Development of a bioacoustic sensor for the early detection of Red Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier)

The Red Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier) is one of the worst pests for palms, since it can completely destroy the plant. Its early detection is very difficult and when the action of the pest is discovered, normally it is too late for recovering the plant. Bioacoustic sensors provide a good alternative for early detection of this pest because larvae activity is audible while they excavate tunnels to feed. This work describes the different stages for the development of an original electronic device based on acoustic sensors for early detection of Red Palm Weevil larvae in the interior of palms. This device is based on characteristic frequencies possibly related to their feeding activity. The performed tests have demonstrated that is possible to detect two week old larvae activity studying the sound intensity around 2250 Hz in palms infested only with 5 individuals under controlled environmental conditions. The activity of other insects artificially situated in the interior of palms did not affect the response of the device, possibly because they produce different frequencies (in the range 5–7 kHz). Future work will be aimed at assessing the infestation levels.     

Superovulatory Response of Zebu Cows Treated with pFSH in a Single Subcutaneous Injection Followed by an Additional Intramuscular Sub‐Dose 48 h Later

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether an additional intramuscular (im) injection of pFSH would increase the embryo production in zebu cows superovulated with a single subcutaneous (sc) pFSH injection. Twenty‐one Nelore cows were treated with a progesterone vaginal implant (Controlled Internal Drug Relased – CIDR B^®) and injected im with 2.5 mg estradiol benzoate. Four days later, cows were assigned randomly into three groups and superovulated with pFSH. Groups A and B received single sc injections of 400 and 320 IU, respectively; Group C received multiple im injections of 400 IU in decreasing doses at 12‐h intervals over 4 days. In the morning (07:00 am) of day 3 after starting superovulation, cows received im 150 mcg cloprostenol and Group B was additionally injected im with 80 IU of pFSH. CIDR‐B was withdrawn in the afternoon (07:00 pm). Cows were inseminated 48 and 62 h after the cloprostenol injection. Embryo collection and corpora lutea (CL) estimation were done 7 days after insemination. Alternation of treatments (crossover design) occurred at a 60‐day interval. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) of CL counts among treatments. The total (transferable and no transferable) number of recovered embryos from Group A (6.9 ± 1.5) was not different from Group C (9.8 ± 1.2), whereas Group B (5.7 ± 1.5) was lower than Group C (p < 0.05). The number of transferable embryos from Groups A (2.4 ± 0.7) and B (1.7 ± 0.6) was lower (p < 0.05) than Group C (4.6 ± 1.2). Lesser (p < 0.05) embryo production from Group B was related to lower recovery rate (46.4%), compared with Groups A (65.1%) and C (81.7%). It was concluded that an additional im subdose of pFSH, injected 48 h after a single subcutaneous (sc) dose of pFSH, does not improve the embryo production in zebu cows.     

Morpho‐physical Recording of Bovine Conceptus (Bos indicus) and Placenta from Days 20 to 70 of Pregnancy

The study is based on 141 pregnant Bos indicus cows, from days 20 to 70 post‐insemination. First, special attention was given to the macroscopically observable phenomena of attachment of the conceptus to the uterus, i.e. the implantation, from about days 20 to 30 post‐insemination up to day 70, and placentome development by growth, vascularization and increase in the number of cotyledons opposite to the endometrial caruncles. Secondly, as for the conceptuses, semiquantitative, statistical analyses were performed of the lengths of chorio‐allantois, amnion and yolk sac; and the different parts of the centre and two extremes of the yolk sacs were also analysed. Thirdly, the embryos/foetuses corresponding to their membranes were measured by their greatest length and by weight, and described by the appearance of external developmental phenomena during the investigated period like neurulation, somites, branchial arcs, brain vesicles, limb buds, C‐form, pigmented eye and facial grooves. In conclusion, all the data collected in this study from days 20 to 70 of bovine pregnancy were compared extensively with corresponding data of the literature. This resulted in an ‘embryo/foetal age‐scale’, which has extended the data in the literature by covering the first 8 to 70 days of pregnancy. This age‐scale of early bovine intrauterine development provides model for studies, even when using slaughtered cows without distinct knowledge of insemination or fertilization time, through macroscopic techniques. This distinctly facilitates research into the cow, which is now being widely used as ‘an experimental animal’ for testing new techniques of reproduction like in vitro fertilization, embryo transfer and cloning.     

Persistent Mullerian Duct Syndrome in a Miniature Schnauzer Dog with Signs of Feminization and a Sertoli Cell Tumour

A 5‐year‐old male Miniature Schnauzer was presented with unilateral cryptorchidism and signs of feminization. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed an enlarged right testis and a large, fluid‐filled cavity that appeared to arise from the prostate. Computed tomography revealed the cavity to be consistent with an enlarged uterine body, arising from the prostate, and showed two structures resembling uterine horns that terminated close to the adjacent testes. The dog had a normal male karyotype, 78 XY. Gonadohysterectomy was performed and both the surgical and the histological findings confirmed the presence of a uterus in this male animal, resulting in a diagnosis of persistent Mullerian duct syndrome (PMDS). The enlarged intra‐abdominal testis contained a Sertoli cell tumour. Computed tomography proved to be an excellent diagnostic tool for PMDS.     

Effect of quercetin on platelet spreading on collagen and fibrinogen and on multiple platelet kinases

α₂β₁ and α_IIbβ₃ integrins, that support platelet adhesion to collagen and fibrinogen, respectively, share common signaling molecules. The effect of quercetin on platelet static adhesion to collagen and fibrinogen was assessed and correlated with its kinase inhibitory activity. Quercetin strongly abrogated PI3K and Src kinases, mildly inhibited Akt1/2, and slightly affected PKC, p38 and ERK1/2. Quercetin or the combined use of adenosine diphosphate and thromboxane A₂ inhibitors abrogated platelet spreading on these surfaces to a similar extent. We suggest that the inhibitory effect of quercetin on platelet kinases blocks early signaling events preventing a complete platelet spreading.     

Characterization,genetic diversity and distribution of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris races causing black rot disease in cruciferous crops of India

Black rot, caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) is a disease of crucifer crops. The objective of this study was to characterize races of Xcc, their distribution and genetic diversity in India. Two hundred and seventeen isolates of bacteria were obtained from 12 different black rot‐infected crucifer crops from 19 states of India; these were identified as Xcc based on morphology, hrpF gene and 16S rRNA gene based molecular markers and pathogenicity tests. Characterization of races was performed by using a set of seven differential crucifer hosts, comprising two cultivars of turnip (Brassica rapa var. rapa) and cultivars of Indian mustard (B. juncea), Ethiopian mustard (B. carinata), rapeseed mustard (B. napus), cauliflower (B. oleracea) and Savoy cabbage (B. oleracea var. sabauda). Races 1, 4 and 6 of Xcc were identified and, among these races, race 1 followed by race 4 dominated most of the states of India. Genetic diversity of the Indian isolates of Xcc was analysed using repetitive sequence‐based PCR (rep‐PCR) including primers for REP (repetitive extragenic palindromic), ERIC (enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus) and BOX (amplifying with BOX A1 R primer) repetitive elements. This method of fingerprinting grouped the isolates into 56 different DNA types (clusters) with a 75% similarity coefficient. Among these clusters, DNA types 22 and 53 contained two different races 1 and 4, whereas DNA type 12 contained races 1, 4 and 6. However, no clear relationship was observed between fingerprints and races, hosts or geographical origin.     

Guava decline: effect of root exudates from Meloidogyne enterolobii-parasitized plants on Fusarium solani in vitro and on growth and development of guava seedlings under controlled conditions

In guava decline, Fusarium solani-immune guava trees become susceptible to extensive root rot caused by this fungus after parasitism by Meloidogyne enterolobii. To understand the mechanisms involved in this disease, root exudates were collected from nematode-inoculated (NI) or uninoculated (UN) guava plants cultivated in sand. After filtration through a Millipore® membrane, NI and UN exudates were used: i) to prepare media to assess their effect on mycelial growth and production of propagules of F. solani isolate UENF/CF 163, and ii) to incubate macro- and microconidia to assess their effect on germination. NI exudates promoted (P?<?0.05) more mycelial growth and production of propagules than UN exudates or water. NI and UN exudates were used to water guava seedlings laid over seed germination paper inside plastic boxes. Half of the seedlings had an agar plug colonized by the fungus positioned in the collar region. Upon watering with NI exudates the fungus caused (P?<?0.05) extensive rotting of the seedlings’ rootlets. NI and UN exudates, either unlyophilized or lyophilized and re-suspended to the original concentration, were used to water guava seedlings grown in sterile sand before being inoculated (or left uninoculated) as described before. Solely upon watering with NI exudates, in its unlyophilized form or after lyophilization, the fungus caused a reduction (P?<?0.05) of shoot and root biomass associated with rotting of roots. These results suggest that M. enterolobii induces chemical changes in the root exudates of guava trees, which are necessary for root invasion causing root rotting by F. solani.     

Effects of adrenocorticotropic hormone challenge and age on hair cortisol concentrations in dairy cattle

Dairy cattle suffer stress from management and production; contemporary farming tries to improve animal welfare and reduce stress. Therefore, the assessment of long-term hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function using non-invasive techniques is useful. The aims in this study were: to measure cortisol concentration in cow and calves hair by radioimmunoassay (RIA), to test cortisol accumulation in bovine hair after adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenges, and determine the influence of hair color on cortisol concentrations. Fifteen Holstein heifers were allotted to 3 groups (n = 5 each): in control group (C), just the hair was sampled; in the saline solution group (SS), IV saline solution was administered on days 0, 7, and 14; and the ACTH group was challenged 3 times with ACTH (0.15 UI per kg of body weight) on days 0, 7, and 14. Serum samples from the SS and ACTH groups were obtained 0, 60 and 90 min post-injection. Serum cortisol concentration was greater 60 and 90 min after injection with ACTH. Hair was clipped on days 0, 14, 28, and 44. Hair cortisol was methanol extracted and measured by RIA. Hair cortisol was preserved for 11 mo. Hair cortisol concentrations in the ACTH group were greater than in the saline and control groups on days 14 and 28, but not on day 44. Concentrations were greater in calves than in cows and greater in white hair than in black hair. Cortisol accumulated in bovine hair after ACTH challenges, but the concentration was affected by both age and hair color. If hair color effects are taken into account, assessing cortisol concentration in hair is a potentially useful non-invasive method for assessing stress in cattle.     

Effects of Hormonal Supplementation on Nuclear Maturation and Cortical Granules Distribution of Canine Oocytes During Various Reproductive Stages

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of hCG, progesterone and oestradiol supplementation on nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of canine oocytes cultured for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. Oocytes obtained from 18 healthy bitches were divided into three groups according to their reproductive status (follicular, luteal and anoestrus stages) and cultured in TCM 199 + 25 UI/ml of hCG + 1 μg/ml of progesterone + 1 μg/ml of 17‐β oestradiol or without hormonal supplementation (control) for different periods. Then, they were stained with FITC‐LCA‐Hoescht for chromatin configuration and cortical granules distribution and evaluated under an epifluorescence microscope. Culture time and the influence of different stages of the oestrous cycle were also evaluated. The present study demonstrated that there was no significant difference among the reproductive stages. With regards to culture medium, only oocytes from the supplemented medium were able to complete meiosis; however, significant difference was only noticed in the percentage of MI stage oocytes (p < 0.05) in the follicular and luteal group at 72 h of culture. Most oocytes in germinal vesicle, germinal vesicle breakdown and metaphase I stage had cortical granules distributed throughout the cytoplasm (immature pattern), irrespective of the culture period (p < 0.05). Cortical granules distributed immediately beneath the plasma membrane (mature) was only observed in metaphase II stage oocytes, but not all of them presented matured cytoplasm. Our results reveal that cortical granules distribution in canine oocytes matured in vitro did not progressed in correspondence with nuclear stage changes and are in accordance with those from other species.