Characterization and pathogenicity of Pestalotiopsis uvicola causing black leaf spot on carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) in Italy

During spring 2013, several carob plants (Ceratonia siliqua L.), showing symptoms of necrotic black lesions on leaves, were observed in Capri Island, Southern Italy. Acervuli, producing conidia with septa and appendages, appeared in the centre of the lesions. In this report, the identification of the causal agent of this disease was made applying Koch’s postulates. Morphological characteristics of colony (colour and mycelium appearance) and conidia (size, shape, number of septa, length and number of apical and basal appendages) were characterized to identify the pathogen. Moreover, for a rapid and unambiguous identification of the fungal species, the internal transcribed spacers, comprising the 5.8 rDNA gene (ITS1-5.8-ITS2), were amplified by PCR, using the genomic DNA extracted from the isolated colonies, and sequenced. The fungus isolated was ascribed to the species Pestalotiopsis uvicola (Speg.) Bissett. Phylogenetic analysis, performed with sequences present in GenBank database, showed that carob isolates clustered with P. uvicola isolates from North America and Italy, separately from Australian, Indian and Chinese isolates. P. uvicola isolates were pathogenic when artificially inoculated on carob leaves. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of P. uvicola on carob.     

Evaluation of a new natural adjuvant obtained from locust bean gum to reduce the amount of copper necessary to control downy mildew of grapevine

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Two field trials in integrated cultivation (2014 and 2016) were carried out with the aim to evaluate the efficacy and the persistence of copper...     

Non‐human primates as a reservoir for rabies virus in Brazil

Rabies virus (RABV) does not persist in the environment as it is a very fragile agent. The primary hosts are mammalian species in the orders Carnivora and Chiroptera. Since the late 1980s, RABV has been isolated from non‐human primates, Callithrix jacchus (the white‐tufted marmoset), in four coastal states (Rio Grande do Norte, Ceará, Piauí and Pernambuco) in north‐eastern Brazil, where this species is indigenous. The original habitat of C. jacchus consisted of two Brazilian biomes, the Atlantic Forest and the Caatinga. However, these marmosets have since adapted to other ecosystems as a result of human activities. Between 1988 and 1989, RABV isolates were obtained from white‐tufted marmosets in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, but antigenic and genetic identification studies were not conducted at that time. In the following years, three additional states reported cases (Ceará, Piauí and Pernambuco). In two of these states (Ceará and Piauí), human cases of rabies transmitted by marmosets were reported. According to Brazilian Health Ministry data, at least 19 human cases in which this species was the source of infection were registered in between 1990 and 2016. Recent findings in laboratory tests of 12 rabid samples from humans and marmosets and the regional transmission among these animals for over 20 years, together with the gradual increase in the affected geographic area, support the concept of the emergence of a new RABV reservoir. Regional tourism, the wild animal trade and the cultural practice of maintaining these animals as pets, particularly in coastal regions, appear to be major risk factors for the increase in human cases. Additional epidemiological and ecological studies are required to better understand local disease dynamics and to identify ideal opportunities for prevention and control of this fatal infection.     

Inactivated suckling mouse brain rabies vaccine provides short-term immunity in capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella).

Eight capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) were vaccinated against rabies with an inactivated suckling mouse brain vaccine (SMBV). Three 1-ml doses of 2% brain tissue suspension were given by i.m. injection at 0, 30, and 60 days. Blood samples were collected at 0, 30, 60, 90, 150, 210, 240, 300, and 365 days and were tested by simplified fluorescence inhibition to titer-neutralizing antibodies. All of the animals developed neutralizing antibodies with titers >0.5 IU/ml after vaccination, but the immune response persisted for only 122.3 +/- 32.6 days. The SMBV was able to induce immune response in the capuchin monkeys, but protection was short-lived.