Identification and quantification of benzimidazole resistance polymorphisms in Haemonchus contortus isolated in Northeastern Brazil

Haemonchus contortus is the most prevalent nematode in Brazil. The objective of this study was to select 6 populations of H. contortus of known or suspected benzimidazole resistance status and characterize these using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) F200Y, F167Y and E198A in the β-tubulin isotype 1 gene. qPCR was performed using DNA from a pool of 10 adult male H. contortus from a single animal per farm. Faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) and egg hatch test (EHT) were used to determine the resistance status. Samples were obtained from 6 farms located in 5 counties in the Ceará State: Tauá, Boa Viagem, Quixadá, Santa Quitéria and Solonópole. The inbred-susceptible-Edinburgh (ISE) isolate was used as reference for comparative purposes in the qPCR. Benzimidazole resistance was detected by FECRT on all farms with efficacy values ranging from 0 to 51%. EC50 values as determined by EHT were all above 1.49 μg/ml. High frequencies of the resistant SNPs F200Y and F167Y alleles were detected but no resistance was detected at SNP E198A. Our results suggest that the SNPs F167Y and F200Y are both important for benzimidazole resistance in the studied populations.     

Comparative digestibility of low‐quality grass hay by two breeds of cattle differing in mature live weight

The digestive capacity of the Portuguese native breed of Barrosão cattle and the Holstein–Friesian breed was measured when fed meadow hay (72–74 g CP and 641–671 g NDF/kg dry matter), offered either alone or supplemented with soya bean meal (150 g/kg dry matter), at maintenance level. Four mature cows of each breed were used. Average initial live weight (LW) was 457 and 635 kg for the Barrosão and the Holstein–Friesian cows respectively. The organic matter digestibility (OMD) of the meadow hay was higher in Holstein–Friesian than in Barrosão cows (p < 0.08) whether supplemented or not. The neutral detergent fibre digestibility of the hay was also higher in Holstein–Frisian when the hay was fed alone (p < 0.08). The soya bean meal supplementation increased the OMD and the NDFD digestibility of the total diet (p < 0.05), but not the OMD digestibility of the hay (p > 0.05). The results obtained in this study suggest a higher ability to digest fibre in the large dairy breed than in the small native breed. This suggestion is also supported by previous findings with sheep breeds largely differing in mature live weight.     

European oak powdery mildew: impact on trees,effects of environmental factors,and potential effects of climate change

? Context

Powdery mildew is one of the most common diseases of oaks in Europe. After alarming reports in the beginning of the twentieth century following the presumed introduction of the invasive fungus, the disease has become familiar to foresters. However, its impact may vary greatly according to intrinsic and extrinsic factors.

? Aims

We aimed at providing updated and synthesised information on the impact of powdery mildew on oak and on the effects of environment on disease.

? Methods

A comprehensive literature review was performed, including old reports of the early epidemics to more recent data.

? Results

Tree growth patterns are of critical importance to explain the severity of the disease and the differences between juvenile and mature trees. A critical element, especially for infection of mature trees, is the availability of spores during the production of the first leaf flush. High disease impact is often related to modified growth patterns, either by environmental factors (insects or frost) or silvicultural practices (e.g., coppicing).

? Conclusion

Powdery mildew can have important impacts in natural oak regenerations and a significant role in decline of mature trees. Climate change might influence the disease severity mainly by altering the host pathogen phenological synchrony. Process-based models are required for reliable predictions.     

Oak powdery mildew changes growth patterns in its host tree: host tolerance response and potential manipulation of host physiology by the parasite

Context

Parasites can induce strong effects on their host’s growth, not only as a result of host resource exploitation (growth loss) but also with a potential adaptive value for host (tolerance response) and themselves (increased transmission).

Aims

We assessed these three types of phenotypic changes in oak seedlings infected by powdery mildew.

Methods

A manipulative field experiment with three levels of parasite inoculum was designed in order to tease apart infection from genetic effects on oak growth. Seedlings were monitored during 3 years for height growth, phenology and infection.

Results

Powdery mildew infection induced both significant growth loss and qualitative changes in plant architecture. The most striking and unexpected change was increased growth polycyclism in infected seedlings. This benefitted both the host as a form of compensation for infection-caused height loss, and the pathogen, by increasing sporulation.

Conclusion

The study highlights the effect of parasites in the expression of plant phenotypic traits, such as phenology and ultimately tree architecture. Both host tolerance and parasitic manipulation may be involved in the observed changes in growth patterns. These results suggest a complex interplay between development and defence in trees and emphasize the need to better assess tolerance mechanisms when considering the defence strategies of trees against pathogens.     

Ion levels in the gastrointestinal tract content and plasma of four teleosts with different feeding habits

The levels of various ions (Na⁺, Cl⁻, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺) in the fluid phase of the gastrointestinal contents and of the plasma were determined in four teleosts with different feeding habits: traira (Hoplias malabaricus), hassar (Hoplosternum littorale), silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen), and grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). The results showed that most ionic levels in the fluid phase of the gastrointestinal tract seem to be affected by feeding habit and that these levels can be different from those found in the plasma. In practical terms, these results suggest that ionic levels of the gastrointestinal contents should be considered when preparing solutions for studies of intestinal absorption in fishes.     

Spermatogenesis in teleost: insights from the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) model

The morphometric study of spermatogenic cysts in sexually mature tilapias, during the evolution of spermatogenesis, showed a dramatic increase in both number of germ cells and cyst volume. However, the opposite trend was observed for germ cell size. Nevertheless, the number of Sertoli cells increased gradually up to leptotene/zygotene cysts, stabilizing thereafter. Based on the number of spermatids supported by each Sertoli cell and compared to mammals, Sertoli cell efficiency in tilapias is remarkably high. Sertoli cell proliferation was frequently observed, mainly in spermatogonial cysts, and probably is the major factor related to the testis growth and the increase in sperm production that normally occurs in adult tilapias. The combined duration of spermatocytes (5 days) and spermiogenic (5–6 days) phases of spermatogenesis in fish kept at 25 °C was 10–11 days. Mainly due to acceleration in meiosis, these two phases lasted a total of 6 days in tilapias kept at 30 °C, in the opposite way, at 20 °C spermatogenesis was arrested at pachytene spermatocytes. To our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive investigation performed up to date on testis morphometry and function in adult tilapias.     

The evaluation of secondary stress response of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella, Val. 1844) after exposing to the saline water

The stress response of grass carp to salinity was evaluated assessing the levels of hematocrit, leucocrit, plasma glucose, sodium, potassium and calcium. Mean hematocrit values increased following exposure to salinity. Mean leucocrit values elevated after exposure to salinity for 24 h, then decreased. Mean plasma glucose increased during saline exposure for 48 h and then decreased to normal values. Plasma sodium and chloride levels were increased to their highest values after 48 h. While plasma potassium value increased with the exposure time, plasma calcium values were not affected by salinity exposure.     

Selective control of polyamide dyeing with acid dyes using hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin

The effect of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) in the dyeing of polyamide fabric was investigated under conditions that mimic industrial dyebaths where dye mixtures are used. The dyes used were Telon Red BN, Telon Yellow A-2R, and Telon Blue RR. The blue dye complexed with HPβCD whereas the other dyes did not do so under the conditions used. The dyeing results were compared with those obtained using a traditional retarding agent, Albegal B. The exhaustion dyeing data showed that HPβCD mainly affected the dyeing behavior of the blue dye that became encapsulated. In the case of the yellow and red dyes, changes in the overall kinetics of dyeing were observed, resulting in modified exhaustion profiles. In comparison, Albegal B retarded the blue dyeing process and increased the rate of exhaustion of the yellow dye while the exhaustion curve of red dye remained unchanged. The color uniformity of the dyed polyamide was improved when HPβCD was used. This resulted from the more controlled exhaustion rate during the critical phase of the dyeing process.     

长期施磷黑土中磷的吸附–解吸特征及其影响因素

  【目的】  比较长期不施磷与施磷黑土对外源磷的吸附–解吸特征,为黑土区磷素管理提供理论基础。  【方法】  供试黑土长期定位试验位于吉林省公主岭市,始于1990年。2018年选择其中不施肥(CK),施氮钾肥(NK),施氮磷钾肥(NPK)和氮磷钾+有机肥(NPK+M) 4个处理小区,采集0—20、20—40和40—60 cm土层的土壤样品,分析了土壤理化性质,采用恒温平衡法测定了土壤磷的吸附–解吸特征,并由此计算得到磷最大吸附量(Q_m)、吸附亲和力常数(K_Q)、最大缓冲容量(MBC)、磷吸附饱和度(DPS)、最大解吸量(D_m)和解吸率(D_r)。  【结果】  随着平衡溶液中磷浓度的增加,磷的吸附量与解吸量均呈先快速增加后逐渐趋于平衡的过程。与不施磷处理(CK和NK)土壤相比,施磷处理(NPK、NPK+M)减少了磷的吸附量,增加了磷的解吸量。与不施磷处理相比,施磷处理在0—60 cm剖面上的Q_m和MBC值分别降低了4.94%～63.46%和15.90%～75.18%,D_r值增加了8.52%～474.0%,以NPK+M处理变化量最大。施磷处理比不施磷处理在0—60 cm土壤剖面上全磷和有机质含量分别增加了34.40%～145.5%和12.77%～50.07%,游离态铁铝氧化物(Fe_d+Al_d)含量降低了5.14%～11.35%。冗余分析表明,不施磷处理土壤的有机质、Fe_d+Al_d和全磷,以及施磷处理中的Fe_d+Al_d、络合态铁铝氧化物(Fe_p+Al_p)、pH和有机质是影响磷吸附解吸特征参数的主要土壤因子,分别解释了不施磷和施磷处理全部变异的77.59%和90.62%。土壤有效磷(Olsen-P)与磷吸附饱和度(DPS)相关关系表明,所研究的黑土DPS环境界限值为8%左右,NPK+M处理中3个土层的DPS_M-P值(由Mehlich-3 浸提的磷、铁和铝计算)为7.77%～25.96%,DPS_O-P值(由Olsen-P和Q_m计算)为17.24%～24.75%,均高于此环境界限值,具有磷素流失的风险。  【结论】  长期施磷降低了黑土对外源磷的吸附量,增加了磷解吸量。长期不施磷肥,土壤对磷的吸附和解吸主要受有机质、游离态铁铝氧化物的影响。而长期施肥,特别是有机肥与化肥配合处理,土壤中游离态和络合态铁铝氧化物、有机质及pH是影响磷吸附解吸特征的主要因素。