The effect of entomopathogenic nematodes and fungi against four xylophagous pests

The effects of entomopathogenic nematodes EPN (Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae) and fungi EPF (Beauveria bassiana) strains were evaluated in laboratory assays against larvae of four xylophagous pests: the Asparagus moth Parahypopta caestrum, the European goat moth Cossus cossus, the pine longhorn Arhopalus syriacus and the black Buprestid Capnodis tenebrionis. Due to their biology and ethology, these insects may be included in the category of pests residing in cryptic habitats. The control of these species is considered difficult, due to the inability of chemical pesticides to penetrate the cryptic habitats and reach the targets. The pathogenicity of the entomopathogenic nematodes and fungi was tested in vitro against the pests. Two experimental models were considered and aimed to imitate the natural environment of the pests, in Petri dishes filled with plant material and inside wood galleries respectively. Main results showed that the majority of the tested strains of nematodes and fungi affected the insects’ survival rate. Steinernema feltiae and B. bassiana caused the highest percentage of larval mortality (80–100%). Considering the lack of effective chemical control means, the microbial control of the xylophagous pests by EPN and EPF reveals promising perspectives. Nematodes and fungi are able to penetrate the cryptic habitats because they are living organisms and may be horizontally transmitted by infected hosts. The distribution of EPF as preventive control method and the injection of EPN suspensions to reach and infect the larvae inside the wood galleries can be a combined sustainable control system

An overview on the natural enemies of Rhynchophorus palm weevils, with focus on R. ferrugineus.

Rhynchophorus palm weevils are large insects belonging to the family Dryophthoridae. All Rhynchophorus species are polyphagous and have a similar life history but some are major pests because of the serious economic damage they cause, in particular to several species of the family Arecaceae. Here we review the natural enemies of Rhynchophorus species in both their native and introduced regions of the world, to assess the possibility of biological control of this taxon. Moreover, particular attention is paid to the well-studied and harmful species Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, about which more information is available, and to its natural enemies in the Mediterranean region, because the impact of this pest in this recently colonized area is particularly remarkable and also the recent trend in species management is looking for indigenous natural enemies. More than 50 natural enemies have been reported to attack Rhynchophorus species, even if most of them are associated to R. ferrugineus (Olivier), highlighting the lack of information on the other species of the genus. Pros and cons of all the biological control agents are then discussed: among the considered organisms, fungi are noteworthy to be considered for inclusion in integrated pest management programs. Overall, our overview underlines the need to increase knowledge on natural enemies of all the species of the genus Rhynchophorus, to isolate more virulent strains and to determine the optimum conditions for the actions of the biocontrol agents

U.V.A.C. MONITORING OF HEAVY METALS IN CONTROLLED MILK AND ITS PRODUCTS IN TURIN DURING 2007

The contamination of food by chemical is a worldwide public health concern and is a leading cause of trade problems internationally. Contamination may occur through environmental pollution of air, water and soil, such as heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Fe, Hg, Pb), PCB and dioxins, or through the intentional use of various pesticides and other agrochemicals. The AA controlled, during 2007, 26 samples of milk, 2 samples of dessert and 32 samples of cheese coming from UE to the area of the City of Turin. The collected demonstrate that the environmental situation is under control and the milk, dessert and cheese fully satisfy this health requisite

HEAVY METALS CONTAMINATION IN FISH OF THE LIGURIAN SEA

Aim of this investigation was to evaluate heavy metals contamination (mercury, cadmium and lead) in fish and shellfish from Ligurian Sea. 58 muscle samples (45 fish and 13 shellfish) were collected and analyzed. 20 samples exceeded the maximum residue limits (MRLs) set by regulation for mercury (16 fish and 4 shellfish samples), while only one fish sample was not consistent with the MRL for lead. Therefore, 35,8% of Ligurian fishing turned out to be not adequate and potentially harmful for consumers. In order to estimate the real risk for human health it is necessary to enforce this study, correlating the results with fish species and with the effective fish consumption

Influence of parent-adolescent relationship on early sexual debut and number of partners among Mexican youth

Objective: To evaluate whether parents-adolescents relationship was associated with early sexual debut and having multiple partners in a low socioeconomic suburb in Mexico City. Methods: An anonymous questionnaire about sexual activity and relationships with parents during adolescence was responded by 936 participants, aged 20-30. Logistic regression was conducted. Results: The majority of participants reported being sexually active (78.3%). Among them, 70% of males and 55% of females had first sex before age 18. Good communication with parents during adolescence was inversely associated with sexual debut 2 sexual partners (OR=0.47; IC95% 0.33-0.68). Sexual debut <18 was associated with having had multiple partners (OR=3.86; IC95% 2.60-5.73). Conclusion: Good parental communication during adolescence may help prevent adolescents from choosing early sexual debut and having multiple partners and, consequently, from acquiring sexually transmitted diseases. Efforts are necessary to support parents in their relationship with their adolescent children

Hereditary thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and COVID-19: Impacts of vaccination and infection in this rare disease.

Introduction Severe COVID-19 is associated with an important increase of von Willebrand factor and mild lowering of ADAMTS13 activity that may, in the presence of a strong inflammatory reaction, increase the risk of acute thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Although acute episodes of immune-mediated TTP associated with COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 vaccination have been reported, data about clinical evolution of hereditary TTP (hTTP) during the pandemic are scarce. Method We conducted a survey among adult patients of the International Hereditary TTP Registry about SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, COVID-19, and occurrence of acute hTTP episodes. Results Of 122 adult hTTP patients invited to participate, 86 (70.5%) responded. Sixty-five had been vaccinated (75.6%), of which 14 had received in addition a booster, resulting in 139 individual vaccine shots. Although vaccinations in patients on plasma prophylaxis were done within 1 week of the last plasma infusion, all 23 patients treated with plasma on demand were vaccinated without prior plasma infusions. One patient on uninterrupted weekly plasma infusions presented within 3 days from his second vaccination with neurological symptoms and computed tomography scan 9 days later showed subacute ischemic/hemorrhagic frontal lobe infarction. A second male patient developed acute myocarditis after his second dose of mRNA-1273 vaccine. Twelve (14%) patients had COVID-19, associated with an acute hTTP episode in three of them: one patient had a transient ischemic attack, one a stroke, and a pregnant woman was hospitalized to intensify plasma treatment. Discussion The risk of an acute episode triggered by COVID-19 seems higher than following vaccination in hTTP patients, who can be safely vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2

Mosquitoes LTR Retrotransposons: A Deeper View into the Genomic Sequence of Culex quinquefasciatus

A set of 67 novel LTR-retrotransposon has been identified by in silico analyses of the Culex quinquefasciatus genome using the LTR_STRUC program. The phylogenetic analysis shows that 29 novel and putatively functional LTR-retrotransposons detected belong to the Ty3/gypsy group. Our results demonstrate that, by considering only families containing potentially autonomous LTR-retrotransposons, they account for about 1% of the genome of C. quinquefasciatus. In previous studies it has been estimated that 29% of the genome of C. quinquefasciatus is occupied by mobile genetic elements