An investigation on the Culicoides species composition at seven sites in southern Switzerland

In the past decade, there have been regular outbreaks of bluetongue (BT) in many parts of Europe. Owing to the presence of BT disease and its vectors in countries adjacent to Switzerland, an initial entomological survey was conducted in 2003, which established the presence of several midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). Subsequently, a sentinel herd monitoring system was established with the primary entomological aim being the determination and further study of Culicoides population compositions. Insects were collected in 2005 and 2006 at seven sentinel herd sites in the south of Switzerland (canton of Ticino) near the border of Italy, using Onderstepoort-type light traps. This region is botanically and zoologically similar to the Mediterranean and is one of the warmest and most humid areas of the country, hence it is considered a potential access path for BT disease into Switzerland. Collections were made at four cattle farms, two equestrian centres and one goat farm. Sites were sampled four times per month from June to October. Traps were operated from dusk until dawn and samples were collected monthly for analysis through microscopy as well as a Culicoides imicola -specific PCR. Results confirmed the absence of C. imicola (Kieffer) and demonstrated that the potential BT virus vectors are highly abundant, notably: Culicoides obsoletus (Meigen), Culicoides scoticus (Downes & Kettle) and Culicoides dewulfi (Goetghebuer) subgenus Avaritia and Culicoides pulicaris (Linnaeus) subgenus Culicoides . These findings expand the current knowledge of Culicoides population composition in the southern part of the Switzerland. Culicoides cataneii (Clastrier), Culicoides flavipulicaris (Dzhafarov), Culicoides indistinctus (Khalaf), Culicoides nubeculosus (Meigen) and species of the Grisescens complex were reported for the first time in Switzerland.     

No-tillage effects on soil properties and maize (Zea mays L.) production in Western Nigeria

Summary The grain yields in the no-tillage plots were equivalent to those of conventionally plowed treatments. No-tillage treatments had higher organic matter content and, by controlling soil erosion, the silt and clay content than the plowed plots. The water holding capacity and moisture release characteristics of the surface soil horizon were significantly different for the two tillage treatments. A decrase in the maximum soil temperature and favourable moisture regime in the no-tillage plots stimulated biological activity e.g. earthworms. While the fertilizer had no response on the plowed plots, irrigation had a negative effect due probably to severe leaching losses. No-tillage techniques have a potential in achieving continuous cultivation on otherwise highly erodible and shallow tropical soils.     

Altered cellular responsiveness during ageing.

The capacity of cells and organisms to respond to external stimuli and to maintain stability in order to survive decreases progressively during ageing. The mitogenic and stimulatory effects of growth factors, hormones and other agents are reduced significantly during cellular ageing. The sensitivity of ageing cells to toxic agents including antibiotics, phorbol esters, radiations and heat shock increases. This failure of homeostasis during cellular ageing does not appear to be due to any quantitative and qualitative defects in the receptor systems. Instead, metabolic defects in the pathways of macromolecular synthesis may be the basis of altered cellular responsiveness during ageing.     

Intracellular accumulation of a fluorescent derivative of paromomycin in human fibroblasts

Human fetal lung fibroblasts grown in the presence of dansyl-paromomycin (DNS-Pm), a fluorescent derivative of the aminoglycoside antibiotic, paromomycin, probably accumulate DNS-Pm in the lysosomes. The intracellular concentration of DNS-Pm is proportional to the extracellular concentration and to the length of time cells are exposed to the compound. The accumulation of DNS-Pm by human fibroblasts continued to increase for several days, reaching a saturation after 7 days. The kinetic data are consistent with the establishment of a steady state in the cell between fluid-phase pinocytosis and exocytosis of DNS-Pm. About 80% of the intracellular DNS-Pm was released in 24 hr when fresh medium without the analogue was added. The residual 20% remained within the cells, suggesting that it may be irreversibly bound to the lysosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, or ribosonius. The uptake of paromomycin by cells in culture may be a useful means to study error propagation during growth and lifespan of cells in vitro.