Infection dynamics of Bonamia exitiosa on intertidal Ostrea angasi farms

Bonamia spp. cause epizootics in oysters worldwide. In southern Australia, Bonamia exitiosa Hine, Cochennac and Berthe, 2001 threatens aquaculture of Ostrea angasi Sowerby, 1871. Bonamia spp. infections can display strong seasonality, but seasonal dynamics of B. exitiosa–O. angasi are unknown. Ostrea angasi naïve to B. exitiosa infection were stocked onto farms in three growing regions, and B. exitiosa was monitored seasonally for one year. Environmental parameters we measured did not correlate with B. exitiosa prevalence or infection intensities. Extreme temperatures suggest O. angasi culture systems need development. Bonamia exitiosa prevalence increased over time. After three months, O. angasi had B. exitiosa prevalence of 0.08–0.4, and after one year, the prevalence was 0.57–0.88. At some sites, O. angasi had >0.5 B. exitiosa prevalence in >6 months, but at other sites, >9 months passed before prevalence was >0.5. Bonamia exitiosa infection intensities were low with no seasonal pattern but were affected by the interaction of site, season and oyster meat:shell ratio. Understanding infection and initiating a breeding programme for resistance would provide benefits for O. angasi industry expansion.     

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme in Bovine Ovarian Follicular Fluid and its Relationship with Oestradiol and Progesterone

The purpose of the present study was to identify angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) in bovine ovarian follicular fluid and to relate the ACE activity to the phase of the oestrous cycle, pregnancy, and the follicular fluid concentrations of oestradiol and progesterone. The ACE activity was similar to that found in bovine serum and was completely inhibited by the specific ACE inhibitor captopril. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) was 1.4 × 10^?8 mol/l (range 0.8 × 10^?8 to 5.0 × 10^?8 mol/l; n=6), which is similar to that found in bovine and human serum. The ACE activity did not differ in the pre‐ovulatory and luteal phase, pregnancy or cystic follicles. It correlated with the follicular fluid concentration of progesterone in cycling cows (ρ=0.476; p < 0.005; n=36), but did not correlate with the diameter of the follicles, the follicular fluid concentration of oestradiol or the ratio between the oestradiol and progesterone concentrations. The demonstration of ACE in bovine ovarian follicular fluid provides further evidence for the presence of a local renin–angiotensin system in the bovine ovary.     

Influence of seed depth and molluscicide pellet placement and timing on slug damage, activity and survival in winter wheat

In a laboratory experiment, grey field slugs (Deroceras reticulatum) were introduced to trays of clay soil drilled with wheat seeds at 10 or 25 mm depth. Trays were left without molluscicide, or methiocarb pellets were drilled with the seeds or placed on the surface of the soil immediately after drilling. In the absence of molluscicide, there was less damage to seeds drilled at 25 mm than at 10 mm. Methiocarb pellets drilled with seeds at 10 mm depth killed slugs and reduced damage to seeds and seedlings, but the percentage of seeds killed was similar to the percentage of deeper-drilled seeds killed where no molluscicide had been applied. Pellets drilled with deeper-sown seeds did not kill slugs, or reduce damage to seeds and seedlings, whereas pellets placed on the soil surface immediately after sowing were effective in killing slugs and reducing plant damage irrespective of drilling depth. The best protection from slug damage was provided by deeper drilling combined with pellets broadcast on the soil surface. In a field experiment, methiocarb pellets broadcast immediately after drilling at two depths killed slugs and protected seedlings from damage, whereas pellets drilled with seeds were ineffective because seed-bed conditions prevented slugs from reaching seeds and pellets (only 4% of seeds were killed by slugs in the absence of molluscicide treatment). The implications of these results for slug control and for non-target fauna (wood mice and ground beetles) are discussed.