Phylogenetic analysis of the Enenterinae (Digenea, Lepocreadiidae) and discussion of the evolution of the digenean fauna of kyphosid fishes

Species allocated to the digenean genera Enenterum Linton, 1910 ; Jeancadenatia Dollfus, 1946 ; Cadenatella Dollfus, 1946 ; and Koseiria form a clade within the Lepocreadiidae whose sister group is a clade comprising Neoallolepidapedon Yamaguti, 1965, Callogonotrema , Oshmarin, 1965, Allolepidapedon Yamaguti, 1940, and Bulbocirrus Oshmarin, 1965. Phylogenetic analysis of the Enenterinae based on comparative morphology, produced one most parsimonious tree with a consistency index of 0.72. Cadenatella is paraphyletic. Only 15.3% of character changes are evolutionary losses, supporting earlier reports that parasitic platyhelminths have experienced little secondary simplification during their evolutionary history. The Enenterinae appears to have originated in the Pacific Ocean, becoming associated with kyphosid fishes as a result of an ancient host switch. Subsequent evolutionary diversification reflects widespread geographical dispersal, consistent with the natural history of kyphosids.     

Review of the East Asian species of the genera Hybrizon Fallén and Ghilaromma Tobias (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Hybrizontinae)

East Asian species of the genera Hybrizon and Ghilaromma are reviewed. Four species of Hybrizon, H. buccatus (Brébisson 1825), H. ghilarovi Tobias, 1988, H. juncoi (Ceballos 1957) and H. flavofacialis Tobias, 1988 and two species of Ghilaromma, G. orientalis Tobias, 1988 and G. ussuriensis Tobias, 1988, were recognized. H. ghilarovi was recorded from Korea, Japan and China, while H. juncoi was recorded from Korea, for the first time. The specimens recorded from Japan as G. fuliginosi (Wilkinson, 1930) by Watanabe (1984) are referred to G. orientalis herein. This species is newly recorded from Korea and Japan. Keys to East Asian species of Hybrizon and the world species of Ghilaromma are also provided.     

Pulmonary Toxocariasis Mimicking Invasive Aspergillosis in a Patient with Ulcerative Colitis

A 45-year-old-male who had underlying ulcerative colitis and presented with fever and dry cough. Initially, the patient was considered to have invasive aspergillosis due to a positive galactomannan assay. He was treated with amphotericin B followed by voriconazole. Nevertheless, the patient deteriorated clinically and radiographically. The lung biopsy revealed eosinophilic pneumonia, and ELISA for Toxocara antigen was positive, leading to a diagnosis of pulmonary toxocariasis. After a 10-day treatment course with albendazole and adjunctive steroids, the patient recovered completely without any sequelae. Pulmonary toxocariasis may be considered in patients with subacute or chronic pneumonia unresponsive to antibiotic agents, particularly in cases with eosinophilia.     

A testis‐specific gene within a widely expressed gene: Contrasting evolutionary patterns of two differentially expressed mammalian proteins encoded by a single gene,CAMK4

Understanding the patterns of genetic variations within fertility‐related genes and the evolutionary forces that shape such variations is crucial in predicting the fitness landscapes of subsequent generations. This study reports distinct evolutionary features of two differentially expressed mammalian proteins [CaMKIV (Ca²⁺/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase IV) and CaS (calspermin)] that are encoded by a single gene, CAMK4. The multifunctional CaMKIV, which is expressed in multiple tissues including testis and ovary, is evolving at a relatively low rate (0.46–0.64 × 10^?9 nucleotide substitutions/site/year), whereas the testis‐specific CaS gene, which is predominantly expressed in post‐meiotic cells, evolves at least three to four times faster (1.48–1.98 × 10^?9 substitutions/site/year). Concomitantly, maximum‐likelihood‐based selection analyses revealed that the ubiquitously expressed CaMKIV is constrained by intense purifying selection and, therefore, remained functionally highly conserved throughout the mammalian evolution, whereas the testis‐specific CaS gene is under strong positive selection. The substitution rates of different mammalian lineages within both genes are positively correlated with GC content, indicating the possible influence of GC‐biased gene conversion on the estimated substitution rates. The observation of such unusually high GC content of the CaS gene (≈74%), particularly in the lineage that comprises the bovine species, suggests the possible role of GC‐biased gene conversion in the evolution of CaS that mimics positive selection.