Seasonal study of the fungal biota of the fur of dogs

During a one year period, 944 dogs from the Municipal kennel of Barcelona were examined to detect animals with suspected dermatophytosis. Only a few animals (1.8%) presented skin lesions but none of them had dermatophytosis. A representative number of dogs without visible skin lesions (n=172), selected at random, were used to carry out a seasonal study of the mycobiota of their fur. Fifteen isolates belonging to the genera Microsporum and Trichophyton were isolated from 14 of the 172 (8.1%) dogs without lesions. The identity of these fungi was Microsporum gypseum (6/15), Trichophyton terrestre (4/15), M. canis (2/15), M. cookei (2/15) and Trichophyton ajelloi (1/15) (one strain each of M. gypseum and T. ajelloi were isolated from one dog). Species of Penicillium (% prevalence=89.5%), Alternaria (86.6%), Cladosporium (84.9%), Aspergillus (77.3%), Scopulariopsis (65.7%) and Chrysosporium (64.5%) were the most prevalent. No significant differences in the fungal biota were observed with respect to age, gender, hair length or between mixed and pure breed dogs. A large number of isolates, including species belonging to the genera Beauveria, Chrysosporium, Malbranchea and Scopulariopsis, that macroscopically and/or microscopically resemble dermatophytes and may be mistaken for them, produced a red color change in Dermatophyte Test Medium. No significant seasonal difference was detected among the isolates belonging to the the most frequently encountered genera, with the exception of Scopulariopsis (higher in summer and autumn) and Chrysosporium (higher in summer). Species from other genera, with lower occurrence also presented significant differences in their seasonal distribution. Arthrinium, Aureobasidium, Chaetomium and Phoma spp. presented maximum prevalence peaks in spring, Fusarium, Paecilomyces, Phoma and Rhizopus spp. in summer and Geotrichum and Mucor spp. in autumn. The Microsporum and Trichophyton species were more frequently isolated in summer.     

Latitudinal differentiation in the effects of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium spp. on the feeding and reproduction of populations of the copepod Acartia hudsonica

Blooms of the dinoflagellate Alexandrium spp. increase in their frequency, toxicity and historical presence with increasing latitude from New Jersey (USA) to the Gaspé peninsula (Canada). Biogeographic variation in these blooms results in differential exposure of geographically separate copepod populations to toxic Alexandrium. We hypothesize that the ability of copepods to feed and reproduce on toxic Alexandrium should be higher in copepods from regions that are frequently exposed to toxic Alexandrium blooms. We tested this hypothesis with factorial common environment experiments in which female adults of the copepod Acartia hudsonica from five separate populations ranging from New Jersey to New Brunswick were fed toxic and non-toxic strains of Alexandrium, and the non-toxic flagellate Tetraselmis sp. Consistent with the hypothesis, when fed toxic Alexandrium we observed significantly higher ingestion and egg production rates in the copepods historically exposed to toxic Alexandrium blooms relative to copepods from regions in which Alexandrium is rare or absent. Such differences among copepod populations were not observed when copepods were fed non-toxic Alexandrium or Tetraselmis sp. These results were also supported by assays in which copepods from populations both historically exposed and naïve to toxic Alexandrium blooms were fed mixtures of toxic Alexandrium and Tetraselmis sp. Two-week long experiments demonstrated that when copepods from populations naïve to toxic Alexandrium were fed a toxic strain of Alexandrium they failed to acclimate, such that their ingestion rates remained low throughout the entire two-week period. The differences observed among populations suggest that local adaptation of populations of A. hudsonica from Massachusetts (USA) to New Brunswick (Canada) has occurred, such that some populations are resistant to toxic Alexandrium.     

Interference of Seasonal Variation on the Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activities of the Essential Oils from the Leaves of Iryanthera polyneura in the Amazon Rain Forest

The essential oils (EOs) obtained from the leaves of Iryanthera polyneura Ducke trees was chemically Assessed and tested for the ability of inhibiting the growth of Candida albicans, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans and S. sanguinis. The oil was also tested against breast (MCF‐7) and prostate (PC‐3) cancer cell lines. Minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) and 50 % inhibition concentrations (IC₅₀) values were obtained. EOs were active against Gram‐positive bacteria. Spathulenol, α‐cadinol and τ‐muurolol were major components of EOs. The oils showed a higher cytotoxicity against PC‐3 than MCF‐7 cells, although the oils were active against both cell types. Oils obtained from leaves collected in the dry season were more active against E. faecalis, S. aureus and PC‐3, while the oils obtained from leaves collected in the rainy season were more active against S. mutans, S. sanguinis and MCF‐7. The antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of the essential oils from the leaves of I. polyneura are related to the seasonal climate variation and are influenced by compounds that are minor components of the oils.     

Cytogenetics of the hybrids of three members of the grasshopper genus Vandiemenella (Orthoptera: Eumastacidae: Morabinae)

Certain members of the grasshopper genus Vandiemenella (earlier referred to as the viatica group) form a group of chromosomally distinct taxa with contiguous distributions through south-eastern Australia. Meiosis of hybrids between three of the members that occur on Kangaroo Island, South Australia, was studied. The three members were the taxonomically undescribed form P24(XY) and two chromosomal races of V. viatica. Hybrids were either collected from narrow overlap zones (viatica ₁₉-viatica ₁₇, viatica ₁₉-P24 (XY), P24(XY)-vitica ₁₇) or were reared from grasshoppers collected from areas close to the overlap zones. — Chromosomal heterozygotes were found in all three overlap zones, but were frequent only in the overlap zone of P24(XY) and viatica ₁₇. Male chromosomal heterozygotes of P24(XY) and viatica ₁₉ and of viatica ₁₇ and viatica ₁₉ had abnormalities of meiosis, such as asynapsis (or desynapsis), which were generally associated with the chromosomes that distinguish the taxa. These abnormalities would be expected to lead to a reduction of fertility and so may contribute to reproductive isolation. Analysis of embryos from female heterozygotes of P24(XY) and viatica ₁₇ indicated that similar abnormalities of meiosis occurred in these females. Very few meiotic abnormalities, however, were seen in the corresponding male hybrids. The structurally different X chromosomes of female hybrids of P24(XY) and viatica ₁₇ were recovered in a distorted ratio in their embryos. The distortion was only slight and would not be expected to be of importance in the evolution of the group, particularly since the distortion favoured the original rather than the derived type of chromosome.     

Schistocephalus cotti n. sp. (Cestoda: Pseudophyllidea) plerocercoids from bullheads Cottus gobio L. in an Arctic river in Finland, with a key to the plerocercoids of the Palaearctic species of the genus

We compared plerocercoids of Schistocephalus Creplin, 1829 from Cottus gobio (n = 57) and Gasterosteus aculeatus f. semiarmatus (n = 45) from the River Utsjoki, Finland, taken only from single worm infections. Segment numbers in the two populations were distinct (G. aculeatus range 55–107, average 74 (SE 1.66), median 73; C. gobio range 122–189, average 146 (SE 1.78); median 144). The mean difference between populations, 71.47, t = 28.76 with 100 degrees of freedom, two-tailed p value <0.001, was considered extremely significant. Amplification of microsatellite loci that were originally designed for Schistocephalus from G. aculeatus was positive for all larvae from G.␣aculeatus (n = 20), whereas in no plerocercoids from C. gobio (n = 20) were any of the six microsatellites amplified, indicating that plerocercoids from G. aculeatus and C. gobio were two distinct genetic populations of Schistocephalus. The material from C. gobio is described as S. cotti n. sp. Plerocercoids of the Palaearctic species of Schistocephalus are identified as follows: S. nemachili Dubinina, 1959 with 228–235 or more segments, specific to Barbatula spp. (Balitoridae); S. pungitii Dubinina, 1959 with 62–92 (usually 70–80) segments, specific to Pungitius pungitius; S. solidus (Müller, 1776) in two forms, one in G. aculeatus f. leiurus and f.␣semiarmatus, with 48–100 (usually 65–75) segments, and the other in G. aculeatus f. trachurus, with 99–138 (usually 112–122) segments; and S. cotti n. sp. with 103–189 (usually 130–159) segments, probably specific to cottids. Nearctic Schistocephalus were not considered owing to the uncertain status of some North American records. Some other species of Schistocephalus of highly doubtful status were briefly noted. Cross-infection experiments and molecular studies are recommended to further elucidate the interrelationships between the various species of Schistocephalus.     

Length‐weight and length‐length relationships of the genus Alosa (Clupeoidei: Clupeiformes: Clupeidae) along the southern Caspian Sea coast

Length–weight (LWR) and length–length (LLR) relationships were estimated for four shad species of the genus Alosa, reported from along the southern Caspian Sea coast, north of Iran in a study from March 2014. Two of these species are endemic to the Caspian Sea. The length–weight parameter b for these species ranged from 2.99 to 3.24, with regression coefficients (r²) ranging from 0.91 to 0.99. All LLRs were highly significant (r² > 0.96).     

Length‐weight relationships for three zoarcoid fish species from the coastal waters of the northern Yellow Sea,China

Length–weight relationships (LWRs) were determined for three zoarcoid fish species: Zoarces elongatus Kner, 1868, Pholis fangi (Wang & Wang, 1935) and Chirolophis japonicus Herzenstein, 1890. Samples were collected from the coastal waters of the northern Yellow Sea (near Dalian City) using bottom trawl nets (20 mm stretched mesh size in the cod‐end) for Zoarces elongatus and Pholis fangi and set gill nets (mesh size 15.6 mm) for Chirolophis japonicus. Samples were taken from mid‐March to early April 2017. Parameter b values in the fitted LWRs were 3.119, 3.440 and 3.423 for Z. elongatus, P. fangi and C. japonicus, respectively.     

Seasonal influence on the reproductive performance of swine in the humid zone of Ghana

Relationships between month and climatic factors (ambient temperature, relative humidity, RH, and rainfall) with litter size, conception rate, days from weaning to conception and mortalities at birth and preweaning were studied in large white pigs under research station (RS) and commercial farm (CF) conditions. In RS and CF 868 and 572 farrowing records, respectively, were involved. Litter size was almost evenly distributed in all months of the year, at both farms, despite significant (P<0.05) negative but low correlations between litter size and maximum (r=–0.272, RS) and minimum (r=–0.233, CR) temperatures in the month after conception. There were no significant differences in conception rate between months. However under RS conditions there were significant (P<0.05) correlations between minimum temperature and conception rate in the months prior to (r=–0.362) and at conception (r=–0.221). Days from weaning to conception were bimodally distributed with peak values occurring between January and June and October and December. Significant mortality at birth (P<0.05) and preweaning was generally highest in the cold rainy months of May to October. However, only under CF conditions were there significant correlations between minimum temperature in the month of birth and percentage mortalities at birth (r=–0.217) and preweaning (r=–0.250). Rainfall and RH had no significant (P>0.05) correlation with birth and preweaning mortalities.     

Kinetoplast DNA from plant trypanosomatids responsible for the Hartrot disease in coconut trees

Summary— Phytomonas parasites were isolated from crude sap of coconut trees affected with Hartrot disease in French Guyana (Hart 1 and Hart 2) and Brazil (Hart 3) and cultured in vitro. Two Phytomonas isolates obtained from weeds belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family and growing in an infected coconut tree plantation were also cultured (E hys and E hir). The kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) was purified and incubated with topoisomerase II which decatenates the huge network into free minicircles of 1.6 kilobase (kb) pair for Hart 1, Hart 2 and Hart 3 and 1.3 kb for E hys and E hir. Restriction endonuclease analysis showed that more than 90% of Hart 1 and Hart 2 minicircle content was homogeneous in base sequence while minicircles from Hart 3, E hys and E hir were heterogeneous. Minicircles exhibited restriction cleavage patterns characteristic of each Phytomonas isolate allowing their identification, except for the major class of Hart I and Hart 2 minicircles whose restriction maps were identical. Cross-hybridization experiments were performed by Southern blot. A high sequence homology was found between minicircies from Hart 1, Hart 2 and Hart 3 on one hand and those from E hys and E hir on the other. In contrast, minicircles from the Hartrot Phytomonas and those from the two Euphorbiaceae Phytomonas present little sequence homology. These data showed that minicircles from Phytomonas infecting coconut trees displayed biochemical properties different from those of other Phytomonas. This could lead to the elaboration of new molecular tools aimed to help to epidemiological studies, to an early diagnosis and to a better control of the disease.     

Bacteria associated with four species of Dacus (Diptera: Tephritidae) and their role in the nutrition of the larvae

Summary The bacteria associated with Dacus tryoni (Froggatt), Dacus jarvisi (Tryon), Dacus neohumeralis (Hardy) and Dacus cacuminatus (Hering) were examined. Bacteria were isolated from the surface of freshly-laid eggs, from within surface sterilised pupae, from heads and abdomens of wild and laboratory-maintained flies, and from decomposed fruits in which the wild larvae were feeding. A more diverse flora was associated with D. tryoni and D. jarvisi (15 and 14 species, respectively) than with D. neohumeralis and D. cacuminatus (9 and 6 species, respectively). Most of the bacteria belonged to the family Enterobacteriaceae and while there were similarities of bacterial associations between fly species there was no evidence of a strict symbiotic association of a particular bacterium or bacteria with each species of fly. The larvae of D. jarvisi were unable to develop normally in an artificial medium containing unhydrolysed protein and free of bacteria and on a medium containing casein and Serratia liquefaciens (isolated from the flies and shown to secrete protease) the larvae died. On the same casein medium containing Enterobacter cloacae (isolated from the flies and shown to be protease negative) the larvae developed normally. Larvae of D. tryoni and D. jarvisi were devoid of protease and cellulase activity, but contained some amylase activity. The significance of these results in terms of current hypotheses concerning symbioses between tephritids and bacteria is discussed.     

青檀叶片内生和附生真菌组成及生态分布

对我国古老特有植物青檀叶片进行内生和附生真菌的研究,以了解青檀叶片内生和附生真菌的组成特点和探讨内生和附生真菌菌群之间的可能联系,为研究真菌资源多样性、植物附生和内生真菌的相互演化关系及真菌与宿主植物协同进化等提供有益参考资料。研究结果表明,从健康的青檀叶片获得可培养内生真菌839株,附生真菌1857株,共计2696株,鉴定其分属于4目,5科,43属。在目的分类水平上,内生和附生真菌均以丛梗孢目Moniliales为优势菌群,分别占90.23%和92.51%;在科的水平上,内生真菌以暗梗孢科Dematiaceae和丛梗孢科Moniliaceae为优势菌群,分别占47.56%和42.67%,附生真菌以丛梗孢科Moniliaceae和暗梗孢科Dematiaceae为优势菌群,分别占67.04%和25.47%;在属的水平上,内生真菌以黑团孢属Periconia和青霉属Penicillium为优势菌群,分别占31.47%和10.73%,附生真菌以小球霉属Glomerularia、膝葡孢属Gonatobotrys和青霉属Penicillium为优势菌群,分别占20.03%、13.95%和12.22%。青檀叶片内生真菌和附生真菌均存在的菌群数量达到23个属,占53.49%。内生真菌特有的属有6个,共分离19株,占0.70%,附生真菌特有的属有14个,共分离120株,占4.45%。内生真菌的Shannon-Wiener index(H')多样性指数(2.44)和Margalef index(R)丰富度指数(2.88)分别小于附生真菌ShannonWiener index(H')多样性指数(2.57)和Margalef index(R)丰富度指数(3.32),但两者的Evenness index(E)均匀度指数几乎相等。青檀叶片内生和附生真菌菌群组成具有较高的相似性,相似性系数达0.70。通过Fisher's exact test分析表明青檀叶片内生和附生真菌菌群组成无明显差异(P=0.072)。     

Ticks and tick-borne pathogens in livestock from nomadic herds in the Somali Region,Ethiopia

Between May 2006 and January 2007, blood samples and ticks were randomly collected from 220 nomadic animals from Filtu and Dollo Odo districts, Libaan zone, in the Somali Region of Ethiopia. Overall, 81.5% cattle, 98.2% camels, 53.4% goats and 61.1% sheep were infested by ixodid ticks. Collected ticks (n = 1,036) were identified as Rhipicephalus pulchellus (40.1%), R. pravus (25.8%), Amblyomma gemma (9.4%), Hyalomma rufipes (13.3%), H. truncatum (2.8%), H. impeltatum (1.2%) and H. dromedarii (0.5%); immature stages (6.1%) belonged to the genera Rhipicephalus and Amblyomma. Tick infestation burden was evaluated by the Tick Abundance Score method on 57 animals from Dollo Odo in August 2006, and it was significantly higher in cattle and camels than in small ruminants (p < 0.001). Reverse Line Blot Hybridisation was applied to detect Theileria, Babesia, Ehrlichia and Anaplasma spp. Five out of 50 blood samples from Filtu, four from cattle and, surprisingly, one from a camel, were positive for Theileria mutans and two from cattle for T. velifera. Adult ticks (n = 104) from both districts were tested and A. gemma from cattle were positive to T. velifera (1) and Ehrlichia ruminantium (5 samples). Positive E. ruminantium samples were also tested by PCR targeting pCS20 and 16S rRNA genes and submitted to DNA sequencing. The phylogenetic reconstruction of pCS20 fragment showed the presence of the Somali region sequences in the East-South African group. Our results are the first available on ticks and selected tick-borne diseases from the Somali region of Ethiopia and could be used as preliminary information for planning sustainable control strategies for tick and tick-borne pathogens in the study area and in neighbouring areas with similar socio-ecological features.     

Prevalence, species distribution and antimicrobial resistance of enterococci isolated from dogs and cats in the United States

Aims: The contribution of dogs and cats as reservoirs of antimicrobial resistant enterococci remains largely undefined. This is increasingly important considering the possibility of transfer of bacteria from companion animals to the human host. In this study, dogs and cats from veterinary clinics were screened for the presence of enterococci. Methods and Results: A total of 420 enterococci were isolated from nasal, teeth, rectal, belly and hindquarters sites of 155 dogs and 121 cats from three clinics in Athens, GA. Eighty per cent (124 out of 155) of the dogs and 60% (72 out of 121) of the cats were positive for enterococci. From the total number of dog samples (n = 275), 32% (n = 87) were from hindquarter, 31% (n = 86) were rectal, and 29% (n = 79) were from the belly area. The majority of isolates originated from rectal samples (53 out of 145; 37%) from cats. The predominant species identified was Enterococcus faecalis (105 out of 155; 68%) from dogs and E. hirae (63 out of 121; 52%) from cats. Significantly more E. faecalis were isolated from rectal samples than any other enterococcal species (P < 0·05) for both dogs and cats suggesting site specific colonization of enterococcal species. The highest levels of resistance were to ciprofloxacin in E. faecium (9 out of 10; 90%), chloramphenicol resistance in E. faecalis (17 out of 20; 85%) and gentamicin resistance in E. faecalis (19 out of 24; 79%) from dog samples and nitrofurantoin resistance in E. faecium (15 out of 19; 79%) from cats. Multi‐drug resistance (MDR) (resistance ≥2 antimicrobials) was observed to as few as two and as many as eight antimicrobials regardless of class. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that dogs and cats are commonly colonized with antimicrobial resistant enterococci. Significance and Impact of the Study: Dogs and cats may act as reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance genes that can be transferred from pets to people.     

Distribution of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae in the plants and rhizosphere soils of the tropical plains,Tamil Nadu,India

We examined 737 plant species from 121 families of angiosperms and four species of pteridophytes for mycorrhizal association. Only 372 species showed infection. Mycorrhizal colonization was recorded in 49% of the total flora. The quantum of colonization ranged from 10% to 90%. In all, 35 species exhibited mycorrhizal colonization higher than 75%. Of the four pteridophytes, Isoetes coromandelina showed mycorrhizal colonization by Entrophospora schenckii and Glomus aggregation in its rhizosphere. For the first time in India, 102 of these species were reported to be mycorrhizal. Glomus fasciculatum (13.8%) and G. aggregation (11%) were prevalent in the rhizosphere soils. Acaulospora foveata (0.2%), A. longula (0.5%) and Glomus hoi (0.9%) were the least represented as mycorrhizal spores. A total of 40 vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal species belonging to Acaulospora, Entrophospora, Gigaspora, Glomus, Sclerocystis and Scutellospora were isolated from the rhizosphere soils of different ecosystems.     

Selective inhibition of the growth of incompatible pollen tubes by S-protein in the Japanese pear

The S-allele-associated proteins (S-proteins) in the styles of the Japanese pear (Pyrus serotina Rehd. var. culta Rehd.) were purified by cation exchange chromatography. Their inhibitory action on the growth of incompatible pollen tubes (pollen tubes bearing the same S- allele as in the style from which the S-proteins were prepared) was characterized in vitro. Germination and tube growth of self-pollen (pollen from the same cultivar from which the S-proteins were prepared) decreased dose-dependently when the S-protein was added to the medium. Tube length was reduced to 10% that of compatible pollen tubes (pollen tubes bearing the S-allele different from that in the style from which the S-proteins were prepared) at 1.5 μg μl¹. S-proteins from Shinsui (S ₄ S ₅ ) also inhibited growth of cross-incompatible Kosui (S ₄ S ₅ ) pollen tubes, but not of compatible Chojuro (S ₂ S ₃ ) pollen tubes. After inactivation of RNase of the S- protein, the inhibitory action of the S-protein disappeared. These results indicate that the S-protein acts directly to inhibit growth of incompatible pollen tubes in Japanese pear styles, and that the RNase activity of the protein is essential for the biological function. However, small amounts of proteins that co-migrated with the S-protein may also play some roles in the inhibition. This is the first report on the selective inhibitory action of S-proteins in Rosaceae. Received: 11 April 2000 / Revision accepted: 28 September 2000     

Length–weight relationships of 11 fish species from the Yibin reach of the Yangtze River,southwest China

Length‐weight relationships (LWRs) were evaluated for 11 fish species from the Yibin reach of the upper Yangtze River, southwest China. Samples were collected from April 2012 to January 2013. Length‐weight relationships for 11 species were unknown to FishBase, and new maximum lengths are recorded for five species. Results indicate that parameter b ranged from 2.586 (Sinibotia superciliaris) to 3.164 (Rhinogobio ventralis), and r² values ranged from 0.931 (Sinibotia superciliaris) to 0.996 (Silurus meridionalis).     

Valorization of the Green Waste from Two Varieties of Fennel and Carrot Cultivated in Tunisia by Identification of the Phytochemical Profile and Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Activities of Their Essentials Oils

The purpose of this study was to identify the chemical composition and the antibacterial activity of the essential oils (EOs) extracted from the green tops of Daucus carota L. subsp. sativus (Hoffm .) Arcang. plants producing yellow roots (DcsYR) and those producing orange roots (DcsOR) and from two varieties of Foeniculum vulgare subsp. vulgare cultivated in Tunisia. Analyses revealed that the EOs from the two D. carota varieties were rich in constituents belonging to sesquiterpenes. Phenylpropanoids and non‐terpene derivatives were the most abundant classes of compounds in the EOs from the two varieties of F. vulgare, of which compositions were predominated by (E)‐anethole and p‐acetonylanisole. All the tested EOs were significantly more effective against Gram‐negative bacteria, and that obtained from var. azoricum was more active against the yeast Candida albicans than the reference drug. The EOs obtained from these by‐products showed indeed interesting potential to be promoted as natural antimicrobials in food preservation systems, as well as the possibility to be used in flavor industries.     

Highly polymorphic microsatellite loci from the giant mottled eel (Anguilla marmorata)

Eighteen polymorphic microsatellite loci from the giant mottled eel (Anguilla marmorata) were identified and their characteristics were described. These markers were tested in two wild populations from China (n = 20) and Australia (n = 20) respectively. The number of alleles ranged from 9 to 14 with an average of 11.28 per locus. The mean expected heterozygosity (H_E) was 0.8696 in the population from China, 0.8823 in the population from Australia. No locus deviates significantly from Hardy–Weinberg proportions (P < 0.05).     

A comprehensive aerobiological study of the airborne pollen in the Irish environment

Respiratory allergies triggered by pollen allergens represent a significant health concern to the Irish public. Up to now, Ireland has largely refrained from participating in long-term aerobiological studies. Recently, pollen monitoring has commenced in several sampling locations around Ireland. The first results of the pollen monitoring campaigns for Dublin (urban) and Carlow (rural) concerning the period 2017–2019 and 2018–2019, respectively, are presented herein. Additional unpublished pollen data from 1978–1980 and, 2010–2011 were also incorporated in creating the first pollen calendar for Dublin. During the monitoring period over 60 pollen types were identified with an average Annual Pollen Integral (APIn) of 32,217 Pollen × day/m³ for Dublin and 78,411 Pollen × day/m³ for Carlow. The most prevalent pollen types in Dublin were: Poaceae (32%), Urticaceae (29%), Cupressaceae/Taxaceae (11%), Betula (10%), Quercus (4%), Pinus (3%), Fraxinus (2%), Alnus (2%) and Platanus (1%). The predominant pollen types in Carlow were identified as Poaceae (70%), Urticaceae (12%), Betula (10%), Quercus (2%), Fraxinus (1%) and Pinus (1%). These prevalent pollen types increased in annual pollen concentration in both locations from 2018 to 2019 except for Fraxinus. Although higher pollen concentrations were observed for the Carlow (rural) site a greater variety of pollen types were identified for the Dublin (urban) site. The general annual trend in the pollen season began with the release of tree pollen in early spring, followed by the release of grass and herbaceous pollen which dominated the summer months with the annual pollen season coming to an end in October. This behaviour was illustrated for 21 different pollen types in the Dublin pollen calendar. The correlation between ambient pollen concentration and meteorological parameters was also examined and differed greatly depending on the location and study year. A striking feature was a substantial fraction of the recorded pollen sampled in Dublin did not correlate with the prevailing wind directions. However, using non-parametric wind regression, specific source regions could be determined such as Alnus originating from the Southeast, Betula originating from the East and Poaceae originating from the Southwest.