Occurrence of Little cherry virus-1 on Prunus species in the State of Baden- Württemberg, Germany

A survey on Little cherry virus-1 (LChV-1) on several Prunus species has been performed at four different sites in theState of Baden-Württemberg (BW) between 2003 to 2006. These included a state-run growing site for prebasic andbasic material, two commercial nurseries for certified scion or rootstock production and an orchard for cultivar verification testing. A total of 63 varieties of sweet, sour and ornamental cherries belonging to four Prunus species (P. avium L., P. cerasus L., P. serrulata Lindl., P. subhirtella Miq.) as well as six types of Prunus-rootstocks were tested. Ten of the 44 P. avium and one of the two P. serrulata varieties were partly or totally infected, whereas the P. cerasus and P. subhirtella varieties and the Prunus-rootstocks gave negative results. None of the infected plants showed distinctive disease symptoms.Dispersal of LChV-1 from the infested P. avium trees was not detected in the orchard for cultivar verification testing after a period of five years. A natural dispersal from varieties infected for about 10 years in a nursery for scion production to adjacent healthy varieties was observed only in single cases. There was no indication of any involvement of animal vectors.Testing of randomly sampled material from some trees of P. avium and P. serrulata for scion production proved a homogenous distribution of the virus in shoots in autumn.At the moment studies are conducted to verify the responses of young trees of the sweet cherry variety ‘Regina’ to experimental inoculation with either LChV-1 or LChV-2 or a mixture of both viruses. First year results indicate that - in complete contrast to LChV-2 - no adverse effects of LChV-1 on the fruit yield, single fruit weight, fruit size and trunk circumference were observed. In mixed infections, LChV-1 seems to attenuate the adverse effects of LChV-2 on fruit yield and trunk circumference.Keywords: Little cherry virus-1, Little cherry virus-2, Baden-Württemberg, Prunus species, varieties, rootstocks, certification, dispersal, distribution, effect

The hypersensitivity resistance of european plum to the Plum pox virus and its potential impact on the epidemiology of the virus

Since the detection of the Plum pox virus (PPV) different strategies for Sharka containment were developed. One of the most important one is the breeding of resistant cultivars. Other than in Prunus persica and in Prunus armeniaca, in Prunus domestica a type of natural resistance was detected which seems to be able to prevent the spread of PPV both over long and short distances. Therefore, this type of Sharka resistance which is based on a hypersensitive response and has been stable for more than 20 years is suggested to have the most beneficial impact on the epidemiology of the virus compared to other mechanisms of resistance or tolerance.Keywords: Sharka containment, Prunus domestica, plum breedin

The adipocyte: a model for integration of endocrine and metabolic signaling in energy metabolism regulation

The ability to ensure continuous availability of energy despite highly variable supplies in the environment is a major determinant of the survival of all species. In higher organisms, including mammals, the capacity to efficiently store excess energy as triglycerides in adipocytes, from which stored energy could be rapidly released for use at other sites, was developed. To orchestrate the processes of energy storage and release, highly integrated systems operating on several physiological levels have evolved. The adipocyte is no longer considered a passive bystander, because fat cells actively secrete many members of the cytokine family, such as leptin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-6, among other cytokine signals, which influence peripheral fuel storage, mobilization, and combustion, as well as energy homeostasis. The existence of a network of adipose tissue signaling pathways, arranged in a hierarchical fashion, constitutes a metabolic repertoire that enables the organism to adapt to a wide range of different metabolic challenges, such as starvation, stress, infection, and short periods of gross energy excess

Dog filariosis in the Lazio region (Central Italy): first report on the presence of Dirofilaria repens

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological investigations were carried out in the Lazio Region to assess the status of canine filariosis and to evaluate the actual risk for veterinary and medical public health. METHODS: Since August 2001 to June 2003, a total of 972 canine blood samples, collected in public kennels and from private owners animals of the 5 Provinces of the Region, were tested. The presence of filarial parasites was evaluated by microscopy and bio-molecular techniques; the species identification was performed by means of the same diagnostic tools. RESULTS: A total of 17/972 (1.75%; 95%CI 1.06%–2.85%) blood samples were parasitized by D. repens,13 out them drawn by dogs resident in the Province of Roma, and 4 in the other provinces. Multivariate analysis was performed in order to evaluate the association between filariosis and risk factors. The origin from coastal territories seems to be a significant risk factor to acquire the infection. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of canine filariosis in the Lazio Region, where D. repens was before reported only in foxes. The risk of human zoonotic infection is stressed, and the absence of other filarial species is discusse

Ambulante Lehre in fachspezialistischen Praxen - eine qualitative Studie mit Ärzt*innen zu Einstellungen, Einflussfaktoren und fachbezogenen Besonderheiten

Aim: The aim is to record existing attitudes, influencing factors and specialised requirements with regard to the training of medical students in specialist outpatient care with doctors working in outpatient care.Method: Between September 2020 and May 2021, individual interviews with 15 specialists employed in outpatient care were held as part of this qualitative study. The recorded interviews were evaluated structurally in accordance with the Kuchartz method.Results: Enhanced outpatient training for medical students in specialist teaching practices was considered as important by all participants. Among other things, motivational factors were pleasure in teaching, a feeling of duty, the desire to pass something on, the need to convey one's own ideas and to generate future talent for the field. A lack of time, greater organisational effort and legal concerns were stated as hurdles. Reducing organisational effort for teaching practices, appreciation of their teaching activity and financial considerations were in particular given as significant incentives for participating. The attitude of participants towards financial remuneration was heterogeneous. Different specialist features and requirements for student training were mapped out. Conclusion: This study provides, for the first time, findings about teaching in specialist outpatient establishments. They point to a great degree of willingness of specialist doctors to undertake teaching and provide starting points for creating concepts about producing teaching practices in specialist fields. Further quantitative investigation is required to substantiate the findings before us.Zielsetzung: Ziel ist es, vorhandene Einstellungen, Einflussfaktoren und fachbezogene Voraussetzungen hinsichtlich der Ausbildung Medizinstudierender in der fachspezialistischen ambulanten Versorgung bei ambulant tätigen Ärzt*innen zu erfassen.Methodik: In dieser qualitativen Studie wurden im Zeitraum September 2020 - Mai 2021 leitfadengestützte Einzelinterviews mit 15 ambulant tätigen Fachspezialist*innen durchgeführt. Die per Audio aufgenommenen Interviews wurden inhaltlich strukturierend nach Kuckartz ausgewertet.Ergebnisse: Eine verstärkte ambulante Ausbildung Medizinstudierender in fachspezialistischen Lehrpraxen wurde von allen Teilnehmer*innen als wichtig erachtet. Motivatoren waren u.a. die Freude an der Lehrtätigkeit, ein Verpflichtungsgefühl, der Wunsch etwas weiterzugeben, das Bedürfnis eigene Ideale zu vermitteln und die Nachwuchsgenerierung für das Fach. Als Hürden wurden fehlende Zeit, hoher organisatorischer Aufwand und rechtliche Bedenken geäußert. Als wesentliche Anreize zur Beteiligung an der studentischen Lehre wurden insbesondere die organisatorische Aufwandreduktion für die Lehrpraxen, Wertschätzung ihrer Lehrtätigkeit und finanzielle Vergütung angesprochen. Die Haltung der Teilnehmer*innen zur finanziellen Vergütung war heterogen. Unterschiedliche, fachspezifische Besonderheiten und Voraussetzungen für die studentische Ausbildung wurden herausgearbeitet. Schlussfolgerung: Mit dieser Studie liegen erstmals Erkenntnisse zur Lehre in fachspezialistischen ambulanten Praxen vor. Sie weisen auf eine hohe Bereitschaft der Ärzt*innen zur Durchführung der Lehre hin und geben Ansatzpunkte für Konzepte zur Lehrpraxengewinnung in den fachspezialistischen Fächern. Es sind weiterführende quantitative Untersuchungen erforderlich, um die vorliegenden Ergebnisse zu untermauern