Distribution and diversity of geminiviruses in trinidad and tobago

ABSTRACT Seven crop and eight weed species from 12 agricultural locations in Trinidad and Tobago were assayed for the presence of whitefly-transmitted geminiviruses (WTGs) by using dot blot hybridization and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the N-terminal coat protein sequence with degenerate primers. The amplified fragments were cloned and analyzed by restriction enzyme digestion to determine fragment length polymorphism among the cloned fragments. Representative clones were then sequenced and subjected to phylogenetic analysis to determine the sequence similarity to known WTGs. WTGs were found in every location sampled and in 10 of the 15 species investigated: Lycopersicon esculentum(tomato), Capsicum annuum (pepper), Capsicum frutescens (sweet pepper), Abelmoschus esculentus (okra), Phaseolus vulgaris (beans), Alternanthera tenella, Desmodium frutescens, Euphorbia heterophylla, Malva alceifolia, and Sida acuta. The geminiviruses infecting these plants were closely related to potato yellow mosaic virus from Venezuela (PYMV-VE) and tomato leaf curl virus from Panama (ToLCV-PA). However, in pepper, sweet pepper, okra, Alternanthera tenella, Euphorbia heterophylla, Des-modium frutescens, and in one sample of tomato, a PYMV-VE-related virus was found in mixed infections with a virus related to pepper huasteco virus. Full-length infectious DNA-A and DNA-B of a tomato-infecting geminivirus from Trinidad and Tobago were cloned and sequenced. DNA-A appears to be a recombinant derived from PYMV-VE or ToLCV-PA, and Sida golden mosaic from Honduras. The implications of these findings in the control of WTGs are discussed.     

Habitat characteristics at bluegill spawning colonies in a South Dakota glacial lake

Abstract –  Bluegill ( Lepomis macrochirus ) primarily reproduce in spawning colonies. We assessed habitat characteristics at 15 bluegill spawning colonies in a South Dakota glacial lake. Nesting sites were visually identified and angling was used to verify the species of nesting fish. Habitat characteristics were measured at each nesting site and compared with those measured at 75 randomly selected sites. In Lake Cochrane, mean water depth of spawning colonies was 1.0 m. Of the 13 habitat characteristics measured, four (substrate type, substrate firmness, vegetation density and dissolved oxygen levels) were significantly different ( P  ≤ 0.05) between nesting and random sites. Every bluegill nest site contained gravel substrate, despite the availability of muck, sand and rock. Substrate firmness was indexed at 0-cm penetration and vegetation density was low at all nesting sites. Additionally, bluegills selected nesting locations with relatively moderate dissolved oxygen levels. Lake Cochrane bluegill nest sites consisted of shallow, gravel areas with short, low-density, live submergent Chara vegetation.     

Pharmacokinetics of methylprednisolone acetate after intra-articular administration and subsequent suppression of endogenous hydrocortisone secretion in exercising horses

Objective-To determine the pharmacokinetics of methylprednisolone (MP) and the relationship between MP and hydrocortisone (HYD) concentrations in plasma and urine after intra-articular (IA) administration of 100 or 200 mg of MP acetate (MPA) to horses. Animals-Five 3-year-old Thoroughbred mares. Procedures-Horses exercised on a treadmill 3 times/wk during the study. Horses received 100 mg of MPA IA, then 8 weeks later received 200 mg of MPA IA. Plasma and urine samples were obtained at various times for 8 weeks after horses received each dose of MPA; concentrations of MP and HYD were determined. Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic estimates for noncompartmental and compartmental parameters were determined. Results-Maximum concentration of MP in plasma was similar for each MPA dose; concentrations remained greater than the lower limit of quantitation for 18 and 7 days after IA administration of 200 and 100 mg of MPA, respectively. Maximum concentration and area under the observed concentration-time curve for MP in urine were significantly higher (approximately 10-and 17-fold, respectively) after administration of 200 versus 100 mg of MPA. Hydrocortisone concentration was below quantifiable limits for ≥ 48 hours in plasma and urine of all horses after administration of each MPA dose. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Pharmacokinetics of MP may differ among IA MPA dosing protocols, and MP may be detected in plasma and urine for a longer time than previously reported. This information may aid veterinarians treating sport horses. Further research is warranted to determine whether plasma HYD concentration can aid identification of horses that received exogenous glucocorticoids.     

Culture results from milk samples submitted to veterinary diagnostic laboratories from August 2003 to December 2006 in New Zealand

Abstract

AIMS: To determine the pattern of isolation of major mastitis-causing organisms isolated from milk samples submitted to five veterinary diagnostic laboratories in New Zealand.

METHODS: The culture results of 25,288 milk samples that were collected from dairy cows throughout New Zealand from August 2003 to December 2006 and submitted to a group of veterinary diagnostic laboratories were assembled, reviewed and summarised. Logistic regression was used to analyse the effect of year, region (i.e. North vs South Island), and season on the probability of isolating the two most common organisms.

RESULTS: The most commonly isolated mastitis causing organisms from all samples were: Streptococcus uberis (23.6%), Staphylococcus aureus (23.5%), coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS; 7.2%), Strep. dysgalactiae (6.2%), Bacillus spp. (4.0%), and coliforms (3.7%). The percentage of samples with isolates of Strep. uberis or Staph. aureus was affected by island, year and season (p<0.001). For most of the year, except in late winter and early spring when Strep. uberis was much more common, the percentage of isolates of Strep. uberis and Staph. aureus were not apparently different despite the former being an environmental pathogen and the other a contagious one.

CONCLUSION: The pattern of isolation of major mastitis-causing organisms, as determined from culture of milk samples submitted to diagnostic laboratories in New Zealand, has changed significantly over the last 40 years, with a substantial increase in the percentage of isolates that are Strep. uberis and a decrease in isolates of Strep. agalactiae. There is a clear seasonal pattern to the isolation of both Strep. uberis and Staph. aureus, particularly the former.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Knowledge of the aetiological agents causing bovine mastitis on a farm is of value in determining the choice of treatment. This dataset shows that, although there is seasonal pattern to the isolation of mastitis-causing organisms in New Zealand, both Strep. uberis and Staph. aureus are isolated throughout the year, so bacteriology is of value in determining aetiology even in late winter/early spring.     

Vertical transmission of Ovipleistophora ovariae (microspora) within the eggs of the golden shiner

Fertilized eggs collected from broodfish infected by Ovipleistophora ovariae were tested by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and found to be positive for the O. ovariae genome at 7.77 X 10(2) to 3.26 x 10(7) copies per microgram of host DNA. Fry hatched from these eggs contained from 1.37 X 10(2) to 9.89 X 10(6) copies of the O. ovariae genome per microgram of host DNA. Surface treatments of fertilized eggs with 150 mg formalin/L (used by farms as a fungicide) or a 1.5% solution of sodium sulfite (which removes the adhesive egg matrix) did not reduce vertical transmission to fry. Treatment of eggs with a 10% solution of bleach or a proprietary commercial DNA denaturant did not reduce the number of egg-associated copies of the O. ovariae genome. Histology of ovaries of infected fish demonstrated spores within the oocytes. However, no spores were observed by histology in positive fry hatched from infected eggs. The PCR and histological demonstration of the presence of O. ovariae spores in oocytes and fry, and the failure of strong DNA denaturants to reduce egg-associated copies, give evidence that O. ovariae is vertically transmitted within eggs.     

Evaluation of a core collection of Brassica oleracea accessions for resistance to Brevicoryne brassicae, the cabbage aphid

A rapid, simple and reliable technique was developed for evaluating Brassica accessions in the glasshouse for resistance to Brevicoryne brassicae, the cabbage aphid. Brassica accessions were grouped into crop types with similar habit and vigour for evaluation. 401 Brassica oleracea accessions, representing the genetic and geographic diversity of the species, were evaluated for resistance to a population of B. brassicae collected originally from HRI, Wellesbourne. Ninety eight accessions were identified as being moderately resistant (grade 3) or partially resistant (grade 4). Re-testing of accessions in the glasshouse identified 12 moderately resistant and 43 partially resistant accessions. The most promising gene pool was kale, where a higher than expected number of resistant accessions were found. Three of the kales were consistently rated as moderately resistant in all tests. In contrast the broccoli gene pool was a poor source of resistance with less (one out of 46) resistant accessions than expected. Eleven of the kales graded 3 were tested in the field in 1995 and resistance to B. brassicae was confirmed. Ten accessions were also tested for resistance to two additional populations of B. brassicae, one from Greece and the other from Portugal. The results provided no evidence of aphid biotype/host specific differences in the resistance of these B. oleracea accessions. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Pharmacokinetics of oral ivabradine in healthy cats

A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analytical method for the measurement of the novel heart rate-lowering drug ivabradine and its major metabolite, S-18982, was cross-validated in the plasma of eight healthy cats. Plasma concentrations were then determined after single and repeated oral administration of ivabradine. Individual plasma concentrations versus time from each cat were used in compartmental analysis using the commercially available software WinNonlin. Both ivabradine and S-18982 reached their maximum concentrations of 103.33 and 3.86 ng/mL within 1 h. Following repeated administration, areas under the plasma concentration-time curves for ivabradine and S-18982 did not significantly increase. Two-compartmental and one-compartmental models with first-order input and elimination provided the best fit to the data for ivabradine and S-18982, respectively. Both models were combined to produce a single 4-compartment model characterizing ivabradine and S-18982 pharmacokinetics. The results of this study indicate that repeated oral doses of ivabradine produced plasma drug concentrations suitable for 12-h dosing intervals in healthy cats. Furthermore, the analytical assay and combined ivabradine/S-18982 model provide tools for further evaluation of ivabradine pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in future studies in cats.     

Effect of rate and time of fertilization on nitrogen and yield of Russet Burbank potatoes under center pivot irrigation

Applying less N on Russet Burbank potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) at planting time may reduce the potential loss of N from sandy soil by wind erosion and leaching early in the season. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of rate and time of N fertilization on potato production. Potatoes were grown in outdoor pot cultures with N rates of 75,150 and 300 ppm and in field plots with N rates from 112 to 448 kg N/ha applied in single and split applications. The results from pot cultures harvested after one month’s growth showed that yield of tops increased and tuber yield decreased as applied N at planting increased from 75 ppm to 150 or 300 ppm. Field results showed that the yield of potatoes was as high or higher when N applications were split between planting and when plants were 15 to 20 cm tall (early tuberization) as with the same amount of N applied at planting. Generally 112 kg N/ha at planting time was sufficient when additional N was applied after emergence. Split application of N resulted in more second growth on tubers than when all of the N was applied at planting.     

Decomposition of cattle dung on grazed signalgrass (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf) pastures in monoculture or intercropped with tree legumes

Livestock excreta is one of the major nutrient sources in natural grasslands. Understanding how livestock diet and season affects the decomposition dynamics is critical to nutrient cycling models. We hypothesised that livestock diet and season of the year affect dung decomposition. This study evaluated the decomposition and release of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and Na from faeces of cattle collected in dry and wet seasons. Treatments were signalgrass (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf) in monoculture or mixed with sabiá (Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth.) or gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth ex Walp.). Excreta samples were incubated in nylon bags for 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128 and 256 d. The single negative exponential mathematical model was adequate (P < 0.0001) to explain the decomposition. The relative rate of dung decomposition (k) was greater for samples that originated from cattle grazed on signalgrass (k = 0.00284 g g^?1 d^?1), followed by sabiá (k = 0.00233 g g^?1 d^?1), and gliricidia (k = 0.00200 g g^?1 d^?1) pastures. The rate of nutrient release showed a time effect for all variables and interaction between time and season for Ca (P = 0.0042) and Mg (P = 0.0013). Faeces collected from cattle grazing/browsing intercropped pastures tended to have lower decomposition rates.