Environmental risk factors for Ixodes ricinus ticks and their infestation on lambs in a changing ecosystem: Implications for tick control and the impact of woodland encroachment on tick-borne disease in livestock

Despite global deforestation some regions, such as Europe, are currently experiencing rapid reforestation. Some of this is unintended woodland encroachment onto farmland as a result of reduced livestock pasture management. Our aim was to determine the likely impacts of this on exposure to ticks and tick-borne disease risk for sheep in Norway, a country experiencing ecosystem changes through rapid woodland encroachment as well as increases in abundance and distribution of Ixodes ricinus ticks and tick-borne disease incidence. We conducted surveys of I. ricinus ticks on ground vegetation using cloth lure transects and counts of ticks biting lambs on spring pastures, where lambs are exposed to infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the causative agent of tick-borne fever in livestock. Pastures had higher densities of I. ricinus ticks on the ground vegetation and more ticks biting lambs if there was more tree cover in or adjacent to pastures. Importantly, there was a close correlation between questing tick density on pastures and counts of ticks biting lambs on the same pasture, indicating that cloth lure transects are a good proxy of risk to livestock of tick exposure and tick-borne disease. These findings can inform policy on environmental tick control measures such as habitat management, choice of livestock grazing area and off-host application of tick control agents

Effect of Norwegian entomopathogenic fungal isolates against <em>Otiorhynchus sulcatus </em>larvae at low temperatures and persistence in strawberry rhizospheres

AbstractBiological control of belowground stages of the black vine weevil Otiorhynchus sulcatus F. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in strawberries in cool temperate regions using entomopathogens is challenged by low temperatures during the periods when larvae are vulnerable to infections. In a laboratory study we tested six indigenous Norwegian isolates of entomopathogenic fungi (one Beauveria bassiana, three Beauveria pseudobassiana, and two Metarhizium brunneum; Ascomycota: Hypocreales) for their efficacy against O. sulcatus larvae at 6, 12, and 18°C. At the lowest temperature only Beauveria spp. affected survival of O. sulcatus while all three fungal species reduced larval survival compared to the control treatment at 12 and 18°C. Two of the Norwegian isolates, one B. pseudobassiana and one M. brunneum, were then evaluated for long-term persistence (>1year) in the bulk soil and the rhizosphere soil of strawberries in a semi-field experiment. An exotic isolate of M. brunneum sharing origin with a widespread commercial biocontrol agent (F52/Met52 (Novozymes)) was included for comparison. All three isolates showed significantly higher abundances in the rhizosphere soil compared to bulk soil at 153, 366, and 471days after inoculation, thus indicating rhizosphere competence for B. pseudobassiana. Notably, CFU levels for both Norwegian isolates were much higher than for the exotic M. brunneum isolate. Selection of locally adapted isolates may therefore be of importance when considering biocontrol strategies of belowground pests in strawberry production

Temporal pattern of questing tick Ixodes ricinus density at differing elevations in the coastal region of western Norway

Background: Climate change can affect the activity and distribution of species, including pathogens and parasites. The densities and distribution range of the sheep tick (Ixodes ricinus) and it’s transmitted pathogens appears to be increasing. Thus, a better understanding of questing tick densities in relation to climate and weather conditions is urgently needed. The aim of this study was to test predictions regarding the temporal pattern of questing tick densities at two different elevations in Norway. We predict that questing tick densities will decrease with increasing elevations and increase with increasing temperatures, but predict that humidity levels will rarely affect ticks in this northern, coastal climate with high humidity. Methods: We described the temporal pattern of questing tick densities at ~100 and ~400 m a.s.l. along twelve transects in the coastal region of Norway. We used the cloth lure method at 14-day intervals during the snow-free season to count ticks in two consecutive years in 20 m2 plots. We linked the temporal pattern of questing tick densities to local measurements of the prevailing weather. Results: The questing tick densities were much higher and the season was longer at ~100 compared to at ~400 m a.s.l. There was a prominent spring peak in both years and a smaller autumn peak in one year at ~100 m a.s.l.; but no marked peak at ~400 m a.s.l. Tick densities correlated positively with temperature, from low densities 15-17°C. We found no evidence for reduced questing densities during the driest conditions measured. Conclusions: Tick questing densities differed even locally linked to elevation (on the same hillside, a few kilometers apart). The tick densities were strongly hampered by low temperatures that limited the duration of the questing seasons, whereas the humidity appeared not to be a limiting factor under the humid conditions at our study site. We expect rising global temperatures to increase tick densities and lead to a transition from a short questing season with low densities in the current cold and sub-optimal tick habitats, to longer questing seasons with overall higher densities and a marked spring peak

Begrenset kartlegging av virusoverførende bladlus i potet i Norge i 2011

Bladlusoverført virus er et problem i potet i Norge. Hvert år er det settepotetpartier i den sertifiserte avlen som ikke kan godkjennes fordi innholdet av PVY/PVA er for høye. For høyt virusinnhold i potetprodusentenes egen oppformering er også et problem. For årene 2008, 2009, 2010 og 2011 har det blitt sendt inn virusprøver til NAK (Nederland) fra egne oppformerte settepoteter hos potetdyrkerne. Resultatene viste høye innhold av både PVA og PVY. Dette kan fort gi store avlingstap. I Norge har vi ikke god nok kunnskap om hvilke lusarter som herjer i potetåkre. Med bakgrunn i problemstillingen skissert over ønsket Norsk Landbruksrådgiving at Bioforsk Plantehelse skulle opparbeider seg mer kunnskap om følgende: Hvilke bladlusarter er det i norske potetåkre? Prosjekt: Kartlegging av bladlusarter i potetåkre. Hvor aktive er de i overføring av virus? Hvilken skade gjør disse bladlusartene i potetåkre i Norge? Prosjekt: Forsøk i potetåker med bladlusproblemer. Hvordan kan lus i potet overvåkes, for dermed å sette inn riktig tiltak til rett tid, slik at skader ikke oppstår i avlinga. For eksempel få til en ”indeks” (terskel) som ut fra bladluspopulasjonen angir når riset skal fjernes for å redusere virusmengden i settepotetene. Prosjekt: Vurderes når kartlegging og resultater fra forsøk er ”på plass”publishedVersio

Linking spatial distribution of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus to climatic variables important for the successful biocontrol by Metarhizium anisopliae in Eastern Africa

Cattle production is constantly threatened by diseases like East Coast fever, also known as theileriosis, caused by the protozoan parasite Theileria parva which is transmitted by ticks such as the brown ear tick, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus. To reduce the extensive use of chemical acaricides, fungal-based microbial control agents such as Metarhizium anisopliae have been tested and show promising results against R. appendiculatus both in field and in semi-field experiments in Africa. However, no known endeavors to link the spatial distribution of R. appendiculatus to climatic variables important for the successful application of M. anisopliae in selected East African countries exists. This work therefore aims to improve the successful application of M. anisopliae against R. appendiculatus by designing a temperature-dependent model for the efficacy of M. anisopliae against three developmental stages (larvae, nymphs, adults) of R. appendiculatus. Afterward a spatial prediction of potential areas where this entomopathogenic fungus might cause a significant epizootic in R. appendiculatus population in three selected countries (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda) in Eastern Africa were generated. This can help to determine whether the temperature and rainfall at a local or regional scale might give good conditions for application of M. anisopliae and successful microbial control of R. appendiculatus.publishedVersio

Confirmation of Neozygites floridana azygospore formation in two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) in strains from tropical and temperate regions

AbstractNeozygites floridana is an obligate fungal pathogen of mites in the family Tetranychidae and is an important natural enemy of the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae). Until now, information about the formation of azygospores remained to be fully confirmed. In this study, we document the formation of azygospores by a Brazilian N. floridana strain and the formation of azygospores and zygospores by a Norwegian N. floridana strain, both in the host T. urticae. Evidence of both zygosporogenesis and azygosporogenesis was also found in the same individual in the Norwegian stains. Further we report the presence of immature azygospores with 1–3 nuclei for the Norwegian strains, immature resting spores (probably azygospores) with 1–8 nuclei for the Brazilian strain, and mature resting spores with 2 nuclei for both the Norwegian and the Brazilian strains (azygo- or zygospores). Our observations suggest that the immature resting spore (prespore) of both strains begins in a multinucleate condition but that the nuclear number is reduced during maturation until mature resting spore is binucleate regardless of its origin as a zygospore or azygospore

Plantevernmidler i etanol fra insektfeller (Malaisefeller) i semi-naturlig mark; Relevans for å vurdere påvirkning av miljøgifter på insektfunn

Her presenteres resultater fra en undersøkelse av forekomst av miljøgifter/ plantevernmidler ekstrahert fra insekter samlet i Malaisefeller i den løpende nasjonale insektovervåkingen. Undersøkelsen er gjennomført av NIBIO på oppdrag fra Miljødirektoratet via det NINA-koordinerte prosjektet Hotspots for trua arter på land: kartlegging med digitale verktøy. Vi har fokusert på kjemiske syntetiske plantevernmidler som brukes i jord- og hagebruk for å belyse problematikk knyttet til funn av miljøgifter i oppsamlingsvæsken i et utvalg av insektfellene. Det er videre gjort en vurdering av hvordan en overvåking som skal si noe om plantevernmidlers påvirkning på insektforekomst (og diversitet) bør utformes. For fullt sammendrag se side 4.Plantevernmidler i etanol fra insektfeller (Malaisefeller) i semi-naturlig mark; Relevans for å vurdere påvirkning av miljøgifter på insektfunnpublishedVersio

Abiotic and Biotic Factors Affecting Resting Spore Formation in the Mite Pathogen Neozygites floridana

Neozygites floridana is an obligate mite pathogenic fungus in the Entomophthoromycota. It has been suggested that resting spores of this fungus are produced as a strategy to survive adverse conditions. In the present study, possible mechanisms involved in the regulation of resting spore formation were investigated in the hosts Tetranychus urticae and Tetranychus evansi. Abiotic and biotic factors mimicking conditions that we, based on earlier field studies, thought might induce resting spores in temperate and tropical regions were tested with isolates from Norway and Brazil. A total of 42 combinations of conditions were tested, but only one induced the formation of a high number of resting spores in only one isolate. The Brazilian isolate ESALQ1420 produced a large number of resting spores (51.5%) in T. urticae at a temperature of 11 ∘ C, photoperiod of 10L:14D, and light intensity of 42-46 ( mol m −2 s −1 ) on nonsenescent plants (nondiapausing females). Resting spores of the Brazilian N. floridana isolate ESALQ1421 were found at very low levels (up to 1.0%). Small percentages of T. urticae with resting spores (0-5.0%) were found for the Norwegian isolate NCRI271/04 under the conditions tested. The percentages of resting spores found for the Norwegian isolate in our laboratory studies are similar to the prevalence reported in earlier field studies

Comparison of organic and conventional food and food Production. Part V: Human health – pesticide residues

publishedVersio