Discovery of a synergistic effect of oxytocin on the efficacy of Alpha-Chloralose,a drug used for capturing and controlling birds

Overdose and death of both target and non-target species are not uncommon when α–chloralose is used for animal control. Alpha–chloralose appears to depress the central nervous system by having an affect on the GABA-A receptor in a manner similar to ethanol. Recently central administration of oxytocin was shown to block ethanol-induced impairment in rodents. Our study investigates whether IM administration of oxytocin speeds avian recovery from α–chloralose and reduces mortality under simulated field conditions. We found that when injected twice with oxytocin (30 uL/kg) chickens entered α–chloralose narcosis more quickly and showed greater behavioral impairment. When fed the LD₅₀ dose of α–chloralose, repeated injection with oxytocin produced no significant difference in mortality rate or time to death in comparison to the control group. The effects of peripheral oxytocin on female chicks were different than results found previously in cockerels given oxytocin centrally. Oxytocin is not a suitable antidote for α–chloralose overdose during animal capture in the field but instead accentuates α–chloralose narcosis, making capture more likely and efficient.     

Assessment of short-term mortality of granary weevil,Sitophilus granarius (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) triggered by different microwave irradiation powers

Abstract

The insecticidal efficacy of microwave irradiation against the at 12, 24, 48 and 72?h following exposure to microwave irradiations (100, 300?W) and the progeny production was assessed 45?days later. Linearly increasing irradiation power range (100, 200 and 300?W) was set up for determining mortality tendency. An increase of insect mortality caused by higher irradiation period and times elapsed after treatment has become evident commencing from 12?h after the treatment, which has significantly decreased at later elapsed time after treatment. The irradiation periods inducing the highest mortality at the examined powers were at 10?min and at 100?W power (72?h: 64.93%) and at 4.5?min. and at 300?W power (12?h: 87.01). In addition, a complete suppression of progeny production was achieved by 4.5?min treatment at 300?W power. Lognormal-type mortality process was caused by the linearly increased irradiation range. The properly chosen microwave irradiation can be used for management of Sitophilus granarius larval and adult developmental stages. This treatment could provide an effective and friendly environmental treatment technique in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program.     

硅藻土对5种储粮害虫和不同磷化氢抗性水平杂拟谷盗防治效果的研究

为初步了解硅藻土对储粮害虫的防治效果以及与害虫磷化氢抗性发生发展的关系, 本研究采用直接拌粮法(设置剂量梯度为0?0.2?0.4?0.6 g/kg和 0.8 g/kg)测定硅藻土对赤拟谷盗?杂拟谷盗?锈赤扁谷盗?谷蠹?玉米象的防治效果, 以及磷化氢抗性杂拟谷盗(抗性倍数为 2.3~144.7)对硅藻土的敏感性差异; 除此之外, 本研究还分析了0.4 g/kg硅藻土在 4 种粮食(小麦?玉米?大豆?稻谷)中对赤拟谷盗的杀虫效果?研究结果表明:一定剂量(0.2~0.8 g/kg)的硅藻土均能够在一定时间内有效杀死上述 5种储粮害虫, 不同储粮害虫对硅藻土的敏感性存在显著差异(P<0.05), 其中杂拟谷盗对硅藻土的耐受性最强, 玉米象对硅藻土最为敏感?除个别品系外, 不同磷化氢抗性品系的杂拟谷盗对硅藻土的敏感性不存在显著差异(P>0.05), 且与磷化氢抗性无关; 硅藻土在不同粮食中对害虫的作用效果存在显著性差异(P<0.05)(处理 7 d后, 死亡率为 13%~98%), 其中在大豆中对赤拟谷盗的杀虫效果最强, 在玉米中对其作用效果不明显?因此本研究得出结论:硅藻土对主要储粮害虫均具有一定的防治作用, 且对抗磷化氢的杂拟谷盗具有良好的致死效果?因此, 硅藻土具备成为储粮害虫防治及其磷化氢抗性治理药剂的潜力?     

Impact of farm management on expression of early mortality syndrome/acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (EMS/AHPND) on penaeid shrimp farms in Thailand

Asian shrimp farming industry has experienced massive production losses due to a disease caused by toxins of Vibrio bacteria, known as early mortality syndrome/acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (EMS/AHPND) for the last 5 years. The disease can cause up to 100% cumulative pond mortality within a week. The objective of this study was to identify factors associated with AHPND occurrence on shrimp farms. A case–control study was carried out on shrimp farms in four provinces of Thailand. Factors related to farm characteristics, farm management, pond and water preparation, feed management, post‐larvae (PL) shrimp and stock management were evaluated. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified factors affecting AHPND occurrence at the pond level. Chlorine treatment, reservoir availability, use of predator fish in the water preparation, culture of multiple shrimp species in one farm and increased PL stocking density contributed to an increased risk of AHPND infection, while delayed first day of feeding, polyculture and water ageing were likely to promote outbreak protection. Additionally, the source of PL was found to be associated with AHPND occurrence in shrimp ponds, which requires further study at the hatchery level. Identification of these factors will facilitate the development of effective control strategies for AHPND on shrimp farms.     

An assessment of carcass counting surveys with increasing time lapse following a simulated fish kill on a small upland stream

A simulated fish kill was conducted on a small upland stream in Northern Ireland by planting out hatchery‐produced brown trout Salmo trutta L. carcasses of various size categories. Standard, post‐fish kill, assessment walkover surveys were conducted over time intervals to determine the number of carcasses visible. The sample variance between individual surveyors was generally low, with good agreement between the observed counts for the three, discrete, size fractions of fish up to 72 hr after the simulated fish kill. Despite low discharge rates, shallow water and good accessibility to the experimental stream, only 52% of the small category fish (<8 cm L_F) were recorded 4 hr after the start of the simulated fish kill. Larger carcasses (>17 cm L_F) were more visible, and >90% were detected 48 hr after the start of the simulated fish kill. After 96 hr, all size fractions of carcasses had reduced significantly, and the variability between replicate surveys increased markedly.     

Tracking escaped Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) aggregated around Norwegian farms: Considerations for management strategies

To examine site fidelity and potential for ecosystem impacts, 20 escapee cod (Gadus morhua L.) from fjord‐based cod farms were tagged with acoustic transmitters, released in the vicinity of the same farm, and their subsequent behaviour and survival monitored using a fixed array of acoustic receivers. Most individuals demonstrated high fidelity to their farm where tagged, and this increased during the polar night. Only five individuals (25%) were occasionally detected at another farm (4 km distance), and only three cod (15%) migrated out of the fjord during the 6‐month study period. Vertical movements were consistently greater in the hours around noon than at night, a behaviour inconsistent with that observed for wild fish. A high mortality rate (40%) was observed during the first 4 months post‐release, and actual mortality may have been even higher, limiting the potential for negative ecosystem effects from cod escapees. Findings from this study are used to discuss the development of recapture strategies for minimising potential impacts from cod escapees to ensure sustainable farming activity.     

In vitro and in vivo selection of probiotic purple nonsulphur bacteria with an ability to inhibit shrimp pathogens: acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease‐causing Vibrio parahaemolyticus and other vibrios

Shrimp cultivation has been faced with huge losses in productivity caused by infectious shrimp pathogenic vibrios, especially Vibrio parahaemolyticus that causes acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND). Hence, purple nonsulphur bacteria (PNSB) were isolated from shrimp ponds for investigating their abilities to control shrimp pathogenic Vibrio spp. and their use as probiotics for sustainable shrimp cultivation. Based on their probiotic properties, strains S3W10 and SS15 were selected because of their strong abilities to produce amylase, gelatinase and vitamin B12. However, only three PNSB strains (SS15, TKW17 and STW181) strongly inhibited V. harveyi_KSAAHRC and V. vulnificus_KSAAHRC including V. parahaemolyticusAHPND strains by secreting antivibrio compounds. Four selected PNSB also grew in the presence of pancreatic enzymes, and they were identified as Rhodobacter sphaeroides for strains S3W10, SS15 and TKW17 and Afifella marina for strain STW181. The effects of a mixed culture were also investigated as follows: T1 (S3W10 + SS15), T2 (S3W10 + TKW17) and T3 (S3W10 + STW181) on postlarval white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) for 60 days by comparison with a control. All three probiotic PNSB sets significantly improved the digestive enzyme activities and shrimp growth with their proliferation in shrimp gastrointestinal tract although the shrimp survival was not significantly different. They also significantly reduced the cumulative mortality of shrimp exposed to a virulent AHPND strain (V. parahaemolyticusSR2). This is the first to conclude that selected probiotic PNSB strains have great potential to be used for shrimp cultivation to control vibrios including AHPND strains.