Phage Therapy in Livestock and Companion Animals

The irrational use of antibiotics has led to a high emergence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria. The traditional overuse of antibiotics in the animal feed industry plays a crucial role in the emergence of these pathogens that pose both economic and health problems. In addition, antibiotics have also recently experienced an increase to treat companion animal infections, promoting the emergence of MDR bacteria in pets, which can reach humans. Phages have been proposed as an alternative for antibiotics for the treatment of livestock and companion animal infections due to their multiple advantages as adaptative drugs, such as their ability to evolve, to multiply at the site of infections, and their high specificity. Moreover, phage-derived enzymes may also be an interesting approach. However, the lack of regulation for this type of pharmaceutical hinders its potential commercialization. In this review, we summarize the main recent studies on phage therapy in livestock and companion animals, providing an insight into current advances in this area and the future of treatments for bacterial infections.

Physical factors at salt licks influenced the frequency of wildlife visitation in the Malaysian tropical rainforest

Mineral reservoirs or salt licks are commonly used by wildlife to regulate the concentration of salt and minerals in their bodies. Salt lick utilisation is known to be influenced by the chemical composition, but information on their physical properties, particularly vegetation surrounding the salt licks is scarce. In this study, physical factors and wildlife utilisation at two natural salt licks (SPU and SPS) located in Perak, Malaysia, were determined. Wildlife visitation data were retrieved from camera traps. SPU exhibits two reservoirs represented by rocky and clay substrate, with minimally dense vegetation dominated by hardwood species and climbers. SPS encompasses muddy topsoil, open canopy cover, with highly dense forest floor vegetation. The wildlife survey shows a higher frequency of visitation in SPS, especially by ungulates, potentially due to dense understorey foliage that provides foraging sites for these animals. SPU exhibits more diverse but less frequent wildlife species, particularly primates, carnivores, and avian groups. High emergence and closed canopy cover at this lick serve as perching sites for primates and birds, while less dense understory vegetation could aid in prey detection among carnivore. Regardless of their physical assemblages, salt licks are an essential local hotspot for wildlife, therefore, elucidating the need to prioritise conservation areas by maximising the complementarities of salt licks.

EFFECTS OF THE PROPAGULE SIZE ON THE TUBEROUS RHIZOME PRODUCTION AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE

As a crop that is rich in oligosaccharides, Jerusalem artichoke is considered one of the most promising plants for production because of its ability to survive in marginal lands, strong resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, ease of conversion into biofuels, and use for food consumption. In the present study, the effects of propagule size on tuberous rhizome production and the physicochemical characteristics of Jerusalem artichoke were evaluated. Five propagule sizes of tuberous rhizome, 10 g (T1), 30 g (T2), 50 g (T3), 70 g (T4), and 90 g (T5), were used in a completely randomized experiment with 5 replicates and 11 plants per replicate. Harvesting was carried out 164 days after planting. The results showed that T1 resulted in the lowest emergence rate, number of tuberous rhizomes and aboveground fresh weight per plant of all the treatments. However, there was no significant difference among treatments in the tuberous rhizome dry weight, pH, titratable acidity, Brix, or reducing sugar. Propagule with tuberous rhizome of 30-50 g is recommended to achieve a high emergence rate and yield.

Energetic and physical limitations on the breaching performance of large whales

The considerable power needed for large whales to leap out of the water may represent the single most expensive burst maneuver found in nature. However, the mechanics and energetic costs associated with the breaching behaviors of large whales remain poorly understood. In this study we deployed whale-borne tags to measure the kinematics of breaching to test the hypothesis that these spectacular aerial displays are metabolically expensive. We found that breaching whales use variable underwater trajectories, and that high-emergence breaches are faster and require more energy than predatory lunges. The most expensive breaches approach the upper limits of vertebrate muscle performance, and the energetic cost of breaching is high enough that repeated breaching events may serve as honest signaling of body condition. Furthermore, the confluence of muscle contractile properties, hydrodynamics, and the high speeds required likely impose an upper limit to the body size and effectiveness of breaching whales.

Study of some demographic parameters of Bactrocera (Dacus oleae); Test of a new food attractant in a trapping method

This study focuses on the observation of changes in the demographic parameters of olive fly over time in two regions, Mitidja and Mezghana region, the method consists in identifying certain biotic and abiotic factors that can play a role on the variations of these parameters; on the other hand we tested new food attractiveness in a trapping method. The Results showed that the demographic parameters (emergence, parasitism and mortality) are influenced by the year and by the region factor with a very high emergence rate above 50%; On the other hand, the rate of parasitism remains low with a maximum value of 33.23% recorded in Mezghenna, regarding nymphal mortality the maximum value is recorded in Chebacheb with 26.44%. Furthermore, the study of the efficiency of nitrogen fertiliser (Urea 46 unit) on the catches of adults showed us that the best concentration of attraction is 6%; on the other hand, the yellow color of the traps positively influences the catches of Bactroceraoleae.

Sowing Depth on Emergence of Different Safflower Genotypes (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

The objective is to evaluate the germination of four different safflower genotypes at six sowing depths. The study was carried out in the experimental field of the Western Paraná State University, in Cascavel, in two stages: in protected environment and in the field. In a protected environment, the experimental units were vessels with a 0.10 m diameter and a 0.20 m height, maintaining a 0.05 m water level. Using 10 seeds per vase, filled with substrate composed of vermiculite and macronutrients. For the field, the experimental units were divided in 3 blocks with 1.50 m rows, with 30 seeds spaced in 0.05 m, spacing between 0.30 m rows, totalizing blocks of 6 m by 1.8 m. For the analysis, we performed a 5 × 4 factorial, with four replicates being 5 depths (0.02; 0.04; 0.06; 0.08 and 0.10 m) and 4 genotypes, with analysis of percentage, speed index, mean time and average speed of emergence and morphometric characteristics of the plant. High emergence rates occurred for the lowest sowing depths, ranging from 60 to 80%. At the greatest depths, the averages were below 50%. At 0 m depth, there was no emergence for both sites. For the emergence speed index, the averages ranged from 0.47 to 1.34 seeds per day for the protected environment and 2.26 to 16.42 seeds per day for the field experiment. For both sites, the IMA-2103 genotype had the best performance for the evaluated indices. The depths indicated for planting are 2 and 4 cm.

Comparison of Surgical Pleth Index–guided Analgesia with Conventional Analgesia Practices in Children

Background: To compare surgical pleth index (SPI)-guided analgesia with conventional analgesia by evaluating intraoperative analgesic requirements, postoperative pain, and emergence agitation in children. Methods: This study was designed as a parallel, two-arm, double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Forty-five children undergoing elective adenotonsillectomy were randomly allocated to SPI-guided group (SPI-guided analgesia group, n = 21) or control group (conventional analgesia group, n = 24). Anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane 2 to 3 vol% in 50% nitrous oxide and oxygen to achieve state entropy between 40 and 60. Intraoperative fentanyl 0.5 μg/kg was administered for the first event persisting 3 min and subsequent events persisting 5 min. An event was defined as an SPI over 50 (SPI-guided group) or a blood pressure or heart rate 20% above the baseline (control group). The primary outcome was intraoperative fentanyl requirement. Secondary outcomes included intraoperative sevoflurane consumption, postoperative emergence agitation and pain score, and postoperative rescue analgesic requirements. Results: Intraoperative fentanyl requirement was lower in SPI-guided group than in control group (0.43 ± 0.53 vs. 1.73 ± 0.59 μg/kg; P < 0.001). Intraoperative sevoflurane consumption was similar. The proportion of patients with high emergence agitation scores (4 to 5) was greater in SPI-guided group (61.9 vs. 25.0%; P = 0.01). The postoperative pain score and rescue fentanyl consumption were higher in SPI-guided group (7 [4.5; 9] vs. 3 [2; 6.75]; P = 0.002; 0.50 ± 0.34 vs. 0.29 ± 0.30 μg/kg; P = 0.04). Conclusions: As currently constructed, SPI does not appear to be valid in children. This may be due to both differences in blood vessel distensibility and baseline increased heart rates in children versus adults.

Soil moisture and relative humidity effects during postdiapause on the emergence of western cherry fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Pupae of western cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis indifferens Curran (Diptera: Tephritidae), from Kennewick and Roslyn in Washington State, United States of America, were subjected to different soil and air moisture conditions to test the hypotheses that adult emergence from dry and moist soil is similar and is greater and occurs earlier at high than low relative humidities (RHs). Adult fly emergence from 0–57% saturated loam soil did not differ in Kennewick (64.8–75.1%) and Roslyn (81.7–86.6%) populations. Emergence did not occur from 76% saturated loam soil. In a RH experiment using dry soil, emergence of Kennewick flies was highest at 97% RH (76.8%), intermediate at 12–74% RH (66.4–69.6%), and lowest at 3% RH (58.0%). Emergence of Roslyn flies was higher at 97% RH (85.6%) than 3% (69.2%) and 12% RH (74.3%), but it did not differ from that at 33% (76.9%) and 74% RH (79.4%). Flies emerged ∼2–3 days earlier at 97% RH than at 3–12% RH. An unnaturally low RH of 3% caused more flies to be deformed than higher RHs. High emergence of R. indifferens in dry and moist conditions likely contributes to its presence in a wide range of native and nonnative habitats.

Salt tolerance of twelve maize hybrids at the seedling stage

Using a simple and novel semi-hydroponic technique, three experiments were carried out to evaluate salinity tolerance in twelve pipe-line/commercial maize hybrids at the seedling stage. For experiment 1, hybrids were evaluated at 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20 M NaCl. For experiments 2 and 3, hybrids were subjected to 0.25 and 0.30 M NaCl, respectively. The technique simulates a semi-hydroponic system where the upper layers of coco peat medium receive water/or saline solution only by capillary movement, while the roots are immersed in saturated lower coco peat medium. The emergence percentage ranged from 73 to 100% under control conditions, from 50 to 100% at 0.10 M NaCl, from 46 to 100% at 0.15 M NaCl and from 43 to 96% at 0.20 M NaCl. In addition, increasing salinity decreased the shoot and the root length and the seedling dry weight. Several hybrids (VMH 4029, VMH 4028, VMH 4088, VMH 4060, VMH 4033, VMH 4046, VMH 4101) exhibited a high emergence percentage of 80–96% even at 0.3 M NaCl, revealing that these hybrids have high salinity tolerance and also the capacity to produce high yields. This confirms that salinity tolerance and high yield may be combined if pipe-line hybrids which have been confirmed for high yield over multilocation trials are selected and then tested under field conditions in saline-prone areas.