New Data on the Structure of Ereynetal Organ in Mites of the Family Ereynetidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata)

Studies of the ereynetal organ by means of light microscopy in mites Ereynetes exilis Fain et Prasse, 1973, Laurenacarus eweri dahuricus Zabludovskaya, 1992, Coboydaya nigra Fain, 1985, and Paraspeleognathopsis bakeri (Fain, 1955), and also by methods of scanning and transmitting electron microscopy in the mite Ricardoella oudemansi Thor, 1932 demonstrated that the submerged solenidion, the main part of the organ, is characterized by fine structural features typical of olfactory sensilla.     

Fortuitous infestation or wide host range? The case of Spinturnicidae and their bat hosts: reply to Guiller and Deunff (2010)

Defining the degree of host specificity in host-parasite studies can greatly inform cophylogenetic history. In a recent paper, Guiller and Deunff (2010) cast doubt on some points and conclusions drawn from a cophylogenetic study between European bats and Spinturnicid mites (Bruyndonckx et al., 2009a). Here we answer their criticisms and discuss the notion of specificity in Spinturnicid mites.     

The systematic position of mites of the genus Larinyssus Strandtmann (Gamasoidea, Rhinonyssidae), parasitizing gulls]

A study was carried out of the variability of mited colledted from 6 species of birds as follows: Larus argentatus Pontopp., L. minutus Pall., Gelochelidon nilotica Gm., Chlidonias leucoptera (Temm.), Ch. nigra (L.) and Sterna hirundo L. Structural peculiarities characteristic of the parasites of the above species have been revealed. The mites from St. hirundo were isolated into a distinct species, Larinyssus substerna sp. n., which is most close to L. sterna Fain, 1972. The new species differs from L. sterna in a smaller size of gnathosoma and chelicerae, lesser number of hypostomal setae and the presence of pigidial shields.     

Discovery of fungus-mite mutualism in a unique niche

The floral heads (infructescences) of South African Protea L. represent a most unusual niche for fungi of the economically important genus Ophiostoma Syd. and P. Syd. emend. Z.W. de Beer et al. Current consensus holds that most members of Ophiostoma are vectored by tree-infesting bark beetles. However, it has recently been suggested that mites, phoretic on these bark beetles, may play a central role in the dispersal of Ophiostoma. No bark beetles are known from Protea. Therefore, identifying the vectors of Ophiostoma in Protea infructescences would independently evaluate the role of various arthropods in the dispersal of Ophiostoma. Infructescence-colonizing arthropods were tested for the presence of Ophiostoma DNA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and for reproductive propagules by isolation on agar plates. PCR tests revealed that few insects carried Ophiostoma DNA. In contrast, various mites (Proctolaelaps vandenbergi Ryke, two species of Tarsonemus Canestrini and Fonzago, and one Trichouropoda Berlese species) frequently carried Ophiostoma propagules. DNA sequence comparisons for 28S ribosomal DNA confirmed the presence of O. splendens G. J. Marais and M. J. Wingf., O. palmiculminatum Roets et al., and O. phasma Roets et al. on these mites. Two apparently undescribed species of Ophiostoma were also identified. Light and scanning electron microscopy revealed specialized structures in Trichouropoda and one Tarsonemus sp. that frequently contained Ophiostoma spores. The Trichouropoda sp. was able to complete its life cycle on a diet consisting solely of its identified phoretic Ophiostoma spp. This study provides compelling evidence that mites are the primary vectors of infructescence-associated Ophiostoma spp. in South Africa.     

A new genus and species of quill mites (Acari: Syringophilidae) from a king bird-of-paradise <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cicinnurus regius</Emphasis> (L.)

Neoperisterophila regiusi n. g., n. sp. is described from the quills of Cicinnurus regius (L.) (Passeriformes: Paradisaeidae) from New Guinea. This new genus belongs to the Peristerophila generic group. It differs from other four genera of this group, Peristerophila Kethley, 1970, PsittaciphilusFain et al., 2000, Castosyringophilus Bochkov & Perez, 2002 and Terratosyringophilus Bochkov & Perez, 2002 by the absence of the propodosomal and hysterosomal shields in the females.     

The Labidocarpine mites (Acari: Chirodiscidae) from oriental bats. IV. Genera Olabidocarpus Lawrence, 1948, Dentocarpus Dusbabek & Cruz, 1966, Labidocarpellus Fain, 1976 and Pteropiella Fain, 1970, with a key to the genera of Chirodiscidae

Summary The oriental species of the genera Olabidocarpus Lawrence, 1948, Dentocarpus Dusbabek & Cruz, 1966, Labidocarpellus Fain, 1976 and Pteropiella Fain, 1970 are revised. The species are redescribed and depicted except for a few which have been fully described recently. The total number of species known from these genera in this region is now 17. Labidocarpellus papuanus Fain, 1975 is replaced in the genus Pteropiella. The subgenus Dentocarpus (Paradentocarpus) Fain, 1976 is placed in synonymy with Labidocarpellus and the three species described in this subgenus (D. (P.) abyssinicus Fain, 1976, D. (P.) phyllodermae Fain, 1976, and D. (P.) kimberleyensis Fain & Lukoschus, 1981) are transferred to Labidocarpellus. Labidocarpellus notopteris Fain, 1976 and L. novaeguineae Fain, 1976 are now transferred to Dentocarpus. Olabidocarpus peropteryx Fain, 1972 and O. guyanensis Fain, 1972 are transferred to Labidocarpellus. A key is given to all the genera of Chirodiscidae parasitic on bats. ac]19820102     

Taxonomic reconsideration of the genus Chorioptes Gervais and van Beneden, 1859 (Acari: Psoroptidae)

The present review of the literature on mites of the genus Chorioptes Gervais and Van Beneden, 1859 argues for a support of the validity of C. bovis (Hering, 1845) and C. texanus Hirst, 1924 based on biological, morphological and molecular genetic studies. However, the validity of three further species, C. crewei Lavoipierre, 1958, C. mydaus Fain, 1975 and C. panda Fain and Leclerc, 1975, is regarded as questionable because discriminations of mites, which were described as isolated cases only, were based on morphological features while transfer or cross-breeding studies were not done.     

峡东地区早寒武世水井沱组古盘虫类三叶虫的再研究

对峡东和邻近地区早寒武世古盘虫类三叶虫的再研究,支持将Emeidiscus Li,1980;Mianxrindiscus S．Zhang et Zhu in Zhang et al,1980;Mianxiandiscus(Liangshandiscus)S．Zhang in Zhang et al．,1980;Hupeidiscus Chang in Lu et al．,1974;Guizhoudiscus S．Zhang in Zhang et al．,1980;Shizhudiscus S．Zhang et Zhu in Zhang et al．,1980等属作为Tsunyidiscus Chang,1966的同义名的意见。并对前人所建立的有关属的种,进行了重新研究和整理,作了大量的归并和修订。就目前所知道,峡东地区早寒武世水井沱组的古盘虫类三叶虫仅有Tsunyidiscus Chang,1966和Sinodiscus Chang in Lu et al,1974两属。Hupeidiscus经修订归入Tsunyidiscus Chang,1966后,原Hebediscus orientalis Chang,1953(即原Hupeidiscus的模式种)一种的种名与Tsunyidiscus orientalis(Walcott,1905)重名,故将前者重新命名为Tsunyidiscus pertenus nom．nov．。文中还记述了湖北宜昌、秭归等地的早寒武世古盘虫类三叶虫2属3种,包括Tsunyidiscus yanjiazhaiensis S．Zhang,Zhou et Yuan in Yin and Li,1978;Tsunyidisacutus(Sun,1983);Sinodiscus changyangensis S．Zhang in Zhou et al．,1977。     

Mites of the genus Neharpyrhynchus Fain (Acariformes, Harpirhynchidae) from Neotropical birds

Three new species of parasitic mites of the genus Neharpyrhynchus Fain (Acariformes, Harpirhynchidae) are described from Neotropical birds: Neharpyrhynchus chlorospingussp. n. from Chlorospingus pileatus (Passeriformes, Emberizidae) from Costa Rica, Neharpyrhynchus mironovisp. n. from Dacnys cayana (Passeriformes, Thraupidae) and Neharpyrhynchus tangarasp. n. from Tangara cayana (Thraupidae) both from Brazil. Neharpyrhynchus trochilinus (Fain) is recorded from 3 new host species of the family Trochilidae (Apodiformes), Panterpe insignis and Eugenes fulgens from Costa Rica, and Amazilia lactea from Brazil. Emended diagnosis of the genus and a key to species are provided; all records of Neharpyrhynchus species are summarized.     

Giemsa banding patterns in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

The banding patterns of chromosomes from 20 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (C.L.L.) have been analyzed. 97 of 100 metaphases examined had a normal banding pattern. The 3 remaining metaphases, all from one patient had bands similar to those seen after aging. It is concluded that the chromosomes in C.L.L. have normal banding patterns. The majority of cytogenetic studies in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia have reported normal chromosomes (Fitzgerald and Adams 1965; Oppenheim et al., 1965; Lawler et al., 1968). An inherited abnormality of G group chromosome (No. 22) has been reported in a family, three members of whom developed C.L.L. (Fitzgerald and Hamer, 1969), but further investigations of cases of familial leukaemia failed to reveal a similar abnormality (Fitzgerald et. al., 1966). The development of new techniques which allow the positive identification of individual chromosomes (Caspersson et al., 1969; Dutrillaux and Lejeune, 1971; Sumner et al., 1971; Seabright, 1971), has revolutionised human cutogenetics and revealed additional information regarding chromosome abnormalities and leukaemia (Rowley, 1973; Lobb et al., 1972; Milligan and Garson, 1974). The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether the chromosomes in C.L.L. have normal banding patterns.     

Connective tissue polarity unraveled by a markov-chain mechanism of collagen fibril segment self-assembly

The well-established occurrence of pyroelectricity (Lang, 1966) in tissues of living organisms has found a first explanation by a Markov-chain mechanism taking place during collagen fibril self-assembly in extracytoplasmic channels. Recently reported biochemical findings on the longitudinal fusion reactivity of small fibril segments (which undergo C-, N- and C-, C- but not N-, N-terminal fusions; see Graham et al., 2000; Kadler et al., 1996) may provide a mechanism by which a difference in the fusion probabilities P(CC), P(NN) drives the self-assembly into partial macroscopic polar order. In principle, a Markov-chain growth process can lower the noncentrosymmetric infinity 2 symmetry describing dielectric properties of a growing limb (as managed by fibroblasts) into the polar infinity group. It is proposed that macroscopically polar properties enter the biological world by a stochastic mechanism of unidirectional growth. Polarity formation in organisms shows similarity to effects reported for molecular crystals (Hulliger et al., 2002).     

THE GEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF SINACANTHUS FROM TARIM, CHINA

TheSinacanthusfossiIlocalitieswererestrictedtotheYangtzeregionbeforethediscoveryoftheTarimfossils.TheyusedtobereferredtoasDevonianorEarlyDevonianinage,butlaterdiscoverieshavedemostratedthattheageofSinacanthus-bearingbedsshou1dbeSilurian(Li,198O).In1988,fiveSinacanthusfossill,edswerefoundintheTataertagPormationofKalping,NWTarimandtheageoftheTataertagFormationwasconsideredMiddle-LateSilurian(Table2).Inthesummerofl992,WangJunqing,ZhuMinandtheauthorofthispaperfoundalotoffossilfinspinesi…     

A new genus of quill mites of the family Syringophilidae (Acari: Cheyletoidea) associated with mousebirds (Aves: Coliiformes)

A new monotypic genus Colisyringophilus n. g. is established for C. tanzanicus n. sp., quill mites parasitising two mouse bird species from Tanzania, Colius striatus Gmelin and Urocolius macrourus (Linnaeus). This new genus is closely related to Neoaulobia Fain, Bochkov & Mironov, 2000, but differs from it by the following features: the stylophore is rounded posteriorly, the propodonotal shield is reduced to triangular sclerite bearing bases of setae vi and ve, the hysteronotal shield is absent, legs I are longer than legs II, and apodemes I are distinctly elongated. This is the first record of syringophilid mites from hosts of the order Coliiformes.     

First record of the mite genus Neharpyrhyncuhus (Acari: Harpirhynchidae) in the Russian fauna

The mites of genus Neharpyrhynchus Fain, 1972 (Acari: Harpirhynchidae) are recorded from Rissia for first time. Two species, N. hippolae sp. n. from Hippolais icterina (Passeriformes: Sylviidae) and N. plumaris (Fritsch) from Fringilla coelebs (Passeroformes: Fringillidae) from N. W. Russia was found. N. hippolae sp. n., female holotype (all measurements in mkm, abbreviations--see Fain e.a., 1999): L 517, W 382, LS 179, WS 325, PA 27, thicker than PI 49 and PE 24, pts smooth, vi, ve [symbol: see text] sci are subequal, about 94, l5 247; propodosomal shield not divided; anterior region of pronotum with rounded verrucosites; venter without scales; legs I-II with 2 free segments and strongly developed lobes at their bases; legs III-IV with one segment, bears 4 and 5 setae respectively (in paratypes number of these setae is variable, 4-5). Male: L 227-254, W 210-219, LS 129-134, WS 170-183, pts are smooth, ve 78-87, sci 83-90, sce 89-95, h 90-110; penis 49-56 long; legs III with 2 free segments, basal segment bears seta, apical segment with 5-6 setae; legs IV with one free segment, it bears 4-5 setae. The new species is closely related to N. pilirostris (Berlese et Trouessart, 1889) and distinguished by characters as follows. N. hippolae sp. n. (female): the setae PI about 2 times are longer than PA and PE; the apical segment of legs III-IV bears 4-5 setae. N. pilirostris: setae PA, PI [symbol: see text] PE are subequal; the apical segment of legs III-IV bears 4 setae only. N. plumaris differs from closely related species N. novoplumaris Moss e.a., 1968 by characters as follows. In female of N. plumaris, the setae PA are subequal to PE and 1.6-1.8 times shorter than PI. In N. novoplumaris, the setae PA shorter than PI and PE.     

Chromosome differences in Peromyscus maniculatus populations at different altitudes in Colorado

Mice of the genus Peromyscus all have 48 chromosomes. Yet the appearance of the 48 chromosomes is highly variable from species to species (Hsu & Arrighi, 1966, 1968, 1971; Pathak et al., 1973) and even in different populations of the same species (Sparkes & Arakaki, 1966; Ohno et al., 1966; Hsu & Arrighi, 1968; Arakaki et al. 1970; Te & Dawson, 1971; Bradshaw & Hsu, 1972; Murray & Kitchin, 1976). The evolutionary significance of this variation and the mechanisms for its initiation and maintenance have been of interest for quite a few years. However, it was not until the sophisticated chromosome banding techniques became available that mammalian cytogeneticists were able to begin to study the chromosome variation of Peromyscus in some detail. The use of C-banding led Hsu & Arrighi (1971) to the finding that the short arms of chromosomes in three different species of Peromyscus contained constitutive heterochromatin. These results suggested that the variations in the number of acrocentric chromosomes in Peromyscus might be a result of different amounts of heterochromatin. Later studies (Duffey, 1972; Waterbury, 1972; and Pathak et al., 1973) were also consistent with this hypothesis.However, it was soon discovered that not all chromosomal differences among Peromyscus populations are due to heterochromatin changes. Studies by Arighi et al. (1976) and Murray & Kitchin (1976) showed that some chromosomal differences between species and subspecies of Peromyscus are due to pericentric inversions. Thus, it appears that both inversions and the addition of heterochromatin are involved in the evolution of the karyotype of Peromyscus.The purpose of our study was to investigate the chromosomes of Peromyscus maniculatus in different populations in Colorado (U.S.A.) and to test for relationships involving an altitudinal gradient. In the first part of this study, orcein stained chromosomes from three subspecies of mice sampled at nine different altitudes were examined for karyotype variability. In the second part of the study, karyotypes of two subspecies (P. m. rufinus and P. m. luteus), representing high and low altitude populations were examined with Q banding to determine the mechanisms responsible for chromosomal differences.     

Evaluation of membrane filter methods for DNA-DNA hybridization

Three membrane filter methods for DNA hybridization were compared. In all of them filter-fixed DNA is spontaneously released during incubation. The effect depends largely on the temperature: 40 to 85% of DNA is released at 70 to 80 C; at higher temperatures most of the DNA is released and heterologous DNA relatedness values are unreliable. Only the dimethylsulfoxide filter method (Legault-Démare et al., 1967) can be recommended for the entire temperature and % GC range. The methods of Denhardt (1966) and of Warnaar and Cohen (1966) are not recommended for hybridizations of DNA containing more than 50% GC. Impure DNA yields too low DNA relatedness values.     

Further studies on the E blood group system in pigs

The blood group system E in pigs is similar to the B system in cattle, one of the most complicated of the hitherto known blood group systems.
Studies of Andresen (1957), Saison (1958), Andresen & Wroblewski (1959), Andresen et al. (1959), Andresen (1962, 1965), Rasmusen (1965), Hojný et al. (1966), Dinklage et al. (1966), Dinklage & Major (1968), Hradecký & Hojný (1972), Hojný & Hradeck (1972, 1973) lead to the determination of the various E alleles.
This report presents information of a new blood group factor E_p in pigs.     

Limiting factors in murine hematopoietic stem cell assays

Hematopoiesis arguably provides the most well-defined role of stem cells in tissue development, maintenance, and repair, largely because of the experimental methods developed over decades of investigation. Assays of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell potential were developed in the late 1950s-1960s with the first reports of in vivo transplantation into lethally irradiated recipients (Ford et al., 1956; McCulloch and Till, 1960) and clonal growth of hematopoietic bone marrow cells in vitro (Bradley and Metcalf, 1966). These two major assays have undergone substantial refinement but remain the foundation for defining hematopoietic stem cell biology. Here, we provide a brief overview of methods commonly used to analyze hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell content in mice, discuss the limitations of these assays, and provide an in-depth review of the limiting dilution assay (Szilvassy et al., 1990), the best single assay for quantitating HSC content.     

Introduction

Conclusion The editor and authors contributing to this special issue ofExperimental and Applied Acarology, which is dedicated to Professor Alex Fain, have compiled a very complete collection of articles about the various aspects of the allergenic house-dust mites. The result is a valuable document, worth the dedication to the acarologist who since November 1964 has contributed so much to our knowledge of the Pyroglyphidae.