Socio-economic factors influencing control of vector-borne diseases in the pastoralist system of south western Uganda

Research in control of tick-borne diseases and trypanosomosis, and their vectors, namely, ticks and tsetse flies respectively, has been on going for decades. However, very little attention has been paid to the socio-economic factors that are likely to influence the outcome of the interventions in the control of these diseases. Thus, this study was designed to investigate these factors, mainly the intra-household factors influencing decision-making in the control of Vector-borne diseases in the pastoralist areas of Uganda. These factors included: indigenous technical knowledge, household economic factors, and gender. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used in the collection and analysis of data. The tools used for data collection included among others, participatory learning and action (PLA), and Case studies. The findings included the following: In pastoralist households, a big proportion of the household budget was allocated to vector-borne diseases control. In the male-headed households, men dominated decision-making on vector-borne diseases control, although the goals and priorities of men and women in these households were not the same. Also, vector-borne disease control was predominantly by use of modern veterinary drugs, and pastoralists treated sick cattle by themselves even in situations where there were veterinary personnel.     

Effect of food on the pharmacokinetics of oral cefuroxime axetil in dogs

Cefuroxime axetil pharmacokinetic profile was investigated in 12 Beagle dogs after single intravenous and oral administration of tablets or suspension at a dose of 20 mg/kg, under both fasting and fed conditions. A three-period, three-treatment crossover study (IV, PO under fasting and fed condition) was applied. Blood samples were withdrawn at predetermined times over a 12-hr period. Cefuroxime plasma concentrations were determined by HPLC. Data were analyzed by compartmental analysis. No statistically significant differences were observed between formulations and feeding conditions on PK parameters. Independently of the feeding condition, absorption of cefuroxime axetil after tablet administration was low and erratic. The drug has been quantified in plasma in 3 out of 6 and 5 out of 6 dogs in the fasted and fed groups. For this formulation, the bioavailability (F), peak plasma concentration (C_max), and area under the concentration–time curve (AUC) of cefuroxime axetil were significantly enhanced (p < .05) by the concomitant ingestion of food (32.97 ± 13.47–14.08 ± 7.79%, 6.30 ± 2.62–2.74 ± 0.66 µg/ml, and 15.75 ± 3.98–7.82 ± 2.76 µg.hr/ml for F, C_max, and AUC in fed and fasted dogs, respectively), while for cefuroxime axetil suspension, feeding conditions affected only the rate of absorption, as reflected by the significantly shorter absorption half-life (T_½(a)) and time to peak concentration (T_max) (0.55 ± 0.27–1.15 ± 0.19 hr and 1.21 ± 0.22–1.70 ± 0.30 for T_½(a) and T_max in fed and fasted dogs, respectively). For cefuroxime axetil tablets, T > MIC (≤1 µg/ml) was <2 hr in fasted and ≈4 hr in fed animals, and for cefuroxime axetil suspension, T > MIC (≤1 µg/ml) was ≈5 hr and for T >MIC (≤4 µg/ml) was ≈2.5 hr for fasted and fed dogs, respectively. Cefuroxime axetil as a suspension formulation seems to be a better option than tablets. However, its short permanence in plasma could reduce its clinical usefulness in dogs.     

Canine fertility: The consequences of selection for special traits

Pedigree dogs and cats are bred aiming to conform breed standards with very poor consideration for breeding stock fertility. At the same time, the genetic asset underlining reproductive traits could be effectively analysed like in other species under selection. The definition of selection targets is very important in breeding protocols determination. The aim of the present work is to present an overview of the different correlations between reproduction and genetics, starting from selection procedure and inbreeding coefficient moving to genomic and the application of SNPs and GWAS on population study and identification of genes involved in phenotypical variation of reproductive traits in dogs. Particular relevance has been given to the concept of inbreeding which effects on canine reproduction have been presented. The use of genomic information in inbreeding coefficient calculation can be considered an improved effective procedure in the evaluation of the genetic variability loss in canine population and its negative effects on reproductive traits.     

Effect of different fat sources on in vitro degradation of nutrients and certain blood parameters in sheep

This study was designed to determine the effects of calcium salt of palm oil fatty acids (CS), hydroxyethylsoyamide (HESA), butylsoyamide (BSA) and soybean oil (SO) on degradation of crude protein and fibre in vitro, and on the blood plasma lipid parameters in vivo. Five mature wethers (body weight 75 kg) were fed five diets in a 5 x 5 Latin square experiment. The control diet consisted of 50% meadow hay and 50% concentrate with no added fat. The control diet was supplemented with CS, HESA, BSA, or SO. Fat was added at 3.5% of dietary dry matter (DM). The final ether extract content of the ration was near 6%. Each period lasted 20 days. Fat supplements, except HESA, consistently decreased the in vitro DM disappearance of soybean meal as compared to control. In contrast to the effect of other treatments, crude protein degradation was greatest in the test tubes with inocula obtained from sheep fed diet with HESA. Fat supplements equally inhibited the DM and fibre breakdown of alfalfa pellet. CS and HESA seemed to be less detrimental to in vitro fermentation of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) than BSA and SO. All fat supplements increased blood plasma triglyceride, cholesterol and total lipid content. Plasma concentration of cholesterol and total lipid was highest with SO. The inclusion of CS in the diet increased 16:0, while all fat supplements increased plasma 18:0 and decreased 16:1 and 18:1 fatty acid content. Plasma 18:2n-6 was not changed by feeding CS and SO. However, compared to the control diet, 18:2n-6 increased with 12 and 41% in plasma fatty acids when sheep were fed HESA and BSA, respectively. The results showed that plasma concentration of linoleic acid was enhanced more when the amide was synthesised from butylamine than when from ethanolamine.     

Check-list for scientific names of common parasitic fungi. Series 3b: Fungi on bulbs: Amaryllidaceae and Iridaceae

This list is a continuation of Series 3a (Neth. J. Pl. Path. 94 (1988), Supplement 1), an account of the nomenclature of common parasitic fungi on bulbs as used in official publications of the Netherlands Society of Plant Pathology and the Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. The selected names include one new species,Curvularia gladioli Boerema & Hamers, one new pathogenic form,Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.croci Boerema & Hamers, and one new combination,Sclerotium narcissi (Sacc.) Boerema & Hamers.A contribution towards the costs of publication provided by the Landbouw Export Bureau Fund, Wageningen, is gratefully acknowledged.     

Determination and persistence of imazalil in post-harvest-treated apples during cold storage

A method to determine imazalil (allyl 1 -(2, 4-dichlorophenyl)-2-imidazol- 1-ylethyl ether) on apples using high performance liquid chromatography is described. After harvest, fruits were immersed in an aqueous suspension (1 g litre-1) and cold stored (0-2°C) at 85-90% r.h. Samples were taken monthly and imazalil was determined in the peel, outer pulp, inner pulp and on whole fruit. Residues were 3.8-4.9 mg imazalil kg-1 and decreased during storage. Most imazalil was found on the peel and amounts in the pulp decreased toward the core.     

Integration of Calneem® oil and parasitoids to control <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Cadra cautella</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Corcyra cephalonica</Emphasis> in stored grain cereals

The compatibility and protectant potential of Calneem® oil derived from the neem tree Azadirachta indica and two parasitoids, Habrobracon hebetor and Venturia canescens, for the control of the rice moth Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and the tropical warehouse moth Cadra cautella Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in stored rice and wheat, were evaluated in the laboratory. Calneem® oil (= neem oil) is a biopesticide produced, registered and marketed in Ghana by AQUA AGRIC Community Projects (AACP/Caldor Ghana Ltd., Tema). It contains 0.3% azadirachtin as its major active ingredient. The oil was emulsified with water using 0.07% soap. Fourth instar moth larvae were held in grain treated with neem oil only, grain treated with one of the parasitoids only, grain treated with a combination of neem and one of the parasitoids, and a control with untreated grain. Neem oil was applied at concentrations from 5,000 to 30,000 ppm. All samples were kept in growth cabinets maintained at 25°C and 65–70% r.h. Adult emergence was recorded after 4 weeks. Parasitoid or neem treatments alone reduced the emergence of C. cephalonica and C. cautella. In general, parasitoid releases were as effective as a combination of neem oil and parasitoids. At the lowest dose, 5,000 ppm, the combination of neem and parasitoid was more effective than the neem alone. The number of adults of H. hebetor and V. canescens that emerged in rice containing either parasitoids alone or in combination with neem oil was similar. This indicates minimal or no adverse effect of neem oil on the two parasitoids. It is thus possible to incorporate neem oil in a well-designed pest management program with parasitoids.