Helminths in Leuciscus cephalus from the river Adda, Lombardy, Northern Italy

Chubs (Leuciscus cephalus) were caught at various locations along the river Adda and from Lake of Como (Lombardy, Northern Italy) and endoparasitic helminths were studied in order to integrate the knowledge on distribution of helminth fauna of chubs in Lombardy and to investigate on the structure of its parasite infracommunities with respect to different habitat typologies. The following species of parasites were isolated: Pomphorynchus laevis, Allocreadium markewitschi, Parasymphylodora markewitschi, Raphidascaris acus, Hysterothylacium aduncum and Molnaria intestinalis. P laevis resulted the most common species (P = 56.52%). The mean abundances and the prevalence of helminths were different in chubs according to the sampling site. The mean abundances were lower in chubs sampled in the lake than those sampled in the river. Particularly, P. laevis showed the highest prevalences in fish captured in the river sites. The trematodes (P. markewitschi and A. markewitschi) seem to be more related with "lake" typology. These results are discussed and related to differences in life cycle of these parasites and to other factors like sampling period and the conditions of the aquatic sites that could influence the richness of parasite species.     

Landscape history in the subalpine karst region of Moncodeno (Lombardy Prealps, Northern Italy)

In situ larch stumps have been found above the present forest line in the karst region of Moncodeno, Grigna Settentrionale, northern Italy, an area where very few trees currently grow. Samples from living trees at the treeline and in the forest nearby were collected to develop a reference chronology for cross-dating the stumps. The latter span the period between 1218 and 1900, and together with the living trees, which cover the last 150 years, they have led to the development of a 784-year larch tree-ring chronology (1218–2001). Age and location of the stumps reflect past human activity. Deforestation and grazing have intensified the erosion processes in the area. The soil has thinned out and fragmented allowing karst landforms, previously buried by the soil, to emerge. Presently, the rocky outcrops limit the establishment of young larches so that only few scattered trees are currently found.     

A cross sectional study of growth in five somatometric traits of Punjabi boys aged eleven to eighteen years

In the present paper, the mean values, standard deviations and rate of growth of five somatometric traits; namely height, weight, sitting height, height minus sitting height, and bicristal diameter of Punjabi Hindu Khatri (an endogamous caste) boys aged 11 to 18 years are represented. Simple forms of distance and velocity curves for each trait are also given and the ages of adolescent spurts are discussed. Data on the appearance of pigmented axillary and facial hair are also included. An interesting observation of the present study is that up to 13 years of age the lower segment of the body, represented by height minus sitting height measurement, grows at a faster rate while after 13 years, the upper segment of the body represented by sitting height measurement grows at a faster rate. These observations are exactly in line with the earlier observations of Tanner ('62).     

Genetic characterization of Cryptosporidium isolates from ringed seals (Phoca hispida) in Northern Quebec, Canada

This study reports the molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. isolates identified from intestinal contents of ringed seals (Phoca hispida) from Nunavik (Quebec, Canada). Cryptosporidium spp. fragments of 18S rRNA, HSP-70, and actin loci were amplified by PCR from seal intestinal contents. PCR-positive specimens were sequenced and compared with other Cryptosporidium species and genotypes reported previously. Sequence analysis showed the presence of C. muris and 2 novel genotypes in ringed seals.     

Aspects of population dynamics and feeding by piscivorous birds in the intermittently open Riet River estuary,Eastern Cape,South Africa

Aspects of the population dynamics and feeding activity of piscivorous birds in the small (c. 5 ha) intermittently open Riet River estuary, on the south-eastern coastline of South Africa, were investigated monthly from August 2005 to July 2006. A total of 188 birds of 13 species were recorded, of which six were wading piscivores, four aerial divers and three were pursuit swimmers. The Reed Cormorant (Phalacrocorax africanus) was the numerically dominant species, with a mean of 8.25 (SD ± 7.90) individuals per count. Mean numbers of the Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) and Giant Kingfisher (Megaceryle maximus) were 3.42 (SD ± 1.20) and 1.17 (SD ± 0.60) individuals per count, respectively. The remaining 10 species revealed mean values <0.5 individuals per count. Breaching events were associated with a change in feeding groups from waders to pursuit feeders, and a decrease in total bird numbers, most likely due to loss of potential littoral zone foraging habitat for waders resulting from reduced water levels. The highest bird numbers were recorded in winter reflecting the migration of large numbers of Reed Cormorant into the system. Monthly food consumption by all piscivorous birds showed large temporal variability, ranging from 26.35 to 140.58 kg per month.     

Migration to and dispersal from oilseed rape by the pollen beetle,Meligethes aeneus,in relation to wind direction

1 Host‐plant‐odour‐induced upwind anemotaxis is accepted as the main mechanism by which herbivorous insects find their host plant within an heterogenous environment, but field data supporting this hypothesis are scarce. 2 The flight directions of the pollen beetle Meligethes aeneus to and from a plot of winter oilseed rape and the direction of the wind were recorded concurrently. The beetles were sampled by eight double‐sided window traps encircling the plot. Distal sides of the traps, relative to the plot, sampled the beetles as they flew towards the plot, whereas the proximal sides of the traps sampled them as they flew away from the plot. Paired data on daily catch of beetles in distal or proximal traps and the volume of air impacting each trap were compared. 3 Correlations between daily catch of M. aeneus into distal traps and trap wind volume were negative, indicating that flights by both overwintered‐ and new‐generation insects towards the plot were upwind. 4 Correlations between daily catch of M. aeneus into proximal traps and trap wind volume varied with generation. Catch of overwintered‐generation M. aeneus was negatively correlated with trap wind volume, indicating that flight was upwind. Proximal trap catch of the new‐generation M. aeneus was weakly/modestly positively correlated with trap wind volume, indicating that flights were downwind or crosswind. 5 Understanding the effect of wind direction on flight of M. aeneus holds potential for improving the forecasting of their arrival and spatial distribution on the crop for integrated pest management.     

Application of KDE+ software to identify collective risk hotspots of ungulate-vehicle collisions in South Tyrol,Northern Italy

This paper is the first dealing with animal-vehicle collisions (AVC) with red and roe deer in South Tyrol, Northern Italy. The Autonomous Province of Bolzano (South Tyrol) has been collecting AVC data since 2012 on the entire provincial road network. Each year, AVC data accounted for more than 700 cases per year, with several socioeconomic and ecological implications. The aim of this research is to identify the locations where AVC occur more frequently than expected (hotspots) and better outline subsequent implementation of mitigation measures. For an effective identification of AVC hotspots, we applied a combined methodology of temporal and spatial analysis on AVC data collected on the South Tyrol road network in the years 2012–2014. AVC data enabled the identification of the temporal patterns, which showed different behaviors of the two target species in close proximity of the road network and throughout the 12 months. The KDE+ software applied to the 2012–2014 AVC database allowed for spatial analysis and the identification of hotspots, i.e., the road sections having the highest risk for drivers. The integration of the results, coming from the abovementioned methodologies, contributes to a detailed assessment of roads that would allow the identification of the local contributing factors and a base-line of potential problematic areas that will highlight the need for further investigation to assess whether the risk-rank is accurate and allocate effectively limited resources to a feasible number of identified hotspots and reduce the current degree of AVC in the South Tyrolean road network.     

Physical growth of children under five years of age in Nchelenge,Zambia: Results from a district survey

This study focuses on the physical growth of children aged 0–60 months in Nchelenge District, northeast Zambia. By means of a two-stage clustered and random sampling method, 193 households were selected. Weight, height, and mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC) of children 0–60 months were measured. Underweight, stunting, and wasting were defined as weight for age, height for age, and weight for height (W/H), respectively, ≤2 z scores below the median of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reference population. Among 250 children, prevalence rates of 30% underweight, 69.2% stunting, and 4.4% wasting were found, with the highest rates at age 12–<24 months. Prevalence of stunting, underweight, and wasting in children aged 0–<6 months and 6–<12 months suggested that a substantial proportion of infants were premature and/or small for gestational age. The literature suggests that prematurity and intrauterine growth retardation may be quite common in Africa, and this may have important implications for the interpretation of growth data and under nutrition rates. Use of the MUAC < 125 mm as an indicator of wasting resulted in higher estimates of wasting compared to W/H ≤ −2 z scores, and seemed unsuitable as a screening test for wasting in this Zambian population. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

On the Relations of Vertical Distribution,Diurnal Migration and Nutritional State of Herbivorous Zooplankton in the Northern North Sea during FLEX 1976

At a fixed station in the northern North Sea the occurrence of herbivorous and omnivorous zooplankton and the changes in its vertical distribution were studied over 2 1/2 months during the spring phytoplankton bloom in 1976. From a sporadical distribution of relative few plankton organisms in the mixed water column at the end of winter, in the middle of April a significant accumulation of organisms began to occur in the upper layers parallel to the development of stratification and the phytoplankton spring bloom. As exceptions, the populations of Microcalanus pusillus and Metridia lucens withdrew to below the thermocline. About ten days after the decline of the phytoplankton bloom, a few zooplankton species—especially wax ester producing copepods like Calanus finmarchicus, Pseudocalanus elongatus, Microcalanus pusillus, aad Metridia lucens—started diurnal vertical migrations. The movements of the species and stages occurred synchronously, leading in the same direction. Nevertheless, the amplitude of the migrations increased with each maturity stage reached. The vertical migrations, characterized by actual locations and velocities of the centers of gravity of the populations, are interpreted in terms of metabolism leading to fat storage, decomposition and reconstruction of lipids and proteins, in terms of a periodical change in the density of the organisms. Further data sets about the vertical distribution of organisms are cited to support the hypotheses stated.     

Determinants of marital behaviour in five Apennine communities of Central Italy inferred by surname analysis,repeated pairs and kinship estimates

The work makes use of surname analysis, repeated pairs and kinship estimates in 11,009 marriage records celebrated in five communities of the Italian Central Apennine (Celano, Lecce dei Marsi, Ortucchio, Roio, Villavallelonga) from 1802 to 1965 with the objective to deepen knowledge of the relative influence of several determinants on their marital behaviour. These towns are part of the same geographic and economic environment: the slopes of the ancient Fucino Lake. This work further elaborates the results from previous studies on the bio-demographic model of the region. The data were analyzed according to three periods of approximately 50 years. Results show the highest inbreeding coefficients in the pastoral towns of Roio and Villavallelonga. Repeated pair analysis highlights a certain degree of population subdivision which declined in time in Celano, Lecce dei Marsi and Ortucchio. The highest and increasing values of RP-RPr in time in Roio suggest a general reduction in genetic heterogeneity. This is possibly due to the celebration of marriages among families selected on the economic basis of pastoralism, as this town historically has had a leading tradition of sheep-farming. Villavallelonga, excluding isonymous marriages, shows an increase in repeated pair unions in time, thus revealing a substructure with marriages among preferred lineages. This is in line with previous results on consanguineous marriages which indicated the tendency of avoiding unions between close relatives in this small geographic isolate. This study demonstrates the influence of geographical (altitude) and social factors (pastoralism) on the marital structures of the investigated populations.     

Candidaemia Observed at a University Hospital in Milan (Northern Italy) and Review of Published Studies from 2010 to 2014

Background

Candida species represent the fourth leading cause of nosocomial bloodstream infections (BSI) worldwide. However, candidaemia rates and species involved vary geographically.

Objectives

To evaluate the epidemiological pattern, risk factors for mortality and antifungal therapy of Candida BSI over a 5-year period (2008–2012) in a university hospital in northern Italy together with a review of the recent literature concerning candidaemia.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study cross-linked with microbiology database was performed.

Results

A total of 89 Candida BSI were identified in 42 males (47 %) and 47 females (52.8 %). The median age was 69 years (interquartile range 55–78) with 61.8 % of patients being older than 65 years. Considering all hospitalized patients, the overall incidence rate of candidaemia increased significantly from 2008 to 2012 (from 0.4 to 1.68 episodes per 10,000 patient/days) (p = 0.0001) with a mean linear increase in 5 new cases per year. Candida albicans was the predominant species isolated (64 %) followed by C. glabrata (19.1 %). The latter species was observed with significantly higher frequency in Internal Medicine and Intensive Care Units (ICU). In-hospital crude mortality was 41.6 %.

Conclusions

Candidaemia is an increasing BSI in our university hospital, in accordance with that observed in northern Italy, and it is still associated with high in-hospital crude mortality.     

Environmental conditions at arrival to the wintering grounds and during spring migration affect population dynamics of barn swallows Hirundo rustica breeding in Northern Italy

Several populations of long-distance migratory birds are currently suffering steep demographic declines. The identification of the causes of such declines is difficult because population changes may be driven by events occurring in distant geographical areas during different phases of the annual life-cycle of migrants. Furthermore, wintering areas and migration routes of populations of small-sized species are still largely unknown, with few exceptions. In this paper we identified the critical phases of the annual life-cycle that most influence the population dynamics of a small passerine, the Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica. We used information on temporal dynamics of a population breeding in Northern Italy, whose wintering range and timing of migration have been recently described by miniaturised tracking dataloggers. Our results indicated that primary productivity in the wintering grounds in the month when most individuals arrive from autumn migration and primary productivity in an area that is probably a stopover site during spring migration, influenced population dynamics more than habitat conditions at the breeding grounds. By using annual variation in primary productivity at the wintering grounds and stopover sites as predictors, we replicated the observed interannual population changes with great accuracy. However, the steep decline recently suffered by the population could be replicated only by including a constant annual decline in the model, suggesting that changes in primary productivity only predicted the interannual variation around the long-term trend. Our study therefore suggests the existence of critical periods during wintering and migration that may have large impact on population fluctuations of migrant birds.