Effectiveness of Combined Use of Mineral Oil and Insecticide Spray in Reducing <Emphasis Type="Italic">Potato Virus Y</Emphasis> (PVY) Spread under Field Conditions in New Brunswick,Canada

In the 2014 and 2015 crop seasons, the efficacies of different types, rates and combinations of mineral oil and insecticide foliar sprays for reducing Potato virus Y (PVY) spread were tested in controlled field trials in New Brunswick (NB), Canada. Experimental plots were planted with certified PVY-free Goldrush, supplemented with known virus-infected seed to raise PVY inoculum to 2.3% and 3% at the beginning of the 2014 and 2015 seasons, respectively. Treatments consisted of mineral oil-only sprays at different application rates, insecticide-only sprays of differing numbers, and several combined mineral oil and insecticide spray regimes, all compared to a no-spray control treatment. PVY spread to 18% (2014) and 22% (2015) of initially virus-free plants in no-spray control plots, with significant reductions observed in PVY spread in several treatments. Greatest PVY reductions, as low as 4% (2014) and 12% (2015), were in combined mineral oil and insecticide spray treatments, followed by oil-only sprays; while insecticide-only sprays did not significantly reduce PVY spread. As well as measuring PVY spread to marked test plants and randomly collected post-harvest tuber sample from the plots, exhibited similar treatment pattern for PVY incidence. Multiple logistic regression modeling confirmed the relative efficacy of combined oil and insecticide sprays for reducing PVY spread, while accounting for variable inoculum and aphid factors. Modeling also highlighted the importance of planting low-PVY seed initially, and of early application of foliar sprays. Local best management practice recommendations for reduction of in-field PVY spread were discussed.     

Lipid and fatty acid composition of likely zooplankton prey of spiny lobster (Jasus edwardsii) phyllosomas

Several of the world's major spiny lobster fisheries, including Jasus edwardsii in Australasia, have gone into dramatic decline due to decreasing recruitment of their lecithotrophic postlarvae. There is evidence that the decline is related to poor nutritional condition of the postlarvae, especially lipid that is accumulated in large quantities during the preceding pelagic larval stage. Therefore, characterizing the lipid composition of the likely potential zooplankton prey of the larvae (phyllosomas) of spiny lobsters will provide new insights into their nutritional requirements. The lipid class and fatty acid composition of more than 30 species of likely zooplankton prey of the larvae of the spiny lobster, J. edwardsii, were determined. These results showed that most zooplankton prey had a high proportion of their lipid content as polar lipid (PL) (range of 9.4–94.8%, mean of 76.1 ± 2.6%). Zooplankton prey provide phyllosomas with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) for growth and development, as well as a range of other important fatty acids that are accumulated as PL and used for fuelling the migration of the subsequent lecithotrophic postlarvae across the continental shelf. Overall, these results indicate that phyllosomas consume prey with wide ranging lipid content, but dominated by PL, and high in docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and the key fatty acids used for energy storage.     

Pheasant ataxia: a new condition in pheasant poults

Between 1995 and 1997 a neurological condition in pheasant poults from 24 sites in England and Scotland was investigated. Affected birds showed varying degrees of ataxia and incoordinated movements and, in severe cases, recumbency, but generally remained alert with their heads held upright. The condition characteristically affected poults from seven weeks of age and the incidence on any one site was low. No significant bacteria were isolated consistently from brain tissue. The condition was characterised histologically by a non-suppurative meningoencephalitis, in which lesions were found predominantly in the cerebellum in 61 of 81 samples examined (75.3 per cent). A non-suppurative myelitis was recorded in 16 of 20 spinal cords examined. No lesions were recorded in peripheral neural tissue and lesions were rare in other tissues. The condition appeared not to have been recorded previously in pheasants. A viral aetiology was suspected but Newcastle disease virus was not involved.     

The coat proteins and putative movement proteins of isolates of Prunus necrotic ringspot virus from different host species and geographic origins are extensively conserved

A complete sequence for the RNA 3 of Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) is described (Genbank Accession U57046). Primers from this sequence were used to amplify both the movement protein and coat protein genes of 3 other isolates of PNRSV originating from different host species and geographic locations. Comparisons of these sequences with those of other published sequences for PNRSV and the closely related apple mosaic virus (ApMV) showed that both the movement proteins and coat proteins of isolates of PNRSV are extensively conserved irrespective of either the original host or the geographic origin. The movement protein and coat protein of ApMV and PNRSV are sufficiently conserved to suggest that these two viruses may have evolved from a common ancestor. The amino acid sequence of the two coat proteins shows areas of similarity and difference that would explain the serological continuum reported to occur among isolates of these two viruses. Nevertheless, the movement protein and coat protein of the two viruses are sufficiently different so that ApMV and PNRSV should be considered to be distinct viruses.     

Current distribution of sarcoptic mange in wombats

Objective To determine the distribution and prevalence of sarcoptic mange in wombats, particularly the common wombat ( Vombatus ursinus ).
Design Questionnaire survey in two parts.
Procedure Questionnaires were distributed to biologists, rangers, animal carers and naturalists. Part 1 of the questionnaire aimed to determine the present distribution of sarcoptic mange in wombats (103 responses). Part 2 invited respondents to assess the prevalence of sarcoptic mange in wombats over a 3 month period (four responses). Information on wombats from 66 localities was received. Each locality represented an area of about 2500 km².
Results Mange was observed at 93% of localities surveyed and Sarcoptes scabiei was present in common wombats at 52% of localities. Sarcoptic mange was highly prevalent (22%) in two common wombat populations in Victoria. Anecdotal evidence suggested that mange epizootics are sporadic, cause significant morbidity and mortality and have a substantial effect on local abundance. The respondents did not report sarcoptic mange in either northern hairy-nosed wombats ( Lasiorhinus krefftii ) or southern hairy-nosed wombats ( Lasiorhinus latifrons ).
Conclusions Sarcoptic mange occurs in common wombat populations throughout the range of the common wombat including Tasmania and Flinders Island. While mange epizootics are sporadic, they have the potential to threaten the long-term survival of small, remnant populations.     

Mutants of rabies viruses in skunks: immune response and pathogenicity.

In studies to develop an oral rabies vaccine for wildlife, the immune response to and pathogenicity of two types of mutants of rabies viruses were examined. Forty-five small plaque mutants were selected from cultures of ERA rabies virus treated with 8-azaguanine or 5-fluorouracil and tested for pathogenicity in mice. Two of these mutants AZA 1 and AZA 2 (low pathogenicity in mice) were given to skunks by oral (bait), intestinal (endoscope) and intramuscular routes. Additionally, challenge virus standard (CVS) rabies virus and mutants of this and ERA rabies virus (CVS 3766 and 3713, and ERA 3629) that were resistant to neutralization by specific antiglycoprotein monoclonal antibodies (and apathogenic in mice) were tested by various routes in skunks. Skunks given AZA 1 and AZA 2 were challenged at three months postinoculation with street rabies virus. After oral administration, there were very low rates of seroconversion with AZA 1 and AZA 2 and on challenge only 2/7 given AZA 1 and 1/8 given AZA 2 survived. None of the skunks given the other mutants orally seroconverted. AZA 2 produced a high rate of seroconversion (8/8) by the intestinal route and all challenged skunks in this group survived (7/7). All skunks vaccinated intramuscularly with AZA 1 (4/4) or AZA 2 (4/4) developed high levels of rabies neutralizing antibodies and survived challenge. The mutant CVS 3766, while apathogenic when given intracerebrally to adult mice, was consistently pathogenic by this route (and intranasally) in skunks. These results demonstrate that skunks are highly resistant to oral immunization by live rabies virus vaccines and that pathogenicity (by intracerebral route) of the mutant CVS 3766 is markedly different in mice and skunks.     

The influence of instream cover and predation risk on microhabitat selection of stone loach Barbatula barbatula (L.)

Abstract— The microhabitat selection of stone loach ( Barbatula barbatula ) in relation to instream cover and predation risk was investigated in artificial streams. In one experiment, stone loach were presented different combinations of shelter structures, two at a time, that provided visual isolation, flow refuge, both, or none. In all cases, visual isolation shelters were selected by the fish, with little use of clear shelters and no apparent selection of flow refuges. In a second experiment, diel activity patterns and habitat selection of stone loach were measured when visual isolation structures were placed in the riffle only, pool only, both riffle and pool or in no habitat. Stone loach were marked with passive integrated transponder tags and a sensor plate was placed between the riffle and pool habitats to measure diel activity patterns. Habitat use was measured by releasing drop gates between the two habitats at the end of each trial. More stone loach used the pool than the riffle in all treatments, but use of the riffle increased when cover was present only there. Furthermore, stone loach were most active between 2100 and 0300. To determine the effect of predation threat on habitat use by stone loach, one adult brown trout ( Salmo trutta ) was added to each pool. The presence of trout caused stone loach to move into the riffle, especially the smaller loach. Overall, the study showed that stone loach used cover in a visual isolation context, preferring deeper water when there was no predation risk, but made more use of shallower water in the presence of brown trout.     

Confirmation of spatial patterns and temperature effects in Bluetongue virus serotype-8 transmission in NW-Europe from the 2007 reported case data

Two separate analyses were carried out to understand the epidemiology of Bluetongue virus serotype 8 (BTV-8) in 2007 in North West Europe: First, the temporal change in transmission rates was compared to the evolution of temperature during that season. Second, we evaluated the spatio-temporal dynamics of newly reported outbreaks, to estimate a spatial transmission kernel. For both analyses, the approach as used before in analysing the 2006 BTV-8 epidemic had to be adapted in order to take into account the fact that the 2007 epidemic was not a newly arising epidemic, but one advancing from whereto it had already spread in 2006. We found that within the area already affected by the 2006 outbreak, the pattern of newly infected farms in 2007 cannot be explained by between-farm transmission, but rather by local re-emergence of the virus throughout that region. This indicates that persistence through winter was ubiquitous for BTV-8. Just like in 2006, we also found that the temperature at which the infection starts to spread lies close to 15 °C. Finally, we found that the shape of the transmission kernel is in line with the one from the 2006 epidemic. In conclusion, despite the substantial differences between 2006 and 2007 in temperature patterns (2006 featured a heat wave in July, whereas 2007 was more regular) and spatial epidemic extent, both the minimum temperature required for transmission and the transmission kernel were similar to those estimated for the 2006 outbreak, indicating that they are robust properties, suitable for extrapolation to other years and similar regions.