Identification of sources of resistance of Passiflora rootstocks to fusariosis in areas with disease outbreaks in Mato Grosso state, Brazil

The aim of the study was to identify sources of resistance of Passiflora rootstocks to Fusarium sp. in two experimental areas with histories of disease foci in Mato Grosso state, Brazil. The experiment was carried out from June 2012 to December 2015 and was of randomized block design with eight treatments in which susceptible cultivar P. edulis was grafted onto hybrids CPAC MJ-H-87, CPAC MJ-H-76, CPAC MJ-H-86 and CPAC MJ-H-88, the commercial cultivar and native P. edulis, P. nitida and P. alata. Mortality rates of grafted plants were evaluated up to 640 days after transplantation. All Fusarium sp. isolates were identified as F. oxysporum f. sp. passiflorae. Plant mortality occurred earlier in the clay area than in the area with sandy clay loam. Grafted plants involving P. edulis as rootstocks were highly susceptible to Fusarium sp. with overall mortality rates above 56.25% considering both soil types, while plants with CPAC MJ-H-76 or native P. nitida rootstocks were more resistant with mortality rates below 12.5%. Grafted plants with CPAC MJ-H-86 as rootstock were highly resistant in clay soil but highly susceptible in soil with high proportion of sand. Only grafted plants involving CPAC MJ-H-76 as rootstock showed moderate resistance.

Tick-borne infections in Central Europe.

This expert opinion discusses how global warming and climate change impact (i) geographic expansion of indigenous tick species; (ii) tick survival and abundance in certain areas including urban parks and gardens; (iii) seasonal tick questing activities, increasing the number of infected hosts and the probability of pathogen transmission; (iv) emergence of new tick-borne disease foci; and (v) changing epidemiological patterns and increasing incidence of tick-borne diseases in endemic foci.

Krónikus, nem bakteriális, multicentrikus osteomyelitis a mandibulában

Chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis is a sterile inflammatory osteitis that most commonly develops in the long bones, but it can occur in any bone. Mandibular lesions are found in 1.5–3% of disease foci in patients and it is poorly characterized in the maxillofacial surgery literature due to the use of inconsistent terminology. The purpose of this study was to present the clinical experience of chronic nonbacterial multicentric osteomyelitis and a collection of research and information of the disease. This is a retrospective study of 2 cases with mandibular lesions radiographically consistent with osteomyelitis without infection. Medical records were reviewed for history, clinical features, imaging and pathology. The study included 2 patients (2 females, age of 17 and 43 years). Both reported mandibular pain and swelling, radiographic finding of multifocal intraosseal inflammatory lesions. Computed tomography scans typically showed expansion of the affected mandible with sclerosis of the medullary space, small foci of poorly defined lytic destruction with lamellated periosteal reaction. Both patients showed a long ineffective antibiotic therapy and recurrent flare-ups of inflammation. After the proper course of treatment (nonsteroid and steroid therapy), a long painless period was reached. Chronic multicentric nonbacterial osteomyelitis has been reported to be uncommon in the mandible, but it may be more common with correct diagnosis, typified by recurrent pain and swelling with characteristic pathologic and radiologic features. The current treatment modalities include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or steroids. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(43): 1761–1766.

Predisposing Sinonasal Disease Foci: Do They Really Affect Mucosal Chronic Otitis Media?

Background This study aimed to find the relationship between sinonasal predisposing foci in chronic otitis media mucosal disease (COMMD) and risk from these predisposing disease foci, and to identify the correlation of bacterial flora of the ear and nose in chronic otitis media. Materials and Methods This was a prospective case–control study with 100 cases and 100 controls. All patients underwent a detailed clinical ear-nose-throat (ENT) examination and diagnostic nasal endoscopy to look for sinonasal and pharyngeal pathology. In all patients, ear and nasal swabs were taken at the first visit. The relationship between these factors and COMMD was studied by appropriate statistical tests. Observations and Results Extremely significant association between tubal tonsil hypertrophy and COMMD, very significant association between adenoid hypertrophy and COMMD, and just significant association between deviated nasal septum, inferior turbinate hypertrophy, concha bullosa, and COMMD were found. No significant association was found between sinusitis and COMMD. In this study Staphylococcus aureus (51%) was the predominant organism isolated from ear swab, followed by Pseudomonas (27%). The same organism in nasal and ear swabs was demonstrated only in eight (13%) cases. Conclusion Sinonasal predisposing foci play a substantial role in the development of COMMD and observed in 97% of the cases with bilateral disease and 91% with unilateral disease in this study. Hence, every case of COMMD must undergo investigations such as diagnostic nasal endoscopy to discover these foci. Because sinonasal disease is one of the important factors contributing to otitis media, timely detection and management of symptomatic sinonasal disease must precede surgical management of COMMD.

Topographic effects on dispersal patterns of Phytophthora cinnamomi at a stand scale in a Spanish heathland

Phytophthora cinnamomi is one of the most important plant pathogens in the world, causing root rot in more than a thousand plant species. This observational study was carried out on a P. cinnamomi infected heathland of Erica umbellata used as goat pasture. The patterns and shapes of disease foci and their distribution were described in a spatial and temporal context using an aerial photograph record. A set of topographic traits was selected on the basis of a disease dynamic hypothesis and their effects on observed spatial disease patterns were analyzed. Incipient infections situated in flat terrain expanded as compact circular front patterns with a low growth rate. On slopes, disease patches developed more rapidly down slope, forming parabolic shapes. The axis direction of the parabolas was highly correlated with terrain aspect, while the parabolic amplitude was associated with land curvature and slope. New secondary foci appeared over the years producing an accelerated increase of the affected surface. These new foci were observed in sites where disease density was higher or near sites more frequently visited by animals such as the stable or the forage crop. In contrast, a smaller number of disease foci occur in areas which animals are reluctant to visit, such as where they have a short range of vision. Our results suggest that 1) the growth of existing P. cinnamomi foci is controlled by a combination of root-to-root contact and water flows, 2) the increase in the diseased area arises mainly from the multiplication of patches, 3) the formation of new foci is mediated by long-distance transport due to the movement of animals and humans along certain preferential pathways, and 4) geomorphology and topography traits are associated with the epidemiology of this soil-borne pathogen.

An epizootiological survey of sheep pox in Greece from 1982 to 1998

Sheep pox outbreaks in Greece during the last 17 years are reviewed. It is believed that the disease is mostly introduced from eastern neighboring countries. The transmission of the virus is connected to the movements and contact of sheep flocks. It is also attributed to human-animal contacts. Disease foci appeared in several central and northeastern areas of the country. Between 1982 and 1986 the country remained sheeppox free. The first outbreak appeared in the island of Lesbos in 1987. In 1988 sheeppox outbreaks did occur in the Evros prefecture. In 1994 one new outbreak occurred in Evros. During the 1995-1998 period several outbreaks occurred in Evros and other regions, such as in Thessaloniki (1995), Larissa, Xanthi, Rodopi, Kavala, Magnissia, and Lemnos island (1996), Kavala, Magnissia, Halkidiki, and Samothraki island (1997). In 1998 the cases of sheeppox were reduced and occurred only in prefecture of Evros.