Timing and order of different insecticide classes drive control of Drosophila suzukii; a modeling approach

The spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, is an invasive pest causing significant damage to soft skinned fruits. Control of D. suzukii is critical since there is no tolerance for infested fruit in the market. While most insecticides control one or more D. suzukii life-stages (e.g., egg, larvae, and adult), the impact of insecticides that are toxic to immature stages  is unclear on the subsequent generation of a field population. Insecticides were applied at field recommended rates on cherries and blueberries in the laboratory to determine immature D. suzukii mortality. Spinetoram, cyantraniliprole, malathion, methomyl, spinosad, and phosmet resulted in relatively high mortality of all immature life stages. Zeta-cypermethrin, cyclaniliprole, and fenpropathrin resulted in lower mortality of egg and all larval instars. Malathion was also applied to lowbush blueberries with different fruit sizes (small, medium, and large) in the laboratory and there was no statistical difference in mortality rates depending on fruit sizes. Mortality data from the laboratory experiments were used to parameterize a refined D. suzukii population model. The model revealed that the timing and order of different insecticide classes are important to control D. suzukii population. Model runs that included early applications of more effective insecticides resulted in high immature mortality and greater reduction of D. suzukii populations compared to treatments applied later.

     

The effects of dl-tetramisole and rafoxanide on tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes of Haemonchus contortus, in vitro

Various enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) viz., aconitase (E.C. 4.2.1.3), isocitrate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.42), succinate dehydrognease (E.C. 1.3.99.1), fumarate reductase (NADH: fumarate oxido-reductase), fumarase (E.C. 4.2.1.2) and maltate dehydrogenase (E.C. 1.1.1.37) were detected in adult Haemonchus contortus (Nematoda: Trichostrongylidae), in vitro. Low activities of aconitase and isocitrate dehydrogenase suggested that the TCA cycle has a minor function and the pathway of CO₂ fixation is the major pathway in the energy metabolism of the parasite. In vitro incubation in Tyrode's solution had no significant effect on TCA cycle enzymes and the worm was able to maintain normal metabolism for 12 h.The effects of dl-tetramisole and rafoxanide on various enzymes of the TCA cycle were studied in adult H. contortus. At 50 μg ml^?1 varying degrees of succinate dehydrogenase and fumarate reductase activities were observed. At the same concentration, the activities of other enzymes remained unaltered.     

SNOMED representation of explanatory knowledge in veterinary clinical pathology

BACKGROUND: The Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine (SNOMED) is an established standard nomenclature for the expression of human and veterinary medical concepts. Nomenclature standards ease sharing of medical information, create common points of understanding, and improve data aggregation and analysis. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine whether SNOMED adequately represented concepts relevant to veterinary clinical pathology. METHODS: Concepts were isolated from 3 different types of clinical pathology documents: 1) a textbook (Textbook), 2) the Results sections of industry pathology reports (Findings), and Discussion sections from industry pathology reports (Discussion). Concepts were matched (mapped) by 2 reviewers to semantically-equivalent SNOMED concepts. A quality score of 3 (good match), 2 (problem match), or 1 (no match) was recorded along with the SNOMED hierarchical location of each mapped concept. Results were analyzed using Cohen's Kappa statistic to assess reviewer agreement and chi-square tests to evaluate association between document type and quality score. RESULTS: The percentage of good matches was 48.3% for the Textbook, 45.4% for Findings, and 47.5% for Discussion documents, with no significant difference among documents. Of remaining concepts, 40% were partially expressed by SNOMED and 14% did not match. Mean reviewer agreement on quality score assignments was 76.8%. CONCLUSIONS: Although SNOMED representation of veterinary clinical pathology content was limited, missing and problem concepts were confined to a relatively small area of terminology. This limitation should be addressed in revisions of SNOMED to optimize SNOMED for veterinary clinical pathology applications.     

Pharmacokinetics following intravenous administration and pharmacodynamics of cefquinome in buffalo calves

Disposition following single intravenous injection (2 mg/kg) and pharmacodynamics of cefquinome were investigated in buffalo calves 6–8 months of age. Drug levels in plasma were estimated by high-performance liquid chromatography. The plasma concentration–time profile following intravenous administration was best described by a two-compartment open model. Rapid distribution of cefquinome was evident from the short distribution half-life (t _½α ?=?0.36?±?0.01 h), and small apparent volume of distribution (Vd_area?=?0.31?±?0.008 L/kg) indicated limited drug distribution in buffalo calves. The values of area under plasma concentration–time curve, elimination half-life (t _½β ), total body clearance (Cl_B), and mean residence time were 32.9?±?0.56 μg·h/mL, 3.56?±?0.05 h, 60.9?±?1.09 mL/h/kg, and 4.24?±?0.09 h, respectively. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration of cefquinome were 0.035–0.07 and 0.05–0.09 μg/mL, respectively. A single intravenous injection of 2 mg/kg may be effective to maintain the MIC up to 12 h in buffalo calves against the pathogens for which cefquinome is indicated.     

Structural heterogeneity of yolk spheres in hierarchical follicles from hen ovary: a histochemical study

1. Four types of yolk spheres with variable structure, chemical composition and frequency of occurrence in yolk plasma of hierarchical follicles (F(4), F(3), F(2) and F(1) with diameters of 10.0, 15.5, 20.0 and 35.0 mm, respectively) of the hen ovary were identified using histochemical methods for localising lipids, carbohydrates and proteins. 2. Yolk spheres of the first type (YS(1)) had a phospholipoprotein membrane surrounding fluid matrix which stained lightly for phospholipids, proteins and acidic mucopolysaccharides. Two types of droplets were observed in the matrix of YS(1). Spheres of the second type (YS(2)) had a lipoprotein- and acidic mucopolysaccharide-rich peripheral region and a single large droplet in its fluid matrix. Droplets of YS(2), unlike YS(1), showed three regions and metachromatic staining with ninhydrin-Schiff reagent. The third type of sphere (YS(3)) had a homogeneous matrix staining for proteins, neutral lipids and florescent yellow with alcian blue and differentially with ninhydrin-Schiff reagent; it was bounded by a phospholipids- and acidic mucopolysaccharide-containing thick peripheral region. Its fluid matrix also showed toluidine-blue-positive, densely packed granules and small droplets. The fourth type (YS(4)) was seen only in bromophenol blue and Nile blue preparations, revealing the presence of proteins and neural lipids in their matrix and peripheral regions. 3. Quantitative data on the relative abundance of yolk spheres in F(4) to F(1) follicles revealed more YS(3) (51.1 to 64.7%) than YS(1) (16.2 to 28.3%) and YS(2) (19.1 to 23.2%). The percentage of YS(1) increased and that of YS(3) decreased as follicle size increased.     

Apium graveolens PI 181714 is a source of resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. apii race 4 in celery (A. graveolens var. dulce)

Celery has little genetic diversity and is highly susceptible to the new fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. apii (Foa) race 4. After screening an Apium graveolens germplasm collection for resistance to Foa race 4, we crossed celery cv. 'Challenger', which is Foa race 2-resistant but Foa race 4-susceptible and A. graveolens PI 181714, which is Foa races 2- and 4-resistant but non-celery type. After selfing F₁s, we screened the F₁S₁ for race 4-resistance and celery-type and then selfed selected F₁S₁. Greenhouse and field trials indicate that three selected F₁S₂ families (76–8-4, 76–8-27 and 76–8-36) are suitable as germplasm for celery breeders for resistance to Foa race 4. A F1S3 76–8–36-124 is either fixed or nearly so for resistance to Foa races 4 and 2. Furthermore, quantitative PCR indicates that PI 181714 is resistant, rather than tolerant, to Foa races 4 and 2, and that this resistance has been introgressed into F1S3 76–8–36-124.     

Screening of Basmati Rice Varieties for their Arsenic Accumulation in Punjab,North-West India

A pot study was conducted to screen different basmati rice varieties for their accumulation of arsenic (As). Different amounts of arsenic (0–800 µg/L) were applied through irrigation water to four basmati rice varieties (Pusa basmati-1121, Pusa Punjab basmati-1509, Punjab basmati-2, and Punjab basmati-3). Highest arsenic concentration was found in the grains of Punjab basmati-3 and lowest in the grains of Pusa Punjab basmati-1509. In all varieties, grain As concentration ranged from 0.038 to 0.288 mg/kg, which was within the permissible limit of 1.0 mg/kg in rice grain recommended by World Health Organization (WHO). In husk, highest As concentration was found in Pusa basmati-1121 and lowest in Punjab basmati-2. Among the four varieties, highest content of As was accumulated in roots and straw of Pusa Punjab basmati-1509, whereas least was accumulated in Punjab basmati-2. The distribution of arsenic among plant parts was found in the order: roots > straw > husk > grain. The mean arsenic concentrations in grain, husk, straw, and root of basmati rice varieties increased with increasing concentration of arsenic in irrigation water. Highest grain yield was obtained in Pusa Punjab basmati-1509 variety due to lesser accumulation of arsenic compared with other varieties. Rice yield, plant height, root weight, straw weight, test weight, effective tiller, and filled grain per panicle decreased with increase in arsenic concentration in irrigated water.     

Micropropagation of Vegetable Rennet (Withania coagulans [Stocks] Dunal)—A Critically Endangered Medicinal Plant

Withania coagulans (Stocks) Dunal (Solanaceae), popularly called vegetable rennet, is a critically endangered and highly valued medicinal plant. Overexploitation and reproductive failure forced the plant species toward the verge of complete extinction. We describe here the development of a simple, rapid, and cost effective in vitro micropropagation system for W. coagulans for mass-scale production of true-to-type plantlets using nodal shoot segments. Exactly 95.5 ± 0.34% explants responded within 8–10 days (d) and produced multiple shoot buds (4.1 ± 0.10 shoots of 2.95 ± 0.15 cm length) on 0.8% agar-gelled Murashige and Skoog's (MS) basal medium supplemented with 8.88 μM 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), 0.57 μM indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and additives (100 mg L^?1 L-ascorbic acid, 25 mg L^?1 each citric acid, adenine sulphate, and L-arginine). The shoots in cultures were multiplied by repeated transfer on MS medium with 4.44 μM BAP, 0.57 μM IAA, and additives. Further cultures were multiplied on a large-scale through the subculturing of shoot clumps differentiated in vitro, on MS medium supplemented with 1.11 μM BAP, 0.57 μM IAA, and additives. Maximum number (19.1 ± 0.28) of healthy (6.15 ± 0.25 cm) and viable shoots differentiated on this medium. The microshoots were rooted both in vitro and ex vitro. Exactly 67.3 ± 1.01% microshoots rooted in vitro within 25–30 d on agar-gelled half-strength MS salts supplemented with 29.52 μM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 200 mg L^?1 of activated charcoal (AC). Alternatively, 73.8 ± 0.65% cloned shoots rooted on sterile soilrite (soilless compost and soil conditioner) under ex vitro conditions after pulse treatment with 2.46 mM IBA for 300 s. The clones of W. coagulans were hardened in a greenhouse within 40–45 d by slow and gradual exposure of plantlets from high relative humidity (RH; 70–80%) and low (26 ± 2°C) temperature to low RH (40–50%) and high (34 ± 2°C) temperature. The hardened plantlets were transferred to soil and stored in agro-net house with more than 90% survival rate. Replacement of pure and laboratory grade sucrose with commercial grade sugar, use of less expensive commercial grade agar-agar in culture medium, higher rate of shoot proliferation, single step ex vitro rooting, and hardening of plantlets in the greenhouse are advantageous features of the protocol. The micropropagation protocol defined here is reproducible, easy to follow, and would be helpful in large-scale restoration programs through true-to-type mass-multiplication of W. coagulans.