The First Study on Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus Histopathological and Morphological Effects on the Strawberry Pest, Pentodon Algerinum (coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

In Egypt, strawberry is an economically important crop that has recently been destroyed by Pentodon algerinum, a worldwide polyphagous destructive insect pest. This study aimed to distinguish, for the first time, the histopathological and morphological effects of Spodoptera littoralis Nuclear polyhedrosis virus (SpliNPV) and Pentodon algerinum Nuclear polyhedrosis virus (PNPV) on Pentodon algerinum third instar larvae to confirm their success as safe alternative control agents against this pest. The results showed that PNPV and SpliNPV affected Pentodon larvae by the same effects in causing the following: integument deformation and rupture; the destruction of the hypodermal layer resulting in the inhibition of the process of molting into the pupa stage, reducing pest survival; larva leg corrosion, which prevents its spreading; the rupture of fat bodies, which leads to the loss of stored energetic materials; the distortion of muscle sarcolemma and fibers resulting in weakness and softness; the tracheal cuticular layer destruction, which inhibits breathing; midgut rupture with cells detaching from each other; irregular cytoplasm distribution; the loss of the columnar shape of cells; the appearance of vacuoles between cells, which results in their inability to feed or to digest; the swelling, softness, liquefaction, and, lastly, death of the larva.

Business Credit, Household Credit and Economic Performance in Malaysia: A Quantile Regression Approach

This study examines the effects of business (enterprise) credit and household credit on economic performance in Malaysia. The World Bank’s Doing Business report ranked Malaysia at number one among developing countries in terms of ease of getting credit in the six consecutive years since 2008. The analysis is based on quantile regression estimations, using quarterly time series datasets from 1999: Q4 to 2019: Q4. The empirical findings reveal that business credit is positively associated with economic performance whereas household credit is an insignificant determinant of economic performance. We also consider the interaction between credit and institutional quality, an emerging key fundamental variable that determines economic performance. The results demonstrate that only the interaction term between business credit and institutions is statistically significant. In short, business credit outperforms household credit in promoting economic performance in Malaysia. The empirical findings are robust to alternative control variables and quantile regression estimation techniques.

UJI BEBERAPA KONSENTRASI EKSTRAK DAUN MIMBA (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) UNTUK MENGENDALIKAN LARVA Lamprosema indicata F. PADA TANAMAN KEDELAI (Glycine max L. Merill)

The Lamprosema indicata Fabricius larvae is one of the main pests in soybean plantations, which cause up to 80% damage. The alternative control is the use of neem Leafs (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) which have the potential as a botanical insecticide. This research aims to find out the effective concentration of neem Leafs extract to control Lamprosema indicata F. larvae on soybean (Glycine max L. Merill). The research was conducted at the Laboratory Plant Pest and Experimental Farm in the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Riau from May to October 2018. The research was carried out by using a completely randomized design (CRD) with 6 treatments and 4 replications to obtain 24 experimental units. Treatment consist of several concentrations of neem leafs extract 0 g.l-1 water, 20 g.l-1 water, 40 g.l-1 water, 60 g.l-1 water, 80 g.l-1 water and 100 g.l-1 water. The results showed that the concentration of 80 g.l-1 water was effective to control the L. indicata larvae with an initial death time of 5.50 hours and total mortality was 87.50%.

Statewide Efficacy Assessment of Insect Growth Regulators Against Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Sabah, Malaysia: An Alternative Control Strategy?

The efficacy of three groups of insect growth regulators, namely juvenile hormone mimics (methoprene and pyriproxyfen), chitin synthesis inhibitors (diflubenzuron and novaluron), and molting disruptor (cyromazine) was evaluated for the first time, against Aedes albopictus Skuse (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae from 14 districts in Sabah, Malaysia. The results showed that all field populations of Ae. albopictus were susceptible towards methoprene, pyriproxyfen, diflubenzuron, novaluron, and cyromazine, with resistance ratio values ranging from 0.50–0.90, 0.60–1.00, 0.67–1.17, 0.71–1.29, and 0.74–1.07, respectively. Overall, the efficacy assessment of insect growth regulators in this study showed promising outcomes and they could be further explored as an alternative to conventional insecticides.

Anticoccidial Activity of Berberine against Eimeria-Infected Chickens

Avian coccidiosis has a major economic impact on the poultry industry, it is caused by 7 species of Eimeria, and has been primarily controlled using chemotherapeutic agents. Due to the emergence of drug-resistant strains, alternative control strategies are needed. We assessed anticoccidial effects of berberine-based diets in broiler chickens following oral infection with 5 Eimeria species (E. acervulina, E. maxima, E. tenella, E. mitis, and E. praecox). When 0.2% berberine, a concentration that does not affect weight gain, was added to the diet, the 4 groups infected with E. acervulina, E. tenella, E. mitis, or E. praecox showed significant reductions in fecal oocyst shedding (P<0.05) compared to their respective infected and untreated controls. In chickens treated 0.5% berberine instead of 0.2% and infected with E. maxima, fecal oocyst production was significantly reduced, but body weight deceased, indicating that berberine treatment was not useful for E. maxima infection. Taken together, these results illustrate the applicability of berberine for prophylactic use to control most Eimeria infections except E. maxima. Further studies on the mechanisms underlying the differences in anticoccidial susceptibility to berberine, particularly E. maxima, are remained.

A Review of Alternative Management Tactics Employed for the Control of Various Cockroach Species (Order: Blattodea) in the USA

Effective control of domestic and peridomestic cockroaches requires integrated approaches that emphasize concurrent use of chemicals with alternative control tactics. An integrated pest management (IPM) approach is particularly justified in environments where satisfactory cockroach control cannot be achieved due to multiple factors including development of insecticide aversion and resistance in some cockroach species, and poor sanitation or structural issues that foster infestations. While a flurry of research effort has been devoted to study alternative tactics for cockroach control, only a few of them have been evaluated in the context of IPM programs. This review focuses on examining studies on alternative tactics that are proven efficacious, economical, and logistically feasible for their inclusion in IPM programs for important domestic and peridomestic cockroaches in the USA. Management programs that educate the public on cockroach biology, behavior, and the importance of sanitation; use of traps to monitor infestation levels; apply targeted low impact insecticides such as baits, have demonstrated a greater success for effective and sustainable control of cockroaches when compared to an insecticide-only approach. Incorporation of other alternative control methods to IPM programs will require more applied research that validates their use in real-world scenarios and demonstrates their cost-effectiveness.

Lockdown as a last resort option in case of COVID-19 epidemic rebound: a modelling study

Background Given its high economic and societal cost, policymakers might be reluctant to implement a large-scale lockdown in case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic rebound. They may consider it as a last resort option if alternative control measures fail to reduce transmission. Aim We developed a modelling framework to ascertain the use of lockdown to ensure intensive care unit (ICU) capacity does not exceed a peak target defined by policymakers. Methods We used a deterministic compartmental model describing transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the trajectories of COVID-19 patients in healthcare settings, accounting for age-specific mixing patterns and an increasing probability of severe outcomes with age. The framework is illustrated in the context of metropolitan France. Results The daily incidence of ICU admissions and the number of occupied ICU beds are the most robust indicators to decide when a lockdown should be triggered. When the doubling time of hospitalisations estimated before lockdown is between 8 and 20 days, lockdown should be enforced when ICU admissions reach 3.0–3.7 and 7.8–9.5 per million for peak targets of 62 and 154 ICU beds per million (4,000 and 10,000 beds for metropolitan France), respectively. When implemented earlier, the lockdown duration required to get back below a desired level is also shorter. Conclusions We provide simple indicators and triggers to decide if and when a last-resort lockdown should be implemented to avoid saturation of ICU. These metrics can support the planning and real-time management of successive COVID-19 pandemic waves.