Insecticide resistance patterns among colorado potato beetle,leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (Coleoptera: chrysomelidae), populations in north carolina

A residual bioassay was used to determine insecticide susceptibility in populations of Colarado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), in eastern North Carolina. Mean bioassay mortalities were subjected to correlation analysis to assess patterns of resistance among tested insecticides. Within insecticide classes, cross-resistance patterns were observed between carbaryl and carbofuran (carbamates), fenvalerate and permethrin (pyrethroids), and among azinphosmethyl, methamidophos, and phosmet (organophosphates). Significant associations between insecticides from different insecticide classes were concluded to be due to multiple resistance. Knowledge of multiple and cross-resistance patterns are discussed in relation to the bioassay as a tool for monitoring insecticide resistance.     

Diurnal migration and responses to simulated rainfall in desert soil microarthropods and nematodes

Diurnal patterns of microarthropod abundance in surface leaf litter were related to its moisture content. Leaf litter moisture was nearly 7% by weight at 0800h but fell to less than 1% by mid-day. Oribatid and tydeid mites moved into litter in the early morning and back into the soil before mid-day. There were no significant differences in numbers of nematodes in litter or soil and 78–98% of the nematodes were anhydrobiotic (coiled) in soil and litter at all times sampled.Following simulated rainfall there were fewer microarthropods in litter at mid-day in the absence of marked decreases in soil and litter moisture content. During drying, there were gradual reductions in numbers and species diversity of litter microarthropods. Nematode numbers did not change as litter dried. Anhydrobiotic nematodes in the soil increased from 14% on day 1 to 85% on day 4. Between 24 and 36 h after simulated rainfall, the proportion of anhydrobiotic litter nematodes increased from 35 to 80%,.Within 1 h after simulated rainfall, there were marked increases in numbers and diversity of microarthropods in surface litter. No collembolans were extracted from dry litter controls but the wet litter was dominated by isotomid, sminthurid and onychiurid collembolans. There were increases in numbers and diversity of oribatid, tydeid and gamasid mites in the wet surface litter within l h after wetting compared to controls.     

AAHA senior care guidelines for dogs and cats

This paper provides a working framework for enhancing the well-being of senior pet dogs and cats. Approaches to screening the medical status of senior pets are described in detail, with particular emphasis on establishing baseline data in healthy animals, the testing of clinically ill animals, and assessing senior pets prior to anesthesia and surgery. The management of pain and distress and the application of hospice and palliative care are addressed. Advice on ways to approach euthanasia and dealing with end-of-life issues is also provided.     

Correlation of Plasma Insulin Concentration with Laminitis Score in a Field Study of Equine Cushing's Disease and Equine Metabolic Syndrome

This study aimed to investigate endocrinologic test values and the response to treatment of two commonly encountered causes of endocrinopathic laminitis, equine Cushing's disease (ECD) and equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), in a veterinary practice setting. In particular, the study aimed to determine whether insulin concentration correlated to the severity of clinical laminitis in horses with EMS or ECD. Twenty-five horses were included in the study and assigned to one of three groups: ECD (n = 6), EMS (n = 10), and controls (n = 9). Blood samples were collected at an initial visit and then at regular intervals for the next 12 months. Plasma concentrations of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), cortisol, and insulin and serum concentrations of glucose and total thyroxine (T4) were obtained. Horses with ECD had significantly higher plasma ACTH concentrations than EMS horses or controls. Horses with EMS and ECD both had significantly higher plasma insulin concentrations than control horses, which was correlated with the Obel grade of laminitis (r = 0.63). After treatment, there was a trend for a reduction in plasma ACTH concentration in horses with ECD. A program of diet and exercise for horses with EMS resulted in reductions in both plasma insulin concentrations and bodyweight, which was variable, depending on the individual. There was a significant correlation between the change in plasma insulin concentration and Obel grade of laminitis (r = 0.69). This study has highlighted the importance of baseline plasma insulin concentration as a potential indicator of the susceptibility of horses to laminitis and the response to a program of diet and exercise.     

Biocompatibility of three-dimensional chondrocyte grafts in large tibial defects of rabbits

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate biocompatibility and effects of implantation of 3-dimensional chondrocyte-agarose autografts in tibial defects in rabbits and to compare in vitro and in vivo chondrocyte-agarose constructs with respect to cell viability, differentiation, and matrix production. ANIMALS: 24 adult New Zealand White rabbits. PROCEDURE: Three-dimensional constructs with (grafted group) or without (control group) autogenous chondrocytes were implanted into tibial defects of rabbits and cultured in vitro. During an 8-week period, defects were evaluated radiographically, grossly, histologically, biochemically, and immunohistochemically. In vitro constructs were evaluated histologically, biochemically, and immunohistochemically. RESULTS: Tibial defects had significantly higher radiographic densitometry values at 4 and 6 weeks after implantation in grafted group rabbits, compared with control group rabbits. Number of observed centers of endochondral ossification was significantly greater in defects of grafted group rabbits, compared with control group rabbits. On day 14, glycosaminoglycan concentration was significantly higher in tibial defects of grafted group rabbits, compared to defects of control group rabbits or in vitro constructs. At weeks 2, 4, and 8, glycosaminoglycan concentrations were significantly lower in the in vitro control constructs, compared with other groups. Collagen type I was present in bone and bony callous in defects of grafted and control group rabbits. Collagen type II was identified in cartilaginous tissues of grafted and control group rabbits. Collagen type X was associated with hypertrophic chondrocytes. Only type II collagen was found in the in vitro chondrocyte constructs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Chondrocyte-agarose grafts are biocompatible in large tibial defects and appear to provide a cell source for augmenting endochondral ossification.     

Generalization from pain of various types and diverse origins

Pain that arises from very different pathological origins responds in a quantitative fashion to a given dose of a given narcotic, but this is not true when the pain has been contrived by experimental means, in man, with customary techniques.     

Increased stress and effectiveness of placebos and "active" drugs

Evidence is presented to indicate that placebos are far more effective in producing carefully defined relief of pathological pain than they are in the case of experimental pain. This is construed as further support for the view that placebos are more effective when stress is great than they are when stress is not so great. A similar situation holds for morphine. Certain drugs are effective in relieving visceral sensations only if an essential psychological state is present. This is, in effect, a new principle of drug action.     

Effects of slow release gonadotropin releasing hormone analog on milt characteristics and plasma levels of gonadal steroids in greenback flounder, Rhombosolea tapirina

Spermiated male greenback flounder (Rhombosolea tapirina) were implanted with gonadotropin releasing hormone analog (GnRHa) pellets at different dosages to examine their effects on milt characteristics and plasma levels of testosterone (T), 11-ketotestosterone (11KT) and 17,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20βP). Milt and blood samples were collected for up to 28 or 42 days post-implantation (p.i.) in two separate experiments using fish that were slightly or moderately spermiated, respectively. In both experiments, fish treated with GnRHa pellets showed a consistent and significant increase in milt volume relative to controls, and the increase of milt volume was more rapid than the increase in numbers of spermatozoa. Spermatocrit (Sct) was significantly lower in GnRHa-treated fish than in controls. Plasma levels of T and 11KT were elevated at 7 and 14 days p.i. in slightly spermiated fish treated with GnRHa and elevated plasma T and 11KT levels were accompanied by increased milt volume early in the spermiation period. In contrast, there was no significant difference in plasma T levels between GnRHa-treated and control fish in fish that were moderately spermiated at the time of implant. Treatment with GnRHa tended to result in lower plasma levels of 11KT and higher levels of 17,20βP relative to controls, and there was a positive relationship between the elevation of plasma 17,20βP and the increase in milt volume in response to implantation of GnRHa pellet. Slow release GnRHa administration had no effect on sperm activity or pH and osmolality of seminal plasma in either experiment.     

Molecular Characterization of Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium commune Isolates from a Conifer Nursery

ABSTRACT Fusarium species can cause severe root disease and damping-off in conifer nurseries. Fusarium inoculum is commonly found in most container and bareroot nurseries on healthy and diseased seedlings, in nursery soils, and on conifer seeds. Isolates of Fusarium spp. can differ in virulence; however, virulence and colony morphology are not correlated. Forty-one isolates of Fusarium spp., morphologically indistinguishable from F. oxysporum, were collected from nursery samples (soils, healthy seedlings, and diseased seedlings). These isolates were characterized by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and DNA sequencing of nuclear rDNA (internal transcribed spacer including 5.8S rDNA), mitochon-drial rDNA (small subunit [mtSSU]), and nuclear translation elongation factor 1-alpha. Each isolate had a unique AFLP phenotype. Out of 121 loci, 111 (92%) were polymorphic; 30 alleles were unique to only highly virulent isolates and 33 alleles were unique to only isolates nonpathogenic on conifers. Maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses of DNA sequences from all three regions and the combined data set showed that all highly virulent isolates clearly separated into a common clade that contained F. commune, which was recently distinguished from its sister taxon, F. oxysporum. Interestingly, all but one of the nonpathogenic isolates grouped into a common clade and were genetically similar to F. oxysporum. The AFLP cladograms had similar topologies when compared with the DNA-based phylograms. Although all tested isolates were morphologically indistinguishable from F. oxysporum based on currently available monographs, some morphological traits can be plastic and unreliable for identification of Fusarium spp. We consider the highly virulent isolates to be F. commune based on strong genetic evidence. To our knowledge, this is the first reported evidence that shows F. commune is a cause of Fusarium disease (root rot and dampingoff) on Douglas-fir seedlings. Furthermore, several AFLP genetic markers and mtSSU sequences offer potential for development of molecular markers that could be used to detect and distinguish isolates of F. oxysporum nonpathogenic to conifers and highly virulent isolates of F. commune in forest nurseries.