The activation of triadimefon and its role in the selectivity of fungicide action

The uptake and metabolism of triadimefon by mycelia of fungi, sensitive or resistant to triadimefon, were studied. In the mycelia the triadimefon content accumulated to 20-40-fold of the external concentration, irrespective of the sensitivity of the fungus. In the course of the metabolism a highly fungitoxic product, triadimenol, was formed. In mycelia of sensitive fungi this transformation was at a high rate whereas it could not be demonstrated or only to a low extent in resistant types. The material produced by the sensitive fungi was effective also against fungi basically resistant to triadimefon. Based on these observations, triadimefon has to be regarded as the precursor of triadimenol. In the species investigated, selectivity may be related mainly to the rate of activation. In higher plants the metabolism of triadimefon showed a similar pattern, but was slower than with fungi. As the transformation into triadimenol (activation) begins thus early in the host tissues, the systemic fungitoxic effect is also influenced by the host plant itself. Regarding the speed of activation differences were found between the four plant species investigated.     

Neoplasia of captive yellow sea horses (Hippocampus kuda) and weedy sea dragons (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus)

Syngnathidae is the family of fish that includes sea horses, pipefish, and sea dragons. To date, only a single publication has described neoplasia in syngnathids, a fibrosarcoma of the brood pouch in an aquarium-reared lined sea horse (Hippocampus erectus). From 1998 until 2010, the Toronto Zoo submitted 172 syngnathids for postmortem; species included the spotted or yellow sea horse (Hippocampus kuda), the pot-bellied sea horse (Hippocampus abdominalis) and the weedy sea dragon (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus). Seven neoplasms and two neoplastic-like lesions were identified from these cases. Under light microscopy, the neoplasms had morphological characteristics of a cardiac rhabdomyosarcoma, renal adenocarcinoma, renal adenoma, renal round cell tumors, which were likely lymphomas, exocrine pancreatic carcinoma, and intestinal carcinoma. Of these neoplasms, four had clear evidence of metastasis: the pancreatic and intestinal carcinomas and both round cell tumors. As syngnathids are highly fastidious animals, they can be difficult to maintain in captivity. In order to improve their husbandry, preventative and palliative care, as well as treatment, it is important to investigate and document the types of diseases affecting syngnathids.     

Structural elucidation of condensed tannin from the bark waste of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia crassicarpa</Emphasis> plantation wood in Indonesia

Recently, Acacia crassicarpa has been planted in peatland areas with acidic soil in Indonesia for use in pulp and paper materials. Its bark is not suitable to produce bleached pulp; hence, it is discarded as waste. Meanwhile, in South Africa and other countries, Acacia mearnsii has been planted for a long time, and its bark extracts have been used as a leather tanning agent. First, the structure of condensed tannin from the bark waste of A. crassicarpa is characterized. The yield of the extracts obtained from A. crassicarpa using a 70% acetone aqueous solution (7% based on bark weight) is less than that obtained from A. mearnsii (34%). A novel flavan dimer from the condensed tannin, specific to A. crassicarpa, is isolated from the bark extracts. To the best of our knowledge, this dimer is a new compound as evidenced from pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses; it corresponds to a gallocatechin–catechin flavan dimer with the absence of one oxygen atom at the 3C of the pyran ring. In addition, 2,4,6-trimethoxybenzoic acid methyl ester is identified as a novel pyrolysis product obtained from the cleavage of the pyran ring.     

An overview of the utilisation of microalgae biomass derived from nutrient recycling of wet market wastewater and slaughterhouse wastewater

International Aquatic Research - Microalgae have high nutritional values for aquatic organisms compared to fish meal, because microalgae cells are rich in proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates....     

First detection of canine parvovirus type 2c in South America

Since its sudden emergence in the early 1970s, canine parvovirus type-2 (CPV-2) has been evolving through the generation of novel genetic and antigenic variants (CPV-2a/b/c and a number of additional mutations) that are unevenly distributed throughout the world. In order to develop strategies to control the spread of these variants and to understand virus evolution is fundamental to genotype field isolates from different geographic locations. In the present paper we have examined 25 isolates of CPV from clinical samples of Uruguayan dogs collected during year 2006. A fragment of the VP2 gene of the virus was analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and DNA sequence analysis. Out of the 25 isolates analyzed, only one was characterized as CPV-2a and 24 were characterized as CPV-2c, indicating that this type is currently the prevalent field CPV circulating in Uruguay. This is the first report of CPV-2c in the American continent and it also represents the highest frequency of this type observed in a dog population so far. Its presence in South American supports the assumption that CPV-2c is reaching a worldwide distribution as occurred with 2a/2b antigenic types.     

Plasticity of reproductive allocation of a woody species (Ulex europaeus) in response to variation in resource availability

Context

While many woody perennials grow and reproduce in varying environments, their ability to modify their reproductive allocation under varying resource availability is unclear.

Aims

This study aimed to demonstrate the occurrence of plasticity of reproductive allocation in a pioneer woody species (Ulex europaeus).

Methods

We studied seed production in 144 plants under different irradiance and population densities. We measured their basal area, their whole shoot biomass and photosynthetic biomass, and their reproductive output (number of fruits per individual and number of seeds per fruit).

Results

We found that newly produced photosynthetic biomass was influenced by environmental variation, which in turn determined its reproductive output. In addition, in low light conditions investment in reproduction was more reduced than investment in growth indicating plasticity of reproductive allocation.

Conclusion

These results provide the first evidence for plasticity of reproductive allocation of a woody plant. It may lead to the ability of this pioneer species to survive and to continue to reproduce even at low rates in non-optimal shady habitats and to maintain a non-empty seed bank in forest systems with long unfavourable periods between two disturbances.     

Treatment of Metastatic Equine Melanoma with a Plasmid DNA Vaccine Encoding Streptococcus Pyogenes EMM55 Protein

A 19-year-old castrated male Arab/Quarter horse presented with an extensive history of cutaneous metastatic melanoma. Over a period of 8 months, a total of 8 doses of plasmid DNA vaccine expressing the Streptococcus pyogenes emm55 gene (pAc/emm55) were administered intratumorally at 300 μg/dose via a needless injector. Upon completion of the vaccination protocol, the size of the injected lesions, on average, were reduced by 40.3% from the initial size measurements. Lesions that were not injected were reduced by 47.6%. The overall reduction in total tumor burden was 42.3%. Tumor regression was also associated with the augmentation of antimelanoma IgG antibody response, thus implying that an induction of an effective antimelanoma response would be of great advantage in the management of equine melanoma.     

Propofol–medetomidine–ketamine total intravenous anaesthesia in thiafentanil–medetomidine-immobilized impala (Aepyceros melampus)

Objective

To characterize a propofol–medetomidine-ketamine total intravenous anaesthetic in impala (Aepyceros melampus).