Does imidacloprid seed-treated maize have an impact on honey bee mortality?

Beekeepers suspected maize, Zea mays L., treated with imidacloprid to result in substantial loss of honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies in Belgium. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential impact of maize grown from imidacloprid-treated seeds on honey bee mortality. A survey of 16 apiaries was carried out, and all maize fields treated or not with imidacloprid were located within a radius of 3,000 m around the observed apiaries. Samples of honey, beeswax, and bees were collected in three colonies per apiary and analyzed for pesticide contain by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. We first found a significant correlation between the number of colonies per apiary and the mortality rates in an apiary. In addition, this mortality rate was inversely correlated with the surface of maize fields treated and not with imidacloprid, suggesting that this pesticide do not interact with bees' fitness. Moreover, a very large number of our samples contained acaricides either prohibited or ineffective against Varroa destructor (Anderson & Trueman) (Acari: Varroidae), suggesting that the treatment methods used by the beekeepers to be inadequate for mite control. Our results support the hypothesis that imidacloprid seed-treated maize has no negative impact on honey bees.

Chronic condition self-management support: proposed competencies for medical students.

OBJECTIVE: Governments and the medical profession are concerned that there continues to be less than optimal health outcomes despite escalating expenditure on health services from the effect of the ageing population with chronic illnesses. In this context, doctors will need to have knowledge and skills in effective chronic condition management (CCM) and chronic condition self-management (CCSM). METHOD: A national workshop of representatives of eight medical schools from the CCSM special interest group (SIG) of the Australian and New Zealand Association on Medical Education met in September 2004, to consider curriculum content in CCM and CCSM. RESULTS: The workshop recommended that the Committee of Deans of Australian Medical Schools and the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing consider the identification and possible development of a specific curriculum for CCM and CCSM within the curricula of Australian Medical Schools. DISCUSSION: Consideration needs to be given to the changing nature of medical practice and that as part of this; doctors of the future will need skills in team participation, continuity of care, self-management support and patient-centered collaborative care planning. Doctors will also need skills to assist patients to better adhere to medical management, lifestyle behaviour change and risk factor reduction, if optimal health outcomes are to be achieved and costs are to be contained.

Mothflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in hospitals: a guide to their identification and methods for their control.

Repeated observation of "mothflies" at CHU Brugmann (Horta site hospital in Brussels) is not an isolated incident. Many public buildings have been infested by these Diptera of the Psychodidae Family. Although the species currently seen in Belgium is not a danger to human health, any infestation should be swiftly eradicated so as to limit the risks of a massive proliferation, source of hygiene problems and of potential bacterial dissemination. A good knowledge of adult and larval biology allows the potential sites of infestation to be quickly identified. The method to be envisaged to solve the problem will combine different approaches such as removing the risk factors (decomposing organic matter), monitoring egg-laying sites, applying caustic soda-based products and possibly treating with insecticide.

[Effectiveness of a number of anticoccidial agents. A brief survey taken in the field (author's transl)]. / De werkzaamheid van een aantal anticoccidiosismiddelen. Een momentopname in de praktijk.

A floor pen trial was carried out on broilers in 1975 to compare the anticoccidial efficacy of monensin1), 3,5 dinitro-o-toluamide2), clopidol3), amprolium + ethopabacte4), amprolium + ethopabate + sulfaquinoxaline + pyrimethamine5) and robenidine6) in the presence of untreated controls. 4,200 Hybro chicks were distributed over twenty-eight pens, each initially housing 150 birds. Four pen replicates were allocated to each of the seven treatments. With the exception of robenidine, all agents used resulted in a statistically significant (P less than or equal to 0,05) gain in final weight compared with the untreated controls. The feed conversion rate showed significant (P less than or equal to 0,05) improvement in the groups treated with monensin, robenidine, amprolium + ethopabate.