The first genetically confirmed case of Dioctophyme renale (Nematoda: Dioctophymatida) in a patient with a subcutaneous nodule

We describe a nematode larva in a subcutaneous nodule excised from a 44-year-old Chinese male who had been living in Japan for 15 years. Morphological features suggested that the worm was a dioctophimatid nematode. PCR amplification and sequencing of small subunit ribosomal DNA and mitochondrial cytochrome subunit c oxidase genes allowed us to identify the larva as the giant kidney worm, Dioctophyme renale (Goeze, 1972). This is the first molecularly confirmed human case of a dermal D. renale infection.     

Dioctophyme renale (Nematoda: Dioctophymatoidea) in the abdominal cavity of Rattus norvegicus in Japan

We collected 24 brown rats, Rattus norvegicus, in Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan and found one rat harboring a dioctophymatid nematode. A single male and a female worm were recovered from the abdominal cavity and were identified as Dioctophyme renale based on morphologic features and a BLAST DNA sequence analysis. We describe the morphological features of the adult worms and eggs from this extremely rare case of D. renale infection in a brown rat.     

Studies on the skin of plaice (Pleuronectes platessa L.)

Histological and ultrastructural examinations were carried out on the integuments of larval plaice from hatching to 60 days. The skin of the newly hatched larva consisted of a delicate epidermis overlying a fluid filled dermal space. As the fish matured this became thicker, the fibrous dermis developed and the mitochondrion rich 'chloride cells' degenerated. Around the 42nd day the eosinophil granule cell appeared in the basal layers of the epidermis and by the sixtieth day the epidermis could be considered fully developed.     

鲂鱼的头骨发育及其适应意义

本文对鲂鱼（Ｍｅｇａｌｏｂｒａｍａｓｋｏｌｋｏｖｉｉ）头骨的早期发育过程及其与鱼苗的存活功能需要之间的关系进行了研究。头骨发育的全过程可划分为５个阶段,即软颅阶段、咽颅膜骨附加阶段、脑颅开始骨化阶段、脑颅快速骨化阶段和骨化完成阶段。刚出膜仔鱼头部即有软骨存在,最先出现的硬骨是膜质上颌骨和主鳃盖骨,脑颅最先开始骨化的是基枕骨和侧枕骨,随后才是副蝶骨。头骨发育过程与鱼苗早期存活的功能需要之间有着密切的关系。     

Lecithotrophic development and metamorphosis in the Indo-West Pacific brittle star Ophiomastix venosa (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea)

Summary

The larval development of the ophiocomid ophiuroid Ophiomastix venosais described using SEM. The gastrula transforms into a uniformly ciliated early larva which progressively changes into a lecithotrophic late premetamorphic larva with a continuous bilateral ciliated band. This stage is short-lived and equivalent to a highly reduced ophiopluteus. Comparisons between O. venosa and other ophiuroid species whose development has been investigated suggest that, whatever the developmental mode (lecithotrophic or planktotrophic), a pluteus stage always occurs in ophiuroids with planktonic development. Two metamorphic stages were identified, the late metamorphic larva differing from the early one by the closure of the larval mouth. The appearance of the permanent mouth marks the end of the metamorphosis. The postlarva still possesses remnants of larval features. The transformation of the reduced ophiopluteus into a barrel-shaped metamorphic larva with transverse ciliated bands, a vitellaria larva, is followed. The possible occurrence of a unique type of metamorphic larva in non-brooding ophiuroids is discussed. Verification of this, however, needs further SEM investigations on metamorphic larva from species having “regular” planktotrophic development.     

Acute and sub-acute toxicity of an insect pheromone, N-heneicosane and combination with insect growth regulator, diflubenzuron, for establishing no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL)

Aedes aegypti mosquito is one of the most notorious vectors of dangerous diseases like dengue hemorrhagic fever and chikangunya. One method of control of the vectors is by the use of semiochemicals or pheromones. The pheromone n-heneicosane (C21) has been proved to be effective in attracting the female Aedes aegypti to lay eggs in the treated water and the growth of the larva is controlled by insect growth regulator diflubenzuron (DB). This study was planned to assess the safety of C21 alone and the combination with DB. Acute toxicity tests were carried out using two doses, viz., 1600 and 3200 mg/kg and two routes of exposure oral and intra-peritoneal. Dermal toxicity test was carried out in both male and female rats at the dose of 3200 mg/kg. Primary skin irritation test was carried out in rabbits. Sub-acute (90 days) dermal toxicity studies in male and female rats at the dose of 1 and 2 mg/kg via the per-cutaneous route were also studied. Sub-acute (90 days) toxicity test through the oral route was carried out, at doses 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg in male and female rats. The calculated LD50 by ip route and dermal route was more than 5 g/kg in mouse and rats of both the sexes. In the primary skin irritation test no significant changes were noted. In the sub-acute toxicity studies even 500 mg/kg dose was not able to produce toxic response in rats when they were dosed daily for 90 days. The established no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) was more than 500 mg/kg.     

黑眶蟾蜍幼蛙适应生境的探讨

报道人为设置6种不同生境对黑框蟾蜍（Bufo melanostictus Schneider)幼蛙存活时间的影响研究。结果表明：水深超过体长或干燥环境对都幼蛙不利,存活时间短。水深低于幼蛙体长并设有陆地或保持环境泥沙湿润为适宜的生境。在适应生境条件下,幼蛙平均存活674．86h,最长达35d。     

黑眶蟾蜍幼蛙适宜生境的探讨

报道人为设置6种不同生境对黑眶蟾蜍(Bufo melanostictus Schneider)幼蛙存活时间的影响研究。结果表明水深超过体长或干燥环境都对幼蛙不利,存活时间短。水深低于幼蛙体长并设有陆地或保持环境泥沙湿润为适宜的生境。在适宜生境条件下,幼蛙平均存活674.86h,最长达35d。     

SDF-9, a protein tyrosine phosphatase-like molecule,regulates the L3/dauer developmental decision through hormonal signaling in C. elegans

The dauer larva of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a good model system for investigating the regulation of developmental fates by environmental cues. Here we show that SDF-9, a protein tyrosine phosphatase-like molecule, is involved in the regulation of dauer larva formation. The dauer larva of sdf-9 mutants is different from a normal dauer larva but resembles the dauer-like larva of daf-9 and daf-12 dauer-constitutive mutants. Like these mutants, the dauer-constitutive phenotypes of sdf-9 mutants were greatly enhanced by cholesterol deprivation. Epistasis analyses, together with the relationship between sdf-9 mutations and daf-9 expression, suggested that SDF-9 increases the activity of DAF-9 or helps the execution of the DAF-9 function. SDF-9 was expressed in two head cells in which DAF-9 is expressed. By their position and by genetic mosaic experiments, we identified these cells as XXXL/R cells, which are known as embryonic hypodermal cells and whose function at later stages is unknown. Killing of the sdf-9-expressing cells in the wild-type first-stage larva induced formation of the dauer-like larva. Since this study on SDF-9 and former studies on DAF-9 showed that the functions of these proteins are related to those of steroids, XXXL/R cells seem to play a key role in the metabolism or function of a steroid hormone(s) that acts in dauer regulation.     

Expression of an Otx gene in the adult rudiment and the developing central nervous system in the vestibula larva of the sea urchin Holopneustes purpurescens

Expression of the Otx gene, HprOtx, from the sea urchin Holopneustes purpurescens, is described during the development of the adult echinoid rudiment in the vestibula larva of this species. The adult rudiment forms directly after gastrulation in the vestibula larva since, unlike the pluteus larva of most other sea urchin species, it is not a feeding larva. The expression is described during the period from hatching to a late vestibula larva. At hatching, HprOtx is expressed throughout the ectoderm of the gastrula. A short time later, expression is absent from the ectoderm on the oral side of the gastrula where the vestibule will form. In an early vestibula larva, HprOtx is not expressed in the ectodermal floor of the vestibule but is expressed in an asymmetric pattern in the aboral ectoderm. As the vestibule invaginates, HprOtx is newly expressed in the ectodermal floor of the vestibule as it develops into the neuroectoderm that is the anlage of the circum-oral central nervous system. The expression is at first in the central part of the floor, then it extends outwards to the ectoderm around the five primary podia and to the epineural folds between the podia. The epineural folds later close to form the radial nerves and the circum-oral nerve ring. In a late vestibula larva, HprOtx is expressed in the radial nerves and the nerve ring. The expression of an Otx gene in the developing echinoid central nervous system is interpreted as an instance of conserved gene expression in echinoderm development.     

红毛羽毛蚜蝇幼期生物学特性的初步研究

通过红毛羽毛蚜蝇Pararctophila oberthueri Herve室内饲养,对红毛羽毛蚜蝇幼期形态特征及生物学特性进行观察和研究。结果表明：在自然条件下,幼期每世代历期为25～30天,卵的孵化时间为2.52天,幼虫期为18．25天,蛹的羽化时间8．45天,幼期历期的长短受食物及温度影响。     

蝉幼氨基酸的含量测定

用氨基酸自动分析仪测定了蝉幼的氨基酸含量,结果表明：蝉幼的氨基酸总含量在１７％左右,其中含有八种人体必需氨基酸,其氨基酸的构成比例与鸡蛋相近,为一富含蛋白质的食品。     

The forkhead gene FH1 is involved in evolutionary modification of the ascidian tadpole larva.

The forkhead gene FH1 encodes a HNF-3beta protein required for gastrulation and development of chordate features in the ascidian tadpole larva. Although most ascidian species develop via a tadpole larva, the conventional larva has regressed into an anural (tailless) larva in some species. Molgula oculata (the tailed species) exhibits a tadpole larva with chordate features (a dorsal neural sensory organ or otolith, a notochord, striated muscle cells, and a tail), whereas its sister species Molgula occulta (the tailless species) has evolved an anural larva, which has lost these features. Here we examine the role of FH1 in modifying the larval body plan in the tailless species. We also examine FH1 function in tailless speciesxtailed species hybrids, in which the otolith, notochord, and tail are restored. The FH1 gene is expressed primarily in the presumptive endoderm and notochord cells during gastrulation, neurulation, and larval axis formation in both species and hybrids. In the tailless species, FH1 expression is down-regulated after neurulation in concert with arrested otolith, notochord, and tail development. The FH1 expression pattern characteristic of the tailed species is restored in hybrid embryos prior to the development of chordate larval features. Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) shown previously to disrupt FH1 function were used to compare the developmental roles of this gene in both species and hybrids. As described previously, antisense FH1 ODNs inhibited endoderm invagination during gastrulation, notochord extension, and larval tail formation in the tailed species. Antisense FH1 ODNs also affected gastrulation in the tailless species, although the effects were less severe than in the tailed species, and an anural larva was formed. In hybrid embryos, antisense FH1 ODNs blocked restoration of the otolith, notochord, and tail, reverting the larva back to the anural state. The results suggest that changes in FH1 expression are involved in re-organizing the tadpole larva during the evolution of anural development.     

Evolution of direct-developing larvae: selection vs loss

Observations of a sea urchin larvae show that most species adopt one of two life history strategies. One strategy is to make numerous small eggs, which develop into a larva with a required feeding period in the water column before metamorphosis. In contrast, the second strategy is to make fewer large eggs with a larva that does not feed, which reduces the time to metamorphosis and thus the time spent in the water column. The larvae associated with each strategy have distinct morphologies and developmental processes that reflect their feeding requirements, so that those that feed exhibit indirect development with a complex larva, and those that do not feed form a morphologically simplified larva and exhibit direct development. Phylogenetic studies show that, in sea urchins, a feeding larva, the pluteus, is the ancestral form and the morphologically simplified direct-developing larva is derived. The current hypothesis for evolution of the direct-developing larval form in sea urchins suggests that major developmental changes occur by neutral loss of larval features after the crucial transition to a nonfeeding life history strategy. We present evidence from Clypeaster rosaceus, a sea urchin with a life history intermediate to the two strategies, which indicates that major developmental changes for accelerated development have been selected for in a larva that can still feed and maintains an outward, pluteus morphology. We suggest that transformation of larval form has resulted from strong selection on early initiation and acceleration of adult development.     

Hatching and earliest larval stages of the priapulid worm Priapulus caudatus

Abstract. Here we describe the hatching and morphology of the earliest larval stages of the priapulid worm Priapulus caudatus for the first time. The hatching larva differs considerably from previously described larvae not only in its general body shape but also in its lack of a proper lorica including the typical lorica tubuli. Furthermore, no mouth opening or pharyngeal teeth have formed as yet, and the number and arrangement of scalids differ from that of later larvae. The hatching larva molts and emerges as the first lorica larva. This larva partially resembles earlier described lorica larvae, but there are a number of important differences; the first lorica larva is smaller, and the mouth opening as well as pharyngeal teeth are still yet to form. The second lorica larva is equipped with four rings of pharyngeal teeth; it shows striking similarity to the previously described larva of P. caudatus , i.e., the larva-type 2 , only differing in the scalid pattern. We conclude that the first two larval stages of P. caudatus have not been described previously. We suggest that discrepancies between the earliest lorica larvae described here and in earlier publications might depend on sub-speciation or ecophenotypic modification of larvae collected from different localities. Our findings highlight the importance of studying the development of non-model organisms such as priapulids under controlled laboratory conditions.     

Larval development in the Homoscleromorpha (Porifera, Demospongiae)

Abstract. Embryonic development from coeloblastula to fully developed larva was investigated in 8 Mediterranean homoscleromorph species: Oscarella lobularis, O. tuberculata, O. microlobata, O. imperialis, Plakina trilopha, P. jani, Corticium candelabrum , and Pseudocorticium jarrei. Morphogenesis of the larva is similar in all these species; however, cell proliferation is more active in species of Oscarella than in Plakina and C. candelabrum. The result of cell division is a wrinkled, flagellated larva, called a cinctoblastula. It is composed of a columnar epithelium of polarized, monoflagellated cells among which are scattered a few non-flagellated ovoid cells. The central cavity always contains symbiotic bacteria. Maternal cells are also present in O. lobularis, O. imperialis , and P. jarrei. In the fully developed larva, cell shape and dimensions are constant for each species. The cells of the anterior pole have large vacuoles with heterogeneous material; those of the postero-lateral zone have an intranuclear paracrystalline inclusion; and the flagellated cells of the posterior pole have large osmiophilic inclusions. Intercellular junctions join the apical parts of the cells, beneath which are other specialized cell junctions. A basement membrane underlying the flagellated cells lines the larval cavity. This is the first observation of a basement membrane in a poriferan larva. The basal apparatus of flagellated cells is characterized by an accessory centriole located exactly beneath the basal body. The single basal rootlet is cross striated. The presence of a basement membrane and a true epithelium in the larva of Homoscleromorpha—unique among poriferan clades and shared with Eumetazoa—suggests that Demospongiae could be paraphyletic.     

大蜂螨对一些气味物质的趋性

狄斯瓦螨Varroa destructor Anderson & Trueman是意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera Spinola的主要外寄生螨。雌成螨在幼虫巢房封盖前不久侵入幼虫巢房,并开始繁殖为害。从雌成螨在一个很短的时间内进入蜜蜂幼虫巢房,以及雄蜂幼虫巢房蜂螨的寄生率明显高于工蜂幼虫巢房的现象,表明蜜蜂幼虫体表一些信息素(semiochemicals)可能起着重要的引诱作用。作者对与大蜂螨相关的19种气味物质进行筛选,并对封盖前工蜂幼虫和雄蜂幼虫表皮挥发物进行气谱及气-质联谱测定。结果表明:雄蜂6龄幼虫对大蜂螨的引诱作用显著高于丁香水等10种气味物质。工蜂和雄蜂末龄幼虫体表挥发物的共有组份是9-二十三烯(C23H46),但它在雄蜂幼虫中所占的比例要明显高于工蜂幼虫。工蜂幼虫的特有主要组分是十八烷(C18H38)和9-甲基十九烷(C19H40);而雄蜂幼虫的特有主要组分是二十五烷(C25H52)和二十三烷(C23H48)。     

A late-stage phyllosoma larva of the spiny lobster Panulirus echinatus Smith, 1869 (Crustacea: Palinuridae) identified by DNA analysis

A late-stage phyllosoma larva of the genus Panulirus was caughtin the central Atlantic in October 2000. Nucleotide sequenceanalysis of mitochondrial 16S rDNA identified this larva asPanulirus echinatus, which has been undescribed to date. Morphologicalexamination indicated that this eighth stage larva belongedto phyllosoma species group 2, distinguishable from the otherAtlantic species of the genus but closely related to an Indo-Pacificspecies, P. penicillatus, which is in accordance with the resultsof a molecular phylogenetic analysis.     

气象因子对落叶松毛虫种群数量的影响

为探究落叶松毛虫种群数量与气象因子的关系,利用大兴安岭地区落叶松毛虫发生年度监测数据与气象数据构建线性回归模型,以赤池信息量准则为评价依据,通过逐步回归的方式从拟合优度和复杂度两方面权衡选取最优模型.采用相对权重法确定影响落叶松毛虫种群数量的关键气象因子,并量化了关键气象因子对松毛虫种群数量的影响.结果表明: 低龄幼虫期和繁殖期是影响落叶松毛虫种群数量的关键时期,而中龄幼虫期和高龄幼虫期的影响较弱; 低龄幼虫期日相对湿度均值、低龄幼虫越冬期日均温小于-22 ℃积温和繁殖期降水总量是影响落叶松毛虫种群数量的关键气象因子; 低龄幼虫期日相对湿度均值和繁殖期降水总量的标准差每增加1倍,落叶松毛虫种群数量的标准差分别减少62%和35%;低龄幼虫越冬期日均温小于-22 ℃积温的标准差每增加1倍,落叶松毛虫种群数量的标准差增加40%.表明全球气候变暖趋势下落叶松毛虫的爆发特点等可能呈现出新的形式,建立长期的种群数量监测体系尤为重要.     

转Bt基因抗虫棉对亚洲玉米螟抗性的研究

对转Bt抗虫棉苏抗103与GK—22对玉米螟抗性的研究结果显示：(1)用苏抗103嫩叶、簧,花、蕾饲曩第三代玉米螟幼虫,最终幼虫校正死亡率分别达100％、95．83％、83．33％与100％。校正化蛹下降率分别达100％、92．31％、50．07％与100％,校正幼虫成蛾减退率分别达100％、90．92％、0％与100％。(2)人工饲料中加入5个不同浓度苏抗103嫩叶饲喂第二代幼虫,除0．4％浓度,幼虫校正死亡率与成蛹下降率均为100％,0．4％浓度的幼虫期延长20．68％,蛹重下降18．24％,蛹期延长19．79％。(3)人工饲料中加入5个浓度的苏抗103或GK22嫩叶分别饲喂第三代幼虫,苏抗103上幼虫校正死亡率较第二代有所下降,分别为3．04％、-16．68％、28．2％、33．33和75％。GK22上幼虫校正死亡率分别为3．13％、26．89％、45．69％、70．816％和68．09％。其幼虫校正死亡率及幼虫期、蛹期、成虫校正减退率均有随浓度增加而上升的趋势。较亲本棚,对蛹重、雌成虫寿命、单雌产卵量、卵孵化率也有一定程度的影响。上述研究结果表明,苏抗103与GK22影响棉田玉米螟幼虫与蛹的存活与生命力,进而影响其成虫繁殖力而表现出良好抗性。