Molecular phylogeny of Besnoitia and the genetic relationships among Besnoitia of cattle, wildebeest and goats

Knowledge on parasites of the genus Besnoitia is sparse, which are classified in the subfamily Toxoplasmatinae of the phylum Apicomplexa. This arrangement hypotheses that Besnoitia represents the sister group to species such as Toxoplasma gondii and Hammondia hammondi. In order to test this hypothesis, phylogenetic analyses of 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) from Besnoitia, Hammondia, Isospora, Frenkelia, Eimeria, Neospora, Sarcocystis and Toxoplasma were performed. The 18S rDNA of Besnoitia besnoiti, Besnoitia jellisoni and Eimeria alabamensis were amplified by PCR and sequenced. Phylogenetic analyses by parsimony and maximum-likelihood methods showed Besnoitia to be reproducibly the sister group to a clade containing Hammondia, Neospora and Toxoplasma. Furthermore, Besnoitia of cattle, wildebeest and goats had identical ITS1 rDNA sequences, which questions the use of the taxon Besnoitia caprae to describe the Besnoitia found in goats.     

Vangueriopsis shimbaensis sp. nov. (Rubiaceae) from Kenya

A new species of Vangueriopsis from Kenya, V. shimbaensis, is described and illustrated. Notes on distribution, phenology and conservation are provided.     

Wajira gen. et sp. nov. (Leguminosae) from Kenya

Wajira albescens Thulin (Leguminosae–Papilionoideae–Phaseoleae–Phaseolinae) is described as a new monotypic genus confined to the arid bushlands of E Kenya.     

Ackertia globulosa sp. n. (Nematoda: Filarioidea) from rodents in Kenya.

Ackertia globulosa sp. n. (Nematoda: Filarioidea) is described from the pulmonary arteries of the striped mouse, Lemniscomys striatus striatus (L.), in Kenya. Distinguishing features are the small size of the adults; the short left spicule and arrangement of the caudal papillae (3 pairs preanal, 4 pairs postanal) of the male; small projecting lobes on the tail of the females; and 10 to 12 refractile globules in the microfilarial sheath. The microfilariae are found in the skin, mostly of the ear. The probable intermediate host is a hard tick, Haemaphysalis leachi.     

Streptococcus caprinus sp.nov., a tannin-resistant ruminal bacterium from feral goats

An undescribed bacterium capable of clearing tannic acid-protein complexes has been isolated from ruminal contents of feral goats browsing tannin-rich Acacia species. The bacterium is a Gram-positive facultative anaerobe, characterized as a Streptococcus , but DNA-DNA hybridization and 16S rDNA sequencing show that it is distinct from the common ruminal species Strep. bovis. We propose the name Streptococcus caprinus for this species. The type strain is Strep. caprinus 2.3, Australian Collection of Microorganisms (ACM) 3969. The bacterium grows in media containing at least 2.5% w/v tannic acid or condensed tannin and produces zones of clearing around colonies on nutrient agar plates with added tannic acid. Streptococcus caprinus is not a major inhabitant of domestic livestock, but is found in feral goats browsing tannin-rich Acacia species, at a population of up to 2 times 10⁶ cfu ml^-1 of rumen fluid.     

Biological and molecular characterization of Besnoitia akodoni n.sp. (Protozoa: Apicomplexa) from the rodent Akodon montensis in Brazil

The diversity among coccidian parasites of the genus Besnoitia is incompletely known. Of the eight currently described members of the genus, only B. jellisoni is known to parasitize a rodent host. Here, we propose a new name, Besnoitia akodoni, for the species initially isolated form the rodent Akodon montensis in Brazil. The tissue cysts of B. akodoni were up to 442 microm in diameter and bradyzoites were 8.4 x 1.4 microm in size. The bradyzoites contained enigmatic bodies, micronemes and rhoptries. Tachyzoites were 5.8 x 1.5 microm in size and they could be grown in vitro in bovine monocytes and African Green monkey cells where they divided by endodyogeny. Besnoitia akodoni was infective to laboratory-raised mice (Mus musculus) and gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) but not to cats (Felis catus). Comparison of the conserved sequences of the small subunit rDNA clearly established the close relationship of B. akodoni with other members of the genus. However, sequences of the more variable first internal transcribed spacer portion of the ribosomal DNA repeat support its differentiation from the other species of the genus.     

Description of Metagynella masani sp. n. from Kenya (Acari: Uropodina)

The third African Metagynella Berlese, 1919 species (Metagynella masani sp. n.) is described in this paper. Original drawing and scanning micrographs of the new species are given.     

Croton megalocarpoides sp. nov. An arborescent Euphorbiaceae from semi–evergreen vegetation in S Somalia and E Kenya

A new arborescent species of Croton, C. megalocarpoides Friis & Gilbert, is described from the coastal semi–evergreen forest and bushland in S Somalia and E Kenya. Its taxonomic affinity with other African species is demonstrated, particularly the relationship to C. megalocarpus Hutch., a montane E African species with which it has long been confused, and to C. mayumbense J. Léonard, and C. mubango Mull. Arg., two species from lowland forest and forest–savannah mosaic in W Zaire and surrounding countries. The phytogeographical position of the new species is briefly discussed.     

Molecular identification and genotyping of Blastocystis sp. in sheep and goats from some areas in Inner Mongolia,Northern China

Blastocystis sp. is a kind of unicellular intestinal commensal which is widely distributed in humans and animals, and frequently found in the people who are in close contact with animals. To investigate the prevalence and evaluate the zoonotic potential of Blastocystis sp. in sheep and goats from Inner Mongolia, China, a total of 1037 samples were collected from them, and subjected to nested PCR amplification based on the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene of Blastocystis sp. The sanger sequencing was used for Blastocystis sp. subtype identification. The results indicated that the average infection rate of Blastocystis sp. was 10.70% [95CI: 8.82%–12.58%] (111/1037), including 11.30% [95CI: 7.96%–14.64%] for sheep (39/345) and 10.40% [95CI: 8.13%–12.67%] for goats (72/692). Five Blastocystis subtypes (ST5, ST10, ST14, ST21 and ST26) were identified in the present study. Among them, ST10 was the most dominant subtype in sheep and goats, accounting for 70.27% (78/111) of the total identified positive samples. This is the first report regarding Blastocystis sp. subtypes ST21 and ST26 in goats in China. This study has provided a detail epidemiological data on the prevalence and subtypes distribution of Blastocystis sp. in sheep and goats in Inner Mongolia, China. Our results indicated that sheep and goats could be reservoir host for multiple Bastocystis subtypes, including the zoonotic subtypes. Further studies among humans, livestock and wild animals are needed to better understand their role in the spread of Blastocystis sp.     

The collection of biomedical specimens from baboons (Papio sp.) Kenya, 1966

This report, the second in a series on field trips to Kenya, Africa, provides baseline information on the microbiology and parasitology of the baboon (Papio sp.) as this animal exists in its native habitat. Specimens were collected for bacteriology, mycology, parasitology, pathology, and virology as well as for a number of ancillary biomedical purposes from three major geographic areas in Kenya. Preliminary compilations of data and information obtained during the course of field studies indicate varying relationships between the presence of infective agents and parasites and the areas from which baboons were captured. It has been shown clearly that ecologic factors influence the physical appearance of the animal as well as their microbial flora and parasite fauna. The close spatial relationship of the baboon to man as well as to other animals, both wild and domestic, very probably accounts for an interchange of organisms and exerts influences on potentials for transmission and propagation of parasites. Data collected from such field studies, when integrated with those obtained as a result of longitudinal studies on baboons maintained in captivity over a five year period, plus various taxonomic and basic biomedical considerations, will be of paramount importance for establishing the baboon as a model for studies on human diseases.     

Races and virulence of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense on local banana cultivars in Kenya

Virulence of 31 Kenyan isolates of Fusarium oxysporum obtained from bananas showing symptoms of Panama disease was tested against the differential banana cvs Bluggoe, Gros Michel, Dwarf Cavendish, and two other local cvs Muraru and Wang'ae. Seventeen isolates were assigned to either race 1 or race 2 of F. oxysporum f.sp. cubense (FOC). Race 4 was not apparent in this sample of 31 isolates from Kenya as none were pathogenic to cv. Cavendish, and no wilted Cavendish have been observed in field surveys in Kenya. Races could not be assigned to 12 isolates as they were virulent on more than one differential cultivar, and two were apparently not pathogenic. All isolates assigned to races 1 and 2 belonged to the VCG bridging complex 0124/5/8/20, but some other isolates belonging to this VCG complex could not be assigned to race. All five isolates assigned to VCG 01212 could not be assigned to known races. Considerable variability thus exists within FOC isolates within this region. Local cultivars of banana showed differential resistance to the pathogen. The interaction of cultivars and isolates on the level of disease was significant. Overall, cv. Wang'ae was the most susceptible to most of the isolates tested, regardless of their race, and could therefore be used as a reference cultivar in pathogenicity tests of isolates of FOC in the East African region. Of the cultivars tested that are widely grown on smallholder farms in Kenya, Muraru was the least susceptible.