Systemic fungicidal and insecticidal activities of 1- and 2-[bis (dimethylamido)phosphoryl]-3-alkyl-5-anilino-1,2,4-triazoles

The compounds referred to in the title have been investigated for fungicidal, insecticidal and acaricidal activities in laboratory and greenhouse tests. Several representatives of this class of compounds were active against powdery mildew on apple, cucumber, and barley, and against aphids and spider mites, both when applied to the leaves and when added to the nutrient solutions of test plants. Treatment of leaf halves resulted in protection of the entire leaves. A striking difference in pesticidal activity was observed between two series of isomers. Representatives of the series with the phosphoryl group in the 1-position showed much greater pesticidal activities than their corresponding isomers with the phosphoryl group in the 2-position. The optimum activity within the two homologous series (R-H, CH₃ ... C₆H₁₃) was determined: generally the lower homologues (R-H, CH₃, C₂H₅ and i-C₃H₇) showed the greatest pesticidal activity in the systemic tests. After leaf-application the influence of the length of R was less pronounced or even reversed.Samenvatting De in de titel genoemde stoffen zijn onderzocht op fungicide, insecticide en acaricide werking in laboratorium en kasproeven. Verscheidene vertegenwoordigers van dit type verbindingen waren werkzaam tegen echte meeldauw van appel, komkommer en gerst, en tegen bladluizen en spint, dit zowel na toepassing op de bladeren als na toevoeging aan de voedingsoplossingen van proefplanten. Behandeling van bladhelften resulteerde in bescherming van de gehele bladeren. Een opvallend verschil werd waargenomen tussen de werking van twee reeksen isomeren. Vertegenwoordigers van de reeks met de fosforylgroep op de 1-plaats waren veel werkzamer dan hun isomeren met de fosforylgroep op de 2-plaats. Het optimum binnen de twee homologe reeksen (R-H, CH₃ ... C₆H₁₃) werd bepaald: in het algemeen waren de lagere homologen (R-H, CH₃; C₂H₅ en i-C₃H₇) het werkzaamst in de systemische proeven. Na een preventieve bladbespuiting was de invloed van de lengte van R minder uitgesproken of zelfs omgekeerd.     

FAO Crop Protection Activities in Cereal Growing2

FAO is responsible for various projects in cereal growing that have a crop protection component. Within this the overall approach followed is along the lines of integrated pest control. The following field activities are briefly reviewed: research on and control of grain-eating birds; breeding for stable resistance in wheat; integrated pest control in sorghum and millet; integrated pest control in rice-growing in South and Southeast Asia; reduction of post-harvest losses. The effective application of new plant protection technology depends on a better understanding of the agro-ecosystem concerned in order to make maximal use of knowledge collected elsewhere.     

Conduciveness of different soilless growing media to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pythium</Emphasis> root and crown rot of cucumber under near-commercial conditions

Substrates made from rockwool, coir dust, pumice and perlite were compared for conduciveness to Pythium root and crown rot in cucumber under near-commercial conditions. Rockwool slabs of 7 cm height were more conducive to the Pythium disease than coir dust slabs, pumice or perlite under these conditions. Temperature, oxygen concentration and water content were determined in the substrates to explain differences in conduciveness between the inorganic substrates rockwool, pumice and perlite by differences in the physical conditions. Temperature and oxygen concentration could not explain the differences but the higher disease level on rockwool was associated with a much higher water content of this substrate as compared to coir dust, pumice and perlite. Increasing the height of the substrate from 7 to 14 cm greatly decreased the percentage of diseased plants due to the Pythium disease on rockwool but had no effect on the level of disease on perlite when the substrate had been infested 4 cm below the planting hole. This difference in response in substrate height between rockwool and perlite could be explained by a much larger decrease in water content with substrate height in the rockwool than in the perlite substrate. Temperature in the substrates were above 30 °C for more than 6 h on sunny days in June and reached maximum values of 35 °C or more. These temperatures are highly favourable for the pathogen P. aphanidermatum but will have adverse effects on most biocontrol strains.     

Infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria in an equine hospital (2012–2015)

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria are an emerging threat in human and veterinary medicine. There are few reports about infections caused by MDR isolates in horses. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of infections caused by MDR bacteria at the Equine Hospital Zurich between 2012 and 2015. Medical records were searched for horses with confirmed MDR bacterial infection. Multidrug resistance was defined according to human guidelines specific for each pathogen. MDR isolates were most commonly isolated from post-procedural infections (53/110, 48%), followed by musculoskeletal (16/110, 15%) and soft tissue infections (16/110, 15%). Escherichia coli (32/158, 20%) and Staphylococcus aureus (25/158, 16%) were the most common isolates. High resistance rates precluded therapy with commonly used antimicrobial drugs. The overall mortality rate was 20% (22/108) but depended on the localisation of the infection. Antimicrobial treatment prior to development of infection was reported for 89% (91/102) of horses. This study showed that MDR pathogens, mainly MDR E. coli and MRSA, cause a considerable number of infections in horses. A wide range of infections was seen, however, nosocomial infections predominated. These cases are typically hospitalised, pretreated with antibiotics, and suffering from comorbidities putting them at high-risk for acquiring infections caused by MDR isolates. The mortality of such infections was generally low but depended on site of infection.     

Effects of limited concentrate feeding on growth and blood and serum variables, and on nutrient digestibility and gene expression of hepatic gluconeogenic enzymes in dairy calves

This study elucidated the effects of limited concentrate feeding on growth, nutrient digestibility, blood profile and gene expression of gluconeogenic enzymes in the liver of dairy calves. The study utilized 36 German Holstein dairy calves (5-7 days of age) divided into two groups of 18 calves each for 150 days. Control group calves received 2 kg/(calf × day) of concentrate, whereas calves in the restricted group received only 1 kg/(calf × day). Good quality forage (mixture of maize and grass silages) was available for ad libitum consumption to both groups. The intake of milk replacer before weaning, and of concentrate were recorded daily per calf; however, the consumption of forages was quantified as daily average of the group. Body weights (BW) were recorded at start and on days 35, 70, 112 and 150. Blood and serum samples and spot urinary and faecal samples were also collected at similar time points. On days 70 and 150, liver biopsies were collected from seven animals in each group. The BW was not different between the groups at all times. Total BW gain in the control group was 124 kg as opposed to 111 kg in restricted group that led to average BW gain of 827 g/day and 739 g/day in respective groups, and the differences were significant (p = 0.018). As planned, the control group had higher concentrate and lower forage intake than the restricted group. The blood haemoglobin, haematocrit and serum variables (glucose, total protein, albumin and urea) were within the normal range in both groups, but serum glucose was higher (p < 0.05) in control than in restricted group at 70 days. There was no difference between groups in organic matter (OM) digestibility which declined (p < 0.001) with increasing age in both groups. Microbial crude protein (MCP) synthesis estimated from urinary allantoin excretion increased (p < 0.001) in both groups with increasing age but was not different between groups. The mRNA expressions for the gluconeogenic enzymes, cytosolic and mitochondrial phosphoenol pyruvate carboxykinase (EC 4.1.1.32) and pyruvate carboxylase (EC 6.4.1.1) measured by quantitative real-time PCR in liver biopsies showed no differences between groups. Overall, restricting concentrate moderately reduced the growth intensity without affecting the normal serum and blood indices, and MCP synthesis and OM digestibility showed no differences between groups, indicating that both concentrate feeding schemes can be successfully applied.     

Equine mammary gland disease with a focus on botryomycosis: A review and case study

Mammary gland problems occur incidentally in horses and one of the rarer conditions is botryomycosis (bacterial pseudomycosis, bacterial granuloma, staphylococcal pseudomycetoma). This article includes a short review of equine mammary gland problems inappropriate lactation, mastitis and neoplasia and botryomycosis, and additionally 2 clinical cases of botryomycosis of the udder resulting from Staphyloccocus aureus infection will be discussed. Both cases involved nonpregnant, nonlactating mares referred for chronic mammary inflammation with draining abcessation. In both mares, botryomycosis caused by S. aureus was confirmed by histopathology and a bacterial culture. Both mares recovered fully after surgical hemimastectomy under general anaesthesia.     

The effect of immunosuppression with cyclosporin A on the development of sheep scab

The present study confirms that following infection with the ectoparasitic sheep scab mite, Psoroptes ovis, there is a rapid (within 24 h) inflammatory influx of eosinophils and apoptosis of the keratinocytes at the site of infection. In order to investigate whether these inflammatory reactions are important in the maintenance of mite infection, a group of animals were treated daily after the establishment of infection with the potent anti-inflammatory drug, Cyclosporin A. The course of infection was monitored by determining the lesion area and mite numbers, systemic antibody and blood eosinophils, as well as the inflammatory cells and T cell sub-populations within the lesion throughout the 6-week duration of the experiment. These parameters were compared with those in a similar infected control (non-treated) group. In control infected animals, the lesion area and mite numbers increased steadily throughout the 6-week period. In contrast, lesion area and mite numbers were severely depressed in the group which received Cyclosporin A. Local and systemic eosinophils, and systemic antibody were also significantly reduced in the drug treated animals, compared to controls. Surprisingly however, the number of lesional pan T cells, T helper cells, gammadeltaT cells and dendritic cells in Cyclosporin A treated animals were either the same, or significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced when compared to the control infected animals at the termination of the experiment. The results will be discussed in terms of the role of the dermal inflammatory response in the establishment and maintenance of the sheep scab mite.     

Persistent BVDV infection in mousedeer infects calves. Do we know the reservoirs for BVDV?

Bovine virus diarrhoea virus (BVDV)-1f was isolated from a Lesser Malayan Mousedeer in Copenhagen Zoo during a routine screening. Analysis of animals related to the Copenhagen mousedeer revealed that its mother and all siblings were virus positive, a pattern also seen for persistently infected (PI) cattle. BVDV could be transmitted from the PI mousedeer to a calf after indirect contact. The host spectrum for BVDV seems to be even wider than expected; the implications for BVDV control are discussed.     

Force plate analysis before and after dorsal decompression for treatment of degenerative lumbosacral stenosis in dogs

OBJECTIVE: Using force plate analysis (FPA), determine ground reaction forces in dogs with degenerative lumbosacral stenosis (DLS) and evaluate the effects of lumbosacral decompressive surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. ANIMALS: Twelve dogs with DLS. METHODS: DLS was diagnosed by clinical signs, radiography, computed tomography, and/or magnetic resonance imaging. FPA was performed before surgery, and 3 days, 6 weeks, and 6 months after surgery. The mean peak braking (Fy+), peak propulsive (Fy-), and peak vertical (Fz+) forces of 8 consecutive strides were determined. The ratio between the total Fy- of the pelvic limbs and the total Fy- of the thoracic limbs (P/TFy-), reflecting the distribution of Fy-, was analyzed to evaluate any changes in locomotion pattern postoperatively. Ground reaction force data for DLS dogs were compared with data derived from 24 healthy dogs (control). RESULTS: In dogs with DLS, the propulsive forces (Fy-) of the pelvic limbs were significantly smaller than those of controls. P/TFy- was significantly smaller in dogs with DLS than in control dogs, and increased during the follow-up period, reaching normal values 6 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Cauda equina compression in dogs with DLS decreases the propulsive force of the pelvic limbs and surgical treatment restores the propulsive force of the pelvic limbs in a 6-month period. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In dogs with DLS, FPA is an effective method in evaluating the response to surgical treatment. Normal propulsive force in the pelvic limbs was restored during 6 months after decompressive surgery.