Comparison of Leishmania killicki (syn. L. tropica) and Leishmania tropica Population Structure in Maghreb by Microsatellite Typing

Leishmania (L.) killicki (syn. L. tropica), which causes cutaneous leishmaniasis in Maghreb, was recently described in this region and identified as a subpopulation of L. tropica. The present genetic analysis was conducted to explore the spatio-temporal distribution of L. killicki (syn. L. tropica) and its transmission dynamics. To better understand the evolution of this parasite, its population structure was then compared with that of L. tropica populations from Morocco. In total 198 samples including 85 L. killicki (syn. L. tropica) (from Tunisia, Algeria and Libya) and 113 L. tropica specimens (all from Morocco) were tested. Theses samples were composed of 168 Leishmania strains isolated from human skin lesions, 27 DNA samples from human skin lesion biopsies, two DNA samples from Ctenodactylus gundi bone marrow and one DNA sample from a Phlebotomus sergenti female. The sample was analyzed by using MultiLocus Enzyme Electrophoresis (MLEE) and MultiLocus Microsatellite Typing (MLMT) approaches. Analysis of the MLMT data support the hypothesis that L. killicki (syn. L. tropica) belongs to the L. tropica complex, despite its strong genetic differentiation, and that it emerged from this taxon by a founder effect. Moreover, it revealed a strong structuring in L. killicki (syn. L. tropica) between Tunisia and Algeria and within the different Tunisian regions, suggesting low dispersion of L. killicki (syn. L. tropica) in space and time. Comparison of the L. tropica (exclusively from Morocco) and L. killicki (syn. L. tropica) population structures revealed distinct genetic organizations, reflecting different epidemiological cycles.     

Dactylogyrids (Monogenoidea: Polyonchoinea) parasitising the gills of snappers (Perciformes: Lutjanidae): Species of Euryhaliotrema Kritsky & Boeger, 2002 from the golden snapper Lutjanus johnii (Bloch) off northern Australia, with a redescription of Euryhaliotrema johni (Tripathi, 1959) and descriptions of two new species

Three species of Euryhaliotrema Kritsky & Boeger, 2002 (Monogenoidea: Dactylogyridae) were collected from the gills of four golden snapper Lutjanus johnii (Bloch) (Lutjanidae) from the marine and brackish waters off Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. Type-specimens of Ancyrocephalus johni Tripathi, 1959 apparently have not survived and the possibility existed that the species was based on specimens representing more than one species. Euryhaliotrema johni (Tripathi, 1959) (sensu Young, 1968) was redescribed and determined to most likely represent A. johni, originally described from the River Hooghly, Diamond Harbour, India. Two new species were described. Euryhaliotrema longibaculoides n. sp. was most similar to Euryhaliotrema longibaculum (Zhukov, 1976) Kritsky & Boeger, 2002 from Lutjanus spp. from the western Atlantic Ocean. It differed from E. longibaculum by having a male copulatory organ (MCO) with an elongate comparatively delicate shaft and a bulbous base (MCO U- or J-shaped with funnel-shaped base in E. longibaculum). Based on the comparative morphology of the haptoral sclerites, Euryhaliotrema lisae n. sp. was most similar to Euryhaliotrema cryptophallus Kritsky & Yang, 2012 from the gills of the mangrove red snapper Lutjanus argentimaculatus (Forsskål) from the South China Sea. Euryhaliotrema lisae differed from E. cryptophallus by having a copulatory complex with an obvious weakly sclerotised J-shaped MCO (MCO cryptic, delicate, and with a shaft comprising about one counterclockwise ring in E. cryptophallus).     

Profundulus kreiseri,a new species of Profundulidae (Teleostei,Cyprinodontiformes) from northwestern?Honduras

A new species of Profundulus, Profundulus kreiseri (Cyprinodontiformes: Profundulidae), is described from the Chamelecón and Ulúa Rivers in the northwestern Honduran highlands. Based on a phylogenetic analysis using cytochrome b and the presence of synapomorphic characters (dark humeral spot, a scaled preorbital region and between 32-34 vertebrae), this new species is placed in the subgenus Profundulus, which also includes Profundulus (Profundulus) oaxacae, Profundulus (Profundulus) punctatus and Profundulus (Profundulus) guatemalensis. Profundulus kreiseri can be distinguished from other members of the subgenus Profundulus by having less than half of its caudal fin densely scaled. Profundulus kreiseri can further be differentiated from Profundulus (Profundulus) oaxacae and Profundulus (Profundulus) punctatus by the absence of rows of dark spots on its flanks. The new species can further be differentiated from Profundulus (Profundulus) guatemalensis by the presence of fewer caudal- and pectoral-fin rays. The new species is distinguished from congeners of the profundulid subgenus Tlaloc (viz., Profundulus (Tlaloc) hildebrandi, Profundulus (Tlaloc) labialis, Profundulus (Tlaloc) candalarius and Profundulus (Tlaloc) portillorum) by having a scaled preorbital region and a dark humeral spot. Profundulus kreiseri and Profundulus portillorum are the only two species of Profundulus that are endemic to the region south of the Motagua River drainage in southern Guatemala and northwestern Honduras.     

Two new species of Quasithelazia Maplestone, 1932 (Nematoda: Acuariidae) from Malaysia,with an amended diagnosis and review of the genus

Quazithelazia rostrata n. sp. from Ceyx erithaca (L.) (type-host) and Alcedo euryzona Temminck (Coraciiformes, Alcedinidae) and Q. alata n. sp. from Enicurus ruficapillus Temminck (Passeriformes, Muscicapidae) are described from vicinities of Gombak Biological Station, Selangor, Malaysia; both species are parasitic under the koilin lining of the gizzard. Paratypes of Schistogendra pelargopsis Nandi, De & Majumdar, 1985, a parasite of Pelargopsis capensis (L.) (Alcedinidae) from India, are redescribed and the species is recognised as a junior synonym of the type-species of Quasithelazia, Q. tenuis Maplestone, 1932 (new synonymy), a species originally described from Halcyon smyrnensis (L.) (Alcedinidae) in India. An amended diagnosis of the genus Quasithelazia Maplestone, 1932 is proposed. Currently, this genus includes eight species occurring in the Old World, six of them parasitic in kingfishers (Alcedinidae) and two species parasitic in flycatchers (Muscicapidae). These include, inter alia, Q. halcyoni n. comb. for Viktorocara halcyoni Ryzhikov & Khokhlova, 1964 from Halcyon smyrnensis and H. pileata (Boddaert) in Vietnam and the Russian Far East, Q. microcordonis n. comb. for Rusguniella microcordonis Schmidt & Kuntz, 1971 from Halcyon coromanda major (Temminck & Schlegel) in Taiwan and Q. multipapillata n. comb. for Schistogendra multipapillata Zhang, 1993 from Tarsiger cyanurus (Pallas) (Muscicapidae) in China. Comparative morphological data for Quasithelazia spp. are presented. Schistogendra oligopapillata Zhang & An, 2002 from domestic ducks in China is considered a species incertae sedis.     

Description of Proyseria petterae n. sp., with an amended generic diagnosis and a review of the species of Proyseria Petter, 1959 and Stegophorus Wehr, 1934 (Nematoda: Acuariidae)

Proyseria decora (Dujardin, 1845) (the type-species of the genus Proyseria Petter, 1959) is redescribed on the basis of specimens from Alcedo atthis (L.) (Coraciiformes: Alcedinidae) from Iran. P. petterae n. sp. is described from Corythornis vintsioides (Eydoux & Gervais) (Alcedinidae) from Madagascar by light and scanning electron microscopy. Proyseria sp. from Alcedo euryzona Temminck from continental Malaysia is described on the basis of a single male specimen. Stegophorus alcedonis Puqin, Yanyin & Guocal, 1991 from A. atthis in China is transferred to the genus Proyseria as P. alcedonis n. comb. The generic diagnosis of Proyseria is amended. Review of the species of the genera Proyseria and Stegophorus Wehr, 1934 is presented.     

Description of Medwayella independencia (Siphonaptera,Stivaliidae), a new species of flea from Mindanao Island,the Philippines and their phoretic mites,and miscellaneous flea records from the Malay Archipelago

Medwayella independencia, a new species of flea, is described from the tupaiid host Urogale everetti (Thomas) from Mindanao Island, Philippines. Several other species of fleas are also recorded from the Philippines including a single male of Lentistivalius philippinensis Hastriter and Bush, 2013 (previously known only from two males), the bat fleas Thaumapsylla breviceps orientalis Smit and Thaumapsylla longiforceps Traub, a single unidentified female species of Macrostylophora Ewing collected from the murid Bullimus bagobos Mearns, and a pair of Medwayella robinsoni ssp. from Sundasciurus hoogstraali (Sanborn) from Busuanga Island, Philippines. Representatives of Medwayella Traub, 1972 and Macrostylophora have not previously been recorded from the Philippines. A key to the male sex of Medwayella is provided. Phoretic mites of the genus Psylloglyphus (family Winterschmidtiidae) were present under the abdominal sclerites of several male and female specimens of M. independencia. This is the second report of a phoretic mite on a species of Medwayella Traub. The co-evolutionary implications between phoretic mites and fleas are discussed.     

Amblyceps waikhomi,a New Species of Catfish (Siluriformes: Amblycipitidae) from the Brahmaputra Drainage of Arunachal Pradesh,India

Amblyceps waikhomi sp. nov. is described from the Nongkon stream which drains into the Noa Dehing River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra River, in Arunachal Pradesh, India. The new species can be distinguished from congeners (except A. torrentis) in having a deeper body depth at anus. It further differs from congeners (except A. mangois and A. serratum) in having fewer vertebrae, from A. mangois in lacking (vs. having) strongly-developed projections on the proximal lepidotrichia of the median caudal-fin rays, and in having a longer, wider, and deeper head; and from A. serratum in having a posteriorly smooth (vs. with 4–5 serrations) pectoral spine, and unequal jaw length (lower jaw longer and weakly-projecting anteriorly vs. equal upper and lower jaws). It additionally differs from A. murraystuarti, A. torrentis, A. apangi, A. laticeps, and A. cerinum in having a deeply forked (vs. emarginate or truncate) caudal fin. This species is the seventh amblycipitid species known to occur in the Ganga-Brahmaputra River system.     

Syringophilid mites (Acari: Syringophilidae) associated with the rails (Aves: Rallidae) and a key to the species of the genus Rafapicobia Skoracki, 2011

The fauna of quill mites of the family Syringophilidae Lavoipierre, 1953 (Acari: Prostigmata Cheyletoidea) parasitising birds of the family Rallidae Vigors (Gruiformes) is updated. A new species, Rafapicobia melzeri n. sp. (subfamily Picobiinae), is described from four host species: Rallus aquaticus Linnaeus (type-host) from Germany, Pardirallus sanguinolentus (Swainson) from Chile, Porzana porzana (Linnaeus) from France and P. parva (Scopoli) from Kirghizia. The new species is most similar to R. lepidocolaptesi Skoracki & Solarczyk, 2012 but differs in the absence of agenital plates and the length ratios of setae ag2:g1 and vi:ve:si in females and in the punctate ornament on the hysteronotal and the pygidial shields in males. A key to the species of the genus Rafapicobia is proposed. This is the first record of a representative of the subfamily Picobiinae on gruiform birds. Additionally, new rallid hosts are reported for Charadriphilus ralli Skoracki & Bochkov, 2010 (subfamily Syringophilinae): Gallinula melanops (Vieillot) from Chile, Laterallus melanophaius (Vieillot) from Paraguay, and P. parva (Scopoli) from Kirghizia.     

Italian Dermestidae: notes on some species and?an?updated checklist (Coleoptera)

An up-to-date checklist of the Italian Dermestidae is provided. The presence of 95 species in Italy is confirmed, while further 5 species (Dermestes (Dermestes) vorax Motschulsky, 1860, Thorictuspilosus Peyron, 1857, T. wasmanni Reitter, 1895, Attagenus (Attagenus) simonis Reitter, 1881 and Globicornis (G.) breviclavis (Reitter, 1878)) and 1 subspecies (A. (A.) tigrinus pulcher Faldermann, 1835) are excluded from the Italian fauna.Attagenus (Attagenus) calabricus Reitter, 1881 and A. (A.) lobatus Rosenhauer, 1856 are for the first time recorded from Abruzzi and Tuscany respectively; A. (A.) silvaticus Zhantiev, 1976 is recorded for the first time from mainland Italy (Apulia); Anthrenus (Anthrenus) angustefasciatus Ganglbauer, 1904 is new to northern Italy (Friuli-Venezia Giulia), central Italy (Tuscany), Apulia and Basilicata; A. (A.) munroi Hinton, 1943 is new to central Italy (Elba Island); A. (A.) delicatus Kiesenwetter, 1851 is for the first time recorded from Apulia; Globicornis (Globicornis) fasciata (Fairmaire & Brisout de Barneville, 1859) is new to southern Italy (Basilicata); G. (Hadrotoma) sulcata (C.N.F. Brisout de Barneville, 1866) is for the first time recorded from central Italy (Abruzzi), Campania and Sicily, whileTrogoderma inclusum LeConte, 1854 is new to Apulia.Seven species (Dermestes (Dermestes) peruvianus Laporte de Castelnau, 1840, D. (Dermestinus) carnivorus Fabricius, 1775, D. (Dermestinus) hankae Háva, 1999, D. (Dermestinus) intermedius intermedius Kalík, 1951, D. (Dermestinus) szekessyi Kalík, 1950, Anthrenus (Anthrenops) coloratus Reitter, 1881 and Trogodermaangustum (Solier, 1849)) recently recorded from Italy (without further details) are discussed.The lectotype and a paralectotype are designated forAttagenus (A.) calabricus Reitter, 1881 from Calabria.Attagenus pellio (Linnaeus, 1758) var. pilosissimus Roubal, 1932 is removed from synonymy with A. (A.) pellio and recognized as a valid species (stat. prom.); it is known from Lombardy, Apulia and Calabria.     

A new species and a new subspecies of the stargazer genusGnathagnus from Northwestern Australia

Heretofore the genusGnathagnus (Uranoscopidae) has been composed of three species:G. elongatus (Temminck et Schlegel) from northern Australia to Japan,G. innotabilis (Waite) from Australasia, andG. egregius (Jordan et Thompson) from the western Atlantic Ocean. In this paper, a new species and a new subspecies from northwestern Australia are described and a key to the known species and subspecies of the genus is presented.     

Comparative reproductive patterns in culture of differentGigartina subgenusMastocarpus andPetrocelis populations from northern Japan

Samples of theGigartina pacifica-ochotensis complex were collected at 21 localities around Hokkaido and northern Honshu. The carpospore and blade tip cultures showed 3 reproductive patterns. (1) 237 (86.8%) of the 273 cultured isolates derived from single plants have a direct type of life history. (2) 29 (10.6%) isolates exhibited a heteromorphic type with the alternation of foliose gametophytes and crustose tetrasporophytes. (3) 7 (2.6%) isolates showed a mixed pattern in which carposporelings developed intoPetrocelis-like crusts, basal discs with uprightGigartina blades, or chimera-like discs with compositePetrocelis-Gigartina anatomy. CulturedGigartina blades derived from bothG. pacifica andG. ochotensis were similar in morphology. In 18 cultures from 5 localitiesPetrocelis tetraspores developed into dioeciousGigartina gametophytes. A single tetrasporeling grew into aGigartina plant that reproduced directly. In hybridization experiments with 8 male and 14 female isolates from 4 localities on Hokkaido 85 (78.0%) of 109 were positive. On the basis of these and earlier studies it is concluded that a single species is present in northern Japan:G. pacifica Kjellm. has priority overG. ochotensis (Rupr.) Rupr. ex Yendo.     

New species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spauligodon</Emphasis> Skrjabin,Schikhobalova &; Lagodovskaja, 1960 and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thubunea</Emphasis> Seurat, 1914 (Nematoda) from the gastro-intestinal tract of lizards in Iran

Based on light and electron microscopical studies, the following four species of Philometra Costa, 1845 (Nematoda: Philometridae) are described from marine fishes from off Basrah, southern Iraq (Arabian Gulf): P. brachiri n. sp. (males and females) from the ovary of the Oriental sole Brachirus orientalis (Bloch & Schneider) (Pleuronectiformes; Soleidae), P. piscaria Moravec & Justine, 2014 (female) from the ovary of the orange-spotted grouper Epinephelus coioides (Hamilton) (Perciformes: Serranidae), P. otolithi Moravec & Manoharan, 2013 (male and females) from the ovary of the tigerteeth croaker Otolithes ruber (Bloch & Schneider) (Perciformes: Sciaenidae) and P. tricornuta n. sp. (female) from the musculature of the caudal peduncle of the greater lizardfish Saurida tumbil (Bloch) (Aulopiformes: Synodontidae). Philometra brachiri is mainly characterised by the structure of the distal tip of the gubernaculum and the length of the spicules (132–135 μm) in male. Philometra tricornuta is distinguished by the presence of three large sclerotised oesophageal teeth and two tandem bulbous inflations at the anterior end of oesophagus in female. The female of P. piscaria is described for the first time. Philometra brachiri is the first species of this genus described from a fish belonging to the family Soleidae. The findings of P. piscaria and P. otolithi in Iraqi marine waters represent new geographical records.     

A new tapeworm from Compsophis infralineatus (Pseudoxyrhophiidae), an endemic snake of Madagascar: Scratching the surface of undiscovered reptilian parasite diversity

A new species of proteocephalid cestodes, provisionally assigned to the polyphyletic genus Ophiotaenia La Rue, 1911 (Cestoda: Proteocephalidae), is described from Compsophis infralineatus (Günther) (Serpentes: Pseudoxyrhophiidae) endemic to Madagascar. Ophiotaenia oreae n. sp. differs from all African and Asian species of Ophiotaenia by possessing more uterine diverticula (68–82 on one side). It is also characterised by the absence of an apical organ, the relative sizes of the cirrus-sac and ovary, the almost equatorial position of the gonopore, the diameter of the embryophore, and other biometric characteristics. Phylogenetic relationships of the new species indicate its relatedness to Indomalayan and Australasian proteocephalids from reptiles. Ophiotaenia oreae n. sp. formed a well-supported clade composed of species of Australophiotaenia de Chambrier, Beveridge and Scholz, 2018 from Australian snakes, Macrobothriotaenia ficta (Meggitt, 1931) from Xenopeltis unicolor Reinwardt in Boie from Vietnam, Ophiotaenia sp. from Trimeresurus flavomaculatus (Gray) from the Philippines, and Ophiotaenia bungari de Chambrier, Binh and Scholz, 2012 from Bungarus fasciatus (Schneider) from Vietnam. The only proteocephalid from Madagascan snakes sequenced so far, Ophiotaenia lapata Rambeloson, Ranaivoson and de Chambrier, 2012 from Madagascarophis colubrinus (Schlegel), does not form a monophyletic group with the new species. The actual species diversity of reptilian cestodes in Madagascar is undoubtedly underestimated. Because of the assumed strict (oioxenous) host specificity of reptilian proteocephalids and rich fauna of snakes occurring in Madagascar, it is plausible to expect the existence of dozens new species of proteocephalids on this island.     

Characterization of antigenic epitopes in anti-ulcer pectic polysaccharides from Bupleurum falcatum L. using several carbohydrases

A polyclonal antibody (anti-bupleuran 2IIc/PG-1-IgG) against the “ramified” region (PG-1) of an anti-ulcer pectic polysaccharide was prepared and its antigenic epitopes were analyzed by using several carbohydrases. Enzymatic removal of arabinosyl residues from PG-1 by endo-(1→5)-α-l-arabinanase (from Aspergillus niger) did not reduce the binding ability of anti-bupleuran 2IIc/PG-1-IgG to PG-1. When the endo-(1→5)-α-l-arabinanase-resistant fraction (EA-1) was digested with rhamnogalacturonase A (rRGase A from A. aculeatus), a high-molecular-mass fragment fraction (RA-1) and an oligosaccharide fraction (RA-3) were obtained. RA-3 contained at least four kinds of oligosaccharides liberated from the rhamnogalacturonan core. This partial removal of the rhamnogalacturonan core in EA-1 also did not reduce the binding of the antibody to the polysaccharide. Further digestion of RA-1 with exo-(1→3)-β-d-galactanase (from Irpex lacteus), gave a high-molecular-mass fragment (EXG-1) and a trace of oligosaccharides (EXG-3). Methylation and FABMS analyses indicated that EXG-3 contained mono- and di-galactosyl oligosaccharides possessing terminal GlcA or GlcA4Me. Removal of the EXG-3 fraction from RA-1 by exo-(1→3)-β-d-galactanase significantly reduced the ability of the binding of the antibody to the polysaccharide. When PG-1 was digested with endo-(1→6)-β-d-galactanase (from Trichoderma viride) or β-d-glucuronidase (from A. niger), the reactivities of both enzyme-resistant fractions to the antibody were decreased in comparison with that of PG-1. Both radish arabinogalactan (containing GlcA4Me) and β-d-GlcpA-(1→6)-β-d-Galp-(1→6)-d-Galp were shown to inhibit the reactivity of PG-1 to the antibody by competitive ELISA. These results suggest that 6-linked galactosyl chains containing terminal GlcA or GlcA4Me attached to (1→3)-β-d-galactosyl chains, are important sugar residues in the antigenic epitopes of the “ramified” region of bupleuran 2IIc.     

Investigation of Prolific Sheep from UK and Ireland for Evidence on Origin of the Mutations in BMP15 (FecXG,FecXB) and GDF9 (FecGH) in Belclare and Cambridge Sheep

This paper concerns the likely origin of three mutations with large effects on ovulation rate identified in the Belclare and Cambridge sheep breeds; two in the BMP15 gene (FecX^G and FecX^B) and the third (FecG^H) in GDF9. All three mutations segregate in Belclare sheep while one, FecX^B, has not been found in the Cambridge. Both Belclare and Cambridge breeds are relatively recently developed composites that have common ancestry through the use of genetic material from the Finnish Landrace and Lleyn breeds. The development of both composites also involved major contributions from exceptionally prolific ewes screened from flocks in Ireland (Belclare) and Britain (Cambridge) during the 1960s. The objective of the current study was to establish the likely origin of the mutations (FecX^G, FecX^B and FecG^H) through analysis of DNA from Finnish Landrace and Lleyn sheep, and Galway and Texel breeds which contributed to the development of the Belclare breed. Ewes with exceptionally high prolificacy (hyper-prolific ewes) in current flocks on Irish farms were identified to simulate the screening of ewes from Irish flocks in the 1960s. DNA was obtained from: prolific ewes in extant flocks of Lleyn sheep (n = 44) on the Lleyn peninsula in Wales; hyper-prolific ewes (n = 41); prolific Galway (n = 41) ewes; Finnish Landrace (n = 124) and Texel (n = 19) ewes. The FecX^G mutation was identified in Lleyn but not in Finnish Landrace, Galway or Texel sheep; FecX^B was only found among the hyper-prolific ewes. The FecG^H mutation was identified in the sample of Lleyn sheep. It was concluded from these findings that the Lleyn breed was the most likely source of the FecX^G and FecG^H mutations in Belclare and Cambridge sheep and that the FecX^B mutation came from the High Fertility line that was developed using prolific ewes selected from commercial flocks in Ireland in the 1960′s and subsequently used in the genesis of the Belclare.     

The XmnI restriction-modification system: Cloning,expression, sequence organization and similarity between the R and M genes

The xmnIRM genes from Xanthomonas manihotis 7AS1 have been cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The nucleotide (nt) sequences of both genes were determined. The XmnI methyltransferase (MTase)-encoding gene is 1861 by in length and codes for 620 amino acids (aa) (68660 Da). The restriction endonuclease (ENase)-encoding gene is 959 by long and therefore codes for a 319-aa protein (35275 Da). The two genes are aligned tail to tail and they overlap at their respective stop codons. About 4 × 10⁴ units/g wet cell paste of R·XmnI was obtained following IPTG induction in a suitable E. coli host. The xmnIR gene is expressed from the T7 promoter. M·XmnI probably modifies the first A in the sequence, GAA(N)₄TTC. The xmnIR and M genes contain regions of conserved similarity and probably evolved from a common ancestor. M·XmnI is loosely related to M·EcoRI. The XmnI R-M system and the type-I R-M systems probably derived from a common ancestor.     

Isolation and sequence analysis of the cDNA encoding Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase from Zalerion arboricola

A cDNA encoding Δ¹-pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase (P5CR) was isolated from the pneumocandin(Pmo)-producing fungus, Zalerion arboricola (Za), by complementation of a P5CR-deficient mutant (pro3) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Sc). The cloned cDNA was placed under control of the Sc galactokinase (GAL1) promoter and restored P5CR activity to the pro3 mutant. Sequence analysis revealed that the Za P5CR-encoding cDNA encodes an approx. 35 kDa protein with substantial amino acid (aa) identity to P5CR from another filamentous fungus, Neurospora crassa (Nc). Za P5CR exhibits a moderate degree of aa identity to P5CR from plants, bacteria, human and Sc. This is the first gene to be isolated from Za.     

Ticks Collected from Wild and Domestic Animals and Natural Habitats in the Republic of Korea

Ticks were collected from 35 animals from 5 provinces and 3 metropolitan cities during 2012. Ticks also were collected by tick drag from 4 sites in Gyeonggi-do (2) and Jeollabuk-do (2) Provinces. A total of 612 ticks belonging to 6 species and 3 genera were collected from mammals and a bird (n=573) and by tick drag (n=39). Haemaphyalis longicornis (n=434) was the most commonly collected tick, followed by H. flava (158), Ixodes nipponensis (11), Amblyomma testudinarium (7), H. japonica (1), and H. formosensis (1). H. longicornis and H. flava were collected from all animal hosts examined. For animal hosts (n>1), the highest Tick Index (TI) was observed for domestic dogs (29.6), followed by Siberian roe deer (17.4), water deer (14.4), and raccoon dogs (1.3). A total of 402 H. longicornis (adults 86, 21.4%; nymphs 160, 39.8%; larvae 156, 38.9%) were collected from wild and domestic animals. A total of 158 H. flava (n=158) were collected from wild and domestic animals and 1 ring-necked pheasant, with a higher proportion of adults (103, 65.2%), while nymphs and larvae only accounted for 12.7% (20) and 22.2% (35), respectively. Only 7 A. testudinarium were collected from the wild boar (6 adults) and Eurasian badger (1 nymph), while only 5 I. nipponensis were collected from the water deer (4 adults) and a raccoon dog (1 adult). One adult female H. formosensis was first collected from vegetation by tick drag from Mara Island, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do Province.     

Afrochoerodon nov. gen. kisumuensis (MacInnes) (Proboscidea,Mammalia) from Cheparawa,Middle Miocene,Kenya

A proboscidean skull from Cheparawa, (Muruyur Formation, Kenya), differs markedly from those of Eurasian Choerolophodon (C. pentelici, C. dhokpathanensis). It is morphologically and metrically close to the holotype of Choerolophodon kisumuensis (MacInnes) a partial skull from Maboko, much of which has been reconstructed in plaster of Paris. The more complete remains of this species now available indicate that it should be placed in a genus separate from Choerolophodon. The new genus Afrochoerodon is erected for it. Choerolophodon ngorora from Ngorora and Fort Ternan (Kenya), Choerolophodon zaltaniensis from Gebel Zelten (Libya) and Choerolophodon chioticus from Chios, Greece, should be transferred to the genus Afrochoerodon. Late Miocene specimens from Nakali, Kenya are probably referrable to the genus Choerolophodon. Fossils from Burji-Soyama (Ethiopia) hitherto assigned to Choerolophodon sp. are excluded from the subfamily Choerolophodontinae.