Microparticle dispensers for the controlled release of insect pheromones

The potential utility of micrometer-sized particles as controlled-release devices for the volatilization of insect pheromones for mating disruption applications is evaluated in this study for two pheromone/model compound systems (codlemone/1-dodecanol and disparlure/1,2-epoxyoctadecane). To expedite the measurement of release rates from these particle devices, two techniques based on thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) have been exploited: isothermal TGA (I-TGA) at elevated temperatures (40-80 degrees C) with N(2) convection and volatilization temperature (VT) by dynamic TGA. A correlation between these two methods has been established. Samples that exhibit a higher VT provide a lower release rate from a particle substrate. Using these techniques, it has been demonstrated that chemical interactions between adsorbed liquids and particle surfaces may play a small role in defining release characteristics under conditions of low surface area, whereas parameters associated with total surface area and micropore structure appear to be much more significant in retarding evaporation for uncoated particles containing an adsorbed liquid. Additional regulation of release rates was achieved by coating the particle systems with water-soluble or water-dispersible polymers. By careful selection of particle porosity and coating composition, it is envisioned that the evaporation rate of pheromones can be tailored to specific insect control applications.     

Use of random pattern skin flaps for wound closure in two horses

A 9-year-old Thoroughbred broodmare presented with a mass rostral to the medial canthus of the left eye. The mass was removed under general anaesthesia and the wound bed infiltrated with carboplatin emulsion before partially closing using a Z-plasty. The mass recurred and subsequently was resected twice. It has not recurred 68 weeks post-treatment. The second case describes removal of a granulomatous mass from the metatarsus of a yearling Thoroughbred colt. Skin expanders and a rotational flap were used to allow tension-free closure. This required two separate surgeries to firstly insert the skin expanders and secondly to remove the mass, the expanders and to close the defect. The wound healed with good cosmesis. There have been few reports on the use of skin flaps in equine reconstructive surgery in the last 30 years. This report details two cases of wound closure where skin flaps were used to achieve primary intention wound healing.     

Metabolite concentrations in plasma following treatment of cattle with five anthelmintics

Plasma concentrations of anthelmintics and their metabolites were determined after cattle were treated at recommended dose rates and routes of administration. Fenbendazole, oxfendazole, febantel, albendazole and thiabendazole were given orally and oxfendazole was also administered with an intraruminal injector. After fenbendazole, oxfendazole and febantel were administered, fenbendazole, oxfendazole and fenbendazole sulphone were all detected in plasma in each case. However, there were marked differences between the three anthelmintics in the peak concentrations and areas under the plasma concentration/time curve (AUC) of these three metabolites. Intraruminal administration of oxfendazole produced higher AUC for fenbendazole and fenbendazole sulphone than did oral administration. Albendazole sulphoxide and sulphone were detected in cattle plasma after albendazole administration but no parent drug was present. These metabolites disappeared more rapidly in cattle than has been reported for sheep. Only 5(6)hydroxythiabendazole was detected in cattle plasma after thiabendazole treatment.     

The use of antibiotics on small dairy farms in rural Peru

Very little is known about the use of antibiotics on small dairy farms in lower/middle-income countries. The use of these drugs can have profound impacts on animal health, farmer income and public health. A survey of 156 farmers was conducted in Cajamarca, a major dairy-producing center in the highlands of Peru characterized by small farms (<15 cows) to assess patterns and determinants of antibiotic use and farmers’ knowledge of antibiotics. The reported incidence of disease on these farms was relatively low (0.571 episodes of disease per cow-year), but more than 83% of the reported episodes were treated with antibiotics. The most commonly used antibiotics were oxytetracycline, penicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole drugs; antiparasitic drugs were also used to treat what were likely bacterial infections. An increased incidence of treated disease was significantly associated with smaller farm size, lower farmer income, the previous use of the Californian Mastitis test on the farm and antibiotic knowledge. Farmers’ knowledge of antibiotics was assessed with a series of questions on antibiotics, resulting in a “knowledge score”. Increased knowledge was significantly associated with the use of antibiotics for preventative reasons, the purchase of antibiotics from feed-stores, the experience of complications in animals after having administered antibiotics, the number of workers on the farm and the educational level of the farmer. Overall, antibiotics appeared to be used infrequently, most likely because therapeutic interventions were sought only when the animal had reached an advanced stage of clinical disease. Few farmers were able to define an antibiotic, but many farmers understood that the use of antibiotics carried inherent risks to their animals and potentially to the consumers of dairy products from treated animals. The results of this study are useful for understanding the patterns of antibiotic use and associated management, demographic and knowledge factors of farmers on small dairy farms in rural Peru.     

Olfactory responses of Argentine stem weevil to herbivory and endophyte-colonisation in perennial ryegrass

Journal of Pest Science - Argentine stem weevil adults (ASW, Listronotus bonariensis) feed on the leaves of agricultural grasses and their larvae mine the pseudostem, causing extensive damage that...     

Reducing the length of time between slaughter and the secondary gonadotropin-releasing factor immunization improves growth performance and clears boar taint compounds in male finishing pigs

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether altering the timing of the secondary anti-gonadotropin-releasing factor (GnRF) immunization closer to slaughter in male finishing pigs would reduce the increase in P2 fat depth (6.5 cm from the midline over the last rib), while still limiting the incidence of boar taint. Entire male pigs are immunized against GnRF to reduce the concentration of testicular steroids that in turn limits the incidence of boar taint. Additionally, testicle measurements and color measurements were taken to examine whether they could be used to differentiate nonimmunized entire males from immunized male pigs. A total of 175 Large White × Landrace entire male pigs aged 16 wk (59 kg of BW) were used in a completely randomized design with 5 treatment groups based on the time that pigs received the secondary immunization before slaughter. Pigs were housed in groups of 7 and randomly allocated to 1 of 5 treatments with 5 replicates per treatment. The treatment groups were as follows: no secondary immunization before slaughter, and the secondary immunization given at 2, 3, 4, or 6 wk before slaughter. The P2 fat depth levels were reduced (P = 0.054) with the secondary immunization closer to slaughter (11.7, 11.3, 12.8, 12.6, and 13.7 mm for no secondary immunization, secondary immunization at 2, 3, 4, and 6 wk before slaughter, respectively). Androstenone concentration did not exceed the generally accepted industry sensory threshold of 1.0 μg/g of fat, and both androstenone concentration in the adipose tissue and testosterone concentrations in the blood were suppressed (P < 0.001) in all immunized pigs regardless of timing of the secondary immunization compared with pigs that did not receive the secondary immunization. Skatole concentration of all pigs in the experiment did not exceed the generally accepted industry sensory threshold of 0.2 μg/g. Testes weight was reduced (P < 0.001) with increased time between slaughter and the secondary immunization. Immunized pigs, regardless of time before slaughter, had greater L* (lightness) and b* (yellowness) color of the testicle surface (P < 0.001 and P = 0.020, respectively), and less a* (redness) color compared with entire males (P < 0.001). The study provides further evidence of the efficacy of the anti-GnRF immunization and indicates that the secondary immunization can be moved closer to slaughter, while still limiting the incidence of boar taint. Testicle measurements and color measurements together could provide a method of discrimination between carcasses from immunized entire males clear of boar taint and tainted carcasses.     

The effects of body composition on the pharmacokinetics of subcutaneously injected ivermectin and moxidectin in pigs

Macrocyclic lactones are characterized by their long persistence in animals because of their extensive distribution into fat. This study examined the influence of body condition on the disposition of ivermectin (IVM) and moxidectin (MXD) in blood and fat following subcutaneous (s.c.) drug administration. 'Fat' and 'thin' lines of pigs were established using two different diets. All animals were then injected with either MXD or IVM at 300 microg/kg and blood samples were taken at regular intervals until slaughter. Two IVM-treated animals from each diet group were slaughtered at either 3 days or 3 weeks posttreatment. Two MXD-treated animals from each diet group were slaughtered at 3 days, 3, 6 or 9 weeks after treatment. Samples of backfat were taken from all animals at slaughter. Fluorescence HPLC was used to determine the concentrations of MXD or IVM in the plasma and fat samples. The plasma IVM concentration peaked more rapidly in the thin IVM treated pigs compared with the fat pigs. The concentration of IVM in backfat was significantly lower in the thin animals slaughtered 3 weeks after treatment. The MXD plasma concentration peaked within the first hour in both the thin and fat groups, but from 12 h posttreatment there was a higher MXD concentration in the plasma of the fat pigs resulting in MXD being detectable in these pigs for 28 days compared with only 17 days in the thin pigs. Despite this difference in plasma persistence no differences were seen in the MXD concentration of backfat between fat and thin animals. Body condition influenced the kinetic disposition of IVM and MXD following s.c. drug administration with both drugs being less persistent in thin compared with fat animals.     

Simultaneous Flow Cytometric Analysis of Phagocytosis and Oxidative Burst Activity in Equine Leukocytes

This paper describes a method for simultaneously measuring phagocytosis and oxidative burst activity in equine peripheral blood leukocytes by flow cytometry. Opsonized propidium iodide-labelled Staphylococcus aureus (PI-Sa) was used to measure the uptake of bacteria by equine phacocytes and the oxidative burst activity by oxidation of dihydrorhodamine 123. The requirements to achieve optimal activity of phagocytosis and oxidative burst are described. The advantage of the simultaneous technique is that it provides both independent and comparative values for phagocytosis and the oxidative burst, for the detection of impaired mechanisms of microbial destruction. Furthermore, the technique allows evaluation of opsonization activity in this context.     

Production and oxidation of wool grease after shearing

OBJECTIVE: To measure the production and amount of oxidation of wool grease secreted immediately after shearing. To identify components of wool grease that might act as a carrier to facilitate lateral diffusion of topically applied insecticides. DESIGN: Fine-wool Merino sheep were shorn and residual greasy wool was collected from the sheep's flank. The quantity of grease produced, and the amount of oxidation was measured during 18 days after shearing. Wool grease was fractionated into five component groups based on their polarity and the degree of oxidation in these fractions determined. RESULTS: There was a 24% increase in grease production within 2 days after shearing but secretions returned to pre-shearing amounts after 4 days. During this period wool grease oxidized rapidly. Of the grease fractions examined, sterol and wax esters remained essentially unoxidized whereas free sterols such as cholesterol and lanosterol, fatty acids and polar lipids, aldehydes and alcohols were extensively oxidized within 7 days after shearing. CONCLUSION: The transient increase in grease production after shearing may facilitate diffusion of topically applied synthetic pyrethroid insecticides. Oxidation of grease components may then contain the insecticide and limit further diffusion. Incorporating the insecticide in non-oxidising fractions of wool grease may make insecticide dispersion more efficient.