Southern Romania Research Articles

Clinical and Epidemiological Study on Aelurostrongylus Abstrusus Infection in Cats, Romania; Preliminary Data

Abstract The lungworm Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (Nematoda: Angiostrongylidae) is a parasite of domestic and wild felids with worldwide distribution. The parasite lives in bronchioles and alveolar ducts, and its presence is associated with respiratory clinical signs. Cat lungworms are still considered by many clinicians sporadic and rarely are taken into account in the cat pathology. Therefore, in this paper we present a clinical and epidemiological study on cats with natural A. abstrusus infection. For this, 131 cats, with exclusive outdoor or outdoor and indoor access, of different gender (49 males, 82 females) and age (between 2 months and 11 years), from Southern and Center Romania, were included in the study. Of them, individual fresh faecal samples were collected and analyzed to identify first-stage larvae (L1) of lungworms, using a Baermann technique, and eggs/oocysts of other endoparasites, by a flotation method. Subsequently, of the examined samples, 6.10% (8/131) were positive for A. abstrusus. The positive cats aged between 3 months and 2 years. Of them, 3 cats were co-infected: two with Toxocara cati and one with Ancylostoma tubaeforme. Clinically, 75% (6/8) of the infected cats displayed respiratory signs varying from mild (sporadic coughing, sneezing) (n=3) to severe symptoms (mucopurulent nasal discharge, abdominal breathing) (n=3), while 25% (2/8) showed no respiratory signs. The three cats with severe respiratory disease were infected only with A.abstrusus. In conclusion, veterinary practitioners should include Aelurostrongylus infection in the differential diagnosis of catʼs respiratory pathology.

Extreme Dry Years in the 21st Century at the Level of the Agricultural Areas of Muntenia, Romania

Abstract The global climatic changes consisting of the increased in the average air temperature and changes in the rainfall regime have led in the last decades to the extension of the agricultural areas affected by the drought phenomenon, both worldwide and in Romania. During the last half century, the drought and the phenomena associated with it, namely aridization and desertification, are a major problem for mankind. The limiting factor affecting field crops on the largest surface is the drought, the extent and intensity of this type of risk causing annual reduction of agricultural production by at least 30-50%. Drought represents the natural phenomenon determined by the amounts of precipitations below the normal values. The absence of rainfall is due to the predominance of the anti-cyclonic type. The most frequent phenomena occur in the extra-Carpathian agricultural regions of southern and south-eastern Romania Muntenia is located in the drought-sensitive area, where the influx of continental anti-cyclones is higher. Although this phenomena is possible in all seasons and in all agricultural areas, it doesn’t occur simultaneously and doesn’t have the same intensity. In the 21st century, the agricultural years 2001-2002, 2002-2003, 2006-2007, 2011-2012 and 2014-2015 are included in the list of the most recent years in terms of rainfall quantities, the heat units recorded in the warm season, as well as the soil moisture reserve available to winter wheat and maize plants during maximum water consumption. The objective of this paper is to highlight the correlation between the pluviometric regime analyzed during periods of maximum consumption of water from winter wheat and maize crops, the phenomenon of "heat" and the soil moisture reserve. The analysis of these specific indices helped us characterize the mentioned agricultural years, in the context of analysing the phenomenon of pedological drought with an impact in agriculture in Muntenia Region. An important element in the development of agricultural management strategies is to improve scientific knowledge and capacities to better manage climate variability by examining climate data and risks and opportunities analysis. The decrease in production of winter wheat and maize wheat crops occurs in extreme dry agricultural years due to the shortening of the vegetation season as a result of the increase in air temperature and water stress during the period of accumulation of the dry matter in the grain (the filling phase grain) caused by the reduction of precipitation amounts. Drought periods are increasingly common in Romania and are a major problem for agriculture with high impact on the agricultural production.

Research Concerning the Influence of Soil Tillage Systems on Weeds Control and Corn Hybrids Yield Cultivated in Southeastern Romania

Abstract The paper presents the yield results obtained in 2017 for the corn crop grown in the soil and climate conditions of Southern Romania (Calarasi county). The purpose of the research was to analyze the behavior and yield of a range of corn hybrids from different FAO groups: DKC 4590 (FAO 350), PP9911 (FAO 410) and Olt (FAO 430) under different soil tillage systems. The conventional tillage system applied was plowing at 20 and 30 cm, while scarifying at 30 and 40 cm and Tiger 3 MT at 20 and 30 cm were used for the minimum tillage system. The average yield of the three hybrids analyzed was 8,130.3 kg/ha in the conventional tillage system (plowing at 20 and 30 cm) with mechanical weeding, while for the conventional tillage system without mechanical weeding the yield was 7,682.2 kg/ha. The minimum tillage variants (scarifying and Tiger 3 MT) recorded an average yield of 6,746.4 kg/ha when mechanical weeding was applied and 6,474.9 kg/ha for the variants without mechanical weeding. Regarding the degree of weeding by tillage system, in the conventional tillage system (plowing at 20 and 30 cm) with mechanical weeding the number of weeds was 4.2 plants/m2 and 9.3 plants/m2 for the variants without mechanical weeding. The minimum tillage variants (scarifying and Tiger 3 MT) recorded 12.8 weeds/m2 when mechanical weeding was applied and 16.2 weeds/m2 for the variants without mechanical weeding.

The Emergence of Extramural Cemeteries in Neolithic Southeast Europe: A Formally Modeled Chronology for Cernica, Romania

ABSTRACTThe emergence of separate cemeteries for disposal of the dead represents a profound shift in mortuary practice in the Late Neolithic of southeast Europe, with a new emphasis on the repeated use of a specific space distinct from, though still often close to, settlements. To help to time this shift more precisely, this paper presents 25 dates from 21 burials in the large cemetery at Cernica, in the Lower Danube valley in southern Romania, which are used to formally model the start, duration of use and end of the cemetery. A further six dates were obtained from four contexts for the nearby settlement. Careful consideration is given to the possibility of environmental and dietary offsets. The preferred model, without freshwater reservoir offsets, suggests that use of the Cernica cemetery probably began in5355–5220 cal BC (95% probability)and ended in5190–5080 cal BC (28% probability)or5070–4940 (67% probability). The implications of this result are discussed, including with reference to other cemeteries of similar age in the region, the nature of social relations being projected through mortuary ritual, and the incorporation of older, Mesolithic, ways of doing things into Late Neolithic mortuary practice.

Evaluation of the Behavior of Some Genotypes of Salix sp. in the Conditions of Sandy Soils

The aim of this study was to make a comparative analyse of nine willow genotypes (seven Romanian and two Swedish clones) in order to test them for short rotation coppice. Researches have been carried out in the sandy soils from Southern Romania, over a period of two years of vegetation. There were made determinations as concern plants growth and development and were referring to survival rate, stem height, number of shoots/plant and stem diameter at the base. Hydric stress is one of the main factors of limiting plant growth on this type of soil and the experimented willow genotypes have reacted differently. The obtained results have shown the fact that the largest vegetative growth was recorded in Pesred and Inger genotypes. It also emphasizes with good results in terms of the quantity of biomass RO 1077, Fragisal and Robisal genotypes. Based on the obtained results it can appreciate that Salix sp. represents a solution of utilize the sandy soils which have low fertile and obtaining considerable amounts of biomass, in the conditions of ensuring of water and nutritive resources.

An outbreak of hemolytic uremic syndrome in southern Romania during 2015–2016: Epidemiologic, clinical, laboratory, microbiologic, therapeutic and outcome characteristics

To describe the epidemiologic, clinical, microbiological, therapeutic and outcome characteristics of a HUS outbreak occurring in southern Romania from 2015 to 2016. We retrospectively collected data from the medical records of all HUS cases hospitalized at the pediatric nephrology department of Marie Curie Children's Hospital of Bucharest, Romania. There were 32 HUS cases (19 girls/13 boys, 87.6% <2 years), all associated with diarrhea (bloody in 13, 40.6%). Thirteen (40.6%) and 4 (12.5%) patients had oliguria and anuria at admission. Extreme pallor, generalized edema, vomiting, dehydration, fever and seizures were found in 100%, 56.3%, 31.3%, 31.3%, 25% and 9.4% of patients, respectively. E. coli and STEC were identified in the stools of 6 and 8 patients, respectively; E. coli O26 and O157 infection were documented serologically in 10 and 3 children, respectively. There were 15/32 (46.9%) patients with confirmed HUS. Eighteen (56.3%) patients were hypertensive; other complications included infections, left ventricular hypertrophy, cardiopulmonary arrest, seizures and encephalopathy in 62.5%, 37.5%, 28.3%, 18.8% and 12.5%, respectively. Peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis were performed in 23 (72%) and 2 patients, respectively. Three patients (9.4%) died early during hospitalization. A 6-12-month follow-up of 26 patients revealed that 65.4% had post-HUS sequelae (persistent hypertension and chronic renal failure in 34.6% and 30.8%, respectively). The principal STEC serotype involved was O26:H11 and the number of confirmed HUS cases reached half of the patients. Compared with the medical literature, this outbreak had a higher rate of complications and renal sequelae and was associated with a high fatality rate.

PREVALENCE OF OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY IN A ROMA POPULATION FROM SOUTHERN ROMANIA - CALARASI COUNTY.

The prevalence of obesity has reached alarming levels in the European Union, including in Romania. Data on the prevalence of obesity is only available at the national populational level, but this may hide the increased levels in disadvantaged groups. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the Roma population in Southern Romania. This cross-sectional, epidemiological, non-interventional study was conducted from March 2014 to May 2017 in several settlements from Calarasi County. Screening procedures included interviews about medical history, lifestyle, anthropometric and clinical measurements and fasting capillary glucose. The study population consisted of 1120 adult subjects, of which 735 Roma. In Roma population group, the prevalence of underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity was 4.5% (n=33), 25% (n=184), 25.3% (n=186) and 45.2% (n=332) respectively. In Romanian Caucasians group, the prevalence of underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity was 2.3% (n=9), 20% (n=77), 33.8% (n=130) and 43.9% (n=169) respectively. Among the Romanian Caucasians significant predictors of obesity were a sedentary lifestyle and current smoking. The odds of being obese in Roma population were higher in sedentary lifestyle persons and lower in current smokers, with primary education, and in those living in rural settlements. The family history of obesity had a significant association with obesity only in Roma population. Our results confirm the need to implement prevention programs in high-risk populations due to the double burden of malnutrition, lack of medical education and preventive healthcare, low socio-economic level.

Evaluation of thermal continentality within southern Romania and northern Bulgaria (1961-2015)

Evaluation of thermal continentality within southern Romania and northern Bulgaria (1961-2015)

Farming Practices and Policies in Shaping the Organic Agriculture in Romania. A Showcase of Southern Romania

Following the pre-accession to the European Union (EU), significant changes have taken place in the agricultural policy and practice in Romania, with implications in the productivity and management of the agricultural landscape. After the EU-accession, the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) provided support for both rural development and sustainable agriculture. At the same time, the increasing demand of consumers for high quality products on the one hand, and the need to protect and improve the quality of the environment as a result of organic land management practices, on the other, provided the perfect frame for the development of organic farming. The current study aims at providing an insight into the organic agriculture in Romania, with a special focus on the southern part of Romania (Romanian Plain and Dobrogea Plateau), an area which enjoys favourable natural conditions for this type of sustainable agriculture. The key findings of the paper are the identification of the linkages between EU/national policies and organic farming; building up a large geodatabase and providing spatial and statistical assessments of up-to-date records on organic farming based on data provided by the National Institute of Statistics, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the EUROSTAT statistics and reports, as well as by the inspection and certification bodies. Based on the data gathered from the 720 organic operators at LAU 2 level in southern Romania, various indicators (e.g. cultivated area with different crops, organic farms by size class of agricultural area used, number of organic operators) were computed and represented spatially using GIS techniques.

Studies of saharan dust intrusions over bucharest using ceilometer’s measurements and satellite data

Three case studies of Saharan dust intrusions over southern Romania were performed. For these studies the database from the ceilometers located at Magurele and Strejnic was used. In addition, the meteorological conditions were analyzed using the WLK Catalogue based on the Objektive Wetterlagenklassifikation classification of the weather types [1]. This catalogue uses information from three basic tropospheric levels: 925, 700 and 500 hPa, and information on the precipitable water content over the entire atmosphere column. Geopotential fields at 925hPa and 500hPa are used for establishing the cyclonicity or anticyclonicity, while the U and V components of wind at 700hPa for establishing the dominant direction of the wind flow. For better understanding of the atmospheric parameters we performed HYSPLIT dispersion and trajectories analysis in conjunction with DREAM model output data.

Interpreting the effect of regional climate fluctuations on Quercus robur L. trees under a temperate continental climate (southern Romania)

Interpreting the effect of regional climate fluctuations on Quercus robur L. trees under a temperate continental climate (southern Romania)

Investigating the Strongyle Populations, with Emphasis on Strongylus vulgaris (Nematoda: Strongylidae) in Romanian Horses, Based on Larval Cultures

This study aimed to investigate the presence of Strongylus vulgaris on different horse establishments in Romania. A total number of 380 horses were enrolled in the study, representing: three stud farms (n=156); four sport/recreational establishments (n=75); and working horses (n=149). Overall, 106 premises/yards from 17 localities in 9 counties from North-Eastern, Center and Southern Romania were visited. Fresh fecal sample were collected from individual horses and were analyzed by a modified McMaster method for fecal strongyle egg per gram counting. Further, larval cultures were performed for morphological identification of S. vulgaris third stage larvae. Overall, of the investigated horses from studs, sport/recreational units, and working horses, 84.60%, 44.0%, and 79.20%, respectively were positive for strongyle. On coprocultures, cyathostomin-larvae were the most prevalent in all horse-establishment types, while S. vulgaris larvae were found only in working horses (12.1%; n=18). Other strongylin species have been identified, namely S. equinus, S. edentatus, Oesophagodontus robustus, and Triodontophorus spp. all in working horses, and Craterostomum acuticaudatum, in both working horses and horses for sport units. However, further studies are planned by using more sensitive technique for monitoring of S. vulgaris in Romanian horse farms.

Exploitation of aquatic resources for adornment and tool processing at Măgura ‘Buduiasca’ (‘Boldul lui Moş Ivănuş’) Neolithic settlement (southern Romania)

Măgura 'Buduiasca' (‘Boldul lui Moş Ivănuş’) settlement has an important place among the Prehistoric settlements from the Balkans. It is characterized by continuous habitation from the Early Neolithic through to the Early Chalcolithic allowing an understanding of the development of utilitarian objects and personal adornments in respect of the raw materials used and their processing patterns. One group consists of local bivalves (Unio sp.) which were exploited in an opportunistic manner: first as an important source of food and second as a source material for producing artefacts after recovery from domestic waste. The local gastropods shells (Lithoglyphus sp., Theodoxus danubialis, Esperiana sp., Ansius/Planorbis sp.) are without any nutritional value and used only as a source of raw materials. They could be collected during specialized expeditions organized for this purpose at certain times of the year. Imported elements are a third category which most likely arrived at Măgura ‘Buduiasca’ as finished objects. They provide evidence for complex exchange networks at this period in prehistory. Species like Mytilus or Cardium most likely come from the Black Sea, while Spondylus or Glycymeris may have their origins in the Mediterranean Sea. The presence of these raw materials demonstrates different transformation methods with their origin influencing the processing procedure: allogene valves for adornments, while Unio sp. are especially transformed into utilitarian tools.

The assessment of socio-economic vulnerability to drought in Southern Romania (Oltenia Plain)

Oltenia Plain is one of the most important agricultural regions in Romania and one of the most sensitive in terms of extreme weather phenomena i.e. drought, due to its location in the south-western part of the country, combined with the natural and socio-economic conditions. During the post-communist period, Oltenia Plain was subject to major transformations which triggered environmental consequences i.e. land use/land cover changes, excessive fragmentation of farming land, individual farms practicing subsistence agriculture, poor services in agriculture. All of these have turned this area into one of the most vulnerable to extreme weather phenomena leading to severe degradation of agricultural land with direct impact on crop production, human health, and rural welfare. The paper aims to develop a multi-criteria vulnerability assessment using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The authors are seeking to identify relevant indicators to assess various components of socio-economic vulnerability to the drought phenomenon, using the statistical data available at LAU 2 level. As a result, three main categories of statistical variables and indicators were taken into account: demographic and social features, economy and public utilities. Based on the resulted outcomes, the selected indicators are grouped in three major indexes: demographic and social vulnerability, economic vulnerability and infrastructure vulnerability based on which, an integrated socio-economic vulnerability index to drought (using the Hull score, average 50 and standard deviation 14) was computed. For the particularities of drought, the authors performed relevant climate indicators based on the meteorological data of the most representative weather stations in the study area.

Response of phenological events to climate warming in the southern and south-eastern regions of Romania

The analysis of phenological changes in vegetation is essential for the assessment of the response and adaptation of ecosystems/agro-ecosystems to climate change. This study analyses spatial and temporal changes in phenological events (phenophases) and in the climatic growing season in southern and south-eastern Romania, based on mean monthly temperature values recorded between 1961 and 2010 at 24 weather stations, spread out uniformly in the study area. By using the histophenogram method for extracting the mean phenophases length (eight in total, i.e. growing season onset, budding–leafing, flowering, fruiting, maturing, dissemination, start of leaf loss and end of leaf loss) and that of the overall growing season, this paper aims to analyse current phenological changes (in three periods, 1991–2000, 2001–2010 and 1991–2010) in relation to 1961–1990, which is the reference interval in various global climatic studies. Following the analysis of the theoretical phenology length, based on the temperature thresholds (between 5 and 25 °C) that differentiate biological cycles of vegetation, results showed an overall increase in phenological activity (especially in the past decade, 2001–2010), except for two phenophases (fruiting and dissemination), for which largely dominant length decreases were identified. Quantitatively, increases (and null changes, in a few cases) in phenological length generally range between 0–5 days/0–10% (e.g. in the budding–leafing phenophase) and 11–15 days/10.1–20% (maturing), considering the absolute changes or percentages in the three periods, compared to the reference interval 1961–1990. For the most part, the current decrease in the fruiting and dissemination phenophases falls in the interval −1 to −5 days/−10.1 to −20%, compared to the reference period. At the same time, it was noticed that the entire growing season has been expanding, especially in the past decade, when numerous increase instances of up to 15 days were recorded, corresponding to a dominant interval of 0–10% from the period 1961–1990. The results can be particularly useful for adapting the different types of crops to future climate changes, considering that the study area has a high agro-ecological importance.

Investigation on some selected vector-borne pathogens and evaluation of co-infections in clinically suspected dogs, in Southern Romania

Serological diagnostic tests for canine and human leishmaniasis present problems related with their sensitivity and/or specificity. Recently, an immunoproteomic approach performed with Leishmania infantum proteins identified new parasite antigens. In the present study, the diagnostic properties of two of these proteins, cytochrome c oxidase and IgE-dependent histamine-releasing factor, were evaluated for the serodiagnosis of canine visceral (CVL) and human tegumentary (HTL) leishmaniasis. For the CVL diagnosis, sera samples from non-infected dogs living in an endemic or non-endemic area of leishmaniasis, sera from asymptomatic or symptomatic visceral leishmaniasis (VL) dogs, from Leish-Tec®-vaccinated dogs, and sera from animals experimentally infected by Trypanosoma cruzi or Ehrlichia canis were used. For the HTL diagnosis, sera from non-infected subjects living in an endemic area of leishmaniasis, sera from active cutaneous or mucosal leishmaniasis patients, as well as those from T. cruzi-infected patients were employed. ELISA assays using the recombinant proteins showed both sensitivity and specificity values of 100% for the serodiagnosis of both forms of disease, with high positive and negative predictive values, showing better diagnostic properties than the parasite recombinant A2 protein or a soluble Leishmania antigen extract. In this context, the two new recombinant proteins could be considered to be used in the serodiagnosis of CVL and HTL.

Evidence of Low Chloroplast Genetic Diversity in Two Carpinus Species in the Northern Balkans

Genetic diversity and differentiation in two Carpinus species (C. betulus and C. orientalis) occurring in Romania was investigated by using three chloroplast Simple Sequence Repeat markers (cpSSRs). A total of 96 and 32 individuals were sampled in eighteen C. betulus and six C. orientalis populations, respectively. A total of four chloroplast haplotypes were observed. Two haplotypes were specific for C. betulus and two for C. orientalis. Most of C. betulus populations were fixed for the predominant haplotype (H1), which was observed in 82% of the individuals. All C. orientalis populations were fixed for one haplotype or the other. Populations with haplotype (H3) are spread in southern Romania and the haplotype (H4) was observed at the northern limit of C. orientalis natural distribution range. Genetic differentiation among populations was moderate in C. betulus (GST = 0.422), compared to the high value observed in C. orientalis (GST = 1.000), which can be explained by the occurrence of a distinct haplotype in the peripheral population. RST values for both species suggest low levels of recurrent gene flow through seeds among populations. Our data on geographic distribution of chloroplast DNA haplotypes may be useful for the identification and conservation of distinct genetic resources of the two Carpinus species.

Lived Religion as Reproductive Decision-Making Resource Among Romanian Women Who Use Abortion as Contraception.

This article draws upon qualitative ethnographic data collected between 2005 and 2013 in southern Romania among women who have been consistently using abortion as a contraceptive method. It particularly considers the role that lived religion might have played in some individuals' strategies to render abortion a justifiable practice. Over the last seven decades, Romanian women's experiences of abortion have often been at odds with both secular and religious regulations. This study shifts the perspective from the biopolitics and the bioethics of abortion toward women's own reproductive decision-making strategies in a context of enduring traditional patriarchy. It explores the fluid and pragmatic ways in which some Romanians use the notions of "God's will," "sin," "redemption," "afterlife," and "Godparenting" to redefine abortion as a partially disembodied reproductive event. As a reproductive decision-making resource, lived religion empowers women to navigate the lived complexities of conception and contraception.

Cultivable microscopic fungi from an underground chemosynthesis-based ecosystem: a preliminary study.

Movile Cave, a unique groundwater ecosystem in southern Romania, was discovered in 1986. This chemoautotrophic cave contains an abundant and diverse fauna with terrestrial and aquatic invertebrate communities, including 33 endemic species. Since its discovery, studies have focused mainly on cave chemoautotrophic bacteria, while the microfungal community has been largely neglected. In this study, we determined the microfungal species living on various substrates in Movile Cave and compared this spectrum with the mycobiota detected outside the cave (outside air-borne and soil-borne microfungi). To investigate all of the niches, we collected samples for two consecutive years from the dry part of the cave (cave air and sediment, corroded limestone walls, isopod feces, and isopod and spider cadavers) and from the post-siphon part of the cave, i.e., Airbell II (sediment and floating microbial mat). A total of 123 microfungal species were identified from among several hundred isolates. Of these, 96 species were only detected in the cave environment and not outside of the cave, while 90 species were from the dry part of the cave and 28 were from Airbell II. The most diverse genera were Penicillium (at least 18 species) and Aspergillus (14 species), followed by Cladosporium (9 species). Surprisingly, high CFU counts of air-borne microfungi were found inside the cave; they were even higher than outside the cave during the first year of investigation.

Measurements of Aerosols and Trace Gases in Southern Romania

An intensive measurement campaign was performed during September 2014 in southern Romania in two different locations: Magurele, Ilfov County and Turceni, Gorj County. This paper presents one case study with analysis of the aerosol properties from in-situ, passive remote sensing and active remote sensing measurements. A Multiwavelength Raman Lidar (RALI) provided one hour averaged vertical profiles of extinction and backscatter from the 532 nm and 1064 nm channels in Magurele. The UV scanning Lidar (MILI) provided one hour averaged backscattered and extinction vertical profiles for Turceni. Planetary Boundary Layer Height (PBLH) was calculated using the altitude of the maximum negative gradient of the range corrected signal. Mass concentrations for different aerosol species (organics, nitrate, sulphate, ammonium and chloride) were obtained from in-situ measurements using Aerosol Mass Spectrometer located in M�gurele and Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor (ACSM) located in Turceni.