The Relative host status of rock elephant shrews Elephantulus myurus and Namaqua rock mice Aethomys namaquensis for economically important ticks

Several tick species of medical and veterinary importance occur in the southern Orange Free State. The purpose of the present study was to determine the host status of rock elephant shrews ( Elephantulus myurus) and Namaqua rock mice ( Aethomys namaquensis) for these ticks. Infestation levels were used as a criterion. The seasonal abundances of the ticks as well as the effects of landscape topography and sex of the host on infestation levels were also investigated. Incidental observations were made on the pouched mouse (Saccostomys campestris). No adult ticks were recovered from any of these small mammals. Seven tick species were found on the elephant shrews of which only Ixodes rubicundus and Rhipicephalus punctatus occurred in high numbers on a large proportion of the animals. Both these ticks cause paralysis in domestic stock. The Namaqua rock mice harboured eight tick species. Only Haemaphysalis leachi/spinulosa and R. punctatus had a relative abundance exceeding 15%. Three of the 10 pouched mice examined were infested with small numbers of ticks. The 132 rock elephant shrews examined harboured a mean total burden of 121 immature ticks compared to four on each of the 321 Namaqua rock mice. The larvae and nymphs of I. rubicundus occurred mainly in the colder months (April to September), while those of H. leachi/spinulosa preferred the warmer months (October to March). Large numbers of larvae of R. punctatus were present from December to July and nymphs from August to October. Infestation levels of I. rubicundus were consistently higher on animals trapped on southern slopes than on those trapped on northern slopes. The sex of the hosts seemed to have little effect on infestation levels

The efficacy of a generic doxycycline tablet in the treatment of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of a generic doxycycline tablet (DoxyVet®) against Ehrlichia canis infection in dogs. Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis is caused by the bacterium E. canis and transmitted by the brown kennel tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus). Six disease-free and tick-free dogs were infested with E. canisinfected ticks. Once diagnosed (with polymerase chain reaction [PCR] analysis and platelet counts) as positive for infection, doxycycline tablets were administered orally once a day for 20 consecutive days, at a target dose level of 10 mg/kg. The actual dose administered was calculated as ranging between 10 mg/kg and 11.7 mg/kg. The PCR analysis, 28 days after the first administration of the tablets, failed to detect E. canis in any of the dogs. On Day 56 of the study, four of the dogs were diagnosed with E. canis for the second time and a fifth dog was diagnosed on Day 70. The platelet counts of the sixth dog remained within normal levels and it was discharged from the study on Day 84. Doxycycline tablets were then administered to the remaining five infected dogs for 28 consecutive days. Four of these dogs had no positive PCR results during the following 3 months. The fifth dog was diagnosed with E. canis for the third time 58 days after the last tablets of the second treatment had been administered, after which it was rescue treated (doxycycline for a further 28 days). The results indicate that doxycycline administered in tablet form (DoxyVet®) at 10 mg/kg – 11.7 mg/kg body mass once daily for 28 consecutive days clears most dogs of infection. The importance of a concomitant tick-control programme is therefore stressed

Sustaining essential healthcare in Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic

No abstract available.https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iuatld/ijtldhj2021Family MedicineImmunologyInternal MedicineMedical Microbiolog

South African EUCAARI measurements: seasonal variation of trace gases and aerosol optical properties

In this paper we introduce new in situ observations of atmospheric aerosols, especially chemical composition, physical and optical properties, on the eastern brink of the heavily polluted Highveld area in South Africa. During the observation period between 11 February 2009 and 31 January 2011, the mean particle number concentration (size range 10–840 nm) was 6310 cm−3 and the estimated volume of sub-10 μm particles 9.3 μm3 m−3. The aerosol absorption and scattering coefficients at 637 nm were 8.3Mm−1 and 49.5Mm−1, respectively. The mean single-scattering albedo at 637 nm was 0.84 and the A° ngstro¨m exponent of scattering was 1.5 over the wavelength range 450–635 nm. The mean O3, SO2, NOx and H2S-concentrations were 37.1, 11.5, 15.1 and 3.2 ppb, respectively. The observed range of concentrations was large and attributed to the seasonal variation of sources and regional meteorological effects, especially the anticyclonic re-circulation and strong winter-time inversions. In a global context, the levels of gases and particulates were typical for continental sites with strong anthropogenic influence, but clearly lower than the most polluted areas of southeastern Asia. Of all pollutants observed at the site, ozone is the most likely to have adverse environmental effects, as the concentrations were high also during the growing season. The measurements presented here will help to close existing gaps in the ground-based global atmosphere observation system, since very little long-term data of this nature is available for southern Africa.JRC.H.7-Climate Risk Managemen

Transferability of PCR-based diagnostic protocols: An international collaborative case study assessing protocols targeting the quarantine pine pathogen Fusarium circinatum

[EN] Fusarium circinatum is a harmful pathogenic fungus mostly attacking Pinus species and also Pseudotsuga menziesii, causing cankers in trees of all ages, damping-off in seedlings, and mortality in cuttings and mother plants for clonal production. This fungus is listed as a quarantine pest in several parts of the world and the trade of potentially contaminated pine material such as cuttings, seedlings or seeds is restricted in order to prevent its spread to disease-free areas. Inspection of plant material often relies on DNA testing and several conventional or real-time PCR based tests targeting F. circinatum are available in the literature. In this work, an international collaborative study joined 23 partners to assess the transferability and the performance of nine molecular protocols, using a wide panel of DNA from 71 representative strains of F. circinatum and related Fusarium species. Diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the nine protocols all reached values >80%, and the diagnostic specificity was the only parameter differing significantly between protocols. The rates of false positives and of false negatives were computed and only the false positive rates differed significantly, ranging from 3.0% to 17.3%. The difference between protocols for some of the performance values were mainly due to cross-reactions with DNA from non-target species, which were either not tested or documented in the original articles. Considering that participating laboratories were free to use their own reagents and equipment, this study demonstrated that the diagnostic protocols for F. circinatum were not easily transferable to end-users. More generally, our results suggest that the use of protocols using conventional or real-time PCR outside their initial development and validation conditions should require careful characterization of the performance data prior to use under modified conditions (i.e. reagents and equipment). Suggestions to improve the transfer are proposed.This work was supported by COST action FP1406 Pinestrength . The work of the Estonian team was supported by the Estonian Science Foundation grants PSG136 and IUT21-04. The work of Portuguese team from INIAV was financed by INIAV I.P. Institute. The work at U. Aveiro (Portugal) was financed by European Funds through COMPETE and National Funds through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) to CESAM (UID/AMB/50017/2013 POCI-01- 0145-FEDER-007638). The work of Slovenian team was financed through Slovenian Research Agency (P4-0107) and by the Slovenian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food (Public Forestry Service). The British work was financially supported by the Forestry Commission, UK. The French work was financially supported by the French Agency for Food, environmental and occupational health safety (ANSES). The work in New Zealand was funded by Operational Research Programmes, Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand.Ioos, R.; Aloi, F.; Piskur, B.; Guinet, C.; Mullett, M.; Berbegal Martinez, M.; Bragança, H.... (2019). Transferability of PCR-based diagnostic protocols: An international collaborative case study assessing protocols targeting the quarantine pine pathogen Fusarium circinatum. Scientific Reports. 9:1-17. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-44672-8S1179Schmale, D. G. III & Gordon, T. R. Variation in susceptibility to pitch canker disease, caused by Fusarium circinatum, in native stands of Pinus muricata. Plant Pathol. 52, 720–725 (2003).Gordon, T. R., Kirkpatrick, S. C., Aegerter, B. J., Wood, D. L. & Storer, A. J. Susceptibility of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) to pitch canker, caused by Gibberella circinata (anamorph = Fusarium circinatum). Plant Pathol. 55, 231–237 (2006).Martínez‐Álvarez, P., Pando, V. & Diez, J. J. Alternative species to replace Monterey pine plantations affected by pitch canker caused by Fusarium circinatum in northern Spain. Plant Pathol. 63, 1086–1094, https://doi.org/10.1111/ppa.12187 (2014).Wingfield, M. J. et al. Pitch canker caused by Fusarium circinatum - a growing threat to pine plantations and forests worldwide. Australas. Plant Path. 37, 319–334 (2008).Bezos, D., Martinez-Alvarez, P., Fernandez, M. & Diez, J. J. Epidemiology and management of pine pitch canker disease in Europe - a review. Balt. For. 23, 279–293 (2017).Landeras, E. et al. Outbreak of pitch canker caused by Fusarium circinatum on Pinus spp. in Northern Spain. Plant Dis. 89, 1015 (2005).Bragança, H., Diogo, E., Moniz, F. & Amaro, P. First report of pitch canker on pines caused by Fusarium circinatum in Portugal. Plant Dis. 93, 1079–1079, https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-93-10-1079A (2009).EFSA. Risk assessment of Gibberella circinata for the EU territory and identification and evaluation of risk management options. EFSA Journal 8, 1620 (2010).Carlucci, A., Colatruglio, L. & Frisullo, S. First report of pitch canker caused by Fusarium circinatum on Pinus halepensis and P. pinea in Apulia (Southern Italy). Plant Dis. 91, 1683 (2007).Vettraino, A., Potting, R. & Raposo, R. EU legislation on forest plant health: an overview with a focus on Fusarium circinatum. Forests 9, 568 (2018).Möykkynen, T., Capretti, P. & Pukkala, T. Modelling the potential spread of Fusarium circinatum, the causal agent of pitch canker in Europe. Annals of Forest Sciences 72, 169–181 (2015).Bustin, S. A. et al. The MIQE guidelines: minimum information for publication of quantitative real-time PCR experiments. Clin Chem 55, https://doi.org/10.1373/clinchem.2008.112797 (2009).EPPO. PM 7/91(1): Gibberella circinata. EPPO Bull. 39, 298–309 (2009).ISTA. 7-009: Detection of Gibberella circinata on Pinus spp. (pine) and Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas-fir) seed. Validated Seed Health Testing Methods (2015).IPPC. ISPM 27, Diagnostic protocols for regulated pests, DP 22: Fusarium circinatum (2017).EPPO. PM 7/98 (2) Specific requirements for laboratories preparing accreditation for a plant pest diagnostic activity. EPPO Bull. 44, 117–147, https://doi.org/10.1111/epp.12118 (2014).Nirenberg, H. I. & O’Donnell, K. New Fusarium species and combinations within the Gibberella fujikuroi species complex. Mycologia 90, 434–458 (1998).Britz, H., Coutinho, T. A., Wingfield, M. J. & Marasas, W. F. O. Validation of the description of Gibberella circinata and morphological differentiation of the anamorph Fusarium circinatum. Sydowia 54, 9–22 (2002).Mullett, M., Pérez-Sierra, A., Armengol, J. & Berbegal, M. Phenotypical and molecular characterisation of Fusarium circinatum: correlation with virulence and fungicide sensitivity. Forests 8, 458 (2017).Herron, D. A. et al. Novel taxa in the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex from Pinus spp. Stud. Mycol. 80, 131–150, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.simyco.2014.12.001 (2015).Storer, G. & Clark, S. L. Association of the pitch canker fungus, Fusarium subglutinans f.sp. pini, with Monterey pine seeds and seedlings in California. Plant Pathol. 47, 649–656, https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3059.1998.00288.x (1998).Schweigkofler, W., O’Donnell, K. & Garbelotto, M. Detection and quantification of airborne conidia of Fusarium circinatum, the causal agent of pine pitch canker, from two California sites by using a real-time PCR approach combined with a simple spore trapping method. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70, 3512–3520 (2004).Ramsfield, T. D., Dobbie, K., Dick, M. A. & Ball, R. D. Polymerase chain reaction-based detection of Fusarium circinatum, the causal agent of pitch canker disease. Molecular Ecology Resources 8, 1270–1273 (2008).Ioos, R., Fourrier, C., Iancu, G. & Gordon, T. R. Sensitive Detection of Fusarium circinatum in Pine Seed by Combining an Enrichment Procedure with a Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Using Dual-Labeled Probe Chemistry. Phytopathology 99, 582–590, https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-99-5-0582 (2009).Dreaden, T. J., Smith, J. A., Barnard, E. L. & Blakeslee, G. Development and evaluation of a real-time PCR seed lot screening method for Fusarium circinatum, causal agent of pitch canker disease. For. Path. 42, 405–411, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0329.2012.00774.x (2012).Fourie, G. et al. Culture-independent detection and quantification of Fusarium circinatum in a pine-producing seedling nursery. Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science 76, 137–143, https://doi.org/10.2989/20702620.2014.899058 (2014).Lamarche, J. et al. Molecular detection of 10 of the most unwanted alien forest pathogens in Canada using Real-Time PCR. PLoS ONE 10, e0134265, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0134265 (2015).Luchi, N., Pepori, A. L., Bartolini, P., Ioos, R. & Santini, A. Duplex real-time PCR assay for the simultaneous detection of Caliciopsis pinea and Fusarium circinatum in pine samples. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 102, 7135–7146, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-018-9184-1 (2018).Sandoval-Denis, M., Swart, W. J. & Crous, P. W. New Fusarium species from the Kruger National Park, South Africa. MycoKeys 34, https://doi.org/10.3897/mycokeys.34.25974 (2018).Steenkamp, E. T., Wingfield, B. D., Desjardins, A. E., Marasas, W. F. & Wingfield, M. J. Cryptic speciation in Fusarium subglutinans. Mycologia 94, 1032–1043 (2002).Garcia-Benitez, C. et al. Proficiency of real-time PCR detection of latent Monilinia spp. infection in nectarine flowers and fruit. Phytopathologia Mediterranea 56, 242–250 (2017).Ebentier, D. L. et al. Evaluation of the repeatability and reproducibility of a suite of qPCR-based microbial source tracking methods. Water Research 47, 6839–6848, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2013.01.060 (2013).Bustin, S. & Huggett, J. qPCR primer design revisited. Biomolecular Detection and Quantification 14, 19–28, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bdq.2017.11.001 (2017).Grosdidier, M., Aguayo, J., Marçais, B. & Ioos, R. Detection of plant pathogens using real-time PCR: how reliable are late Ct values? Plant Pathol. 66, 359–367, https://doi.org/10.1111/ppa.12591 (2017).Al-Soud, W. A. & Rådström, P. Capacity of nine thermostable DNA polymerases to mediate DNA amplification in the presence of PCR-inhibiting samples. Applied and environmental microbiology 64, 3748–3753 (1998).Saunders, G. C., Dukes, J., Parkes, H. C. & Cornett, J. H. Interlaboratory study on thermal cycler performance in controlled PCR and random amplified polymorphic DNA analyses. Clinical chemistry 47, 47–55 (2001).Boutigny, A.-L. et al. Optimization of a real-time PCR assay for the detection of the quarantine pathogen Melampsora medusae f. sp. deltoidae. Fungal Biology 117, 389–398, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2013.04.001 (2013).Guinet, C., Fourrier-Jeandel, C., Cerf-Wendling, I. & Ioos, R. One-step detection of Monilinia fructicola, M. fructigena, and M. laxa on Prunus and Malus by a multiplex real-time PCR assay. Plant Dis. 100, 2465–2474, https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-05-16-0655-RE (2016).Aguayo, J. et al. Development of a hydrolysis probe-based real-time assay for the detection of tropical strains of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense race 4. PLoS ONE 12, e0171767, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0171767 (2017).Broeders, S. et al. Guidelines for validation of qualitative real-time PCR methods. Trends in Food Science & Technology 37, 115–126, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2014.03.008 (2014).Pelloux, H. et al. A second European collaborative study on polymerase chain reaction for Toxoplasma gondii, involving 15 teams. FEMS Microbiology Letters 165, 231–237, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-6968.1998.tb13151.x (1998).Leslie, J. F. & Summerell, B. A. The Fusarium laboratory manual. (Blackwell Publishing, 2006).Ioos, R. et al. Test performance study of diagnostic procedures for identification and detection of Gibberella circinata in pine seeds in the framework of a EUPHRESCO project. EPPO Bull. 43, 267–275, https://doi.org/10.1111/epp.12037 (2013).Geiser, D. M. FUSARIUM-ID v. 1.0: a DNA sequence database for identifying Fusarium. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 110, 473–479 (2004).White, T. J., Bruns, T., Lee, S. & Taylor, J. In PCR protocols: a guide to method and applications (eds Gelfand, D. H., Innis M. A., Sninsky, J. J. and White, T. J.) 315–322 (Academic Press, 1990).Nirenberg, H. I. A simplified method for identifying Fusarium spp. occurring on wheat. Canadian Journal of Botany 59, 1599–1609 (1981).Chabirand, A., Loiseau, M., Renaudin, I. & Poliakoff, F. Data processing of qualitative results from an interlaboratory comparison for the detection of “Flavescence dorée” phytoplasma: How the use of statistics can improve the reliability of the method validation process in plant pathology. PLoS ONE 12, e0175247, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0175247 (2017).Loreti, S. et al. Performance of diagnostic tests for the detection and identification of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) from woody samples. European Journal of Plant Pathology, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-018-1509-5 (2018).International Standardization Organization. ISO 16140:2003 Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs - Protocol for the validation of alternative methods (2003).Langton, S., Chevennement, R., Nagelkerke, N. & Lombard, B. Analysing collaborative trials for qualitative microbiological methods: accordance and concordance. International Journal of Food Microbiology 79, 175–181 (2002).R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna (2014). R Foundation for Statistical Computing (2017).Wickham, H. ggplot2 : elegant graphics for data analysis. (Springer, 2016)

Global Geographic Distribution and Host Range of Fusarium circinatum, the Causal Agent of Pine Pitch Canker

Fusarium circinatum, the causal agent of pine pitch canker (PPC), is currently one of the most important threats of Pinus spp. globally. This pathogen is known in many pine-growing regions, including natural and planted forests, and can affect all life stages of trees, from emerging seedlings to mature trees. Despite the importance of PPC, the global distribution of F. circinatum is poorly documented, and this problem is also true of the hosts within countries that are affected. The aim of this study was to review the global distribution of F. circinatum, with a particular focus on Europe. We considered (1) the current and historical pathogen records, both positive and negative, based on confirmed reports from Europe and globally; (2) the genetic diversity and population structure of the pathogen; (3) the current distribution of PPC in Europe, comparing published models of predicted disease distribution; and (4) host susceptibility by reviewing literature and generating a comprehensive list of known hosts for the fungus. These data were collated from 41 countries and used to compile a specially constructed geo-database. A review of 6297 observation records showed that F. circinatum and the symptoms it causes on conifers occurred in 14 countries, including four in Europe, and is absent in 28 countries. Field observations and experimental data from 138 host species revealed 106 susceptible host species including 85 Pinus species, 6 non-pine tree species and 15 grass and herb species. Our data confirm that susceptibility to F. circinatum varies between different host species, tree ages and environmental characteristics. Knowledge on the geographic distribution, host range and the relative susceptibility of different hosts is essential for disease management, mitigation and containment strategies. The findings reported in this review will support countries that are currently free of F. circinatum in implementing effective procedures and restrictions and prevent further spread of the pathogen

Phylogenomic analysis of a 55.1 kb 19-gene dataset resolves a monophyletic Fusarium that includes the Fusarium solani Species Complex

Scientific communication is facilitated by a data-driven, scientifically sound taxonomy that considers the end-user¿s needs and established successful practice. In 2013, the Fusarium community voiced near unanimous support for a concept of Fusarium that represented a clade comprising all agriculturally and clinically important Fusarium species, including the F. solani species complex (FSSC). Subsequently, this concept was challenged in 2015 by one research group who proposed dividing the genus Fusarium into seven genera, including the FSSC described as members of the genus Neocosmospora, with subsequent justification in 2018 based on claims that the 2013 concept of Fusarium is polyphyletic. Here, we test this claim and provide a phylogeny based on exonic nucleotide sequences of 19 orthologous protein-coding genes that strongly support the monophyly of Fusarium including the FSSC. We reassert the practical and scientific argument in support of a genus Fusarium that includes the FSSC and several other basal lineages, consistent with the longstanding use of this name among plant pathologists, medical mycologists, quarantine officials, regulatory agencies, students, and researchers with a stake in its taxonomy. In recognition of this monophyly, 40 species described as genus Neocosmospora were recombined in genus Fusarium, and nine others were renamed Fusarium. Here the global Fusarium community voices strong support for the inclusion of the FSSC in Fusarium, as it remains the best scientific, nomenclatural, and practical taxonomic option availabl