The aim was to compare the efficacy, selectivity to sunflower and dissipation of three chloracetamide herbicides (acetochlor, metolachlor and pethoxamid) in dependence on precipitation after application. A small plot field trial was carried out with sunflower in Central Bohemia in 2010 and 2011. The remaining concentration of active ingredient in the soil of all studied herbicides was lower in the year with a higher temperature and a low level of total natural precipitation at the beginning of the growing season. Higher leaching of metolachlor and pethoxamid was recorded in irrigated plots. No leaching was found in the case of acetochlor. The highest leaching was found for metolachlor (9.2-25.5% in soil layer 5-10 cm). The highest phytotoxicity was found for acetochlor (9.8%) > pethox-amid (4.6%) > metolachlor (1.8%). The mean phytotoxicity in the irrigated plots was 6.9%, compared with 3.9% in the non-irrigated plots. The efficacy of the tested herbicide was affected by wet conditions. The highest efficacy on Chenopodium album, Amaranthus retroflexus, Echinochloa crus-galli and Solanum physalifolium was recorded after application of acetochlor and irrigation.

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is one of the most important viral encephalitides in Asia. Two live-attenuated vaccines have been developed and licensed for use in countries in the region. Given the advancement of immunization of humans with increasing use of live-attenuated vaccines to prevent JE, there is increased interest to define quality standards for their manufacture, testing, nonclinical studies, and clinical studies to assess their efficacy and safety in humans. To this end, WHO convened a meeting with a group of international experts in February 2012 to develop guidelines for evaluating the quality, safety and efficacy of live-attenuated JE virus vaccines for prevention of human disease. This report summarizes collective views of the participants on scientific and technical issues that need to be considered in the guidelines.

Aminocyclopyrachlor (AMCP) is a newly developed synthetic auxin herbicide for broadleaf weed control in turfgrass systems. AMCP has been observed to undergo rapid photodecomposition in shallow water when exposed to sunlight. Most herbicide applications on golf courses occur during the morning when dew is still present on the turfgrass canopy. These conditions could result in efficacy loss if photolysis occurred while AMCP is suspended in dew droplets. Research was conducted to determine the effect of ambient moisture on AMCP efficacy. AMCP (79 and 105 g ae ha⁻¹), aminopyralid (280 g ae ha ⁻¹), and two AMCP granular formulations (84 g ha⁻¹) were applied to dew-covered (WET) and dew-excluded (DRY) ‘Tifway' bermudagrass plots. Herbicide treatments applied to WET plots had greater visually rated bermudagrass injury than respective treatments applied to DRY plots at 7 and 21 d after treatment (DAT), with the exception of aminopyralid at 21 DAT. Normalized difference vegetative index on turfgrass quality complemented visual ratings, indicating greater turfgrass quality reductions when applied to WET vs. DRY plots. These results indicate that AMCP applications made to dew-covered turfgrass can increase herbicidal efficacy, and no significant losses due to photodegradation were observed.Nomenclature: Aminocyclopyrachlor, 6-amino-5-chloro-2-cyclopropyl-4-pyrimidine-carboxylic acid; aminopyralid, 4-amino-3,6-dichloro-2-pyridinecarboxylic acid; bermudagrass, Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. × Cynodon transvaalensis Burtt-Davy ‘Tifway'.

A trial was conducted on 12 buffaloes naturally infested with Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus to evaluate the efficacy of eprinomectin pour-on at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg body weight. A reduction in live tick count by 45.94, 63.96, 81.53, 90.54, 98.19 and 100 % was observed on days 3, 5, 7, 10, 14 and 21 post-treatment, respectively. The reinfestation of ticks was not observed up to 42 days of trial period. On the basis of the present trial of eprinomectin pour-on, it can be recommended for use in dairy buffaloes against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus infestation.

Se determinó la eficacia del extracto natural de Verbena officinalis L. y de Ruta graveolens L. en el control in vitro de la garrapata adulta Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. El extracto de cada planta se obtuvo mediante la técnica de maceración. Para las pruebas, se utilizaron garrapatas adultas de dos tamaños (pequeñas y medianas), que fueron expuestas a los extractos de cada planta, utilizando la técnica de inmersión de garrapatas adultas. A las 24, 48, 72 y 96 h de exposición, se realizó la lectura de mortalidad, donde se tomó como mínimo eficaz una mortalidad de 60%. Las pruebas iniciales se realizaron con extractos puros y cuando éstos mostraban eficacia se procedía a realizar diluciones crecientes, hasta encontrar la concentración mínima eficaz. Las pruebas fueron realizadas en clima frío. El extracto de R. graveolens (ruda) mostró efectividad en garrapata pequeña y mediana, sólo con el extracto puro V. officinalis (verbena negra) mostró eficacia sobre garrapata pequeña y mediana en la dilución 5:10. V. officinalis mostró mayor eficacia y se observó que los mejores resultados se obtuvieron con las mayores concentraciones. Palabras claves: control biológico, fitoterapia, Ruta graveolens, Verbena officinalis. | The efficacy of the natural extract of Verbena officinalis L. and Ruta graveolens L. in vitro monitoring of adult tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus was established. The extract of each plant was obtained by maceration. For testing two sizes (small and medium) of adult ticks were exposed to extracts of each plant, by immersion technique. At 24, 48, 72 and 96 h of exposure, mortality was recorded taken as 60% mortality as the effective minimum. Initial tests were conducted with pure extracts, and if efficacy detected, increased dilutions were made to establish the minimum efficiency. Tests were conducted in cool climates conditions. The extract of R. graveolens (rue), showed effectiveness in small and medium tick only with the pure extract V. officinalis (common vervain) was effective on small and medium-tick in dilution 5:10. V. officinalis showed greater efficacy and found that the best results were obtained at higher concentrations. Key words: Biological control, phytotherapy, Ruta graveolens, Verbena officinalis.

Cattle ticks are responsible for great economic losses in cattle farming worldwide, and their main control method, chemicals, has been showing problems, whether resulting from the development of resistant strains of ticks or environmental contamination. Research studies directed toward developing vaccines against ticks are emerging. One way to evaluate those vaccines is to calculate the percentage of efficacy. The aim of this study was to analyze scientific publications archived in PubMed that used this method of assessment and discuss the main factors that may affect its calculation. Thus, 25 articles addressing this subject were selected. The percentage of efficacy was usually calculated in one of two ways, with one considering the reduced fertility of eggs and the other not. The latter method may underestimate the vaccine efficacy, and the most complete formula for calculating the efficacy reflects how much the vaccine actually affects the infestation. In our view, the use of the complete formula for calculating the percentage of efficacy is broader and more representative of the vaccine effect on the tick population. | Carrapatos de bovinos são responsáveis por grandes perdas econômicas para a pecuária bovina mundial e seu principal método de controle, o químico, vem apresentando problemas, seja pelo desenvolvimento de amostras de carrapatos resistentes ou pela contaminação ambiental. Na tentativa de diminuir a utilização dos acaricidas, surgem pesquisas direcionadas ao desenvolvimento de vacinas contra carrapatos. Uma maneira de avaliar essas vacinas é pelo cálculo de percentagem de eficácia. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar as publicações científicas indexadas no PubMed que utilizaram este método de avaliação e discutir os principais fatores que podem interferir no seu cálculo. Dessa maneira, selecionaram-se 25 artigos que tratavam desse assunto. A percentagem de eficácia apareceu sendo calculada de duas formas, uma considerando a redução da fertilidade dos ovos e a outra não. Essa última pode subestimar a eficiência da vacina, e a fórmula de cálculo da eficácia mais completa representa o quanto da infestação a vacina realmente reduziu. Em nosso entendimento, a utilização da fórmula completa para o cálculo da percentagem de eficácia é mais abrangente e representativa do efeito da vacina na população de carrapatos.

Articles in International Journals | Cattle ticks are responsible for great economic losses in cattle farming worldwide, and their main control method, chemicals, has been showing problems, whether resulting from the development of resistant strains of ticks or environmental contamination. Research studies directed toward developing vaccines against ticks are emerging. One way to evaluate those vaccines is to calculate the percentage of efficacy. The aim of this study was to analyze scientific publications archived in PubMed that used this method of assessment and discuss the main factors that may affect its calculation. Thus, 25 articles addressing this subject were selected. The percentage of efficacy was usually calculated in one of two ways, with one considering the reduced fertility of eggs and the other not. The latter method may underestimate the vaccine efficacy, and the most complete formula for calculating the efficacy reflects how much the vaccine actually affects the infestation. In our view, the use of the complete formula for calculating the percentage of efficacy is broader and more representative of the vaccine effect on the tick population. | RESUMO - Carrapatos de bovinos são responsáveis por grandes perdas econômicas para a pecuária bovina mundial e seu principal método de controle, o químico, vem apresentando problemas, seja pelo desenvolvimento de amostras de carrapatos resistentes ou pela contaminação ambiental. Na tentativa de diminuir a utilização dos acaricidas, surgem pesquisas direcionadas ao desenvolvimento de vacinas contra carrapatos. Uma maneira de avaliar essas vacinas é pelo cálculo de percentagem de eficácia. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar as publicações científicas indexadas no PubMed que utilizaram este método de avaliação e discutir os principais fatores que podem interferir no seu cálculo. Dessa maneira, selecionaram-se 25 artigos que tratavam desse assunto. A percentagem de eficácia apareceu sendo calculada de duas formas, uma considerando a redução da fertilidade dos ovos e a outra não. Essa última pode subestimar a eficiência da vacina, e a fórmula de cálculo da eficácia mais completa representa o quanto da infestação a vacina realmente reduziu. Em nosso entendimento, a utilização da fórmula completa para o cálculo da percentagem de eficácia é mais abrangente e representativa do efeito da vacina na população de carrapatos.

An experiment was conducted to find out the effect of different concentrations of antimicrobial agents viz., carbenicillin, streptocycline, cephotaxime and Plant Preservative Mixture (PPMTM; US patent no. 5,750,402) on in vitro growth and vigour of micro-plantlets of three potato varieties viz. Kufri Chandramukhi, Kufri Chipsona-3 and Kufri Sindhuri. The study revealed that antimicrobial agents, their different concentrations, potato varieties and their interaction had significant effect on different morphological characters viz., microplant height, inter-nodal length, number of leaves, nodes and roots, root length and fresh as well as dry weight. In general, carbenicillin upto 100 mg/l, cephotaxime upto 200 mg/l and PPM upto 0.15% had positive effect on all the morphological characters in all the three potato varieties except microplant root length in Kufri Chipsona-3 and Kufri Sindhuri as compared to control. Therefore, antimicrobial agents’ like carbenicillin upto 100 mg/l, cephotaxime upto 200 mg/l and PPM upto 0.15% can be used for controlling the in vitro microbial contamination without affecting the growth and vigour of micro-plantlets.

The aim of the study was to investigate how various types of storage facilities with, e.g., concrete, metal, and plywood surfaces interfere with the activity of different insecticide formulations used for rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae (L.) control: malathion (EC), pirimiphos-methyl (EC), and lambda-cyhalothrin (CS and WP). Initial and residual efficacy were determined in the laboratory. Knockdown data for the initial effects were processed by probit analysis and presented as knockdown time (KDT) parameters with kdt-p lines. Delayed effects were shown as knockdown efficacy (%) determined after 24 h of weevils’ contact with 7-, 14-, 30-, 60-, 90-, 120-, 150-, and 180-day-old deposits on each surface. Malathion (EC) and pirimiphos-methyl (EC) showed the highest initial knockdown efficacy on metal, while it was 3.6 (3.4)- and 4.4 (3.3)-fold lower on concrete and plywood, respectively. Lambda-cyhalothrin (CS and WP) showed the highest initial efficacy on concrete, and slightly lower (1.3 and 2.4) fold on metal and plywood, respectively. Both formulations of lambda-cyhalothrin and malathion on metal, as well as pirimiphos-methyl on plywood were 100 % efficient against S. oryzae 180 days after the treatment. Delayed efficacy of both formulations of lambda-cyhalothrin decreased on plywood after 120 days, and after 180 days the efficacy was 55 %. All insecticides, except lambda-cyhalothrin (CS), expressed low knockdown efficacy on concrete, while the deposit of lambda-cyhalothrin (CS) on concrete was 100 % efficient during 90 days, and after 120, 150, and 180 days the efficacy was 83, 65, and 17 %, respectively.