Clinostomum complanatum and Clinostomum marginatum (Rudolphi, 1819) (Digenea: Clinostomidae) are separate species based on differences in ribosomal DNA

Infections by metacercariae of Clinostomum (Leidy, 1856) species adversely affect aquacultured fish and are potentially transmissible to humans. Molecular methodologies are efficient tools, which enable diagnosis of all life-history stages of trematodes in their diverse hosts. The small subunit of ribosomal DNA genes of adults of the Old World Clinostomum complanatum (Rudolphi, 1819) and the New World Clinostomum marginatum (Rudolphi, 1819), obtained from a little egret Egretta garzetta (Linnaeus, 1766) and the great blue heron Ardea herodias (Linnaeus, 1758), respectively, were amplified, sequenced, and aligned. The resulting alignment was used to develop a genetic assay to differentiate between these species.     

Natural infections of Clinostomum complanatum (Trematoda: Clinostomatidae) in wild herons and egrets, Tottori Prefecture, Japan.

Nycticorax nycticorax, Ardea cinerea, Egretta garzetta, and Egretta intermedia were naturally infected with Clinostomum complanatum (Trematoda: Clinostomatidae) among fourteen wild herons, seven wild egrets and one wild bittern evaluated at the Veterinary Hospital of Tottori University, Tottori, Japan. The latter three species of heron and egrets are reported for the first time as definitive hosts of this parasite in Japan.     

广西防城7种鹭类混群繁殖的空间生态位研究

2002年3~8月对广西防城万鹤山营巢的鹭类繁殖种群进行了调查研究,结果表明:万鹤山栖息有大白鹭(Egretta alba)、中白鹭(Egretta intermedia)、白鹭(Egretta garzetta)、黄嘴白鹭(Egretta eulophotes)、牛背鹭(Bubulcus ibis)、池鹭(Ardeda bacchus)、夜鹭(Nycticorax nycticorax)7种鹭类种群。除黄嘴白鹭为均匀分布之外,其他6种均为成群分布。鹭类在万鹤山上营巢繁殖具有明显的水平分布和垂直分布现象。对影响鹭类混群繁殖时空间分布的因素及各种群间的相互关系进行了探讨。     

Clinostomum complanatum (Trematoda: Clinostomatidae) in five new fish hosts in Japan.

Metacercariae of Clinostomum complanatum were found in six species of natural freshwater fishes collected at Koyama Pond in Tottori City of Tottori Prefecture, Japan. Five of these fish species are reported here as new records for second intermediate hosts of C. complanatum in Japan: the silver crucian carp (Carassius gibelio langsdorfi), the deepbodied crucian carp (Carassius cuvieri), the carp (Cyprinus carpio), the topmouth gudgeon (Pseudorasbora parva) and the rose bitterling (Rhodeus ocelatus).     

Morphological and molecular differentiation of Clinostomum complanatum and Clinostomum marginatum (Digenea: Clinostomidae) metacercariae and adults

The separation of Clinostomum complanatum Rudolphi, 1814 and Clinostomum marginatum Rudolphi, 1819 has long been unclear. Recent data confirm the validity of the junior species, C. marginatum , by ～ 1% differences in its 18S rDNA sequences. We collected adults and metacercariae of C. complanatum and C. marginatum and found reliable morphological differences in the genital complex at both developmental stages. In addition, we identified basic morphometrics (distance between suckers, body width) in metacercariae that may be useful for discriminating the species. The morphological differences were supported by the comparison of sequences of internal transcribed spacers of ribosomal DNA and of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) from 39 specimens. In 36 specimens, the average divergence between the species was 7.3% in ITS and 19.4% in COI sequences. Two specimens from North America and 1 from Europe had sequences that did not allow them to be clearly allied with either species.     

New primers for sex identification in the Chinese egret and other ardeid species

Using the universal P2/P8 primers, we were able to obtain the gene segments of chromo-helicase-DNA binding protein (CHD)-Z and CHD-W from ten species of ardeid birds including Chinese egret (Egretta eulophotes), little egret (E. garzetta), eastern reef egret (E. sacra), great egret (Ardea alba), grey heron (A. cinerea), Chinese pond-heron (Ardeola bacchus), cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis), black-crowned night-heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), cinnamon bittern (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus) and yellow bittern (I. sinensis). Based on conserved regions inside the P2/P8-derived sequences, we designed new PCR primers for sex identification in these ardeid species. Using agarose gel electrophoresis, the PCR products showed two bands for females (140 bp derived from CHD-W and the other 250 bp from CHD-ZW), whereas the males showed only the 250 bp band. The results indicated that our new primers could be used for accurate and convenient sex identification in ardeid species.     

Bacteria associated with tegument of Clinostomum marginatum (Digenea)

Adults of Clinostomum marginatum freshly collected from a heron, Ardea herodias, were examined using transmission electron microscopy. Specimens from the mouth of the bird were encrusted with bacteria that were not removed by washing unless the saline contained antibiotics. There was no evidence that the attached bacteria were damaging to the trematode tegument. Three species of Gram-negative bacteria were isolated from the worm surfaces and identified; Achromobacter sp. was present in pure culture on 4 of 6 original cultures and in mixed culture with Edwardsiella tarda and Enterobacter agglomerans in 2 cultures. These species and 3 unidentified species of bacteria were isolated from the oral epithelium of the heron. Microorganisms were not seen attached to the surfaces of worms recovered from the esophagus. Because E. tarda and E. agglomerans were the only species isolated from the heron esophagus, the intimate bacterial-worm association in the heron mouth may be due specifically to Achromobacter sp.     

Helminths of stocked rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) with special reference to Clinostomum complanatum

Rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) stocked into a small prairie dug-out were examined for helminths at harvest time. Five species of helminths were found (Diplostomum sp., Diplostomulum scheuringi, Clinostomum complanatum, Crepidostomum farionis and Pomphorhynchus bulbocolli); C. farionis and P. bulbocolli mature in fish while the remaining species utilize fish-eating birds as definitive hosts. Examination of stomach contents indicated that all invertebrate hosts required for the life-cycles of these helminths were present in the dug-out. The most conspicuous and prevalent helminth was C. complanatum as fish were "wormy" and unmarketable due to the presence of high numbers of metacercariae. Metacercariae of C. complanatum were recovered from most organs of rainbow trout. The low survival of stocked fish suggests that C. complanatum may cause some host mortality, but the condition of infected and uninfected fish was similar. It appears that a community of ichthyoparasites can become established in a population of stocked fish in a single growing season in north temperate regions.     

Helminths from the fish Dormitator maculatus (Osteichthyes: Eleotridae) from Alvarado, Veracruz, Mexico

Dormirator maculatus (n=184) was collected in the Alvarado Lagoon, Mexico during a year period (Oct. 1993-1994). In the helminthologic review, the presence of Clinostomum complanatum (82.3%), Neoechinorhynchus golvani (76.1%), Spiroxys sp. (21.3 %), and Camallanus sp. (6.2%) was registered. Reduction of the hematocrit caused by such infection is significant (t, a= 0.05).     

Parasitism of Cichlasoma paranaense Kullander, 1983 and Gymnotus carapo Linnaeus, 1814 by Clinostomum complanatum (Rudolphi, 1814) metacercariae in the Taquari river.

The infection, known as yellow spot disease, produced by metacercariae of Clinostomum spp. was studied in fishes of the Taquari river, located in Jataizinho, Paraná State, Brazil. A total of 1,582 specimens, belonging to 36 species, were collected between March 1999 and April 2001. Yellow spot disease was observed only in Gymnotus carapo Linnaeus, 1814 (Gymnotiformes, Gymnotidae) and Cichlasoma paranaense Kullander, 1983 (Perciformes, Cichlidae). This parasitism was generated by metacercariae of Clinostomum complanatum (Rudolphi, 1814) (Digenea, Clinostomidae). Among the 88 specimens of G. carapo examined, 7 (prevalence = 8%) had cysts of the parasite. Four of them were captured in July 1999 and three in October 1999. In the other months, no specimen found was infected. Using relative condition factor (Kn) analysis, it was determined that both infected and non-infected specimens had a total weight equal to the theoretically expected value for each total length (Kn = 1.0). Among 56 individuals of Cichlasoma paranaense, 6 (prevalence = 10.7%) had between 1 and 27 metacercariae of C. complanatum (mean intensity of infection = 9.3 +/- 9.6). In March 1999 and April of both 2000 and 2001, the specimens examined were not infected. The infected fish had a total weight higher than the expected value (Kn > 1.0), while the non-infected fish had a weight equal to the expected value (Kn = 1.0).     

紫蓬山区三种鹭雏鸟的食物多样性比较

池鹭(Ａｒｄｅｏｌａｂａｃｃｈｕｓ)、白鹭(Ｅｇｒｅｔｔａｇａｒｚｅｔｔａ)和夜鹭(Ｎｙｃｔｉｃｏｒａｘｎｙｃｔｉｃｏｒａｘ)4～7月在紫蓬山区国家级森林公园集群繁殖[7]。有关三者的繁殖生态报道较多[6,10～12,23],但甚少较系统的研究雏鸟的食性,尚缺乏通过食性研究进行鹭类资源管理和生物多样性保护方面的探讨。笔者1996年4～7月在紫蓬山区国家级森林公园的圆通山对池鹭、白鹭和夜鹭雏鸟的食性进行了观察,整理报道如下。1　工作方法收集称量雏鸟吐出的食物[13],或逆向挤压嗉囊使其吐出食物,统计食物的种类、数量。食物量百分比、食物…     

The karyotype of Omisus caledonicus (Edwards) (Diptera, Chironomidae)

Karyotype of Omisus caledonicus with 2n = 14 is described, all chromosomes are acrocentric, heterochromatin centromere is vacuolized. The following sequence discovered: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2, D1, D2, E1, F1, G1 and G2. Simple inversions are found in chromosomes A-C and G, a complex reconstruction with 3 break points are observed in chromosome D. All reconstructions are large (from 66 to 99% of bands). According to phylogenetic reconstructions for morphological characters (Saether, 1979) and data on karyotypes it may be considered that O. caledonicus is one of much more primitive species in the tribe Chironomini.     

四种鹭类繁殖生态生物学研究

本文对夜鹭,白鹭,黄鹭白鹭,池鹭混群在同一巢区的繁殖,种间协高及雏鸟生长进行进行了观察研究,其中黄嘴白路豫南大别山类新纪录,在此繁殖亦为首次发现。几种路在巢位,食性,取食活动和习性方面都表现出其混居同一巢地繁殖的种间协调性,符合高期假说。比较４种鹭鸟雏鸟生长过程中各生长参数。其中池鹭虽个体最小,但体重和各部位生长却对较快。     

The effects of age, sex and breed of chicken on susceptibility to Clinostomum complanatum (Digenea: Clinostomatidae)

Susceptibility and development of Clinostomum complanatum in the chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) have been studied. The progenetic metacercariae of C. complanatum developed into ovigerous worms in 3 days in the buccal cavity of the chicken and survived only 6-7 days in this experimental host. The susceptibility is influenced by the age, sex and breed/type of the host. Both percent susceptibility and recovery of the worms decreased with increase in the age of the host. The egg laying chickens were found to be least susceptible to the infection. Mature male chickens were more susceptible than the females. The single comb white Leghorn (SCWL) was found to be susceptible while the local type (LT) and the cross breed (SCWLxLT) were not susceptible to C. complanatum. The possible reasons for these variations have been discussed.     

Pseudofoenus caledonicus, a new species of hyptiogastrine wasp (Hymenoptera: Gasteruptiidae) from New Caledonia

Abstract  Pseudofoenus caledonicus sp. nov. is described from New Caledonia, and is the second member of the Hyptiogastrinae recorded from these islands. This discovery points to a more diverse fauna of Hyptiogastrinae in the south-west Pacific, which also includes P. ritae (Cheesman), from New Caledonia and Vanuatu, P. extraneus (Turner) from Fiji, and a number of species from New Guinea and New Zealand. Although a revised phylogenetic analysis does not resolve the relationships of P. caledonicus , neither the two New Caledonian species nor the south-west Pacific fauna in general are likely to be monophyletic. This fauna is discussed in terms of its relationships with Pseudofoenus spp. from mainland Australia, and possible mechanisms that have given rise to the current distribution of species.     

Temporal variation in the helminth parasite communities of the Pacific fat sleeper, Dormitator latifrons, from Tres Palos Lagoon, Guerrero, Mexico

Temporal variation in the helminth parasite communities of the Pacific fat sleeper, Dormitator latifrons, from Tres Palos Lagoon, Guerrero, Mexico, was studied at the component community and infracommunity levels. In total, 185 host specimens were collected between April 2000 and March 2001. Eight parasite species were identified: Clinostomum complanatum, Echinochasmus leopoldinae, Ascocotyle (Phagicola) longa, Pseudoacanthostomum panamense, Saccocoelioides sp., Parvitaenia cochlearii, Neoechinorhynchus golvani, and Contracaecum sp. The communities had low numbers of parasite species and diversity, and contained only generalist parasites. Nested (nonrandom) species composition was observed in the infracommunities during all climatic seasons. The variation in nestedness intensity was attributed to a process of sequential colonization by the most common parasite species, because some were more abundant in the dry season, and others were more abundant in the rainy season.     

Lyconadins D and E, and complanadine E, new Lycopodium alkaloids from Lycopodium complanatum

Three new Lycopodium alkaloids, lyconadins D (1) and E (2), and complanadine E (3), were isolated from the club moss Lycopodium complanatum. Lyconadin D (1) was the first example of fastigiatine-type alkaloid isolated from Lycopodium complanatum. The structures and relative stereochemistry of 1-3 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. Complanadine E (3) enhanced mRNA expression for NGF.     

三种重金属元素在鹭卵中富集特征的初步研究

2004年4～6月,采集了合肥地区大蜀山、肥西圆通山、肥东太子山集群繁殖的夜鹭、小白鹭、池鹭和牛背鹭鸟卵及组织样品,用原子吸收法测定了卵壳、内容物及组织中Cd、Pb、Cr的残留量.结果表明,4种鹭卵壳、内容物及组织的绝大多数样品中均检出相当高水平的Cd、Pb和Cr残留量,且卵壳和骨骼是重金属富集的主要场所,表明通过卵壳可以排出体内部分重金属污染物.卵壳中重金属显著高于卵内容物,卵壳中重金属残留量为Cr＞Pb＞Cd,4种鹭卵壳中重金属残留量的种间差异都极其显著,Cr残留水平的种间波动幅度最大,池鹭卵壳中的最高,牛背鹭的最低;Pb的种间波动幅度相对较小,Cd的种间波动幅度最小;而卵内容物中3种重金属残留量的种间差异都不显著,Cr残留量种间波动幅度最大,池鹭卵内容物中,Cr含量最高,牛背鹭卵内容物中没有检出;Pb的种间波动幅度相对较小,Cd的种间波动幅度最小.由于鹭的卵壳取样容易,可用作重金属污染物的指示物,监测和评价湿地生态系统中重金属的污染状况.