Biological control potential of Turkish entomopathogenic nematodes against the Mediterranean fruit fly <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ceratitis capitata</Emphasis>

The entomopathogenic nematodes Steinernema weiseri, S. feltiae, S. carpocapsae and two strains of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, isolated from Turkish soils, were evaluated against larvae of the Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly) Ceratitis capitata in plastic cups under laboratory conditions with sandy loam soil and 10% moisture level. At a rate of 100 infective juveniles (IJs)/cm², the last instar larvae of C. capitata were susceptible to the entomopathogenic nematodes: the S. feltiae 09-31 strain recovered from Aydin provided 78% mortality, whereas S. weiseri and S. carpocapsae killed 50% and 56% of the larvae, respectively. Both strains of H. bacteriophora species caused less than 50% mortality. Except for S. feltiae, the majority of infected medflies died as prepupae or pupae within the puparia. More than 90% larval mortality was recorded at 200 and 400 IJs/cm² for S. feltiae. None of the nematode isolates infected the medfly pupae within the puparia. In pot experiments containing soil, S. feltiae caused 96% and 97% mortality at 100 and 200 IJs/cm², respectively. In pot experiments with grass present, more than 94% mortality was obtained in the presence of grass roots.     

Effects of dietary <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-carnitine and chromium picolinate supplementations on performance and some serum parameters in rainbow trout (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchus mykiss</Emphasis>)

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of supplemental dietary l-carnitine, chromium picolinate (Cr-Pic) and their combination on growth performance and serum total protein, cholesterol, triglyceride and glucose of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). A total of 276 rainbow trout were randomly allocated to four groups. Fish (average initial body weight = 151 ± 1.69 g) were fed a basal diet without supplemental l-carnitine and chromium picolinate in the control group. The basal diet was supplemented with either 500 mg/kg l-carnitine, 1.6 mg/kg chromium picolinate or 500 mg/kg l-carnitine plus 1.6 mg/kg chromium picolinate for experimental groups 1 (C), 2 (Cr-Pic) and 3 (C + Cr-Pic), respectively. Fish were fed twice a day to apparent satiation for 58 days. Weight gain, growth rate, feed consumption and feed conversion ratio (feed/gain) were calculated for the whole period. At the end of the study, six fish were chosen randomly from each tank to represent the experiment and frozen at −20°C for subsequent dorsal muscle analysis. The results showed no significant differences in final body weight, weight gain or feed conversion ratio among groups. There were also no significant differences in serum total protein, cholesterol, triglyceride or glucose concentrations among groups. Significantly higher lipid concentration of dorsal muscle was observed in experimental groups 1 and 3. In conclusion, supplemental dietary l-carnitine, chromium picolinate and their combination have no beneficial effects on improving growth performance and feed conversion ratio in rainbow trout. However, dietary l-carnitine slightly increased lipid concentration in dorsal muscle of rainbow trout.     

Comparison of the Morphometric Features of the Left and Right Horse Kidneys: A Stereological Approach

The aims of this study were to determine the total volume of the horse kidney and volume fractions of its functional subcomponents (cortex, medulla, renal pelvis) using stereological methods and investigate any possible difference in the functional subcomponents of the right and left kidneys that may arise from differences in shape. The study was carried out on the kidneys of 5 horses of different breed and sex. The weight of the kidneys was measured by a digital scale, and kidney volume was calculated by Archimedes' principle. Total kidney volume and volume fractions of subcomponents of the right and left kidneys were estimated by the Cavalieri's principle. The weights of the right and left kidneys were 550 ± 25 g and 585 ± 23 g, respectively. The volumes of the right and left kidneys estimated using the Cavalieri method were 542 ± 46 ml and 581 ± 29 ml. The relative organ weight of the kidneys was calculated as 1:330. The densities of the right and left kidneys were determined to be 1.01 and 1.00, respectively. The mean volume fractions of the cortex, medulla and renal pelvis were determined as 55.6, 42.7 and 1.7 in both kidneys. No statistically significant difference existed between morphometric data pertaining to the right and left kidneys (P > 0.05). To determine precisely whether differences in shape cause any difference in the functional subcomponents of the right and left kidneys requires further investigation of differences in the number of microscopically functional unit of the kidney such as renal glomeruli and nephrons.     

Antimicrobial susceptibility and molecular subtyping of 55 Turkish Bacillus anthracis strains using 25-loci multiple-locus VNTR analysis

Anthrax, which is caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, is one of the oldest documented infectious diseases in both livestock and humans. The differentiation of B. anthracis strains is difficult because of their highly homogeneous genomes. We used multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) with 25 markers to genotype 55 B. anthracis isolates from 16 distinct regions of Turkey. The antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates was investigated using the agar dilution method. An eight-loci MLVA assay revealed six unique genotypes (G(K)13, G(K)27, G(K)35, G(K)43, G(K)44, and G(K)61). However, the 25-loci MLVA was more discriminatory, revealing the presence of ten genotypes instead of six. The additional genotypes resulted from the split of four subtypes: G(K)35 (b and c), G(K)43 (a and f), G(K)44 (d and e), and G(K)61 (i and j). All of the Turkish B. anthracis isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, tigecycline, linezolid, and vancomycin. One isolate was resistant to penicillin and to doxycycline. A total of 34 isolates were susceptible, 20 isolates were partially susceptible, and one isolate was resistant to erythromycin. None of the isolates exhibited susceptibility to cefotaxime. A total of 53 isolates were susceptible to gentamicin, and two were resistant. The genotypes G(K)35 (n=24), G(K)44 (n=13), and G(K)43 (n=10) were the most prevalent in 10, 6, and 5 regions, respectively, of the total 16 provinces. The B. anthracis isolates collected from these regions implied that the movement of B. anthracis is a result of the increased transportation of livestock and the resultant cross contamination.     

Efficacy of Megasphaera elsdenii inoculation in subacute ruminal acidosis in cattle

Two consecutive experiments were carried out to determine efficacy of Megasphaera elsdenii inoculation in alleviation of subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA). In the first experiment, SARA was induced by feeding corn‐ and wheat‐based diets (20%, 40%, 60% and 80% of TMR, DM basis) in six ruminally cannulated heifers. Continuous pH was obtained using data loggers embedded in rumen. In corn (80%)‐ and wheat (60%)‐based diets ruminal pH ranged from 5.2 to 5.6 for 7.77 and 5.93 hr. In the second experiment (5 day), M. elsdenii (200 ml; 2.4 x 10¹⁰ cfu/ml) was inoculated during the first two days. During the SARA induction period, M. elsdenii and S. bovis in rumen liquor were more abundant in wheat‐based feeding (7.97 and 8.77) than in corn‐based feeding (7.06 and 7.95 per ml, log basis; p < 0.0001 for both). M. elsdenii inoculation increased total volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration when corn‐based diet was fed, whereas it decreased total VFA concentration when wheat‐based diet was fed (p < 0.004). There was a decrease in the propionic acid proportion (24.04%–19.08%; p < 0.002), whereas no alteration in lactate and ammonia concentrations was observed. M. elsdenii inoculation increased protozoa count (from 5.39 to 5.55 per ml, log basis; p < 0.009) and decreased S. bovis count (from 9.18 to 7.95 per ml, log basis; p < 0.0001). The results suggest that M. elsdenii inoculation may help prevent SARA depending on dietary grain through altering rumen flora as reflected by a decrease in S. bovis count and an increase in protozoa count.     

An SMS based system for surveillance of wheat rust diseases: a pilot initiative in Central Anatolia region in Turkey

Rust diseases (Puccinia spp.), namely stripe, leaf and stem rusts, are among the major diseases of wheat. Their management requires integrated approaches including timely surveillance, speedy communication and rapid response. This surveillance system was developed in order to facilitate participation of extension offices (in provinces/districts) in the survey of wheat rust diseases and sharing of information quickly. The SMS based system was tested as a pilot tool in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey connecting 25 districts in 5 provinces through an SMS network during the rust development period (April–July) in 2013. The observations from 268 fields indicated that leaf rust and stem rust development was insignificant in the districts covered, occurring in only 2.3% and 1.9% of the fields respectively. Stripe rust prevalence was higher occurring in 44.8% of the fields. Of the inspected fields 2.5% had infected plant incidences between 15% and 40% requiring control measures. Using the SMS reports received from the extension officers, the system facilitated daily monitoring of rust development and exchange of observations among the relevant institutions, also sending out alert messages to designated authorities as necessary. The study demonstrated that the system can serve as a rapid surveillance and communication tool to facilitate timely decision making and rapid response to prevent wheat rust epidemics.     

Relative potency of culture supernatants of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xenorhabdus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Photorhabdus</Emphasis> spp. on growth of some fungal phytopathogens

In previous research, concentrated metabolites produced by bacteria of the genera Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus (which are symbionts of entomopathogenic nematodes) were reported to be highly suppressive to fungal and oomycete plant pathogens. Conceivably, application of non-concentrated bacterial filtrates would be more economically feasible compared to using concentrated metabolites. We evaluated the potency of 10 % v/v cell-free supernatants of the bacteria X. bovienii, X. nematophila, X. cabanillasii, X. szentirmaii, P. temperata, P. luminescens (VS) and P. luminescens (K22) against Fusicladium carpophilum (peach scab), F. effusum (pecan scab), Monilinia fructicola (brown rot), Glomerella cingulata (anthracnose) and Armillaria tabescens (root rot). A bioactive compound derived from Photorhabdus bacteria, trans-cinnamic acid (TCA), was also compared with the bacterial filtrates. Fungal colony size based on manual measurements was compared for accuracy to measurements taken by image analysis. Supernatants of Xenorhabdus spp. exhibited stronger suppressive effects on spore germination and vegetative growth when compared with Photorhabdus spp. Overall, TCA was the most effective treatment; vegetative growth was completely inhibited by TCA (1.27 mg/ml). TCA treatments also suppressed spore germination of F. carpophylium and F. effussum by approximately 90 %. The efficacy of supernatants varied among Xenorhabdus species depending on the species tested, but X. szentirmaii filtrates tended to cause greater inhibition relative to the other bacteria supernatants. Manual measurement of colony diameter required at least two replicate estimates of the colony to avoid a type II error. Area measurements were slightly overestimated based on ruler measurements, but did not affect the outcome of the analysis. Supernatants of Xenorhabdus spp., Photorhabdus spp., or TCA, did not cause any phytotoxic effects when applied to various plant species in the greenhouse. Our results indicate the potential of using TCA or Xenorhabdus cell free supernatants as bio-fungicides. Such a product, based on bacterial culture supernatants, would be economically viable, marketable and easily applicable by the end-users in many situations.