Assessment of pesticide residues in honey samples from portugal and Spain

Fifty samples of honey collected from local markets of Portugal and Spain during year 2002 were analyzed for 42 organochlorine, carbamate, and organophosphorus pesticide residues. An analytical procedure based on solid-phase extraction with octadecyl sorbent followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), for organochlorines, and by liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry (LC-APCI-MS), for organophosphorus and carbamates, has been developed. Recoveries of spiked samples ranged from 73 to 98%, except for dimethoate (40%), with relative standard deviations from 3 to16% in terms of repeatability, and from 6 to 19% in terms of reproducibility. Limits of quantification were from 0.003 to 0.1 mg kg(-)(1). Most of the pesticides found in honey were organochlorines. Among them, gamma-HCH was the most frequently detected in 50% of the samples, followed by HCB in 32% of the samples and the other isomers of HCH (alpha-HCH and beta-HCH) in 28 and 26% of the samples, respectively. Residues of DDT and their metabolites were detected in 20% of the samples. Of the studied carbamates, both methiocarb and carbofuran were detected in 10% of the samples, pirimicarb in 4% and carbaryl in 2%. The only organophosphorus pesticides found were heptenophos in 16%, methidathion in 4%, and parathion methyl in 2% of honey samples. Results indicate that Portuguese honeys were more contaminated than Spanish ones. However, honey consumers of both countries should not be concerned about the amounts of pesticide residues found in honeys available on the market.     

Spermatozoon ultrastructure and sperm cryopreservation of the Brazilian dry season spawner fish pirapitinga,Brycon nattereri

The aims of this study were to describe the fresh spermatozoon ultrastructure using scanning and transmission electron microscopy and to improve the sperm cryopreservation methodology for the freshwater fish pirapitinga Brycon nattereri. Extenders (BTS^? and NaCl), straw volumes (0.5 and 4.0 mL), thawing temperatures (30 and 60 °C) and activating agents (0.29% NaCl and 1% NaHCO₃) were tested. Methylglycol was used as a cryoprotectant agent and sperm was frozen in nitrogen vapour (dry‐shipper). Post‐thawed sperm motility rate, motility quality (score 0=no movement; 5=rapidly swimming spermatozoa), duration of motility and spermatozoon morphology were evaluated. Fresh spermatozoon was 35.06 μm long, the head was ovoid (2.00 × 1.22 μm) with no acrosome, the midpiece was 2.15 μm long and the flagellum was 30.90 μm long with the typical 9+2 axoneme arrangement. Post‐thawed sperm motility rate (70–79% motile sperm), motility quality (score 3.1–3.7) and morphology (9.3–11.6% abnormal spermatozoa) were not affected by any of the parameters tested. The duration of sperm motility was longer when triggered in 1% NaHCO₃ (392–1031 s) compared with 0.29% NaCl (144–338 s). Brycon nattereri sperm cryopreserved under the conditions described above yields over 70% motility and should last long enough to fertilize oocytes, even after 2 years of freezing.     

Effects of azadirachtin on Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) and its compatibility with predatory mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on strawberry

BACKGROUND: The spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, is the major strawberry pest in Brazil. The main strategies for its control comprise synthetic acaricides and predatory mites. The recent register of a commercial formula of azadirachtin (Azamax^® 12 g L^?1) can be viable for control of T. urticae. In this work, the effects of azadirachtin on T. urticae and its compatibility with predatory mites Neoseiulus californicus and Phytoseiulus macropilis in the strawberry crop were evaluated. RESULTS: Azadirachtin was efficient against T. urticae, with a mortality rate similar to that of abamectin. In addition, the azadirachtin showed lower biological persistence (7 days) than abamectin (21 days). Azadirachtin did not cause significant mortality of adult predatory mites (N. californicus and P. macropilis), but it did reduce fecundity by 50%. However, egg viability of the azadirachtin treatments was similar to that of the control (>80% viability). The use of azadirachtin and predatory mites is a valuable tool for controlling T. urticae in strawberry crop. CONCLUSIONS: Azadirachtin provided effective control of T. urticae and is compatible with the predatory mites N. californicus and P. macropilis. It is an excellent tool to be incorporated into integrated pest management for strawberry crop in Brazil. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Use of negative pressure wound therapy in three horses with open,infected olecranon bursitis

This article describes the clinical use of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in three horses with an open and infected subcutaneous olecranon bursa, in which prior surgical excision followed by primary closure was unsuccessful. The wounds filled in rapidly with granulation tissue and contracted during therapy. All wounds subsequently went on to heal without complications. The use of NPWT was well tolerated in all three horses and facilitated healing in a difficult area.     

Usefulness of clinical observations and blood chemistry values for predicting clinical outcomes in dairy goats with pregnancy toxaemia

Background

Pregnancy toxaemia (PT) is a disease that affects pregnant goats during their last month of gestation and is characterized by a high case fatality rate. This study involved 32 does maintained on a commercial dairy goat farm that were diagnosed with PT. A physical examination was performed on and haematology parameters obtained from each doe, at the time of diagnosis. The data from the 24 PT goats that died was compared with the corresponding data from the 8 PT goats that survived.

Results

Polypnea, swollen limbs, anorexia with absence of ruminal motility, recumbency, nervous signs and drooping ears were the most frequently observed clinical manifestations. Nineteen out of 21 recumbent goats died. Sixteen out of 17 goats with anorexia and absence of ruminal motility died. Mean beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) values in the goats that died were not significantly different from those in goats that survived. The blood values for pH and pCO₂ (p?<?0.005) as well as for HCO₃ ^?, BE and K⁺ (p?<?0.001) were significantly lower in the goats that died than in those that survived.

Conclusions

The clinical signs most indicative of a poor prognosis are anorexia with absence of ruminal motility and recumbency. Among the blood parameters to be considered, hypokalaemia and metabolic acidosis are the most relevant. Goats with PT have a high mortality and their condition can deteriorate very fast. Based on the authors’s experience, a good strategy to minimize the economic losses caused by PT is to focus on the offspring survival rate since an early decision (induction of kidding or caesarian surgery) can increase the number of alive kids.

     

Anatomy of the dura mater venous sinus of Alouatta belzebul

The anatomy of the dura mater's venous sinuses is important in the veterinary clinical and surgical area, for cranial procedures and interventions of wild animals, in addition to assisting in the management of neurological diseases, which can prevent serious complications. The macroscopic anatomy of the venous sinuses of the dura mater of Alouatta belzebul was studied. Five adult specimens, males and females, were dissected and fixed in 10% formaldehyde solution. In the dura mater of the Alouatta belzebul, nine venous sinuses were observed, being them dorsal sagittal sinus, ventral sagittal sinus, transverse sinus, straight sinus, sigmoid sinus, temporal sinus, parietal sinus, basilar sinus and cavernous sinus, with morphological similarities in origin, path and destination of blood flow to the internal jugular vein, assisting in the venous drainage function of the brain in this species. These data are similar to those found in other species of non-human and human primates such as Saimiri sciureus, Sapajus libidinosus and Homo sapiens. Of the venous sinuses observed, the cavernous sinus was of considerable clinical and surgical importance in Alouatta belzebul due to its topographic arrangement next to the internal carotid artery and pituitary gland, data that corroborate Sapajus libidinosus, Macaca fascicularis, Macaca mulatta, Papio ursinus, Cercopithecus pygerithrus and Galago senegalensis. In this context, the knowledge of the macroscopic anatomy of the venous sinuses of the dura mater may contribute to the role of veterinarians in less invasive surgical procedures in non-human primates such as Alouatta belzebul and other mammals.     

Insecticidal activity and chemical composition of volatile oils from Hyptis martiusii Benth

The essential oils from leaves and inflorescences of Hyptis martiusii Benth were analyzed by GC-MS. Twenty-six compounds representing 93.2% of the essential oil of leaves were characterized; Delta-3-carene (22.5%), 1,8-cineole (24.27%), beta-caryophyllene (6.15%), and bicyclogermacrene (6.32%) were found as the major components. In the essential oil of inflorescences 27 compounds representing 87.7% of the oil were identified. The major components were Delta-3-carene (13.5%), alpha-pinene (5.78%), beta-caryophyllene (6.59%), viridiflorene (8.25%), and germacrene B (5.21%). The essential oil of leaves and 1,8-cineole showed pronounced insecticidal effect against Aedes aegypti larvae and Bemisia argentifolii, the vectors of dengue fever and white fly fruit plague, respectively.     

Bt cotton and the predator Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in the management of Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) resistance to lambda-cyhalothrin

Journal of Pest Science - This study sought to provide relevant information for developing effective programs to manage Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) resistance to...     

Organic carbonate from Calotropis procera leaves

The leaves of Calotropis procera yielded an organic carbonate (1), along with stigmasterol and beta-sitosterol, identified by spectroscopic methods.