Checklist of helminth parasites of terrestrial mammals in New Zealand

Abstract

A two‐part referenced checklist is provided, including a total of 171 parasites (136 nematodes, 27 cestodes, 7 trematodes, 1 acanthocephalan) from 32 hosts.     

Checklist of helminth parasites of birds in New Zealand

Abstract

A cross-referenced list is provided of 94 helminth taxa, at the generic or specific level, from 61 bird host species in the New Zealand subregion.     

Richness and endemism of helminth parasites of freshwater fishes in Mexico

Distribution records of 152 adult helminth taxa parasites of freshwater fishes in Mexico were analysed to determine areas of high richness and endemism. Distribution maps were prepared for each taxon and overlaid onto a map of Mexico divided into 1 × 1 degree grid-cells. Richness was determined by counting recorded helminth species in each grid-cell. A corrected weighted endemism index was calculated for each grid-cell, and the relationship between richness and endemicity was analysed with an Olmstead–Tukey corner test of association. Five areas of high richness and endemism were identified: (1) Los Tuxtlas and the Papaloapan river basin, on the Gulf of Mexico; (2) the Grijalva-Usumacinta basin near the Gulf of Mexico coastal plain; (3) the Yucatan Peninsula; (4) the Sierra de Manantlán Biosphere Reserve in western Mexico; and (5) the Pátzcuaro lake, in central Mexico. The distribution of richness and endemism of helminth parasites of freshwater fishes in Mexico is congruent with distributional patterns described for other freshwater taxa in Mexico. Patterns of richness and/or endemism in the studied areas can be explained by the ichthyological composition of their bodies of water. The present study establishes an objective way of analysing the relationship between richness and endemicity, and suggests that helminths can make valuable contributions to regionalization of geographical areas and for identification of rich and biologically complex areas with potential for conservation of aquatic systems.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 94 , 435–444.     

Additions to the checklists of helminth and protozoan parasites of terrestrial mammals and birds in New Zealand

A combined list of additions to previously published checklists of helminth and protozoan parasites of terrestrial mammals and birds in New Zealand is provided. These additions include a total of 21 new host parasite records (11 helminth, 10 protozoan) from 12 mammalian hosts and 82 new records (26 helminth, 56 protozoan) from 43 birds.     

An updated checklist of helminth and protozoan parasites of terrestrial mammals in New Zealand

Abstract

A combined and updated checklist of helminth and protozoan parasites of terrestrial mammals in New Zealand is provided. This checklist, which is divided into two parts, includes a total of 301 parasites (151 nematodes, 27 cestodes, 8 trematodes, 2 acanthocephalans and 113 protozoans) from 37 hosts.     

Stelar structure ofAsplenium obtusifolium and its allied species in the New World tropics,with comparison to the Asian members ofAsplenium sect.Hymenasplenium

The stelar structure ofAsplenium obtusifolium and its related species (A. repandulum, A. riparium, A. triquetrum, A. volubile, A. purpurascens, A. ortegae, A. delitescens, A. hoffmannii, andA. laetum) in the New World tropics was observed and compared to that of Asian species ofAsplenium sect.Hymenasplenium. Both of the groups were found to share peculiar stelar structures: steles with two meristeles, a broader ventral and a narrower dorsal, each providing one of the two leaf traces; leaf gaps arranged in two rows between the dorsal and ventral strands, which are connected by thin meristeles, delimiting the leaf gaps. These structures are distinct from the radial symmetrical ones general inAsplenium. Together with cytological evidence, this strongly indicates that the New and Old World groups are closely related. Thus, these Neotropical species should be included in sect.Hymenasplenium.     

First survey of the three gene polymorphisms (PON1 Q192R, eNOS E298D and eNOS C-786T) potentially associated with coronary artery spasm in African populations and comparison with worldwide data

Three polymorphisms, Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) Q192R (C/G), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) E298D (G/T) and eNOS T‐786C have been suggested to be potentially associated with coronary artery spasm in Japanese patients. Data on worldwide populations are needed to clarify whether these associations could hold true for other populations. However, few data are available especially in Africans, spasm of which has been suggested to be an aetiology of myocardial infarction. Therefore, these polymorphisms were investigated in three Africans, Ovambos (n = 123), Ghanians (n = 118) and Xhosas (n = 96), together with Japanese (n = 96), by using polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Genotype‐distributions of all these SNPs in African populations were significantly different from those in Caucasians, whereas were similar to those in Japanese population. African populations exhibit relatively higher frequency of spasm‐associated G192 allele in PON1 Q192R being similar to Japanese population, however frequencies of spasm‐associated T298 allele and –C786 allele in SNP eNOS E298D and T‐786C, respectively, were conversely lower in Africans than Caucasians. Although healthy subjects have been recruited in this study, these findings may provide genetic background for elucidation of aetiology of spasm. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A rapid immunochromatographic assay for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens in pulmonary samples from HIV seropositive patients and its comparison with conventional methods

As tuberculosis generates a highly heterogeneous antibody repertoire, its diagnosis requires tests based on cocktails of antigens. We describe a new, rapid method called rapid immunochromatographic assay (RICA) for cocktail-based diagnosis, which can detect Mycobacterial antigens in sputum specimens. Six antigenic fractions of pathogenic Mycobacterium tuberculosis were used in combination as the capture antigens in the control line of the flow-through assay. Antigen detection of 200 sputum samples from HIV seropositive patients by RICA assay gave a sensitivity of 97.9%, specificity of 99.0%, positive predictive value of 98.9%, negative predictive value of 98.0%, false positive rate of 0.9%, false negative rate of 2.0%, prevalence rate of 49%, likelihood ratio for positive results 97 and likelihood ratio for negative results 0.02. The combination of RICA and AFB staining gave a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, negative predictive value of 100%, false positive rate of 0%, false negative rate of 0%, likelihood ratio for negative results 0. The assay was simple, rapid and economical for the detection of M. tuberculosis infection and suitable for large scale screening of samples in endemic areas without any sophisticated equipment. The results of the assay proved to be superior to conventional methods and combined with clinical data, could form the basis for starting an earlier course of treatment.     

A comparison of two methods for prediction of response and rates of inbreeding in selected populations with the results obtained in two selection experiments

Selection programmes are mainly concerned with increasing genetic gain. However, short-term progress should not be obtained at the expense of the within-population genetic variability. Different prediction models for the evolution within a small population of the genetic mean of a selected trait, its genetic variance and its inbreeding have been developed but have mainly been validated through Monte Carlo simulation studies. The purpose of this study was to compare theoretical predictions to experimental results. Two deterministic methods were considered, both grounded on a polygenic additive model. Differences between theoretical predictions and experimental results arise from differences between the true and the assumed genetic model, and from mathematical simplifications applied in the prediction methods. Two sets of experimental lines of chickens were used in this study: the Dutch lines undergoing true truncation mass selection, the other lines (French) undergoing mass selection with a restriction on the representation of the different families. This study confirmed, on an experimental basis, that modelling is an efficient approach to make useful predictions of the evolution of selected populations although the basic assumptions considered in the models (polygenic additive model, normality of the distribution, base population at the equilibrium, etc.) are not met in reality. The two deterministic methods compared yielded results that were close to those observed in real data, especially when the selection scheme followed the rules of strict mass selection: for instance, both predictions overestimated the genetic gain in the French experiment, whereas both predictions were close to the observed values in the Dutch experiment.     

1976-2013年三江平原景观生态风险变化及驱动力

受自然过程和人类活动的影响,三江平原景观生态风险格局发生了明显变化。采用GIS和RS技术构建景观风险指数,结合网格分析法和地理探测器分析1976-2013年三江平原景观生态风险变化及驱动力。结果表明,从时间上看,1976-2013年三江平原农田、草地和湿地的景观损失度逐渐降低,林地和居民用地景观损失度不断升高,生态风险呈逐渐降低趋势;从空间上看,1976年以高风险区为主,2013年则以低风险区为主,1976-2013年低风险、较低风险和中风险区不断向三江平原西部和西南部扩张,高风险和较高风险区逐渐向北部的黑龙江和乌苏里江沿岸及保护区退缩,生态风险整体向西南方向运移,风险质心向西南转移37.8 km;三江平原景观生态风险格局变化受海拔、地貌、居民点、保护区距离和人为干扰度影响明显,其中人为干扰度、居民点以及保护区距离对景观生态风险解释力最为显著,1995年人为干扰度（71.2%）、居民点距离（64.6%）和保护区距离（43.7%）的因子解释力明显高于地貌类型（11.2%）和流域类型（8.9%）,2013年地貌类型（23.5%）解释力大于保护区距离（23.3%）。该研究为湿地保护和恢复提供科学参考。