Kuwait is considered a high-risk area for MS. The significant increase in prevalence and incidence rates may represent a true increase despite the improvement in case ascertainment and case definition.

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The evolution of resistance to carbodiimide (a toxic metabolite of diafenthiuron) and four neonicotinoids imidacloprid, acetamiprid, thiamethoxam, and thiacloprid in the Pakistani populations of sweetpotato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius) was monitored from 1996 to 2015 using a leaf-dip bioassay. Diafenthiuron, imidacloprid, and acetamiprid were introduced into Pakistani agriculture in mid-1990s and heavily used since then, because B. tabaci resistance and consequently control failures to conventional insecticides such as organophosphates, carbamates, and pyrethroids were widespread during the 1990s. According to the current studies, resistance to carbodiimide, imidacloprid, and acetamiprid during 1996-2010 and to thiamethoxam during 1999-2007 remained very low, but then it rose sharply, and by the year 2015, the B. tabaci resistance increased to very high levels. Among neonicotinoids, thiacloprid was the latest introduction in Pakistan in 2002. There was no thiacloprid resistance in 2002 and 2003, a low to moderate resistance during 2004-2006, and a very high resistance during 2007-2010 that even exceeded resistance to previous neonicotinoids. We may conclude that diafenthiuron and neonicotinoids remained effective against B. tabaci for 15 yr following their intensive use under field conditions, before a significant resistance, leading to their field failures, occurred in Pakistan.

The oriental armyworm Mythimna separata Walker is a serious threat to the production of cereals. Its control has largely relied on synthetic insecticides, which led to the decrease in their effectiveness. In China, cantharidin, a natural compound of insect origin with a mode of action different from a conventional insecticide, is being developed as a bio-insecticide for the control of lepidopteran pests. Its toxicological effects have already been studied in M. separata. However, its sublethal effects on physiological and population parameters have not yet been studied. The leaf dip bioassay results showed that cantharidin-AC (cantharidin acetone solution) had a high level of toxicity against M. separata and the 96 h LC50 value was 223 microg/ml. The sublethal effects of cantharidin exposure for 72 h at LC10 (77 microg/ml) on physiological and population parameters of M. sepatata were also investigated, and data were subjected to an age-stage two-sex life-table. The sublethal effects of cantharidin indicated reduction in survival rates of larval, pupal, and adult stages. In addition, both male and female moths were observed with crippled wings in the cantharidin-treated cohort. The mean values of the finite rate of increase (lambda), the intrinsic rate of increase (gamma), and the net reproductive rate (R(o)) were significantly lower in the treatment than in the control. The fecundity was also strongly affected by a sublethal cantharidin concentration. A sublethal concentration of cantharidin may reduce the population growth of M. separata by decreasing its survival and reproduction and by increasing its generation time.

Selectivity of food by Labeo rohita (HAM .) was studied in a stocking pond (Moat), by calculating an Electivity index (E) for each food organism as described by IVLEV (1961) . It was found that L . rohita was definitely selective in its feeding . In case of fingerlings, there was a strong selection for zooplanktonic organisms (Arcella and Dii lugia among protozoans, Keratella and Brachionus among rotifer and Daphnia and Cyclops among crustaceans) and smaller algae (Cosmarium and Closterium among desmisd, Euglena and Volvox among phytoflagellates and algal spores and zygotes) while most of the phytoplanktonic organisms, belonging to green algae, diatoms and blue green algae, were avoided . In case of adults, a strong negative selection was observed for all zooplanktonic organisms and a strong positive selection for most of the green algae and diatoms (Ankistrodesmus, Zygnema, Spirogyra, Selenastrum, Pediastrum, Scenedesmus, Tetraspora, Stephanodiscus, Naviculla, Diatoma, Synedra and Nitzchia) . However, all blue green algae were avoided .The feeding relationship of L . rohita with other major carps, Cirrhina mrigala (HAM .) and Catla catla (HAM .) was studied in two different habitats, pond and river . It was observed that in both habitats all three species were found to feed on almost similar types of food organisms, but the quantity of any food item eaten by adults differed markedly from one species to another and the food items which were dominant in one species, were of secondary importancce for the other two species. The adults of L . rohita were found to feed mainly on phytoplankton and macrovegetation, the main food of adult C . mrigala was decayed organic matter, sand and mud supplimented by plankton, while the food of adult C . catla was chiefly composed of zooplankton, and some phytoplankton . Hence there was no true identity of feeding habits between the adults of any two species . However, there was an indication of competition for food between the fingerlings of all three species, because all of them feed mainly on zooplankton (Crustaceans, rotifers and protozoans) . However, such feeding habits lasted a very short time only and as the fishes grew, their feeding habits diverged .

Foot and mouth disease is an economically devastating disease of livestock that mainly effect cloven-hoofed animals i.e. sheep, goat, cattle, pig, buffalo, deer etc. The aim of this study was to determine the serotypes circulating in the region during 2016. Sampling was done from different outbreaks initially on the basis of clinical signs and later reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed for the confirmation of FMDV genome. Out of total 72 samples, 65 were found positive which were then serotyped into type O (n=30), Asia1 (n=19) and A (n=5). Some samples (n=5) were found positive for more than one serotype that were subjected to reverse transcriptase loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay (RT-LAMP) for serotype determination.

BackgroundUnusual presentations of multiple sclerosis (MS) at onset may post a diagnostic dilemma to the treating neurologists. Spinal myoclonus is rare in MS and may lead to perform extensive investigations to rule out other etiologies affecting the spinal cord.Case presentationWe described a 31-year-old male who presented with involuntary brief jerky movements of the left shoulder and arm with significant wasting of shoulder muscles. In retrospect, the patient had a progressive right leg weakness one year prior to his presentation. Needle electromyography confirmed the presence of rhythmic irregular burst discharges in motor units of muscles expanding from the third to the sixth cervical region with normal nerve conduction parameters. There was no evidence of cortically generated myoclonic jerks using time-locked electroencephalogram. Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the brain and cervical cord along with the presence of oligoclonal bands in cerebral spinal fluid confirmed the diagnosis of MS. Based on the history and progressive clinical features, a diagnosis of primary progressive MS was established.ConclusionSpinal myoclonus can be the presenting manifestation of MS in association with demyelinating plaques in the root exit zones of the spinal cord. Spinal myoclonus may pose a diagnostic challenge when it presented at the disease onset and especially in patients with progressive course at onset. Our patient represents the first reported primary progressive MS case in the literature with spinal myoclonus presentation.

Infectious Bursal Disease is the second important viral disease of poultry which affects the young growing pullets. The end fate appears in huge economic losses to poultry industry. Throughout the world, cheapest source of animal protein is chicken meat. It was initially reported in Europe; soon it spreads worldwide and causes drastic losses. In Pakistan, first of all this disease was reported in 1971. It is the first review to track the IBDV history in Pakistan. It provides comprehensive details of forty-six years researchers work in controlling this important disease. Different scientists worked to fill the gap areas to achieve the goal. Present review covers all the research aspects being explored in Pakistan since first report.