Populational fluctuation and spatial distribution of Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera; Tenebrionidae) in a poultry house, Cascavel, Parana state, Brazil

Knowledge of the population fluctuation and spatial distribution of pests is fundamental for establishing an appropriate control method. The population fluctuation and spatial distribution of the Alphitobius diaperinus in a poultry house in Cascavel, in the state of Parana, Brazil, was studied between October, 2001 and October 2002. Larvae and adults of the lesser mealworm were sampled weekly using Arends tube traps (n = 22) for six consecutive flock grow-outs. The temperature of the litter and of the poultry house was measured at the same locations of the tube traps. Beetle numbers increased continuously throughout all the sampling dates (average 5,137 in the first week and 18,494 insects on the sixth week). Significantly greater numbers of larvae were collected than adults (1 to 20 times in 95% of the sampling points). There was no correlation between temperature and the number of larvae and adults collected, therefore no fluctuation was observed during the sampling period. The population growth was correlated to litter re-use. The highest temperatures were observed in deep litter. The spatial distribution of larvae and adults in the poultry house was heterogeneous during the whole period of evaluation. Results suggest that monitoring in poultry houses is necessary prior to adopting and evaluating control measures due to the great variability of the insect distribution in the poultry house

Biological control of Alphitobius diaperinus with Steinernema rarum CUL and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora SMC and feasibility of application in rice hull

Chemical insecticides often are not efficient in reducing Alphitobius diaperinus populations in poultry farms and have induced insect resistance. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) appear as an alternative to pest biocontrol agents; however, their efficiency on rice hull litter is still unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of Steinernema rarum (CUL isolate), Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (SMC isolate) and their symbiotic bacteria as biocontrol agents of A. diaperinus larvae and adults in rice hull litter. Mortality of insect adults and fifth- and seventh-instar larvae was determined in Petri dishes containing filter paper or rice hull. The effect of Xenorhabdus szentirmaii and Photorhabdus luminescens on L7 and adults in rice hull substrate was also evaluated. Moreover, the effectiveness of the EPNs was assessed in bags in an environment simulating the prevailing conditions in a broiler chicken farm. Under laboratory conditions, insect mortality was significantly affected by EPN species, substrate, insect stage and time after application. Mortality of L5 and L7 caused by EPNs in rice hulls reached a peak of 64 and 57.3 %, respectively, whereas symbiotic bacteria applied on rice hull showed low mortality rate at both insect stages. In the simulated poultry farm conditions, S. rarum and H. bacteriophora caused up to 40.8 and 50.4 % mortality of A. diaperinus larvae, respectively, but with adult mortality being low for both species. We conclude that infective juveniles from S. rarum CUL and H. bacteriophora SMC isolates can be used as biological control agents of A. diaperinus larvae in chicken litter containing rice hulls.Fil: del Valle, Eleodoro Eduardo. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; ArgentinaFil: Frizzo, Laureano Sebastian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Malmierca, Melisa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Zbrun, María Virginia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Lax, Paola. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Zoología Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Doucet, Marcelo Edmundo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Centro de Zoología Aplicada; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal; Argentin

O papel do óxido nítrico na pressão anal esfincteriana de ratos submetidos à colite experimental The role of nitric oxide in sphincteric anal pressure of rats with experimental colitis

O óxido nítrico (NO) é um radical livre sintetizado endogenamente por várias células do nosso organismo. Apresenta um amplo espectro de ações fisiológicas, sendo as mais importantes o seu mecanismo de ação parácrino no relaxamento da musculatura lisa, sua atividade neurotransmissora em vários sistemas e seu envolvimento no processo inflamatório. O NO é sintetizado em diferentes tecidos através da conversão da L-arginina em L-citrulina pela ação da enzima óxido nítrico sintase (NOS). OBJETIVOS: Este estudo tem por objetivo demonstrar o envolvimento do óxido nítrico no processo intestinal inflamatório de ratos Wistar submetidos à colite experimental com ácido acético. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Foram utilizados 20 ratos machos Wistar, com peso entre 250 e 350 gramas divididos em dois grupos de 10 animais. Os animais do grupo em estudo foram submetidos à administração intracolônica, por enema, de uma solução de ácido acético diluído a 7% e com volume de 3 ml. O grupo controle recebeu apenas enema de solução salina. Foram avaliados os índices histológicos, a expressão da enzima óxido nítrico sintase (iNOS) e a pressão anal esfincteriana. RESULTADOS: Os índices histológicos apresentaram uma significativa elevação no grupo colite quando comparados ao grupo controle, tanto na avaliação macroscópica quanto na microscópica. A expressão da enzima iNOS também foi significativamente maior no grupo colite quando comparada ao grupo controle. A pressão anal esfincteriana foi significativamente mais baixa no grupo colite na comparação ao grupo controle. CONCLUSÃO: Os animais submetidos à colite experimental apresentam um aumento da expressão da enzima óxido nítrico sintase induzível (i-NOS). Este aumento, associado ao conseqüente aumento do nível de óxido nítrico, ocasiona uma diminuição dos níveis de pressão anal esfincteriana.<br>The nitric oxide (NO) is a free radical synthesized from some cells of our organism. It presents with an ample specter of physiological actions being the most important its mechanism of action in the relaxation of the smooth musculature, its neurotransmissor activity in some systems and its involvement in the inflammatory process. The NO is synthesized in different tissues by the conversion of the L-arginine in L-citruline with the action of the enzyme nitric oxide sintase(NOS). OBJECTIVES: the aim of this study is to demonstrate the involvement of nitric oxide in the inflammatory intestinal process of Wistar rats submitted to experimental colitis with ascetic acid. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 20 male Wistar rats had been used with weight between 250 and 350 g divided in two groups of 10 animals. The animals of the group in study had been submitted to intracolonic administration, by enema, of a solution with acid ascetic diluted to 7% - 3 ml. The control group received only enema with saline solution. The histological scores, the expression of the enzyme nitric oxide sintase (iNOS) and the sphincteric anal pressure had been evaluated. RESULTS: The histological scores had presented a significant rise in the group colitis when compared with the control group in the macroscopic as well as in the microscopical evaluation. The expression of the enzyme iNOS was also significantly higher in the colitis group when compared to the control group. The sphincteric anal pressure was significantly lower in the group colitis when compared to control group. CONCLUSION: The animals submitted to the experimental colitis presented an increase of the iNOS expression. This increase, associated with the consequent increase in nitric oxide level, causes a reduction of the sphincteric anal pressure levels