Bacterial Communities of Lab and Field Northern House Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) Throughout Diapause

Diapause is a hormonally driven response which is triggered by environmental cues that signal impending adverse conditions and prompts metabolic, developmental, and behavioral changes to allow survival until the return of favorable conditions. Microbial symbionts have been shown to influence the metabolism, development, and behavior of their host organisms, all of which are common diapause-associated characteristics. Surveys of bacterial components in relation to diapause have been examined in few systems, of which the species are usually inactive during dormancy, such as eggs or pupae. This is specifically intriguing as adult female diapause in Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae) can last between 4 and 7 mo and females remain mobile within their hibernacula. Furthermore, it is unknown how microbiota changes associated with prolonged dormancy are different between the lab and field for insect systems. This study aims to characterize how the microbiota of C. pipiens changes throughout diapause under both field and lab settings when provided identical food and water resources. Based on these studies, C. pipiens microbiota shifts as diapause progresses and there are considerable differences between field and lab individuals even when provided the same carbohydrate and water sources. Specific bacterial communities have more association with different periods of diapause, field and lab rearing conditions, and nutritional reserve levels. These studies highlight that diapausing mosquito microbiota studies ideally should occur in field mesocosms and at multiple locations, to increase applicability to wild C. pipiens as prolonged exposure to artificial rearing conditions could impact metrics related to diapause-microbiome interactions. Additionally, these findings suggest that it would be worthwhile to establish if the microbiota shift during diapause impacts host physiology and whether this shift is critical to diapause success.

Avoidance of Natural Suckling from Dams with Bovine Leukemia Virus Is a Low Priority Countermeasure against Postnatal Transmission

Although natural suckling from dams with bovine leukemia virus (BLV) has not been recommended in Japan, the frequency of BLV transmission through natural suckling under natural conditions is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the risk of BLV transmission through natural suckling. Dams with BLV were classified into three groups (high, middle, low) based on the proviral loads (PVLs). PCR positivity of their colostrum and the correlations between the ratios of calves with BLV and types of feeding milk were analyzed. In dams with low PVLs, no colostrum or calves were confirmed to have BLV. In dams with middle and high PVLs, 17 out of 25 (68.0%) colostrum were PCR positive, and 10 out of 23 (43.4%) and 13 out of 29 (44.8%) calves with natural suckling and artificial rearing were infected with BLV, respectively. No difference was confirmed between the infection rates of natural-suckled and artificially reared calves. Thus, we concluded that the avoidance of natural suckling from dams with BLV and the introduction of artificial rearing were low priority countermeasures against BLV transmission.

Articulating Fragrant Agarwood Formation as an Outcome of the Interaction between the Insect Zeuzera conferta and Aquilaria trees – A Review

Agarwood is the resinous infected wood obtained from Aquilaria species, which is a highly priced product in the flavour and fragrance market. Its formation is a complex process of interaction between the plant, insect, and microorganisms. Multiple studies concerning the interaction of microorganisms with the Aquilaria tree have been reported. However, the significant interaction between the insect Zeuzera conferta Walker (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) with Aquilaria has been overlooked, and only exiguous studies have been accomplished. Considering the dearth of available literature on this interesting phenomenon a review has been attempted. The taxonomical and morphological descriptions proffered by researchers and the insect life cycle are discussed. The review lays emphasis on the chemical ecology of the interaction between Z. conferta, Aquilaria and associating microorganisms as a possible continuum operating in the form of complex chemical signalling via release and sensing of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Herbivore Induced Plant Volatiles (HIPVs) and Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds (MVOCs). The review also scrutinizes the future perspectives of understanding the interaction in devising suitable management strategies to prevent uncontrolled infestation and, simultaneously, develop artificial rearing technology for the insect Z. conferta as a strategy for ensuring sustainable livelihood of farmers dependent on agarwood production.

Artificial Rearing of Atlantic Salmon Juveniles for Supportive Breeding Programs Induces Long-Term Effects on Gut Microbiota after Stocking

In supportive breeding programs for wild salmon populations, stocked parr experience higher mortality rates than wild ones. Among other aspects of phenotype, the gut microbiota of artificially raised parr differs from that of wild parr before stocking. Early steps of microbiota ontogeny are tightly dependent upon environmental conditions, both of which exert long-term effects on host physiology. Therefore, our objective was to assess to what extent the resilience capacity of the microbiota of stocked salmon may prevent taxonomic convergence with that of their wild congeners after two months in the same natural environment. Using the 16S SSU rRNA marker gene, we tested the general hypothesis that environmental conditions during the very first steps of microbiota ontogeny imprint a permanent effect on later stages of microbiota recruitment. Our results first showed that gut microbiota composition of stocked and wild parr from the same genetic population, and sharing the same environment, was dependent on the early rearing environment. In contrast, skin microbiota in stocked individuals converged to that of wild individuals. Taxonomic composition and co-occurrence network analyses suggest an impairment of wild bacteria recruitment and a higher instability for the gut microbiota of stocked parr. This study is the first to demonstrate the long-term effect of early microbiota ontogeny in artificial rearing for natural population conservation programs, raising the need to implement microbial ecology.

The Importance of Artificial Rearing of Chironomidae Insect (Blood Worm) as Fish and Shrimp Food

The chironomidae family is related to Order of Diptera. They are called non biting midges. Females will lay egg masses in water. The larva feed on organic material such as organic debris and algae. Due to having hemoglobin in their larval blood, they are called bloodworm. They are able to live in a complete absence of oxygen for several hours. Hemoglobin molecules in the blood bind and hold a reserve supply of oxygen. Chironomus as indicators of organic pollution in aquatic environment. Chironomids were important in the diets of all fish species as well as shrimps. Bloodworms are harvested from mud flats and sold to fisherman or as a food source for domestic pets. In the world there are several centers for artificial rearing of this insect. There are different formulations of blood form which is prepared by different companies in the world. Rearing and artificial culturing this insect is important resource for fishes and shrimps which are the mina important food of human being.

Dragonflies as an Important Aquatic Predator Insect and Their Potential for Control of Vectors of Different Diseases

Mosquitoes belong to order of Diptera. The main important vectors are genus Aedes, Culex and Anopheles. They transmit different agents such bacteria, viruses, and parasites. According to the latest information around 7 hundred million people around the world are suffering from mosquitoborne illness resulting over one million deaths. The main important disease transmitted by Anopheles is malaria. Other genus of mosquitoes including Aedes and Culex species transmit different arboviral disease to human. According to guideline of World Health Organization, the mina control of disease is vectors control. The main important vector control is using different insecticides. Using chemical insecticides for controlling mosquitoes is limited because they develop resistance against these insecticides. So, efforts have been made to control the mosquito vectors by eco-friendly techniques. In this research all, the relevant information regarding the topic of research is research through the internet and used in this paper. An intensive search of scientific literature was done in “PubMed”, “Web of Knowledge”, “Scopus”, “Google Scholar”, “SID”, etc Results shows that one of important environmental friendly vector control is biological control, using different predators and other microorganisms for vector and pest control. Dragonflies do eat mosquitos and serve as mosquito predators. They feed on mosquitos and reduce their number in outdoor areas. The dragonflies are scary biters, but they are dangerous to mosquitos. Worldwide results showed that dragonflies are able to control Aedes, Culex and Anopheles mosquito species. The artificial rearing of these predators and releasing for biological control is an appropriate measure for vector control worldwide.

Rearing Environment and Longitudinal Brain Development in the Pig

Objectives Artificial rearing of pigs provides a number of advantages over conventional rearing (i.e., true maternal care), including careful control of nutrient intake and environment conditions. Yet there remains a gap in knowledge when comparing brain development between sow-reared and artificially-reared domestic pigs. Thus, our research sought to model brain development and assess recognition memory in a longitudinal manner by directly comparing rearing environments. Methods Forty-four intact (i.e., not castrated) male pigs were artificially-reared or sow-reared from postnatal day 2 until postnatal week 4. After postnatal week 4, all pigs were housed in a group setting within the same environment until postnatal week 24. Magnetic resonance imaging was conducted on pigs at 8 longitudinal time-points to model developmental trajectories of brain macrostrutural and microstructural outcomes. Additionally, pigs behavior were tested using the novel object recognition task at postnatal weeks 4 and 8. Results Throughout the 24-week study, no differences between rearing groups were noted in weekly body weights, average growth and feed intake patterns, or feed efficiency. Whole brain, grey matter, white matter, and cerebrospinal fluid growth patterns also did not differ between pigs assigned to different early-life rearing environments. Moreover, minimal differences in regional absolute volumes and fractional anisotropy developmental trajectories were identified, though artificially-reared pigs exhibited higher initial rates of myelination in multiple brain regions compared with sow-reared pigs. Furthermore, behavioral assessment at both PNW 4 and 8 suggested little influence of rearing environment on recognition memory, however, an age-dependent increase in object recognition memory was observed in the sow-reared group. Conclusions Our findings suggest that early-life rearing environment has little influence on brain growth trajectories and behavior in the domestic pig. Artificial rearing may promote maturation in certain brain areas but does not appear to elicit long-term effects in outcomes including brain structure or behavior. Funding Sources The study was funded by Société des Produits Nestlé SA.

Implanting melatonin at lambing enhances lamb growth and maintains high fat content in milk

Three experiments were designed to study the effects of melatonin implantation of ewes and lambs after lambing on the growth of lambs and milk quality throughout lactation. In experiment 1, 53 lambs either did (n = 28) or did not (n = 25) receive a subcutaneous 18-mg melatonin implant. In experiment 2, 55 lambs and their mothers either did (lambs: n = 28; ewes: n = 15) or did not (lambs: n = 27; ewes: n = 16) receive a melatonin implant. Milk samples were collected at 15, 30, and 45 d after lambing. In experiment 3, 16 lambs were separated from their mothers 24 h after birth, moved to an artificial rearing unit, and either did (n = 9) or did not (n = 7) receive a melatonin implant. In the three experiments, implants were inserted 24 h after lambing, and lambs were weighed (LW) weekly until weaning. Average daily gains (ADG) from birth to weaning were calculated. Melatonin treatment of lambs did not have a significant effect on LW at weaning or ADG, but lambs reared by implanted ewes in experiment 2 presented higher (P < 0.05) LW (± S.E.M.) at weaning and ADG than did lambs reared by control ewes. At day 45 of lactation, milk fat and total solid content were higher (P < 0.05) in implanted ewes than in control ewes. In conclusion, melatonin treatment of ewes at lambing induced a high growth rate of their lambs and increased the fat content of the milk; however, the direct treatment with melatonin of the lambs at birth did not have an effect in their growth rate.