Evaluation of an Immunochromatographic Test to the Diagnosis of Canine Brucellosis Caused by Brucella canis

This study evaluated the performance of an immunochromatographic test (ICT) for the diagnosis of canine brucellosis caused by Brucella canis, comparing its results with that of the rapid slide agglutination test with and without the use of 2‐mercaptoethanol and the agar gel immunodiffusion test (AGID). The microbiological culture, PCR and clinical examination were used as reference. According to the results obtained in clinical examination, blood culture, culture of semen and vaginal swab and PCR in blood, semen and vaginal swab, a total of 102 dogs were divided into three groups: B. canis‐infected dogs (Group 1), B. canis‐non‐infected dogs (Group 2) and dogs with suspected brucellosis (Group 3). The diagnostic sensitivity of RSAT, 2ME‐RSAT, AGID and ICT in Group 1 was, respectively, 75%, 37.5%, 27.8% and 89.58%. The diagnostic specificity of RSAT, 2ME‐RSAT, AGID and ICT in Group 2 was, respectively, 91%, 100%, 100%, and 100%. In dogs with suspected brucellosis, 9.67% were RSAT positive, none was positive by 2ME‐RSAT, 3.22% were AGID positive and 6.45% were ICT positive. The main drawback concerning canine brucellosis diagnosis is the lack of a highly sensitive serological assay to be used as a screening test to the rapid identification of infected animals. The ICT showed a high diagnostic specificity and a diagnostic sensitivity value greater than that observed in the RSAT, 2ME‐RSAT and AGID. However, 10.41% of infected dogs had negative results by ICT. These dogs were positive by microbiological culture and/or PCR, indicating active infection and consequently a higher potential of spreading Brucella. Although rapid and simple to perform, the ICT lacked sensitivity to be used as a screening test.     

Nutrient-specific foraging in invertebrate predators

Many herbivores and omnivores adjust their food selection behavior to regulate the intake of multiple nutrients. Carnivores, however, are generally assumed to optimize the rate of prey capture rather than select prey according to nutrient composition. We showed experimentally that invertebrate predators can forage selectively for protein and lipids to redress specific nutritional imbalances. This selection can take place at different stages of prey handling: The predator may select among foods of different nutritional composition, eat more of a prey if it is rich in nutrients that the predator is deficient in, or extract specific nutrients from a single prey item.     

The Seismic Structure of the Sun

Global Oscillation Network Group data reveal that the internal structure of the sun can be well represented by a calibrated standard model. However, immediately beneath the convection zone and at the edge of the energy-generating core, the sound-speed variation is somewhat smoother in the sun than it is in the model. This could be a consequence of chemical inhomogeneity that is too severe in the model, perhaps owing to inaccurate modeling of gravitational settling or to neglected macroscopic motion that may be present in the sun. Accurate knowledge of the sun's structure enables inferences to be made about the physics that controls the sun; for example, through the opacity, the equation of state, or wave motion. Those inferences can then be used elsewhere in astrophysics.     

Genetic diversity and gene flow in six accessions of Meso-America teosintes

The genus Zea (teosinte) has a native distribution from Mexico to Nicaragua (Meso-America region) and studies on teosinte species may help improve our understanding of maize genetics, population genetics, genome evolution and crop evolution. Moreover, since F1 hybrids between teosinte and maize are fertile, all teosinte species can potentially contribute to maize breeding in the form of traits such as resistance or tolerance to heavy metals in the soil and other adverse environmental conditions. Gene flow between maize and teosinte occurs in Mexico and Central America. This study analysed the genetic diversity of teosintes by using the microsatellite technique on a total of 120 individuals from six different species and 21 Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR). A total of 109 alleles were found and the number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 7. The genetic diversity varied between all species from 0.514 to 0.572, with a mean value of 0.548 (Nei index). Rare and unique alleles were detected in all species, with the highest frequencies found in Zea diploperennis Iltis, Doebley et Guzman, Zea perennis (Hitchc.) Reeves et Mangelsdorf and Zea nicaraguensis Iltis et Benz, which had more than seven rare alleles each. Analysis of molecular variance revealed that 19.87% of the variation between species was statistically significant (P < 0.001). When the different species were compared with the Wright (Fst) value, genetic variation between species was confirmed. The data also revealed a moderate rate gene flow between the species. Genetic diversity was found to be somewhat higher in Central America than in Mexico.     

膜下滴灌制种玉米需水量与需水规律的研究

[目的]定位监测高产膜下滴灌制种玉米田间土壤水分动态变化,为膜下滴灌制种玉米拔节后水分管理提供理论依据.[方法]采用时域反射仪(TDR)对膜下滴灌制种玉米田间土壤水分动态变化连续监测并分析干物质的积累情况,运用水分平衡法计算膜下滴灌制种玉米各生育时期耗水量和水分生产率.[结果]拔节期至灌浆期45d左右是玉米耗水高峰期,日平均耗水强度为6.4 mm;灌浆期日耗水强度为3.2 mm.[结论]制种玉米拔节后根区的土壤体积含水量总是维持在23.5;～31.4;(田间持水量的60;～80;).     

Effect of genotype of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) on attractiveness to the mirid Sahlbergella singularis (Hemiptera: Miridae) in the laboratory

BACKGROUND: Mirids are a major constraint to cocoa growing in Africa. Cocoa breeding for tolerance/resistance could be effective in an integrated pest management system. Attractiveness is one aspect of tolerance/resistance, and decreasing the attractiveness of cocoa trees should be a good way of reducing damage. RESULTS: Small-scale laboratory tests were carried out in Cameroon to assess differences in the attractiveness to mirids of eleven cocoa genotypes. The genotypes were ranked according to their attractiveness score and a distance from a mean value. An analysis of variance was performed and revealed significant differences between cocoa genotypes (F=3.15, P<0.001). The cocoa genotype groupings revealed three major categories, with BE10 and SNK413 proving to be the most attractive. In contrast, five genotypes, IMC60, the Catongo Trinitario genotypes, Playa Alta2 (from Venezuela), SIC5 and SNK614, proved to be less attractive than the mean. Four genotypes (PA107, SNK619, UPA134 and T60/887) displayed similar attractiveness to the mean. CONCLUSION: The circular microtest offered the advantage of not needing a reference cocoa genotype. The least attractive clones, such as IMC60, were also the most tolerant in the field. Comparisons with the results of other studies are proposed.     

Effects of Melatonin Implants During Non‐Breeding Season on Sperm Motility and Reproductive Parameters in Rasa Aragonesa Rams

The effect of melatonin implants administered during non‐breeding season in Rasa Aragonesa rams on sperm motility parameters and other reproductive traits was assessed. In a first experiment, two Rasa Aragonesa rams were implanted (with melatonin group M), remaining other two males as control group (C). Semen of each group was collected from 1 May to 23 June, twice or three times a week, and motility parameters were assessed using a computer‐assisted sperm analysis system. Melatonin increased the percentage of progressive motile spermatozoa, particularly during 46–75 days after melatonin implantation (p < 0.01). In experiment 2, M and C in vitro fertilization ability had been determined by zona‐pellucida binding assays, using spermatozoa from experiment 1, obtained 60–70 days after melatonin was implanted. A significantly higher number of spermatozoa attached per oocyte was observed in frozen‐thawed immature ovine oocytes incubated with sperm from M animals than in those incubated with sperm from the C group (p < 0.01). Finally, a field assay (experiment 3) was performed. In this case, five Rasa Aragonesa rams were implanted with melatonin and three remained as control group. Sperm doses from those animals were used for artificial insemination of 2608 Rasa Aragonesa ewes from 39 different farms at non‐breeding season. Fertility, litter size and fecundity were studied. Semen from melatonin implanted rams seemed to increase both fertility and fecundity in ewes inseminated with spermatozoa obtained 46–60 days after implantation (p < 0.1). Thus, melatonin treatment in rams during non‐breeding season modifies sperm motility parameters and seems to improve the fertilization parameters obtained.     

Behavioural responses of the maize weevil,Sitophilus zeamais,to host (stored‐grain) and non‐host plant volatiles

BACKGROUND: Four‐arm olfactometer bioassays were conducted to assess the behavioural responses of the adult maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), to harvested seeds of host plants, i.e. white maize, yellow maize (Zea mays L.) and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (Poaceae), and non‐host plant materials, i.e. alligator pepper, Aframomum melegueta (Rosk) K. Schum (Zingiberaceae), rhizomes of ginger, Zingiber officinale (Roscoe) (Zingiberaceae), and West African black pepper, Piper guineense Thonn and Schum (Piperaceae). Additional bioassays with host plant volatiles were conducted in the presence of three doses of non‐host plant materials. RESULTS: Both sexes of the weevil showed strong attraction to maize and wheat seed volatiles, but were significantly repelled (P < 0.001) by odours from A. melegueta, Z. officinale and P. guineense. Furthermore, S. zeamais avoided maize and wheat seeds presented in combination with the non‐host plant material at 10% (w/w) and 33% (w/w) levels. CONCLUSIONS: A. melegueta, Z. officinale and P. guineense have the potential for use in the protection of stored grains by resource‐poor farmers with local access to these plants. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry