An assessment of methacrifos as a grain protectant and its efficacy against oryzaephilus surinamensis L., Tribolium castaneum herbst,Sitophilus granarius L., Sitophilus oryzae L., Acarus siro L., Glycyphagus destructor schrank and Tyrophagus longior gervais

A trial was carried out to investigate the efficacy of methacrifos against susceptible and multi-resistant strains of four species of insect and three species of mite. Methacrifos was applied to two separate 20-tonne loads of English wheat which were then stored under ambient conditions for 24 weeks. The efficacy of methacrifos was assessed using established bioassay techniques which showed complete control for 24 weeks of all susceptible insects except S. oryzae, where there were survivors at week 24. Methacrifos also gave 100% mortality of resistant O. surinamensis for 24 weeks. There was >95% mortality for 16 weeks of resistant strains of T. castaneum and of resistant S. granarius and S. oryzae for 20 weeks. After S. granarius and S. oryzae were removed, the grain was incubated for 10 weeks. Subsequent F₁ emergence was considerably less from the treatments than from the controls. Methacrifos produced 100% mortality for T. longior for 24 weeks, but control of G. destructor fluctuated and was <100% at week 24. There were survivors of A. siro from week 4.     

Plant-growth-regulating N-(phosphonoacetyl)amines

A series of N-(phosphonacetyl)amine derivatives were synthesized and screened for plant-growth regulating activity on Lepidium sativum L. and Cucumis sativus L. Aromatic N-(phosphonoacetyl)amines. which may be considered as possible analogues of N-acylaniline herbicides obtained by replacement of their acyl group by the phosphonacetyl moiety, exhibited significant or moderate herbicidal activity. In contrast, N-(phosphonoacetyl)amino acids and N-(phosphonoacetyl)aminophosphonic acids promoted the growth of L. sativum and C. sativus roots.     

Correlation of molecular markers and biological properties in Verticillium dahliae and the possible origins of some isolates

Haploid and amphihaploid Verticillium dahliae isolates were studied using PCR-based molecular markers which: (i) discriminate the defoliating and nondefoliating pathotypes (two primer pairs INTD2f/r and INTND2f/r), and (ii) are species-specific (primer pair 19/22). The results were compared with some known biological and other molecular properties of the isolates. Five discrete sequences of the 19/22 amplicon were found. Sequence 4 was associated with both defoliating isolates from Spain and nondefoliating isolates from Spain and USA; these pathotypes were separated by the primer pairs INTD2f/r and INTND2f/r, but the data showed that the primer espdef01 (derived from the 19/22 amplicon) cannot be used for this purpose. Amplicon sizes and sequences with primers 19/22 divided amphihaploid isolates from crucifers (thought to be interspecific hybrids) into those corresponding to the previously reported α and β groups. The β-group isolates had either sequence 4 or 5 (these two differing by a single base). The distinct amplicon sequence 3 given by the α-group isolates demonstrated that the V. dahliae -like 'parent' of this group was molecularly unlike any haploid isolate yet studied. The overall results are discussed in relation to phytosanitary considerations and the probability of defoliating or crucifer pathotypes arising de novo within Europe, either by selection or by interspecific hybridizations.     

Occlusion of the Middle Cerebral Artery: a New Method of Focal Cerebral Ischemia in Rats

The study in Wistar rats attempted to improve the occlusion technique of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) as a precise method for initiating stroke. In a first part it was necessary to study the exact anatomy of blood vessels of the brain in seven rats of 170-410 g body weight by corrosion cast. The lengths and diameters of defined locations of the blood vessels were measured. The temporary as well as the permanent methods were refined or replaced. The first one was completed in main training the physiological blood flow after temporary occlusion, while the permanent occlusion was performed by positioning a silicone cap in the MCA. A filament guide was introduced from the common carotid artery (CCA) via internal carotid artery (ICA) to guide the silicon cap at the branch of the MCA. Histological sections of the brain of rats showed 24 h after the permanent occlusion a reproducible infarct in the brain. This area corresponded very well with the supply of the MCA. The new occlusion method with a silicon cap was compared with the occlusion methods of CCA route and external carotid artery (ECA) route. The total infarct volume was significantly larger in the CCA route and ECA route groups than in the silicon cap group (means: CCA route 261 mm³; ECA route 191 mm³ vs. 128 mm³ silicon cap group; P  < 0,05). It could be demonstrated that the new silicon cap occlusion technique imitates the pathological situation of a cerebral infarct in man. Moreover it is less invasive for the animals and more precise and reproducible regarding the infarcted area in comparison to the other occlusion methods. Based on anatomical measurements of the blood vessels the described silicon cap method can be recommended for rats of a body weight between 340–370 g.     

USE OF COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY AND RADIOLABELED LEUKOCYTES IN A CAT WITH PANCREATITIS

The normal feline pancreas has been evaluated using radiolabeled leukocytes (99mTc-HMPAO) and computed tomography. The purpose of this report is to describe a clinical case where both modalities were utilized to assess the inflamed feline pancreas. A nine year old female cat presented with anorexia, depression and some vomiting. Blood values were unremarkable. Radiographs and ultrasound were suggestive of pancreatitis. The cat's leukocytes were separated and labeled according to an established protocol. Whole body images were acquired immediately, at 5 and 30 min, and at 1, 2, 4, and 17 hours post injection. Approximately 48 h later, the animal was anesthetized and computed tomography of the abdomen was preformed both pre and post contrast. Surgical biopsies were taken. The distribution of the WBCs was similar to that documented in normal animals, however, at 2 h there was faint uptake seen in the region of the pancreas. This uptake became more intense at 4 h and persisted at 17 h. Computed tomography showed irregular margination of the pancreas, it was larger than normal and inhomogeneous. Contrast enhancement was inhomogeneous and its peak enhancement was not reached until 10 min post injection; normal feline pancreas enhances homogeneously and peaks immediately. Histopathology confirmed pancreatitis with lymphocytic, plasmacytic, neutrophilic and eosinophilic inflammation and fibrosis. Radiolabeled leukocytes can be used to document pancreatic inflammation and this is best seen 4 h after injection. Computed tomography allows superior visualization of the pancreas. Both the appearance and contrast enhancement pattern of the inflamed pancreas differ from normal.     

Herbicidal activity of phosphonic and phosphinic acid analogues of glutamic and aspartic acids

Phosphonic and phosphinic acid analogues of glutamic and aspartic acids were synthesized and screened for herbicidal activity on Lepidium sativum L. Depending on the chemical structure, they exhibited significant or moderate herbicidal activity against L. sativum roots (with some representatives being equipotent with phosphinothricin), while their influence on shoot growth was negligible. Cucumis sativus L. appeared to be more tolerant to these analogues. The origin of this selectivity remains to be determined.     

Evaluation of the agar-gel immunodiffusion test in the diagnosis of canine blastomycosis

The agar-gel immunodiffusion test was used to evaluated 35 dogs with histopathologically confirmed blastomycosis and 98 dogs without blastomycosis. The test had a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 96%. Thirteen of the dogs treated for blastomycosis were tested at 6 to 33 months after treatment with amphotericin B. Ten of 13 dogs became seronegative and 3, though clinically normal, remained seropositive at 19, 20, and 20 months, respectively, after amphotericin treatment.     

Nitrat und Nitrit in der Tierernährung

Summary A review is given about publications of the last 30 years, concerning problems of high nitrate content of feeds. Nearly 10 areas of scientific work can be discerned. The most important of them have to do with: Analysis of nitrate and nitrite; danger of poisoning by feeds and water rich in nitrate; physiological and pathological consequences of high doses of nitrate or nitrite; reduction of nitrate (in the rumen and in the fermentation of plants) to nitrite, hydroxylamine and ammonia; behaviour of nitrate in the process of silage making; adverse effects upon the functions of the thyroid gland by nitrite and the disturbances of the availability of vitamin A and vitamin E by nitrate-nitrite.

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Résumé On a donné un rapport sur les travaux scientifiques publiés dans les dernières trente années, concernant les problèmes d'une teneur haute en nitrate dans les fourrages. On peut discerner à peu près dix régions de travail scientifique. Les plus importantes sont: analyses du nitrate et du nitrite; le danger des intoxications par les fourrages et par l'eau, qui sont riches de nitrate; les conséquences physiologiques et pathologiques des doses hautes du nitrate ou du nitrite; la réduction du nitrate (dans le panse des ruminants et dans les fourrages en fermentation) au nitrite, au hydroxylamine et à l'ammonique; les réactions du nitrate pendant la préparation des silages; les influences défavorables aux fonctions de la glande thyroide par le nitrite; et les actions de déranger l'utilisation de la vitamine A et de la vitamine E par nitrate-nitrite.