Identification of human hookworm in failed-treatment cases using Chinese hamsters (Cricetulus griseus) and scanning electron microscopy

An attempt was made to identify the human hookworm involved in failed-treatment cases using abnormal hosts and scanning electron microscopy. Thirty-seven, 2 to 6 month old Chinese hamsters (Cricetulus griseus) from a closed, outbred, conventional colony, were each given between 20 and 120 filariform larvae per os. The larvae were cultured from faeces from mebendazole (Vermox) 500 mg single-dose, failed-treatment cases living in the lowveld farming area of the Transvaal Province, South Africa. About 60 to 78 days after inoculation, the animals were killed and adult worms were removed from their small intestines. Eleven (30%) of the 37 hamsters harboured a total of 31 adult worms (19 males and 12 females), while 26 hamsters were refractory to infection. The greatest number of worms recovered from a single animal was six. A total of 27 worms (17 males and 10 females) were subjected to examination by scanning electron microscopy. Micrographs showed male and female worms to be morphologically all of the Necator americanus species, as identified by a pair of ventral and dorsal cutting plates, a dorsal tooth and the fused terminus of spicules in the male bursa. The transverse cuticular striations were distinct and smooth. Several points of interest arose from the results of this study and are discussed.     

Population structure,growth and fecundity of perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) in an acidified river system in Southern Norway

Population structure, density and reproductive potential of perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) from 4 acidified lakes in a river system in Southern Norway were investigated. The upper 3 lakes were most affected by acidification and the number of perch caught per unit effort indicate three-fold increase in density from the upper Gjerstadvann to the lower Brøbørvann. Low density of perch in the upper lakes is explained by; 1) Abnormal mortality occurring in episodes due to acidification, probably caused by aluminium toxicity at pH = 5.2–5.4. 2). Acid water (pH ≤ 5.0) during spawning and development of eggs and larvae, resulting in recruitment failure. Juvenile mortality of perch may depend on the density of the parental stock. In the 3 upper lakes, the density of adult perch probably was too low to produce significant juvenile mortality, and in these lakes the recruitment probably depended more on the May water quality. Improved water quality increases egg hatching and survival and also benefits zooplankton production, the main food for perch during the first summer. Low population density has reduced competition for food and thus improved growth of perch in the 3 upper lakes compared to the lower lake. The perch in Brøbørvann mature at higher age and have lower individual fecundity than perch in Gjerstadvann, an effect of both slower growth and lower length specific fecundity in Brøbørvann. In Gjerstadvann, the perch therefore have a higher reproductive potential relative to the stock density, and may, when the water quality is good enough, give rise to strong year-classes and more frequent year-class fluctuations than perch in the less acid Brøbørvann.     

Dissolved organic carbon in a humic lake: effects on bacterial production and respiration

Allochthonous matter was the main source of carbon for pelagic bacteria in a humic lake, accounting for almost 90% of the carbon required to support observed bacterial growth. The estimated contribution from zooplankton excretion was of the same magnitude as direct phytoplankton release, both accounting for 5–7% of bacterial demands for dissolved carbon. Bacteria were an important source of carbon both for heterotrophic phytoplankton and for filter feeding zooplankton species, further stressing the role of humus DOC in overall lake productivity. The high contribution of allochthonous DOC implies a stoichiometry of dissolved nutrients with a surplus of C relative to P. The high P cell quota of bacteria suggest that under such conditions they are P-limited and act like net consumers of P. Excess C will be disposed of, and bacterial respiration rate will increase following a transition from carbon-limited bacterial growth towards mineral-nutrient-limited growth. Thus the high community respiration and frequent CO₂-supersaturation in humic lakes may be caused not only by the absolute supply of organic C, but also by the stoichiometry of the dissolved nutrient pool.     

Vorkommen des Auerhuhns (Tetrao urogallus major C. L. Brehm, 1831) am Athos (Greichenland)

Summary At the Mount Athos the Capercaillie is spread in the montane high forests at an altitude between 1140 m and 1340 m above sea level. This isolated occurrence at the southern boundary of the species area and 140 km to the south of the breeding place in the Rhodope Mountains is the southernmost occurrence recorded so far. In former times, the Capercaillie presumably was widespread in the mountain forests of Central and Northern Greece.     

Territorialit?t und Brutbiologie der FeldlercheAlauda arvensis in einer intensiv genutzten Agrarlandschaft

Zusammenfassung In einer intensiv landwirtschaftlich genutzten Fläche des schweizerischen Mittellandes wurden 1983–1987 vier Feldlerchenaggregationen mit maximal 39 Brutpaaren untersucht. Die Tradition (Ortstreue) bestimmte in erster Linie die Revierwahl und das Verteilungsmuster. Die Reviere waren mit ha sehr groß; ihre Größe korrelierte negativ mit der Anzahl Parzellen pro Fläche und der Kulturendiversität. Die Nutzung des Ressourcenangebots (Nistplatz, Nahrung, Schutz) war abhängig von den Fortbewegungsmöglichkeiten. In großparzellig strukturierten Flächen mit geringer Kulturendiversität kam es häufig zu Revierverschiebungen und Reviervergrößerungen. Die Feldlerche versucht, im Laufe der Brutperiode den Getreideanteil im Revier zu verkleinern und Kulturen wie Rüben, Kartoffeln und auch Mais zu aquirieren. Die Nistplatzwahl zeigte eine deutliche Präferenz für alle nicht zu dicht stehenden, grasartigen Kulturen (Weizen, Hafer, Fettwiese). Eine Vegetationshöhe von 15–25 cm und eine Bodenbedeckung von 20–50 % bieten optimale Bedingungen für den Nestbau. 51 % aller Nester wurden in der Fettwiese angelegt, 20 % im Winterweizen und 18 % im Mais. Je nach Bewirtschaftungsart brüteten die im Mittel 2,4–2,8mal pro Brutsaison. Die Schlüpfrate von 220 Gelegen betrug 0,58. 44 % der geschlüpften Jungvögel verließen das Nest. Der Bruterfolg (nestverlassende Junge/gelegte Eier) lag bei max. 25 %. Dem Fütterungsverhalten der Altvögel nach zu schließen, wurden maximal 50 % der nestverlassenden Jungen flügge. Durchschnittlich war mit 0,9 flüggen Jungen pro Brutpaar und Jahr zu rechnen. Brutverluste waren kulturspezifisch und daher in erster Linie vom Neststandort abhängig.

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Territoriality and breeding biology of Skylark (Alauda arvensis) in an intensively farmed area in Switzerland

Summary In 1983–1987 four plots (total surface 307 ha) with up to 39 breeding pairs were studied in an area of intensive cultivation in the Swiss Lowlands (390 m asl). Distribution pattern and selection of territories are determined by a strong site tenacity of the birds. The size of territories averaged 3,3±0,9 hectares. It correlates negatively with the number of different crops per unit area and the diversity of cultures.The mobility within the vegetation determined which types of farmland ressources may be used for nesting, feeding and cover. Shifts of territories and attempts to enlarge them were frequent in areas of large plots with low crop diversity. During the season, Skylarks tried to reduce the proportion of cereal fields within their territory and to gain plots planted with sugar-beet, potatoes and corn.Their choice of nesting sites showed a strong preference for less dense grass crops such as wheat, oat or meadows. Optimal conditions for nest sites were in fields with a vegetation height of 15–25 cm and a ground coverage of 20–50 %. 51 % of 220 nests were constructed in heavily manured meadows, 20 % in winter wheat fields and 18 % in corn fields. Females bred on average 2,4–2,8 times per breeding season, depending on the type of cultivation (agriculture, husbandry). Hatching rate was 58 % out of 220 clutches, and 44 % of the hatched young left the nest. Maximum breeding success (i. e. young birds leaving the nest/number of eggs laid) was thus maximal 25 %. Observations of parental feeding behaviour suggest that a maximum of 50 % of the young larks which leave the nests survive to the age of fledging. It is estimated that 0,9 fledglings are raised per breeding pairs and year. Losses of broods vary according to farming practises in the different crops and therefore are largely depending on nesting sites.

     

Na+-dependent,potential-sensitive l-ascorbate transport across brush border membrane vesicles from kidney cortex

l-Ascorbate is taken up into brush border vesicles from kidney cortex of rat, rabbit and guinea pig by an efficient, Na⁺-dependent and potential-sensitive transport process. This uptake shows saturation ($\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext><mtext>:0.1–0.3\; mM</mtext>}}$) and is strongly stimulated by low concentrations of N₃^?. Erythorbate (d-isoascorbate) seems to be another, but poorer, substrate of the same transporter.     

Degradation of 4-chlorophenylacetic acid by a Pseudomonas species.

Pseudomonas sp. strain CBS3 was able to utilize 4-chlorophenylacetic acid as the sole source of carbon and energy. When this strain was grown with 4-chlorophenylacetic acid, homoprotocatechuic acid was found to be an intermediate which was further metabolized by the meta-cleavage pathway. Furthermore, three isomers of chlorohydroxyphenylacetic acid, two of them identified as 3-chloro-4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid and 4-chloro-3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, were isolated from the culture medium. 4-Hydroxyphenylacetic acid was catabolized in a different manner by the glutathione-dependent homogentisate pathway. Degradation enzymes of both of these pathways were inducible.     

Chemical characterization of a new Japanese variant of carbonic anhydrase I,CA INagasaki 1 (76 Arg→Gln)

A new inherited variant of carbonic anhydrase I (CA I), designated CA I_{Nagasaki 1} (CA I_{NGS 1}), was discovered during a survey of hemolysates from 5852 individuals from the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan. Analysis of the amino acid composition of a tryptic peptide from the CA I_{NGS 1} variant indicated that a glutaminyl residue was substituted for an arginyl residue at position 76. Heat degradation studies showed that the CA I_{NGS 1} variant was less stable than normal CA I. The CO₂ hydrase and esterase activities of the normal and variant carbonic anhydrases I, as well as the relative amounts of the two enzymes in heterozygotes, were similar.This work was supported in part by Contract E(11-1)-1552 with the Energy Research and Development Administration, Washington, D.C. (to J. V. Neel), and by U.S. Public Health Service Grant GM-24681.