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Preventive Veterinary Medicine Aug 2022Sheep scab (psoroptic mange), which is endemic in the United Kingdom (UK) flock, has a significant, negative impact on sheep welfare. Nothing has previously been...
Sheep scab (psoroptic mange), which is endemic in the United Kingdom (UK) flock, has a significant, negative impact on sheep welfare. Nothing has previously been published about the distribution of sheep scab in Northern Ireland (NI), nor about Northern Irish farmers' knowledge and behaviours relating to the disease, its treatment, prevention and control. Between March and June 2021 an online questionnaire on the disease was completed by sheep farmers in NI. Forty-four respondents out of a total of 122 valid returns (36%) indicated that they had at least one outbreak of sheep scab in their flock within the previous five years. These flocks were spread throughout NI and included flocks grazing on common land. Farmers reporting sheep scab in their flock considered movements of sheep between flocks to be the main cause of flock infestation. Respondents demonstrated knowledge gaps in relation to the parasite biology, disease transmission, prevention and treatment options, as well as a lack of awareness of some of the relevant industry guidelines. We highlight that some farmers rely on clinical signs alone to rule out the possibility that newly purchased sheep are infested with sheep scab before mixing them with their flock. This activity poses a high risk for the introduction of sheep scab into previously uninfested flocks. The inadequacy of some farmers' quarantine rules, or their inability to follow them, was also reported by farmers as being the cause of their flock infestation. Sheep scab outbreaks were shown to result in significant financial cost, with some farmers reporting their most recent outbreak had cost over £2500 ($3329). The paper also highlights that in addition to the animal health and welfare impact and financial cost, sheep scab was reported to have a social cost: 94 respondents (79%) agreed that a sheep scab outbreak caused emotional stress to affected farmers. These findings have provided evidence of the widespread nature of sheep scab in the NI flock, and of the knowledge gaps and behaviours which need to be addressed to improve sheep scab control. This will require a combination of focused research, knowledge exchange between farmers, advisors, policy makers and regulators, and co-developed disease control plans at a flock and national level.
Topics: Animals; Ectoparasitic Infestations; Farmers; Humans; Mite Infestations; Northern Ireland; Sheep; Sheep Diseases; United Kingdom
PubMed: 35696812
DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2022.105682 -
The Veterinary Record Apr 2022Sheep scab is considered an endemic disease of great welfare and economic significance in the UK.
BACKGROUND
Sheep scab is considered an endemic disease of great welfare and economic significance in the UK.
METHOD
This paper provides an up-to-date assessment of the impact of Sheep Scab (Scotland) Order 2010 on sheep scab notifications in Scotland between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2019, using data collected by the APHA.
RESULTS
In total, 564 sheep scab notifications were reported from 503 unique holdings, of which 44 holdings (8.7%) reported more than one incident. The number of notifications did not differ between years, with 81, 84, 93, 101, 109 and 97 notifications recorded in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively: representing an average annual notification prevalence of 0.63% (1/159 flocks/year). A total of 413/564 records documented how notifications were resolved, with macrocyclic lactone and organophosphate treatments accounting for 79.6% and 20.4% of resolutions, respectively.
CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that the Order has facilitated the notification of sheep scab in Scotland (including trends and preferred methods of resolution), allowed industry and government to identify previously unidentified potentially free areas as well as recurrent incidents on sheep farms, and start to understand better the geographical and temporal nature of scab outbreaks. However, concerns remain about a potential lack of engagement, evidenced by the low notification prevalence and stagnant annual notification rates.
Topics: Animals; Disease Outbreaks; Ectoparasitic Infestations; Mite Infestations; Scotland; Sheep; Sheep Diseases
PubMed: 35275416
DOI: 10.1002/vetr.1488 -
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton,... 2022The transcriptomic information obtained by single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) can be supplemented by information on the cell surface phenotype by using...
The transcriptomic information obtained by single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) can be supplemented by information on the cell surface phenotype by using oligonucleotide-tagged monoclonal antibodies (scAb-Seq). This is of particular importance in immune cells, where the correlation between mRNA and cell surface expression is very weak. scAb-Seq is facilitated by the availability of commercial antibodies and antibody mixes. Now panels of up to 200 antibodies are available for human and mouse cells. Proteins are detected by antibodies conjugated to a tripartite DNA sequence that contains a primer for amplification and sequencing, a unique oligonucleotide that acts as an antibody barcode and a poly(dA) sequence, simultaneously detecting extension of antibody-specific DNA sequences and cDNAs in the same poly(dT)-primed reaction. For each cell, surface protein expression is captured and sequenced along with the cell's transcriptome. Here, we list the steps needed to produce antibody sequencing data from tissue or blood cells.
Topics: Animals; Atherosclerosis; Gene Expression Profiling; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Mice; Sequence Analysis, RNA; Single-Cell Analysis; Transcriptome
PubMed: 35238000
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1924-7_46 -
Molecular Plant Pathology Jun 2018Wheat is one of the primary staple foods throughout the planet. Significant yield gains in wheat production over the past 40 years have resulted in a steady balance of... (Review)
Review
Wheat is one of the primary staple foods throughout the planet. Significant yield gains in wheat production over the past 40 years have resulted in a steady balance of supply versus demand. However, predicted global population growth rates and dietary changes mean that substantial yield gains over the next several decades will be needed to meet this escalating demand. A key component to meeting this challenge is better management of fungal incited diseases, which can be responsible for 15%-20% yield losses per annum. Prominent diseases of wheat that currently contribute to these losses include the rusts, blotches and head blight/scab. Other recently emerged or relatively unnoticed diseases, such as wheat blast and spot blotch, respectively, also threaten grain production. This review seeks to provide an overview of the impact, distribution and management strategies of these diseases. In addition, the biology of the pathogens and the molecular basis of their interaction with wheat are discussed.
Topics: Disease Resistance; Helminthosporium; Magnaporthe; Plant Diseases; Triticum
PubMed: 29045052
DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12618 -
Journal of Applied Microbiology Feb 2014Streptomyces is a large genus consisting of soil-dwelling, filamentous bacteria that are best known for their capability of producing a vast array of medically and... (Review)
Review
Streptomyces is a large genus consisting of soil-dwelling, filamentous bacteria that are best known for their capability of producing a vast array of medically and agriculturally useful secondary metabolites. In addition, a small number of Streptomyces spp. are capable of colonizing and infecting the underground portions of living plants and causing economically important crop diseases such as potato common scab (CS). Research into the mechanisms of Streptomyces plant pathogenicity has led to the identification and characterization of several phytotoxic secondary metabolites that are known or suspected of contributing to diseases in various plants. The best characterized are the thaxtomin phytotoxins, which play a critical role in the development of CS, acid scab and soil rot of sweet potato. In addition, the best-characterized CS-causing pathogen, Streptomyces scabies, produces a molecule that is predicted to resemble the Pseudomonas syringae coronatine phytotoxin and which contributes to seedling disease symptom development. Other Streptomyces phytotoxic secondary metabolites that have been identified include concanamycins, FD-891 and borrelidin. Furthermore, there is evidence that additional, unknown metabolites may participate in Streptomyces plant pathogenicity. Such revelations have implications for the rational development of better management procedures for controlling CS and other Streptomyces plant diseases.
Topics: Bacterial Toxins; Fatty Alcohols; Indoles; Ipomoea batatas; Macrolides; Multigene Family; Piperazines; Plant Diseases; Soil Microbiology; Solanum tuberosum; Streptomyces
PubMed: 24131731
DOI: 10.1111/jam.12369 -
Canadian Journal of Microbiology Jan 2024have a uniquely complex developmental life cycle that involves the coordination of morphological differentiation with the production of numerous bioactive specialized... (Review)
Review
have a uniquely complex developmental life cycle that involves the coordination of morphological differentiation with the production of numerous bioactive specialized metabolites. The majority of spp. are soil-dwelling saprophytes, while plant pathogenicity is a rare attribute among members of this genus Phytopathogenic are responsible for economically important diseases such as common scab, which affects potato and other root crops. Following the acquisition of genes encoding virulence factors, pathogens are expected to have specifically adapted their regulatory pathways to enable transition from a primarily saprophytic to a pathogenic lifestyle. Investigations of the regulation of pathogenesis have primarily focused on and the principal pathogenicity determinant thaxtomin A. The coordination of growth and thaxtomin A production in this species is controlled in a hierarchical manner by cluster-situated regulators, pleiotropic regulators, signalling and plant-derived molecules, and nutrients. Although the majority of phytopathogenic produce thaxtomins, many also produce additional virulence factors, and there are scab-causing pathogens that do not produce thaxtomins. The development of effective control strategies for common scab and other plant diseases requires a more in-depth understanding of the genetic and environmental factors that modulate the plant pathogenic lifestyle of these organisms.
PubMed: 38190652
DOI: 10.1139/cjm-2023-0171 -
Preventive Veterinary Medicine Sep 2022Since the reintroduction of sheep scab within the UK, its prevalence has increased despite several industry-led initiatives to control and manage the disease. Some...
Since the reintroduction of sheep scab within the UK, its prevalence has increased despite several industry-led initiatives to control and manage the disease. Some studies have suggested that initiatives or policies should instead focus on specific places, such as geographically high-risk areas for sheep scab, which could allow for a more targeted approach. However, this risk of sheep scab has been measured in set geographical areas, without the reference to the interplay of topography, host, pathogen and the way in which humans socially and culturally define risk and place, potentially limiting the effectiveness of preventative initiatives. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to understand how place influences sheep farmers' approaches to the identification and management of the risk of sheep scab in their flocks. Qualitative data was collected from 43 semi-structured interviews with sheep farmers from England, Scotland, and Wales and was analysed by using the constant comparative approach. The codes were grouped into four concepts that influenced farmers' decision-making strategies for sheep scab control: perception of place; risk identification; risk categorisation; and risk management. These concepts were used as an analytical framework to identify three different 'places': 'uncontrollable places', 'liminal places' and 'protective places'. Each place reflects a different sheep scab control strategy used by farmers and shaped by their perceptions of place and risk. The 'uncontrollable places' category represented farmers who were located in areas that were geographically high-risk for sheep scab and who experienced a high frequency of sheep scab infestations in their flocks. The risk posed by their local landscape and neighbouring farmers, who neglected to engage in preventative behaviours, led them to feel unable to engage in effective risk management. Thus, they viewed scab as uncontrollable. The farmers within the 'liminal places' category were characterised as farmers who were located in high-risk areas for sheep scab, but experienced low levels of sheep scab infestations. These farmers characterised the risks associated with sheep scab management in terms of needing to protect their reputation and felt more responsibility for controlling sheep scab, which influenced them to engage in more protective measures. The farmers within the 'protective places' category were characterised as farming within low-risk areas and thus experienced a low level of sheep scab infestations. These farmers also described their risk in terms of their reputation and the responsibility they held for protecting others. However, they sought to rely on their low geographical risk of sheep scab as a main source of protection and therefore did not always engage in protective measures. These results suggest that place-based effects have significant impacts on sheep farmers' beliefs and behaviours and thus should be considered by policymakers when developing future strategies for sheep scab control.
Topics: Animals; Ectoparasitic Infestations; England; Farmers; Humans; Mite Infestations; Sheep; Sheep Diseases
PubMed: 35841740
DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2022.105711 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2021The fungal genus causes several diseases in cereals, including Fusarium head blight (FHB). A number of species are involved in disease development and mycotoxin... (Review)
Review
The fungal genus causes several diseases in cereals, including Fusarium head blight (FHB). A number of species are involved in disease development and mycotoxin contamination. Lately, the importance of interactions between plant pathogens and the plant microbiome has been increasingly recognized. In this review, we address the significance of the cereal microbiome for the development of -related diseases. fungi may interact with the host microbiome at multiple stages during their life cycles and in different plant organs including roots, stems, leaves, heads, and crop residues. There are interactions between and other fungi and bacteria as well as among species. Recent studies have provided a map of the cereal microbiome and revealed how different biotic and abiotic factors drive microbiome assembly. This review synthesizes the current understanding of the cereal microbiome and the implications for infection, FHB development, disease control, and mycotoxin contamination. Although annual and regional variations in predominant species are significant, much research has focused on . Surveying the total community in environmental samples is now facilitated with novel metabarcoding methods. Further, infection with multiple species has been shown to affect disease severity and mycotoxin contamination. A better mechanistic understanding of such multiple infections is necessary to be able to predict the outcome in terms of disease development and mycotoxin production. The knowledge on the composition of the cereal microbiome under different environmental and agricultural conditions is growing. Future studies are needed to clearly link microbiome structure to suppression in order to develop novel disease management strategies for example based on conservation biological control approaches.
PubMed: 33732223
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.628373 -
Breeding Science Jan 2016Apple is a fruit crop of significant economic importance, and breeders world wide continue to develop novel cultivars with improved characteristics. The lengthy juvenile... (Review)
Review
Apple is a fruit crop of significant economic importance, and breeders world wide continue to develop novel cultivars with improved characteristics. The lengthy juvenile period and the large field space required to grow apple populations have imposed major limitations on breeding. Various molecular biological techniques have been employed to make apple breeding easier. Transgenic technology has facilitated the development of apples with resistance to fungal or bacterial diseases, improved fruit quality, or root stocks with better rooting or dwarfing ability. DNA markers for disease resistance (scab, powdery mildew, fire-blight, Alternaria blotch) and fruit skin color have also been developed, and marker-assisted selection (MAS) has been employed in breeding programs. In the last decade, genomic sequences and chromosome maps of various cultivars have become available, allowing the development of large SNP arrays, enabling efficient QTL mapping and genomic selection (GS). In recent years, new technologies for genetic improvement, such as trans-grafting, virus vectors, and genome-editing, have emerged. Using these techniques, no foreign genes are present in the final product, and some of them show considerable promise for application to apple breeding.
PubMed: 27069388
DOI: 10.1270/jsbbs.66.18