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PubMed1978

[Test of O,O-dimethyl(1-hydroxy-2,2,2-trichloroethyl)phosphonate (Trichlorfon) for carcinogenic acitivity in rats by oral (oesphageal-gastric intubation) and intraperitoneal application (author's transl)].

O,O-Dimethyl (1-hydroxy-2,2,2-trichloroethyl)phosphonate (Trichlorfon) is produced at a large scale and used in many countries e. g. in agriculture and housholds to control insects and on animals to control parasties. The compound (dissolved in isotonic sodium chloride solution) was tested for carcinogenic activity in albino rats by oral (oesophageal-gastric intubation) and intraperitoneal administration. The period of treatment was 90 weeks. The experiment was terminated at 118 weeks. There was no statistically significant difference when the tumor incidence in the groups of treated and control animals was compared. No carcinogenic activity of the compound could be demonstrated in rats at either route of application.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1996

Vector insects and their control.

This paper emphasizes the huge influence that vector-transmitted disease has on humans using plague, epidemic typhus and nagana as examples. The continuing need for vector control in campaigns against insect-transmitted disease is shown by reference to current control programmes mounted against Chagas' disease, onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis and nagana. These successful campaigns have not been reliant on new breakthroughs but on the forging of available tools into effective strategies widely and efficiently used by the control authorities, and the long-lasting political commitment to the success of the schemes in question. A brief mention is made of current fashions in vector control research and that great care needs to be taken by policy-makers to achieve a balance between long-term research aiming at the production of fundamentally new control technologies and operational research aiming to forge the often highly effective tools we already have into sound control strategies.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Inhibition of cuticular lipid synthesis and its effect on insect survival.

A new approach to insect control--using sodium trichloroacetate (NaTCA) to inhibit synthesis of the hydrophobic cuticular lipids that protect insects from dehydration--was tested on Triatoma infestans. In vivo and in vitro studies of incorporation of radioactive precursors showed diminished cuticular hydrocarbon synthesis after NaTCA treatment. Thin layer chromatography and scanning electron microscopy showed disruption of the cuticular lipid layer of NaTCA-treated insects, which also have increased mortality and altered molting cycles. NaTCA treatment enhanced the penetration and increased the lethality of a contact insecticide.

Animals↗
PubMed1971

Insecticide resistance resulting from sequential selection of houseflies in the field by organophosphorus compounds.

Although cross-resistance in houseflies to the organophosphates has eliminated numerous potentially useful compounds from field use, the "subgroup" specificity of this phenomenon has permitted housefly control to be carried out for nearly a quarter of a century by changing from one toxicant to another within this class of insecticides. A question of considerable importance in insect control is whether the development of resistance to one subgroup of organophosphates will be at the expense of resistance to a subgroup applied previously. The development over several years of resistance in a field population selected sequentially by a number of organophosphates was studied. It was observed that the resistance spectrum expanded progressively to include, finally, organophosphates originally thought to belong to more than one subgroup-namely, malathion (resistance greater than 100 times), fenchlorphos (114 times), diazinon (163 times), coumaphos (greater than 100 times), Ciodrin (greater than 100 times), fenthion (18 times) and naled (9.3 times). Resistance to each compound continued to rise to levels considerably higher than those achieved at the time when the field use of the compound ended. The possible coexistence of subgroup cross-resistance in a population is discussed in the light of these results.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Entomogenous Fusarium species.

Fusarium species are known for their abundance in nature and their diverse associations with both living and dead plants and animals. Among animals Fusarium is found primarily in relationship with insects. This literature review of the past 50 years includes both non-pathogenic and pathogenic relationships between Fusarium and insects. Special attention is given to the host range, particularly between plant- and insect-hosts, and to the possible microbial potential of the fungus to control insect pests. Correct classification of this fungus has been difficult because of its diverse and non-uniform morphological features. However, by now a usable and reliable taxonomic system has been developed. The fungus can be easily cultured and mass produced. Among the non-pathogenic associations mutualism and allotrophy are found between Fusarium and wood-inhabiting and flour beetles, respectively, enhancing development and production of beetle larvae. Some insects contribute to the dispersal of the fungus in the environment by means of spore passage through their guts. Plant-pathogenic Fusarium species gain access to host tissue by plant-feeding insects. A large number of Fusarium spp. are entomopathogenic; some are weak, facultative pathogens, especially of the lepidopteran and coleopteran orders, and they will colonize their dead hosts as saprophytes. In a few cases pathogenicity to both plant and insect by one isolate was found. Strong pathogens were reported primarily from homopterans and dipterans from field observations of natural mortalities as well as from pathogenicity tests. Potential Fusarium isolates which cause high insect mortalities also show high host specificity and no damage to crop plants. The question of host invasion has been addressed by few investigators. Entrance of the fungus via the oral route, oviposition tubes, wounds, or ectoparasitic activity, were stated, but no claim for penetration of the insect cuticle. Mycotoxins, such as trichothecenes (T-2) and other secondary metabolites, contributed to mortalities of termites, mealworms, flour beetles, maize borers and blow flies, while zearalenone (F-2) exhibited a beneficial effect on egg production in flour beetles and a detrimental effect on fecundity in mammals. Studies on adverse effects of the fungus on beneficial organisms (including mammals and plants) revealed that both harmful as well as safe Fusarium isolates exist in nature. Highly host-specific and strongly entomopathogenic Fusarium isolates should be more extensively studied and tested for their possible use in biological control.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Genetically improved potatoes: protection from damage by Colorado potato beetles.

Russet Burbank potato plants have been genetically improved to resist insect attack and damage by Colorado potato beetles (Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say)) by the insertion of a cryIIIA gene encoding the insect control protein of Bacillus thuringiensis var. tenebrionis. A modified gene that dramatically improved plant expression of this protein was utilized. Its expression in Russet Burbank potato plants resulted in protection from damage by all insect stages in the laboratory and in dramatic levels of protection at multiple field locations. Analysis of these genetically modified potatoes indicated that they conform to the standards for Russet Burbank potatoes in terms of agronomic and quality characteristics including taste.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Endocrine strategies for the control of ectoparasites and insect pests.

The increasing knowledge about endocrine mechanisms in arthropods facilitates the biorational search for drugs against insect pests and parasites that interfere with arthropod hormone action. Juvenile hormone mimics have been successfully applied for about 20 years; however, resistance to juvenile hormone analogues has developed. The introduction of moulting hormone agonists, which compete for binding to the ecdysteroid receptor, is expected in the near future. Despite the considerable progress that has been achieved in peptide hormone research during the last few years, no successful insecticide is currently available, although comparisons of drugs for medical use demonstrate that in principle, successful interference with peptide hormone action is possible. The search for new drugs has been facilitated by advances in cell-culture techniques, which improve the development of suitable screening systems, and by progress in genetic engineering, which could be an important tool in the creation of new strategies for insect pest control.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Construction of an improved baculovirus insecticide containing an insect-specific toxin gene.

Baculoviruses provide alternatives to chemicals for controlling insect pests and can be applied by spraying. Baculoviruses have a limited host range, but work relatively slowly. They are dissolved in the midgut of insect larvae to release infectious virions which enter gut epithelial cells and begin to replicate. Replication in other organs causes extensive tissue damage and eventually death. This process can take 4-5 days, but in the field may last for more than a week, allowing the larvae to feed for longer and thereby damaging the host plant. Baculovirus expression vectors expressing foreign genes, such as those for insect-specific toxins, hormones or enzymes, might alleviate this problem. We have now constructed a recombinant baculovirus derived from Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus containing an insect-specific neurotoxin from the venom of the North African (Algerian) scorpion, Androctonus australis Hector. The neurotoxin acts by causing specific modifications to the Na+ conductance of neurons, producing a presynaptic excitatory effect leading to paralysis and death; it has no effect in mice. Expression of the neurotoxin by the virus causes a reduction in the time required to kill the host insect.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

High level of resistance to proteinase inhibitors may be conferred by proteolytic cleavage in beetle larvae.

Incorporation of genes encoding proteinase inhibitors into oilseed rape genome could confer resistance to Coleoptera, which are the major pests on rape in Europe. A detailed study of the digestive proteinase of a model cruciferous-feeding Coleoptera, Phaedon cochleariae, showed that this insect relies on a complex proteolytic system including serine, cysteine, aspartyl proteinases, and leucine aminopeptidases. The inhibition of general and specific activities by a range of proteinase inhibitors in vitro suggested that oryzacystatin I (OCI) and Bowman-Birk inhibitor (BBI) would have adverse effects when ingested by the larvae. However, the growth and the feeding of larvae reared on oilseed rape leaf discs treated with a high dose of OCI and/or BBI were not affected. Moreover, the levels and patterns of proteolytic activities were not modified in these larvae. The study of the interactions between P. cochleariae larval proteinases and OCI and BBI revealed that both inhibitors were rapidly cleaved by serine proteinases in association with leucine aminopeptidases, and consequently lost their inhibitory capacity. This mechanism of resistance is very efficient, and may be widespread among Coleoptera. The major implications for insect control using proteinase inhibitor-based strategies are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Endocrine regulation of the form and function of axonal arbors during insect metamorphosis.

By discrete manipulation of the endocrine cues that control insect metamorphosis, it has been possible to examine the mechanisms governing the growth of neural processes during development. During the transition from larva to pupa in the hawkmoth, Manduca sexta, identified sensory neurons reorganize their central projections to evoke a new behavior--the gintrap reflex. Topical application of a juvenile hormone analog to the peripheral cell bodies of these sensory neurons during a critical period of development caused them to retain their larval commitment rather than undergo pupal development with the rest of the animal. The sensory neurons retained the larval arborization pattern within the pupal CNS and were unable to evoke the gin-trap reflex. Thus, the hormonal environment of the cell body is critical for controlling growth and synapse formation by distant axonal processes.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Metarrhizium anisopliae as a cause of sinusitis in immunocompetent hosts.

Metarrhizium anisopliae is a common pathogen of insects and has even been used to control insect populations. It is rarely isolated from human or animal sources, but recently, there have been three reported cases of disease, two in humans and one in a cat. We present our experience with five isolates from human sources, including two that were the apparent causes of two cases of sinusitis in immunocompetent hosts. The first patient was a 36-year-old male with frontal and ethmoid sinusitis, and the second was a 79-year-old female with chronic sinusitis. Both patients underwent surgery, and pathology of the surgical specimens revealed branching hyphae. Cultures grew only Metarrhizium species. Neither patient received antifungal therapy, and both did well postoperatively. The other three isolates were cultured from bronchoalveolar lavage specimens but were not felt to be clinically significant. Antifungal susceptibility testing using the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards macrobroth method revealed that all isolates were resistant to amphotericin B, 5-flucytosine, and fluconazole. Itraconazole and newer azole compounds were more active. Metarrhizium species may cause disease in humans, even those without evidence of immunosuppression, and are apparently highly resistant to amphotericin B in vitro.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Effect of insecticides on vital activity, hepatic enzymes and red blood cell acetyl cholinesterase activity of rabbits in Makkah.

Developing animals and invertebrate are markedly more sensitive to acute toxicity through exposure to insecticides. Varieties of insecticides are used for hygienic control in Makkah holy places. The present study examines the acute effects of commonly used insecticides in Makkah area. Rosfin as an organophosphorus, Airlen as a pyrethroid and Sulvac as a carbamate derivative were tested for their effects on vital activities, hepatic transaminases, serum triglycerides and acetyl cholinesterase activity of rabbits. The insecticides were tested in same and double concentration used for insect control by Makkah's municipal authorities. Compressed air was used as a source of pressure for spraying wooden boxes designed for habitation of animals during the experiments. There were no significant changes in vital activities of rabbits in both concentrations. However, serum glutamate pyuvate transaminase (SGPT) and serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) showed irregular changes (mild decrease or increase) in all groups, while triglyceride showed mild rise after six days exposure in case of double concentration. Acetyl cholinesterase showed mild increase in activity after five minutes incubation time, but there was unnoticed increase in activity after 15, 25, 35 and 45 minutes of incubation. In case of Airlen, the activity increased after five minutes of incubation and decreased thereafter. In conclusion, insecticides used in the holy places of Makkah area have no apparent effects on vital activity, acetyl cholinesterase activity and showed no significant effect on rabbit hepatic transaminases and serum triglyceride.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1976

The release of a compound-chromosome stock in a vineyard cellar population of Drosophila melanogaster.

The prospect of autocidal insect control was investigated in a cellar population of D. melanogaster using a compound-chromosome stock. The released stock was synthesized by irradiating virgin female progeny derived from the cellar and crossing to a second-chromosome compound laboratory stock. Incorporation of an appropriate genetic background into the compound stock was tested in laboratory studies. Larval development to adult emergence and adult survival studies indicated the compound release stock to be relatively similar to the wild population, while behavioral tests detected no mating isolation between wild or compound genotypes. An unstable equilibrium point of compound frequency 0.7 was observed in population cage experiments with the two genotypes. Adults were released into the cellar at a 50:1 ratio in favor of the compound. Five hundred newly hatched compound-chromosome larvae were also released. Adult, larval and pupal samples were regularly made. The compound stock successfully bred in the cellar maintaining an adult frequency of at least 90% for 108 days after the release. The rapid decline in compound frequency after this period is thought to be due to the migration of inseminated wild-type females from wine storage areas adjacent to the cellar. The results indicate that a compound stock may limit the rate of population expansion in an area and may be a useful mechanism of autocidal control. It cannot be overemphasized that the probability of a successful release will be related to the level of understanding of the adaptive strategy of the population into which the release is made.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Rhodnius prolixus infected with Trypanosoma rangeli: In vivo and in vitro experiments.

Studies were carried out on the activation of the prophenoloxidase (proPO) in adults of Rhodnius prolixus infected by short and long epimastigote forms of Trypanosoma rangeli. The in vitro activation of the proPO cascade using l-DOPA as substrate was very low in the absence of fat body extract, hemolymph, and parasites. On the other hand, a higher PO activity was observed when short, but not long, epimastigotes of T. rangeli were incubated with fresh hemolymph, fat body extract, and l-DOPA. Supernatant from lysed long epimastigotes increased the PO activity at levels identical to those observed with supernatants from lysed short epimastigotes. Similarly, the PO activity of hemolymph obtained from inoculated insects with long epimastigotes of T. rangeli showed a very low activity when incubated with l-DOPA compared to the PO activity of hemolymph taken from insects inoculated with short epimastigotes of T. rangeli. Control insects inoculated with sterile PBS showed no PO activity. These data indicate the presence of (a) factor(s) in the hemolymph as well as in the fat body extract that may be released (or induced) by the presence of short epimastigotes of T. rangeli and which results in the activation of the R. prolixus proPO system. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the development of T. rangeli and its ability to overcome the proPO system, survive, and successfully colonize the hemolymph of R. prolixus.

Animals↗