Susceptibility of eight Algerian olive cultivars to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bactrocera oleae</Emphasis> infestation – a pomological and nutritional quality perspective

The olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Rossi), is the major olive pest in the Mediterranean Basin, being responsible for high losses in olive production. The objective of this work was to study the influence of B. oleae infestation on the pomological parameters and nutritive value (lipids, proteins, carbohydrates and ash) of eight olive cultivars (Abani, Aellah, Blanquette de Guelma, Chemlal, Ferkani, Limli, Rougette de Mitidja and Souidi) from Algeria. The results displayed different degrees of susceptibility of the studied cultivars to this pest. Fruit size (weight) and the Fruit weight / stone weight ratio are significantly correlated with the attack. The statistical treatment of the results (PCA and HAC) highlighted different behaviors from the cultivars, concerning the attack. There are some cultivars more susceptible, being the nutritional value also affected. The lipid and protein contents were positively correlated with the attack and the carbohydrates negatively, suggesting a careful choice by the B. oleae. Ovipositional preference of olive fruit fly females and the success of larval development in different olive cultivars are crucial to establishing new approaches in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) against this pest.     

Differences in bark beetle (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ips typographus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pityogenes chalcographus)</Emphasis> abundance in a strict spruce reserve and the surrounding spruce forests of Serbia

Frequent windthrow in the strict reserves of spruce in the Kopaonik National Park provides much material favorable for the development of Ips typographus (L.) and Pityogenes chalcographus (L.) (Coleoptera, Scolytidae). Therefore it was assumed that the abundance of these bark beetles in the reserves was high and that they dispersed to the surrounding spruce forests. To verify this opinion, their population levels were monitored in the strict reserve Jankove Bare and the adjoining spruce forests over the period 2006–2008. I. typographus parasitoids were identified and the parasitism percent was determined in spruce forests around the reserves. Throughout the monitoring period, the abundance of I. typographus and P. chalcographus was found to be lower in the reserve than in the surrounding spruce forests. Five species of I. typographus parasitoids and a low parasitization percent were identified in spruce forests surrounding the reserve.     

Hip dysplasia in a 6-year-old Salz ram

A 6-year old Salz ram was presented with a history of poor body condition, progressive gait abnormalities, pelvic limb lameness, and difficulty with copulation. Based on the history, clinical signs, hip palpation, and radiography, a diagnosis of hip dysplasia, previously unreported in sheep, was made.     

Effects of atmospheric ammonia on pulmonary bacterial clearance in the young pig.

Young pigs were exposed to an aerosol of a nonpathogenic strain of Escherichia coli and then were retained in air-pollutant exposure chambers for a 2-hour clearance period. In series 1 (n = 80 pigs), 40 exposed young pigs (principals; 15.5 days of age) were placed in an atmosphere of filtered room air + 50 ppm of atmospheric NH3 during the clearance period; control pigs were exposed to filtered room air without added NH3. In series 2 (n = 24 pigs), 12 exposed young pigs (principals; 6.2 days of age) were similarly maintained, but at a lower concentration of atmospheric NH3 (75 ppm). At the end of the clearance period pigs were killed and pulmonary bacterial clearance was determined. Pigs kept in the NH3-contaminated atmospheres (either concentration) harbored more bacteria, on the average, in their lungs than did the controls. If series 1 and 2 data were combined, pigs kept in the NH3-contaminated atmospheres had 51% more bacteria in their lungs than did the controls. Pulmonic weight and ratio of pulmonic weight to body weight of pigs kept in the NH3-contaminated atmosphere were greater than those of the controls in series 1, but not in series 2. Gross and histopathologic examinations of lung tissue generally revealed no differences between controls and principals in either series 1 or 2.     

Integrated disease management of ascochyta blight in pulse crops

Ascochyta blight causes significant yield loss in pulse crops worldwide. Integrated disease management is essential to take advantage of cultivars with partial resistance to this disease. The most effective practices, established by decades of research, use a combination of disease-free seed, destruction or avoidance of inoculum sources, manipulation of sowing dates, seed and foliar fungicides, and cultivars with improved resistance. An understanding of the pathosystems and the inter-relationship between host, pathogen and the environment is essential to be able to make correct decisions for disease control without compromising the agronomic or economic ideal. For individual pathosystems, some components of the integrated management principles may need to be given greater consideration than others. For instance, destruction of infested residue may be incompatible with no or minimum tillage practices, or rotation intervals may need to be extended in environments that slow the speed of residue decomposition. For ascochyta-susceptible chickpeas the use of disease-free seed, or seed treatments, is crucial as seed-borne infection is highly effective as primary inoculum and epidemics develop rapidly from foci in favourable conditions. Implemented fungicide strategies differ according to cultivar resistance and the control efficacy of fungicides, and the effectiveness of genetic resistance varies according to seasonal conditions. Studies are being undertaken to develop advanced decision support tools to assist growers in making more informed decisions regarding fungicide and agronomic practices for disease control.     

Inconspicuous restraint of rice seedling growth by root-infecting fungi in soil of a rice paddy field

 Rice seedling growth, estimated by plant height and root development and discoloration, was better in pasteurized soil than in unpasteurized soil obtained from a flooded rice field. Rice seedlings also grew better in sterilized soil modified by adding roots harvested from the pasteurized soil than in soil modified by adding roots harvested from the unpasteurized soil. The results demonstrate that seedling growth in the rice field soil was inhibited by soil microorganisms, even though no typical symptoms such as seedling blight or damping-off appeared. Pythium aristosporum is suggested to be involved in the inhibition. Thus, it appears that inconspicuous restraint of rice seedling growth could occur in soils of rice paddy fields. Received: May 20, 2002 / Accepted: October 16, 2002 Acknowledgments The authors thank Dr. T. Ichitani, former professor at Osaka Prefectural University, for providing an isolate of Pythium aristosporum for comparison, and Mr. Mitsuaki Sato of Akita Prefectural College of Agriculture for technical assistance.     

Origin and distribution of facial nerve anatomy in van cats

This study aims to reveal the morphological properties of facial nerve and the middle ear in Van cats. Study material was composed of 6 female Van cats. Dissections were performed under a Zoom Stereo Microscope. There was no plexus buccalis in Van cats. The chorda tympani was observed to pass through an opening in the tympanic cavity, emerge through a small opening just behind the retroarticular process, and join the lingual nerve. A rounded anatomical formation with a size of 2.75 ± 0.3 mm was found to be located within the mastoid process of the temporal bone between the facial nerve and the auricular branch of the vagus nerve. The stapes nerve was not present. The geniculate ganglion was very prominent and about 1.00 mm high. The deep petrosal nerve was observed to emerge from the plexus tympanicus. The bulla tympanica was 18.96 ± 0.10 mm long, 13.03 ± 0.20 mm wide and 13.16 ± 0.20 mm high. After leaving the mandibular nerve, the n.tensoris tympani coursed caudally around the a.maxillaris, formed an ansa, entered the tympanic cavity through the canalis musculotubarius and reached an end in the m. tensor tympani. Due to the scarcity of studies on the middle ears of Van cats, it is thought that this study will fill a gap in the field of veterinary anatomy.     

The analgesic and sedative effects of GV20 pharmacopuncture with low-dose hydromorphone in healthy dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy

This study evaluates the analgesic efficacy of low-dose hydromorphone administered via pharmacopuncture at Governing Vessel 20 (GV20) for postoperative pain management following canine ovariohysterectomy. Fifty clinically healthy female dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy were allocated to receive hydromorphone [0.1 mg/kg body weight (BW)] intramuscularly (IM, n = 25) or hydromorphone (0.01 mg/kg BW) pharmacopuncture at GV20 (GV, n = 25) following extubation. This was a prospective, blinded, randomized clinical trial. Pain and sedation scores were evaluated using the Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale Short Form (CMPS-SF) at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 12 hours following study treatment. Time of treatment failure (CMPS-SF ≥ 6/24) was recorded and analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Patient demographics and duration of surgery and anesthesia were analyzed using the appropriate unpaired Student’s t-test. The Glasgow CMPS-SF and sedation score were analyzed using a repeated measures 2-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Bonferroni post-test where appropriate. Significance was set a P < 0.05. There were no significant differences in patient demographics, anesthesia and surgery duration, and study treatment failure. The Glasgow CMPS-SF scores were significantly higher for IM compared with GV [2 (0 to 8) versus 1 (0 to 6), respectively; P = 0.044] at 4 hours. Sedation scores were significantly higher for IM compared with GV at 2 [2 (1 to 3) and 1 (1 to 3), respectively; P = 0.0004] and 4 [1 (1 to 3) and 1 (1 to 2), respectively; P = 0.03] hours. Pharmacopuncture with low-dose hydromorphone provided adequate postoperative analgesia in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy with reduced sedative effects. Pharmacopuncture is a good alternative in dogs when reduced dosing of opioids is recommended.