The occurrence of haemosporidian parasites in the Fennoscandian bluethroat ( Luscinia svecica) population

A total of 86 adult bluethroats (Luscinia svecica) from nine different localities, covering the full length of the Fennoscandian mountain range, were screened for blood parasites of the three genera Haemoproteus, Plasmodium and Leucocytozoon using a recently developed polymerase chain reaction method. The overall occurrence of infection was 59.3%. Prevalence of Leucocytozoon spp. (47.7%), Plasmodium spp. (23.3%) and Haemoproteus spp. (1.2%) was detected. Of the infected birds, 15.1% carried mixed infections. Five different mitochondrial DNA-lineages of Leucocytozoon spp., eight lineages of Plasmodium spp. and one lineage of Haemoproteus spp. were found. Due to large sequence divergence these corresponded to at least five different species, but with the possibility of all 14 being independent evolutionary units with the potential of evolving different effects on the host. Of the lineages of Leucocytozoon spp., the most common was found throughout the range. The occurrence of the second most common lineage of Leucocytozoon spp. showed significant variation in prevalence between sites. The data also showed molecular evidence of one lineage of Leucocytozoon sp. existing in more than one species of avian host, thus challenging the use of host taxon as a taxonomic character when distinguishing between different species leucocytozoids.Communicated by F. Bairlein     

A theoretical study of myoglobin working as a nitric oxide scavenger

The mechanism for the reaction between nitric oxide (NO) and O₂ bound to the heme iron of myoglobin (Mb), including the following isomerization to nitrate, has been investigated using hybrid density functional theory (B3LYP). Myoglobin working as a NO scavenger could be of importance, since NO reversibly inhibits the terminal enzyme in the respiration chain, cytochrome c oxidase. The concentration of NO in the cell will thus affect the respiration and thereby the synthesis of ATP. The calculations show that the reaction between NO and the heme-bound O₂ gives a peroxynitrite intermediate whose O–O bond undergoes a homolytic cleavage, forming a NO₂ radical and myoglobin in the oxo-ferryl state. The NO₂ radical then recombines with the oxo-ferryl, forming heme-bound nitrate. Nine different models have been used in the present study to examine the effect on the reaction both by the presence and the protonation state of the distal His64, and by the surroundings of the proximal His93. The barriers going from the oxy-Mb and nitric oxide reactant to the peroxynitrite intermediate and further to the oxo-ferryl and NO₂ radical are around 10 and 7 kcal/mol, respectively. Forming the product, nitrate bound to the heme iron has a barrier of less than ~7 kcal/mol. The overall reaction going from a free nitric oxide and oxy-Mb to the heme bound nitrate is exergonic by more than 30 kcal/mol.     

In vitro rooting of the apple rootstock M 26 in adult and juvenile growth phases and acclimatization of the plantlets

In order to obtain optimum conditions for in vitro propagation of the apple rootstock M 26 ( Malus pumila Mill.) in adult and juvenile growth phases, several rooting experiments were performed. Supraoptimal concentrations of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) added to the rooting media resulted in profuse callus formation. Since extensive callus production is detrimental to the survival of the plantlets, modified culture conditions were established to reduce callus formation. A reduction of the time of exposure to IBA to 5 days and, thereafter, transfer to a hormone-free medium did not eliminate callus production. Exposure to darkness during the root initiation phase increased rooting. When the rooting medium was based on the Lepoivre formula instead of the Murashige and Skoog formula, callus formation was reduced. Optimum conditions for rooting were obtained at much lower concentration than earlier reported, being 1.25 μM for the juvenile and 0.5 μM for the adult growth phase in the range of IBA concentrations tested. Anatomical studies revealed that root initials are formed after 5 days of IBA-treatment. Therefore, we transferred shoots directly to non-sterile conditions after the root-inducing phase. This resulted in a 90% survival of the plantlets. Subculture on hormone-free medium can thus be eliminated when the optimum auxin concentration is known.     

Identification of archaeobotanical Pistacia L. fruit remains: implications for our knowledge on past distribution and use in prehistoric Cyprus

Vegetation History and Archaeobotany - Pistacia spp. remains are common finds among archaeobotanical assemblages in prehistoric sites in Southwest Asia, both in the form of endocarps and charcoal...     

The epidemiology underlying age‐related avian malaria infection in a long‐lived host: the mute swan Cygnus olor

Quantifying the factors that predict parasite outbreak and persistence is a major challenge for both applied and fundamental biology. Key to understanding parasite prevalence and disease outbreaks is determining at what age individuals show signs of infection, and whether or not they recover. Age‐dependent patterns of the infection of a host population by parasites can indicate among‐individual heterogeneities in their susceptibility to, or rate of recovery from, parasite infections. Here, we present a cross‐sectional study of avian malaria in a long‐lived bird species, the mute swan Cygnus olor, examining age‐related patterns of parasite prevalence and modelling patterns of infection and recovery. One‐hundred and fifteen swans, ranging from one to nineteen years old, were screened for infection with Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon parasites. Infections with three cytochrome‐b lineages of Haemoproteus were found (pooled prevalence 67%), namely WW1 (26%), which is common in passerine birds, and two new lineages closely related to WW1: MUTSW1 (25%) and MUTSW2 (16%). We found evidence for age‐related infection in one lineage, MUTSW1. Catalytic models examining patterns of infection and recovery in the population suggested that infections in this population were not life‐long – recovery of individuals was included in the best fitting models. These findings support the results of recent studies that suggest hosts can clear infections, although patterns of infection‐related mortality in older birds remain to be studied in more detail.     

Growth Monitoring: A Survey of Current Practices of Primary Care Paediatricians in Europe

Objective

We aimed to study current practices in growth monitoring by European primary care paediatricians and to explore their perceived needs in this field.

Methods

We developed a cross-sectional, anonymous on-line survey and contacted primary care paediatricians listed in national directories in the 18 European countries with a confederation of primary care paediatricians. Paediatricians participated in the survey between April and September 2011.

Results

Of the 1,198 paediatricians from 11 European countries (response rate 13%) who participated, 29% used the 2006 World Health Organization Multicentre Growth Reference Study growth charts, 69% used national growth charts; 61% used software to draw growth charts and 79% did not use a formal algorithm to detect abnormal growth on growth charts. Among the 21% of paediatricians who used algorithms, many used non-algorithmic simple thresholds for height and weight and none used the algorithms published in the international literature. In all, 69% of paediatricians declared that a validated algorithm to monitor growth would be useful in daily practice. We found important between-country variations.

Conclusion

The varied growth-monitoring practices declared by primary care paediatricians reveals the need for standardization and evidence-based algorithms to define abnormal growth and the development of software that would use such algorithms.     

High-Fat Diet Reduces the Formation of Butyrate,but Increases Succinate,Inflammation, Liver Fat and Cholesterol in Rats,while Dietary Fibre Counteracts These Effects

Introduction

Obesity is linked to type 2 diabetes and risk factors associated to the metabolic syndrome. Consumption of dietary fibres has been shown to have positive metabolic health effects, such as by increasing satiety, lowering blood glucose and cholesterol levels. These effects may be associated with short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), particularly propionic and butyric acids, formed by microbial degradation of dietary fibres in colon, and by their capacity to reduce low-grade inflammation.

Objective

To investigate whether dietary fibres, giving rise to different SCFAs, would affect metabolic risk markers in low-fat and high-fat diets using a model with conventional rats for 2, 4 and 6 weeks.

Material and Methods

Conventional rats were administered low-fat or high-fat diets, for 2, 4 or 6 weeks, supplemented with fermentable dietary fibres, giving rise to different SCFA patterns (pectin – acetic acid; guar gum – propionic acid; or a mixture – butyric acid). At the end of each experimental period, liver fat, cholesterol and triglycerides, serum and caecal SCFAs, plasma cholesterol, and inflammatory cytokines were analysed. The caecal microbiota was analysed after 6 weeks.

Results and Discussion

Fermentable dietary fibre decreased weight gain, liver fat, cholesterol and triglyceride content, and changed the formation of SCFAs. The high-fat diet primarily reduced formation of SCFAs but, after a longer experimental period, the formation of propionic and acetic acids recovered. The concentration of succinic acid in the rats increased in high-fat diets with time, indicating harmful effect of high-fat consumption. The dietary fibre partly counteracted these harmful effects and reduced inflammation. Furthermore, the number of Bacteroides was higher with guar gum, while noticeably that of Akkermansia was highest with the fibre-free diet.     

River otter and mink occupancy dynamics in riparian systems

Semi-aquatic mammals are dependent upon streams and riparian areas, which are a product of the landscapes they drain. Both local stream morphology and surrounding land use are likely to have important influences on current occupancy of semi-aquatic mammals and potentially affect future geographic distributions. We identified aspects of the riparian system and stream structure at multiple scales that relate to the presence of river otter (Lontra canadensis) and mink (Neovison vison) to better understand how changing landscapes affect occupancy dynamics of these semi-aquatic mammals and to facilitate future monitoring and management. We estimated multi-season occupancy using 103 sites sampled over 6 seasonal sampling periods in southern Illinois, USA (44,526 km²) during 2012–2014. We hypothesized river otter and mink occupancy were related to multiple aspects of landscape and local habitat attributes including land cover, water availability, human disturbance, and stream characteristics. Occupancy of river otter was predicted by large stream size, less developed area near the stream site, and proximity to areas with reintroduced or remnant populations of river otter. Mink were more likely to occupy sites with small streams and decreased water availability near the site. However, top models for both species had low weights and high uncertainty for multiple variables. Habitat-based models may not be the best predictors of occupancy for these carnivores because they are more likely to respond to prey diversity or availability, but landscape changes that decrease natural water availability and increase human disturbance to the stream at the local scale are likely to negatively affect river otter. © 2019 The Authors. The Journal of Wildlife Management published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of The Wildlife Society.     

Pheochromocytoma presenting as a pancreatic mass: Avoiding a dangerous pitfall in endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy using GATA3 immunostain

Pheochromocytomas and sympathetic paragangliomas are rare tumours arising from chromaffin cells, producing catecholamines in various amounts. Fatal hypertensive episodes may occur perioperatively, which are preventable by alpha adrenergic receptor blockers. The perioperative mortality rate of diagnosed versus undiagnosed catecholamine-producing tumours is significant, considering that only a minority of tumours develop metastasis. Herein we describe a case of a primary adrenal pheochromocytoma referred to as a pancreatic tumour, successfully diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy, with a distinct morphology (prominent nuclear anisonucleosis, intranuclear pseudoinclusions, and multinucleation) and immunohistochemical signature.