Effects of self-selected mass loss on performance and mood in collegiate wrestlers

Wrestlers abruptly lose body mass before competition; however, the effects of "weight cutting" are poorly understood because of conflicting evidence. This study aimed to determine the effects of self-selected mass loss on precompetition mood, grip strength, and lower body power in collegiate wrestlers. Sixteen male collegiate wrestlers (age = 20 ± 2 years, height = 177.5 ± 7.2 cm) were weighed 10 days before (D-10) a competitive meet. Euhydrated subjects were administered the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS), tested on grip strength, and given a 30-second Wingate Anaerobic Power test to determine lower body power. Additional weigh-ins were conducted 6 (D-6) and 2 (D-2) days before competition. Subjects repeated the testing battery the day of competition (D-0). During the study, wrestlers self-selected the method and timing of mass loss. Wrestlers lost 0.0-8.1% of their body mass using exercise, caloric restriction, or fluid deprivation. Most mass loss occurred between D-2 and D-0 (mean ± SD, D-10 = 81.7 ± 18.2 kg, D-6 = 81.2 ± 17.8 kg, D-2 = 81.1 ± 18.5 kg, D-0 = 79.0 ± 19.2 kg). Wrestlers losing ≥ 4% body mass became significantly more confused (D-10 = 0 ± 0, D-0 = 3 ± 3); subjects losing less mass showed no difference in confusion. No significant differences existed across time for remaining BRUMS variables, grip strength, and Wingate variables. These results suggest that wrestlers self-select large, rapid mass loss that impairs aspects of psychological functioning without affecting grip strength or lower-body power.     

Evaluation of the BOD POD and leg-to-leg bioelectrical impedance analysis for estimating percent body fat in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III collegiate wrestlers

The purpose of this study was to compare percent body fat (%BF) estimated by air displacement plethysmography (ADP) and leg-to-leg bioelectrical impedance analysis (LBIA) with hydrostatic weighing (HW) in a group (n = 25) of NCAA Division III collegiate wrestlers. Body composition was assessed during the preseason wrestling weight certification program (WCP) using the NCAA approved methods (HW, 3-site skinfold [SF], and ADP) and LBIA, which is currently an unaccepted method of assessment. A urine specific gravity less than 1.020, measured by refractometry, was required before all testing. Each subject had all of the assessments performed on the same day. LBIA measurements (Athletic mode) were determined using a Tanita body fat analyzer (model TBF-300A). Hydrostatic weighing, corrected for residual lung volume, was used as the criterion measurement. The %BF data (mean +/- SD) were LBIA (12.3 +/- 4.6), ADP (13.8 +/- 6.3), SF (14.2 +/- 5.3), and HW (14.5 +/- 6.0). %BF estimated by LBIA was significantly (p < 0.01) smaller than HW and SF. There were no significant differences in body density or %BF estimated by ADP, SF, and HW. All methods showed significant correlations (r = 0.80-0.96; p < 0.01) with HW. The standard errors of estimate (SEE) for %BF were 1.68, 1.87, and 3.60%; pure errors (PE) were 1.88, 1.94, and 4.16% (ADP, SF, and LBIA, respectively). Bland-Atman plots for %BF demonstrated no systematic bias for ADP, SF, and LBIA when compared with HW. These preliminary findings support the use of ADP and SF for estimating %BF during the NCAA WCP in Division III wrestlers. LBIA, which consistently underestimated %BF, is not supported by these data as a valid assessment method for this athletic group.     

Changes of Motor and Sensory Asymmetries in Highly Trained Athletes

Data about peculiarities of organization of motor control and brain functional asymmetry pattern in highly trained judo wrestlers are presented. It has been shown that in athletes the right hemisphere is predominant in processing of both speech and visual-spatial information, while high competition results in wrestlers with left-side stand correlates with prevalence of the left hemisphere in speech perception. It is suggested that high sport results in wrestlers are due to formation of novel long-term skills, reorganization of motor control, and interhemispheric interaction.     

Effects of a competitive wrestling season on body composition, strength, and power in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III college wrestlers

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a competitive wrestling season on body composition, muscular strength, and muscular power in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III college wrestlers. A total of 10 wrestlers were assessed throughout 2 consecutive wrestling seasons in late October, late January (midseason), and late March (postseason). Measurements included body weight, body composition (6-site skinfold), muscular strength (back squats and bench press), and muscular power (e.g., power cleans, vertical jump, seated medicine ball put). A repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed no significant changes in body weight, percentage of body fat, or fat-free mass (FFM) from pre- to mid- to postseason (body weight, 77.9 +/- 12.4, 75.7 +/- 11.0, and 79.9 +/- 12.8 kg; percentage of body fat, 11.6 +/- 3.9, 10.5 +/- 3.0, and 12.0 +/- 3.4; FFM, 68.5 +/- 8.7, 67.5 +/- 8.2, and 70.0 +/- 9.0 kg). A statistically significant main effect of time (p < 0.01) was observed for muscular strength, as both the back squat and bench press measures were lower at midseason (back squat, 150.8 +/- 25.2 kg; bench press, 98.3 +/- 25.4 kg) than at pre- and postseason (back squat, 157.9 +/- 25.5 and 161.4 +/- 25.6; bench press, 103.4 +/- 25.5 and 106.4 +/- 26.0). Muscular power did not change significantly throughout the wrestling season. These data indicate that Division III college wrestlers remain relatively weight stable with little change in body composition during a competitive wrestling season. While muscular power is apparently maintained, muscular strength may decline slightly. Our findings suggest that these wrestlers benefit from a training program that emphasizes in-season strength maintenance.     

Field Test Using the Nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita for Biocontrol of Slugs in Spain

An experiment was carried out between May and July 1999 in Galicia (North-West Spain) to test the capacity of the nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita to protect field grown lettuces from slug damage in our field conditions. The experiment compared a single dose of nematodes (3 ×109 ha -1) with mini-pellets containing 5% metaldehyde, applied at the recommended field rate (3 g pellets m -2), and untreated plots. Slug damage for each lettuce head was estimated on six dates during the first 4 weeks after planting. At harvest, each lettuce head was weighed, scored as marketable or not by weight and external aspect, and inspected for slugs. Metaldehyde significantly reduced slug damage to lettuce plants from the first day after planting to the third week. Nematodes significantly reduced slug damage from the second to the third week. At harvest, 6 weeks after planting, the mean weight of the lettuce heads and the number of marketable heads in the nematode plots were as good as in the metaldehyde plots, and both treatments were significantly better than the untreated plots. The number of slugs within the harvested plants was significantly reduced only with the metaldehyde treatment.     

Within-field manipulation of potato leafhopper (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) and insect predator populations using an uncut alfalfa strip

The effects of a 3-m wide uncut alfalfa strip on the within field distribution of Empoasca fabae (Harris) (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) and several species of insect predators were examined for 3 yr (1998-2000). The objectives were to determine whether this uncut strip would serve as a trap crop for E. fabae and a refuge for insect predators at first harvest. Empoasca fabae and insect predators in the families Coccinellidae, Nabidae, Anthocoridae, Chrysopidae, and Hemerobiidae were collected weekly using sweep samples and sticky traps from the uncut strips and up to 40 m into the alfalfa regrowth. For 2 yr, both small- (0.34 ha) and large-scale (approximately 11.3 ha) field trials showed higher numbers of E. fabae in 73% of the uncut strips for 2-3 wk after harvest. Similarly, the number of insect predators found within <50% of the uncut strips was also higher during the first or second week after harvest. In 1999, however, we did not observe higher numbers of E. fabae in the uncut strips. Differences may be because of higher E. fabae population numbers in 1999 compared with 1998 and 2000. This research provides alfalfa growers a potential cultural management technique for E. fabae while conserving predatory insects.     

Performance changes during a college playing career in NCAA division III football athletes

The purpose of this study was to compare anthropometric and athletic performance variables during the playing career of NCAA Division III college football players. Two hundred and eighty-nine college football players were assessed for height, body mass, body composition, 1-repetition-maximum (1RM) bench press, 1RM squat, vertical jump height (VJ), vertical jump peak, and vertical jump mean (VJMP) power, 40-yd sprint speed (40S), agility, and line drill (LD) over an 8-year period. All testing occurred at the beginning of summer training camp in each of the seasons studied. Data from all years of testing were combined. Players in their fourth and fifth (red-shirt year) seasons of competition were significantly (p < 0.05) heavier than first-year players. Significant increases in strength were seen during the course of the athletes' collegiate career (31.0% improvement in the 1RM bench press and 36.0% increase in squat strength). The VJ was significantly greater during the fourth year of competition compared to in the previous 3 years of play. Vertical jump peak and VJMP were significantly elevated from years 1 and 2 and were significantly higher during year 4 than during any previous season of competition. No significant changes in 40S or LD time were seen during the athletes playing career. Fatigue rate for the LD (fastest time/slowest time of 3 LD) significantly improved from the first (83.4 ± 6.4%) to second season (85.1 ± 6.5%) of competition. Fatigue rates in the fourth (88.3 ± 4.8%) and fifth (91.2 ± 5.2%) seasons were significantly greater than in any previous season. Strength and power performance improvements appear to occur throughout the football playing career of NCAA Division III athletes. However, the ability to significantly improve speed and agility may be limited.     

Scientific publications of Costa Rica in Science Citation Index bibliometric analysis of the period 1999-2001

This study analyzed the publications of authors from Costa Rican institutions that were included in the Science Citation Index (SCI) during 1999-2001. Out of the 722 references detected, distributed in 328 journals, 90.7% corresponded to original research articles. The total productivity figures showed a moderately increasing trend, both in absolute and population-adjusted terms, in concordance with previous data recorded for the period 1980-1998. The contribution of Revista de Biología Tropical to these figures corresponded to 10.0%, 8.9%, and 19.1%, for the years 1999, 2000, and 2001, respectively. The subject distribution of articles followed a similar pattern to that described for 1980-1998, with a predominance of biomedical (33.3%) and biological (27.5%) sciences, followed by agronomical (15.5%) sciences, chemistry (13.6%), physics (5.0%), geological sciences (3.6%), and mathematics (1.5%). Citation analyses for individual publications (up to July 15, 2002) revealed that only 45.2% of the articles had been cited at least once. The ten most cited references were analyzed, varying from 26 to 114 citations. The average citation per article was 2.60, and the average number of authors per article was 2.92. In agreement with data from 1980-1998, the University of Costa Rica appeared as the institution with highest productivity of SCI publications during 1999-2001, with a contribution of 50.0%. The percentage of publications performed without the participation of foreign co-authors showed a change in its decreasing trend of 1980-1998, stabilizing near the range of 25-30% during the period 1999-2001.     

Gastric secretion in seven- to thirty-two-year-old wrestlers

The formation and adaptation of gastric secretion was studied in the sports ontogeny of various wrestlers and of athletes retired from sport. Gastric secretion proved to depend strongly on the level of the wrestlers’ motor activity, which determined changes in the reactivity of the digestive apparatus and intensity of proteolysis (hypo- and hyperfunctions). Changes in the secretory gastric activity of wrestlers depended on their age and the duration and intensity of their physical exercises and were correlated with the body weight of the athletes.     

Physical fitness factors to predict female Olympic wrestling performance and sex differences

To determine differences in anthropometric, body composition, physiological and neuromuscular markers between elite and amateur female wrestlers, 35 female wrestlers were assigned into 4 groups according to their body mass (light and middle weight) and their competitive level (elite and amateur): light weight (between 49 and 58 kg) in elite (n = 6) and amateur (n = 12) levels, and middle weight (between 58 and 67 kg) in elite (n = 7) and amateur (n = 10) levels. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify which variables better predict female wrestling success. Elite female wrestlers were older (8-10%), had more training experience (27-29%), fat-free mass (3%), maximum strength in absolute and allometrically scaled values (13-33%), maximal muscle power (16-34%), mean and peak power during an arm crank Wingate testing in absolute and allometrically scaled values (17-23%), jumping height (2-9%) and grip (5-13%), and back isometric strength (10-13%) compared with amateur wrestlers (p < 0.05). When the results of the present research and those of a recent study performed in our laboratory with elite male wrestlers were compared, elite women presented lower (p < 0.05) maximum isometric and dynamic strength, muscle power output, and anaerobic metabolism values even when these data were normalized using allometric methods.     

Salivary hormonal responses and performance changes during 15 weeks of mixed aerobic and weight training in elite junior wrestlers

ABSTRACT: Passelergue, PA and Lac, G. Salivary hormonal responses and performance changes during 15 weeks of mixed aerobic and weight training in elite junior wrestlers. J Strength Cond Res 26(11): 3049-3058, 2012-To prepare efficiently for competition, wrestlers usually train physically for a period of approximately 12-20 weeks. Numerous physical qualities must be developed during this period of preparation: aerobic fitness, maximal strength, muscular endurance, power, and speed. However, numerous studies have concluded that it is difficult to concurrently develop strength and aerobic fitness for several reasons, in particular antagonistic endocrine variations. The study involved 15 elite junior wrestlers who trained at a sports training school for 15 weeks. To investigate the effects of long-term training and to assess the relationships between hormonal concentrations (salivary testosterone [T] and cortisol [C]) and performance changes during simultaneous strength and aerobic fitness training, 6 saliva samples and 3 physical tests and 2 measures of body composition were made during the training period. Wrestlers had a significant increase (+1.5 kg) in body weight without changes in percentage body fat. Apart from the 20-m maximal shuttle speed, all performances increased significantly during the 15 weeks of training: maximum mechanical power output (Pmax: +12.8%), mean power during 30 seconds (Pmean: +10.8%), bench press (+5.7%), squat (+23.1%), power clean (+6.1%), time to 3,000- and 30-m sprints (-3.6, -1.3% respectively). During the period that the C increased, there was no significant variation for the T. The T/C ratio followed a variation pattern contrary to that of the C. We found strong correlations between salivary T, C, and T/C and the variation in explosive strength. Our results suggest that data about subjects' salivary C, T, and T/C may be employed to optimize the training process for sports people who need to develop strength and aerobic fitness simultaneously.     

Quantifying pepper maggot (Diptera: Tephritidae) oviposition and infestation over time

In 1998 and 1999, pepper maggot flies, Zonosemata electa (Say), were excluded from pepper plants with row covers for 0-6 wk after initial oviposition was detected. The proportion of oviposition attempts (scars) and larval infestation that occurred each week and the cumulative oviposition and infestation over time were determined. Due to environmental factors, initial oviposition was delayed, and the numbers of oviposition scars on fruit and flies caught on traps were lower in 1998 than in 1999. The proportions of scarred or infested fruit were low (< 8% of total) during the first 7 d after the pest was detected each year. Oviposition peaked 8-14 d after beginning in 1998, but not until 21-28 d after the initial scar was detected in 1999. Because systemic insecticides tend to provide control of adults and most hatching larvae, it may be possible to delay the initial insecticide application for up to a week after oviposition commences and still minimize fruit damage. There was no association with either year between the proportion of flies captured on traps and the proportion of oviposition scars on fruit the same week or 1 and 2 wk later.     

Secular trend in body size among college athletes.

Height and weight were compared across five birth decades (1850-1899) among 1,121 Harvard athletes who were lettermen in various sports. There were considerable differences in the magnitude of the secular trend among the sport categories (crew, baseball, football, track, ice hockey, and two or more sports). Comparing the 1890-1899 and 1860-1869 birth-cohort samples, football lettermen were 2.6 inches (6.6 cm) taller (p less than 0.001) and 20 pounds (9.1 kg) heavier (p less than 0.001). Crew lettermen were 2.6 inches taller (p less than 0.001) and 8.5 pounds (3.9 kg) heavier (p less than 0.05). For lettermen in other sports, changes in mean height and weight were smaller in magnitude. Differential selection for body size may explain the differences in the magnitude of the secular trend when analyzed by specific sport.     

Dynamics of Streptococcos pneumoniae antibiotic resistance extension in Moscow in 1998-2003]

During the 6-year observation period from 1998 to 2003 in Moscow there was recorded in 2000-2001 a decrease in the emergence of Streptococcos pneumoniae resistance to many antibacterials, while during the following years the respective index increased. The above dynamics in the resistance emergence was likely due to a decrease in the use of antibiotics in 1998-1999. In 2003 the rate of resistance to penicillin was 18.6%, 0.4 and 2.1% of the isolates were resistant to amoxicillin and cefotaxime respectively, the rate of resistance to erythromycin reached 19%, 65.4% of the resistant strains showed M phenotype. High rates of resistance were as well observed with respect to tetracycline (40.1%), co-trimoxazole (29.1%) and chloramphenicol (18.6%). Resistance to levofloxacin and moxifloxacin was detected only in rare strains.     

Distribution of human rotaviruses, especially G9 strains, in Japan from 1996 to 2000

A 4-year (1996-2000) survey of rotavirus infection involving 2,218 diarrheal fecal specimens of children collected from five regions of Japan was conducted. A total of 642 (28.9%) specimens were found to be rotavirus positive. A changed prevalence pattern of rotavirus G serotype was found with an increase of G9 and G2 and a decrease of G1, although G1 remained the prevailing serotype. Serotype G9 was unexpectedly determined to be the prevailing serotype in Sapporo (62.5%) and Tokyo (52.9%) in 1998-1999, and in Saga (78.4%) in 1999-2000. G9 strains isolated from 1998-1999 belonged to the P[8]-NSP4-Wa-group with long RNA pattern, while, G9 strains isolated from 1999-2000 belonged to three groups, the P[8]-NSP4-Wa-group with long RNA pattern, the P[4]-NSP4-KUN-group with short RNA pattern and a mixed-type group (P[4]/P[8]-NSP4-KUN/Wa-group with long RNA pattern). Both sequence and immunological analysis of VP7 revealed that the G9 strains from 1999-2000 were much more closely related to the G9 strains isolated worldwide in the 1990s, including G9 strains found in Thailand in 1997. However, the G9 strains from 1998-1999 were distinct from these and more closely related to the G9 prototype strains F45, AU32 and WI61 discovered in Japan and the US in the 1980s. Thus the G9 strains isolated in 1998-1999 had progenitors common to the G9 prototype strains, while the strains isolated in 1999-2000 did not directly evolve from them but were related to global G9 strains that have emerged in recent years. These data supported our previous report that G9 rotavirus might exist as two or more subtypes with diverse RNA patterns, P-genotype and NSP4 genogroup combinations (Y.M. Zhou et al., J. Med. Virol. 65: 619-628, 2001) and suggested that G9 rotavirus prevalent in Japan during two successive years belonged to different subtypes. The nucleotide sequences presented in this paper were submitted to DDBJ, EMBL and GenBank nucleotide sequence databases. The accession numbers are: 00-Ad2863VP7 (AB091746), 00-OS2986VP7 (AB091747), 00-SG2509VP7 (AB091748), 00-SG2518VP7 (AB091749), 00-SG2541 (AB091750), 00-SG2864 (AB091751), 00-SP2737VP7 (AB091752), 99-SP1542VP7 (AB091753), 99-SP1904VP7 (AB091754), 99-TK2082VP7 (AB091755) and 99-TK2091VP7 (AB091756).     

The effect of a competitive wrestling season on body weight, hydration, and muscular performance in collegiate wrestlers

The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the effects of a collegiate wrestling season on body weight, hydration, and muscular performance. Twelve Division I collegiate wrestlers (mean +/- SE; 20.75 +/- 0.41 year) volunteered to participate in testing sessions during midseason and 3 weeks following the season. Testing consisted of weigh-in, providing a urine sample for hydration analysis, and a measure of isometric leg extension peak torque. Weight significantly increased (p < 0.05) following the completion of the competitive season. No significant change in urine specific gravity (p > 0.05) was observed. Muscular performance was affected by the season as peak torque (PT) and PT-to-body weight ratio increased significantly (p < 0.05). Following the collegiate wrestling season, augmentation in body weight and muscular performance of the wrestlers occurs without alterations in hydration status. Further research is warranted on what type of strength training program would most effectively reduce the decrements in strength associated with weight loss and the strain of a competitive season.     

Blooms of Pseudo-nitzschia spp. (Bacillariophyceae) and other phytoplankton species at Bahía de Mazatlán, México

Observations on microplankton in the autumn of 1996 revealed the existence of high densities of Pseudo-nitzschia spp. A similar phenomenon was found in November 1998 and November 1999 and a month later it shifted to the southern Mazatlán Bay while in California, USA, incidents of the poisoning of sea mammals were being recorded; this also happened on the Mexican Pacific coasts from January to March. Water samples collected at surface (<0.5 m deep) and subsurface (10 m deep) monthly, from November 1998 to January 1999 and every week from February 1999 to May 2000, were analyzed by the Uterm?hl technique at 400 enlargements. Phytoplankton quantification showed winter and summer pulses; the 1998-1999 period was higher than the 1999-2000 period. Five species of Pseudo-nitzschia were identified by electron microscopy (TEM and SEM); a new study has revealed other species. High values of Pseudo-nitzschia were observed: 730 P-n/ml (Dec. 1999), 610 P-n/ml (Dec. 1998), 335 P-n/ml (Jul. 1999), 198 P-n/ml (Feb. 1999), 170 P-n/ml (Nov. 1998), 123 P-n/ml (Mar. 1999), 108 P-n/ml (Aug. 1999). The blooms of other species of diatoms (Thalassiosira spp., Asterionellopsis glacialis, Chaetoceros spp., Skeletonema costatum), dinoflagellates (Prorocentrum spp., Scripsiella trochoidea) and ciliates (Myrionecta rubra) were also observed.     

Physical Activity as a Predictor of Weight Maintenance in Previously Obese Subjects

We examined the association between exercise and weight loss maintenance in a group of 45 previously obese subjects 2 years post very-low-calorie diet (VLCD) to suggest exercise goals for this population. At baseline, subjects weighed a mean 100 kg and had a mean total cholesterol (TC) of 5.8 mmol/L. With VLCD they lost an average 28 kg and decreased their TC by 1.6 mmol/L. Two years post-VLCD their weight and lipids were measured and they completed a physical activity survey (Paffenbarger). Subjects were grouped into tertiles by reported exercise levels: low active (< 850 kcals per week), moderate active (850–1575 kcals per week) and high active (> 1575 kcals per week). Walking accounted for the greatest calorie expenditure (65%). Analysis of variance showed that baseline characteristics and weight and blood lipid changes during the VLCD did not differ (P>0.05) among groups. At follow-up, high active patients maintained significantly greater weight loss, had a lower percent regain and a significantly greater decrease in total cholesterol (P < 0.05) than less active patients. Multiple regression analysis indicated that total exercise calories independently predicted overall weight loss and percent regain (r = 0.66 and r = 0.62, respectively). Exercise calories also predicted total cholesterol change (r=-0.37). The high active group walked more miles (16.2 per week) than the low and moderate active groups (4.8 and 9.1 per week, respectively) and exercised more days per week (5.3 vs. 1.9 and 3.7). The low and moderate active groups regained virtually equal amounts of weight, even though the moderate group expended twice as many kcals per week as the low active group. These data demonstrate that increased exercise levels enhance weight loss maintenance.     

Autumn sowing increases severity of pasmo (Mycosphaerella linicola) on linseed in the UK

Surveys and field experiments showed pasmo to be the most serious disease affecting UK winter linseed in the 1997–98, 1998–99 and 1999–2000 growing seasons. Survey data indicated that pasmo was widespread in England and Scotland, causing extensive loss of leaves and stem and capsule symptoms, on both winter and spring linseed crops. In winter linseed experiments at ADAS Boxworth and Rothamsted, when severe epidemics occurred (1997–98 and 1999–2000), control of pasmo with one or two MBC fungicide sprays increased yield. In experiments when severe pasmo epidemics did not occur (1998–99), fungicide applications did not increase yield. In all three growing seasons, large numbers of air-borne Mycosphaerella linicola ascospores were collected in the summer months. At the time when the winter linseed crop was emerging and becoming established in October/November, there were more air-borne M. linicola ascospores in 1999 than in 1998. April/May rainfall was much greater in 1998 (135 mm) and 2000 (223 mm), when severe pasmo epidemics developed by July, than in 1999 (68 mm) when disease severity in July was less. Regression analyses suggested that yield decreased as percentage area affected by pasmo on leaves or stems in July increased. The formulae relating yield loss to pasmo severity, derived from these experiments, were combined with disease survey data to estimate, retrospectively, the UK national losses from pasmo. Estimated national losses from pasmo on winter linseed, although >50% of crops were sprayed with fungicide, were approximately £2.9M in 1998, £1.6M in 1999 and £0.37M in 2000 (when the area of winter linseed had decreased greatly). Estimated combined losses on winter and spring linseed were approximately £14.8M in 1998, £34.9M in 1999 and £11.0M in 2000.     

Epidemiological investigation into the re-emergence and control of an outbreak of infectious salmon anaemia in the Shetland Islands, Scotland

Infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) is an orthomyxoviral disease, primarily affecting marine-phase farmed Atlantic salmon, which can result in high levels of mortality. ISA first emerged in Norway in the 1980s and subsequently has occurred in Canada, the USA, the Faeroe Islands and Chile. An outbreak occurred in Scotland in 1998-1999, but was eradicated at a cost of over pounds sterling 20M. The epidemiology of a new outbreak of ISA in the Scottish Shetland Islands during 2008-2009 is described. Six sites have been confirmed ISA-positive. Spread of the virus via transport of fish between marine sites, harvest vessels, smolts and wild fish appears to have been of little or no importance, with spread primarily associated with marine water currents. The use of management areas by Marine Scotland to control the event appears to have been effective in restricting spread to a small area. This localised outbreak contrasts with the 1998-1999 outbreak that spread over a wide geographic area with transported fish and harvest vessels. The development and application of industry codes of good practice, good husbandry and biosecurity practices, limited marine site-to-site movement of live fish and improved disinfection of vessels and processing plant waste that occurred subsequent to the 1998-1999 outbreak may explain the localised spread of infection in 2008-2009. Depopulation of confirmed sites has been achieved within 7 wk (mean = 3.7 wk); however, it is likely that subclinical infection persisted undetected for months on at least 1 site. The origin of the 2008-2009 outbreak remains unknown. Potential sources include evolution from a local reservoir of infection or importation. Synchronous fallowing of management areas, with good husbandry and biosecurity, reduces the risk of ISA recurring. Movement of fish between sites in different management areas represents the greatest risk of regional-scale spread, should this occur.