Ear mites from domestic goats in Florida

Ear canals of 284 domestic goats from Florida were examined via swabbing for the presence of ear mites; 57% were infested withPsoroptes cuniculi. Raillietia caprae was recovered from 2 goats in one herd. Breeds examined were Nubian, Alpine, Saanen, Toggenburg, La Mancha, Spanish/ Woods and Pygmy. Goats with dependent ear types were infested more commonly than those with erect ears; no goats with vestigial ears were found to harbor mites. Goats less than 1 year old had a significantly higher mite prevalence than did goats over 1 year of age. Gross lesions were noted in the ear canals of only three individuals.This paper was previously accepted for publication in the journal Goat and Sheep Research prior to that journal's demise.     

Comparison of dimethoate and methidathion tolerance in four strains ofPhytoseiulus persimilis (Athias-Henriot) (Acarina: Phytoseiidae) in Australia

The toxicity of dimethoate 30EC and methidathion 40EC was tested against four strains ofPhytoseiulus persimilis obtained from commercial greenhouse rose crops. A single strain ofP. persimilis demonstrated tolerance to the field rate of 1.0 ml/l dimethoate used to controlHeliothrips haemorrhoidalis as indicated by the LC₅₀ of 1.5 ml/l ai and a significantly different response at the LC₉₀ level (P<0.05) to the three other strains tested. None of the strains was different in level of response to methidathion (P>0.05) and were unable to tolerate the recommended field rate of methidathion. Selection to dimethoate by routine field spraying has produced improved tolerance inP. persimilis. The dimethoate-tolerant strain was not different in developmental period and mean number of eggs produced per female when compared with the Sydney strain (P>0.05).     

Effect of metabolites ofAspergillus niger andTrichoderma viride on development and structure of radicle of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) seedlings

Both the volume and concentration of filtrate ofAspergillus niger andTrichoderma viride influenced the development of the radicles of cocoa seedlings. Radicles placed in Petri dishes containing filter paper moistened with 20 and 30 ml of undiluted filtrate and filtrate dilutions of 1∶1 and 1∶2 failed to develop lateral roots and eventually died. The culture filtrate ofA. niger was more repressive. Radicles in the same volume of filtrate (20 and 30 ml) of higher dilutions (1∶5 and 1∶10) developed lateral roots and survived. Radicles placed in less volume (≤10 ml) survived and produced lateral roots irrespective of concentration of filtrates. Development of the radicles and roots in the control was consistently better (P=0.05) than in filtrate solutions of eitherA. niger orT. viride. The hypocotyls of seedlings under the influence of metabolites ofA niger showed greater cambial activity and formed xylem vessels and tracheids with larger lumina.     

A Chronic Autochthonous Fifth Clade Case of Candida auris Otomycosis in Iran

Candida auris, a multidrug-resistant nosocomial pathogen, has emerged globally with high morbidity and mortality among immunocompromised individuals and COVID19 hospitalized patients. Five major clades of C. auris have been previously described. The fifth clade is exclusively found in Iran where C. auris isolates are genetically distinct from other clades by?>?200,000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms. The origin of C. auris remains unclear, and limited clinical data are available at present regarding clade V infection or colonization. Herein, another case of otomycosis in Iran caused by an isolate of C. auris belonging to the fifth clade is reported. Genotyping revealed that the obtained C. auris isolate from Isfahan clustered with earlier clade V isolates from Babol, cities around 600 km separated, which indicates that C. auris clade V is established in Iran. C. auris is thought to exist more commonly in Iran, given that limited diagnostic capacity in the country has probably curbed the identification of more C. auris cases. Therefore, surveillance of the environment, patients and healthcare facilities in different geographical regions in Iran is urgently required.

     

Case–Case Comparison of Candida auris Versus Other Candida Species Bloodstream Infections: Results of an Outbreak Investigation in Colombia

Background

Candida auris is an emerging multidrug-resistant yeast that causes outbreaks in healthcare settings around the world. In 2016, clinicians and public health officials identified patients with C. auris bloodstream infections (BSI) in Colombian healthcare facilities. To evaluate potential risk factors and outcomes for these infections, we investigated epidemiologic and clinical features of patients with C. auris and other Candida species BSI.

Methods

We performed a retrospective case-case investigation in four Colombian acute care hospitals, defining a case as Candida spp. isolated from blood culture during January 2015–September 2016. C. auris BSI cases were compared to other Candida species BSI cases. Odds ratio (OR), estimated using logistic regression, was used to assess the association between risk factors and outcomes.

Results

We analyzed 90 patients with BSI, including 40 with C. auris and 50 with other Candida species. All had been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). No significant demographic differences existed between the two groups. The following variables were independently associated with C. auris BSI:?≥?15 days of pre-infection ICU stay (OR: 5.62, CI: 2.04–15.5), evidence of severe sepsis (OR: 3.70, CI 1.19–11.48), and diabetes mellitus (OR 5.69, CI 1.01–31.9).

Conclusion

Patients with C. auris BSI had longer lengths of ICU stay than those with other candidemias, suggesting that infections are acquired during hospitalization. This is different from other Candida infections, which are usually thought to result from autoinfection with host flora.

     

The architecture of the canal systems of Petrosia ficiformis and Chondrosia reniformis studied by corrosion casts (Porifera,Demospongiae)

Summary The three-dimensional organization of the canal system in two sponge species, Petrosia ficiformis and Chondrosia reniformis, was studied using corrosion casts. Casts were made of live animals, in situ, and canal replicas were analzyed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In P. ficiformis the incurrent system consists of a superficial canal network giving rise to large radial canals, which ramify and anastomosize forming an internal web. Excurrent canals are arranged into modular ramified systems radiating from atrial cavities opening to the exterior. Main excurrent canals run at various depths within the sponge, even through the superficial incurrent network. Both incurrent and excurrent canal replicas show smooth, blind-ending capillaries. Some large incurrent canals merge with excurrent ones, thus bypassing choanocyte chambers. In C. reniformis there is a cortical collagen layer crossed by three-like incurrent canals, the twigs of which communicate with groups of inhalant pores. The stems of tree-like canals penetrate into the sponge medulla where they ramify and anastomosize to form a web. Main excurrent canals arise from large cloacal ducts leading to the oscular openings. They give rise to a sequence of branches intersecting the incurrent web. Both incurrent and excurrent canals have sharp, blind-ending capillaries. Morphometric data functions show that diameter scaling in canal branches is exponential in Petrosia and linear in Chondrosia. Structural differences and homologies between the two species are discussed.     

Redescription ofRhinochimaera pacifica (mitsukuri) and first record ofR. africana compagno, stehmann & ebert from Japan (Chimaeriformes: Rhinochimaeridae)

Rhinochimaera pacifica is redescribed and a specimen from Tokyo Bay is designated as the neotype. A second species of the genus,R. africana, is newly recognized from Japan. A new scheme of measurements of the lateral line canals has been developed, and a comparison of proportional measurements of the snout width, eye length, and canal measurements clearly distinguishesR. pacifica andR. africana. Intraspecific variation ofR. pacifica and comparison ofR. pacifica andR. africana is discussed.Rhinochimaera pacifica has an irregular distribution in the north and south Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean. This study also confirms a much wider range forR. africana than previously known and extends the range to the northern Pacific Ocean around the Japanese Archipelago.     

Free-living amoebae promote Candida auris survival and proliferation in water

Candida auris is an emerging species responsible for life-threatening infections. Its ability to be resistant to most systemic antifungal classes and its capacity to persist in a hospital environment have led to health concerns. Currently, data about environmental reservoirs are limited but remain essential in control of C. auris spread. The aim of our study was to explore the interactions between C. auris and two free-living amoeba (FLA) species, Vermamoeba vermiformis and Acanthamoeba castellanii, potentially found in the same water environment. Candida auris was incubated with FLA trophozoites or their culture supernatants. The number of FLA and yeasts was determined at different times and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was performed. Supernatants of FLAs promoted yeast survival and proliferation. Internalization of viable C. auris within both FLA species was also evidenced by TEM. A water environmental reservoir of C. auris can therefore be considered through FLAs and contamination of the hospital water networks would consequently be possible.     

Competition between the oligolectic beePtilothrix plumata (Anthophoridae) and the flower closing beetlePristimerus calcaratus (Curculionidae) for floral resources ofPavonia cancellata (Malvaceae)

The flowers ofPavonia cancellata, a creeping ruderal half-shrub of northeastern Brazil, open synchronously at 6:00 h with all anthers already dehisced. The oligolectic beePtilothrix plumata was the most effective pollinator. During 90—180 min, female bees make up to 40 brief pollen collection trips to provision their brood cells. The pollen of about 40 flowers ofP. cancellata is needed to feed one bee larva. The most frequent flower visitors, however, are the specialized curculionid beetlesPristimerus calcaratus, which do not crosspollinate the flowers. They perforate the epidermis with their mouthparts, provoking dehydration, and then actively close the loose petals with their legs. Two hours after opening, half of the flowers had already been closed by the beetles. We interpret the fast, uninterrupted pollen foraging ofPtilothrix plumata bees as a strategy adapted to synchronous pollen presentation ofPavonia and to competition withPristimerus calcaratus: the female bees have to provision their brood cells before the beetles succeed in closing the flowers.     

Determination of ciprofloxacin levels in chinchilla middle ear effusion and plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

An isocratic high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed to determine ciprofloxacin levels in chinchilla plasma and middle ear fluid. Ciprofloxacin and the internal standard, difloxacin, were separated on a Keystone ODS column (100 × 2.1 mm I.D., 5 μm Hypersil) using a mobile phase of 30 mM phosphate buffer (pH 3), 20 mM triethylamine, 20 mM sodium dodecyl sulphate—acetonitrile (60:40, v/v). The retention times were 3.0 min for ciprofloxacin and 5.2 min for difloxacin. This fast, efficient protein precipitation procedure together with fluorescence detection allows a quantification limit of 25 ng/ml with a 50 μl sample size. The detection limit is 5 ng/ml with a signal-to-noise ratio of 5:1. Recoveries (mean ± S.D., n = 5) at 100 ng/ml in plasma and middle ear fluid were 89.4 ± 1.2% and 91.4 ± 1.6%, respectively. The method was evaluated with biological samples taken from chinchillas with middle ear infections after administering ciprofloxacin.     

Subclinical psoroptic otocariasis in Brazilian sheep with comments on a technique for mite collection

Subclinical psoroptic otocariasis associated withPsoroptes cuniculi (Delafond) was diagnosed in four out of ten herds of sheep. Transmission of mites between sheep and goats and vice versa was detected in herds kept on the same pastures for over 2 years. Flushing the ear canals of sheep and goats with approximately 50 ml of water appreared to be more efficient than swabbing or otoscopic examination for diagnosis and/or mite collection.     

The leopardChimaera, a new species of chimaeroid fish from New Zealand (Holocephali, Chimaeriformes, Chimaeridae)

A new species ofChimaera is described from three specimens collected from deep water fishing grounds off the North Island of New Zealand at depths ranging from 327–1020 m. This species is distinguished from all other members of the genus by gray coloration with chocolate brown reticulations and spots covering the body and fins, as well as additional external features such as rounded pelvic fins, first dorsal fin with distinct white margin, preopercular and oral lateral line canals sharing a common branch, and morphology of pelvic claspers in males bifid, the distal 1/3 divided, with pale colored fleshy, distal lobes. Comparisons are made toC. monstrosa andC. owstoni, the two most similar species in the genus. this represents the first species ofChimaera to be described from New Zealand.     

On the mucilage canal and the mucilage gland in two species ofLaminaria (Phaeophyceae,Laminariales)

Phenological observations of mucilage canals inLaminaria angustata in field collected materials indicate that the initials of canals appear first in the spring in the transition zones in fronds of about 20 cm or more. They first appear as scattered dots. These initials are pshed upwards, elongating and branching and a broken mesh system of canals is finally formed as a result of stipe-frondal growth. Later, initials appear abundantly and continuously in the same zone, gradually producing a completely connected anastomosing system of canals. InLaminaria yezoensis, in one-cell-layered sporophytes, some of the component cells become initials of mucilage glands (fucosan cells), as seen inAlaria andUndaria. This phenomenon is confined to a very short-lived stage. Subsequently, mesh-like mucilage canals are formed as in most other Laminariaceous species as the plants grow. Anatomically, formation of mucilage canals in the two species takes place through secretory cells produced from periclinal division of the epidermal cells, followed by collapse and reorganization of groups of cells into mucilage canals. L. yezoensis, having both mucilage canals and mucilage glands in its development, may be classed at the border line betweenUndaria andAlaria which possess only the mucilage gland and other species ofLaminaria which possess the mucilage canal only.     

A previously unidentified <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chorioptes</Emphasis> species infesting outer ear canals of moose (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Alces alces</Emphasis>): characterization of the mite and the pathology of infestation

Background  

During the past decade, Chorioptes mites occupying the outer ear canals have been a common finding at routine necropsies of moose (Alces alces) in Sweden, but neither the taxonomy of the mites nor lesions from the infestation have been investigated. In this study, the mites are characterized by morphological and molecular techniques, and the histopathology of the skin of the outer ear canal is described.     

Heat balance of two starling species (Sturnus vulgaris andOnychognathus tristrami) from temperate and desert habitats

Summary Body temperature (T _b), oxygen consumption , thermal conductance (C) and evaporative water loss (EWL) were measured at various air temperatures (T _a) in two starlings which evolved in the tropics: a migratory species from a temperate climate,Sturnus vulgaris, and a resident, desert species,Onychognathus tristrami (Aves, Passeriformes, Sturnidae).AtT _a's of 4–35°C both birds hadT _b of 40.6°C. At 44°C,T _b ofSturnus was 45.8°C and that ofOnychognathus 43.3°C.T _a of 44°C was tolerated only byOnychognathus. The thermoneutral zone (TNZ) ofSturnus was in theT _a range of 29.5°C–36.5°C, that ofOnychognathus 21.5–36.5°C. ofSturnus within its TNZ (BMR) was 2.37 ml O₂ g^–1 h^–1, which is close to the expected BMR; that ofOnychognathus, 1.67 ml O₂ g^–1 h^–1, is only 74% of the expected. AtT _a'sNZ,C ofSturnus was twice as high as that ofOnychognathus and 1.68 times the expected value, whereasC ofOnychognathus was only 94% of the expected. At highT _a'sOnychognathus had higherC thanSturnus. At either low or highT _a's EWL ofSturnus was greater than ofOnychognathus.The responses shown bySturnus are typical of a tropical bird living in a moderate environment. This indicates that neither in USSR where it spends the summer, nor in Israel where it spends the winter, is this starling exposed to extreme temperatures.Onychognathus is better adapted not only to high but also to the low temperatures prevailing in mountainous regions of the desert.Symbols and abbreviations BMR basal metabolic rate - C thermal conductance - EWL evaporative water loss - HE evaporative heat loss - HP heat production - TNZ thermoneutral zone     

Synopsis ofVerbesina sect.Ochractinia (Asteraceae)

A taxonomic revision ofVerbesina sect.Ochractinia is presented. 40 species plus 7 additional infraspecific taxa are recognized. A table of the distribution of the species, key to the species and synonymy are included. Relationships to other sections ofVerbesina and species relationships within sect.Ochractinia are discussed.     

Methodical aspects of rearing decapod larvae,Pagurus bernhardus (Paguridae) andCarcinus maenas (Portunidae)

Improved methods for experimental rearing ofPagurus bernhardus andCarcinus maenas larvae are presented. Isolated maintenance was found essential for reliable statistical evaluation of results obtained from stages older than zoea-1. Only by isolated rearing is it possible to calculate mean values ±95% confidence intervals of stage duration. Mean values (without confidence intervals) can only be given for group-reared larvae if mortality is zero. Compared to group rearing, isolated rearing led to better survival, shorter periods of development and stimulated growth. Due to different swimming behaviorP. bernhardus zoeae needed larger water volumes thanCarcinus maenas larvae.P. bernhardus zoeae were reared with best results when isolated in Petri dishes (ca. 50 ml). They fed on newly hatched brine shrimp nauplii (Artemia spp.).P. bernhardus megalopa did not require any gastropod shell or substratum; it developed best in glass vials without any food.C. maenas larvae could be reared most sucessfully in glass vials (ca 20 ml) under a simulated day-night regime (LD 16:8); constant darkness had a detrimental effect on development, leading to prolonged stage-duration times.C. maenas larvae were fed a mixture of newly hatched brine shrimp naupli and rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis).     

The bony labyrinth of Platecarpus (Squamata: Mosasauria) and aquatic adaptations in squamate reptiles

Mosasaurs were among the last marine reptiles that lived before the Cretacesous–Paleogene extinction. Little is known about the sensory evolution of mosasaurs in relation to their aquatic lifestyle. In this study, the braincase of Platecarpus was CT-scanned and virtual models were constructed showing the bony labyrinth — or the inner ear — a sensory apparatus for balance and hearing. The virtual inner ear consists of the semicircular canals, vestibule, and cochlea. Compared with extant squamates, Platecarpus resembles sea snakes in having a small vestibule with a flat dorsal surface, but it differs from non-mosasaurian squamates in having rounded semicircular canals. Phylogenetic linear regression analysis supports a linear relationship, independent from phylogeny, between the length of the three semicircular canals and the length of the skull. The semicircular canals of Platecarpus are shorter than predicted, but the fossil data fell within the 95% prediction interval calculated from the extant data and the skull length of Platecarpus. Although size reduction of the bony labyrinth has been associated with aquatic adaptions in mammals, our results suggest that in squamates, semicircular canal size is related to skull size rather than habitat preference.     

Isozyme evidence and the origin ofSenecio vulgaris (Compositae)

An electrophoretic survey of isozyme variation was conducted to test the hypothesis thatSenecio vulgaris L. (2n = 40) is of autotetraploid origin fromS. vernalis Waldst. & Kit. (2n = 20). It was established thatS. vulgaris exhibited fixed heterozygosity at three loci examined, showed disomic inheritance at all polymorphic loci, and contained a gene (Est-1) and an allele (Aat-3b) which were not present in the single population ofS. vernalis surveyed. From this it is concluded thatS. vulgaris is not of autotetraploid origin. Instead, the genetic evidence is in keeping with an allopolyploid origin ofS. vulgaris with the possibility thatS. vernalis acted as one of its two parents.     

Biological control of onion neck rot (Botrytis aclada): Protection of wounds made by leaf topping

The efficacy of fungal antagonists in protecting onions from neck rot caused by Botrytis aclada was investigated. Leaf wounds made by topping of onions during harvest, which are considered as important entrance sites for B. aclada, were treated with conidial suspensions (5 × 10⁷ conidia ml^‐1) of antagonists. In field experiments with artificial inoculation with conidia of B. aclada, applications of Trichoderma viride during harvest reduced the incidence of neck rot, assessed after three months’ storage of the onions at 9° C, from 35% to 24% in 1989 and from 28% to 18% in 1990, when onions initially had been stored under favourable conditions for fungal development. Comparable results were obtained with T. hamatum and Gliocladium roseum. A bioassay based on wound treatment of detached onion leaves was developed to select further antagonists. From 40 candidate antagonists tested, 20 strains gave similar or better control than the strain of T. viride applied in the field experiments. Effective antagonists could be found amongst strains of Trichoderma spp. Gliocladium spp. and Penicillium spp. as well as amongst fungi such as Aureobasidium pullulans and yeasts isolated from green leaves of onion or rye.