Characterization of igneous terranes by zircon dating: implications for the UHP relicts occurrences and suture identification in the Central Rhodope, Northern Greece

One of the key for the understanding of an orogenic belt is the characterization of the terranes involved and the identification of the suture(s) separating crustal blocks: these are essential information for large-scale paleo-reconstructions. In addition, the structural relationships between the terranes involved in the collisional processes and the eventual UHP relicts may provide first order inputs to exhumation models of subducted rocks. The structure of the Rhodope Massif (northern Greece and southern Bulgaria) results from the stacking of high-grade nappes during a continental collision, which age is comprised between Latest-Jurassic and Early-Cenozoic. UHP and HP relicts, associated with oceanic and ultramafic material, suggest the presence of a dismembered suture zone within the massif. The location of this suture remains unclear; furthermore, up to now, the UHP and eclogitic localities represent isolated spots and no synthesis on their structural position within the massif has been proposed. The first aim of this work is to define the relationships between HP-UHP relicts, crustal blocks, shear zones and amphibolitic material. To achieve this objective, we characterized the accreted blocks in terms of protoliths ages of the orthogneisses mainly along two cross sections on the Greek part of the belt. Geochemical affinities of meta-igneous rocks served as a complementary tool for terrane characterization and geodynamic interpretation. Single-zircon Pb-Pb evaporation and zircon U-Pb SHRIMP dating of orthogneiss protoliths define two groups of intrusion-ages: Permo-Carboniferous and Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous. Structurally, these two groups correspond to distinct units: the Late Jurassic gneissic complex overthrusts the one bearing the Permo-Carboniferous orthogneisses. Mylonites, eclogites, amphibolites of oceanic affinities, and UHP micaschists, mark a “melange” zone, intensively sheared towards the SW, which separates the two units. Thus, we interpret them as two distinct terranes, the Rhodope and Thracia terranes, separated by the Nestos suture. The correlation of our findings in northern Greece to the Bulgarian part of the Massif suggests a northern rooting of the Nestos Suture. This configuration results of the closure of a marginal oceanic basin of the Tethys system by a north-directed subduction. This interpretation is supported by the geochemical affinities of the orthogneisses: the Late-Jurassic igneous rocks formed by subduction-related magmatism, pprobably the same north-directed subduction that gave rise to the UHP metamorphism of the metasediments of the “melange” zone. It is noteworthy that the UHP-HP relicts seem to be restricted to the contact between the two terranes suggesting that the UHP relicts are exhumed only within the suture zone. Furthermore, the singularity of the suture suggests that the Late-Jurassic subduction explains the occurrence of UHP and eclogite relicts in the Central Rhodope despite the large age range previously attributed the UHP and/or HP stage.

Studio della Peste dei Piccoli Ruminanti nei territori saharawi

La Peste dei Piccoli Ruminanti (PPR) è una patologia virale ed acuta che colpisce i piccoli ruminanti, diffusa in Africa Sub-Sahariana, in Medio Oriente ed in Asia Meridionale. Questo lavoro si propone di effettuare il primo studio epidemiologico sulla PPR nella Repubblica Araba Saharawi Democratica (RASD), che comprende i Campi Profughi Saharawi, in territorio algerino, ed i “Territori Liberati” del Sahara Occidentale, valutando la potenziale presenza, prevalenza e distribuzione del virus della PPR in questi territori. Lo studio si è basato su una metodica di campionamento “a cluster” secondo la tecnica “a due stadi”. Sono stati individuati 23 siti di campionamento dai quali sono stati raccolti un totale di 976 campioni di siero prelevati da pecore, capre e cammelli. I campioni sono stati prelevati in Marzo ed Aprile 2008. I risultati dei test Competitive-Elisa hanno evidenziato una sieroprevalenza nel 28,26% degli animali testati, benché durante la raccolta dei campioni nessun animale abbia presentato sintomi clinici riferibili alla PPR. Tra Gennaio e Maggio 2010, in seguito ad episodi di aumentata mortalità nella popolazione ovi-caprina presente nei Campi Profughi, le autorità veterinarie locali sospettarono un outbreak di PPR. Tra Maggio ed Ottobre 2010 è stato sviluppato un outbreak investigation nei Campi Profughi Saharawi con lo scopo di confermare la circolazione del PPRV. I risultati di laboratorio hanno confermato la presenza del virus nel 33,33% dei campioni. Il sequenziamento del genoma virale ha rivelato che il virus apparteneva al Lignaggio 4 e le analisi filogenetiche hanno indicato una stretta relazione (99.3%) con il PPRV isolato durante l'epidemia di PPR in Marocco del 2008.

Conservation genetics of European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris): a wide and integrating analysis protocol for admixture inferences and population structure

Introgression of domestic cat genes into European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris) populations and reduction of wildcats’ range in Europe, leaded by habitat loss and fragmentation, are considered two of the main conservation problems for this endangered feline. This thesis addressed the questions related with the artificial hybridization and populations’ fragmentation, using a conservation genetics perspective. We combined the use of highly polymorphic loci, Bayesian statistical inferences and landscape analyses tools to investigate the origin of the geographic-genetic substructure of European wildcats (Felis silvestris silvestris) in Italy and Europe. The genetic variability of microsatellites evidenced that European wildcat populations currently distributed in Italy differentiated in, and expanded from two distinct glacial refuges during the Last Glacial Maximum. The genetic and geographic substructure detected between the eastern and western sides of the Apennine ridge, resulted by adaptation to specific ecological conditions of the Mediterranean habitats. European wildcat populations in Europe are strongly structured into 5 geographic-genetic macro clusters corresponding to: the Italian peninsular & Sicily; Balkans & north-eastern Italy; Germany eastern; central Europe; and Iberian Peninsula. Central European population might have differentiated in the extra-Mediterranean Würm ice age refuge areas (Northern Alps, Carpathians, and the Bulgarian mountain systems), while the divergence among and within the southern European populations might have resulted by the Pleistocene bio geographical framework of Europe, with three southern refugia localized in the Balkans, Italian Peninsula and Iberia Peninsula. We further combined the use of most informative autosomal SNPs with uniparental markers (mtDNA and Y-linked) for accurately detecting parental genotypes and levels of introgressive hybridization between European wild and domestic cats. A total of 11 hybrids were identified. The presence of domestic mitochondrial haplotypes shared with some wild individuals led us to hypnotize the possibility that ancient introgressive events might have occurred and that further investigation should be recommended.

Representative Seroprevalences of Brucellosis in Humans and Livestock in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan reported 77.5 new human brucellosis cases per 100,000 people in 2007, which is one of the highest incidences worldwide. In Kyrgyzstan, the currently used diagnostic tests in humans and animals are the Rose Bengal Test and the Huddleson test. A national representative cross-sectional study using cluster sampling proportional to size in humans, cattle, sheep, and goats was undertaken to assess the apparent seroprevalence in humans and animals. A total of 4,936 livestock sera and 1,774 human sera were tested in Naryn, Chuy, and Osh Oblasts. The overall apparent seroprevalences of brucellosis were 8.8% in humans (95% CI 4.5-16.5), 2.8% (95% CI 1.6-4.9%) in cattle, 3.3% (95% CI 1.5-6.9%) in sheep, and 2.5% (95% CI 1.4-4.5%) in goats. Naryn Oblast had the highest seroprevalences in humans and sheep. More men than women were seropositive (OR = 1.96; P < 0.001). Human seroprevalence was significantly associated with small ruminant seroprevalence but not with cattle seroprevalence. Annual incidence of human brucellosis exposure, measured by serological tests, was more than ten times higher than the annual incidence of reported clinical brucellosis cases. This indicates an under-reporting of human brucellosis cases, even if only a fraction of seropositive people have clinical symptoms. In conclusion, this study confirms the high seroprevalence of brucellosis in Kyrgyzstan and warrants rapid effective intervention, among others, by mass vaccination of sheep and goats but also of cattle.

Meningitis caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies capri in a goat

A 2-year-old, female goat from Connecticut was submitted for necropsy with a 5-day history of pyrexia and intermittent neurologic signs, including nystagmus, seizures, and circling. Postmortem examination revealed suppurative meningitis. Histologic examination of the brain revealed that the meninges were diffusely infiltrated by moderate numbers of lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibrin, with scattered foci of dense neutrophilic infiltrate. Culture of pus and brainstem yielded typical mycoplasma colonies. DNA sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene revealed 99% sequence homology with Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies capri and Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides Large Colony biotype, which are genetically indistinguishable and likely to be combined as a single subspecies labeled M. mycoides subsp. capri. The present case is unusual in that not only are mycoplasma an uncommon cause of meningitis in animals, but additionally, in that all other reported cases of mycoplasma meningitis in goats, systemic lesions were also present. In the present case, meningitis was the only lesion, thus illustrating the need to consider mycoplasma as a differential diagnosis for meningitis in goats.

Management effects on colostrogenesis in small ruminants: a review

Colostrum feeding in small ruminants is crucial during the first hours after birth due to the lack of Ig transfer during pregnancy via the placenta. In addition the immature immune system of the neonate is slow to produce its own Ig during the first weeks of life. Colostrogenesis, i.e. the transfer of Ig from blood into mammary secretions, starts several weeks prepartum. In goat plasma, immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration decreases by around 38% from the third month of gestation until partum, which coincides with the dry period. Thus, management during the dry period is crucial for the course of colostrogenesis. The colostrum synthesis is determined by the nutrition during the prepartum period, but the transfer of Ig is obviously independent of nutritional influences. The administration of conjugated linoleic acid during the dry period to dairy goats causes a less pronounced decrease of blood plasma IgG concentration (6%) but it did not change colostral IgG levels. In cattle, IgG1 is transported from blood into colostrum by an IgG1 specific receptor located on the surface of alveolar epithelial cells during colostrogenesis, and this is most likely similar in small ruminants. Via inactivation of this receptor, the Ig transfer is downregulated by increasing prolactin (PRL) during lactogenesis. It was recently observed in goats treated with PGF2 alpha, in order to induce parturition, lower colostrum IgG concentrations occurred concomitantly with an earlier increase of plasma PRL as compared to untreated animals. The effect of litter size and number of lactations on colostral IgG concentration in small ruminants has not been made fully clear until now most likely due to the different breeds used in the published studies.

Effect of the prolactin-release inhibitor quinagolide on lactating dairy cows

In most mammals, prolactin (PRL) is essential for maintaining lactation, and yet the short-term suppression of PRL during established lactation by bromocriptine has produced inconsistent effects on milk yield in cows and goats. To assess the effect of the long-term inhibition of PRL release in lactating dairy cows, 5 Holstein cows in early lactation received daily intramuscular injections of 1mg of the PRL-release inhibitor quinagolide for 9 wk. Four control cows received the vehicle (water) only. During the last week of the treatments, one udder half was milked once a day (1x) and the other twice a day (2x). Blood samples were harvested at milking in wk -1, 1, 4, and 8. The daily injections of quinagolide reduced milking-induced PRL release but not the basal PRL concentration. Quinagolide induced a faster decline in milk production, which was about 5.3 kg/d lower in the quinagolide-treated cows during the last 4 wk of treatment. During wk 9, the inhibition of milk production by quinagolide was maintained in the udder half that was milked 2x but not in the half milked 1x. Milk production was significantly correlated with the quantity of PRL released at milking. Quinagolide did not affect the release of oxytocin at milking. Serum concentration of insulin-like growth factor-1 was not affected by treatment or correlated with milk production. Serum concentrations of leptin and the calciotropic hormone stanniocalcin were not affected by the treatment. In conclusion, the chronic administration of the PRL-release inhibitor quinagolide decreases milk production in dairy cows. The effect is likely the result of the reduced release of milking-induced PRL and is modulated at the level of the gland by milking frequency.

A missense mutation in the skeletal muscle chloride channel 1 (CLCN1) as candidate causal mutation for congenital myotonia in a New Forest pony

A 7-month-old New Forest foal presented for episodes of recumbency and stiffness with myotonic discharges on electromyography. The observed phenotype resembled congenital myotonia caused by CLCN1 mutations in goats and humans. Mutation of the CLCN1 gene was considered as possible cause and mutation analysis was performed. The affected foal was homozygous for a missense mutation (c.1775A>C, p.D592A) located in a well conserved domain of the CLCN1 gene. The mutation showed a recessive mode of inheritance within the reported pony family. Therefore, this CLCN1 polymorphism is considered to be a possible cause of congenital myotonia.

Atypical scrapie isolates involve a uniform prion species with a complex molecular signature

The pathobiology of atypical scrapie, a prion disease affecting sheep and goats, is still poorly understood. In a previous study, we demonstrated that atypical scrapie affecting small ruminants in Switzerland differs in the neuroanatomical distribution of the pathological prion protein (PrP(d)). To investigate whether these differences depend on host-related vs. pathogen-related factors, we transmitted atypical scrapie to transgenic mice over-expressing the ovine prion protein (tg338). The clinical, neuropathological, and molecular phenotype of tg338 mice is similar between mice carrying the Swiss atypical scrapie isolates and the Nor98, an atypical scrapie isolate from Norway. Together with published data, our results suggest that atypical scrapie is caused by a uniform type of prion, and that the observed phenotypic differences in small ruminants are likely host-dependant. Strikingly, by using a refined SDS-PAGE technique, we established that the prominent proteinase K-resistant prion protein fragment in atypical scrapie consists of two separate, unglycosylated peptides with molecular masses of roughly 5 and 8 kDa. These findings show similarities to those for other prion diseases in animals and humans, and lay the groundwork for future comparative research.

Neuropathogenesis of naturally occurring encephalitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes in ruminants

Listeriosis is a serious food-borne disease with increasing frequency in humans and ruminants. Despite the facts that in both hosts, listeriosis can occur as rhombencephalitis and ruminants are a reservoir of Listeria monocytogenes (LM) strains pathogenic for humans, little work has been done on the pathogenesis in ruminants. This study investigates the neuropathogenesis of listeric encephalitis in over 200 natural cases in cattle, sheep and goats by analyzing anatomical distribution, severity, bacterial load and temporal evolution of the lesions. Our results suggest that LM gains access to the brainstem of all three species via axonal migration not only along the trigeminal nerve, but also along other nerves. The ensuing encephalitis does not remain restricted to the brainstem. Rather, LM spreads further from the brainstem into rostral brain regions likely by intracerebral axonal migration. Significant differences in severity of the lesions and bacterial load were found between cattle and small ruminants, which may be caused by species-specific properties of antibacterial immune responses. As histopathological lesions of human rhombencephalitis caused by LM strongly resemble those of ruminants, the disease likely has a similar pathogenesis in both hosts.

Caprine PRNP polymorphisms at codons 171, 211, 222 and 240 in a Greek herd and their association with classical scrapie

The association between PRNP variation and scrapie incidence was investigated in a highly affected Greek goat herd. Four mutations were identified at codons 171Q/R, 211R/Q, 222Q/K and 240P/S. Lysine at codon 222 was found to be associated with the protection from natural scrapie (P=0.0111). Glutamine at codon 211 was observed in eight animals, all of them being scrapie-negative, indicating a possible protective role of this polymorphism although statistical analysis failed to support it (P=0.1074). A positive association (P=0.0457) between scrapie-affected goats and the wild-type Q(171)R(211)Q(222)S(240) allele is presented for the first time. In addition, a novel R(171)RQS allele, which is identical to the A(136)R(154)R(171) allele that has been associated with resistance to classical scrapie in sheep, was observed in low frequency. Resistant alleles that include K(222) and Q(211) are absent or rare in sheep and can provide the basis for the development of a feasible breeding programme for scrapie eradication in goats.

Marginality and Integrity: Constructing of Gender Identities in the Post-Communist Bulgaria

Ms. Kotzeva's team aimed to reveal the formation of the new gender identities in the transitional society of Bulgaria since 1989. Their main conclusions (presented in a series of manuscripts written in Bulgarian and German, and also on disc) were reached on the basis of data obtained from a field survey involving a group of 190 women, and interviews conducted with a group of Bulgarian women politicians. Although approving of gender equality and the ideology of emancipation on an abstract level, women predominantly identify themselves with mothering and caring for the family. At the same time they do not fully surrender to their family obligations and support a strategy of balancing between family and extra-family activities. Bulgarian women are highly frustrated by the new requirements of the labour market, insecurity, and lack of safety in their personal life. Ms. Kotzeva and her team observed a high degree of convergence of self-identification strategies amongst Bulgarian women from different generations and educational backgrounds. On the other hand, women from the ethnic minorities, especially Gypsy women, demonstrate radically divergent styles of orientation and behaviour. Women's marginalisation due to the altering economic and political circumstances in Bulgaria, and the decline of female participation in Parliament, have clearly shown that the end of socialist women's politics must lead to critical reflection and the development of new strategies in order to enable women to take part in the process of a new elite in Bulgaria.

Separation of Ownership from Control and Discretionary Managerial Behaviour in a Transition Economy

This study was the final stage of a four-year study of managerial behaviour and company performance in Bulgaria and examined the influence of changing ownership and control structures of companies on managerial behaviour and initiative. It provides a theoretical summary of the specific types of ownership, control, governance structures and managerial strategies in the Bulgarian transitional economy during 1992-1996. It combines two theoretical approaches, the property-rights approach to show concentrated property-rights structure and private and majority types of control as determinants of efficient enterprise risk bearing and constrained managerial discretion, and the agency theory approach to reveal the efficient role of direct non-market governance mechanisms over managers. Mr. Peev also used empirical information collected from the Central Statistical office in Bulgaria, three different enterprise investigations of corporatised state-owned enterprises between 1992 and 1994, and his own data base of privatised and private de novo industrial companies in 1996-1996. The project gives a detailed description of the main property-rights structures in Bulgaria at the present time and of the various control structures related to these. It found that there is a strong owner type of control in private and privatised firms, although, contrary to expectations, 100% state -owned enterprises tended to be characterised by a separation of ownership from control, leaving scope for managerial discretion. Mr. Peev predicts that after the forthcoming mass privatisation, many companies will acquire a dispersed ownership structure and there will be a greater separation of ownership from control and potential or inefficient managerial behaviour. The next aspect considered in detail was governance structures and the influence of the generally unstable macroeconomic environment in the country during the period in question. In examining managerial strategies, Mr. Peev divided the years since 1990 into 3 periods. Even in the first period (1990-1992) there were some signs of a more efficient role for managers and between 1992 and 1994 the picture of control structures and different managerial behaviour in state-owned companies became more diversified. Managerial strategies identified included managerial initiatives for privatisation, where managers took initiative in resolving problems of property rights and introducing restructuring measures and privatisation proposals, managerial initiatives for restructuring without privatisation, and passive adjustment and passive management, where managers seek outside services for marketing, finance management, etc. in order to adjust to the new environment. During 1995-1996 some similarities and differences between the managerial behaviour of privatised and state-owned firms emerged. Firstly, the former have undergone many changes in investment and technology, while managers of state-owned companies have changed little in this field, indicating that the private property-rights structure is more efficient for the long-term adaptation of enterprises. In the area of strategies relating to product quality, marketing, and pricing policy there was little difference between managers of private, privatised and state-owned firms. The most passive managerial behaviour was found in non-incorporated state-owned firms, although these have only an insignificant stake in the economy.

Scientific Institutions in a Society of Transition: Strategies of Modernisation

Kristina Petkova (Group Leader), Tzocho Boyadgiev, Galin Gornev, Ivan Tcholakov (Bulgaria), Martin Bauer (Switzerland). Scientific Institutions in a Society of Transition: Strategies of Modernisation. Ms. Petkova is involved in teaching and research in the Institute of Sociology of the Bulgarian Academy of Science and led this project, which was carried out between July 1995 and June 1997. The aims of this project were a) to outline the main adaptive strategies of scientific institutions in a situation of social transition, and b) to analyse the opportunities for mobilising public opinion in support scientific work. The group began from the assumption that the social representation of science reflects the historical development of society as a whole. They developed a theoretical model describing the position of science in the three main types of society in the world today (modern, post-modern, totalitarian) and carried out three types of investigation: a representative survey of the public understanding of scientific institutions in Bulgaria; an in-depth cross-national investigation (Bulgarian - Great Britain); and a content analysis of how science is represented in two national newspapers, the "Rabotnichesko Delo" and the "Daily Telegraph". The results showed that Bulgarian public opinion has a more standard view of science and a more optimistic vision of scientific development than do the British, but that there is a certain insensitivity to the risks of scientific results, etc. The group conclude that in order to survive, scientific institutions in Bulgaria should change their passive attitude and adopt active strategies in both their relationships with the state, and in their contacts with private business and with the institutions of civil society.