Dynamics of natural infection by Toxoplasma gondii in goat herds in the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil: transitional antibody observation

Veterinary Research Communications - This study aimed to describe the transmission of T. gondii in naturally infected goats in the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil, through evaluating the...     

The decline of Austrocedrus chilensis forests in Patagonia, Argentina: soil features as predisposing factors

The forests of Austrocedrus chilensis in southern Argentina suffer mortality from “mal del ciprés”, whose causes remain unknown. The purpose of this work was to establish the relation of soil features with the occurrence of the disease. In Río Grande Valley, Chubut Province, Argentina, 14 areas with “mal del ciprés” were selected for study. The spatial pattern of the decline varied among the different areas and was classified as aggregated and disaggregated. In each area, symptomatic and asymptomatic plots were established and characterized by 11 edaphic and topographic variables. Three forest areas where the disease was totally absent were also included. Site features were related to the occurrence of the decline using principal component analysis and cluster analysis. Results indicated that soil properties related to poor internal drainage, such as the proximity to water streams, non-allophanized soils of fine textures, and redoximorphic features, act as predisposing factors to the development of “mal del ciprés”. Poor soil drainage was strongly associated not only with the occurrence of the disease, but also with its spatial pattern. Symptomatic and asymptomatic plots presented similar edaphic features in areas with a disaggregated distribution of the decline and were grouped together in the multivariate analysis. This result suggests that large areas with such a pattern are prone to develop the decline.     

Stand structure of an uneven-aged fir–beech forest with an irregular diameter structure: modeling the development of the Belevine forest, Croatia

This study focuses on the problem of irregular diameter structure in a silver fir–beech selection (plenter) forest with a “surplus” of large diameter trees and a lack of natural regeneration and small diameter trees. We sampled 274 plots (900 m² each) in the Belevine research site (266.24 ha) in the mountain region Gorski Kotar (Croatia), where diameter (dbh) distribution, diameter increment, and natural regeneration were analyzed in detail. A low density of natural regeneration, weak annual recruitment of small (10 cm dbh) diameter trees (only five trees per hectare), delayed diameter growth of trees, and a low annual rate of trees reaching the next dbh class were attributed to the current irregular dbh structure. The stand development prediction for the next 50 years is based on a simulation model, which considers the current diameter structure, increment, recruitment, and future cutting regime. Intensive cutting in the first of five 10-year cutting cycles (intensity higher of 25%) is needed to initiate natural regeneration and to accelerate growth of young silver fir trees. In the next 50 years, the irregular diameter structure will be gradually improved.     

The Female Reproductive Cycle of the Neotropical Snake Atractus pantostictus (Fernandes and Puorto, 1993) from South‐eastern Brazil

Data on reproductive activity of fossorial species are limited because the specimens are difficult to be observed and captured. Here in, we present the reproductive cycle of female Atractus pantostictus, a fossorial neotropical species, and the sexual maturity of males and females in south‐eastern Brazil. The female reproductive cycle of A. pantostictus is seasonal, with vitellogenic follicles being found from September to April and eggs in November, February, March and April with the number varying between two and four. Spermatozoa were found in the lumen of the glandular and non‐glandular uterus in females collected during the rainy season. Sperm storage tubules were found in the posterior infundibulum of the females, where the storage of sperm occurs for a short time. The storage may occur because mating and ovulation are dissociated.     

Synthesis and antifungal activity of a series of N-substituted [2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-3-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)]propylamines

A series of N-mono- or N, N-disubstituted [2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl-3-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)]propylamines and N-[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl-3-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)propyl]amides were synthesized and tested for their fungicidal activity in vitro and in vivo against a group of plant pathogenic fungi. Some compounds exhibited a fairly good in vitro activity. The replacement of the ether group of tetraconazole with a secondary or tertiary amino group leads to compounds that maintain the antifungal activity on several phytopathogenic fungi, provided that the substituents are not too bulky or lipophilic. The allyl, propargyl, and cyclopropyl groups appear particularly suitable. Although these compounds have some structural similarities with terbinafine and naftifine, which act as squalene epoxidase inhibitors, they maintain the usual mechanism of action of the other triazoles.     

Early introduction of water and complementary feeding and nutritional status of children in northern Senegal

OBJECTIVE: Malnutrition is responsible globally for 60% of deaths among children under 5 years and is often attributed to suboptimal feeding practices. In response, the World Health Organization recommends exclusive breast-feeding for the first 6 months of life. The objective of this study was to determine if an association exists between the early introduction of water and complementary foods (CFs) and the nutritional status of children in northern Senegal. DESIGN/SETTING/SUBJECTS: A cross-sectional study of 374 children in the Podor Health District between the ages of 6 and 23 months was conducted. Knowledge and behaviours of mothers regarding introduction of water and CFs were assessed via individual interviews. RESULTS: Water was introduced to about 85% of the children in the first 3 months of life and 62% were fed CFs before 6 months. Overall, 16% had clinically significant wasting (weight-for-length Z-score (WHZ) less than - 2) and 20% had stunting (height-for-age Z-score (HAZ) less than - 2). There was no significant association between wasting or stunting and introduction of water before 3 months (WHZ: odds ratio = 0.99, 95% confidence interval 0.46-2.14, P = 0.97; HAZ: 0.68, 0.34-1.36, P = 0.3) or introduction of CFs before 6 months (WHZ: 0.81, 0.46-1.42, P = 0.5; HAZ: 0.79, 0.46-1.35, P = 0.4). A significant association was found between wasting and male sex, age, living in Guede community, drinking river/pond water and large family size, while stunting was associated with age and drinking tap water. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study suggest that early introduction of water and CFs is frequent and is not associated with increased risk for malnutrition among children from this region of northern Senegal, but the possibility of reverse causality cannot be excluded.     

Attract,reward and disrupt: responses of pests and natural enemies to combinations of habitat manipulation and semiochemicals in organic apple

The widespread use of pesticides along with the simplification of the landscape has had undesirable effects on agroecosystems, such as the loss of biodiversity and the associated ecosystem service biological control. How current production systems can be remodelled to allow for a re-establishment of biological pest control, while preserving productivity, is a major challenge. Here, we tested whether a combination of tools could augment or synergize biological control of insect pests in apple (Malus domestica), comprised of a tortricid pest complex, a geometrid pest complex and the rosy apple aphid. The tools aimed at disrupting mating behaviour of multiple pest species (multispecies mating disruption, “Disrupt”, MMD), attracting natural enemies (a blend of herbivory-induced volatiles, “Attract”, A), or providing refuge and rewards for a diverse insect community (perennial flower strip, “Reward”, R) over a 3-year period. Suction samples were consistently richer in generalist predators but not in parasitoids when multiple tools including MMD?+?A?+?R or MMD?+?A were employed. In addition, lepidopteran pest levels were significantly lower in these plots than in MMD or MMD?+?R at the end of the 3-year experiment. This was, however, not reflected in survival of artificially established aphid colonies. Our data indicates that multiple, complementary tools can greatly enhance natural enemy level, but also that long-term implementation is needed to fully realize the augmentatory or synergistic potential of complementary components and restore biological control as an ecosystem service of practical relevance.

     

Cholecystocutaneous fistula containing multiple gallstones in a dog

A 7-year-old dog was presented with a history of an open lesion on the right thoracic wall, discharging honey-like fluid and small stones. Ultrasonography and computed tomographic fistulography identified a cholecystocutaneous fistula; cholecystectomy was curative. Veterinarians should consider this disease in patients with long-term discharging lesions on the right thoracic or abdominal wall.