Absence of enhanced detoxication of permethrin in pyrethroid-resistant house flies

The mechanisms of resistance to pyrethroids were studied in a permethrin-selected (147-R) strain of the house fly, Musca domestica L. Approximately 12-fold synergism was obtained with a mixture of (1R)-trans-permethrin:piperonyl butoxide (1:5) so that the resistance decreased from 97-fold to 22-fold. Tests with the esterase inhibitor S,S,S-tributyl phosphorotrithioate produced very little synergism in either the resistant (R) strain (1.6-fold) or the susceptible (S) strain (1.9-fold). An investigation of the microsomal components revealed that compared to the S strain, the R strain demonstrated twice as much cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome b₅ and double the rate of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity. In addition, the rate of p-nitroanisole O-demethylation was found to be six times greater in the R strain. An in vivo accumulation study showed that the R strain displayed a decreased rate of penetration of trans-[¹⁴C]permethrin. When treated at equitoxic doses the R strain was found to tolerate 50-fold more internal permethrin than the S strain. An in vitro metabolism study indicated that there was no difference between strains in the overall rate of metabolism of trans-[¹⁴C]permethrin. The evidence obtained supports the conclusion that several resistance factors are involved but that decreased sensitivity of the nervous system to the action of pyrethroids is the principal mechanism of resistance in the 147-R strain.     

Effect of furosemide on urine specific gravity and osmolality in thoroughbred racehorses

Postrace urine samples from thoroughbred horses were examined to compare osmolality and specific gravity between horses treated with furosemide and those not treated. Samples were assigned to groups in relation to reported medication (furosemide) status, race finish position, and distance of race. Urine osmolality was significantly (P <.05) lower in samples from horses treated with furosemide when compared with untreated horses. Specific gravity determinations are less precise at measuring urine osmolality at lower levels (1.01 g/ml or less). The measurement of osmolality is a superior method for determining the urine solute concentration and facilitating the regulation of furosemide.     

Use of a polymerase chain reaction assay to detect bovine herpesvirus type 2 DNA in skin lesions from cattle suspected to have pseudo-lumpy skin disease

Beef cattle from a herd in north Alabama were examined because of an outbreak of nonfatal skin disease characterized by discrete circumscribed areas of inflammation that developed on the skin from the neck to the hips. Areas of inflammation, which tended to be superficial, underwent necrosis and scabbed over. The scabs eventually dropped off leaving discrete, round, whitish, hairless lesions that were 1.2 to 2.5 cm diameter. Because clinical signs were consistent with those expected with pseudo-lumpy skin disease (PLSD) caused by bovine herpesvirus type 2 (BHV-2), samples from 16 representative animals were submitted for BHV-2 testing. All 16 animals were seropositive for BHV-2, but the virus could not be isolated from skin biopsy specimens or buffy coat samples. Results of a polymerase chain reaction assay incorporating primers designed to amplify 2 DNA sequences from BHV-2 were positive for 3 of the 10 cattle, suggesting that skin lesions in these cattle were a result of PLSD. Our findings suggest that PLSD may be more common and widespread in the United States than suggested by the frequency with which BHV-2 has been isolated from cattle with PLSD-like skin lesions.     

Effect of dorsal hip loading,sedation, and general anesthesia on the dorsolateral subluxation score in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether dorsal loading of the pelvis and type of chemical restraint affected the dorsolateral subluxation (DLS) score of dog hips. STYDY DESIGN: In vivo testing of diagnostic method. ANIMALS: Labrador retrievers, Greyhounds, and crosses between both breeds (n = 119 dogs). METHODS: Dorsal load was applied to the hips through a strap that was placed over the hips, and the peak vertical and steady-state vertical, ground-reaction forces exerted on the stifles were measured in the DLS position. The DLS score was measured with their hips under dorsal load and compared with the DLS score without load. For 24 dogs, the DLS score was measured both under chemical restraint (medetomidine) and under general anesthesia. Wilcoxon-signed rank test and paired t test was used to compare effects of dorsal load and restraint method on the left and right DLS hip score, and P <.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Both stifles together accepted median 15% body weight in the vertical plane in the unloaded steady state. Loading the hips increased the steady-state, vertical ground-reaction force to 34% body weight. At 8 months of age, loading significantly decreased the DLS score from 65% +/- 11% (mean +/- SD) to 60% +/- 12% for left hips and 66% +/- 11% to 63% +/- 13% for right hips. The left hip DLS score was affected by load more consistently than the right hip. In general, loading the hips decreased the DLS score in all breeds by 4% to 6% except for the greyhounds, in which the DLS score was unchanged by dorsal loading. When grouped by their DLS scores, load significantly decreased DLS scores in dogs with unloaded scores greater than 55% (nondysplastic), whereas DLS scores of dogs with unloaded scores between 55% and 45% (dysplastic) and less than 45% did not change significantly with load. Unloaded scores did not change significantly when compared under sedation versus general anesthesia. However, load significantly decreased the DLS score under general anesthesia for the left hip but not for the right hip. CONCLUSIONS: Less than half of the vertical ground-reaction force normally exerted by the hindlegs of a standing dog was sufficient to induce hip subluxation in the DLS position. Although dorsal loading approximately doubled the steady-state, vertical ground-reaction force, the decrease in the DLS score under load was never greater than 6%. Furthermore, the DLS scores of dogs most likely to be dysplastic (based on DLS scores <45%) were not affected by load, whereas load slightly decreased DLS cores of dogs with DLS scores greater than 55%. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: External influences can change the DLS score significantly, but the magnitude of change is unlikely to be of clinical importance, making the method useful as a field screening test for both dysplastic and nondysplastic hips in young dogs.     

Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of 25% diet restriction on life span of dogs and on markers of aging. DESIGN: Paired feeding study. ANIMALS: 48 Labrador Retrievers. PROCEDURES: Dogs were paired, and 1 dog in each pair was fed 25% less food than its pair-mate from 8 weeks of age until death. Serum biochemical analyses were performed, body condition was scored, and body composition was measured annually until 12 years of age. Age at onset of chronic disease and median (age when 50% of the dogs were deceased) and maximum (age when 90% of the dogs were deceased) life spans were evaluated. RESULTS: Compared with control dogs, food-restricted dogs weighed less and had lower body fat content and lower serum triglycerides, triiodothyronine, insulin, and glucose concentrations. Median life span was significantly longer for dogs in which food was restricted. The onset of clinical signs of chronic disease generally was delayed for food-restricted dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that 25% restriction in food intake increased median life span and delayed the onset of signs of chronic disease in these dogs.     

Relationship between incidence of gastric dilatation-volvulus and biometeorologic events in a population of military working dogs

OBJECTIVE: To calculate the monthly incidence of gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) in a population of military working dogs during a 5-year period and determine whether there was an association with synoptic climatologic indices. SAMPLE POPULATION: Medical records of all military working dogs housed at Lackland Air Force Base,Tex, from Jan 1, 1993 to Dec 31, 1997. PROCEDURE: Confirmed cases of GDV were identified from evaluation of medical records and used to calculate incidence of GDV. Factor analysis of local climatologic data was used to classify each day into 1 of 8 meteorologically homogeneous types of days for this location. Occurrence of GDV was compared with frequency of occurrence of synoptic climatologic days. RESULTS: 48 cases of GDV were identified from January 1993 through December 1997 Mean monthly incidence was 2.5 cases/1,000 dogs at risk (range, 0 to 18.5 cases/1,000 dogs; median, 2.5 cases/1,000 dogs). A seasonal increase in incidence of GDV was detected, because half of the episodes were during November, December, and January. An association with a specific synoptic climatologic day was not detected. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Seasonal fluctuations in incidence of GDV may be associated with external factors that precipitate physiologic changes resulting in GDV. Although a specific cause-effect relationship was not documented, clinicians must be alert for the potential of seasonal variation in incidence of GDV and accordingly heighten their index of suspicion for the condition, particularly in populations of dogs that are predisposed to development of GDV.     

Persistence and performance of esfenvalerate residues on broccoli

The efficacy of esfenvalerate (84 g litre-1 EC; Asana XL) at 7.0 g AI ha-1 on broccoli was tested against the flea beetle, Phyllotreta cruciferae Goeze (Chrysomelidae: Coleoptera) and the imported cabbage worm, Pieris rapae L (Pieridae: Lepidoptera) under field conditions. Insect populations were monitored before and after treatment. Periodic sweep-net collections and examination of the leaves in treated and untreated broccoli plots revealed mean reductions of P cruciferae levels of nearly 98% 1 week post-application compared with untreated plots. The residual toxicity of esfenvalerate was also effective for 2 weeks in reducing population density of P rapae by 69% on broccoli leaves. The impact of esfenvalerate on feeding damage to broccoli leaves was established by counting the number of feeding holes made by P cruciferae on spring broccoli and P rapae on fall broccoli. As the leaf area ingested increased, a linear relationship was seen between the number of holes and number of insects. Results indicated that forage destruction by the two pests was significantly reduced by esfenvalerate application. Esfenvalerate was extracted from broccoli at 1 h and 1, 3, 7, 10, and 14 days post-application for residue analysis. Residues on spring broccoli were 12.2, 5.2 and 2.9 micrograms cm-2 on the leaves and 0.13, 0.05 and 0.02 microgram g-1 on the heads at 1 h, 1 and 3 days, respectively. Only trace levels (0.001 microgram g-1) were detected in/on the heads 14 days after spraying. On the basis of half-life (T1/2) values, persistence of esfenvalerate on spring broccoli leaves (T1/2 = 1 day) was shorter than on fall broccoli (T1/2 = 1.6 days). T1/2 values were 2.1 and 3.6 days on spring and fall broccoli heads, respectively. The implications of these residue levels on re-entry times into treated fields are discussed.     

Computational chemistry study of the environmentally important acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of atrazine and related 2-chloro-s-triazines

Many chlorine-containing pesticides, for example 2-chloro-s-triazines, are of great concern both environmentally and toxicologically. As a result, ascertaining or predicting the fate and transport of these compounds in soils and water is of current interest. Transformation pathways for 2-chloro-s-triazines in the environment include dealkylation, dechlorination (hydrolysis), and ring cleavage. This study explored the feasibility of using computational chemistry, specifically the hybrid density functional theory method, B3LYP, to predict hydrolysis trends of atrazine (2-chloro-N4-ethyl-N6-isopropyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine) and related 2-chloro-s-triazines to the corresponding 2-hydroxy-s-triazines. Gas-phase energetics are described on the basis of calculations performed at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-31G* level of theory. Calculated free energies of hydrolysis (delta h G298) are nearly the same for simazine (2-chloro-N4,N6-diethyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine), atrazine, and propazine (2-chloro-N4,N6-di-isopropyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine), suggesting that hydrolysis is not significantly affected by the side-chain amine-nitrogen alkyl substituents. High-energy barriers also suggest that the reactions are not likely to be observed in the gas phase. Aqueous solvation effects were examined by means of self-consistent reaction field methods (SCRF). Molecular structures were optimized at the B3LYP/6-31G* level using the Onsager model, and solvation energies were calculated at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level using the isodensity surface polarizable continuum model (IPCM). Although the extent of solvent stabilization was greater for cationic species than neutral ones, the full extent of solvation is underestimated, especially for the transition state structures. As a consequence, the calculated hydrolysis barrier for protonated atrazine is exaggerated compared with the experimentally determined one. Overall, the hydrolysis reactions follow a concerted nucleophilic aromatic substitution (SNAr) pathway.