Note: Pyrethroid resistance and possible involvement of glutathione<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>-transferases in<Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicoverpa armigera</Emphasis> from Turkey

An introductory study was conducted to investigate the pyrethroid resistance ofHelicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) strains in Turkey, collected from cotton fields in the Adana and Antalya provinces, through two different synthetic pyrethroid insecticides: lambda-cyhalothrin and esfenvalerate. In addition, the roles of glutathioneS-transferases (GSTs) in this resistance mechanism were analyzed. It was found that whereas resistance ratios for lambda-cyhalothrin (LD₅₀ levels) were 3- and 98-fold increased in the Adana and Antalya strains, respectively, esfenvalerate ratios were 3.3- and 92.3-fold increased in the Adana and Antalya strains, respectively, with respect to the susceptible strain. Furthermore, Adana and Antalya strains showed 2.4- and 2.9-fold higher GST activities than the susceptible strain, respectively. In the Antalya field strain, the minor increase in GST activity compared with the resistance levels implies that GSTs may be not greatly involved in this resistance. It also provides evidence that they could not be the only metabolic mechanism responsible for resistance to lambda-cyhalothrin and esfenvalerate inH. armigera from Turkey. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Nov. 16, 2006.     

Characterisation of camel breeding practices in the Ansongo Region,Mali

Despite its importance in Mali’s economy, camel breeding in the country remains poorly documented, impeding effective policy-making in this regard. This study consisted in a 3-month survey and aimed at characterising camel breeding systems in Ansongo, in the region of Gao, Mali. It highlights the diversity of strategies adopted by breeders and their evolutions. Supplementary feeding and veterinary care were seldom practised. In zones close to the Niger River, cattle were substituted to camels. Transhumance routes also are modified but mobility keeps its vital role in the breeding system. Important differences within the study region in the classification of camel breeds have been reported that will influence the implementation of a collective action for animal genetic improvement. The improvement goals should take the actual management, including mobility and the mixed nature of the herds into account.     

The Effect of Live and Artificial Diets on Growth, Survival, and Trypsin Activity in Larvae of Penaeus indicus

In this study, partial and total replacement of live diets (microalgae and Artemia nauplii) with microencapsulated diets (MED) are demonstrated for larval culture of P. indicus . Slower growth and lower survival rate of larvae fed experimental MED were significantly improved by a supplement of 15 cells/μL frozen mixed algae (1:2, Tetrtaselmis and Skeletonema ) during protod stages (PZ1–PZ3). This low level of algal supplement to MED resulted in survival (85–92%) equal to that obtained from control live diets (91%) during protod stages. These significant improvements in larval growth and survival are likely to be due to higher larval digestive enzyme activities and hence more efficient digestion of the artificial diet by the larvae. Like other penaeids, P. indicus larvae show high total and tissue trypsin activities during PZ stages, with a peak at mysis stage 1 (M1), and a decrease during subsequent stages when fed on conventional live diets of algae followed by Artemia during mysis stages. Larvae fed 15 ceUs/μL mixed frozen algae in addition to MED demonstrated a significantly higher trypsin activity throughout herbivorous larval stages in comparison to larvae fed solely on MED. A freeze dried alga Rhinomonas reticulata incorporated into a MED at 23Vo (v/v) induced larval trypsin activity equal to that produced by live algae. Hence, the algal substances, which trigger digestive enzyme production, may be retained within the microcapsules. At mysis stages, however, addition of live prey (one Artemia/ mL) to cultures fed with MED significantly improved growth and survival although it depressed trypsin activity. For mysis stages it appears that the use of predigested ingredients is necessary to improve the digestibility of formulated diets.     

Rapid identification of virulence genes in enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli isolates associated with diarrhoea in Queensland piggeries

OBJECTIVE: To identify virulence genes in enterotoxigenic E coli (ETEC) isolates associated with diarrhoea in neonatal, 1 to 3 week-old and weaned pigs in southeast Queensland. DESIGN: Multiplex PCR and serotyping were applied to E coli isolates obtained over a 5-year period (1998-2002) from cases diagnosed at Toowoomba Veterinary Laboratory. PROCEDURE: A total of 126 isolates from 25 different Queensland piggeries were tested for haemolytic activity on 5% sheep blood agar and by multiplex PCR for the presence of five commonly recognised fimbrial (F4, F5, F6, F41 and F18) and three enterotoxin genes (STa, STb, LT). A subset of 62 representative isolates were serotyped by slide agglutination. For comparative purposes, multiplex PCR was also performed on the DNA of 31 ETEC isolates from 9 serotypes originating from piggeries in southern New South Wales. RESULTS: A total of 113 (89.7%) of the isolates from Queensland possessed ETEC virulence genes, including 14 of 15 isolates from neonatal pigs (93.3%), 18 of 23 isolates from 1 to 3 week old pigs (78.3%) and 81 of 88 isolates from weaned pigs (92.1%). F4:STa:STb:LT (serotype O149) was the most prevalent pathotype in neonatal and 1-3 week old pigs and F4:STa:STb:LT (serotype O149) and F18:STa:STb:LT (serotype O141) were most prevalent in weaned pigs. In comparison, isolates obtained from neonatal pigs from New South Wales belonged to a more diverse range of pathotypes and serotypes. CONCLUSION: Multiplex PCR was a rapid and specific method for detecting the presence of ETEC virulence genes in porcine E coli isolates. For isolates obtained from cases of suspected colibacillosis in Queensland, growth of a heavy pure culture of haemolytic E coli was a sensitive prognostic indicator of the presence of ETEC virulence genes in the isolate. ETEC pathotypes and serotypes remained stable in Queensland piggeries over the five-year study period and appear to have changed little over the last three decades.     

Effect of oxytocin infusion on luteal blood flow and progesterone secretion in dairy cattle

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of oxytocin infusion on corpus luteum (CL) function during early to mid-diestrus by measuring luteal size (LS) and luteal blood flow (LBF) along with plasma levels of progesterone (P4) and prostaglandin metabolites (13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F_2α, PGFM). On day (D) 7 of the estrus cycle (D1 = ovulation), seven cows received 100 IU of oxytocin (OXY) or placebo (PL) following a Latin square design. LS and LBF increased in both groups over time and no differences were observed between the groups. PGFM did not differ either within the groups over time or between the groups at any time point. P4 of the OXY group was higher compared to that of the the PL group 360 min after the infusion (p = 0.01) and tended to be higher at the time points 450 min, 48 h, and 72 h (all p = 0.08). Results from this study support the hypothesis that OXY is not directly involved in the mechanism(s) governing blood flow of the CL and has no remarkable effects either on luteal size or P4 and PGFM plasma levels. Further investigation is needed to elucidate the role of OXY in CL blood flow during early and late luteal phases.     

Response of Mycorrhiza-Inoculated Pepper and Amino Acids to Salt Treatment at Different Ratios

Mycorrhiza has attracted interest as one of the microorganisms that increase a crop’s salt stress tolerance. This study was conducted to determine the impacts of mycorrhiza inoculation and applying salt at different ratios on the yield of peppers and amino acid concentrations. The study was conducted in greenhouse conditions on loamy soils with four salt treatments, two mycorrhiza inoculations and a control in a complete randomized block design. The present study indicated that salt treatment alone was significantly correlated with crop stem and root amino acid concentrations, RWC% and leaf sizes, whereas applying mycorrhiza showed a positive relationship to stem height, stem and root wet weight, and root amino acids but led to a decloine in root serine and glutamine, and stem amino acid and glutamine. In conclusion, inoculating with mycorrhiza was observed to make a positive contribution to salt stress tolerance at different levels in almost all the parameters examined.