SAFETY AND REGISTRATION OF MICROBIAL AGENTS FOR CONTROL OF GRASSHOPPERS AND LOCUSTS

1997 ◽  
Vol 129 (S171) ◽  
pp. 83-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark S. Goettel ◽  
Stefan T. Jaronski

AbstractMicrobial control agents offer a method of pest control using organisms that are a natural component of the environment and are usually much more selective than chemical pesticides. Furthermore, they can usually be integrated with other methods of control, and may provide prolonged control by establishment within the host population. However, microbial control agents also possess properties that can pose human and environmental risks depending on the nature of the pathogen and its pattern of use. We present an overview of issues concerning the safety and registration of microbial control agents with emphasis on pathogens of locusts and grasshoppers. The potential safety issues and other consequences of concern from the deployment of microorganisms for pest control are: (1) pathogenicity to non-target organisms, (2) toxigenicity to non-target organisms, (3) competitive displacement of microorganisms, and (4) allergenicity. Inundative control methods pose unique risks because the pathogens must be produced in large quantities, stored, transported, and applied, usually in concentrations much higher than would normally ever occur naturally. The overriding concern in introducing an exotic agent is the risk to non-target beneficial organisms, because once the agent becomes established, it will in most situations be impossible to eradicate. However, if indigenous organisms are used, there is relatively little risk of irreversible, long-term detrimental effects. A synopsis of safety testing results of some of the more promising microbial control agents for grasshoppers and locusts and an evaluation of their potential hazards are presented. Safety to vertebrates is evaluated by a tiered series of laboratory test requirements. Assessments on hazards to non-target invertebrates are based principally on results of laboratory bioassays. Safety tests should be chosen with regard to the biological characteristics of the agent and should not impose standards that are more stringent than those imposed on other forms of pest control. Regulatory oversight should assure the integrity of the environment and safety of the public, while at the same time not unduly hampering the development, registration, and use of more sustainable pest control methods.

Parasitology ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 35-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. C. Payne

SUMMARYVirus diseases have been reported from more than 800 species of insects and mites. Isolates of the baculovirus and cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus groups have biological properties which should lead to their successful use as microbial control agents in integrated pest management programmes. These viruses infect the larval stages of many lepidopterous and hymenopterous pests, producing a chronic or lethal infection and the release of large quantities of relatively stable infective inclusion bodies (IBs). The IBs serve as the means by which the viruses are transmitted and persist outside the host. Younger larvae are more susceptible to infection than older stages, and this difference influences the timing of application and doses of virus needed for practical pest control. The high degree of host specificity of many isolates reduces their potential ecological hazard but also limits their use, particularly on crops where a complex of pests is established. Environmental persistence is also a limiting factor as virus is rapidly inactivated by ultra-violet light even when contained within IBs. The viruses persist for longer periods when transmitted within the host population, a feature of virus infections restricted to the insect gut.The practical use of insect viruses in horticulture and agriculture does not utilize their full epizootic potential, but takes advantage of their high pathogenicity and specificity. The baculoviruses of codling moth, andHeliothisspp. provide satisfactory pest control, but for their most cost-effective use it is important to determine the minimum dosage rates of virus required. It is encouraging that studies of the virus control ofPierisspp. have suggested that control achieved by the insecticidal use of a virus can be closely predicted from information on dosage-mortality responses, larval feeding rates and virus persistence. The stability of forest and grassland, and their high economic thresholds makes them ideal candidates for longer-term control. Viruses of the coconut rhinoceros beetle and european spruce sawfly provide examples of classical biological control where the viruses persist for long periods, are efficiently transmitted and act as natural regulators of their hosts. Virus control of pasture, and some forest, pests may be possible by manipulating enzootic viruses without the need for direct control measures. More frequently insecticidal applications are needed, providing control of limited duration which requires periodic ‘topping-up’.Few viruses are commercially-available; their selectivity and often small potential market, may limit industrial interest. However, improvements in virus production, formulation and a better understanding of virus epizootiology should lead to an increasing role for this group of insect pathogens in biological control.


Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 550
Author(s):  
Ameya D. Gondhalekar ◽  
Arthur G. Appel ◽  
Gretchen M. Thomas ◽  
Alvaro Romero

Effective control of domestic and peridomestic cockroaches requires integrated approaches that emphasize concurrent use of chemicals with alternative control tactics. An integrated pest management (IPM) approach is particularly justified in environments where satisfactory cockroach control cannot be achieved due to multiple factors including development of insecticide aversion and resistance in some cockroach species, and poor sanitation or structural issues that foster infestations. While a flurry of research effort has been devoted to study alternative tactics for cockroach control, only a few of them have been evaluated in the context of IPM programs. This review focuses on examining studies on alternative tactics that are proven efficacious, economical, and logistically feasible for their inclusion in IPM programs for important domestic and peridomestic cockroaches in the USA. Management programs that educate the public on cockroach biology, behavior, and the importance of sanitation; use of traps to monitor infestation levels; apply targeted low impact insecticides such as baits, have demonstrated a greater success for effective and sustainable control of cockroaches when compared to an insecticide-only approach. Incorporation of other alternative control methods to IPM programs will require more applied research that validates their use in real-world scenarios and demonstrates their cost-effectiveness.


2010 ◽  
pp. 52-72
Author(s):  
Serena Zacchigna ◽  
Mauro Giacca

Since the early days of gene therapy, both the scientific community and the public have perceived the ethical challenges intrinsic to this discipline. First, the technology exploited by gene therapy is still experimental and burdened by important safety issues. Second, in several instances gene therapy aims at stably modifying the genetic characteristics of individuals. Third, the same modifications could in principle be applied also to embryos, foetuses or germ cells. Finally, while gene therapy applications are generally accepted for therapeutic purposes, the same gene transfer technologies could also be exploited to improve the aesthetic appearance, or the physical and intellectual performance of people. The definition of suitable guidelines for a controlled, ethically accepted translation of gene therapy to the clinics remains a major challenge for the near future.


2005 ◽  
Vol 68 (6) ◽  
pp. 1198-1202 ◽  
Author(s):  
ELLEN SWANSON LAINE ◽  
JONI M. SCHEFTEL ◽  
DAVID J. BOXRUD ◽  
KEVIN J. VOUGHT ◽  
RICHARD N. DANILA ◽  
...  

Steaks have not been recognized as an important vehicle of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection. During 11 to 27 June 2003, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) identified four O157 infection cases with the same pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) subtype. All four case patients consumed brand A vacuum packed frozen steaks sold by door-to-door vendors. The steaks were blade tenderized and injected with marinade (i.e., nonintact). Information from single case patients in Michigan and Kansas identified through PulseNet confirmed the outbreak. The MDH issued a press release on 27 June to warn consumers, prompting a nationwide recall of 739,000 lb (335,506 kg) of frozen beef products. The outbreak resulted in six culture-confirmed cases (including one with hemolytic uremic syndrome) and two probable cases in Minnesota and single confirmed cases in four other states. The outbreak PFGE subtype of O157 was isolated from unopened brand A bacon-wrapped fillets from five affected Minnesota households. A fillet from one affected household was partially cooked in the laboratory, and the same O157 subtype was isolated from the uncooked interior. The tenderizing and injection processes likely transferred O157 from the surface to the interior of the steaks. These processing methods create new challenges for prevention of O157 infection. Food regulatory officials should reevaluate safety issues presented by nonintact steak products, such as microbiologic hazards of processing methods, possible labeling to distinguish intact from nonintact steaks, and education of the public and commercial food establishments on the increased risk associated with undercooked nonintact steaks. Information on single cases of O157 infection in individual states identified through PulseNet can be critical in solving multistate outbreaks in a timely manner.


Author(s):  
Ali Abdulhasan Kadhim ◽  
Peyman Sheikhzadeh ◽  
Saeed Farzanefar ◽  
Shima Yavari ◽  
Majdi Mousa Jber ◽  
...  

This review paper aimed to examine radiation safety issues related to relatives as well as caregivers of patients with thyroid diseases treated with radioiodine (I-131). During I-131 therapy for thyroid disorders such as hyperthyroidism, patients receiving I-131 doses (200-800 MBq) emit radioactive radiations which pose a prospective risk to other people. Critical groups are patients’ visitors and families, especially children. Following the updated international guidelines, the doses received by members of the public as a proportion of the therapy of a patient have been decreased. The public annual dose limits are 1 mSv, although higher doses are permitted for adults in the patient’s family, provided that the maximum 5 mSv is not surpassed for 5 years. Without compliance with the current recommendations, extended hospitalizations for patients are essential. Family members should therefore limit close interactions with an individual for some duration following thyroid therapy with I-131.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1093-1101
Author(s):  
Stephen Macke ◽  
Hongpu Gong ◽  
Doris Jung-Lin Lee ◽  
Andrew Head ◽  
Doris Xin ◽  
...  

Computational notebooks have emerged as the platform of choice for data science and analytical workflows, enabling rapid iteration and exploration. By keeping intermediate program state in memory and segmenting units of execution into so-called "cells", notebooks allow users to enjoy particularly tight feedback. However, as cells are added, removed, reordered, and rerun, this hidden intermediate state accumulates, making execution behavior difficult to reason about, and leading to errors and lack of reproducibility. We present nbsafety, a custom Jupyter kernel that uses runtime tracing and static analysis to automatically manage lineage associated with cell execution and global notebook state. nbsafety detects and prevents errors that users make during unaided notebook interactions, all while preserving the flexibility of existing notebook semantics. We evaluate nbsafety's ability to prevent erroneous interactions by replaying and analyzing 666 real notebook sessions. Of these, nbsafety identified 117 sessions with potential safety errors, and in the remaining 549 sessions, the cells that nbsafety identified as resolving safety issues were more than 7X more likely to be selected by users for re-execution compared to a random baseline, even though the users were not using nbsafety and were therefore not influenced by its suggestions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 835-843 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsiri Diaz ◽  
Ek del-Val ◽  
Ricardo Ayala ◽  
John Larsen

Author(s):  
Sheena E Fate ◽  
Jeannine P Schweihofer ◽  
Tina Conklin

Science-based guidance employed at eight small and very small state and federally inspected ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry processors across Michigan was assessed. Data was collected to determine the current level of sanitary control methods used for reducing Listeria in the processing environment and compared interactions with the facility microbial results. A checklist was created to assess the current recommended sanitary control methods from the U.S. Department of Agriculture; U.S. Food and Drug Administration; and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The checklist, comprised of 178 items divided into ten general content domains, was used to assess which of the recommended controls were being utilized in the facilities to prevent post lethality contamination of RTE products . Effectiveness of pre-operational and operational sanitation was assessed through sampling 12 non-food contact surfaces using an adenosine triphosphate (ATP) reader and amplified nucleic single temperature reaction test for Listeria spp., including Listeria monocytogenes at each facility. In total, 288 samples were taken collectively from the 8 facilities (96 ATP, 96 pre-operational  Listeria  spp.). Microbial outcomes did not differ ( P > 0.05 ) based on the overall number of recommended sanitary control methods utilized and type of facility inspection. There was a greater content domain compliance overall in operational sanitation ( P  = 0.0005), sanitation ( P  = 0.0030), facility ( P  = 0.0397) and personal hygiene ( P = 0.0033 ) than for segregation procedures regardless of the regulating body. Findings suggest that regardless of the regulating body, the quality of sanitary control measures utilized is more impactful for microbial control than simply the quantity implemented. Pathogen control may be obtained without implementing all of the sanitary control methods within the guidance documents.


2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 38-43
Author(s):  
Qin Yan ◽  
Yin Pan

Planning for underground spaces has become an effective way to use central areas in cities given the steady economic growth in China. The development of underground spaces in mountainous cities has satisfied the needs of the diversification of the city commercial areas and pedestrian movement. Safety issues exist because these underground spaces were originally used for civil air defense. This study was based on the underground commercial street in Chongqing, which is a typical mountainous city. Based on the results of combined fieldwork and survey, this paper summarized current safety issues, which include the not-fully-open exit, the imbalanced exit location, blocked evacuation routes, and the poor awareness of the potential safety issues. This paper proposed a framework of the safety factors for the underground space and synopsized prevention strategies that are specific to potential disasters in the underground environment. The framework comprises ensuring that the exits are fully open, the underground corridors are kept unblocked, the open space on the street is increased for disaster prevention, and equipment security is maintained and managed. At last, This paper summarized disaster prevention strategies, which include ensuring unimpeded exits, balancing the locations of the exits, avoiding blocks, increasing the disaster prevention square area in the underground space, maintaining and managing the security of the equipment.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document