Chronic tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium bovis in a domestic donkey in Central Europe

Bovine tuberculosis is a contagious and zoonotic disease of animals and humans. In Europe, the number of reported cases of tuberculosis has decreased. Equidae are relatively rarely infected even in endemic areas. The presented report describes a case of chronic Mycobacterium bovis tuberculosis in a 30-year-old female donkey. The donkey initially presented with persistent lymphadenopathy; however, as the disease progressed, weight loss became apparent. To the authors' knowledge, this is the second confirmed case of tuberculosis in a donkey in Europe.     

Comparative study of health properties and nutritional value of durian, mangosteen, and snake fruit: experiments in vitro and in vivo

In vitro and in vivo studies of the health and nutritional properties of durian (Durio zibethinus Murr.) were compared with snake fruit (Salacca edulis Reinw.) and mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana). Dietary fibers, minerals, and trace metals were comparable. Total polyphenols (mg of GAE/100 g of FW) and flavonoids (85.1+/-6.1) were significantly higher (p<0.05) than in snake fruit (217.1+/-13.2 (mg of CE/100 g of FW)), durian (309.7+/-19.3 and 61.2+/-4.9), and mangosteen (190.3+/-12.1 and 54.1+/-3.8). Antioxidant activity (microM TE/100 g of FW) of durian measured by DPPH and ABTS assays (228.2+/-13.4 and 2016.3+/-81.1) was significantly higher (p<0.05) than in snake fruit (110.4+/-7.9 and 1507.5+/-70.1) and mangosteen (79.1+/-5.9 and 1268.6+/-62.3). HPLC/DAD analysis of durian (microg/100 g of FW) showed that quercetin (1214.23+/-116.7) was present at levels three times that of caffeic acid, and twice as high as p-coumaric and cinnamic acids. The correlation coefficients between the bioactive compounds of fruits and their antioxidant activities were high (R2=0.99). Male Wistar rats (25) were divided into five dietary groups: the control group was fed the basal diet (BD); in addition to BD, the cholesterol (Chol) group was supplemented with 1% of Chol; the diets of the Chol/Durian, Chol/Snake, and Chol/Mangosteen groups were supplemanted with 5% of these fruits, respectively. It was found that diets supplemented with durian, and to a lesser degree with snake fruit and mangosteen, significantly hindered the rise in plasma lipids and the decrease in antioxidant activity. The nutritional values were comparably high. In conclusion, it could be suggested that inclusion of studied tropical fruits, especially durian, in known disease-preventing diets could be beneficial.     

Influence of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate on nonspecific humoral defense mechanisms and protection against furunculosis in pikeperch (Sander lucioperca)

Studies have shown that in both in vitro and in vivo tests, β‐hydroxy‐β‐methylbutyrate (HMB) increases the nonspecific cellular and humoral immune response and protection against diseases in animals. The present study examines the influence of HMB on nonspecific humoral defense mechanisms and protection against furunculosis in pikeperch (Sander lucioperca). β‐hydroxy‐β‐methylbutyrate was fed in a pelleted ration of 50 mg kg^?1 feed day^?1 for 4 weeks. Blood was drawn from 12 HMB‐fed and control‐fed pikeperch. The lysozyme and ceruloplasmin activities in the plasma, total immunoglobulin (Ig) levels, and total serum protein were analysed prior to and then after 2 and 4 weeks of HMB ingestion. After 4 weeks of HMB ingestion, a challenge test was performed by injecting the fish with live pathogenic Aeromonas salmonicida bacteria. β‐hydroxy‐β‐methylbutyrate at a dose of 50 mg kg^?1 feed resulted in a statistically significant (P<0.05) increase in the lysozyme activity of the plasma, total Ig, and serum protein levels. Additionally, reduced mortality (40%) after the in vivo challenge with pathogenic A. salmonicida suggested that HMB‐activated nonspecific protection against furunculosis in pikeperch.     

Status of aquatic and riparian biodiversity in artificial lake ecosystems with and without management for recreational fisheries: Implications for conservation

1. Humanity is facing a biodiversity crisis, with freshwater-associated biodiversity in a particularly dire state. Novel ecosystems created through human use of mineral resources, such as gravel pit lakes, can provide substitute habitats for the conservation of freshwater and riparian biodiversity. Many of these artificial ecosystems are subject to a high intensity of recreational use, however, which may limit their biodiversity potential.
2. The species richness of several taxa (plants, amphibians, dragonflies, damselflies, waterfowl, and songbirds) was assessed and a range of taxonomic biodiversity metrics were compared between gravel pit lakes managed for recreational fisheries (n = 16) and unmanaged reference lakes (n = 10), controlling for non-fishing-related environmental variation.
3. The average species richness of all the taxa examined was similar among lakes in both lake types and no substantial differences in species composition were found when examining the pooled species inventory. Similarly, there were no differences between lake types in the presence of rare species and in the Simpson diversity index across all of the taxa assessed.
4. Variation in species richness among lakes was correlated with woody habitat, lake morphology (surface area and steepness), and land use, but was not correlated with the presence of recreational fisheries. Thus, non-fishing-related environmental variables had stronger effects on local species presence than recreational fisheries management or the presence of recreational anglers.
5. Collectively, no evidence was found that anglers and recreational fisheries management constrain the development of aquatic and riparian biodiversity in gravel pit lakes in the study region; however, the conservation of species diversity in gravel pit lakes could benefit from an increasing reliance on habitat enhancement activities.

     

Effects of β-Hydroxy-β-Methylbutyrate and γ-Oryzanol on Blood Biochemical Markers in Exercising Thoroughbred Race Horses

In both the horse and the man, nutritional ergogenic aids have been used to improve physical ability in conjunction with an appropriate training regimen. Although training increases physical condition, the ease of taking a nutritional additive to improve training results explains the demand for supplementation, which may increase mechanical energy of work, delay onset of fatigue, or improve neuromuscular coordination. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of oral supplementation of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) and γ-oryzanol (GO) on indices of exercise-induced muscle damage in Thoroughbred race horses. In this 32-week study, the horses were assigned to either a placebo, GO (3.0 g/d), HMB (15 g/d), or GO and HMB treatment groups. The supplements were administered for the first 16 weeks of the study during the training period before the racing season began. Blood samples were taken at baseline, and then during training, before exercise, immediately after exercise, and 30 minutes after exercise. Heart rate and speed were monitored in each exercise session. Hematocrit, glucose, lactate (LA), creatine phosphokinase, and aspartate aminotransferase were measured before and after each exercise session. Analysis of variance showed a significantly greater increase in postexercise creatine kinase activity in placebo-supplemented group than in the other treatment groups, both in the training period and during the racing seasons (P < .05). Blood LA was higher immediately after exercise in the placebo group compared with the supplemented groups. In conclusion, supplementation with HMB and GO resulted in decreased creatine kinase and LA after exercise. These findings support the hypothesis that HMB and GO supplementation helps to prevent exercise-induced muscle damage.     

The identification of bean mosaic,pea yellow mosaic and pea necrosis strains of bean yellow mosaic virus

Twelve virus isolates from pea, broad bean, red clover and yellow lupin have been compared with the B25 strain of bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV-B25), the E198 strain of pea mosaic virus (PMV-E198) and the pea necrosis virus (E178), which were described earlier (Bos, 1970).On the basis of host ranges, symptoms and bean and pea varietal reactions most isolates could be classified into three groups, representatives of which did not differ appreciably serologically. These groups were considered to be typicalbean yellow mosaic virus isolates (E212, L1, B25),pea yellow mosaic strain isolates of BYMV (E198, E204, Kow28) andpea necrosis strain isolates of BYMV (E197, E199, E221). From these results and from a survey of literature it is concluded that PMV is only a strain of BYMV.The pea necrosis virus (E178), described earlier as a distinct entity, is still considered a different virus. A severe pea necrosis isolate (Kow14) resembled E178 in many respects and was also more distantly related serologically to the BYMV isolates tested. Four other virus isolates from pea and broad bean (E196, Vf15, Vf18 and Vf30) could not yet be identified. Lettuce mosaic virus (LMV) was found to be serologically rather closely related to BYMV.Results of cross-protection tests were erratic, and particle length measurements were no help in differentiating the strains and viruses studied.Samenvatting Twaalf virusisolaten uit erwt, tuinboon, rode klaver en gele lupine werden vergeleken met de eerder beschreven (Bos, 1970) B25-stam van het bonescherpmozaïekvirus (BYMV), de E198-stam van het erwtemozaïekvirus (PMV) en het erwtenecrosevirus (E178) (Tabel 1).Op grond van waardplantreeksen, symptomen en de reacties van bone- en erwterassen (Tabel 2) konden de meeste isolaten worden ingedeeld in drie groepen, waarvan vertegenwoordigers serologisch niet duidelijk verschilden (Tabel 5). Een groen erwteisolaat (E212) en een met zaad overgaand isolaat uit gele lupine (L1) bleken typische bone-isolaten van hetbonescherpmozaïekvirus, dat duidelijke symptomen veroorzaakt in de meeste bonerassen en groen mozaïek in erwt (Fig. 1A) en tuinboon. InChenopodium amaranticolor geven deze isolaten in tegenstelling tot alle andere getoetste isolaten gewoonlijk systemische symptomen, die met het lupineïsolaat zeer hevig zijn (Fig. 4A).Twee erwtegeelmozaïekisolaten (E198 en E204) en een isolaat uit rode klaver (Kow28), die geelmozaïek in erwt en tuinboon doen ontstaan en slechts milde symptomen in een deel der op het bonescherpmozaïekvirus reagerende bonerassen, werden opgevat als behorend tot deerwtegeelmozaïekstam van het bonescherpmozaïekvirus.Drie erwtenecrose-isolaten (E197, E199, E221), die necrose veroorzaken in erwt (Fig. 3) en tuinboon (Fig. 2) terwijl de bonerassen gewoonlijk overgevoelig bleken, werden beschreven alserwteecrosestammen van het bonescherpmozaïekvirus.De drie voor erwtemozaïek onvatbare erwterassen bleken immuun voor alle isolaten van het bonescherpmozaïekvirus behalve E197, dat een latente systemische infectie gaf in Relonce.Het eerder als een aparte eenheid beschreven erwtenecrosevirus (E178) gedroeg zich ook nu duidelijk verschillend van de bonescherpmozaïekvirusisolaten. Het isolaat Kow14, dat in erwt eveneens ernstige necrose veroorzaakte, leek op E178 in de necrose die werd teweeggebracht in erwt en tuinboon, in de lokale vlekken in komkommerzaadlobben en in het ontbreken van systemische necrose inLupinus angustifolius, maar de meeste bonerassen waren onvatbaar voor Kow14. Het was ook serologisch minder nauw verwant aan de onderzochte bonescherpmozaïekvirusisolaten.Vier andere virusisolaten uit erwt en tuinboon konden nog niet worden geïdentificeerd. Eén ervan (Vf18) vertoonde een unieke latente systemische infectie in alle drie mozaïekonvatbare erwterassen (Tabel 2).Resultaten van de premunitieproeven (Tabel 3) waren wisselvallig en nergens werd een volledige bescherming verkregen. Deeltjeslengtemetingen (Tabel 4) bleken niet van nut bij de onderscheiding van de onderhavige stammen en virussen.Uit de verkregen resultaten en uit een overzicht van de literatuur wordt tenslotte geconcludeerddat het erwtemozaïekvirus opgevat moet worden als een stam van het bonescherpmozaïekvirus. Het laatstgenoemde virus is tamelijk nauw verwant aan het slamozaïekvirus, zoals met een antiserum tegen dit virus werd aangetoond.De variabiliteit van het bonescherpmozaïekvirus en zijn relaties met een groep van nauw verwante virussen wordt verder besproken. Biologische eigenschappen van de onderhavige virussen hoeven niet samen te vallen met de lichamelijke eigenschappen van hun deeltjes, inclusief de serologische. De virussen en hun stammen kunnen gemakkelijk worden onderscheiden met behulp van een beperkte reeks van differentiërende waardplantsoorten (Tabel 6). Een indeling van de betrokken virussen op grond van pathogeniteit is zowel van betekenis om praktische redenen, als voor het verkrijgen van inzicht in hun ontstaan.Guest worker from May through November 1973 as a fellow of the International Agricultural Centre, Wageningen. Research worker of the Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pozna, Poland.     

Flavonoids from barrel medic (Medicago truncatula) aerial parts

Twenty-three flavonoids have been identified in the aerial parts of barrel medic, and their structures were established by spectrometric and spectroscopic (ESI-MS/MS and NMR) techniques. Eight of the identified compounds, including apigenin 7-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-(1-->3)-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-(1-->2)-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside, apigenin 7-O-[2'-O-sinapoyl-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-(1-->2)-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside], apigenin 7-O-{2-O-feruloyl-[beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-(1-->2)-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside}, chrysoeriol 7-O-[beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-(1-->2)-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside, chrysoeriol 7-O-{2'-O-p-coumaroyl-[beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl(1-->2)-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside}, tricin 7-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-4'-O-glucopyranoside, tricin 7-O-[2'-O-feruloyl-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-(1-->2)-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside], and tricin 7-O-{2'-O-p-coumaroyl-[beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl(1-->2)-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside}, have not been reported before in the plant kingdom. Additionally, the presence of two luteolin, three apigenin, one chrysoeriol, and six tricin glycosides, previously identified in alfalfa (Medicago sativa), was confirmed in M. truncatula. Moreover, besides the above flavones, the aerial parts of this species contained three flavonols including rutin, laricitrin 3,7,5'-triglucoside, and laricitrin 3,5'-diglucoside.     

Supplementing the feed of pikeperch [Sander lucioperca (L.)] juveniles with MacroGard and its influence on nonspecific cellular and humoral defense mechanisms

This study examined the influence of β‐1.3/1.6‐glucan (MacroGard) on the innate immune system in healthy pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) juveniles. MacroGard was fed in a pelleted ration of 1 or 2 g kg^?1 feed for 6 weeks. The control group of fish was fed feed with no supplement. Blood, pronephros and spleen samples for the study of nonspecific cellular and humoral defense mechanisms were collected from 10 fish from each group. No changes were observed in either the behaviour or the health of the fish throughout the rearing period. Fish mortality was not noted in any of the groups. Additionally, the supplementation of feed with MacroGard did not have a significant impact on the fish growth rate as expressed in both absolute and relative values (P>0.05). The condition of the fish from the experimental group did not differ from that of the control group specimens, and the feed conversion ratios were also very similar (P>0.05). The results showed that MacroGard administered in two doses significantly (P<0.05) activated the metabolic activity and potential killing activity of spleen phagocytes, compared with the control‐fed pikeperch. The highest phagocyte activity was observed with a dose of 2 g kg^?1. The proliferative response of pronephros lymphocytes indicated a similar pattern. MacroGard significantly increased proliferative response of lymphocytes stimulated by mitogens (P<0.05). MacroGard also significantly increased the lysozyme activity and total immunoglobulin levels in the serum. In this study neither significantly different ceruloplasmine activity or total protein level in serum were observed. The result showed that MacroGard at the optimal dose of 1 g kg^?1 feed and a twofold higher dose does not have a negative influence on the hepatocytes or increased nonspecific cell‐ and humoral‐mediated immunity in healthy pikeperch.