Sublethal effect of avermectin and acetamiprid on the mortality of different life stages of Brontispa longissima (Gestro) (Coleoptera: Hispidae) and its larvae parasitoid Asecodes hispinarum Bouček (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)

The beneficial parasitoid Asecodes hispinarum Bouček plays an important role in integrated pest management (IPM) of the coconut leaf beetle, Brontispa longissima (Gestro), in China. A. hispinarum females parasitize 3rd to 4th instars B. longissima larvae. Hatched parasitoid larvae develop within the host, and parasitoid adults emerge through holes that they chew through the cuticle of the host. Although chemicals serve as the main short term control agents, the compatibility of biological and chemical control has never been investigated for this system. This study examined the responses of immature and adult B. longissima and its larval parasitoid A. hispinarum to avermectin and acetamiprid. Avermectin caused complete mortality of 2nd to 4th instar larvae, and of adults of B. longissima at 10, 15 and 2 d after treatment, respectively. However, 26.7% of the 2nd instar larvae, 55.3% of the 4th instar larvae, and 74%, of adult B. longissima were still alive 40 d after acetamiprid application. Following avermectin exposure, 17.5%, 9.2% and 23% of mummified B. longissima larvae contained viable adult parasitoids for the parasitoid egg, larva and pupa treatments, respectively, and the numbers of dead parasitoids per mummy were 3.3, 7.2 and 13.3 for the egg, larva and adult treatments, respectively. However, for acetamiprid treatment, 70–75.9% of mummified B. longissima larvae contained viable adult parasitoids in all three stage treatments, and the number of dead parasitoids per mummy was 2.8, 2 and 3.4 in egg, larva and adult treatments, respectively. This study showed that a sublethal dose of avermectin is more toxic than acetamiprid to B. longissima and A. hispinarum. Therefore, direct contact of the parasitoid with avermectin should be avoided when this insecticide is used to control B. longissima.     

右美托咪定抑制NOX4缓解急性应激致大鼠肾损伤

本研究拟探索右美托咪定（dexmedetomidine,DEX）对大鼠急性应激致肾损伤的保护作用,并从氧化应激的角度探索DEX对大鼠肾的保护通路。本研究使用了急性束缚应激模型,其中,大鼠被迫游泳15 min,并束缚3 h。本试验采用生化检测、组织病理学切片观察以评估肾功能,然后测定了氧化应激以及氧化应激的相关通路蛋白。旷场试验证实成功建立了急性应激模型。急性应激引起的肾损伤增加了NOX4,降低了Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1表达水平。DEX可降低NOX4表达,同时升高Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1的表达水平。DEX治疗组与急性应激组相比的肾生化结果明显恢复正常,病理切片观察损伤显著降低。试验结果表明,DEX治疗急性应激可影响NOX4/Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1信号通路,并抑制氧化应激。因此,DEX对急性应激引起的肾损伤具有保护作用,并在应激综合征中具有潜在的临床应用。     

Use of serum amyloid A in equine medicine and surgery

Serum amyloid A (SAA) has become an indispensable part of the management of equine patients in general practice and specialized hospital settings. Although several proteins possess acute phase properties in horses, the usefulness of SAA exceeds that of other acute phase proteins. This is due to the highly desirable kinetics of the equine SAA response. SAA concentrations exhibit a rapid and pronounced increase in response to inflammation and a rapid decline after the resolution of inflammation. This facilitates the detection of inflammatory disease and real-time monitoring of inflammatory activity. SAA may be used in all stages of patient management: (1) before diagnosis (to rule in/rule out inflammatory disease), (2) at the time of diagnosis (to assess the severity of inflammation and assist in prognostication), and (3) after diagnosis (to monitor changes in inflammatory activity in response to therapy, with relapse of disease, or with infectious/inflammatory complications). By assessing other acute phase reactants in addition to SAA, clinicians can succinctly stage inflammation. White blood cell counts and serum iron concentration change within hours of an inflammatory insult, SAA within a day, and fibrinogen within 2–3 days; the interrelationship of these markers thus indicates the duration and activity of the inflammatory condition. Much research on the equine SAA response and clinical use has been conducted in the last decade. This is the prerequisite for the evidence-based use of this analyte. However, still today, most published studies involve a fairly low number of horses. To obtain solid evidence for use of SAA, future studies should be designed with larger sample sizes.     

1株猪丹毒杆菌的分离与鉴定

为确定导致安徽和县某猪场猪只发病的病原,从该猪场送检病料(心、肺、脾、肝)中分离并纯化细菌,根据其形态特征、PCR鉴定及生化试验结果,确诊为猪丹毒杆菌。spa A基因序列分析结果显示该菌与猪丹毒杆菌G4T10(Gen Bank登录号:KF150604.1)有99%的同源性。全自动生化反应报告该菌为丹毒丝菌的概率高达95%。小鼠攻毒试验表明,试验组小鼠在腹股沟皮下注射该菌后,4 d内全部死亡;死亡小鼠剖检可见全身败血性出血,各脏器均有病变,从死亡小鼠的血液、心、肝、脾、肺等组织中分离到与该感染菌株形态特征完全一致的细菌。药敏试验结果表明,该菌对β-内酰胺类和大环内酯类抗生素敏感,对链霉素、卡那霉素、四环素、多西环素、林可霉素和磺胺异恶唑耐受。     

Therapeutic antibodies: their mechanisms of action and the pathological findings they induce in toxicity studies

Antibodies can swiftly provide therapeutics to target disease-related molecules discovered in genomic research. Antibody engineering techniques have been actively developed and these technological innovations have intensified the development of therapeutic antibodies. From the mid-1990’s, a series of therapeutic antibodies were launched that are now being used in clinic. The disease areas that therapeutic antibodies can target have subsequently expanded, and antibodies are currently utilized as pharmaceuticals for cancer, inflammatory disease, organ transplantation, cardiovascular disease, infection, respiratory disease, ophthalmologic disease, and so on. This paper briefly describes the modes of action of therapeutic antibodies. Several non-clinical study results of the pathological changes induced by therapeutic antibodies are also presented to aid the future assessment of the toxic potential of an antibody developed as a therapeutic.     

Acute oral toxicity of zinc phosphide: an assessment for wild house mice (Mus musculus)

Irregular plagues of house mice, Mus musculus, incur major economic impacts on agricultural production in Australia. The efficacy of zinc phosphide (ZnP), the only registered broadacre control agent for mice, is reported as increasingly variable. Have mice become less sensitive over time or are they taking a sub-lethal dose and developing aversion? In this laboratory study, the sensitivity of mice (wild caught; outbred laboratory strain) was assessed using oral gavage of a range of ZnP concentrations. The estimated LD₅₀ values (72–79 mg ZnP/kg body weight) were similar for each mouse group but are significantly higher than previously reported. The willingness of mice to consume ZnP-coated grains was determined. ZnP-coated grains (50 g ZnP/kg grain) presented in the absence of alternative food were consumed and 94% of wild mice died. Mice provided with alternative food and ZnP-coated wheat grains (either 25 or 50 g ZnP/kg grain) consumed toxic and non-toxic grains, and mortality was lower (33–55%). If a sublethal amount of ZnP-coated grain was consumed, aversion occurred, mostly when alternative food was present. The sensitivity of wild house mice to ZnP in Australia is significantly lower than previously assumed. Under laboratory conditions, ZnP-coated grains coated with a new higher dose (50 g ZnP/kg grain) were readily consumed. Consumption of toxic grain occurred when alternative food was available but was decreased. Our unambiguous findings for house mice indicate a re-assessment of the ZnP loading for baits used for control of many rodents around the world may be warranted.