bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Intramammary Infusion of Tumour Necrosis Factor‐α on Milk Protein Composition and Induction of Acute‐Phase Protein in the Lactating Cow
Authors: Watanabe A. , Yagi Y. , Shiono H. , Yokomizo Y.
Published: March 2003

The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) on lactating bovine mammary functions such as milk protein secretion and the integrity of the milk‐blood barrier. The effect on the induction of the systemic inflammatory response was also examined using concentrations of serum haptoglobin (Hp), a major inflammatory acute‐phase protein, as an index. One hundred micrograms per mammary gland of recombinant bovine (rBo) TNF‐α or placebo saline was individually infused into a rear mammary gland of each of four lactating cows, and milk and blood samples were collected before and 4, 8, 24, 32, 48, 96 and 168 h after infusion. In the rBoTNF‐α‐infused gland, increases of somatic cell counts were observed at 4–48 h. Although concentrations of total milk protein were not changed, compositions of milk proteins varied following rBoTNF‐α infusion. Concentrations of caseins, α‐lactalbumin and β‐lactoglobulin were significantly decreased at 4 and 8 h. Lactoferrin concentrations were significantly increased at 4 h. Significant infiltrations of serum albumin, immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) and IgG2 were observed at 4 and 8 h. Elevations of the serum concentration of Hp were detected at 8‐32 h, but were very small in comparison with those reported in inflammatory diseases. Changes in rectal temperature and white blood cell counts were not significant. These results show that single rBoTNF‐α infusion into the lactating mammary gland suppresses the lactogenic function of the gland and influences the function of the milk‐blood barrier, with little effect on the generalized inflammatory response.
Occurrence of Chlamydiae in the Genital Tracts of Sows at Slaughter and their Possible Significance for Reproductive Failure
Authors: Busch M. , Thoma R. , Schiller I. , Corboz L. , Pospischil A.
Published: March 2003

The aim of this study was to investigate further the role of chlamydiae as pathogens in the genital tracts of sows at slaughter. Genital tracts of 101 randomly selected sows were collected and specimens of genital tract localizations were systematically examined for chlamydiae using immunohistochemistry and PCR. In the genital tracts of 10 sows,Chlamydia psittaciDNA was detected by PCR, and was further typed as ‘serotype 1’ in nine cases and as avian strain 6 BC in one animal. However, all specimens examined by immunohistochemistry were negative for chlamydiae. Pooled samples of scalding tank water were additionally investigated for 95 animals. Of these samples, 63.2 % contained chlamydial DNA, mostlyC. trachomatis, and in one sampleC. psittaci‘serotype 1’. Although in most cases contamination through influx of faecally contaminated scalding water is a possible reason for the positive PCR results in the genital tract, latent infection cannot be excluded. In conclusion, the results obtained suggest that chlamydiae are of no or only minor importance in the examined group of Swiss breeding sows. Nevertheless, the role and significance of chlamydiae as pathogens in porcine reproductive disorders remain unresolved and require further investigation.
Bifidobacteria are Obligate Inhabitants of the Crop of Adult Laying Hens
Authors: Petr J. , Rada V.
Published: March 2003

Modified TPY agar (MTPY; with addition of glacial acetic acid and mupirocin) was used in the enumeration of bifidobacteria from hen crop and faeces. The colonies on MTPY medium inoculated with crop and faeces samples were Gram‐stained, screened for presence of fructose‐6‐phosphate phosphoketolase activity and tested for fermentation patterns using ANAEROtest kits. It was revealed that bifidobacteria are obligate inhabitants of the hen crop, reaching counts of 107/g of crop content. The occurrence of bifidobacteria in the hen crop was evidently not the consequence of ingestion of faeces as all the bifidobacteria strains isolated from the hen crop fermented glucose and fructose, while most strains isolated from hen faeces did not ferment either glucose or fructose. The results suggest that bifidobacteria are common and may even be one of the predominant parts of the hen crop flora.
Diagnosis of Mycobacterium bovis Infection in Calves Sensitized by Mycobacteria of the avium/intracellulare Group
Authors: AMADORI M. , TAGLIABUE S. , LAUZI S. , FINAZZI G. , LOMBARDI G. , TELÒ P. , PACCIARINI L. , BONIZZI L.
Published: March 2003

Because of the frequent exposure of cattle to mycobacteria of the avium/intracellulare group, an investigation was carried out into the possible repercussions thereof on the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis. Three calves from a bovine tuberculosis‐free herd, scored avian reactors in the γ‐interferon assay for bovine tuberculosis, were sedated and inoculated endotracheally with a virulent Mycobacterium bovis strain. Then, three other avian reactors were housed with the above donor calves. Mycobacterium bovis was isolated from the nasal swabs of the three endotracheally infected, donor calves. On these samples, TB complex‐specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for IS6110 were also positive, albeit with a different time kinetics. The three contact‐infected calves showed clear immunological signs of infection; however, their nasal swabs were always PCR‐negative and only Mycobacterium avium was isolated. In the endotracheally infected donor calves there was a rise of the γ‐interferon responses to avian and bovine purified protein derivative (PPD) tuberculins, which reached the same stable plateau levels over the whole experiment. The above effect was also observed in the contact‐infected calves, even though the response to avian PPD tuberculin always remained at a higher level. By using conventional bovine and avian PPD tuberculins, the comparative intradermal test was generally positive in endotracheally infected, as opposed to contact‐infected calves; a positive intradermal test for M. bovis was obtained in two contact‐infected calves by different bovine PPD tuberculins based on M. bovis bacillus Calmette‐Guerin (BCG) secreted or somatic antigens. It was concluded that M. bovis infection may be concealed for some time in cattle sensitized by mycobacteria of the avium/intracellulare group and that different diagnostic procedures should be adopted for such animals.
Treatment of Experimentally InducedPasteurella multocidaInfections in Broilers and Turkeys: Comparative Studies of Different Oral Treatment Regimens
Authors: SÁRKÖZY G. , SEMJÉN G. , LACZAY P. , HORVÁTH E.
Published: March 2003

Experimental fowl cholera was induced in 60 healthy 10‐week‐old broiler chickens and 8‐week‐old turkeys by intramuscular inoculation with approximately 80 colony‐forming units (cfu) ofPasteurella multocidaX‐73 strain and with approximately 70 cfu ofP. multocidaP‐1059 strain, respectively. This method of infection proved to be useful for evaluating the efficacy of anti‐microbial medication, by measuring mortality, weight gain, pathological responses and frequency of re‐isolation ofP. multocida. The efficacies of two different dosing methods, continuous and pulse dosing, were compared. Using the continuous‐dosing method, norfloxacin was administered to drinking water at 100 mg/l for 5 days in chickens. Efficacies were slightly improved compared with pulse dosing at 15 mg/kg bodyweight for the same length of time. The opposite was observed in turkeys, to the degree of control of mortality and maintenance of weight gain.
First Evidence of Porcine Circovirus Type 2 (PCV‐2) Infection of Pigs in the Czech Republic by Semi‐Nested PCR
Authors: CELER V. , CARASOVÁ P.
Published: March 2003

Three oligonucleotide primers for semi‐nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were designed according to already published sequences of porcine circovirus types 1 (PCV‐1) and 2 (PCV‐2) isolates. These primers were used to detect PCV‐2 DNA. A positive amplification reaction was visualized from a DNA suspension containing as few as 10 copies of virus DNA. In total, 77 samples of inguinal lymph nodes and nasal swabs from pigs in the Czech Republic were used to detect the virus. Thirty‐seven of them were positive for PCV‐2 DNA. In order to confirm specificity of the PCR reaction, seven DNA fragments were sequenced. Czech PCV sequences were found to have a 92–97% homology with other known PCV‐2 strains and only 80–83% homology with PCV‐1 strains.
Survey of Porcine Rotavirus G and P Genotype in Poland and the United States Using RT‐PCR
Authors: Winiarczyk S. , Paul P. S. , Mummidi S. , Panek R. , Gradzki Z.
Published: March 2003

Porcine rotaviruses are a common cause of gastroenteritis. Several serotypes have been detected based on the two surface proteins VP4 (P‐types) and VP7 (G‐types). However, limited studies have been performed on the relative frequency of rotavirus types in diarrhetic pigs primarily because of the lack of availability of suitable methods. In this study, we describe a reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) method for the typing of P and G types of rotavirus. This method allowed to detect G and P types in 96.8 and 87.1% of isolates collected in the United States, respectively and in 54.5 and 38.6% of isolates collected in Poland, respectively. Within the US specimens the G3, G4, G5, G9 and G10 types were detected in combination with P6 and P7 types while among Polish specimens only G3, G4 and G5 types in combination with P6 and P7 types were identified. In both instances the G4 and G5 were the most prevalent types. These studies show that a RT‐PCR typing method is suitable for molecular epidemiological studies and that there is more diversity among porcine rotavirus than previously reported.
Field Evaluation of the Effect of In‐Feed Doxycycline for the Control of Ileitis in Weaned Piglets
Authors: Kyriakis S. C. , Bourtzi‐Hatzopoulou E. , Alexopoulos C. , Kritas S. K. , Polyzopoulou Z. , Lekkas S. , Gardey L.
Published: March 2003

The aim of this trial was to evaluate the effect of in‐feed doxycycline (DOXY) on the control of ileitis in weaned piglets. On a farm with a previous history of ileitis outbreaks, 288 piglets at the age of weaning (25 ± 2 days old) were divided into four experimental groups, each group comprising three pens with 24 piglets in each pen. Non‐medicated animals served as negative control (NC) group, whereas groups DOXY‐50, DOXY‐125 and DOXY‐250 received doxycycline via feed at 50, 125 and 250 ppm, respectively. Therapy lasted for 14 days followed by an observation period of 28 days. In conclusion, administration of doxycycline at a dose rate of 125 or 250 ppm had beneficial effect compared with the NC group, in terms of the reduction of diarrhoea prevalence, the enhancement of growth performance and the reduction of prevalence ofLawsonia intracellularisin the intestine, as shown either by the PCR method or by specific histopathological examinations. Treatment with 250 ppm of doxycycline for a fortnight interval post‐weaning seems to be beneficial leading to better growth rates of piglets not only during treatment period, but also throughout the whole nursery phase.
Assessment of Respiratory Herd Health in Weaner Pigs by Measuring Cellular Composition of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid
Authors: Mombarg M. J. , Niewold T. A. , Stockhofe‐Zurwieden N. , van Leengoed L. A. M. G. , Verheijden J. H. M.
Published: March 2003

Summary Cell differentiation of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was compared among 11 herds having a history of recurrent respiratory disease in weaner pigs and nine herds lacking such a history. In every herd, 20 pigs aged 8–10 weeks were lavaged. The two groups differed significantly on median percentage of macrophages, neutrophils and lymphocytes, but not on white blood cell count of the BALF. Logistic regression showed the percentage of samples per herd exceeding the reference value for neutrophils of 0–8% to be the most promising parameter to assess the health status in weaner pigs.
An Analysis of the Coastal Fish Assemblage of the Ustica Island Marine Reserve (Mediterranean Sea)
Authors: La Mesa Gabriele , Vacchi Marino
Published: March 2003

A study of the coastal fish assemblages in the marine park of Ustica Island (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Mediterranean) was conducted from June 1994 to September 1995 and from June 1996 to September 1997. The principal aims of the research were to: (1) define the faunistic features of local fish communities; (2) assess the effectiveness of the protection regime of the marine park on the fish assemblages (‘reserve effect’); (3) provide information on the distribution of some Epinephelus and Diplodusspecies in the shallowest depth zone of the island. During seasonal surveys, underwater visual censuses were carried out at several sites located in three zones of the island, each with a different level of protection. Observations were made along 250 m2 transects at 3–5, 10–15 and 25–30 m depth ranges. Additional surveys were made by SCUBA diving and snorkelling. A statistically significant effect of depth on the fish community parameters was observed, whereas differences linked to protection level, zones, sites and seasons were not significant. The abundance and frequency of occurrence of some species, particularly dusky grouper Epinephelus marginatus, were positively correlated with the degree of protection of the different zones of the marine park. Certain sites of the island are important as nursery areas for three species of the genus Diplodus (i.e., D. puntazzo, D. sargus and D. vulgaris).
Population Dynamics and Reproductive Traits of Phytal Gastropods in Seagrass Bed in Otsuchi Bay, North‐Eastern Japan
Authors: Toyohara Tetsuhiko , Nakaoka Masahiro , Aioi Keiko
Published: March 2003

Abstract. We studied the population dynamics and reproductive traits of two phytal gastropods, Lirularia iridescens and Hiloa tristis, inhabiting a seagrass bed consisting of two seagrass species, Zostera marina and Zostera caulescens, in Otsuchi Bay, north‐eastern Japan. The main objectives of the study were to (1) determine seasonal and between‐substrata variations in gastropod populations and (2) examine two major factors potentially responsible for the variations, namely space (seagrass) and food (epiphytes). The biomass of Z. marina reached a peak in summer and decreased through autumn, whereas the biomass of Z. caulescens showed little seasonal fluctuation. Epiphyte biomass was maximum in April and remained low from summer to winter on both seagrass substrata. The population densities of both gastropod species increased rapidly due to increases in their new recruits from May to July for L. iridescens, from June to October for H. tristis. Eggs of L. iridescens were found in almost all months of the study period, with a breeding peak in April, whereas oviposition of H. tristis occurred only from June to October. The new recruits of both gastropods grew rapidly, with their abundance decreasing from summer to autumn. The peak densities of new recruits of the two species coincide with that of seagrass biomass rather than epiphyte biomass, and the juveniles grew when the epiphyte biomass was fairly low. Hence, large postrecruitment declines in gastropods may be caused by food shortage. Egg density, size structure and growth rate of both gastropod species were not significantly different between seagrass substrata. Total abundance was not significantly different for L. iridescens. For H. tristis, however, abundance was lower on Z. caulescens than Z. marina during most of the year, mainly due to higher post‐recruitment decline on the former. The ability of L. iridescens to breed continuously may enable them to successfully inhabit two seagrass species with different phenology, whereas the much shorter breeding season of H. tristis, which coincides with the periods of higher Z. marina biomass, may be more adaptive for inhabiting Z. marina than Z. caulescens.
Dynamics Behind Standoff Interactions in Three Reef Sponge Species and the Coral Montastraea cavernosa
Authors: Aerts Lisanne A. M.
Published: March 2003

Abstract. Benthic organisms compete for space, and standoff interactions, i. e. interactions with no clearly observable outcome such as win or loss, are very common in marine hard substratum communities. Standoffs were more common than overgrowths among all sponge‐coral interactions observed in a coral reef community off Santa Marta, NE Colombia. The dynamics of these standoffs and the role played by each of the interacting organisms were examined in a series of standard observations of sponge‐coral interactions involving the sponge species Niphates erecta, Rhaphidophlus venosus, Scopalina ruetzleri and the coral Montastraea cavernosa. Most sponge‐coral standoffs in this study displayed rapid changes in number of polyps along the coral border, sponge area and sponge‐coral distance. The outcome of sponge‐coral standoffs depended on the ecological stategy (e.g., growth) of the sponge species. Scopalina ruetz­leri and N. erecta did not show any signs of direct competition with Montastraea cavernosa. R. venosus, however, was often observed to take over vacant space formed by dead coral polyps (54 % of interactions). The impact of coral damage (lesions) on the interaction process between R. venosus and M. cavernosa was shown by a significant increase in coral polyp death in damaged compared with undamaged M. cavernosa colonies (22.7 % versus 6.9 %). This study demonstrates that (1) sponge‐coral standoffs are actually quite dynamic because of the continually changing distance between the organisms, (2) the dynamic nature of sponge‐coral standoffs depends on growth‐related strategies (growth form, growth rate) of the competing sponge species, (3) the actual frequency of coral overgrowth by (thinly encrusting) sponge species can only be determined by means of intermittent observations; space gained at the cost of coral tissue cannot be seen by single observations, (4) coral damage (lesions) on reefs may enhance deterioration of corals by increasing their susceptibility to sponge overgrowth.
Distribution, Population Structure, ­Population Biomass and  Morphological Characteristics  of the TunicatePyura stolonifera in the Bay of Antofagasta, Chile
Authors: Castilla Juan C. , Guiñez Ricardo , Alvarado Jorge L. , Pacheco Cristián , Varas Manuel
Published: March 2003

Abstract.The present study analyzes the distribution, population structure, population biomass and morphological characteristics of the intertidal tunicatePyura stolonifera(Heller, 1878) in the Bay of Antofagasta, Chile, where the species shows a reduced geographical range extending around 60 – 70 km. Three sites along its distribution were studied. At the central site the tunicate presents the widest intertidal belts, reaching nearly 11 m (the mid‐intertidal‐Pyura‐zone shows the higher percent cover). Population dry biomass here averaged up to 20.45 kg·m–2, representing one of the highest intertidal specific biomasses reported in the literature. Lower values occur towards the borders of its distribution. Population densities were over 1800 indiv.·m–2at mid‐intertidal‐Pyura‐belts. Crowding and competition potentially affect morphological characteristics and the energy/tissue allocation along the intertidal and geographical gradient ofP. stolonifera.
Seasonal and Between‐Substrate  Variation in Mobile Epifaunal Community in a Multispecific Seagrass Bed of  Otsuchi Bay, Japan
Authors: Nakaoka Masahiro , Toyohara Tetsuhiko , Matsumasa Masatoshi
Published: March 2003

Abstract.A seagrass bed in Otsuchi Bay, northeastern Japan, consists of three seagrass species (Zostera marina, Z. caulescensandZ. caespitosa) that differ in morphology and phenology. We studied the mobile epifaunal community in the seagrass bed to examine (1) whether seasonal and between‐substrate variation in the epifaunal community agrees with variation in seagrass abundance and morphological complexity, and (2) whether patterns of seasonal and between‐substrate variation vary among epifaunal species. We collected mobile epifauna from each ofZ. marinaandZ. caulescenson 11 occasions between October 1995 and November 1996 (at 1 – 1.5 month intervals) using a hand‐closing net. A total of 9 842 individuals of mobile epiphytic animals were collected and they were classified into 80 taxa. Abundance and species richness of the epifaunal community were high in summer to autumn and low in winter to spring, and diversity index and evenness were higher inZ. marinathanZ. caulescens. However, patterns of seasonal and between‐substrate variation in these parameters did not parallel those in seagrass abundance and complexity. Most of the dominant epifaunal species showed significant seasonal and between‐substrate variation in abundance, although their patterns varied greatly among individual species. A cluster analysis recognized several distinct groups of animals showing similar seasonal and between‐substrate variation. Our findings suggest that the observed variation in the epifaunal community is not determined by a single or some strong external factors but by complex interactions of multiple factors operating differently for each component species.
Characteristics of Habitats Used by  Enteroctopus dofleini in Prince William Sound and Cook Inlet, Alaska
Authors: Scheel David
Published: March 2003

Abstract. Habitat characteristics associated with the giant Pacific octopus, Enteroctopus dofleini (Wülker 1910), were studied in Prince William Sound and Port Graham, Alaska, from beach walk, SCUBA and submersible surveys at depths of 0 to 197 m. Octopus counts on beach walk transects were positively correlated with soft substrates (sand, gravel or broken rubble), the presence of boulders, and dense kelp cover immediately offshore of the transect; and negatively correlated with depth on SCUBA transects. No significant habitat correlations were found with counts on submersible transects. On beach walks, octopus counts were reduced on hard substrates to 38 % of the counts on soft substrates. Counts increased five‐fold in the presence of boulders over counts in their absence, and increased fifteen‐fold adjacent to dense (> 75 %) kelp cover over counts adjacent to sparse (< 25 %) kelp cover. On SCUBA transects, the average density at less than 5 m depth was over five times that below 5 m. No trends in octopus size or sex ratio were detected with depth. Den use was inversely correlated with depth although there was no indication that den availability declined with depth. Octopuses were found at densities from 0 to 2.5 per 1000 m2. These densities were only 1 to 50 % of densities of the same species recorded in British Columbia in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Few data are available to test recruitment, mortality, and habitat selection hypotheses that would account for differences between habitats. However, the presence of the highest octopus densities in intertidal and very shallow subtidal areas indicates the likely importance of near‐shore, shallow‐water habitats, and highlights the vulnerability of octopus populations to changes in these habitats.
Case Report. Osteomyelitis caused by high resistant Candida guilliermondii
Authors: Tietz H.‐J. , Czaika V. , Sterry W.
Published: March 2003

We describe a case of a 57‐year‐old patient with osteomyelitis at a finger of his right hand caused by Candida guilliermondii. The strains isolated were highly resistant to fluconazole and itraconazole. Using the three methods, microdilution, agardilation and E‐test, the highest minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) amounted to >256 μg ml−1 for fluconazole and >32 μg ml−1 for itraconazole. To our knowledge, this is the first time such high values have been described for C. guilliermondii. They correlated with the therapeutic non‐response to a triazole therapy in our patient. The patient was cured by partial amputation of the affected finger.
In vitro antifungal susceptibility of clinical isolates of Candida spp. from hospitalized patients
Authors: De Resende Juliana C. P. , De Resende Maria A.
Published: March 2003

A total of 122 Candida spp. strains, isolated from a group of 100 patients hospitalized in the Santa Casa de Misericordia of Belo Horizonte were assayed for in vitro susceptibility to amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole and flucytosine using a microbroth technique proposed by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. In this study large variations were observed among minimum inhibitory concentration values depending on the species tested. The statistical analysis (Kruskal–Wallis test) showed that itraconazole and flucytosine were the more efficient antifungal drugs for most of species, and amphotericin B and fluconazole were the least efficient.
In‐vitro and in‐vivo anti‐Trichophyton activity of essential oils by vapour contact
Authors: Inouye S. , Uchida K. , Yamaguchi H.
Published: March 2003

Abstract. The minimum inhibitory doses (MIDs) of essential oils by vapour contact to inhibit the growth of Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton rubrum on agar medium were determined using airtight boxes. Among seven essential oils examined, cinnamon bark oil showed the least MID, followed by lemongrass, thyme and perilla oils. Lavender and tea tree oils showed moderate MID, and citron oil showed the highest MID, being 320 times higher than that of cinnamon bark oil. The MID values were less than the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values determined by agar dilution assay. Furthermore, the minimum agar concentration (MAC) of essential oils absorbed from vapour was determined at the time of MID determination as the second antifungal measure. The MAC value by vapour contact was 1.4 to 4.7 times less than the MAC remaining in the agar at the time of MIC determination by agar dilution assay. Using selected essential oils, the anti‐Trichophyton activity by vapour contact was examined in more detail. Lemongrass, thyme and perilla oils killed the conidia, inhibited germination and hyphal elongation at 1–4 µg ml−1 air, whereas lavender oil was effective at 40–160 µg ml−1 air. The in‐vivo efficacy of thyme and perilla oils by vapour contact was shown against an experimental tinea pedis in guinea pigs infected with T. mentagrophytes. These results indicated potent anti‐Trichophyton action of essential oils by vapour contact.
Case Report. Recurrence of increased intracranial pressure with antiretroviral therapy in an AIDS patient with cryptococcal meningitis
Authors: Cinti S. K. , Armstrong Wendy S. , Kauffman Carol A.
Published: March 2003

Summary.  We present the case of an AIDS patient with cryptococcal meningitis who, after an excellent clinical and mycological response to antifungal therapy, developed an exacerbation of signs and symptoms, including elevated intracranial pressure and an increase in cerebrospinal fluid cryptococcal antigen and white blood cells, following the initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Cultures yielded no growth and the patient responded to repeated lumbar punctures without changing or intensifying antifungal therapy. To our knowledge, this is the first report of symptomatic elevated intracranial pressure occurring during HAART‐related immune recovery in a patient with cryptococcal meningitis. Exacerbation of symptoms does not necessarily reflect mycological failure that requires a change in antifungal therapy, but may relate to acutely increased intracranial pressure that will respond to simple measures, such as repeated lumbar punctures.
Mites in fungal cultures
Authors: Duek L. , Kaufman G. , Palevsky E. , Berdicevsky I.
Published: March 2003

Summary.Recently all existingTrichophyton mentagrophytescolonies within our laboratory, which had originally appeared normal, rapidly and at an early stage became perforated. Therefore the aims of this study were to expose the cause of these major morphological changes and to find out if this phenomenon may occur in other fungal cultures. Microscopic examination of specimens taken from the damaged colonies showed many mites at different developmental stages, which were subsequently identified as the acarus,Tyrophagus putrescentiae.The laboratory experiments demonstrated that mites feed on the spores and hyphae of all the dermatophytes, moulds and yeasts tested. For the time beingTyrophagus putrescentiaeis an unpleasant pest which damages fungal cultures but future use of the acari in biological control may be considered.
Case Report. Nattrassia mangiferae endophthalmitis
Authors: Gumbo Tawanda , Mkanganwi Ndodini , Robertson Valerie J. , Masvaire Praise
Published: March 2003

Summary.  Nattrassia mangiferae is a plant pathogen that is also known as a cause of skin infection in humans. Reports of invasive human infection are extremely rare. A 60‐year‐old‐immunocompetent patient presented with endophthalmitis one week after the left eye was injured by a piece of grass. Cultures of an aqueous tap grew N. mangiferae. The patient responded to oral ketoconazole. This suggests that N. mangiferae may be an invasive pathogen in plant penetration injuries and that ketoconazole may be an alternative treatment, especially in countries with poor resources.
Case Reports. Trichosporon mucoides infection in three premature newborns
Authors: Gökahmetogˇlu Selma , Nedret Koç A. , Güneş T. , Çetin N.
Published: March 2003

Summary. In the present study Trichosporon mucoides infections in 3 premature newborns are reported.
Eight‐year study of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in an Indian teaching hospital
Authors: Chakrabarti A. , Sethi S. , Raman D. S. V. , Behera D.
Published: March 2003

Summary.  A total of 651 patients with clinically suspected allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) were evaluated during the 8‐year period from January 1991 to December 1998. Overall, 338 cases (51.9%) were positive either by sputum microscopy/culture (66 of 203 patients), by skin reactivity (150 of 309 cases), or by precipitating antibodies (122 of 338 patients) against Aspergillus species. However, in 89 patients, diagnosis of ABPA was confirmed on the basis of Rosenberg's criteria. Clinical profile and laboratory findings of those patients were analysed. The disease was found to be more common among males. Poor control of asthma, constitutional symptoms, mucopurulent expectoration, increased dyspnoea and wheezing and rhonchi were the main presenting features. Skin reactivity against aspergillin was seen in 73 (82%), precipitating antibodies against Aspergillus species were positive in 64 (72%) and sputum microscopy/culture was positive in 56 (63%) of those 89 patients. Central bronchiectasis and fleeting shadows were the most common radiological findings. This study highlights the importance of ABPA in north India and draws attention to the need for further analysis of criteria to use in the diagnosis of patients with ABPA.
Case Reports. Isolation of two Trichosporon cutaneum strains from urine
Authors: Gökahmetogˇlu Selma , Nedret Koç A. , Nas H.
Published: March 2003

Summary. Two strains of Trichopsoron cutaneum were isolated from the urine of two male patients. Antifungal susceptibility and cross‐reactivity with Cryptococcus antigen latex agglutination text as well as the patients' situation are reported.
Selection and genetic improvement of pollen fertility restorer lines with Triticum timopheevii cytoplasm in common wheat
Authors: Zhou W. C. , Zhao Y. H. , Zou M. L. , Wang S. W.
Published: March 2003

The paper summarizes the selection and improvement of pollen fertility restoration in cytoplasmic male‐sterile lines during the past 30 years at Jiangsu Province, China. A fertility restorer line (R16) with a good history of strong and stable restoring ability to different sterile lines was bred by accumulating fertility‐restoring genes from derivatives of T797 and other restorer lines such as Primepi. A series of well‐performing restorer lines with similar fertility‐restoring ability has been bred by improving agronomic characters, disease‐resistance and kernel size of R16. The restoring ability of these restorer lines using different male‐sterile lines demonstrates that fertility restoration is no longer an obstacle for commercial utilization of hybrid wheat with the Triticum timopheeviii cytoplasmic male‐sterile system. Line 2114 is a restorer with a single restoring gene transferred from Aegilops umbellulata. Its restoring ability, using both difficult and easily restored lines was 82% and 93.3% respectively. Maiyou No. 5, one hybrid variety, showed 13.2% yield advantage over the control variety in the Jiangsu Province registration test in 1997‐1998 and was superior to nine other varieties adapted to the Jiangsu Province.
Thewigene causes genic male sterility inAllium choenoprasum
Authors: Engelke T. , Tatlioglu T.
Published: March 2003

Segregation studies following the transfer of the genewito different cytoplasm types, which have been distinguished by means of restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses using mitochondrial gene probes, revealed the formation of the wi‐sterility in each of the four cytoplasms examined. The male sterility is therefore only caused by the nuclearwigene, i.e. an additional factor of a specific cytoplasm can be excluded. Hence, the wi‐sterility proved to be a genic male sterility (GMS) and not a cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS). The expression of the wi‐sterility appears to be stable, since it is not affected by high temperatures or tetracycline. Accordingly, a temporary pollen production, which would allow self‐fertilization for the maintenance of sterile lines, cannot be induced by controlling these environmental factors. In terms of hybrid breeding, this GMS therefore has no advantage over the previously described CMS system.
Molecular and chemical analysis of β‐amylase‐less mutant barley in Tibet
Authors: Kaneko T. , Kihara M. , Ito K. , Takeda K.
Published: March 2003

The molecular and biochemical aspects of Tibetan β‐amylase‐less mutant barley were investigated. An enzyme assay showed that there were eight β‐amylase‐less mutant lines in the Tibetan landrace barley. Following Southern analysis and polymerase chain reaction, it is suggested that these mutants result from the same insert mutation in the latter part of the β‐amylase structural gene. The α‐glucosidase activity level of the mutant line was high in the initial period of germination, and the glucose ratio in the sugar conformation was remarkably high in the germinated seed of the mutant line. These results suggest that this β‐amylase‐less mutant line could be a new breeding material for beer production.
Oxidative stress indicators as selection tools for salt tolerance
Authors: Luna C. , Garcia‐Seffino L. , Arias C. , Taleisnik E.
Published: March 2003

Oxidative stress indicators, malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation and chlorophyll retention, were tested as tools for salt‐tolerance screening in Chloris gayana (Kunth), a forage grass exhibiting inter‐ and intra‐cultivar variability in the response to salt stress. Three types of experimental system were compared, salt shock, gradual salt treatment and leaf segments floated on control and saline solutions. Results followed the same trend in the three systems, but leaf segments or gradually salinized plants are the most convenient. Lower mean MDA and higher mean chlorophyll content were found under salinity in cv. ‘Katambora’, which is considered, from previous field trials, to be more salt tolerant than cv. ‘Boma’. Nevertheless, chlorophyll content did not give consistent results in other tests and it is not recommended for selection purposes. Within cv. ‘Boma’, clones rating higher in a salt tolerance evaluation under greenhouse conditions had lower MDA content under salinity and lower mean MDA ratios between salt‐treated and control samples. The survival of 80‘Boma’ plants under increasing NaCl concentration was assessed and MDA was measured in the leaves of very plant before the final NaCl level was reached, to assess whether it was predictive of survival capability. MDA values were significantly lower in the group surviving longer, thus, a selection based on low MDA values would have enriched the original population with more tolerant individuals.
Assessment of partial resistance to powdery mildew in Chinese wheat varieties
Authors: Yu D. Z. , Yang X. J. , Yang L. J. , Jeger M. J. , Brown J. K. M.
Published: March 2003

Field trials in two cropping seasons and two locations in central China were conducted on 60 Chinese autumn‐sown wheat varieties to assess their partial resistance to powdery mildew. Mean levels of disease severity ranged from close to 0 to more than 90%. The method of inoculation and the location in which trials were conducted affected the relative performance of the varieties, but these effects were much smaller than the main effect of variety. The area under the disease progress curve was highly correlated with final disease severity, but both were poorly correlated with apparent infection rate. Disease severity was regressed against frequencies of virulence in the Blumeria graminis (syn. Erysiphe graminis) f sp. tritici populations in the trial plots. A vertical distance (D) from the mean mildew severity to the fitted line was calculated for each variety and was used to quantify partial resistance. Five of the 60 varieties, ‘Hx8541’, ‘E28547’, ‘Chuan1066’, ‘Zhe88pin6’ and ‘Lin5064’, consistently expressed relatively low levels of disease despite high frequencies of virulence in the pathogen and had consistently high D‐values. They may therefore have good levels of partial resistance.
Homozygous transgenic rice lines expressing GNA with enhanced resistance to the rice sap‐sucking pest Laodelphax striatellus
Authors: Wu A. , Sun X. , Pang Y. , Tang K.
Published: March 2003

Homozygous transgenic rice lines expressing snowdrop lectin, Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA), were investigated for resistance to the rice small brown planthopper (SBPH), Laodelphax striatellus, an important rice sap‐sucking pest causing yield losses and serving as vector for some important rice viruses. Insect bioassay results revealed that both the GNA‐expressing homozygous lines tested significantly inhibited SBPH by decreasing its survival, its overall fecundity and retarding development. This is the first report on homozygous transgenic rice lines expressing GNA conferring enhanced resistance to SBPH. This result suggests that transgenic rice expressing GNA will be useful in rice pest resistance breeding, as an alternative to conventional breeding for the control of SBPH, and potentially alleviating damage caused by the viruses it transmits.
Quantitative‐genetic analysis of leaf‐rust resistance in seedling and adult‐plant stages of inbred lines and their testcrosses in winter rye
Authors: Miedaner T. , Gey A.‐K. M. , Sperling U. , Geiger H. H.
Published: March 2003

Leaf rust is the most frequent leaf disease of winter rye in Germany. All widely grown population and hybrid varieties are susceptible. This study was undertaken to estimate quantitative‐genetic parameters of leaf‐rust resistance in self‐fertile breeding materials with introgressed foreign leaf‐rust resistances and to analyze the relative importance of seedling and adult‐plant resistance. Forty‐four inbred lines and their corresponding testcrosses with a highly susceptible tester line were grown in a field in four different environments (location‐year combinations) with artificial inoculation. Plots were separated by a nonhost to promote autoinfections and minimize interplot interference. Leaf‐rust severity was rated on three leaf insertions at three dates. The testcrosses showed a considerably higher disease severity than the lines. High correlations (r ≅ 0.9, P = 0.01) existed among the leaf insertions and the rating dates. Large genotypic variation for resistance was found in both the inbred and testcross populations. Genotype‐environment interaction and error variances were of minor importance, thus high entry‐mean heritabilities were achieved. A tight correlation between the inbreds and their corresponding testcrosses was found (r = 0.88, P = 0.01). Heterosis for resistance was significant (P = 0.05), but not very important. In a seedling test with 20—30 single‐pustule isolates, 34 out of 44 inbreds reacted race‐specifically. From the remaining inbred lines, three were medium and seven highly susceptible. In a further greenhouse test with 16 inbreds, seven were susceptible and five were resistant in both seedling and adult‐plant stages. The remaining four lines had adult‐plant resistance. In conclusion, race‐specific leaf‐rust resistance can be selected among inbred lines per se. Lines should also be tested in the adult‐plant stage.
Effects of supplementary pollination on cropping success and fruit quality in pistachio
Authors: Vaknin Y. , Gan‐Mor S. , Bechar A. , Ronen B. , Eisikowitch D. , Grunewaldt J.
Published: March 2003

The effects of pollen supplementation in pistachio orchards using an electrostatic pollination device were investigated in a 3‐year study (1996‐98) in San Joaquin Valley, California, USA. Both yield and fruit quality (per cent split fruit) were tested in several experiments. Applying smaller amounts of pollen (1.5 g per tree in early application only in 1996 or 0.5 g in two applications in 1997) resulted in higher yields than with open pollination or supplementary pollination using larger amounts of pollen (1.5 g per tree in four applications in 1996 or 1.0 g in two applications in 1997). Applying 1.0 g pollen in two applications in 1998 resulted in decreased yields compared with open pollination or non‐electrostatic pollination. Pollen germinability on the stigma was greatest for open pollination suggesting that overloading the stigmas with pollen in supplementary pollination may not only reduce yield but also increase competition between pollen grains. The per cent split fruit significantly increased only once in 1996. When pollination is a limiting factor, electrostatic pollination of pistachio can increase yield and may even increase fruit quality. However, when pollination is not a limiting factor, electrostatic pollination may even reduce yield.
Identification of Brassica oleracea germplasm with improved resistance to Verticillium wilt
Authors: Happstadius I. , Ljungberg A. , Kristiansson B. , Dixelius C.
Published: March 2003

Two hundred and ninety‐nine accessions representing 11 cultivar groups of Brassica oleracea and eight additional accessions of the wild species B. cretica, B. incana, B. insularis and B. villosa were screened for resistance to Verticillium wilt. A disease index (DI) was calculated for each accession, and a correction of the DI was carried out to compensate for a fluctuating infection level between 11 independent trials. A total of 235, or 77% of the accessions tested, had a DIcorr less or equal to the oilseed rape cv. ‘Express’ (DIcorr= 2.81), the reference cultivar. Only one accession of the wild species, B. incana, showed an enhanced level of resistance (DIcorr= 2.01). Twenty‐four accessions, distributed over eight cultivar groups of B. oleracea were selected for subsequent crosses involving B. rapa. Hybrid plants with 14 accessions were resultant and seed was obtained from crosses where the cultivar groups acephala, alboglabra, botrytis, capitata, gemmifera, italica and sabellica were used as female parents. When progeny of the produced resynthesized rapeseed lines were evaluated for Verticillium wilt resistance, three lines showed a significantly lower disease index (P ≥ 0.01) compared with the cv. ‘Express’. This source of resistance is now being crossed to advanced breeding material of oilseed rape.
Cryopreservation of Embryos of Farm Animals
Authors: Massip A.
Published: March 2003

This review contains two parts.

The first part is devoted to the significant steps in cryopreservation of mammalian embryos with emphasis on cattle and sheep that serve as models of reference. These steps are: (1) shortening of cooling and warming processes; (2) addition and dilution of cryoprotectant in one step; (3) introduction of plastic straw as a freezing and dilution container; (4) the choice of ethylene glycol as the quite universal cryoprotectant because of its low toxicity and high permeability; (5) vitrification, a cryopreservation method which enable passage from the liquid to the solid state by extreme elevation of viscosity due to high concentration of cryoprotectants and very rapid cooling. There are several vitrification solutions which contain dimethyl sulphoxide, glycerol, ethylene glycol, or a mixture of them, as basic cryoprotectants.

The second part considers some factors affecting the efficiency of cryopreservation concerning (i) the origin of embryos and (ii) the stage of development and species.

The origin of embryos (in vivo versus in vitro): in vitro embryos show a chilling and freezing sensitivity associated with their lipid content which can be modified by the culture conditions. Both conventional freezing and vitrification have been used and it seems that vitrification is more adapted to in vitro embryos when some modifications of initial protocols are carried out, particularly the rate of cooling. Thus considerable progress has been achieved by using the open pulled straw method of Vajta which enables the use of a minimum volume of freezing medium (0.5 μl) and a very high cooling rate that permits rapid traversal of the damaging temperature zone, corresponding to chilling sensitivity.

The stage of development and species: not only are there differences between species at the same stage of development but in the same species all stages of development do not survive equally under the same freezing protocol. In cattle for example, oocytes and early stages of development in vivo or in vitro do not survive whereas compacted morulae and blastocysts survive very well. In the pig hatched blastocysts survive better than the other stages. Horse embryos have special characteristics that pose problems for successful freezing.

In conclusion, a lot of work remains to be done to define fundamental characteristics of embryos of certain species (pig, horse) and of embryos of some stages or of oocytes.
A Review of Canine Pseudocyesis
Authors: Gobello C , De La Sota RL , Goya RG
Published: March 2003

The purpose of this article is to review the most relevant features of the physiology, clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of canine pseudocyesis (PSC). This is a physiological syndrome, characterized by clinical signs such as: nesting, weight gain, mammary enlargement, lactation and maternal behaviour, which appears in non‐pregnant bitches at the end of metaoestrus. PSC is a frequent finding in domestic dogs. Although it is generally admitted that prolactin (PRL) plays a central role in the appearance of PSC, its precise aetiophysiology is not completely understood yet. A number of clinical studies suggest that at some point of metaoestrus circulating PRL levels rise in overtly pseudopregnant bitches. Individual differences in sensitivity to PRL as well as the existence of molecular variants of canine PRL with different bioactivity versus immunoreactivity ratios may help clarify the aetiopathology of PSC. Diagnosis of PSC is based on the presence of typical clinical signs in metaoestrous non‐pregnant bitches. Considering that PSC is a self limiting physiological state, mild cases usually need no treatment. Discouraging maternal behaviour and sometimes fitting Elizabethan collars to prevent licking of the mammary glands may suffice in these cases. Sex steroids (oestrogens, progestins and androgens) have been traditionally used to treat PSC but the side‐effects usually outweigh the benefits of these medications. Inhibition of PRL release by ergot derivatives [ bromocriptine (10–100 μg/kg per day for 10–14 days], cabergoline (5 μg/kg per day during 5–10 days), metergoline (0.2 mg/kg per day during 8–10 days) has proved to be effective for the treatment of canine PSC. Although some of these ergot derivatives present some untoward side‐effects, they are transient and can usually be managed. Predisposed bitches not intended for breeding should be spayed as ovariectomy is the only permanent preventive measure.