Antibody levels by indirect ELISA test in Trypanosoma evansi infected horses following treatment with quinapyramine sulphate

An ELISA test was used to determine the persistence of antibody levels in horses following treatment for Trypanosoma evansi. In 17 horses with T. evansi from two farms treated and cured with quinapyramine sulphate, ELISA antibody levels fell progressively post-treatment, but remained with positive results for 22.6 months in one horse, 12.8 months in a second, 4.1 months in another four and 2.3 months in three, whilst the rest became negative at 2.3 months. In two horses that suffered a post-treatment infection relapse the decrease in ELISA levels was only temporary, and a new increase in antibody levels was proven. The follow-up of these antibody levels could prove useful in clinical cases and in epidemiological studies, as well as for assessing the efficacy of drug treatment.     

Modelling management strategies for wheat–soybean double crops in the south-eastern Pampas

Favourable prices and new technologies have recently stimulated the adoption of wheat–soybean double crops in the south-eastern Pampas. To assess the largely unknown long-term performance of this strategy, we used CERES-Wheat and CROPGRO-Soybean with slight adaptations to account for double cropping. Models and climate records were combined to analyse management practices allowing for earlier soybean sowing, which was assumed to be the key for high soybean yield and whole-system performance. Practices investigated were: (i) short-season wheat cultivars; (ii) non-selective herbicides for faster drying of wheat before harvest; (iii) relay double cropping, where soybean is sown on standing wheat before crop maturity in contrast to sequential cropping where soybean is sown after wheat harvest.