Use of C abundance to study short-term pig slurry decomposition in the field

Applying pig slurry (PS) on agricultural soils is a common practice. However, its impact on soil organic C dynamics is not clear. This experiment investigated the use of natural ¹³C abundance to study the short-term C mineralization of anaerobically stored PS under field conditions. Measurements of δ¹³C-CO₂ were made on soil air samples obtained from a bare sandy loam during 22 d following incorporation of either PS alone, PS+barley straw, or barley straw alone; an unamended treatment was used as a control. Slurry C was enriched in ¹³C (−20.0‰) because of the high corn (Zea mays L.) content of the animal diet. This value contrasted with δ¹³C of −28.4‰ for the soil organic matter and of −29.0‰ for the barley straw. A peak of high δ¹³CO₂ values (average of −9.2‰) was observed on the day of PS application and was attributed to the dissociation of PS carbonates when mixed with the relatively acidic soil. After this initial burst, 36% of the evolved CO₂ originated from the decomposing PS. After 22 d of incubation, approx. 20% of the PS-C had been lost as CO₂. This short-term field study did not show any priming effect of PS on the mineralization of straw or native soil C. Due to its heterogeneity, the use of the isotopic composition of the evolved CO₂ for estimating PS decomposition requires precaution either through the use of a specific experimental design involving comparable C3 and C4 treatments, or calculations to account for the presence of ¹³C-enriched inorganic C in the PS.     

Interaction between acetylcholinesterase and choline acetyltransferase: an hypothesis to explain unusual toxicological responses

Organophosphorus and carbamate insecticides are thought to have only one target site, acetylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7). When this enzyme is inhibited, the neurotransmitter acetylcholine is not metabolized and polarization of the post-synaptic membrane does not take place. But, what happens when the cholinesterase becomes resistant or when neurotransmitter levels are diminished? Here, we report results suggesting that choline acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.6), the enzyme responsible for the acetylcholine production, may be involved either as an alternative pesticide target site or as a factor enhancing survival during insecticide exposure. This underlines the concept that the pivotal step for insecticide toxicology is not the acetylcholinesterase activity but the amount of acetylcholine present. This latter can only fluctuate between an upper and a lower threshold, and crossing one of these two thresholds leads to the death of the insect. The interaction between acetylcholinesterase and choline acetyltransferase activities would explain the astonishing toxicological phenomenon that, in some conditions, mortality decreases when insecticide concentration increases. ©1997 SCI     

Activity of Soil Insecticides on Eggs of Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi: Effects on Embryological Development and Influence of Egg Age

The activity of tefluthrin, carbofuran, terbufos and dieldrin in soil against eggs of different ages of the southern corn rootworm, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi (Barber) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) was determined. Embryological development following treatment with these insecticides was also investigated to determine the stage of developmental arrest. Generally, younger eggs were found to be more susceptible, dieldrin being the least and tefluthrin the most potent ovicide of combined egg age mortalities. Terbufos and carbofuran were relatively inactive against older eggs compared with tefluthrin. Terbufos stopped embryonic development at the time when acetylcholine esterase activity has been shown to commence. Carbofuran, dieldrin and tefluthrin slowed but did not arrest embryonic development, although the two former compounds prevented eclosion to a greater degree than tefluthrin, suggesting death during absorption of serosal fluids at eclosion. Neonate emergence following treatment of eggs with tefluthrin resulted in death within a few hours. The results are discussed in relation to insecticidal action and permeability changes of egg membrane structure with age. © 1997 SCI.     

Human–Livestock Interactions – The Stockperson and the Productivity and Welfare of Intensively Farmed Animals. P.H. Hemsworth and G.J. Coleman

Veterinary Research Communications -     

Temperature Dependent Seed Transmission of Stagonospora nodorum in Wheat

The transmission of Stagonospora nodorum from four naturally infected winter wheat seedlots was quantified in controlled environment germination chambers at 9, 13, 17, 21, and 25 °C. Seedlings were harvested when the second leaf began to emerge. Coleoptiles and first seedling leaves were examined for the presence of lesions caused by S. nodorum. First leaves were incubated on Bannon's medium for 2 weeks, after which they were examined for pycnidia of S. nodorum. Transmission to the coleoptile occurred at all temperatures, but decreased from 100% to 72% as temperature increased from 9 to 25 °C. Transmission to the first leaf was less, dropping from 37% to 2% as temperature increased from 9 to 25 °C. At least 44% of infected first leaves were symptomless at all temperatures, with 96% of infected leaves showing no symptoms at 25 °C. Transmission to seedling leaves occurred over a broad temperature range. Under the high densities at which wheat is sown, a significant number of infected seedlings per unit area may originate from relatively low initial seed infection levels and transmission efficiencies.     

Haptoglobin and ceruloplasmin as determinants of inflammation in dogs.

Assay procedures for determining serum haptoglobin concentration and ceruloplasmin oxidase activity in dogs were validated, and reference values were established. Serum haptoglobin concentration is reported as milligrams per deciliter of cyanmethemoglobin binding capacity, whereas serum ceruloplasmin oxidase activity was determined by use of p-phenylenediamine as substrate. Both assays were used to analyze serum samples from 288 dogs. In each dog's case record, clinical history and final diagnosis were evaluated to determine whether the dog had an inflammatory condition. Complete blood cell counts were performed in 265 dogs, using simultaneously collected blood samples. Plasma fibrinogen concentration was determined for 161 dogs. A positive correlation (P less than 0.01) for serum haptoglobin concentration and for ceruloplasmin oxidase activity, compared with WBC counts, segmented neutrophil and band neutrophil counts, and plasma fibrinogen concentration. Ceruloplasmin oxidase activity and haptoglobin concentration were up to 6 times more sensitive than fibrinogen concentration or leukocyte counts in detecting inflammation. Specificity of ceruloplasmin oxidase activity was comparable to fibrinogen concentration and leukocyte counts, whereas haptoglobin concentration was found to be slightly less specific. Specificity of haptoglobin concentration improved slightly (from 0.82 to 0.88) when dogs with a history of glucocorticoid administration were excluded from analysis. Predictive value of a negative test result (haptoglobin concentration less than 125 mg/dl; ceruloplasmin oxidase activity less than 20 IU/L) and predictive value of a positive test result for haptoglobin concentration and ceruloplasmin activity were comparable to or better than fibrinogen concentration or various oxidase leukocyte counts in detection of inflammation in a variety of disease conditions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)