Colletotrichum Species Causing Anthracnose of Citrus in Australia.

Colletotrichum spp. are important pathogens of citrus that cause dieback of branches and postharvest disease. Globally, several species of Colletotrichum have been identified as causing anthracnose of citrus. One hundred and sixty-eight Colletotrichum isolates were collected from anthracnose symptoms on citrus stems, leaves, and fruit from Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland, and from State herbaria in Australia. Colletotrichum australianum sp. nov., C. fructicola, C. gloeosporioides, C. karstii, C. siamense, and C. theobromicola were identified using multi-gene phylogenetic analyses based on seven genomic loci (ITS, gapdh, act, tub2, ApMat, gs, and chs-1) in the gloeosporioides complex and five genomic loci (ITS, tub2, act, chs-1, and his3) in the boninense complex, as well as morphological characters. Several isolates pathogenic to chili (Capsicum annuum), previously identified as C. queenslandicum, formed a clade with the citrus isolates described here as C. australianum sp. nov. The spore shape and culture characteristics of the chili and citrus isolates of C. australianum were similar and differed from those of C. queenslandicum. This is the first report of C. theobromicola isolated from citrus and the first detection of C. karstii and C. siamense associated with citrus anthracnose in Australia.

Identification, prevalence and pathogenicity of Colletotrichum species causing anthracnose of Capsicum annuum in Asia.

Anthracnose of chili (Capsicum spp.) causes major production losses throughout Asia where chili plants are grown. A total of 260 Colletotrichum isolates, associated with necrotic lesions of chili leaves and fruit were collected from chili producing areas of Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Taiwan. Colletotrichum truncatum was the most commonly isolated species from infected chili fruit and was readily identified by its falcate spores and abundant setae in the necrotic lesions. The other isolates consisted of straight conidia (cylindrical and fusiform) which were difficult to differentiate to species based on morphological characters. Taxonomic analysis of these straight conidia isolates based on multi-gene phylogenetic analyses (ITS, gapdh, chs-1, act, tub2, his3, ApMat, gs) revealed a further seven known Colletotrichum species, C. endophyticum, C. fructicola, C. karsti, C. plurivorum, C. scovillei, C. siamense and C. tropicale. In addition, three novel species are also described as C. javanense, C. makassarense and C. tainanense, associated with anthracnose of chili fruit in West Java (Indonesia); Makassar, South Sulawesi (Indonesia); and Tainan (Taiwan), respectively. Colletotrichum siamense is reported for the first time causing anthracnose of Capsicum annuum in Indonesia and Sri Lanka. This is also the first report of C. fructicola causing anthracnose of chili in Taiwan and Thailand and C. plurivorum in Malaysia and Thailand. Of the species with straight conidia, C. scovillei (acutatum complex), was the most prevalent throughout the surveyed countries, except for Sri Lanka from where this species was not isolated. Colletotrichum siamense (gloeosporioides complex) was also common in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Pathogenicity tests on chili fruit showed that C. javanense and C. scovillei were highly aggressive, especially when inoculated on non-wounded fruit, compared to all other species. The existence of new, highly aggressive exotic species, such as C. javanense, poses a biosecurity risk to production in countries which do not have adequate quarantine regulations to restrict the entry of exotic pathogens.

Reliability of Parameters of Complete Blood Count With Different Storage Conditions.

INTRODUCTION: The complete blood count (CBC) is a frequently performed laboratory test today. This study evaluated the effects of temperature and sample storage time on parameters of CBC which could produce misleading results of clinical significance. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, CBC was checked in 102 randomly selected healthy individuals and baseline measurements were analyzed using the Sysmex XS 500i fully automated hematology analyzer. CBC was done on samples up to 48 hr of storage at temperatures of 4 ± 2°C, 23 ± 2°C, and 31 ± 2°C. Values were checked at time intervals of 6, 24, and 48 hr. RESULTS: Among CBC parameters, white blood cell, red blood cell, hemoglobin, mean cell hemoglobin (MCH), neutrophils and lymphocytes were stable at all three temperatures up to 48 hr. Monocytes, eosinophils, MCH concentration, hematocrit (Htc), and red cell distribution width-coefficient of variation showed statistically significant changes at 23 ± 2°C and 31 ± 2°C. A significant decline in platelet count (PLT) and increment in mean platelet volume and basophil count were seen at all study temperatures up to 48 hr. CONCLUSION: This study shows that most parameters of the CBC are unaffected with the studied storage temperature up to 48 hr except for the PLT which should be performed within 6 hr of the post-collection time. To avoid changes in a few parameters such as Htc, it is best to store the sample at 4 ± 2°C if any delay is anticipated.

Otorhinolaringologic manifestation of Smith-Magenis syndrome.

Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS) is a multiple congenital anomaly/mental retardation (MCA/MR) syndrome link to a contiguous-gene deletion syndrome, involving chromosome 1 7p 11.2,whose incidence is estimated to be 1:25,000 livebirth. SMS is characterised by a specific physical, behavioural and developmental pattern. The main clinical features consist of a broad flat midface with brachycefaly, broad nasal bridge, brachydactily, speech delay, hoarse deep voice and peripheral neuropathy. Behavioural abnormalities include hypermotility, self-mutilation and sleep disturbance. This report defines the otorhinolaryngological aspects of a new case of SMS, confirmed by cytogenetic-molecular analysis, in a 9 year old girl affected by chronic otitis media, deafness and sinusitis, who presented with typical clinical signs and symptoms.