Virucidal effects of various agents—including protease—against koi herpesvirus and viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus

In a search for alternative, environmentally friendly and effective disinfecting agents, a commercially available protease—Neutrase^®—was tested in this work for inactivation of koi herpesvirus (KHV) and of viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV). For comparison, the stability of these viral pathogens in similar configurations at various pH values and concentrations of peracetic acid or quicklime, typically used for disinfection, was tested. Therefore, virus suspensions were incubated with various concentrations of different agents for 24 hr and the titre of the remaining infectious particles was determined by virus titration. Furthermore, the treatment of both viruses, with the agents at concentrations that were previously appointed as effective, was also examined in the presence of solid material (quartz sand). All procedures investigated in this study, including the protease treatment, were able to reduce the titre of KHV and VHSV below the detection limit of the titration. Although further studies are necessary, this is the first report of the application of a protease for the inactivation of the selected fish pathogens, demonstrating the great potential of the latter for disinfection.     

Integrated pest management of Tuta absoluta: practical implementations across different world regions

Journal of Pest Science - The South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), has invaded most Afro-Eurasian countries and is threatening worldwide tomato...     

Identification of RFLP markers linked with heading date and its heterosis in hexaploid wheat

Recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from a cross between hexaploid wheat (T. aestivum cv. Chinese Spring (CS) and T. spelta (Sp)) were used for RFLP analysis of heading date and heterosis. Fourteen RFLP markers linking with heading date were identified; two were localized on chromosome 1A, one on 2A, three on 2B, one on 2D, four on 5A, two on 7A and one unlinked but reported to be on group 2. All of these markers may be attributable to genes for earliness per se. However, the markers in the chromosomes of 1A and 7A are new to this study. RILs were crossed with (tim)-CS, the alloplasmic CS with T. timopheevi cytoplasm, and the heterosis from earlier-parent and mid-parents were calculated for the F₁s to examine the heterotic effect toward earliness on heading date. Five and two RFLP markers were associated with heterosis from the earlier-parent and mid-parents, respectively. They were distributed on the chromosomes of homoeologous groups 1 and 2. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Influence of S. babylonica extract on feed intake, growth performance and diet in vitro gas production profile in young lambs

An experiment was completed to determine the effect of Salix babylonica (SB) extract supplementation to the diet of growing lambs. Eighteen Katahdin × Pelibuey male lambs (14?±?2 kg live body weight) were divided randomly in individual cages into three groups and fed three diets varying in SB: a control group was fed on total mixed ration (TMR) without SB (SB0), an SB25 group was fed on TMR plus SB extract at 25 mL/lamb/day, and an SB50 group was fed on TMR plus SB extract at 50 mL/lamb/day on dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), feed efficiency, and in vitro gas production (GP) in lambs fed on TMR. In vitro GP of the TMR fed to lambs was recorded at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h of incubation with 0, 0.6, 1.2, and 1.8 mL extract per gram of DM. Addition of SB extract at low and high doses improved the DMI of lambs by 59.9 and 33.2 %, respectively. Relative to the control, low and high extract doses achieved greater lamb ADG during the experimental period. The asymptotic GP increased (P?<?0.05) with increasing dose of SB extract without affecting the rate of GP or the initial delay before GP begins. Linear increases for in vitro GP with advancing time with different SB extract doses were observed. It is suggested that the use of S. babylonica extract with the rate of 25 mL/lamb/day is beneficial to young lamb’s performance growth and thus can be safely used as a feed additive in diets without any negative effects on animal health.     

Evaluation of a 4‐h static copper sulphate treatment against experimental infection of Flavobacterium columnare in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

The efficacy of copper sulphate (CuSO₄) against the early stages of an experimental acute infection of Flavobacterium columnare in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) was evaluated. Fish were challenged, by waterborne exposure to F. columnare in an ultra‐low flow‐through water delivery system, and treated with CuSO₄ at 4.2 and 2.1 mg L^?1 at 5.5 h post challenge for 4 h. Bacterial challenged non‐treated fish acted as a positive control and non‐challenged non‐treated fish acted as a negative control. Fish challenged with F. columnare and treated with CuSO₄ at 4.2 and 2.1 mg L^?1 post challenge had mortalities of 6.4% and 18.3%, respectively, compared with the positive control, which had 90.2% mortality. The mortality of challenged fish treated with CuSO₄ at 4.2 and 2.1 mg L^?1 was significantly different from the positive control. There was no significant difference between the mortalities of the 4.2 and 2.1 mg L^?1 treatments. The results suggest that CuSO₄ has clear therapeutic value against columnaris infections.     

Effects of oxygen tension in the gas atmosphere during in vitro maturation, in vitro fertilization and in vitro culture on the efficiency of in vitro production of mouse embryos

Effects of oxygen (O2) tension in the gas atmosphere during in vitro maturation (IVM), in vitro fertilization (IVF) and in vitro culture (IVC) on the efficiency of in vitro production of mouse embryos were examined. Mouse oocytes recovered from large antral follicles were subjected to IVM in Waymouth medium for 15, 16 and 17 hr under 5 or 20% O2 and then subjected to IVF and IVC under 5 or 20% O2 tension. Lowering the O2 tension in the gas atmosphere for IVM from 20 to 5% improved the cleavage rate after IVF when the oocytes were subjected to IVM for 15 hr; however, no improvement in the cleavage rate was observed when the culture period for IVM was extended to 16 and 17 hr. Lowering the O2 tension to 5% for IVM and IVC improved the development of the cleaved oocytes to the blastocyst stage, regardless of the culture period for IVM. However, the O2 tension for IVF had no remarkable effect on the subsequent embryonic development. These results demonstrate that 5% O2 is superior to 20% O2 for IVM and IVC, and suggest that 20% O2 for IVM may delay oocyte maturation and/or the acquisition of fertilizability and impair the developmental competence of oocytes.     

EVALUATION OF THE EXTIRPATED EQUINE EYE USING B-MODE ULTRASONOGRAPHY

B-mode ultrasonography using a 7.5 megahertz (MH^z) transducer was performed on 95 equine cadaver eyes submerged in a water bath. Identification and measurement of the anterior to posterior diameters of the intraocular structures and of the axis bulbi was done. The dorsal ventral axis of the eye was also measured. The eyes were then frozen, sectioned in a saggital plane and the same measurements were made using calipers. Two sets of measurements were then compared statistically.
With the exception of the cornea and the dorsal ventral axis measurements of male horses there was no statistically significant difference in the measurements obtained by the two methods.
The use of B-mode ultrasonography at a frequency of 7.5 MH^z to examine the architecture of the equine eye is suggested as a valuable clinical tool. Biometry of the intraocular structures at this frequency may be reasonably accurate.     

Abortion rate and mortality among exotic pregnant heifers imported to the Gezira in the central region of the Sudan

Despite the intensive management and husbandry precautions, exotic pregnant heifers imported to the Gezira, Sudan, suffered excessive stress. Four of five heifers aborted due to stress. Death was due to pasteurellosis, babesiosis and heart water.