Development and assessment of an epidemiologic dashboard for surveillance of Varroa destructor in Ontario apiaries.

Varroosis (caused by the Varroa destructor mite) is a key health issue for honey bees in North America. Because these mites can exist in reservoirs of feral honey bee colonies, eradication is impossible, and instead efforts are made to maintain mites below a critical threshold. Monitoring for Varroa mites within a population is key for allocating resources and targeting interventions but surveillance can be difficult and/or expensive. This project aims to reflect on the success of data dashboards developed throughout the 2019-coronavirus pandemic and showcase how these methods can improve surveillance of Varroa mite infestations in Ontario, Canada. Dashboards provide a consistent source of information and epidemiologic metrics through data visualizations, and mobilize data otherwise bound to tables and intermittent reports. In the present work, an interactive dashboard for the surveillance of Varroa mite infestations across the province is proposed. This dashboard was developed using routine ministry inspection data to depict the spatio-temporal distribution of mites across a five-year data collection period. Through interactive figures and plots, able to be disaggregated to a specific region and time frame, this dashboard will allow for members of the beekeeping community to monitor provincial mite levels throughout the season. Seven criteria found to be common across highly actionable COVID-19 dashboards were used in a beta testing stage of development to assess the quality of the dashboard, and critically reflect on its strengths and weaknesses. Furthermore, future directions for surveillance dashboards are explored, including integration with citizen science data collection to develop a comprehensive province-wide surveillance system. The outcome of this project is a functional dashboard proof-of-concept for population-level monitoring of Varroa mites and a model for future tools designed for other species and diseases.

Behaviour and cardiac response to stress in signal crayfish exposed to environmental concentrations of tramadol.

Evidence of the ecological and biological impact of pharmaceuticals in surface waters on aquatic organisms is increasing. Tramadol is a synthetic opioid analgesic used to treat chronic and acute pain. To investigate its long-term effects at environmentally relevant levels, we evaluated heart rate (HR) and locomotion of signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus during a 21-day exposure to 1 µg L-1 tramadol followed by 14 days depuration. Locomotion and HR were recorded over a period 30 min before and 30 min after exposure to physiological fluids of an injured conspecific, a natural stressor, four times during the tramadol exposure and four times during depuration. A significant increase in HR following stress induction was found in the majority of tramadol-exposed and control crayfish, as well as significant group-specific HR changes between both groups. Locomotor activity during tramadol treatment differed from that during depuration, in general showing less time spent in locomotion and lower distance moved. The tramadol exposed crayfish exhibited higher velocity during depuration than during the exposure period. Results may suggest a potential shift in prey-predator relationships.

Environmentally relevant concentrations of tramadol and citalopram alter behaviour of an aquatic invertebrate.

Environmental pollution by pharmaceutically active compounds, used in quantities similar to those of pesticides and other organic micropollutants, is increasingly recognized as a major threat to the aquatic environment. These compounds are only partly removed from wastewaters and, despite their low concentrations, directly and indirectly affect behaviour of freshwater organisms in natural habitats. The aim of this study was to behaviourally assess the effects of an opioid painkiller (tramadol) and antidepressant drug (citalopram) on behaviour patterns of a clonal model species, marbled crayfish. Animals exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of both tested compounds (∼1 µg l-1) exhibited significantly lower velocity and shorter distance moved than controls. Crayfish exposed to tramadol spent more time in shelters. Results were obtained by a simple and rapid method recommended as suitable for assessment of behaviour in aquatic organisms exposed to single pollutants and combinations.

Post-mating spermatophore storage strategies in two species of crayfish: implications for broodstock management.

Female crayfish stores male gametes after mating until the beginning of egg laying and fertilization. The aim of the present study was to investigate the duration of post-mating spermatophore storage as well as the timing and temperature of spawning in two crayfish species of economic importance, namely the signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus and the noble crayfish Astacus astacus. Results showed that the average duration of the post-mating spermatophore storage is significantly (P<0.05) longer in the noble crayfish (34.6±1.7 days, range: 19 to 60 days) than the signal crayfish (3.9±0.5 days, range: 1 to 18 days). The highest percentages of the post-mating spermatophore storage duration in the signal crayfish (46.5%) and the noble crayfish (44.5%) were 1 and 31 to 40 days, respectively. While there is an overlap in the timings of mating and egg laying in the signal crayfish, these two reproductive processes were not observed at the same days in the noble crayfish and there was at least 2 weeks interval between last mating and first egg laying individuals. Average mating and egg laying temperatures were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the signal crayfish than the noble crayfish. The average temperatures for mating in both species were significantly (P<0.05) higher than the temperatures that they utilized for egg laying. In conclusion, female noble crayfish stores post-mating spermatophores a longer duration compared with the signal crayfish. Also, the signal crayfish mates and lays egg in temperatures that are higher than the noble crayfish. Spawning season is shorter in the signal crayfish compared with the noble crayfish. The results of present study provide information contributing to the crayfish broodstock management in aquaculture.

Intake of carp meat from two aquaculture production systems aimed at secondary prevention of ischemic heart disease - a follow-up study.

Our previous study showed that a diet enriched with 400 g of carp per week improved plasma lipids in subjects after aortocoronary bypass (CABG). The aim of the present study is to determine whether the different carp farming systems have an impact on the effects of carp meat in secondary cardiovascular prevention. We examined 3 groups of patients after CABG over a 4-week period of spa treatment (108 persons, 73 males, 35 females, age over 60 years). We found no differences in baseline values of blood pressure or plasma lipids. The patients were given a standard spa diet (controls; N=36) or a diet enriched of 400 g of carp meat per week, enriched omega 3 (N=37) or cereal carp (N=35). Plasma lipid parameters were examined at start and after 4 weeks in a routine laboratory setting. Group consuming omega-3 carp showed the largest decline in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and an increase in HDL cholesterol (all p<0.01). We found that carp meat from the two production systems showed significantly different effects on plasma lipids. Further trials should be performed to clarify the exact causes of the differences.

Temporal dynamics of spore release of the crayfish plague pathogen from its natural host, American spiny-cheek crayfish (Orconectes limosus), evaluated by transmission experiments.

The crayfish plague pathogen, Aphanomyces astaci, is one of the most serious threats to indigenous European crayfish species. The North American invasive spiny-cheek crayfish, Orconectes limosus, is an important source of this pathogen in central and western Europe. We evaluated potential changes in A. astaci spore release rate from infected individuals of this species by experiments investigating the pathogen transmission to susceptible noble crayfish, Astacus astacus. We filtered defined volumes of water regularly to quantify spore concentration, and sampled crayfish tissues at the end of the experiment. The filters and tissues were then tested for the presence of A. astaci DNA by species-specific quantitative PCR. Additionally, we tested the efficiency of horizontal transmission to apparently uninfected O. limosus. The experiments confirmed that A. astaci can be transmitted to susceptible crayfish during intermoult periods, and that the pathogen was more frequently detected in noble crayfish recipients than in American ones. The pathogen spore concentrations substantially varied in time, and significantly increased during moulting of infected hosts. Our study strengthens the evidence that although the likelihood of crayfish plague transmission by water transfer from localities with infected American crayfish might increase when these are moulting or dying, no time-periods can be proclaimed safe.

PCR detection of the crayfish plague pathogen in narrow-clawed crayfish inhabiting Lake Egirdir in Turkey.

Many populations of the narrow-clawed crayfish Astacus leptodactylus in Turkey, including those inhabiting Lake Egirdir, declined drastically in the mid-1980s due to introduction of crayfish plague Aphanomyces astaci. However, unlike many other localities, there has been some recovery in the A. leptodactylus population inhabiting this lake even though crayfish plague has been suspected to have persisted since then. In support of this, DNA from 5 of 34 healthy-looking crayfish sampled recently from the lake tested positive by both conventional and real-time PCR using species-specific primers targeting the rDNA internal transcribed spacer region, and product sequence analysis confirmed the identification of A. astaci. This complies with other recent reports of coexistence of native European crayfish with this pathogen, and further research is now needed to identify the key mechanisms allowing it.

Relationships between reproductive characteristics in male Vimba vimba L. and the effects of osmolality on sperm motility.

In Vimba vimba, GSI, sperm volume, and spermatozoa concentration range from 3.4-7.4 %, 0.1-1.1 ml, and 13.3-34.8 x 10(9) spz ml(-1), respectively. Gonad mass (r = 0.90) and sperm volume (r = 0.35) significantly correlated with weight of males. Significant correlation was also found between gonad mass and length of males (r = 0.85). Sperm motility (r = 0.99) and velocity (r = 098) significantly decreased after activation in Tris-HCl 20 mM, pH 8.5. Osmolality of the seminal plasma was 273.2 mOsmol kg(-1). Sperm motility and velocity were significantly affected by the osmolality of the activation medium (P < 0.01). Hyper-osmolality compared to seminal plasma osmolality totally suppressed the sperm activation. At 15 s post-activation, the sperm motility significantly decreased at 240 mOsmol kg(-1) in KCl or NaCl media. The highest sperm motility and velocity (at 60 s post-activation) were observed at 200 mOsmol kg(-1) in NaCl, KCl, or sucrose media. In all treatments, the tip of the flagellum of spermatozoa became curled into a loop shape after activation of sperm in distilled water containing 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.5 that shortened the flagellum.

Cross-species amplification of microsatellite markers in the invasive spiny-cheek crayfish (Orconectes limosus): assessment and application.

The North American spiny-cheek crayfish, Orconectes limosus (Cambaridae), endangered in its native range, is a widespread invasive species in European waters and conservationally important carrier of crayfish plague. However, its population structure is poorly known, and no informative genetic markers for the species are available. We tested cross-species transfer of microsatellite loci to spiny-cheek crayfish from 5 other crayfish species. Variability of 10 successfully amplifying loci derived from 4 species was then tested in 60 individuals of O. limosus originating from 3 natural populations: the river Danube at Bogyiszló in Hungary, a pond in Starý Klíèov, and the brook Eernovický, both in the Czech Republic. The allele number within the populations ranged from 4 to 10 alleles per locus, while heterozygosity levels varied from 0.650 to 0.900 for H(o) and from 0.660 to 0.890 for H(e). No linkage disequilibrium and no null alleles were detected. The selected markers are useful for assessing population structure, intraspecific variation, and paternity studies in spiny-cheek crayfish.

Prevalence of the crayfish plague pathogen Aphanomyces astaci in invasive American crayfishes in the Czech Republic.

In Central Europe invasive North American crayfishes are carriers of the oomycete Aphanomyces astaci, which causes crayfish plague. This lethal disease currently represents one of the major threats to native European crayfishes. We used molecular methods-species--specific amplification and sequencing of the pathogen DNA--to investigate the prevalence of individuals latently infected with A. astaci in 28 populations of two invasive American crayfish species (6 of the signal crayfish [Pacifastacus leniusculus] and 22 of the spiny-cheek crayfish [Orconectes limosus]) in the Czech Republic. The pathogen occurred in 17 investigated populations. We recorded a high variation in positive reactions, ranging from 0% to 100%, in populations of O. limosus. In P. leniusculus, however, only one individual out of 124 tested positive for the pathogen. There was a clear relationship between the water body type and pathogen prevalence in O. limosus. Infection ratios in isolated standing waters were usually low, whereas in running waters, pathogen prevalence often exceeded 50%. Other evaluated characteristics of potential plague pathogen carriers (size, sex, and the presence of melanized spots in the cuticle) seemed to be unrelated to infection. Our data suggest that in contrast to other European countries, O. limosus seems to be the primary reservoir of crayfish plague in the Czech Republic. Although all populations of alien American crayfishes may be potential sources of infections and should be managed as such, knowledge on the prevalence of the plague pathogen at various localities may allow managers to focus conservation efforts on the most directly endangered populations of native crayfishes.

Semen of Perca fluviatilis L.: sperm volume and density, seminal plasma indices and effects of dilution ratio, ions and osmolality on sperm motility.

The objectives of the present study were to characterize sperm volume and density, seminal plasma indices (ionic contents and osmolality) and to study the effects of dilution ratio, ions and osmolality on sperm motility parameters (percentage of motile sperm and sperm velocity) in farmed European perch (Perca fluviatilis L.). The means of sperm volume (ml), sperm density (x10(9)spermml(-1)) and total number of sperm (volumexdensity) per fish were 2.75+/-0.51, 29.19+/-3.15 and 82.19+/-15.26. The seminal plasma osmolality (mOsmkg(-1)), sodium, chloride, potassium and calcium ions concentrations (mM) were measured to be 298.07+/-5.09, 130.97+/-2.19, 106.75+/-2.37, 10.70+/-0.61 and 2.41+/-0.09, respectively. At 15s post-activation of stripped sperm, the percentage of motile sperm (%) and sperm velocity (mums(-1)) were 91.90+/-1.27 and 115.54+/-1.25, respectively, and decreased significantly following sperm activation (P<0.05). The optimal sperm motility was observed when the sperm was prediluted in immobilizing solution (IS) at a ratio 1:50. Prediluted sperm showed the maximum velocity when activated in 2.5mM Ca(2+), 50mM K(+) and sucrose with osmolality 100mOsmkg(-1). Neither Ca(2+) nor K(+) showed a significant effect on the percentage of motile sperm at 15s post-activation. Osmolality higher than 200mOsmkg(-1) significantly decreased the percentage of motile sperm, while osmolality of 300mOsmkg(-1) or above totally suppressed sperm motility.

Does anybody really know what time it is? Does anybody really care?

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the difference among time sources in an emergency medical system. DESIGN: Prospective; comparison to a criterion standard. SETTING: Five emergency departments and three emergency medical services systems in Indianapolis, Indiana. INTERVENTIONS: Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), generated by the atomic clock in Boulder, Colorado, and broadcast by the US Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology, was used as the time standard. The investigators, on a single day, made unannounced visits to the five EDs and the ambulances and fire stations in the three emergency medical services systems. The times displayed on all time sources at each location were recorded. The accuracy to the second of each time source compared to UTC was calculated. RESULTS: Three time sources were excluded (two defibrillator clocks and one ED wall clock that varied more than three hours from UTC). Of the 152 time sources, 72 had analog displays, 74 digital, three both, and three other. The average absolute difference from UTC was 1 minute 45 seconds (SEM, 9 seconds) with a range of 12 minutes 34 seconds slow to 7 minutes 7 seconds fast. Thus, two timepieces could have varied by as much as 19 minutes 41 seconds. Compared to UTC, 47 timepieces (31%) were slow, 100 (66%) were fast, and five (3%) were accurate to the second. Fifty-five percent of the time sources varied one minute or more from UTC. CONCLUSION: Time sources in this health care system varied considerably. Time recording in medicine could be made more precise by synchronizing medical clocks to UTC, using computers to automatically "time stamp" data entries and using only digital time sources with second displays.

Doppler echocardiographic assessment of the diastolic properties of the cardiac ventricle in ischaemic heart disease.

The authors offer their experience with diastolic function assessment using Doppler echocardiography in ischaemic heart disease. Information on the diastolic properties of the ventricle is obtained from recordings of the blood flow velocity curve in mitral and tricuspid valve orifices. Doppler echocardiography, allowing to monitor the velocity curve of ventricular filling, represents one of the most modern techniques of examination. Diastolic function is commonly significantly affected by ischaemic heart disease, not only in terms of energy requirements; other factors such as the volume of venous return, extent of ischaemia, its time course, and so on, come into play. Changes in myocardial rigidity and filling pressures are two factors which exert a substantial effect on the character of inflow curves. The article describes typical recordings obtained from individual clinical manifestations of acute and chronic states in ischaemic heart disease, and reviews the still limited body of data regarding the effect of drug and/or surgical therapy on the diastolic properties of the affected ventricle.

[The effect of stimulated tachycardia on diastolic left ventricular filling in patients with ischemic heart disease]. / Vliv stimulované tachykardie na diastolické plnení levé komory u nemocných s ischemickou nemocí srdecní.

The authors examined 20 patients with ischaemic heart disease (IHD) by pulsed Doppler echocardiography before and after a load of stimulated tachycardia. The character of left ventricular filling depended on the blood pressure reading in a wedged position only in patients who had an elevated pressure (r = -0.65 and r = -0.81 resp. after a load for A/E, r = -0.62 and r = -0.79 after a load for DT). When the pressure is normal, it declines in a wedged position and the left ventricular filling in early diastole becomes protracted and the ratio of the atrial filling rises (A/E increased after the load p greater than 0.001, DT was protracted after the load p greater than 0.01). This change is due in particular to the protracted relaxation of the heart muscle. When the pressure is elevated in a wedged position, i.e. when the elasticity of the left ventricle declines, the rate of early filling rises and its duration is reduced. This relationship was more marked after the load (A/E after the load declined p greater than 0.01, DT after the load was shorter p greater than 0.001). Examination of the flow through the mitral orifice after a load by stimulated tachycardia makes it possible to differentiate patients with a mild and more severe affection of the left ventricle associated with IHD. It permits also prediction of an increased intraventricular pressure and this to monitor the course of the disease or to evaluate the success of treatment.

[Diastolic function of the hypertrophic left cardiac ventricle in hypertensive patients evaluated with Doppler echocardiography]. / Diastolická funkce zbytnelé levé komory srdecní u hypertoniku, hodnocená dopplerovskou echokardiografií.

The authors examined by Doppler and one-dimensional echocardiography 20 patients with concentric hypertrophy of the musculature of the left ventricle and hypertension and 20 healthy subjects of similar age. As compared with the control group, they found in all patients deterioration of indicators of left ventricular diastolic function. The rate of blood flow in the early diastolic phase (Ev) was reduced and the ratio of the atrial contraction (Av) in the filling of the left ventricle increased (p less than 0.001). The maximal blood flow across the mitral orifice in early diastole (PFR) was lower (p less than 0.05) and the slowing down of the early diastolic flow (E-F) was more marked (p less than 0.001). The peak rate of relaxation (Vr) was also lower in the group of hypertonics (p less than 0.01). These disorders are an early sign of cardiac affection in hypertension and precede changes of systolic function. The impaired diastolic function is directly proportional to the weight of the left ventricle (for Av/Ev r = 0.76, PFR r = 0.68, E-F r = -0.82). The results of examinations obtained by Doppler echocardiography correlate with relaxation of the myocardium of the left ventricle assessed by computer processing of the TM echocardiogram (for Av/Ev r = 0.72, DHT r = 0.66, E-F r = 0.76).

[The effect isometric exertion on left ventricular function in patients after myocardial infarct]. / Vliv izometrické námahy na výkonnost levé komory u nemocných po prestálém srdecním infarktu.

24 patients, after transmural cardiac infarction, were exposed to isometric exercise ("handgrip"). The haemodynamic response was checked by means of impedance plethysmography. The stroke volume decreased on average from 64 +/- 14 to 60 +/- 15 ml (p less than 0.05), cardiac output increased from 4.8 +/- 1.0 to 5.4 +/- 1.2 l/min. (p less than 0.01). Peripheral resistance significantly increased and left ventricular performance was non-significantly reduced. Compared with a group of healthy control, their stroke and cardiac output and cardiac work kept increasing during isometric exercise. Isometric exercise is an adequate means of checking left ventricular performance.

Regurgitation across an obviously normal valve orifice as a possible prerequisite for non-organic cardiac murmur.

Using pulsed and continuous wave Doppler echocardiography, the author examined 359 subjects referred to ultrasound examination for a variety of reasons. Thorough examination of persons with morphologically unchanged valves revealed regurgitation in the tricuspid, pulmonary, mitral and aortic valves in 49.4%, 20%, 14.5% and 0.8%, respectively. The degree of regurgitation was invariably haemodynamically insignificant. Some patients had a positive finding in several valves at a time. Overall, regurgitation was found in 247 subjects (69%). While it is evident from the study that the finding of regurgitation in normal valves is relatively frequent, evaluation of its clinical importance remains an open question.

[Reliability of electrocardiographic signs in left atrial enlargement. Electrocardiographic and echocardiographic study]. / Spolehlivost elektrokardiografických známek zvetsené levé síne. Elektrokardiografická a echokardiografická studie.

In 85 patients with left atrial enlargement proved by echocardiography the authors tested the information capacity of electrocardiography for the diagnosis of this disorder. Only in half the patients enlargement of this cardiac cavity could be assumed from the electrocardiogram. From the results ensues the small sensitivity of ECG signs of enlargement of the left atrium.