Occurrence and molecular identification of an invasive rice strain of fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) from Sindh,Pakistan, using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I gene sequences

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The fall armyworm (FAW), an invasive pest of maize, is an emerging threat in Southern Asia after America and Europe. Recently, this notorious pest has...     

Sero-epizootiologic survey of Trypanosoma brucei in Kenyan nonhuman primates.

Blood samples were collected from 121 individuals of three species of wild-caught nonhuman primates from Kenya, including African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops), Syke's monkeys (C. mitis), and olive baboons (Papio cynocephalus anubis), and were examined for circulating Trypanosoma brucei and for T. brucei antigen and anti-trypanosome antibody. Indirect antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay detected titers of anti-T. brucei antibodies in 13 of the primates sampled, and field-oriented latex agglutination test detected invariant T. brucei antigens in 10 (8.3%) of the primates. However, no trypanosomes were visible in blood smears, on wet blood films, or by buffy coat technique, nor were they demonstrable in a subset of C. aethiops individuals that were studied using mouse subinoculation.     

Assessment of resistance to bacterial wilt incited by Ralstonia solanacearum in tomato germplasm

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Bacterial wilt incited by Ralstonia solanacearum has been found the most damaging and widespread diseases of tomato throughout the world and causes heavy...     

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Peel Extracts Inhibit Microbial Growth and Lipid Oxidation in Minced Shrimps Stored at 4°C

Pomegranate peel is inherited with diverse functional properties that improve storage stability and nutritional quality of edible goods. This research was aimed at evaluating antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of pomegranate peel hydro-alcoholic extracts and to determine in situ efficacy of extracts in controlling microbial growth and lipid oxidation of shrimp meat. The results suggest that pomegranate peel ethanolic extracts (PoPetx) have significantly higher (p < 0.05) phenolic contents, 169 mg GAE/100 g accompanied with 90% free radical scavenging activities. Contrary to the normal control, incorporation of PoPetx @ 2.0% (w/w) in minced shrimp meat increased thiobarbituric acid reactive species generation by 10% during 28 days of storage at 4°C. Supplementing PoPetx @ 0.5–2.0% (w/w) to shrimp meat has shown a comparable microbial inhibitory action against total plate counts and Staphylococcus spp. The study concludes that application of pomegranate peel extracts in minced shrimp is a viable strategy to preserve chemical and microbiological quality of shrimp and products of sea origin.     

Physiologic manifestations of stress from capture and restraint of free-ranging male African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops).

Adrenal gland weights, stomach mucosal lesions, and morning serum cortisol and prolactin levels were measured in 15 juvenile and adult male African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) that were shot by a hunter, euthanized after 24 hr of captivity, or euthanized after 45 days of captivity and intermittent blood sampling. Hormone levels were measured in seven additional males that had been in captivity for 7 mo. Mean serum cortisol concentrations were significantly lower in free-ranging wild monkeys at the time they were shot than in the monkeys after 1 day in captivity. Cortisol concentrations were significantly higher in wild-caught monkeys on the day after capture than they were in the same animals after 18 and 26 days of captivity. Cortisol concentrations were also significantly higher in the wild-caught monkeys 18 days after capture than in the laboratory-habituated monkeys in captivity for 7 mo. Mean prolactin concentration was significantly lower in the wild-caught monkeys on day 2 after capture, and the levels increased gradually to 45 days in captivity and was highest in monkeys that had been captive for 7 mo.