Functional Morphology of the Mouthparts of the Adult Mediterranean Fruit Fly, Ceratitis capitata

Food-based attractants incorporating an insecticide are an important component of area-wide control programmes for the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae). This study was carried out to understand the feeding mechanism of adults of this species. Mouthparts of C. capitata are similar in general structure to those of another Tephritid genus, Bactrocera, and have specific structural modifications that determine what adult flies can ingest. The labellum has a series of fine tube-like structures, called pseudotracheae, on its inner surface. Each pseudotrachea leads from the outer margin of the labellum and ends at the prestomum to the oral opening. The pseudotracheae contain fine micropores about 0.5µm in size. During feeding, the oral opening is never exposed to the feeding substrate but the portions of the opposing labellar lobes proximal to the oral opening are flexed against each other and distal portions of the opposing labellar lobes are opened and pressed flat against the feeding substrate or surface. The prestomal spines at the base of each pseudotrachea interlock to form a barrier across the oral opening. Thus entry of large particles directly into the crop and gut through the oral opening is prevented by flexure of the opposing labellar lobes against each other and the interlocking prestomal spines across the oral opening. Only liquids and suspended particles less than 0.5µm in size are sucked through the micropores into the lumen of the pseudotracheae and then pass into the food canal and into the crop and gut. The pseudotracheae of adult C. capitata, particularly along the middle portion of the labellum, have prominent blade-like projections that Bactrocera do not have. These projections are probably an ancestral condition as they were not observed to use them to abrade the plant or feeding surface as has been reported for species in the Tephritid genus, Blepharoneura

Alimentary Tract Bacteria Isolated and Identified with API-20E and Molecular Cloning Techniques from Australian Tropical Fruit Flies, Bactrocera cacuminata and B. tryoni

Bacteria were isolated from the crop and midgut of field collected Bactrocera cacuminata (Hering) and Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) (Diptera: Tephritidae). Two methods were used, firstly isolation onto two types of bacteriological culture media (PYEA and TSA) and identification using the API-20E diagnostic kit, and secondly, analysis of samples using the 16S rRNA gene molecular diagnostic method. Using the API-20E method, 10 genera and 17 species of bacteria in the family Enterobacteriaceae were identified from cultures growing on the nutrient agar. The dominant species in both the crop and midgut were Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter cloacae and Klebsiella oxytoca. Providencia rettgeri, Klebsiella pneumoniae ssp ozaenae and Serratia marcescens were isolated from B. tryoni only. Using the molecular cloning technique that is based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, five bacteria classes were dignosed — Alpha-, Beta-, Gamma- and Delta- Proteobacteria and Firmicutes — including five families, Leuconostocaceae, Enterococcaceae, Acetobacteriaceae, Comamonadaceae and Enterobacteriaceae. The bacteria affiliated with Firmicutes were found mainly in the crop while the Gammaproteobacteria, especially the family Enterobacteriaceae, was dominant in the midgut. This paper presents results from the first known application of molecular cloning techniques to study bacteria within tephritid species and the first record of Firmicutes bacteria in these flies

Management of Melon Fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) Infesting Gherkin:An Areawide Control Programme Adopted in Peninsular India

An area-wide control (AWC) programme was undertaken for management of melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae(Coquillet), in 3 km2 area in Kashapura village of Gauribidanur taluk, Chickaballapura District, Karnataka State in peninsular India from 52nd week of 2007 to 30th week of 2010. Implementation of the AWC programme included field sanitation, male annihilation technique (MAT) through para-pheromone, Cue lure, and bait application technique (BAT). This AWC programme resulted in steady decline of melon fly population in the grid area, and corresponding reduction in per cent fruit fly infested gherkin fruits. In the AWC (grid) area, flies trapped per day (FTD) led to attaining suppression (1 to 0.1 FTD) and eradication levels (<0.1 FTD), which is acceptable to the Indian gherkin processing industry. Whereas, in the non-grid area, fruit fly populations perpetuated at infestation level (>1 FTD) during majority of weeks under observation

Survey of Opiine parasitoids of fruit flies (Diptera:Tephritidae) in Thailand and Malaysia

A survey of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) from wild and cultivated host plants was conducted in Thailand and Malaysia between 1986 and 1994. In addition to fruit flies, host samples also yielded parasites of those flies, predominantly opiine wasps (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Opiinae). Although used extensively in classical biological control programmes, very little is known about the host relationships of these parasites in their native environment. From the survey work, host records are given for 13 described species (viz. Diachasmimorpha albobalteata [Cameron], D. dacusii [Cameron], D. longicaudata [Ashmead], Fopius arisanus [Sonan], F. deeralensis [Fullaway], F. persulcatus [Silvestri], F. skinneri [Fullaway], F. vandenboschi [Fullaway], Opius bellus Gahan, Psvtallia flelcheri [Silvestri], P. incisi [Silvestri], P. makii [Sonan] and Utetes bianchii [Fullaway]) and three undescribed opiines. The parasitoid species are listed in relation to the fruit fly species within fruit samples, and the plant species from which the flies and wasps were reared

Multiple mating by females of two Bactrocera species (Diptera: Tephritidae: Dacinae)

Abstract Multiple mating was investigated in two tephritid species when females were under minimal male pressure because they were each confined with a single male in cages 20r20r20 cm and observed daily until they died. Laboratory-reared females of Bactrocera cucumis (French) lived up to 274 days and refractory periods averaged 59-63 days. However, the distribution of matings among B. cucumis females was not significantly different to that expected by chance. Wild females of Bactrocera cacuminata (Hering) reared from field-collected fruits of Solanum mauritianum Scopoli lived for up to 134 days and mated up to three times with refractory periods between matings averaging 27-39 days. The distribution of the number of matings among females of B. cacuminata was non-random because of the high proportion of non-maters (50%); but, when only females mating more than once were considered, there was no significant departure from random expectation

Metal ion levels post primary unilateral total knee arthroplasty

BackgroundMetal ion release from metal implants through the processes of mechanical wear and corrosion has been one of the main concerns post total joint arthroplasty. However, there have been very few studies to show metal ion exposure post total knee implants.AimsThe aim of this study was to investigate whether blood metal ion levels are raised in patients with well-functioning unilateral primary total knee arthroplasty in the short and the long term after surgery.Methods Whole blood Chromium and serum Cobalt levels were measured in 22 patients following primary total knee arthroplasty at a minimum of 12 months after surgery and then repeated at a mean of four years. Eleven patients had the cemented triathlon knee system and 11 patients had an uncemented ACS knee system with multilayer coatings.Results Cobalt levels in our study are low one year after TKR and stayed within normal limits with no significant rise at four years (p=0.300). Chromium levels raised significantly by four years (p=0.007), but remained within normal range with no evidence of toxic systemic effects. Our data showed no statistically significant difference for cobalt and chromium levels between ACS and Triathlon groups (p=0.62; p=0.54 respectively).ConclusionAt an average of 50-months post well-functioning total knee arthroplasty, whole blood Chromium levels and serum Cobalt levels are within the normal range. The use of cement is unlikely to influence metal ion release and titanium nitride coating did not influence metal ion release from TKR implants

Blood cultures for assessment of postoperative fever in arthroplasty patients

Postoperative fever in arthroplasty patients is common. The value of diagnostic workup of fever in this instance is of questionable utility. Studies have shown that blood cultures in this scenario add little to clinical management, but sample sizes have been small and the use of blood cultures in this setting continues. This study aimed to examine the value of blood cultures in the assessment of postoperative fever in a large arthroplasty population. The medical records of 101 patients who had 141 blood culture sets taken during a 2-year period were retrospectively analyzed. Of the 141 blood culture sets, only 2 returned positive results. These were both thought to be as a result of skin contamination at the time of venipuncture. No infectious sequelae occurred in either patient. We conclude that blood cultures have no role to play in the assessment of the febrile, otherwise asymptomatic arthroplasty patient in the early postoperative period

An analysis of bioaerosol emissions from orthopaedic surgical clothing

This study compared the emission rates of orthopaedic space suits to standard surgical clothing in a simulated surgical environment. Significant increases in particle and microbiological emission rates were found when space suits were used, providing mechanistic evidence to support the increased prosthetic joint infection rates observed in epidemiological studies and helping to inform surgeons about their choice of clothing. Surgeons should proceed with caution when using space suits during surgery, particularly total joint arthroplasty

Metal ion levels post primary unilateral Exeter total hip arthroplasty

BACKGROUND Metal ion release is common following total hip arthroplasty, yet postoperative levels have not been defined for most stems currently used in clinical practice. AIM To assess metal ion release in the serum of patients with well functioning unilateral Exeter V40 primary total hip arthroplasties one year after surgery. METHODS Whole blood chromium and serum cobalt levels were measured in 20 patients following primary total hip arthroplasty with the Exeter V40 stem and a variety of acetabular components one year after surgery. RESULTS Whole blood chromium levels were within the normal range (10-100 nmol/L), with a single mild elevation of serum cobalt (normal CONCLUSION In well functioning primary unilateral total hip arthroplasty using the Exeter V40 stem with a variety of acetabular components one year post surgery, whole blood chromium levels are normal and serum cobalt elevations are rare and mild