WO2019016789A1

WO2019016789A1 - Controlled release of biopesticides

Info

Publication number: WO2019016789A1
Application number: PCT/IL2018/000006
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shmuel BERNHEIM
Original assignee: Alonim Breeders Farm Ltd.
Priority date: 2017-07-21
Filing date: 2018-07-17
Publication date: 2019-01-24

Abstract

According to some aspects of the invention, a habitat of animals includes means for spreading and releasing one or more biopesticides. Typically such means include one or more carrier members located in this habitat of animals. The habitat of animals may be coop, dovecote, house, stable, barn, cote, corral, kennel, or pond. The biopesticide can be bacteria, nematodes or fungi such as Metarhizium anisopliae which is an insecticide against Alphitobius diaperinus. The carrier member may include one or more repellent. According to some aspects of the invention, a method is employed for spreading and releasing one or more pesticides, including locating one or more carrier members which include one or more pesticides, in a habitat of animals.

Description

CONTROLLED RELEASE OF BIOPESTICIDES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to livestock, more particularly, the present invention deals with biosecurity of livestock.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Biosecurity refers to those measures taken to prevent an introduction and spread of infectious agents to a livestock. Such infectious agents significantly reduce the productivity, profitability and long term financial viability of a livestock operation.

The following lines refer to the raising of poultry as an example, but the same principles apply to other livestocks as well.

The spread of infectious diseases is affected by the conditions inside the chicken house. Wet manure and saturated bedding, along with the massive heat generated by so many birds, result in perfect environmental conditions for bacteria development.

The existing practices to tackle with the problematic environment in coops rely on using disinfectants which may be harmful to humans, animals and the environment. The effectiveness of antibiotics is limited resulting from the microbes ability to mutate and acquire resistance rapidly.

Insects are prominent disease vectors and they are most difficult to control. Moreover, construction materials might also be subjected to insects' attacks. Insect residents of poultry housing include the housefly (Musca domestica) and its predator, Carcinops pumilio, a clown beetle. Alphitobius diaperinus is a species of beetle in the family Tenebrionidae, the darkling beetles. It is known commonly as the lesser mealworm and the litter beetle. The lesser mealworm beetle, with its distribution nearly worldwide, is a vector of many pathogens, causing more than thirty bird diseases by viruses such as rotavirus, the turkey coronavirus, the chicken viruses that cause Marek's disease and infectious bursal disease, and the viruses that cause Newcastle disease, avian influenza, and fowlpox. Bacterial diseases transmitted by the lesser mealworm beetle include Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella Typhimurium serovar, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus species. A single exposure of a chick to a contaminated beetle can result in bacterial colonization of the bird's gut. Chicks are more likely to be infected by eating larvae. The beetle can also transmit Aspergillus fungi. It is a vector for Eimeria, protozoa that cause coccidiosis in birds. It carries fowl tapeworms such as Choanotaenia infundibulum and the nematodes Subulura brumpti and Hadjelia truncata. Poultry have difficulty digesting the beetle and larva, and if they eat them, they can experience intestinal obstruction and gut lesions. Broiler chickens and turkey poults have slower weight gain when they feed on the beetle. Like other darkling beetles, lesser mealworm beetle produces defensive benzoquinone compounds that can be irritating to humans, causing asthma, headaches, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, corneal ulcers, and dermatitis with erythema and papules. Moreover, benzoquinones may be carcinogenic.

According to the existing practice, attempts to control of lesser mealworm beetle populations is frequently done with carbaryl insecticide in the form of powder, liquid, and bait. Pyrethroids and boric acid are also used, however populations of the beetle have shown resistance to these compounds especially in farms that have been chemically treated for many years.

Biopesticides include several types of pest management intervention through predatory, parasitic, or chemical relationships. Biopesticides may be obtained from plants, bacteria, fungi, nematodes, etc. An entomopathogenic fungus and nematodes can act as parasites of insects and kill or seriously disables them.

In the EU, biopesticides have been defined as "a form of pesticide based on microorganisms or natural products". The US EPA states that biopesticides "include naturally occurring substances that control pests (biochemical pesticides), microorganisms that control pests (microbial pesticides), and pesticidal substances produced by plants containing added genetic material (plant-incorporated protectants) or PIPs. ".

Metarhizium anisopliae has been the most studied and most utilized fungal species for microbial control of insects. Metarhizium anisopliae generally enters insects through spiracles and pores in the sense organs. Once inside the insect, the fungus produces a lateral extension of hyphae, which eventually proliferate and consume the internal contents of the insect. Hyphal growth continues until the insect is filled with mycelia. When the internal contents have been consumed, the fungus breaks through the cuticle and sporulates, which makes the insect appear "fuzzy." Metarhizium anisopliae can release spores (conidia) under low humidity conditions. In addition, Metarhizium anisopliae can obtain nutrition from the lipids on the cuticle. The fungus can also produce secondary metabolites, such as destruxin, which have insecticidal properties on moth and fly larvae. According to the existing art biopesticides are applied in a manner similar to chemical pesticides, thus limiting the efficability of their use.

The present invention is intended to improve the efficability of the use of biopesticides.

SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is intended to overcome the deficiencies of the background art.

According to some aspects of the invention, a habitat of animals includes means for spreading and releasing one or more biopesticides. Typically such means include one or more carrier members located in this habitat of animals. The carrier members can include kinds of adhesives which are applied onto their surfaces in order to glue the biopesticides onto the carrier members. The carrier members may include voids and the biopesticide may be contained within one or more such voids. The invention encompasses kind of members with porous structure, or grooves where biopesticides may be contained. Combined structures may be provided be as well. For example carrier members with both grooves and porous structures. Carrier members may include one or more protective layers or inhibition layers for slowing or for controlling of the release of the biopesticides from the carrier member. The carrier members can include one or more slowly decomposing material. The decomposition may occur as result of exposure to predefined conditions, preferably those prevailing in the habitat. Such decomposition can lead to disintegration of the carrier members which may facilitate releasing of biopesticides contained in inner parts of the carrier members. The carrier member may be perforated to enable decomposition according to a desired rate during time such as progressive, constant or regressive. The carrier members may have bosselated surface to facilitate attachment of greater amounts of biopesticide to their surfaces. For a similar reason the carrier members can include fibrous structure.

It is preferable that the carrier member would be sized such to prevent the animals from swallowing the carrier members. For example, for chickens, a sphere of 5 cm diameter may be suitable. Another way to prevent animals from eating or biting the carrier members would be to include additives and materials in the carrier members which repel the animals from eating or biting those members. Carrier members may be shaped as rounds, spheres, rods, and stripes, or being provided as tablets or capsules.

Carrier members may be situated within a bedding of a habitat of animals. The habitat of animals may be coop, dovecote, house, stable, barn, cote, corral, kennel, or pond. In some cases the bedding may be solely composed by the carrier members. In some cases, carrier members constitute parts of the structure of said habitat of animals. The biopesticide can be bacteria, nematodes or fungi such as Metarhizium anisopliae.

The biopesticide may include one or more insecticide. The insecticide may be active against insects such as Musca domestica, Carcinops pumilio, clown beetle, or Tenebrionidae such as Alphitobius diaperinus.

The carrier member may include one or more repellent. The repellent may be against insects such as Musca domestica, Carcinops pumilio, clown beetle, Tenebrionidae e.g., Alphitobius diaperinus.

According to some aspects of the invention, a method is employed for spreading and releasing one or more pesticides, including locating one or more carrier members which include one or more pesticides, in a habitat of animals. The method may include locating carrier members within a habitat bedding. Such method may include defining conditions prevailing in habitat and selecting one or more carrier members that include one or more materials which decompose when exposed to those conditions. The menod can include recycling of the carrier members. The method may be employed coop, dovecotes, houses, stables, barns, cotes, corrales, kennels, and ponds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention are described herein sometimes in conjunction with the following drawings:

Figure 1. illustrates a member having porous structure according to some embodiments of the invention

Figure 2. illustrates schematically a carrier member with particles of biopesticides according to some embodiments of the invention

Figure 3. illustrates schematically a perforated carrier member according to some embodiments of the invention

Figure 4. illustrates schematically a habitat of animals according to some embodiments of the invention which includes carrier members situated within the bedding of the habitat Note: different components are presented in the following illustrations in different scales in order to enable better views of significant details.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A habitat of animals according to some aspects of the present invention, includes one or more carrier members for spreading and releasing biopesticides. The biopesticides may be embedded or attached with one or more carrier members. The habitat of animals may be a habitat of livestock such as coop, dovecote, house, stable, barn, cote, corral, kennel or a pond.

According to some embodiments of the invention, carrier members are provided which include one or more biopesticides. The carrier members may include kinds of adhesives which are applied onto their surfaces in order to glue the biopesticides onto the carrier members. As means of controlled release, the adhesives may lose their functionality during prolonged time and/or under specified conditions such as humidity, elevated temperature or animals secretions which exists in the habitat of animals. For example temperature in coops may be in control between 20 to 35 °C. The relative humidity may range between 45 to 85%. The pH of the manure in a chicken coop bedding can range from 6.5 to 9.

The carrier members may include voids or grooves where biopesticides are contained. A member with porous structure containing biopesticides is illustrated in Fig 1. A layer of some sort can be used for protecting the biopesticides and/or to deter their release from the carrier members as a means of controlled release. Such layers may be of polymers or waxes. Biopesticides may be scattered within members as shown in the illustration in Fig 2 where carrier member 10 includes particles of biopesticides 11. In some cases it is preferable that the carrier members are made of slowly decomposing materials when are exposed to typical conditions existing in coops thereby allowing slow release of biopesticides. The carrier members can be in the form of capsules which decompose gradually. The members may be perforated such, to enable their decomposition according to a desired rate during time e.g., progressive rate, constant or a decreasing rate. An example of a perforated member is illustrated in Fig 3. Carrier members may contain other materials or additives with other functionality or different members may contain different substances. In some cases a carrier member contains different substances in separate zones. Some carrier members may constitute structural parts of a habitat of animals or included in parts of a habitat. Some members may be situated within the bedding as illustrated in Fig 4 where carrier members 45 are situated within bedding 41 of habitat 40. It optional that the bedding would be solely composed by carrier members disclosed herein or in combination with other kinds members. Members may be fixed or placed on a floor. Some carrier members may be attached to a floor while others are may be situated within the bedding.

It is preferable that the size of the members prevents the animals from swallowing them, for example 5 cm diameter sphere for chickens. It is preferable that the material of the carrier members repels the animals from biting or eating the members. The members may be in the various shapes such as rounds, spheres, rods or stripes. For enlarging their surface area the members may include bosselated surfaces. Greater surfaces allow more biopesticides to be attached the members surfaces. Members may include fibrous material. It is desired that the carrier member shape will not contain sharp edges which can injure the animals. The carrier members do not need to be in one shape; however this might be advantageous for low cost production.

There may be various options for recycling the members, for example by sieving the members from the bedding, and then reusing them in new fresh bedding. Another option is using biodegradable or compostable materials for the carrier members. In the case of using biodegradable or compostable materials for the members, the required duration for the functionality before biodegradation or compostation, is to be considered.

Throughout the application, where compositions are described as having, including, or comprising specific components, or where processes are described as having, including, or comprising specific process steps, it is contemplated that compositions of the present teachings also consist essentially of, or consist of, the recited components, and that the processes of the present teachings also consist essentially of, or consist of, the recited process steps.

Further, it should be understood that elements and/or features of a composition, an apparatus, or a method described herein can be combined in a variety of ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present teachings, whether explicit or implicit herein. For example, where reference is made to a particular structure, that structure can be used in various embodiments of apparatus of the present teachings and/or in methods of the present teachings, unless otherwise understood from the context. In other words, within this application, embodiments have been described and depicted in a way that enables a clear and concise application to be written and drawn, but it is intended and will be appreciated that embodiments may be variously combined or separated without parting from the present teachings and invention(s). For example, it will be appreciated that all features described and depicted herein can be applicable to all aspects of the invention(s) described and depicted herein.

It should be understood that the expression "at least one of includes individually each of the recited objects after the expression and the various combinations of two or more of the recited objects unless otherwise understood from the context and use.

The use of the term "include," "includes," "including," "have," "has," "having," "contain," "contains," or "containing," including grammatical equivalents thereof, should be understood generally as open-ended and non-limiting, for example, not excluding additional unrecited elements or steps, unless otherwise specifically stated or understood from the context.

The use of the singular herein, for example, "a," "an," and "the," includes the plural (and vice versa) unless specifically stated otherwise.

The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language herein, for example, "such as," "including," or "for example," is intended merely to illustrate better the present teachings and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the present teachings.

The present teachings encompass embodiments in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The foregoing embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects illustrative rather than limiting on the present teachings described herein. Scope of the present invention is thus indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

I . A habitat of animals comprising means for spreading and releasing at least one

biopesticide, wherein said means is at least one carrier member located in said habitat.

3. The habitat of animals of claim 1, wherein said biopesticide is glued to said carrier member.

4. The habitat of animals of claim 1, wherein said biopesticide is contained within at least one void within said carrier member.

5. The habitat of animals of claim 1 wherein said carrier member comprises porous structure.

6. The habitat of animals of claim 1 wherein said carrier member comprises grooves.

7. The habitat of animals of claim 6 wherein said biopesticide contained in said grooves.

8. The habitat of animals of claim 1 comprising at least one protective layer for protecting said biopesticide.

9. The habitat of animals of claim 1 comprising at least one inhibition layer for slowing or for controlling of the release of said biopesticide from said carrier member.

10. The habitat of animals of claim 1 wherein said member comprising at least one slowly decomposing material, wherein said decomposing material decomposes when exposed to predefined conditions.

I I. The habitat of animals of claim 10 wherein said decomposing leads to disintegration of said member.

12. The habitat of animals of claim 1 wherein said carrier member is in the form of capsule.

13. The habitat of animals of claim 1 wherein said carrier member is perforated such, to enable said carrier member decomposition according to a desired rate during time.

14. The habitat of animals of claim 1 wherein said rate selected from the group consisting of progressive, constant and regressive.

15. The habitat of animals of claim 1 wherein said carrier member comprises bosselated surfaces.

16. The habitat of animals of claim 1 wherein said carrier member comprises fibrous structure.

17. The habitat of animals of claim 1 wherein said carrier member is sized such to prevent the animals from swallowing said member.

18. The habitat of animals of claim 1 wherein said carrier member is 5 cm diameter sphere.

19. The habitat of animals of claim 1 wherein said carrier member comprises at least one material that repels animals from biting or eating said member.

20. The habitat of animals of claim 1 wherein said carrier member is a shape selected from the group consisting of: rounds, spheres, rods, stripes, and combinations thereof.

21. The habitat of animals of claim 1 selected from the group consisting of: coop, dovecote, house, stable, barn, cote, corral, kennel, and pond.

22. The habitat of animals of claim 1, wherein said carrier member is situated within a bedding of said habitat of animals.

23. The habitat of animals of claim 1 wherein said bedding of said habitat is solely composed by said carrier members.

24. The habitat of animals of claim 1 wherein said carrier member constitutes parts of a structure of said habitat of animals.

25. The habitat of animals of claim 1, wherein said biopesticide at least one insecticide.

26. The habitat of animals of claim 25, wherein said insecticide is active against insects selected from the group consisting of: Musca domestica, Carcinops pumilio, clown beetle, Tenebrionidae, and combination thereof.

27. The habitat of animals of claim 25, wherein said insecticide is active against Alphitobius diaperinus.

28. The habitat of animals of claim 1 wherein said carrier member comprises at least one repellent.

29. The habitat of animals of claim 28 wherein said repellent is active against insects selected from the group consisting of: Musca domestica, Carcinops pumilio, clown beetle, Tenebrionidae, and combination thereof.

30. The habitat of animals of claim 28, wherein said repellent is active against Alphitobius diaperinus.

31. The habitat of animals of claim 1 wherein said biopesticide is selected from the group consisting of: bacteria, fungi, nematodes, and combinations thereof.

32. The habitat of animals of claim 1 wherein said biopesticide is Metarhizium anisopliae.

33. A method for spreading and releasing at least one biopesticide, said method comprising locating at least one carrier member in a habitat of animals, wherein said carrier member comprises at least one biopesticide.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said locating comprises locating said members within said habitat bedding.

35. The method of claim 33 comprising defining conditions prevailing in said habitat and selecting at least one carrier member comprising at least one material which decomposes when exposed to said conditions.

36. The method of claim 33 comprising recycling said members.

37. The method of claim 33 wherein said habitat of animals selected from the group consisting of: coop, dovecote, house, stable, barn, cote, corral, kennel, and pond.

38. The method of claim 33 wherein said biopesticide comprises at least one insecticide.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein said insecticide is active against Alphitobius diaperinus.

40. The method of claim 33 wherein said biopesticide comprises at least one repellent.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein said repellent is active against Alphitobius diaperinus.