Gene structure of the pregnancy-associated glycoprotein-like (PAG-L) in the Eurasian beaver (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Castor fiber</Emphasis> L.)

The pregnancy-associated glycoprotein-like family (PAG-L) is a large group of chorionic products, expressed in the pre-placental trophoblast and later in the post-implantational chorionic epithelium, and are involved in proper placenta development and embryo-maternal interaction in eutherians. This study describes identification of the PAG-L family in the genome of the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber L.), named CfPAG-L. We identified 7657 bp of the CfPAG-L gDNA sequence (Acc. No. KX377932), encompassing nine exons (1–9) and eight introns (A–H). The length of the CfPAG-L exons (59–200 bp) was equivalently similar to the only known counterparts of bPAG1, bPAG2, and pPAG2. The length of the CfPAG-L introns ranged 288–1937 bp and was completely different from previously known PAG introns. The exonic CfPAG-L regions revealed 50.3–72.9% homology with equivalent segments of bPAG1 and pPAG2 structure. The intronic CfPAG-L regions alignments revealed a lack of homology. Within the entire CfPAG-L gene, 31 potential single nucleotide variants (SNV: 7 transversions and 24 transitions) were predicted. The identified exonic polymorphic loci did not affect the amino acid sequence of the CfPAG-L polypeptide precursor. This is the first report describing the CfPAG-L gene sequence, structural organization, and SNVs in the Eurasian beaver, one of the largest rodents.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudodelphis eleginopsis</Emphasis> n. sp. (Nematoda: Guyanemidae), a new tissue-dwelling parasite of the Patagonian blennie <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eleginops maclovinus</Emphasis> (Cuvier) (Perciformes: Eleginopsidae) in Argentina,with notes on related forms

Based on light and scanning electron microscopical studies, a new nematode parasite, Pseudodelphis eleginopsis n. sp. (Dracunculoidea: Guyanemidae), is described from tissues behind the gills of the Patagonian blennie Eleginops maclovinus (Cuvier) (Perciformes: Eleginopsidae) off the Atlantic coast (San Matías and San José Gulfs) of Patagonia, Argentina. The new species is mainly characterised by the length of the body (males 10–13 mm, larvigerous females 31–59 mm), the number (14) and arrangement of cephalic papillae, the absence of a buccal capsule, the muscular to glandular oesophagus length ratio (1:3–4) of larvigerous females, the length of the spicules (48–63 µm) and the number (7 pairs) and arrangement of the caudal papillae in the male. Pseudodelphis eleginopsis n. sp. is the first species of this genus described from a marine fish in the Atlantic Ocean and the first known dracunculoid parasitising the fish host belonging to the family Eleginopsidae. As revealed by the examination of very young females of the new species, the female genital tract of Pseudodelphis spp. is monodelphic. The genus Syngnathinema Moravec, Spangenberg & Frasca, 2001 is considered a junior synonym of Pseudodelphis Adamson & Roth, 1990 and, consequently, S. californiense and S. chitwoodi are transferred to Pseudodelphis as P. californiensis (Moravec, Spangenberg & Frasca, 2001) n. comb. and P. chitwoodi (Moravec & Kuchta, 2013) n. comb., respectively. Two dracunculoid species, Pseudodelphis limnicola Brugni & Viozzi, 2006 and the previously established Philonema percichthydis Moravec, Urawa & Coria, 1997, both described from the same freshwater host species, Percichthys trucha (Valenciennes), in the same region (Patagonia), are considered to be identical; therefore, the valid name of this species is Pseudodelphis percichthydis n. comb. and P. limnicola becomes its junior synonym. A key to the species of Pseudodelphis is provided.     

Trematodes (Plathelminthes) of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clarias gariepinus</Emphasis> (Pisces: Clariidae) in Lake Tana,Ethiopia

All of the 166 Clarias gariepinus catfishes in Lake Tana, Ethiopia, were examined for trematode infestation in 2006—2009. Seven trematode species—Eumasenia bangweulensis, Astiotrema reniferum, Orientocreadium batrachoides, Paralecithodendrium chilostomum, Phyllodistomum bavuri, P. tana, and Cladorchiidae gen. sp.—as adult were found. The common catfish parasites were Eumasenia bangweulensis (20% prevalence and 1—62 intensity of invasion), Orientocreadium batrachoides (30% prevalence and 1–31 intensity of invasion), Phyllodistomum bavuri (24.8% prevalence and 1–8 intensity of invasion), Ph. tana (17.6% prevalence and 1–23 intensity of invasion), and Ph. bavuri. Astiotrema reniferum (three specimens were only found) was a rare species; Paralecithodendrium chilostomum was an accidental parasite of catfish. All these trematodes were first recorded in Ethiopia and Eastern Africa.     

Genetic and phenotypic characterizations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xenorhabdus</Emphasis> species (Enterobacteriales: Enterobacteriaceae) isolated from steinernematid nematodes (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) in Japan

The bacterial species of the genus Xenorhabdus in the family Enterobacteriaceae have a mutualistic association with steinernematid entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), which have been used as biological control agents against soil insect pests. In this study we present the genetic and phenotypic characterizations of the Xenorhabdus species isolated from steinernematid nematodes in Japan. The 18 Japanese Xenorhabdus isolates were classified into five bacterial species based on 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) gene sequences: Xenorhabdus bovienii, Xenorhabdus hominickii, Xenorhabdus indica, Xenorhabdus ishibashii, and Xenorhabdus japonica. There was no genetic variation between the 16S RNA sequences among the three X. ishibashii isolates, 0–0.1% variation among the five X. hominickii isolates, and 0–0.5% among the eight X. bovienii isolates. Phenotypic characterization demonstrated that representative isolates of the five bacterial species shared common characteristics of the genus Xenorhabdus, and only X. hominickii isolates produced indole. Symbiotic association and co-speciation of Xenorhabdus bacteria with Steinernema nematodes from Japan are discussed.     

Review of Indo-Pacific dwarf lionfishes (Scorpaenidae: Pteroinae) in the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dendrochirus brachypterus</Emphasis> complex,with description of a new species from the western Indian Ocean

A taxonomic review of the Dendrochirus brachypterus complex resulted in the recognition of five species, including Dendrochirus barberi (Steindachner 1900), Dendrochirus bellus (Jordan and Hubbs 1925), Dendrochirus brachypterus (Cuvier in Cuvier and Valenciennes 1829), Dendrochirus hemprichi sp. nov. and Dendrochirus tuamotuensis Matsunuma and Motomura 2013. The complex is defined as having usually 9 dorsal-fin soft rays, usually 5 anal-fin soft rays, 17–20 (rarely 20) pectoral-fin rays, no ocellated spots on the soft-rayed portion of the dorsal fin and usually 2 (sometimes none) barbels on the snout tip. Dendrochirus barberi, known from the Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Atoll, is characterized by usually 18 pectoral-fin rays, a relatively high number of scale rows in the longitudinal series (modally 51 vs. 39–49 in other species) and mottled markings on the pectoral fin in large specimens. Dendrochirus bellus, restricted to the northwestern Pacific Ocean from the South China Sea north to southern Japan, is characterized by usually 17 pectoral-fin rays, a relatively low number of scale rows in the longitudinal series (modally 38 vs. 44–51 in other species), and the absence of skin flaps on the orbit surface and uppermost preopercular spine base. Dendrochirus tuamotuensis, recorded only from the Tuamotu Archipelago, is characterized by 19 pectoral-fin rays, the posterior margin of the pectoral fin strongly notched, and a relatively shallow and narrow head and body. Dendrochirus hemprichi sp. nov. is distributed in the western Indian Ocean, including the Red Sea. Although previously confused with a closely related congener (D. brachypterus, known from the northern and eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific), D. hemprichi can be distinguished from the former by having fewer scale rows between the last dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line, and between the sixth dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line [4–7 (5) in D. hemprichi vs. 5–7 (6) in D. brachypterus, in both cases], a slightly greater interorbital width at the mid-orbit [5.5–10.7 (mean 7.8) % SL vs. 4.5–8.9 (6.8) % of SL] and at preocular spine base [4.4–9.1 (6.6) % SL vs. 3.5–7.8 (5.7) % of SL], and slightly shorter posteriormost (usually 13th) dorsal-fin spine length [11.8–19.9 (15.3) % SL vs. 13.3–21.3 (17.2) % of SL]. Moreover, D. hemprichi tends to have relatively more spinous points on the head spines and ridges, compared with D. brachypterus. Notwithstanding the morphological similarity between the two species, an obvious genetic difference was observed between D. hemprichi and D. brachypterus. Dendrochirus chloreus Jenkins 1903 and Dendrochirus hudsoni Jordan and Evermann 1903 were synonymized under Pterois barberi, as in some previous studies. Scorpaena koenigii Bloch 1789 was regarded as conspecific with D. brachypterus, which it predated. However, the former name should be suppressed under Reversal of Precedence.     

Molecular analyses of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ficus erecta</Emphasis> and its allies within the subsection <Emphasis Type="Italic">Frutescentiae</Emphasis> (Moraceae)

Ficus (Moraceae) is a keystone group in tropical and subtropical forests with remarkable diversity of species and taxonomical challenges as a consequence of fig–pollinator coevolution. Ficus subsect. Frutescentiae includes about 30 species that are predominantly shrubs or small trees with Terminalia branching. Many of these species are difficult to delimit morphologically, and the group includes a tangle of uncertain taxa and incorrectly applied names. We conducted a phylogenetic analysis with internal and external transcribed spacer data (ITS and ETS) and data from 18 polymorphic microsatellite loci to evaluate the species status of the most perplexing members of this subsection. The results confirm the monophyly of subsect. Frutescentiae, with F. pedunculosa as sister to the rest. The F. erecta complex comprises approximately 17 taxa: F. erecta, F. abelii, F. boninsimae, F. nishimurae, F. iidaiana, F. gasparriniana var. laceratifolia, F. gasparriniana var. viridescens, F. pyriformis, F. stenophylla, F. fusuiensis, F. fengkaiensis, F. sinociliata, F. tannoensis, F. vaccinioides, F. formosana, F. pandurata, and F. periptera. The last five of these were supported as good species, while the others were not well supported by the present evidence. Evidence also supported the status of the non-F. erecta complex species including. F. pedunculosa, F. ischnopoda, F. heteromorpha, and F. variolosa. Ficus filicauda and F. neriifolia are possibly conspecific. The species status of F. potingensis should be restored and it should be treated as a member of section Eriosycea. Identification of the remaining taxa (F. gasparriniana var. esquirolii, F. ruyuanensis, F. daimingshanensis, F. chapaensis, F. changii, F. trivia, and F. tuphapensis) and their relationships to the F. erecta complex were not clarified. As a whole, only ten species in this subsection are confirmed, one is excluded, one is synonymous, and the others are either unresolved or short of samples. There appears to be a consistent genetic background among these unresolved groups, which suggests that repeated hybridization (as a result of pollinator host shifts) has filled up the interspecific gaps during the fig–pollinator coevolution process.     

Ubiquitous distribution of fluorescent protein in muscles of four species and two subspecies of eel (genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anguilla</Emphasis>)

In this study, the localization of fluorescent protein (FP) was characterized in the muscles of four species and two subspecies of eels Anguilla anguilla, A. australis, A. bicolor bicolor (b.), A. bicolor pacifica (p.) and A. mossambica in addition to the previously reported A. japonica. The open reading frame of each eel FP was 417 bp encoding 139 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequences among the four species and two subspecies exhibited 91.4–100% identity, and belonged to the fatty-acid-binding protein (FABP) family. The gene structure of eel FPs in A. japonica, A. anguilla, A. australis, A. bicolor b., A. bicolor p. and A. mossambica have four exons and three introns, and were common to that of FABP family. The apo eel FPs expressed by Escherichia coli with recombinant eel FP genes were analysed for the fluorescent properties in the presence of bilirubin. The excitation and emission spectra of holo eel FPs had the maximum wavelengths of 490–496 and 527–530 nm, respectively. The holo eel FPs indicated that the fluorescent intensities were stronger in A. japonica and A. bicolor than in A. mossambica, A. australis and A. anguilla. The comparison of amino acid sequences revealed two common substitutions in A. mossambica, A. australis and A. anguilla with weak fluorescent intensity.     

Four new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paradiscogaster</Emphasis> Yamaguti, 1934 (Digenea: Faustulidae) from batfishes (Perciformes: Ephippidae) on the Great Barrier Reef,Australia

Examination of three species of batfishes (Teleostei: Epphippidae) from off Lizard and Heron Islands on the Great Barrier Reef led to the discovery of specimens of the trematode genus Paradiscogaster Yamaguti, 1934 (Digenea: Faustulidae). Morphological analysis demonstrated that the new specimens represented four morphotypes which we interpret to be new species: Paradiscogaster martini n. sp., P. vichovae n. sp. and P. brayi n. sp. from Platax orbicularis (Forsskål) and P. pinnatus (Linnaeus) off Lizard Island, and P. nitschkei n. sp. from P. teira (Forsskål) off Heron Island. Published material was re-examined and the specimens identified as P. chaetodontis okinawensis Yamaguti, 1971 from P. pinnatus from Okinawa, Japan, actually represent the new species P. brayi n. sp., demonstrating that some species of Paradiscogaster have wide geographical distributions. ITS2 rDNA data for the four morphotypes differ by 4–39 base pairs confirming the delineation of the four species proposed. A feature of this study is the recognition of Platax spp. as an important host group for Paradiscogaster, with the new species placing them as the second richest host group for these parasites after the Chaetodontidae.     

Multi-locus phylogeny and morphology reveal five new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fomitiporia</Emphasis> (Hymenochaetaceae) from China

Five newly identified species of Fomitiporia (F. alpina, F. gaoligongensis, F. hainaniana, F. subrobusta and F. subtropica) and their morphological and molecular characterisation are described in this paper. Fomitiporia alpina sp. nov. is distinguished by its pileate basidiomata, parallel tramal hyphae and large basidiospores (6.5–8 × 6–8 μm), and by its gymnosperm wood-living habitat. Fomitiporia gaoligongensis sp. nov. is distinct from other species due to its semicircular pileus and subglobose to globose basidiospores (6.5–7.6 × 6–7.4 μm). Fomitiporia hainaniana sp. nov. is marked by its resupinate basidiomata, the presence of setae and small globose basidiospores (4–5 × 3.8–4.4 μm). Fomitiporia subrobusta sp. nov. is characterised by its triquetrous basidiomata, small pores (6–9 per mm) with entire and thick dissepiments, and subglobose to obovoid basidiospores (6.2–6.8 × 5.2–6 μm). Fomitiporia subtropica sp. nov. can be differentiated by its resupinate basidiomata, smaller pores (6–10 per mm) and smaller basidiospores (5.2–6 × 4.4–5 μm). Phylogenetic analysis, based on multi-gene comparison of the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS), nuclear large subunit ribosomal RNA gene regions (nLSU), the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (tef1α) and the second subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb2), confirmed affinity with the Fomitiporia species and showed association with similar fungi in the genus.     

Seasonal Abundance and Predatory Potential of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stethorus aptus</Emphasis> Kapur (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae): A Biocontrol Agent of Tea Red Spider Mite <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oligonychus coffeae</Emphasis> Nietner (Acarina: Tetranychidae)

The tea red spider mite, Oligonychus coffeae Nietner is one of the major pests of tea plants in North-east India. The ladybird beetle, Stethorus aptus Kapur, is a newly reported predator of O. coffeae. Predatory efficiency study of S. aptus under laboratory conditions revealed that adult of S. aptus consumed significantly more mites than larvae. In free choice condition, the predator consumed within a range of 48–56 adults and 82–90 larvae of O. coffeae whereas the 3rd and 4th instar larvae of S. aptus consumed 20–26 adults and 50–60 larvae of O. coffeae per day respectively. Population dynamics of S. aptus was observed for 1 year under field conditions. The maximum density of the predator was recorded during January to March and it gradually declined from September onwards. Population of S. aptus showed positive correlation with its prey O. coffeae and relative humidity while effect of other factors was insignificant.     

A new species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Diaphenchelys</Emphasis> (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae) from Thailand

A new species of moray eel, Diaphenchelys dalmatian is described based on five specimens [289.8–503.0 mm total length (TL)] collected from the western coast of peninsular Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand. It can be easily distinguished from Diaphenchelys pelonates McCosker and Randall 2007, another species of the genus Diaphenchelys McCosker and Randall 2007, by its coloration (ground color white with brown dalmatian-like spots vs. brown with pale vermiculate pattern). The present new species also differs from D. pelonates in its longer tail (62.0–64.6% TL vs. 59.6–61.5%), fewer infraorbital pores along upper lip (three vs. four), fewer mandibular pores (five vs. six or seven), and fewer vertebral counts (preanal vertebrae 43–46 vs. 55–58; total 126–131 vs. 153–155). Diaphenchelys is closely similar to the genus Strophidon McClelland 1844 in the shape of neurocranium, the elongate body, low vertical fins, eye location, jaw shape, and presence of inner mandibular teeth. However, both differ in the vertebral counts (126–155 in Diaphenchelys vs. 164–208 in Strophidon) and coloration (prominent pattern vs. uniform).     

First report on cystacanths of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sphaerirostris lanceoides</Emphasis> (Petrochenko, 1949) (Acanthocephala: Centrorhynchidae) from the Asiatic toad <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bufo gargarizans</Emphasis> Cantor (Amphibia: Anura) in China

Everted cystacanths of Sphaerirostris lanceoides (Petrochenko, 1949) Golvan 1956 are reported from the Asiatic toad Bufo gargarizans Cantor (Amphibia: Anura) for the first time. The prevalence was 1.96% and the intensity ranged between 1.0–3.0 acanthocephalans. SEM observations revealed the morphology of the gonopore and the presence of a flat, bare region on the apical part of the proboscis. Moreover, S. lanceoides was characterised using molecular approaches by sequencing the ribosomal ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region and the mitochondrial cox1 gene. The resulting ITS sequences were identical and the cox1 sequences showed a divergence of 0–0.75%. Sphaerirostris lanceoides is the first species of the genus for which the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and cox1 loci have been sequenced to aid species identification.     

Molecular characterisation of four echinostomes (Digenea: Echinostomatidae) from birds in New Zealand,with descriptions of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Echinostoma novaezealandense</Emphasis> n. sp. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Echinoparyphium poulini</Emphasis> n. sp.

Morphological and molecular characterisation of echinostome specimens (Digenea: Echinostomatidae) recovered in one Anas platyrhynchos L. and one Cygnus atratus (Latham) (Anseriformes: Anatidae) from New Zealand revealed the presence of two known species, Echinostoma miyagawai Ishii, 1932 and Echinoparyphium ellisi (Johnston & Simpson, 1944) and two species new to science. Comparative morphological and phylogenetic analyses supported the distinct species status of Echinostoma novaezealandense n. sp. ex Branta canadensis (L.), A. platyrhynchos and C. atratus, and Echinoparyphium poulini n. sp. ex C. atratus. Echinostoma novaezealandense n. sp., a species of the “revolutum” species complex characterised by the possession of a head collar armed with 37 spines, keyed down to E. revolutum but was distinguished from the latter in having a much narrower body with almost parallel margins, longer oesophagus, wider cirrus-sac, larger seminal vesicle, much smaller ventral sucker, ovary, Mehlis’ gland and testes, more anteriorly located ovary and testes, and distinctly smaller eggs (81–87 × 42–53 vs 106–136 × 55–70 µm). This new species appears similar to Echinostoma acuticauda Nicoll, 1914 described in Australia but differs in having a longer forebody, more posteriorly located ovary and testes, and much smaller eggs (81–87 × 42–53 vs 112–126 × 63–75 µm). Echinoparyphium poulini n. sp. is differentiated from the four species of Echinoparyphium possessing 37 collar spines considered valid as follows: from E. chinensis Ku, Li & Chu, 1964 in having a much smaller body, four (vs five) angle spines and simple seminal vesicle (vs bipartite); from E. schulzi Matevosyan, 1951 in having a less robust body at a comparable body length, much smaller ventral sucker, ovary and testes, and longer but narrower eggs (87–109 × 50–59 vs 70–85 × 60–84 µm); and from the two smaller forms, E. serratum Howell, 1968 and E. aconiatum Dietz, 1909, in a number of additional metrical features correlated with body size and especially in the possession of much larger collar spines. Partial fragments of the mitochondrial nad1 and 28S rRNA genes were amplified for representative isolates of the four species and analysed together with sequences for Echinostoma spp. and Echinoparyphium spp. available on GenBank. Phylogenetic analyses based on the mitochondrial nad1 gene revealed congruence between the molecular data and species identification/delineation based on morphology; this was corroborated by the 28S rDNA sequence data.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Trueperella pyogenes</Emphasis> isolated from a brain abscess of an adult roebuck (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Capreolus capreolus</Emphasis>)

The present study was designed to characterize phenotypically and genotypically a Trueperella pyogenes strain isolated from a brain abscess of an adult roebuck (Capreolus capreolus). The species identity could be confirmed by phenotypical investigations, by MALDI-TOF MS analysis, and by sequencing the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene, the 16S–23S rRNA intergenic spacer region (ISR); by sequencing the target genes rpoB, gap, and tuf; and by detection of T. pyogenes chaperonin-encoding gene cpn60 with a previously developed loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay. The T. pyogenes strain could additionally be characterized by PCR-mediated amplification of several known and putative virulence factor-encoding genes which revealed the presence of the genes plo encoding pyolysin and nanH and nanP encoding neuraminidases; the genes fimA, fimC, and fimE encoding the fimbrial subunits FimA, FimC, and FimE; and the gene cbpA encoding collagen-binding protein CbpA. The present data give a detailed characterization of a T. pyogenes strain isolated from a brain abscess of a roebuck. However, the route of infection of the roebuck remains unclear.     

Taxonomy and multi-gene phylogeny of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Haploporus</Emphasis> (Polyporales,Basidiomycota)

Taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of Haploporus were carried out. Three species in Haploporus, H. cylindrosporus, H. septatus and H. subpapyraceus, are described as new based on morphological differences and molecular phylogenetic analyses inferred from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), the large subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nLSU), the small subunit mitochondrial rRNA gene (mtSSU), the second subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb2) and the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (TEF1) sequences. Haploporus cylindrosporus is characterized by big irregular crystals occasionally present in the subiculum, an abundant oily substance among hyphae and typically cylindrical basidiospores 10–11.5?×?4.5–5 μm; H. septatus differs from other species in the genus by its leathery to corky basidiomata when dry, small round pores (5–6 per mm), simple septate skeletal hyphae at the edge of the dissepiments, and oblong to ellipsoid basidiospores 8.5–11?×?5–6 μm; H. subpapyraceus is separated by white to cream basidiomata, numerous apically simple septate cystidioles and ellipsoid basidiospores 9–12?×?5.5–8 μm. An identification key to accepted species of Haploporus is provided.