Integrated pest management of Tuta absoluta: practical implementations across different world regions

Journal of Pest Science - The South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), has invaded most Afro-Eurasian countries and is threatening worldwide tomato...     

Genomic characterization of multidrug-resistant extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from grain culture soils

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli, mainly extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC), has been widely reported in infections worldwide. In agricultural soils, manure is a hotspot for the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and pathogenic bacteria; however, MDR bacteria have also been reported in soils with no history of manure use. In addition, cross-resistance and co-resistance have been described as responsible for the metal-driven selection of bacteria resistant to antimicrobials. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze three MDR E. coli isolates obtained from Brazilian grain culture soil samples with no history of manure use by whole-genome sequencing. The MDR E. coli isolates were recovered from soils from corn and coffee fields, and presented resistance to β-lactams, quinolones, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, sulphonamides, and dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor. Resistome analysis showed ARGs to several antimicrobials (i.e., β-lactams, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, sulphonamides, trimethoprim, phenicols, fosfomycin, and macrolides) as well as several metal resistance genes and antibacterial biocide resistance genes. In addition, known mutations in quinolone-resistance-determining regions of GyrA (Ser83Leu and Asp87Asn), ParE (Ser458Thr), and ParC (Ser80Ile) were also detected. Virulome analysis showed the presence of virulence genes (lpfA, mcmA, gad, mchF, iroN, cma, and iss) associated with ExPEC. Multidrug-resistant ExPEC isolates were assigned to phylogenetic group B1. The presence of MDR B1-ExPEC in soil samples shows the ability of these isolates to survive in soils. This study reports for the first time some sequence types (i.e., ST345, ST448, and ST1146) of MDR E. coli in Brazilian soils. Therefore, these findings contribute to the monitoring of antimicrobial resistance and surveillance studies based on whole-genome sequencing worldwide.     

Characterization of cider apples on the basis of their fatty acid profiles

In the current study, the fatty acids composition of 30 monovarietal apple juices from six cider apple varieties belonging to two categories was analyzed. The different apple juices were obtained from three consecutive harvests (1997, 1998, and 1999). The fatty acids concentration in apple juice together with chemometric techniques such as principal components analysis (PCA), soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA), and linear discriminant analysis (LDA), allowed us to differentiate apple juices on the basis of the sweet or sharp category to which the cider apple variety belongs. Fatty acids such as the unsaturated oleic and linoleic acids, and saturated caprylic, capric, stearic, and palmitic acids were related to the sweet cider apple category, while pentadecanoic acid is related to the sharp class.     

Effect of different methods of administration of ivermectin on its efficacy against the shedding of gastrointestinal nematode eggs by gazelles

Seven different methods of administering ivermectin to gazelles were compared: subcutaneous injection, direct oral administration, administration in individual feeds, administration in a herd feed, direct oral administration of a second ivermectin formulation, administration in individual water supplies, and administration in the herd's water supply. The first five treatments were effective, as monitored by faecal egg count reduction tests, and administration in individual feeds or in a herd feed avoided the need to capture the animals, with the attendant risk of mortality. Of the factors associated with the recipients (species, sex, age and inbreeding coefficient) age was the only significant factor for the efficacy of the treatment. Oral or subcutaneous, individual or collective, and direct or indirect administrations were equally satisfactory for the treatment of all the parasite groups studied. Only when parasitic problems were due to Nematodirus species did direct administration to individual animals appear to be preferable.     

Risk factors associated with the seroprevalence of leptospirosis among students at the veterinary school of Zaragoza University

The prevalence and risk factors associated with leptospirosis were studied in veterinary students in Zaragoza. Sera were collected at the beginning and end of the academic year 1994 to 1995 and were tested by ELISA against a pool of Leptospira interrogans serovars bratislava, canicola, grippotyphosa, hardjo, icterohaemorrhagiae and pomona antigens. At the beginning of the study the prevalence was 8.14 per cent and at the end it was 11.4 per cent. The incidence of the disease during the study was 0.0394. Risk factors associated with leptospirosis included: taking the course specialising in food inspection and technology, on-farm work, contact with pets in general, and particularly carnivores, and contact with animal traders. The symptoms associated with the disease were myalgia and fever, and the treatment of the symptoms provided some protection.     

Prophylactic use of decoquinate for infections with Cryptosporidium parvum in experimentally challenged neonatal calves

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of daily oral administration of decoquinate to neonatal calves experimentally challenged with various numbers of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts. DESIGN: Clinical trial. ANIMALS: 75 calves. PROCEDURE: Calves were purchased from a commercial dairy during a 5-week period. Calves were housed in individual hutches and fed milk replacer with or without decoquinate (2 mg/kg [0.9 mg/lb per day]). Calves were randomly assigned to treatment and 1 of 5 challenge groups (0, 50, 100, 1000, or 10,000 C. parvum oocysts in 60 mL of saline [0.9% NaCl] solution administered p.o. on the day after arrival). Calves were maintained in the study for as long as 28 days. Calves were clinically assessed for diarrhea and dehydration. Fecal samples were submitted for oocyst enumeration 3 times each week. RESULTS: Treatment did not affect number of days to first watery feces (diarrhea), number of days to first oocyst shedding, or duration of diarrhea or oocyst shedding. Duration of oocyst shedding was significantly associated with challenge dose of oocysts administered to calves and number of days to first oocyst shedding. Duration of diarrhea and number of days to first oocyst shedding were significantly associated with week of arrival and number of days to first watery diarrhea. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Daily treatment with decoquinate at the dosage used in this study did not affect oocyst shedding or clinical signs associated with cryptosporidiosis. However, there was an indication that if the number of oocysts calves received could be reduced, then the duration of oocyst shedding and, hence, environmental loading of C. parvum oocysts could be reduced.     

Immune and clinical parameters associated with Leishmania infantum infection in the golden hamster model

For experimental infections with viscerotropic strains of Leishmania, a suitable animal model is not yet defined. In the present work, we have reappraised the use of golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) as an experimental model for infection with Leishmania infantum. Groups of hamsters were challenged by the intracardial route with doses ranging from 10(3) to 10(5) infectious promastigotes and the animals were monitored for 1-year follow-up period. The outcome of the infection was assessed by clinical symptoms of leishmaniasis, parasite loads in both liver and spleen, humoral response to Leishmania antigens and antibody levels in kidneys. The humoral response was analysed using either crude antigens (by ELISA and Western blotting) or several recombinant Leishmania antigens (Hsp70, Hsp83, LiP2a, LiP2b, H2A, H3 and KMP-11). From the analysis of all these parameters, we established the existence of three groups of animals: symptomatic or susceptible, oligosymptomatic, and resistant. Given the parallelism existing between the outcomes of Leishmania-infection in hamsters, dogs and humans, we believe that our data illustrate that the hamster is an excellent experimental model to study visceral leishmaniasis and for the design of vaccine development.     

The effect of pig farming on copper and zinc accumulation in cattle in Galicia (north-western Spain)

Copper and zinc are frequently added at high concentrations to pig diets as growth promoters. Livestock grazing pasture contaminated with pig slurry may, therefore, be at risk from excessive intake of these elements. High liver copper concentrations have been detected in cattle from the agricultural region of Galicia (NW Spain), especially where there is intensive pig farming. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether pig farming does affect accumulation of copper and zinc in cattle in Galicia. Hepatic copper and zinc concentrations in calves were elevated in areas with naturally high levels of these elements in the soil. The densities of young pigs (piglets and growing-finishing pigs), but not reproductive sows, also influenced copper accumulation in calves. Liver copper levels in calves were significantly and positively related to the density of young pigs in the region. In areas with the highest pig densities, more than 20% of the cattle analysed had hepatic copper concentrations that exceeded the potentially toxic concentration of 150 mg/kg fresh weight. There was no evidence that zinc accumulation in calves was affected by pig density.     

A distinct Mendelian autosomal recessive syndrome involving the association of anotia, palate agenesis, bifid tongue, and polydactyly in the dog.

A presumed genetic syndrome is described in a family of St. Bernards. Four identically affected littermates presented the association of palate agenesis, anotia, incomplete bifid tongue, preaxial hind paw polydactyly, and an extra thoracic vertebra and rib. Pedigree analysis is compatible with an autosomal recessive gene.     

A long-snouted predatory dinosaur from africa and the evolution of spinosaurids

Fossils discovered in Lower Cretaceous (Aptian) rocks in the Tenere Desert of central Niger provide new information about spinosaurids, a peculiar group of piscivorous theropod dinosaurs. The remains, which represent a new genus and species, reveal the extreme elongation and transverse compression of the spinosaurid snout. The postcranial bones include blade-shaped vertebral spines that form a low sail over the hips. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that the enlarged thumb claw and robust forelimb evolved during the Jurassic, before the elongated snout and other fish-eating adaptations in the skull. The close phylogenetic relationship between the new African spinosaurid and Baryonyx from Europe provides evidence of dispersal across the Tethys seaway during the Early Cretaceous.