Alterations in calcium, phosphorus and C-terminal parathyroid hormone levels in equine acute renal disease

The changes in serum and urinary levels of calcium and phosphorus and serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) were studied during controlled, chemically induced, acute renal disease in 4 ponies. There was an initial rise in daily urinary calcium and hydroxyproline excretion in 2 ponies which may have indicated increased bone resorption. Mild hypercalcemia, hypophosphatemia and elevated C-terminal PTH levels were associated with oliguria. Total daily urinary excretion of calcium and phosphorus decreased as oliguria developed. The levels of C-terminal PTH were increased in all four animals. This appears to have been related to their diminished renal function in that C-terminal fragments of intact PTH (which require functioning kidneys in order to be cleared) were probably being accumulated. Although there was no evidence with regard to an actual increase in PTH secretion, prolongation of intact PTH half-life due to renal tubular damage may have contributed to the development of hypercalcemia.     

The impact of foliar fertilizers on growth and biochemical responses of Thymus vulgaris to salinity stress

Salinity reduces plant biomass and may lead to death when severe. To cope with the negative effects of this stress, plant species present specific physiological or biochemical responses. In this work, we hypothesized that spraying salt-stressed thyme leaves with K⁺ and Ca²⁺ could mitigate the negative effects of salinity on plant growth and metabolism. To test this hypothesis, we grew thyme plants under salinity stress for two and four weeks before applying foliar sprays. Also, to test the effect of stress relief, treated plants were allowed two weeks of recovery after four weeks of salt stress. In general, after two and four weeks of salinity stress, the leaf fresh weight of thyme plants was reduced by 31 and 43%, respectively. Salinity also decreased the relative water content, water, and osmotic potentials and led to ion imbalances and nutrient deficiencies. Salinity altered concentration of some essential oils, but leaf antioxidant contents remained fairly stable, except for a significant increase for plants under NaCl?+?KCl two weeks after treatment. Our results indicated that stressed plants accumulated significantly more soluble sugars and amino acids in comparison with the control. Foliar sprays with KCl and CaCl₂ reversed the negative effects of salinity on plant biomass and induced the accumulations of compatible solutes. Moreover, concentrations of some essential oils and gallic acid increased in sprayed plants, but these effects were dependent on the type and duration of the treatment. Overall, spraying leaves with K⁺ and Ca²⁺ was able to mitigate salinity stress in Thymus vulgaris even during the recovery period.     

Incomplete systemic movement of Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum and the occurrence of latent infections in xanthomonas wilt‐infected banana mats

Management of banana xanthomonas wilt (XW) (caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum, Xcm) has been impeded by poor adoption of control options that are complex, cumbersome and costly. To improve XW management, this study investigated Xcm survival and latent infections in subsequent generations, survival of latently infected planting materials (suckers), incidence of latent infections in symptomless plants in mats having diseased plants, and XW status across farms and markets in districts previously devastated but currently endemic. On‐station experiments were protected from new infections. Latent bacteria at low levels were detected in up to 20% of the third generation suckers, with a significant (P < 0·05) reduction (43–20%) in subsequent generations. Only 3–6% of latently infected suckers succumbed to XW. Incidence of Xcm in symptomless suckers from farmers' fields (with up to 70% incidence) was low (3%) while it increased (8–25%) with disease severity in mats in controlled experiments. In the surveyed districts, incidence had significantly declined with yields observed to have recovered relative to earlier reports, although latent infections remained high. This study provides evidence that if new infections are prevented, fields with high XW incidence can be rejuvenated. It showed incomplete systemic movement of Xcm in mats coupled to a gradual decline of bacterial load in subsequent generations to levels that cannot initiate disease. These studies explain the current successes in farms practising single diseased plant removal instead of whole mat rouging, and gives hope to farmers lacking access to clean planting material.     

The role of humic acid on sulfate retention and release in a podzol

Sequential leaching experiments were performed to evaluate the effects of humic acid (HA) and pH on SO₄ retention and release in a Swedish podzolic B-horizon. Results showed that the presence of HA reduced SO₄ retention and that HA was released when SO₄ was retained. Increasing HA concentration increased the rate of SO₄ release. The ability of HA to compete with SO₄ increased with pH. More than 40% of total sorbed SO₄ was irreversibly retained.     

Body weight of newborn and suckling piglets affects their intestinal gene expression

Modern hyperprolific sows must deal with large litters (16–20 piglets) which reduce piglet birthweight with a concomitant increase in the proportion of small and intrauterine growth retarded piglets. However, larger litters do not only have a greater variation of piglet weights, but also a greater variation in colostrum and milk consumption within the litter. To further understand the impact that body weight has on piglets, the present study aimed to evaluate the degree of physiological weakness of the smallest piglets at birth and during the suckling period (20 d) compared to their middle-weight littermates through their jejunal gene expression. At birth, light piglets showed a downregulation of genes related to immune response (FAXDC2, HSPB1, PPARGC1α), antioxidant enzymes (SOD2m), digestive enzymes (ANPEP, IDO1, SI), and nutrient transporter (SLC39A4) (P < 0.05) but also a tendency for a higher mRNA expression of GBP1 (inflammatory regulator) and HSD11β1 (stress hormone) genes compared to their heavier littermates (P < 0.10). Excluding HSD11β1 gene, all these intestinal gene expression differences initially observed at birth between light and middle-weight piglets were stabilized at the end of the suckling period, when others appeared. Genes involved in barrier function (CLDN1), pro-inflammatory response (CXCL2, IL6, IDO1), and stress hormone signaling (HSD11β1) over-expressed compared to their middle-weight littermates (P < 0.05). In conclusion, at birth and at the end of suckling period, light body weight piglets seem to have a compromised gene expression and therefore impaired nutrient absorption, immune and stress responses compared to their heavier littermates.     

Insecticidal potency of novel compounds on multiple insect species of medical and veterinary importance

BACKGROUND: Vector‐borne diseases continue to present significant threats to human, animal and plant health. Mosquitoes, houseflies, sand flies and stable flies are well‐known vectors of several human and animal pathogens. The toxicity of selected semiochemicals with molecular structures indicative of insecticidal activity was determined against these insect species with the aim of developing novel insecticides toxic to multiple insect species. RESULTS: Three semiochemicals, namely beta‐damascone, cyclemone A and melafleur, showed remarkable toxicity to three mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti L., Ae. albopictus (Skuse) and Anopheles quadrimaculatus Say, the housefly, Musca domestica L., the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans L., and the sand fly, Lutzomyia shannoni (Dyar). The chemicals were equally toxic to several field‐collected permethrin‐tolerant housefly strains. When formulated as 500 mL L^?1 emulsifiable concentrates, the chemicals demonstrated stability and toxicity on filter paper and camouflage military fabrics, with persistence up to 8 days under laboratory conditions. The chemicals were equally effective under field conditions when evaluated on unpainted plywood panels, although a higher dosage was required under field conditions to achieve similar efficacy. CONCLUSION: Laboratory quantification of LC₅₀ values and field efficacy of three semiochemicals as formulated compounds on mosquitoes, houseflies, stable flies and sand flies showed that these semiochemicals could serve as potent insecticides for multiple insect species. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry