NaturalMycoplasma arthritidis infection in mice

B6C3F₁ mice from a hybrid production colony frequently were serologically positive by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and consistently negative by culture forMycoplasma pulmonis. Subsequently, 162 mice were obtained and intensively studied using an expanded group of cultural procedures, ELISA, and histopathology. Lesions attributable to mycoplasma infection were not found, butMycoplasma arthritidis was isolated from 20 mice. TheM. pulmonis ELISA was positive (IgM, IgG, or both) in 113 mice. Selected sera were tested simultaneously in both theM. pulmonis ELISA and in an ELISA usingM. arthritidis antigen, and were found to be positive in both the IgM and IgG classes in both ELISAs. Thus, cross-reacting antibody was produced in mice naturally infected withM. arthritidis, confirming previous observations based on experimental infections. To our knowledge, this is the first report of naturalM. arthritidis infection in laboratory mice.     

On the carrying behaviour of basic South American primates

InCallithrix, Saguinus, Aotus, andCallicebus other group members than the mother participate in infant care. Differences among these species are obvious in respect to the time of being off any caregiver, and in respect to the carrying position (Aotus andCallicebus). Alloparental care, a basic behaviour pattern in these species, has evolved from the parking behaviour of the prosimians. The infants are «parked» at other group members.     

Biological activity of 125iodine labelled globin mRNA in an Ehrlich ascites cell-free system

Globin mRNA was isolated from avian erythroblasts and labelled with ¹²⁵iodine to a specific activity of 4.5×10⁶ dpm μg^-1 mRNA. The labelling procedure was modified as compared to common techniques in order to protect the mRNA against degradation. When this RNA is translated in an Ehrlich ascites cell-free system globin chains are synthesized as is demonstrated by the analysis of the in vitro synthesized products. The biological activity of ¹²⁵iodine labelled mRNA has proven to be 30% of that of unlabelled mRNA.     

The role of homoeologous group 1 chromosomes in the control of rRNA genes in wheat

The presence of rRNA genes on homoeologous chromosomes 1A, 1B, and 1D of hexaploid wheat was investigated by rRNA/DNA hybridization, using DNA purified from aneuploid and substitution line derivatives of the variety Chinese Spring. Doubling the number of 1B chromosomes increased the number of rRNA genes by 31–49% but deleting the 1B chromosomes decreased the number by only 15–23%. This suggests that changes may occur in rRNA gene multiplicity at other nucleolar organizer sites to partially compensate for a deficiency of rRNA genes. There was no unequivocal evidence of rRNA genes on Chinese Spring chromosome 1A or 1D, but other varieties were shown to have rRNA genes on chromosome 1A. These results are consistent with the cytological observations that chromosomes 1A and 1B but not 1D possess nucleolar organizers.     

Species ofIchneumonidae [Hym.], parasites of some lepidopterous pests of lucerne in Romania

Eleven species ofIchneumonidae were identified as parasites of lepidopterous pests of lucerne. All of the parasitized Lepidoptera are new host records for theseIchneumonidae andDiadegma variegata Szépl. is a species of parasite new to Romania.     

Gill Monogenea of deepwater and surface fish in southeastern Australia

The faunas of gill Monogenea of marine teleost fishes in deep and surface waters of southeastern Australia are compared, based on extensive surveys: 1563 fish (66 or 67 species, 35 families, 15 orders) in deepwater; 1862 fish (46 species, 26 families, 7 orders) in surface water. Relative species diversity (number of species of Monogenea/all fish species examined) is approximately five times greater in surface waters. There is a similarly low relative species diversity of Monogenea in the northwestern Pacific and northwestern Atlantic deepwater. Deepwater Monogenea in all seas belong mainly to the Diclidophoroidea (13 of 19 species in southeastern Australia, 14 of 17 species in the northwestern Pacific, at least 9 of 12 (?) species in the northwestern Atlantic) predominantly Diclidophoridae. Important groups of surface Monogenea in southeastern Australia are the Microcotylidae (34 of 83 species), Dactylogyridae Ancyrocephalinae (15 species) and Capsaloidea (12 species); only 10 species belong to the Diclidophoroidea and 2 of those to the Diclidophoridae. It is concluded that deepsea Monogenea in southeastern Australia show no or very little relationship with surface Monogenea of the same geographical area, but close relationship with Monogenea in the deepsea of other geographical areas. Some deepsea Monogenea have a wide geographical distribution in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Arctic and Antarctic Monogenea also are not related to deepwater forms. The main group of deepsea Monogenea is considered to be archaic.     

Dating the Northern African cercopithecid fossil record

The primitive cercopithecidProhylobates is known only from the (middle?) Orleanian sites of Moghara (Egypt) and Zelten (Libya). No cercopithecid is known from north Africa during the Astaracian and Vallesian periods.Macaca (or a closely allied form) appears in the (late?) Turolian of Sahabi (Libya) and Menacer (Algeria) where it is associated with colobines.Macaca persists into the Pliocene (Wadi Natrun, Egypt; Garaet Ichkeul; Ain Brimba) but apparently disappears before the end of this period, and is absent from north Africa until the middle Pleistocene (Ain Mefta).Theropithecus is known from a single tooth from the upper Pliocene of Ain Jourdel, and from several jaws from the middle Pleistocene of Ternifine (c. 0.7 m.y.) and Thomas Quarry III (c. 0.4 m.y.) in Algeria.