TSOL18 vaccine and oxfendazole for control of Taenia solium cysticercosis in pigs: A field trial in endemic areas of Tanzania.

A field trial was conducted in Tanzania to determine the effectiveness of TSOL18 vaccine used concurrently with oxfendazole (OFZ), and of OFZ alone, on T. solium cysticercosis determined by organ and half carcase dissection of slaughter age pigs. This study followed a quasi-experimental group design. Suitable trial sites were randomly allocated to either treatment group T1 (OFZ treatment alone [30mg/kg, Paranthic 10%]) or T2 (TSOL18 [1ml, Cysvax] plus OFZ). Three 4-monthly treatments were administered to eligible pigs. A random selection of pigs were necropsied at baseline and at endline, 2-3.5 months after the final treatment. Additionally, untreated pigs from T1 and T2 areas were necropsied at endline to provide contemporaneous comparisons with T1 and T2 pigs. Baseline prevalence of viable T. solium cysticerci for T1 was 25.5% (Exact 95% CI: 13.9, 40.3; n = 12/47), and for T2 was 12.0% (CI: 6.4, 20.0; n = 12/100). At endline, prevalence was 2.8% for T1 (CI: 0.1, 14.5, n = 1/36) and 0% for T2 (CI: 0, 4.7, n = 0/77). Among untreated pigs, three had viable cysticerci, one from T1 area (12.5%, CI: 0.3, 52.7; n = 1/8) and two from T2 area (5.7%, CI: 0.7, 19.2, n = 2/35). Fisher's exact test showed significant changes in prevalence from baseline to endline in both groups (T1: p = 0.005, T2: p = 0.001). Firth's penalized Maximum Likelihood method suggested the changes were not significant relative to their controls (T1: p = 0.245, T2: p = 0.076). These findings showed a significant reduction in the prevalence of viable cysticerci from baseline to endline after both interventions. However, the changes could not be definitively attributed to the interventions due, in part, to small numbers of control pigs. Concurrent administration of the TSOL18 and OFZ cleared infection among assessed pigs whereas infection remained after treatment with OFZ only. Further studies including larger sample sizes would be required for more definitive conclusions. A One Health approach is recommended for rapid and sustainable impact.

Bacteria associated with Pinus sylvestris-Lactarius rufus ectomycorrhizas and their effects on mycorrhiza formation in vitro.

• The structure and functioning of mycorrhizosphere bacterial communities from the soil organic fermentation horizon (FH) of a Pinus sylvestris stand was investigated. • Bacteria were isolated from P. sylvestris-Lactarius rufus mycorrhizas, and their effect on ectomycorrhiza formation, localization within the mycorrhizosphere, and phenotypic and genotypic characteristics determined. • The isolates could be divided into seven distinct phenotypic and physiological groups. Two Paenibacillus isolates stimulated infection of both first and second order lateral roots, resulting in a doubling of the percentage root conversion to mycorrhizas, relative to the control treatment, after 8 wk. Two Burkholderia isolates, and a Rhodococcus sp., had no effect on numbers of first order mycorrhizal lateral roots, but increased formation of secondary mycorrhizal lateral roots. There was evidence that the Burkholderia, but not the Paenibacillus or Rhodococcus isolates, associated preferentially with mycorrhizal roots, and that the Burkholderia strains were capable of more effective spread to the root tip than the other isolates. • Ectomycorrhizosphere bacteria appear to promote mycorrhiza formation by means of a variety of mechanisms, and there are similarities in the nature of bacteria inhabiting ecto- and arbuscular mycorrhizospheres.

Characterisation of bacteria from Pinus sylvestris-Suillus luteus mycorrhizas and their effects on root-fungus interactions and plant growth.

Bacteria from Pinus sylvestris-Suillus luteus mycorrhizas were isolated, characterised, and their effects on P. sylvestris-S. luteus interactions and plant growth investigated in vitro. The isolates formed five distinct phenotypic and physiological groups. Two of the groups, accounting for 34 of the 55 isolates, consisted of Bacillus spp., with three subgroups represented. The other groups contained Burkholderia spp., Serratia spp. and Pseudomonas spp. Representatives from each bacterial group were used in microcosm experiments to investigate bacterial effects on P. sylvestris-S. luteus interactions. Most Bacillus isolates stimulated growth of S. luteus along the P. sylvestris root, while isolates of Pseudomonas and Serratia inhibited root colonisation by the fungus. Burkholderia and Serratia isolates inhibited ectomycorrhiza formation by 97 and 41% respectively, while a single Bacillus isolate doubled the formation of first order ectomycorrhizal roots. There were no clear relationships between effects of the bacteria on root colonisation by the fungus after 4 weeks, and chitinase production or subsequent ectomycorrhiza formation. However, isolates that inhibited ectomycorrhiza formation appeared to associate preferentially with ectomycorrhizal roots. Several isolates enhanced plant growth substantially, although these effects were unrelated to either root colonisation by the fungus or ectomycorrhiza formation.