Reliability of Pheromone Trap Catches and Maize Plant Damage as Criteria for Timing Fall Armyworm Control Interventions in Humid Forest Agroecology of Central Africa.

Control of fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) since its invasion of Africa still depends on pesticides. Early detection of adults is considered the key to the success of larvae control in the crop field. However, FAW control thresholds based on current monitoring techniques are not well established in Africa. We investigated the efficacy of moth capture frequencies and FAW incidence levels as decision tools for FAW management. Experiments were conducted over two maize cropping seasons during which FAW incidence, severity, and larvae count were recorded during destructive sampling after the application of a homologated insecticide. During the first season, the FAW incidence ranged from 37.5 ± 5.6% in the 25% incidence threshold treatment to 48.1 ± 8.1% in the control. During the second season, the incidence was significantly lower in the 25% incidence threshold treatment (55.8 ± 5.7%) compared with the control (75.7 ± 3.0%). Over the two seasons, no significant difference in FAW damage severity was recorded between the treatments and control. The highest number of larvae per plant (4.0 ± 0.6) was observed in the 10% incidence threshold treatment. Insecticide application did not consistently contribute to reducing FAW incidence and observed plant damage did not translate into yield loss. FAW control needs further investigation to establish a threshold above which damage translates into yield loss, thus necessitating control intervention.

Anti-Metalloprotease P-I Single-Domain Antibodies: Tools for Next-Generation Snakebite Antivenoms.

In order to address the global antivenom crisis, novel antivenoms need to present high therapeutic efficacy, broad neutralization ability against systemic and local damage, sufficient safety, and cost-effectiveness. Due to biological characteristics of camelid single-domain antibodies (VHH) such as high affinity, their ability to penetrate dense tissues, and facility for genetic manipulation, their application in antivenoms has expanded considerably. VHHs that are active against the metalloprotease BjussuMP-II from the snake Bothrops jararacussu were selected. After isolation of BjussuMP-II, a camelid was immunized with the purified toxin in order to construct the recombinant phage library. Following a round of biopanning, 52% of the selected clones were able to recognize BjussuMP-II in an ELISA assay. After sequencing, seven sequence profiles were identified. One selected clone (VHH61) showed cross-reactivity to B. brazili venom, but did not recognize the Crotalus and Lachesis genera, indicating specificity for the Bothrops genus. Through in vitro tests, the capacity to neutralize the toxicity triggered by BjussuMP-II was observed. Circular dichroism spectroscopy indicated a robust secondary structure for VHH61, and the calculated melting temperature (T M) for the clone was 56.4°C. In silico analysis, through molecular docking of anti-BjussuMP-II VHHs with metalloprotease, revealed their potential interaction with amino acids present in regions critical for the toxin's conformation and stability. The findings suggest that anti-BjussuMP-II VHHs may be beneficial in the development of next-generation antivenoms.

Aspectos econômicos do uso da parte aérea in natura de mandioca (Manihot esculenta Crantz) para nutrição de cordeiros confinados e semiconfinados / Economic aspects of the aerial part of in natura cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) for the nutrition of confined and semi-confined lambs

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência da inclusão da rama de mandioca na dieta de cordeiros confinados e semiconfinados, em substituição parcial de alimentos concentrados, como forma de redução de custos de produção. O experimento foi conduzido no Centro de Tecnologia de Ovinos (CTO), município de Campo Grande, MS. Foram utilizados 56 cordeiros do grupo genético Pantaneiro, sendo 28 machos e 28 fêmeas, com pesos médios de 18,84kg±2,02kg. As dietas recebidas foram: tratamento controle com ração comercial e tratamentos contendo a parte aérea de mandioca (PAM) em substituição de 10% dessa ração. Os machos confinados obtiveram ganho de peso médio diário de 210g e os semiconfinados, de 178g. No semiconfinamento, as fêmeas controle tiveram GMD de 120g e menor desempenho entre os grupos experimentais. A inclusão PAM acarretou uma redução de 31,29% para a mesma categoria animal. Entre os sistemas de produção, o semiconfinamento apresentou maior lucratividade média, 6,4%, e uma rentabilidade de 7,99% em relação ao sistema de confinamento, que obteve 0,04% de lucratividade e 0,87% de rentabilidade. Conclui-se que a inclusão da parte aérea da mandioca aumenta a eficiência econômica dos sistemas produtivos sem afetar o desenvolvimento dos animais em terminação.(AU)

The scope of this study was to evaluate the inclusion of raw cassava aerial parts in the diet of lambs in partial substitution of rations, in order to reduce production costs. The experiment was conducted at Sheep Technology Centre (CTO) in Campo Grande City, MS. A sample of 56 lambs from Pantaneiro genetic group was used, 28 males and 28 females, average weight of 18.84kg±2.02kg. The inclusion of PAM decreased the costs by 31.29% for the same category of animal. Among the production systems the semi-feedlot, showed the highest average profitability of 6.4% and a return of 7.99%, compared to the feedlot system, which obtained 0.04% 0.87% profitability and return. In conclusion, the inclusion of the aerial part of cassava increases the economic efficiency of production systems without affecting the development of finishing animals.(AU)

Epidemiology, diagnostic delay and outcome of tuberculosis in North Jutland, Denmark.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of tuberculosis (TB) with regards to epidemiology, symptoms, delay, diagnostics, use of HIV-test, treatment, treatment outcome and mortality in the North Jutland Region from 2000 through 2008. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present study is a retrospective study of all new TB cases in the 2000-2008 period. RESULTS: The period saw a total of 251 TB patients (an average of 28 per year). Almost 60% of the patients were not Danish-born, being mostly from Somalia and Greenland. The mean age was 43 years. 31% were alcohol abusers. 2% had AIDS. Cough was the most frequent symptom followed by weight loss, fever and fatigue. In 78.5% of the cases, it was possible to retrieve a positive culture, 53% had a positive sputum smear. However, in 8% of all patients, it was not possible to isolate Mycobacterium tuberculosis and these cases were diagnosed in accordance with the clinical signs. Almost all patients received the standard treatment comprising four antibiotics. 83% were treated successfully, while 5% ended their treatment prematurely. At the end of the study, 14% were dead. In all, 55% of all patients were HIV-tested. Two tested positive before their TB diagnosis and three after. CONCLUSION: The incidence of TB did not seem to decrease over the course of the study period as seen in the rest of Europe. The relatively high rate of alcohol abusers as compared with earlier Danish literature seems to be due to previous underreporting. A treatment success of 83% is high. This first study of HIV testing in Danish TB patients revealed that it was an acceptable result compared with other studies in this field, but the result was not satisfactory because we may miss patients with HIV/TB co-infection when only half of the patients are tested.

[Use of phytostimolin vaginal cream and lavage in cervical dystrophy after DTC of the cervix]. / Impiego di fitostimoline crema e lavanda vaginale nella distrofia cervicale e dopo DTC della portio. Valutazione in doppio cieco di 60 casi.

The study evaluated the efficacy and tolerance of the active components of "phytostimolin" cream and vaginal lavage, Triticum Vulgare and Ether glycoethylen-mono-phenolic, in 40 patients suffering from dystrophic cervico-vaginal pathologies (group 1), and in 20 patients following DTC of the portio due to ectropion (group 2). The study was double blind. An overall efficacy of 70% was observed in group 1 and 90% in group 2. The results obtained, the absence of side effects, and the good level of tolerance confirm the value of the above components in the pathology in question.