in ampoules or paillettes. The following results were obtained: 1. The thawing rate of semen samples frozen without adaptation on slides in the vapour phase of nitrogen allow a certain degree of predetermination of the freezing result and therefore of the suitability of an ejaculate for deep freezing. Bulls whose semen shows a thawing rate of over 20% by the slide test are taken as being suitable for freezing; those with a sperm motility after the slide test of less than 5% are unsuitable; those with a sperm motility of 5–20% are considered as conditionally suitable. 2. 3 ejaculates are sufficient to test a bull for suitability of semen for deep-freezing. 3. The slide test is easy to carry out and saves time. However, for the selection of bulls on the basis of deep freezing of semen in practice it is limited, since a large proportion of bulls still have to be tested further. The test only gives unequivocal results if the thawing rate is less than 5% or more than 20%.