Molecular evolution of the genomic RNA of Apple stem grooving capillovirus.

The complete genome of the German isolate AC of Apple stem grooving virus (ASGV) was sequenced. It encodes two overlapping open reading frames (ORFs), similarly to previously described ASGV isolates. Two regions of high variability were detected between the ASGV isolates, variable region 1 (V1, from amino acids (aa) 532 to 570), and variable region 2 (V2, from aa 1,583 to 1,868). The phylogenetic analysis of the V1 and V2 regions suggested that the ASGV diversity was structured by host plant species rather than geographical origin. The dN/dS ratio between nonsynonymous and synonymous nucleotide substitution rates varied greatly along the ASGV genome. Most of ORF1 showed predominant negative selection except for the two regions V1 and V2. V1 showed an elevated dN and an average dS when compared to the ORF1 background but no significant positive selection was detected. The V2 region of ORF1 showed an elevated dN and a low dS when compared to the ORF1 background with an average dN/dS ≈ 3.0 indicative of positive selection. However, the V2 area includes overlapping ORFs, making the dN/dS estimate biased. Joint estimates of the selection intensity in the different ORFs by a recent method indicated that this region of ORF1 was in fact evolving close to neutrality. This was convergent with previous results showing that introduction of stop codons in this region of ORF1 did not impair plant infection. These data suggest that the elimination of a stop codon caused the overprinting of a novel coding region over the ancestral ORF.

Seroconversion in captive African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) following administration of a chicken head bait/SAG-2 oral rabies vaccine combination.

This study determined the proportion of captive juvenile and adult African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) that developed protective titres of rabies neutralising antibodies following ingestion of a chicken head bait/SAG-2 oral rabies vaccine combination. A single chicken head containing 1.8 ml of SAG-2 vaccine (10(8.0) TCID50/ml) in a plastic blister was fed to each of eight adult and three juvenile wild dogs. Bait ingestion resulted in a significant rise in serum neutralising antibody titres. Overall seroconversion rate was eight out of 11 (72.7%), and all the puppies and five out of eight (62.5%) adults showed potentially protective levels of antibodies on day 31. The mean post-vaccination neutralising antibody titre was within the range reported to be protective against challenge with virulent rabies virus in other species.

[Support systems for patients with coronary bypass]. / Ondersteuningstelsels vir koronêre vaatomleidingspasiënte.

The rehabilitation of the coronary artery bypass patient should be a continuation of the contact which exists during the hospitalisation phase, with specific reference to the pre-discharge phase. As a member of the health team, the nurse makes the most input during this phase because she is the one who is in constant contact with the patient and his family. The purpose of this study is to determine, by means of set criteria and within a nursing perspective, the contributions that are made by various support groups to the rehabilitation of persons who have undergone coronary artery bypass surgery. The study is based on a contextual, descriptive method. The inputs and importance of available support groups in the community have been determined by means of a survey method. Results of pre-discharge preparation programmes showed that no structured programme is followed by health institutions and that existing support groups are not fully utilised. Nursing staff also contribute very little towards such a programme.