Thermal adaptability and disease association in common carp (Cyprinus carpio communis) acclimated to different (four) temperatures

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of temperature (20 °C, 24 °C, 28 °C and 32 °C) on the heamato-biochemical and histological alterations of Cyprinus carpio communis. Increase in the temperature showed significant decrease in the serum protein, while a reduced level of blood glucose at high temperature of 32 °C was observed leading to hypoglycemic conditions in the experimental fishes. A significant correlation (P<0.01) was observed between cholesterol (Cho) and triglycerides (TG) for different temperature treatments. Elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN) at high temperatures was a good indicator of gill osmoregulatory failure. A variation of 86.40% and 38.33%, respectively, was noticed in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) at 32 °C over minimum experimental temperature of 20 °C. The increase in red blood cell (RBC) and Heamoglobin (Hb) concentration is associated with the decrease of mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), could be the reason for observed poikilo-anisocytosis. Histological studies of different organs of experimental fishes showed accumulation of MMC's (melanomacrophagic centers) and atrophy of the interrenal tissue on exposure to various levels of temperature. These changes were related to severity of thermal stress, being most marked when high temperature was prolonged during acclimatization. Some fishes were found infested by protozoan parasite at elevated temperature of 32 °C. Increased levels of certain biochemical and haemotological parameters studied were strongly correlated with disease in the Cyprinus carpio communis species.     

Ethno-ecological evidence for Hydnora abyssinica occurring in Johannesburg and Durban traditional medicine markets

Large quantities of plants are traded annually in South Africa's traditional medicine or ‘muthi’ markets. A resource in high demand in the Faraday (Johannesburg) and Warwick (Durban) markets is uMavumbuka, a root holoparasite usually identified as either Hydnora africana Thunb. or Sarcophyte sanguinea Sparrm. subsp. sanguinea. However, rhizomes regularly observed in Faraday between 1994 and 2008 did not resemble either species, thereby suggesting that a third, and undocumented, species was being harvested. This was confirmed when the rhizomes were identified as H. abyssinica A.Br. by an American parasitic plant expert. An ethno-ecological study was initiated to verify its occurrence in selected muthi markets. The study further aimed to investigate the distribution of H. abyssinica through trader interviews, host species localities and some previously misidentified herbarium specimens. The study revealed that H. abyssinica was the only uMavumbuka species present in Faraday and Warwick in 2009. Furthermore, the rhizomes were being harvested in KwaZulu-Natal—an area not previously known to be part of its distribution range. Re-evaluated herbarium vouchers and recent photographs taken in the Kruger National Park have confirmed that H. abyssinica occurs in KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Swaziland and hence eastern southern Africa. Fragments of Acacia xanthophloea Benth. roots were identified on 93% of the samples that had host roots attached, and we suspect that H. abyssinica follows the distribution of A. xanthophloea in suitable habitats north from KwaZulu-Natal and adjoining the South African border with Swaziland and Mozambique. Acacia karroo Hayne and A. grandicornuta Gerstner have also been positively identified as host species in South Africa from herbarium records. Plant harvesters in the markets cited the common names of several other species that uMavumbuka “grows under” that may be identified as hosts to H. abyssinica in the future. The collection of specimens in areas identified by the harvesters and in areas of suitable habitat is important to verify the occurrence, distribution and habitat of H. abyssinica in eastern southern Africa.     

The parasitic and lethal effects of Trichoderma longibrachiatum against Heterodera avenae

Heterodera avenae is a devastating plant pathogen that causes significant yield losses in many crops, but there is a lack of scientific information whether this pathogen can be controlled effectively using biocontrol agents. Here we determined the parasitic and lethal effects of Trichoderma longibrachiatum against H. avenae and the possible mechanism involved in this action. Both in vitro and greenhouse experiments were conducted. In vitro, T. longibrachiatum at the concentrations of 1.5 × 10⁴ to 1.5 × 10⁸ spores per ml had a strong parasitic and lethal effect on the cysts of H. avenae, with the concentration of 1.5 × 10⁸ spores per ml having >90% parasitism 18 days after treatments. In greenhouse, T. longibrachiatum inoculation decreased H. avenae infection in wheat (Triticum aestivum) significantly. Observations with microscopes revealed that after mutual recognition with cysts, the spore of T. longibrachiatum germinated with a large number of hyphae, and reproduced rapidly on the surface of cysts. Meanwhile, the cysts surface became uneven, with some cysts producing vacuoles, and the others splitting. Finally the cysts were dissolved by the metabolite of T. longibrachiatum. Chitinase activity increased in the culture filtrates of T. longibrachiatum and reached the maximum 4 days after inoculation in the medium supplemented with colloidal chitin (1.02 U/min per ml) and nematode cysts (0.78 U/min per ml). The parasitism and inhibition of cysts through the increased extracellular chitinase activity serves as the main mechanism with which T. longibrachiatum against H. avenae. In conclusion, T. longibrachiatum has a great potential to be used as a biocontrol agent against H. avenae.     

Dipetalonema viteae: isoelectric focusing and immunochemical studies on somatic extracts of adult worms and microfilariae.

Isoelectric focusing (IEF) of a somatic extract of adult worms (SEAW) yielded nine fractions. Most of the applied protein antigen was recovered in five fractions with pI values of 5.2, 4.4, 4.3, 4.0, and 3.3, respectively. The nine IEF fractions of SEAW gave a total of 37 bands following electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel (PAGE). IEF fractionation of a somatic extract of microfilariae (SEM) yielded nine fractions. Two fractions with pI values of 4.4 and 3.2, respectively, contained most of the applied protein. The nine IEF fractions of SEM gave a total of 32 bands following PAGE. Crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CI) of SEM and SEAW against serum from hyperinfected hamsters yielded five and eight precipitation peaks, respectively. CI of SEM and SEAW against their homologous rabbit antisera gave 7 and 10 major precipitation peaks, respectively. Immunodiffusion of the nine IEF fractions from both SEM and SEAW against both their homologous and heterologous rabbit antisera indicated three and four precipitin bands peculiar only to SEM and SEAW, respectively. The remaining 23 bands from both preparations showed lines of identity.     

Clinical examinations on crab-eating macaques in mauritius

Clinical inspections were carried out in order to obtain sufficient information concerning the physiological characteristics and states of natural infection by various pathogenic agents in the population of crab-eating macaques (Macaca fascicularis) on Mauritius. The hematological and plasma biochemical values were within the normal ranges, showing no morbid signs. The intestinal parasitic appearance was so simplified that onlyStrongyloides andTrichuris were noted as helminthic findings. All of the monkeys examined were free from enteropathogenic organisms such asShigella andSalmonella, and were negative for measles, herpes simplex type 1, simian immunodeficiency virus/MAC, and SV5 antibodies. These data suggest that the macaques in Mauritius are considerably spared from natural infections by various pathogenic agents. This study was carried out under the humane conditions prescribed in “The Guidelines for the Study of Wild Primates and Use of Wild-born Primates” by the Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Japan.     

Adult population parameters and life tables of an epilachnine beetle (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) feeding on bitter cucumber in Sumatra

The population dynamics of an epilachnine beetle, which is closely related to Epilachna sparsaDieke (henceforth called “sp. C”) and feeds on bitter cucumber Momordica charantia, was studied by mark-recapture of adults and the construction of life tables. The study was repeated three times, i.e., March–May, July–September and October–December in 1982, in Padang, Sumatra, Indonesia. After the establishment of the host plants, adults of “sp. C” soon colonized, and each study period ended in the death of the plants due to defoliation by the larvae and adults. The estimated mean length of residence of adults ranged from 6–11 days, but this was probably much shorter than the actual longevity, because the adults were so active that they flew away, or dropped off the plants, when they were approached or slightly disturbed. Life tables indicated that egg mortality ranged from 17.8–53.9%, and a parasitic wasp Tetrastichus sp. B made up 41.1–64.2% of egg mortality. Two wasps, Tetrastichus sp. C and Pediobius foveolatus killed 1.2–19.4% (7.6–100%)^* of 4th instars and only the latter species attacked the pupae, killing 24.6–59.1% (45.1–72.4%). Parasitism and starvation by overcrowding contributed most to the total mortality from egg to adult emergence, which ranged from 89.4–99.5%. “Sp. C” had a higher diversity and level of parasitism than the Japanese species, E. vigintioctopunctata. The high dispersal power of “sp. C”, coupled with the prolonged l_x−m_x schedules shown under laboratory conditions, was advantageous for exploiting the food plant which was available throughout the year, but was rather patchily distributed in space.     

Use of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers in the study of the parasitic weed Orobanche

Despite the tremendous economic impact of broomrapes (Orobanche spp.) on agriculture in many countries little is known of the pattern of genetic variation within this group of parasitic weeds. The present paper describes the use of RAPD markers for the study of five Orobanche species in agricultural fields in Israel. Pronounced genetic differentiation was found between the species, and RAPD markers were raised for the identification of each of them. Southern-hybridization patterns of RAPD products of the various species were used to confirm the interpretation. The same markers were valid both for broomrapes collected in agricultural fields and for those collected in natural habitats. The validity of the markers found for O. cumana and O. crenata was confirmed on plants of the same species that were collected in Spain. Parsimony analysis of 86 RAPD characters produced a tree that clearly distinguishes between the five studied Orobanche species, separates the two Orobanche species belonging to sect. Trionychon from those belonging to sect. Osproleon, and supports the separation of O. cumana from O. cernua and of O. aegyptiaca from O. ramosa.     

The avoidance of superparasitism in four species of parasitic wasp—Mathematical models and experimental results

Experimental results, and interpretation, are presented which relate to oviposition behaviour in four species of parasitic wasp (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). All lay their eggs in pupae of the common house fly (Musca domestica) and of other flies associated with man. Probability models suggested byD. J. Daley for describing the avoidance of superparasitism are used to analyse the data. Certain of the models considered by previous authors appear as specieal cases. A satisfactory fit was obtained either by assuming a fixed probability of oviposition in an already parasitised pupa, or by using a model motivated by supposing that a female will tolerate without oviposition some fixed number of visits to already parasitised pupae. A third model was considered which makes the probability depend on the number of previous ovipositions in the pupae now visited. In all four species the presence of other females (with parasite: host ratio unchanged) increased the probability of oviposition upon encountering an already parasitised pupa. In the presence of other females Spalangia endius laid an increased number of eggs, whereas the other three species laid fewer eggs.