Histologic characteristics and local cellular immunity of the gland of the third eyelid after topical ophthalmic administration of 2% cyclosporine for treatment of dogs with keratoconjunctivitis sicca

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of topical administration of a 2% solution of cyclosporine (CsA) for treatment of dogs with keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) and to correlate results with histopathologic characteristics and local cellular immunity of the gland of the third eyelid. ANIMALS: 24 dogs with bilateral KCS. PROCEDURE: Lacrimal secretion was measured, using Schirmer tear test (STT) strips. Leukocyte and T-lymphocyte subsets were determined in blood samples. Histopathologic changes as well as CD4+, CD8+, and alpha-naphthyl-acetate esterase-positive (ANAE+) lymphocytes were evaluated. RESULTS: Clinical signs resolved at the end of 1 month in conjunction with significantly increased STT values, compared with baseline values. Fifteen and 30 days after discontinuation of CsA treatment, a decrease was observed in STT values in both eyes; however, only values for the right eye were significantly different. There was a significant decrease in the number of lymphocytes and ANAE+ lymphocytes 15 and 30 days after discontinuation of CsA treatment, compared with baseline values. Differences were not observed in number of CD4+ lymphocytes among treatment groups. However, there was a significant decrease in number of CD8+ lymphocytes with reversal of the CD4+:CD8+ in both eyes after CsA treatment for 30 days, compared with the control group. Increased secretory activity and decreased lymphocyte infiltration were characteristic histopathologic findings. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Topical administration of a 2% solution of CsA was effective for the treatment of dogs with KCS. Strict follow-up monitoring is required after the cessation of treatment because of the possibility of recurrence of KCS.     

Comparison of Cryoprotective Effects of Lycopene and Cysteamine in Different Cryoprotectants on Bull Semen and Fertility Results

The objectives of this study were to compare glycerol and ethylene glycol at different concentrations as cryoprotectants and lycopene or cysteamine (with/without) as antioxidants in Tris extender for bull semen. Twenty‐four ejaculates were obtained from three bulls. Each ejaculate was split into four equal aliquots and diluted using both of the Tris extenders with glycerol (5% or 7%) or ethylene glycol (3% or 5%). After that, each extenders were split into three equal aliquots and added using both of the cysteamine 5 mm or lycopene 500 μg/ml, and control (without additives). The addition of 7% glycerol with cysteamine, 5% ethylene glycol with cysteamine and 3% ethylene glycol with cysteamine groups gave the lowest CASA motility than the other groups. However, 7% glycerol and 7% glycerol with lycopene resulted in a better rate of CASA progressive motility compared with that of other groups. Generally, all the lycopene groups signed better protective effects on acrosome and total morphology than the other groups. Glycerol 7% and 3% ethylene glycol with lycopene groups yielded to slight higher percentages of membrane integrity assessed by HOST than that of the other groups, but 7% glycerol with cysteamine and 3% ethylene glycol with cysteamine showed the worst percentages of membrane integrity. Glycerol 7% and 5% glycerol with lycopene gave rise to a higher value of VAP, VSL and VCL compared with that of the other groups. On the contrary, adding to 5% glycerol with cysteamine showed negative effect for VAP, VSL, VCL and ALH values. All cryoprotectant groups with lycopene decreased chromatin damage than the other groups. Ethylene glycol 3% led to lower non‐return rates of inseminated cows. However, this result was not considered to be statistically important.     

Beneficial effects of n-3HUFA enriched Artemia as food for larval palmetto bass (Morone saxatilis × M. chrysops)

The beneficial effects of feeding n−3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA ≥ 20 carbon fatty acids with three or more double bonds) to palmetto bass (striped bass × white bass) larvae, 4–30 days of age, were studied using Artemia diets enriched with six n-3HUFA levels. Dietary n-3HUFA concentrations were < 0.03% (control diet), 0.33%, 0.63%, 0.87%, 1.26%, and 2.27% of dry-wt Artemia. Larval n-3HUFA contents were reduced at a faster rate with decreasing dietary n-3HUFA intake, and were significantly different by 30 days posthatch (4–20 mg g⁻¹ dry-wt fish). Starved larvae selectively conserved endogenous n-3HUFA reserves, indicating an essential role of n-3HUFA in larval development. Mass mortality in the control and 0.33% n-3HUFA diets occurred at metamorphosis (26–28 days posthatch). At harvest, all fish, except those fed the two highest n-3HUFA diets, suffered from handling stress (shock syndrome) with increasing severity (25 to 100%) at decreasing dietary n-3HUFA intake. Recovery from shock syndrome was 100% at the 0.63% and 0.87% n-3HUFA diets, 63% at the 0.33% n-3HUFA diet and 0% at the control diet. Post-harvest survival was similar among the four highest dietary n-3HUFA groups (64–73%), whereas the two lowest n-3HUFA groups differed significantly (0 and 37%). Growth promotion was evident with increased dietary n-3HUFA intake as fish fed the highest n-3HUFA diet were twice the size of those fed the control diet (99 vs 52 mg wet-wt). Final fish sizes at the three highest n-3HUFA diets were similar. Given similar culture conditions, a minimum dietary n-3HUFA intake of 1.26% of dry-wt Artermia is recommended to avoid handling stress and promote growth in larval palmetto bass.     

Evaluation of Pomological and Morphological Characteristics and Chemical Compositions of Local Pear Varieties (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pyrus communis</Emphasis> L.) Grown in Gumushane,Turkey

The aim of the present research was to investigate the fruit quality of twenty different local pear varieties (Pyrus communis L.), namely Ahlat, Ankara, Arpa, B?ld?rc?n, Çermai, Cinci, Gelin Bo?an, Hac? Hamza, Hah?r, Kabak, K?z?l, Kokulu, Mehrani, Menendi, Sulu, ?algam, Tokat Sultan?, Tur?u, Yaz, and Yaz Meyri?i, grown in Gumushane province in terms of pomological and morphological characteristics and chemical compositions. The fruit mass, fruit width and length, fruit stem thickness and length, fruit kernel width and length, hardness of pulp, number of seeds, leaf width and length, leaf stem length and thickness, and water soluble dry matter (WSDM) of the pear fruits have been determined as pomological and morphological characteristics. On the other hand, the chemical compositions of the pear varieties have been evaluated in terms of protein, ash, sucrose, fructose, glucose, total sugar, titratable acidity, moisture, and mineral element levels.Both pomological and morphological results demonstrated that the local pear varieties are important in terms of rehabilitation studies and detailed selection studies on these local varieties should be performed. The chemical analyses result of the pear varieties revealed that there is no component that may be harmful to human health when consumed, and also these varieties contains the necessary amount of mineral elements.     

Acute and chronic effects of neem on Myzocallis coryli (Homoptera: Aphididae)

Abstract

Adults and immatures of the filbert aphid, Myzocallis coryli (Goetze), a major pest of hazelnuts worldwide, were exposed to foliage treated with different concentrations of a botanical insecticide, Margosan-O, derived from extract of neem seeds. Both mature and immature stages were highly sensitive to this compound. Acute toxicity causing immediate mortality of young nymphs, particularly at higher rates (50 ppm or more), and chronic effects resulting in reduced offspring production, lengthening of nymphal development time and reduced survival of subsequent generation were recorded. The offspring production of adult aphids fed on treated leaves was reduced in a dosage-dependent manner, nearly 50% at 2.5 ppm to over 80% at 62.5 ppm. However, no nymphal survival was recorded at 25 ppm or higher doses. A repellency effect was also recorded, butthe feeding deterrence response was weak at best. Field trials also showed a marked reduction of aphid numbers on treated foliage, suggesting the effectiveness of neem against this major pest of hazelnuts.     

The utility of Trichoderma spp. isolates to control of Xylosandrus germanus Blandford (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The invasive ambrosia beetle, Xylosandrus germanus Blandford (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), is a serious pest of hazelnut in Turkey, which is...     

Genotype X environment interactions in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Genotype X environment interactions were estimated for several traits in potato from a combined analysis of 11 genotypes grown at 3 locations for 2 years. Genotype X location X year and Genotype X location interactions were significant for the majority of the traits studied. Yield, reducing sugar content, dry matter content, leaf area, plant height and starch content should be tested over multiple locations and years in order to separate the genotype × environment interaction components from the total genotypic variance.     

Passalora blight of anise (Pimpinella anisum) and its control in Turkey

Passalora blight of anise, caused byPassalora malkoffii (Bubák) U. Braun, is an important disease of anise in Turkey. The disease affects all the aboveground parts of plants including flower clusters. Infected seeds have dark, linear stromata. Detection of the pathogen on seeds was studied by the blotter method, agar method, washing test and sowing infected seeds in disease-free soils. The pathogen was recovered only by the washing test and to a limited extent by water agar + seed decoction agar. Sixteen of 24 seed samples from diseased regions were found to be infected. The pathogen was not detected by any other methods. However, several indigenous fungi,e.g. Alternaria alternata, were isolated, which may have prevented the growth of the pathogen. Seed washings of infected seed samples had typical spores of the pathogen up to 10⁶ conidia per gram of seed. Transmission of the pathogen was shown by sowing infected seeds in disease-free field soils in two locations where anise had not been grown previously. Azoxystrobin, chlorothalonil + carbendazim and flutriafol seed treatments at 0.04 g a.i. kg⁻¹ seed, 1.0 g + 4.5 g a.i. kg⁻¹ seed and 0.015 g a.i. kg⁻¹ seed reduced the disease by 92.5%, 89.6% and 36.2% in 2002 and by 78.9%, 75.8% and 41.2% in 2003, respectively. Three foliar applications of axosystrobin, chlorothalonil + carbendazim and flutriafol at the rates of 187.5 g a.i. ha⁻¹, 1500 g + 6750 g a.i. ha⁻¹ and 31.3 g a.i ha⁻¹ reduced disease incidence by 92.5%, 86.0% and 96.8% in 2002 and by 97.5%, 90.8% and 97.0% in 2003, respectively. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting May 17, 2005.     

Influence of fabric and soil suction on the mechanical behavior of a kaolinitic clay

An empirical analysis based on data from 48 one-dimensional compression tests on specimens from 6 different fabric samples is used to examine the influence of void ratio, particle-orientation characteristics, and soil suction on the load-deformation behavior of a kaolinite clay. This is accomplished by approximating the stress—strain response with a two-coefficient hyperbola and studying the variations of these coefficients (one of which is related to the initial tangent modulus and the other to the ultimate strength) with the afore-mentioned intrinsic behavioral parameters. The results indicate that the initial tangent modulus and the strength both increase with decreasing values of the soil suction and the void ratio, but the trends more dere defenitive in the case of strength. Although the effects of particle orientation on the initial tangent modulus were not clear, its effect on the strength parameter and secant modulus was evident.     

Acceptance and Consumption of Food by Striped Bass and Hybrid Larvae

Food acceptance, consumption and weaning times were investigated for striped bass ( Morone saxatilis ) and hybrid striped bass ( M. saxatilis × M. chrysops ) larvae. Experimental treatments consisted of: control groups of striped bass (SC) and hybrids (HC) fed Artemia nauplii; hybrids fed formula food (HF); and hybrids weaned from Artemia nauplii to formula food at 11–15 days (HF₁), and 18–22 days (HF₂) posthatch. The formula diet did not support growth and resulted in total mortality of the HF hybrids by the third week posthatch. HF₁ fish had significantly slower growth and lower survival than HF₂ of HC. The HF₂, HC and SC groups had similar growth and survival, which indicated no heterosis in hybrids. There were no differences in Artemia nauplii consumption by the SC and HC groups. Daily consumption increased exponentially for both groups (0.8 to 50–60 cal/day/larva between 7 and 30 days posthatch). Weight specific consumption (WSC) decreased initially and then increased for both groups. A mean WSC of 58% (range of 24–83%) was found for the combined SC and HC groups. Food conversion ratio, growth efficiency, caloric efficiency, and productive protein values were similar for striped bass and hybrid larvae.