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Background The tobacco cutworm, Spodoptera litura [Fab.] (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a devastating insect pest of several crops. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) of the families Heterorhabditidae and Steinernematidae are used as an alternative control measure in lieu of the hazardous synthetic chemical applications. Results A survey of naturally occurring EPNs was conducted across the province of Cotabato, Philippines, covering a total of 5 municipalities with 25 villages. Galleria-baiting technique was employed to recover nematodes from peanut and grassland soils. Out of 50 soil samples collected, only 5 samples harbored nematodes, indicating a recovery of 10%. Preliminary morphological data identified only one EPN under the genera Heterorhabditis (1 isolate), whereas 4 were facultative necromenic nematodes from the genera Metarhabditis (2 isolates) and Oscheius (2 isolates). Analysis of D2D3 segments of the 28S rDNA confirmed high sequence similarity to Heterorhabditis indica, Metarhabditis rainai, Oscheius insectivora, and Oscheius sp. This is the first record of H. indica and M. rainai in the entire region, whereas the first record for Oscheius spp. in the Philippines. Furthermore, the biocontrol potential of the local H. indica infective juvenile (IJ) populations (PIGCD1) isolated from peanut was assessed against the tobacco cutworm, S. litura, under laboratory conditions. The mean percentage mortality caused by H. indica on S. litura at 7 different concentrations ranged from 0-100% at 24 h post inoculation. The lethal concentration (LC50) required to kill 50% of the S. litura larvae population with H. indica was 7.13±1 (IJs/larva). Conclusions The use of Galleria-baiting method is a convenient approach to detect EPNs including other facultative necromenic nematodes from the soils. Obtained data indicated that the local H. indica isolate can be a promising alternative measure to suppress the economically important insect pest, S. litura, and this may provide significant outlook to establish the biocontrol program in the country.

Pigs play a key role in inter-species transmission of influenza virus, because they have receptors to both avian and human influenza viral strains. A study was conducted in three different districts namely Bhaktapur, Kavre and Banke with face to face type of questionnaire survey and serum sample collection. Indirect Enzyme Linked Immunoassay was utilized for the collected 231 samples for serologic evidence of influenza A. Of the total 231 samples tested, 11 were positive for Influenza virus A with an overall sero-prevalence of (4.76%; Cl95%: 2.68-8.324) Kavre district had highest (5.88%; Cl95%: 2.539-13.04) sero-prevalence, followed by Bhaktapur (5.13%; Cl95%: 2.012-12.46) and Banke (2.94%; Cl95%; 0.8104-10.1) with no significant difference (p=0.685). Rearing swine along with poultry was the most significant risk factor (p=0.03); all positive cases were from the farms that adopted integrated farming system with little to no bio-security measures, especially poultry and swine. Present finding depicts that Influenza A is prevalent in pig farms of Kavre, Banke and Bhaktapur. Further research is needed to sub-type the influenza virus and also determine the effect of commercial poultry and migratory birds on the outbreak of influenza A in swine.  Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 6(2): 122-126

A study on reproductive disorders among yaks in Mustang and Solukhumbu districts and seroprevalence of brucellosis among yaks in Mustang and Myagdi districts was conducted. Eleven farmers having 383 female and 72 male yaks in Mustang and 129 female and 27 male yaks in Solukhumbu districts were taken by purposive random sampling for the study on reproductive disorders. Likewise Sixty-seven serum samples were also collected from adult female yaks having history of abortion and retained placenta, and from male yaks used for breeding purpose from Mustang and Myagdi districts. An average of 12.63% of female yaks aborted, 7.26% had had retention of placenta and 6.6% repeat breeders in Mustang district. Similarly, 6.3% had abortion, 2.09% retained placenta and 6.5% repeat breeders in Solukhumbu district. However, all the 67 serum samples examined were found negative to the Brucella abortus antibody on ELISA test suggesting that the yak population was free from brucellosis in these areas. Thus abortion and retention of placenta in Yak in Mustang district may not be due to brucellosis. A detail study should be done to find the specific cause of abortion and repeat breeding to recommend preventive and control measures.