Field attraction of Cerambyx welensii to fermentation odors and host monoterpenes

Cerambyx welensii Küster is one of the greatest threats to Quercus suber L. and Quercus ilex L. in Spain. Efficient control methods for this species are currently being tested, and the use of traps baited with food-related products for their monitoring and control has been proposed. Cerambyx welensii adults prefer to colonize old or decayed trees, in which cortical exudates frequently release fermentation odors. Fermentation-related compounds, such as ethanol, have been cited as attractants to various hardwood woodborers (as Cerambyx cerdo L.), used either alone or sometimes in combination with other host odors. In this work, we conducted field experiments to ascertain whether chemical blends mimicking fermentation odors were attractive for C. welensii. To this end, we used three types of traps (multiple funnel, cross-vane and single-funnel) baited with six synthetic blends including one or more fermentation-related chemicals (ethanol, ethyl acetate, 3-methyl-1-butanol, acetaldehyde, 2-methyl-1-propanol and 2-methyl-1-butanol), various food-related products (beer, melon and red wine mixed with peach juice) and host monoterpenes (α-pinene, β-pinene, limonene, α-phellandrene and camphene). At high release rates (5–11 g/day), various synthetic blends proved attractive irrespective of trap type. Our results contribute to understand the impact of volatile organic compounds in host selection by woodborers infesting deciduous trees. The results hold promise for optimizing trapping strategies to control C. welensii within an integrated pest management framework.     

The sorption of water vapour by chemically modified softwood: analysis using various sorption models

The sorption data for Corsican pine wood chemically modified with a homologous series of linear chain carboxylic acid anhydrides was analysed using various models, namely, BET, Dent, Le and Ly, Hailwood and Horrobin, Nelson, and Henderson. Hailwood and Horrobin resulted in the more appropriate model to represent the equilibrium data of chemically modified wood. In the present study, the parameter representing the molecular weight of the dry cell wall in the Hailwood and Horrobin isotherm was perfectly correlated with the weight percentage gain of anhydride. A linear relation was proposed between these two parameters in order to fit all experimental isotherms (the results showed an r²=0.993).     

Grouping of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tectona grandis</Emphasis> (L.f.) clones using wood color and stiffness

Commercial Tectona grandis plantations using clones have attracted considerable interest for lumber production in tropical regions where small areas are frequent. However, studies on wood properties are limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to group clones with similar wood color characteristics using the CIELab system, and mechanical resistance by dynamic stiffness (Ed) in order to obtain different types of clones for different climate and edaphic conditions. It was found that lightness (L*), yellowness (b*), redness (a*), and Ed are similar to those found for other plantation trees. These wood characteristics are significantly influenced by clone and site. Variance due to clone and site went from 31 to 53% and from 2.95 to 24.22%, respectively. Another source of variance was distance from pith, with the exception of parameter b*, which was not affected. Finally, clones were grouped (using multivariate analysis) according to color and mechanical resistance. This analysis established 4 groups by color and 5 groups by Ed. Clone clustering will allow us to choose or use clones with similar wood properties according to site and environmental conditions increasing area production and wood quality uniformity.     

Current status of bovine haemoparasitic diseases in Martinique (French West Indies)]

A serological survey using indirect immunofluorescence (IFAT) for bovine babesiosis (Babesia bovis and B. bigemina) and card test for anaplasmosis, indicates that these haemoparasites are widespread in Martinique. The high prevalences (62% for B. bovis, 52% for B. bigemina and 43% for Anaplasma marginale) lead to the hypothesis of an unstable epizootic situation for these three haemoparasitic diseases. However, the number of smears examined was too low to evaluate their clinical incidence. Both the American and Cuban card tests gave similar results in the detection of antibodies to A. marginale. Theileria mutans is described for the first time in Martinique. Trypanosomosis (Trypanosoma vivax) has disappeared from Martinique, on clinical and serological evidence.     

Antibiotic susceptibility of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Staphylococcus aureus</Emphasis> isolated from subclinical bovine mastitis cases and in vitro efficacy of bacteriophage

Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic pathogen that may cause severe infections in livestock, and represents the major cause of mastitis in dairy cows. Currently, instead of using antibiotics, new strategies are sought to reduce this clinical health problem. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of phage therapy to kill S. aureus strains obtained from farms located at the State of Guanajuato, México. Thirty-six S. aureus strains from cow milk with subclinical mastitis were isolated and identified, and the susceptibility to antibiotics and four phages also isolated in this work was tested. It was found that more of 90% of S. aureus isolates were not susceptible to six or more antibiotics, and 100% were resistant to penicillin, dicloxacillin, cefotaxime, ampicillin and cephalothin, and 81 and 77%, to tetracycline and cefuroxime, respectively. Fortunately, 100% of S. aureus isolates were susceptible to phages used in this work, which was detected as clear zones using specific phage. It was shown for the first time, that phages used in this study are active against pathogenic S. aureus and might be incorporated into the therapy as an important tool for the control of staphylococcal bovine mastitis, specially to antibiotic-resistant S. aureus strains isolated in farm located at the state of Guanajuato, México; and its use might be extended to other regions inside or outside the country.     

Seroprevalence of Neospora spp. in asymptomatic horses in Italy

One hundred and fifty horses from Italy were tested for serum antibodies to Neospora caninum by indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT). Antibodies were present in 42 horses (28%). The positive titres were: 1:50 (16/150-10.5%), 1:100 (26/150-17%), 1:200 (8/150-5.3%) and 1:800 (1/150-0.6%). No neurological anomalies were observed in the seropositive horses. This is the first serologic survey for Neospora spp. antibodies performed on horses born and raised in Italy.