Recognition of the Nor98 variant of scrapie in the Swedish sheep population.

Within the framework of the active surveillance for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in sheep in Sweden, 4 cases of the atypical form of scrapie, Nor98, were identified during 2003. Nor98 is a recently recognized and poorly understood variant of scrapie, first described in Norway. The cases were positive by the rapid test (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Immunohistochemical staining showed diffuse thin-granular staining of the cerebellar cortex. Western immunoblotting analysis of specimens of brain stem and cerebellum showed a light band of approximately 12 kDa. Typical scrapie was ruled out based on the confirmatory testing. The affected ewes were from 4 different flocks. They were between 7 and 9 years old. Two were of the ARQ/ARQ genotype, 1 ARR/ARQ, and 1 ARR/AHQ. Two ewes had shown ataxia, and the other 2 had no clinical signs. Whole-flock slaughter was applied, and testing of the flock mates did not reveal additional cases. Nor98 differs from typical scrapie in its epidemiology, frequency of genotypes of sheep affected, clinical signs, microscopic lesions, distribution of scrapie prion protein in the brain, and characteristics of the immunostaining and immunoblotting profiles.     

Describing Human–Wildlife Interaction from a European Perspective

European researchers from both the natural and social sciences show growing interest in studying interactions between society and wildlife. A wealth of theoretical frameworks, concepts, and methods are used, but an integration of perspectives is lacking. This research note summarizes results from two workshops that included 63 delegates from 25 European countries, as well as a follow-up survey of 41 respondents. Two main theoretical approaches to the study of human–wildlife interactions were identified. One approach focuses on the collective societal level relying on theories of governance, social representation, deliberative procedures, and commons theory. The other approach targets individuals or groups, and is based on theories such as the cognitive hierarchy, theory of reasoned action, and theory of planned behavior. Interdisciplinary collaboration is needed to identify the best options for wildlife conservation and management in a more politically integrated Europe.     

Dietary phosphorus requirement of juvenile Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.

The objective of this study was to determine the dietary phosphorus (P) requirement of juvenile Atlantic salmon, Salmon salar L. Triplicate groups of fish (mean initial weight 1.4 g) were fed semipurified, casein-gelatine-based diets containing one of five levels of P (4, 8, 10, 15 and 25 g kg⁻¹) from Ca(H₂PO₄)₂·H₂O, or a commercial feed (17 g kg⁻¹ P) for 9 weeks. Weight gains did not differ significantly among treatment groups fed the experimental diets but were slightly less than gains in fish fed the commercial feed. Feed efficiency (wet weight gain/dry feed consumed) was similar in all groups, averaging 1.45. Availability of dietary P, estimated from apparent retention and apparent digestibility, was 86%. Whole-body P concentrations declined in fish fed diets containing less than 10 g kg⁻¹ P. Fitting a logistic curve to dietary P vs. whole-body P concentrations indicated that a minimum of 11 g kg⁻¹ dietary P (9 g kg⁻¹ digestible P) was required by juvenile Atlantic salmon to maintain whole-body P concentrations at initial levels. Calculation of a dietary requirement using a simple factorial model which incorporated measurements of P availability, feed efficiency and normal whole-body P concentration indicated that the dietary requirement was approximately 10 g kg⁻¹. The dietary requirement established in this study (10–11 g kg⁻¹) is higher than previously reported for Atlantic salmon or other fishes. Possible reasons for the wide range of reported dietary P requirements in fishes are discussed.     

Genetic variations in survival of rohu carp (Labeo rohita, Hamilton) after Aeromonas hydrophila infection in challenge tests

A challenge test against Aeromonas hydrophila was conducted using 2062 rohu carp (Labeo rohita) fingerlings obtained from 52 dams and 87 sires (87 full-sib families) of two year-classes (2003 and 2004). Attempts to establish a cohabitant challenge model were not successful. Therefore, fish were challenged by intraperitoneal injection with A. hydrophila in two replicate tanks per year-class, and dead fish were collected hourly. The mortality reached its peak at 16–22 h after challenge and had almost completely stopped after 58 h. The test was terminated after 382 h at which the average survival was 43.9 and 48.9% in the two 2003 year-class tanks, and 77.1 and 35.8% in the two 2004 year-class tanks. Heritability estimates for survival were obtained from sire and dam threshold models (THR) and sire and dam linear repeatability models (LINR). For both types of models the heritability estimates based on data from single tanks were not consistent. For both year-classes, data from one of the two challenged tanks demonstrated significant additive genetic variation in survival during the A. hydrophila infection, whereas the heritability estimates were not significantly different from zero for the other tank. Further, genetic correlation between survivals in the two replicate tanks in each year-class was not significantly different from zero. The differential results from the replicate tanks demonstrate that additional challenge test experiments are needed before firm conclusions can be drawn about the magnitude of additive genetic variation for survival to aeromonasis in rohu carp. A cohabitant challenge model that allows the testing of important defence mechanisms in the skin and mucous membranes of the fish might have been more appropriate. To establish a valid cohabitant challenge model for rohu carp should be given high priority.     

Calcification of the intervertebral discs and curvature of the radius and ulna: a radiographic survey of Finnish miniature dachshunds

The vertebral column of 124 randomly selected miniature dachshunds, representing 4.5% of the population registered by the Finnish Kennel Club during the years 1988 to 1996, were radiographed. The front legs were also radiographed in order to evaluate the curvature of the radius and ulna. Calcified discs were found in 75.9% of the longhaired miniature dachshunds and in 86.7% of the wirehaired ones. The occurrence of signs associated with IDD was 16.5% in longhaired and 15.6% in wirehaired miniature dachshunds. The occurrence of signs of IDD in dogs with calcified discs was 20.0% and 17.9% in longhaired and wirehaired miniature dachshunds, respectively. In dogs without calcifications only one dog showed signs of IDD. The curvature of the radius and the ulna did not differ between the dogs with signs of IDD and the healthy ones, or between the dogs with and without intervertebral calcifications. Our results indicate that radiographic eradication based on the presence of intervertebral calcifications is not suitable for breeding purposes for the Finnish miniature dachshund population because the percentage of dogs without calcifications is small.     

Interaction between powdery mildew and barley with mlo5 mildew resistance

Powdery mildew infection of barley with the mlo5 barley powdery mildew resistance gene was examined, using near-isogenic barley lines, with and without mlo5 resistance, and two near-isogenic powdery mildew isolates, HL3/5 and GE3 with high (virulent) or low (avirulent) penetration efficiency on the resistant barley line. In all isolate–host combinations (except GE3 on the resistant barley line), frequency of haustorium formation increased significantly from zero at 11 h after inoculation to a maximum by 13 h, and there was no subsequent increase up to 24 h. In the susceptible barley line, 27% of appressoria from both isolates formed haustoria. Although this was significantly higher than the frequency of haustorium formation (18%) of HL3/5 on the resistant barley line, HL3/5 was much more successful than GE3 (frequency of haustorium formation less than 1%). The fact that HL3/5 did not possess a generally higher ability to penetrate successfully to form haustoria on the susceptible barley line, indicates that HL3/5 did not overcome the mlo5 resistance by being generally more vigorous. In the resistant barley line, papillae were larger than in the susceptible line; however, both isolates were associated with papillae of the same diameter at the time of penetration. We suggest that the mlo5 resistant barley line confers two different forms of resistance: isolate-specific and isolate-nonspecific.     

Dispersal distances for airborne spores based on deposition rates and stochastic modeling

ABSTRACT A new modeling framework for particle dispersal is explored in the context of the particles being fungal spores dispersed within a field. The model gives rise to both exponentially decreasing and polynomially decreasing two-dimensional densities of deposited fungal spores. We reformulate the model in terms of time to deposition, and show how this concept is equivalent to the deposition rate for fungal spores. Special cases where parameter values for wind and gravitation lead to exponentially or polynomially decreasing densities are discussed, and formulas for one- and two-dimensional densities of deposited spores are given explicitly in terms of parameters for diffusion, wind, gravitation, and spore release height.     

Effects of photoperiod on sex steroids and gonad maturation in Arctic charr

Four groups of Arctic charr (age 3+), previously exposed to natural photoperiod, were subjected to different photoperiod regimes from February 20: Simulated natural photoperiod (SNP; Tromsø 70°N), continuous light (LD 24:0) followed by short day (LD 6:18) from either May 1 (L_Feb–May) or June 25 (L_Feb–June), or continuous light (LD 24:0) throughout the experiment (L_Continuous). In females, peak levels of estradiol-17β and testosterone were 6 and 10, 6 and 7, and 3 and 5 weeks advanced, in L_Feb–May, L_Feb–June and L_Continuous, respectively, whereas in males plasma levels of 11-ketotestosterone peaked 8 weeks earlier in L_Feb–May and L_Feb–June than in SNP and L_Continuous. Median ovulation time in L_Feb–May and L_Feb–June was advanced by 10 weeks compared to SNP and L_Continuous, and median spermiation time (first observation of running milt in each individual) in L_Feb–May, L_Feb–June and L_Continuous was advanced by 10, 7 and 5 weeks, compared to SNP. A switch from long to short day early in the reproductive cycle (L_Feb–May and L_Feb–June) apparently resulted in stronger synchronization of both ovulation and spermiation. Ovulation in L_Feb–May and L_Feb–June occurred over 3 weeks (L_Feb–May) and 8 weeks (L_Feb–June), as compared to 10 weeks in the SNP group, whereas all males (except one individual) began spermiating over a period of 3 weeks (L_Feb–June), or less (L_Feb–May), as compared to 7 weeks in the SNP group. Lack of a short day stimulus (L_Continuous), on the other hand, resulted in larger variation in the timing of final maturation, with ovulation and spermiation being spread over 15 weeks. Low egg survival in L_Feb–May (17% versus 60% and 97% for L_Continuous and SNP) indicate that a long day signal of 10 weeks early in the reproductive cycle may be too short to ensure good egg and sperm quality. Photoperiod manipulation did not affect the proportion of maturing fish.