An alternative classification of trypanorhynch cestodes considering the tentacular armature as being of limited importance

Based on a light- and scanning electron microscopical study of scolex morphology, tentacles and surface structures of 31 trypanorhynch species, an alternative classification of the trypanorhynch cestodes, adults, plerocerci and postlarvae, is presented. The arrangement of the tentacular armature is no longer used as a distinguishing feature for four different superfamilies. Instead, the presence or absence of ciliated pits and prebulbular organs is used to define three superfamilies: Tentacularioidea Poche, 1926; Otobothrioidea Dollfus, 1942; and Eutetrarhynchoidea Guiart, 1927. A total of 12 families are defined by the characters: the presence/absence of blastocysts, the number of bothridia and the reduction of the rhyncheal apparatus, together with a new character, complete rows of tentacular hooks (homeoacanth and heteroacanth typica) versus rows of hooks partly reduced (heteroacanth atypica and poeciloacanth). Of the 19 families previously accepted, 10 are retained (Eutetrarhynchidae, Gilquiniidae, Lacistorhynchidae, Mixodigmatidae, Otobothriidae, Paranybeliniidae, Pterobothriidae, Shirleyrhynchidae, Sphyriocephalidae and Tentaculariidae, all sensu nov.); one family is reinstated (i.e. Aporhynchidae Poche, 1926 sensu nov.) and a new one is added (i.e. Pseudotobothriidae n. fam.). Advantages of this alternative classification of trypanorhynch cestodes are: (i) the resolution of incongruities and questions caused by the use of the tentacular armature to distinguish superfamilies; (ii) the criteria for the establishment of higher taxa, superfamilies and families are clearly defined; (iii) with the findings of new species with different character combinations, this system can be enlarged up to 4 superfamilies and 48 families without loosing its stability; and (iv) all existing genera are easily re-assigned to the superfamilies and families.     

Isolation of an agent affecting the development of an internal parasitoid

The development of an internal braconid parasitoid, Glyptapanteles militaris, is adversely affected when its host, Pseudaletia unipuncta, is infected with the Hawaiian strain of granulosis virus. A plasma-derived agent, isolated from virus-infected hosts, was shown to elicit developmental aberrations in the parasitoid similar to those observed in virus-infected hosts. This agent was isolated by ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel filtration, and anion exchange chromatography, and its molecular weight, established by gel filtration and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, was determined to be about 64,000. The dilution end point of the agent and some stability properties were also established.     

Hydrogen as a process control index in a pilot scale anaerobic digester

Summary A 6m³ pilot scale anaerobic contact digester treating brewery effluent was subjected to volumetric shock loadings. The concentration of hydrogen in the biogas was monitored and was shown to have the potential of being a sensitive and rapid indicator of perturbation within the digester.     

Abnormal Whole Blood Thrombi in Humans with Inherited Platelet Receptor Defects

To delineate the critical features of platelets required for formation and stability of thrombi, thromboelastography and platelet aggregation measurements were employed on whole blood of normal patients and of those with Bernard-Soulier Syndrome (BSS) and Glanzmann’s Thrombasthenia (GT). We found that separation of platelet activation, as assessed by platelet aggregation, from that needed to form viscoelastic stable whole blood thrombi, occurred. In normal human blood, ristocetin and collagen aggregated platelets, but did not induce strong viscoelastic thrombi. However, ADP, arachidonic acid, thrombin, and protease-activated-receptor-1 and -4 agonists, stimulated both processes. During this study, we identified the genetic basis of a very rare double heterozygous GP1b deficiency in a BSS patient, along with a new homozygous GP1b inactivating mutation in another BSS patient. In BSS whole blood, ADP responsiveness, as measured by thrombus strength, was diminished, while ADP-induced platelet aggregation was normal. Further, the platelets of 3 additional GT patients showed very weak whole blood platelet aggregation toward the above agonists and provided whole blood thrombi of very low viscoelastic strength. These results indicate that measurements of platelet counts and platelet aggregability do not necessarily correlate with generation of stable thrombi, a potentially significant feature in patient clinical outcomes.