Fate of Endosulfan in Cotton Soil under Sub-tropical Conditions of Northern India

Terrestrial field studies were conducted with endosulfan during the 1989–90 Kharif season in bare cotton soil, to investigate the fate of endosulfan and its downward movement under sub-tropical conditions of northern India. Field experiments consisted of spray application of endosulfan at 875 g ha^-1 42 and 63 days after the assumed date of sowing in two separate treatments. Soil samples drawn periodically from different depths were analysed by GC-ECD (Ni⁶³) for endosulfan and its breakdown products. Dissipation of the total endosulfan residues occurred to an extent of 92–97% in the first four-week period and by about 99% in 238 days in two distinct phases in first-order kinetics. Residue half life (T_1/2) varied from 39 to 42 days. The parent compound metabolized to endosulfan-diol and endosulfan sulfate. Endosulfan-diol remained confined in the upper 5-cm layer and dissipated completely in 28 days whereas endosulfan sulfate was first detectable seven days after treatment and persisted until the end of the experiment, remaining confined in the upper 0–10 cm soil layer. The β-isomer also did not leach down beyond 10 cm depth. © 1997 SCI.     

Impact of Tillage and Herbicides on Weed Density,Yield and Quality of Cotton in Wheat Based Cropping System

Conservation tillage may improve yield of cotton in addition to improvement in soil quality if practiced for longer period. However, the practice may not be productive in short-term particularly when severe weeds are infesting the crops such as Cynodon dactylon, Conyza canadensis, Tribulus terrestris, and Cyperus rotundus, etc. Recent studies indicate that conventional tillage （CT） is more productive than zero tillage （ZT）/reduced tillage （RT）. Performance of cotton under three tillage systems, viz., ZT, RT and CT; and five herbicides, i.e., haloxyfop-R-methyl 10.8 EC (108 g a.i. ha^-1), lactofen 24 EC (168 g a.i. ha^-1), haloxyfop 10.8 EC + lactofen 24 EC, hand weeding, and weedy check were evaluated during 2010-2011 at Gomal University, D.I.Khan, Pakistan, to explore the best management option for effective weed control, enhanced yield and quality of cotton grown after wheat. The results revealed that hand weeding and Haloxyfop as post emergence alone or in combination with Lactofen reduced weed density to the minimum irrespective of the tillage systems. Excessive rainfall and cooler temperature limited cotton growth and yield in 2010. The adverse weather conditions had more adverse effect on boll weight under ZT and RT than CT. Haloxyfop + lactofen produced higher seed cotton yield in RT than ZT, however, it could not exceed CT. Broad-spectrum herbicides×CT produced the highest number of bolls/plant, boll weight and seed cotton yield. Fiber quality and net returns were also the highest in broad-spectrum herbicides×CT. In conclusion, broad-spectrum herbicides under CT were more productive in wheat based cropping system on silty clay soil of D.I.Khan.     

Maturational development of drug-metabolizing enzymes in dogs

A qualitative and quantitative assessment was made of the development of hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes (DME) in dogs as part of a study of the ability of animal test species to metabolize drugs. The following DME variables were measured in this study: amount of cytochromes P-450 and b5; activity of the NADPH and NADH-dependent reductases associated with each of these cytochromes; activity of cytochrome P-450-mediated enzymes, including aniline and coumarin hydroxylases, aminopyrine N-demethylase, and 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase; activity of a uridine diphosphoglucuronic acid glucuronyl transferase with 4-methylumbelliferone as substrate; and glutathione-S-transferase activities, with dinitrochlorobenzene and dichloronitrobenzene as substrates. Most enzyme components had achieved maximal amount or activity by the fifth to eighth week after birth; they tended to decrease after weaning, although the activity of dichloronitrobenzene-glutathione transferase in geriatric dogs (312 to 525 weeks old) was approximately twofold greater than that of 8-week-old pups. There were no gender-related differences in any of the enzyme amounts or activities determined. Individual variation was pronounced even in the homogeneous colony from which these dogs were obtained.     

A comprehensive evaluation and first molecular report of Theileria ovis infection in small ruminants in Saudi Arabia

A total of 1000 clinically healthy small ruminants comprising 500 sheep and 500 goats from five districts within Riyadh Province in Saudi Arabia were investigated by routine Giemsa staining for hematozoan parasites. Out of these, 100 sheep and 95 goat samples were investigated by PCR using three pairs of hemoprotozoan-specific primers. Based on microscopic examination, 33.2% of sheep and 25.2% of goats were found infected with hemoprotozoan parasites, while PCR detected hematozoan infection in 46% of sheep and 33.7% of goats. Extensive molecular characterization of hematozoan infection using six pairs of species-specific primers revealed the dominance of Theileria ovis, rather than any other species, which is recorded for the first time in small ruminants in Saudi Arabia. Prevalence of T. ovis in sheep and goats was found to be the highest in Riyadh (32, 48%) followed by AL-Kharj (31, 35%), Ad-Dawadimi (31, 33%), AL-Majmaah (15, 27%), and Rumah (17, 23%). The highest parasite prevalence was recorded in the 3 years of age and >?4 years of age ruminants, while the lowest prevalence was recorded in <?1 year of age ruminants. No noticeable differences in parasite prevalence between male or female ruminants were recorded. Partial sequencing of 18S rRNA gene revealed the infection of the studied ruminants with four new isolates of T. ovis. Further characterization of the pathogenicity and the clinical effects of these T. ovis isolates in sheep and goats is highly needed. The current results can be helpful in protecting and improving livestock industry in the countries that depend on a high number of small ruminants.

     

Polypeptide with broad biological activity: isolation from small intestine

A polypeptide, which has potent and diverse biological action-including systemic vasodilation, hypotension, increased cardiac output, respiratory stimulation, and hyperglycemia-was isolated from the small intestine of the hog. The peptide has 28 amino acid residues and is chemically distinct from the kinins, "substance P," glucagon, and secretin.     

Evaluating the public health response to a mass bat exposure—Wyoming, 2017

Mass bat exposures (MBEs) occur when multiple people are exposed to a bat or a bat colony, often over an extended period. In August 2017, a public health investigation was started in response to an MBE that occurred during May–August 2017 at a national park research station in Wyoming. We identified 176 people who had slept primarily in two lodges (Lodges A and B) at the research station, and successfully contacted 165 (93.8%) of these individuals. Risk assessments (RAs) were administered to all 165 individuals to determine degree and type of exposures to bats (e.g., biting or scratching). Exposure status for research station guests was classified as “non‐exposed,” “low risk” or “high risk,” and counselling was provided to guide post‐exposure prophylaxis (PEP) recommendations. Prior to public health notification and intervention, 19 persons made the decision to pursue PEP. The healthcare‐seeking behaviours of this group were taken to represent outcomes in the absence of public health intervention. (These persons received a RA, and their risk classification was retrospectively assigned.) Approximately 1–2 weeks after conducting the RAs, we conducted a follow‐up survey to determine whether recommendations regarding PEP were ultimately followed. The proportion of individuals that unnecessarily pursued PEP was higher among the 19 individuals that sought health care prior to receiving the RA (p < 0.00001). Among those receiving the RA first, all persons classified as high risk followed public health guidance to seek PEP treatment. Despite this, upon re‐interview, only 21/79 (26.6%) of guests could accurately recall their risk classification, with most people (55.7%) overestimating their risk. Study findings demonstrate that early public health interventions such as RAs can reduce unnecessary use of PEP and that messaging used during rabies counselling should be clear.     

Characterization of Egyptian <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytophthora infestans</Emphasis> population using simple sequence repeat markers

The plant pathogenic oomycete, Phytophthora infestans, is the causal agent of late blight disease in tomato and potato. For characterizing Egyptian P. infestans isolates by DNA marker analysis, 40 isolates of P. infestans were collected from different locations in Egypt during two growing seasons (2012/2013 and 2013/2014). The 40 isolates were grouped into seven genotypes, in which 24 alleles were detected. The identified genotypes were not completely associated with geographic location and sample collection years. These results provide genetic and geographical information for developing a program to manage late blight disease.     

Evaluation of PCR,IEF and ELISA techniques for the detection and identification of potato cyst nematodes from field soil samples in England and Wales

Effective management of potato cyst nematodes (PCNs) requires simple, rapid and accurate identification and quantification of field populations. Soil samples from a survey of 484 fields in potato rotations in England and Wales were used to compare the identification and quantification of PCNs using IEF, PCR, ELISA and bait plant tests. The cyst counts and bait plant test revealed that 64.3% of field samples contained PCNs. Bait plant tests increased the detection rate of PCNs in field samples by 4–6.4%. This means that some infestations are cryptic and would not normally be detected by standard counts. IEF, PCR and ELISA methods distinguished between Globodera rostochiensis and G pallida and were able to register mixed populations; however they were not in full agreement. All methods suggested that G pallida is the dominant species in the field samples tested. The PCR results indicated that 66% of field samples contained pure G pallida, 8% contained pure G rostochiensis and 26% contained mixtures of the two species. Estimates of the relative process times taken per sample in the PCR, IEF and ELISA techniques are given. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Mycorrhizal autochthonous consortium induced defense-related mechanisms of olive trees against Verticillium dahliae

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The present work aimed to investigate the effect of an autochthonous mycorrhizal consortium in enhancing olive tree tolerance against Verticillium...