Effects of deltamethrin on hematological parameters and enzymatic activity in Ancistrus multispinis (Pisces, Teleostei)

Deltamethrin (DM) is a pyrethroid insecticide widely used in Brazilian crops and in pest-control programs because of its low environmental persistence and toxicity. It has been shown to exert a wide range of effects on non-targeted organisms including fishes. The aim of this study to evaluate the effects of deltamethrin through the hematological and biochemical parameters using Ancistrus multispinis as animal model. First, blood of A. multispinis was collected by cardiac puncture in order to evaluate the basal values of the total cell counts, hemoglobin and hematocrit rates. A. multispinis showed low number leukocytes, red blood cells and hemoglobin compared to other species. The intoxication with DM (0.1 or 0.3 mg kg⁻¹) induced leukocytosis and increases the number of erythrocytes and hemoglobin levels 96 h after the injection when compared to vehicle-injected animals. The injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) also induced a significant leukocytosis and increased the erythrocytes number 4 h after the injection. The combination of the higher dose of DM with LPS showed an additional effect in the number of leukocytes and erythrocytes. The GST and EROD activities were also evaluated in the gills and liver, respectively, 96 h after intoxication with both doses of DM. The GST activity decreased after DM intoxication in both doses while EROD activity was not significantly different. These results suggest that A. multispinis is a valuable model for ecotoxicological studies. Also, DM can affect the metabolizing system (GST) and immunologic system of A. multispinis, a condition that can be worsened in the presence of inflammation or infection.     

Effects of deficit irrigation strategies on cluster microclimate for improving fruit composition of Moscatel field-grown grapevines

The grapevine plays a very important role in the economic, social and cultural sectors of many regions; however vineyards are often grown in regions under stressful conditions and thus they are vulnerable to climate change. The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of partial root-zone drying (PRD) irrigation on vine water relations, vegetative growth, plant microclimate, berry composition and yield components, compared to conventional deficit irrigation (DI, 50% ETc), full irrigation (FI, 100% of ETc) and non-irrigated vines (NI). The study was undertaken in mature ‘Moscatel’ grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.) grown in Pegões, South of Portugal. Compared to the other irrigated treatments, PRD vines showed a better microclimate at the cluster zone with higher incident photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). Within the more open canopies of NI and PRD treatments, berry temperatures were higher than those of denser ones (DI and FI). Compared to the conventional irrigation technique the better microclimate observed in PRD vines was a consequence of a reduction in vine growth, where lower values of leaf layer number, leaf area, canopy wideness, water shoots and shoot weight were observed. In PRD vines we observed a tendency to a development of a deeper root system, while DI and FI showed a more homogeneous root distribution throughout the different soil layers. PRD showed an improvement in berry quality with higher values of flavour precursors, and total phenols concentration without any significant yield reduction compared to DI and FI.     

Evaluation of biological control agents for managing cucurbit powdery mildew on greenhouse-grown melon

An evaluation was made of the ability of two mycoparasite-based products AQ10® ( Ampelomyces quisqualis ) and Mycotal® ( Lecanicillium lecanii ), as well as three strains of Bacillus subtilis , to manage powdery mildew disease, caused by Podosphaera fusca on melon seedlings maintained under different regimes of relative humidity and on plants grown under greenhouse conditions in Spain. In every case fungal and bacterial biocontrol agents (BCAs) performed better under conditions of high relative humidity (90–95% RH). In greenhouse experiments, the effectiveness of the mycoparasites to manage powdery mildew was absolutely dependent on mineral oil. The strains of B. subtilis provided disease control similar to that achieved with the mycoparasites or the fungicide azoxystrobin. Microscopic analysis showed the ability of these bacterial strains to efficiently colonize leaf surfaces and revealed the occurrence of antagonistic interactions between biological agents and P. fusca structures. These results confirmed the usefulness of these BCAs for managing powdery mildew on greenhouse-grown cucurbits either as single products or as a component of integrated control programmes.     

Immune response of BALB/c mouse immunized with recombinant MSPs proteins of Anaplasma marginale binding to immunostimulant complex (ISCOM)

Anaplasmosis, caused by Anaplasma marginale, results in significant economic losses of cattle in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Six major surface proteins (MSPs) were well characterized and designated as MSP1, MSP2, MSP3, MSP4, and MSP5. The objective of this study was to evaluate the humoral immune response of BALB/c mice against the recombinant MSPs, incorporated into immunostimulating complex (ISCOM). The recombinant proteins purified by Ni-NTA columns were incorporated into ISCOM and ISCOMATRIX by the lipid film hydration method. BALB/c mice immunized with ISCOM/rMSPs and ISCOMATRIX/rMSPs vaccines produced whole IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a, in contrast to the negative groups (PBS and ISCOMATRIX adjuvant). All groups that received antigen responded specifically against the rMSPs by Western blotting, showing the rMSP1a (60-105kDa), rMSP1b (100kDa), rMSP4 (47kDa), and rMSP5 (29kDa). Additional studies will have to be performed in cattle to evaluate the humoral and cellular mechanisms of this subunit vaccine and their possible use as protective vaccines against homologous and heterologous strains of A. marginale.     

Redistribution of 10B Absorbed by Leaves and Roots of Cashew Seedlings

Boron (B) is transported mainly in the xylem, but by using isotopic tracers it was possible to verify that B has significant mobility in the phloem of polyols-producing species. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the mobility of ¹⁰B applied to cashew plants. The experiment was conducted from 05/10 to 07/10/2010 in a greenhouse of University of São Paulo State-UNESP, Ilha Solteira Campus, State of São Paulo, Brazil. 0.5 mg of B L^?1 of soil was used in the substrate. A solution of 255 mg of B L^?1 was used in recently mature and fully developed leaves. The total content of B and and percentage of boron in the plant derived from fertilizer (Bppf%) were evaluated in the old and new leaves stemming at 30 and 60 days after the application of ¹⁰B. As evidenced, B applied to leaves had restricted mobility in cashew tree. However, B applied in the substrate was absorbed and translocated to young leaves.     

Distribution, habitat and biomass of Pittosporum undulatum, the most important woody plant invader in the Azores Archipelago

Pittosporum undulatum Ventenat (Pittosporaceae) is a tree or shrub native to Australia introduced in the Azores Islands in the 19th century, presently naturalized in the nine islands. According to a random survey of vascular plants in the Azores, the invader is present throughout the archipelago, in 62% of 547 1-km² samples. It was found in pure or mixed stands, forming groups and also as isolated trees. P. undulatum was frequently found in native scrubland (62%), mixed woodland (39%) and hedgerows (25%). The altitudinal range extended from sea level up to about 800 m a.s.l., with the highest frequency between 100 and 400 m. The woody species more strongly associated with P. undulatum included characteristic native and endemic species as well as non-indigenous and invasive taxa. Based on a forest inventory, 49% of the forested area in the Azores, about 24,000 ha, is occupied by P. undulatum. Considerable areas inside Island Natural Parks are covered by this species. The estimated annual P. undulatum biomass production in the Azores might range from only about 150 Mg in the small island of Corvo up to more than 60,000 Mg in Pico Island. The heating value of its wood and its chemical composition make it a good candidate for use in combustion or gasification processes. Since there are no resources available to control this large-scale invasion, using P. undulatum biomass for energy production might be an important factor to stimulate the progressive and sustainable cutting of its stands and its replacement by Macaronesian species.     

Prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in enteric Escherichia coli from domestic pets and assessment of associated risk markers using a generalized linear mixed model

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global public health problem, which is caused by the use of antimicrobials in both human and animal medical practice. The objectives of the present cross-sectional study were as follows: (1) to determine the prevalence of resistance in Escherichia coli isolated from the feces of pets from the Porto region of Portugal against 19 antimicrobial agents and (2) to assess the individual, clinical and environmental characteristics associated with each pet as risk markers for the AMR of the E. coli isolates.     

Electro-acupuncture and Chinese herbs for treatment of cervical intervertebral disk disease in a dog

A non-ambulatory dog with tetraparesis following a pain episode that had evolved over 2 months was submitted for medical treatment and diagnosed with intervertebral disk disease at C3-C4 and dorsal extradural compression at C1-C2 and C3-C4 using myelography and computed tomography. The dog experienced ambulation recovery after 15 days of treatment with only electroacupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, with marked improvement occurring after only 10 treatments. Six months of follow-up demonstrated that the dog was stable and had no recurrence of symptoms. Therefore, it was concluded that the combination of electroacupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine was responsible for motor rehabilitation.     

Temporal and spatial progress of the diseases caused by the crinivirus tomato chlorosis virus and the begomovirus tomato severe rugose virus in tomatoes in Brazil

Efficient management of whitefly-borne diseases remains a challenge due to the lack of a comprehensive understanding of their epidemiology, particularly of the diseases tomato golden mosaic and tomato yellowing. Here, by monitoring 16 plots in four commercial fields, the temporal and spatial distribution of these two diseases were studied in tomato fields in Brazil. In the experimental plots these diseases were caused by tomato severe rugose virus (ToSRV) and tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV), respectively. The incidence of each virus was similar in the plots within a field but varied greatly among fields. Plants with symptoms for both diseases were randomly distributed in three of four spatial analyses. The curves representing the progress of both diseases were similar and contained small fluctuations, indicating that the spread of both viruses was similar under field conditions. In transmission experiments of ToSRV and ToCV by Bemisia tabaci MEAM1 (former biotype B), these viruses had a similar transmission rate in single or mixed infections. It was then shown that primary and secondary spread of ToCV were not efficiently controlled by insecticide applications. Finally, in a typical monomolecular model of disease progress, simulation of the primary dissemination of ToSRV and ToCV showed that infected plants were predominantly randomly distributed. It is concluded that, although the manner of vector transmission differs between ToSRV (persistent) and ToCV (semipersistent), the main dispersal mechanisms are most probably similar for these two diseases: primary spread is the predominant mechanism, and epidemics of these diseases have been caused by several influxes of viruliferous whiteflies.