Contamination of automobiles by Synchytrium endobioticum in relation to home gardens in Newfoundland
1997
Jennings, D. | Hampson, M.C. | Wood, S.L.
Potato wart disease, caused by Synchytrium endobioticum, is primarily a soil-borne disease which is present in soils in most communities in Newfoundland. One mode of pathogen dissemination is through the contamination of vehicles with infested soil. It is assumed that vehicles contaminated with inoculum are related to communities with high spore counts. To test this hypothesis, the relation between vehicle contamination and proximate infestation locus was studied. Sites were examined for the presence and number of resting spores of the pathogen in garden soil, driveway, and vehicle. ANOVA was performed on the differences of vehicle contamination between 'wart-positive' and 'wart-negative' gardens. A statistically significant correlation (P = 0.01) between vehicle contamination and garden infestation was established. We conclude that vehicles which originate from highly infested communities present a high risk of harbouring S. endobioticum resting spores. Data compilation on high risk communities is a necessary accompaniment to inspection measures at ferry-exit ports.
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