Synopsis of the species of Chloromyxum Mingazinni, 1890 (Myxozoa: Myxosporea: Chloromyxidae)

A synopsis of the species of Chloromyxum Mingazinni, 1890 (Myxozoa: Myxosporea: Chloromyxidae) is presented, including 140 nominal species. For each species the most relevant morphological and morphometric characteristics are indicated. Included are data on the site of infection within the host, the original host and the host locality, plus a full bibliography of the original records for these species. A diagrammatic illustration of a spore of each species is also provided.     

Comparison of the Myxobolus fauna of common barbel from Hungary and Iberian barbel from Portugal

We compared Myxobolus infection of common barbel Barbus barbus from the Danube River in Hungary with that in Iberian barbel Luciobarbus bocagei from the Este River in Portugal. In Hungary, we recorded 5 known Myxobolus species (M. branchialis, M. caudatus, M. musculi, M. squamae, and M. tauricus) and described M. branchilateralis sp. n. In Portugal we recorded 6 Myxobolus species (M. branchialis, M. branchilateralis sp. n., M. cutanei, M. musculi, M. pfeifferi, and M. tauricus). Species found in the 2 habitats had similar spore morphology and only slight differences were observed in spore shape or measurements. All species showed a specific tissue tropism and had a definite site selection. M. branchialis was recorded from the lamellae of the gills, large plasmodia of M. branchilateralis sp. n. developed at both sides of hemibranchia, M. squamae infected the scales, plasmodia of M. caudatus infected the scales and the fins, and M. tauricus were found in the fins and pin bones. In the muscle, 3 species, M. musculi, M. pfeifferi and M. tauricus were found; however they were found in distinct locations. Plasmodia of M. musculi developed intracellularly in muscle cells, plasmodia of M. tauricus were found in the dense connective tissue of the pin bones, whereas M. pfeifferi formed plasmodia in the connective tissue of the intramuscular septa. This latter species was often found in the cartilaginous gill arch as well. Comparative morphological and phylogenetic studies, as well as 18S rDNA sequences, revealed differences between the Myxobolus fauna of the 2 barbel species originating from different geographic regions.     

The histopathology of the infection of Tilapia rendalli and Hypostomus regani (Osteichthyes) by lasidium larvae of Anodontites trapesialis (Mollusca,Bivalvia)

It is described the histopathology of the infection of Tilapia rendalli (Osteichthyes, Perciformes, Cichlidae) and Hypostomus regani (Osteichthyes, Siluriformes, Loricariidae) by lasidium larvae of Anodontites trapesialis (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Mycetopodidae). The larvae were encysted within the epidermis of the host, being surrounded by a thin hyaline membrane, 3-6 microm thick, of parasite origin. A proliferative host cell reaction did not occur. The histopathology of the infection shows that the lesions induced by the parasites are minimal. However, the numerous small lesions produced by the release of the larvae may provide optimal conditions for the infection by opportunistic pathogens, namely fungus, which may eventually cause the death of the host.     

Physiological state of Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti mosquitoes captured with MosquiTRAPs in Mirassol, S?o Paulo, Brazil.

We examined the best location in a house to install MosquiTRAPs, sticky ovitraps that attract and capture Aedes aegypti females and investigated the physiological state of captured female mosquitoes. The study was performed in a twenty-block area in Mirassol, S?o Paulo State, Brazil, in which five blocks were randomly chosen for MosquiTRAP installation. In each block, four houses were selected for the installation of eight traps: four indoors (bedroom, living room, bathroom, and kitchen) and four outdoors in the shade (two at the front of the house and two in the backyard). These houses were visited over an eight-week period. The outdoor MosquiTRAPs captured five times more females than indoor traps and appeared to be the best places to install MosquiTRAPs. There were no significant differences among indoor sites or among outdoor sites with respect to the number of females captured. The capacity of the MosquiTRAP to capture a large number of gravid Ae. aegypti females reinforces its potential as an entomological surveillance tool in dengue control programs.     

Structure, function, and motility of vacuoles in filamentous fungi

Current information on the structure and function of motile tubular vacuoles in Pisolithus tinctorius and other fungi is reviewed. The use of fluorochromes to label the vacuole lumen is evaluated and observations on the structure and motility of vacuoles in P. tinctorius are differentiated from possible artifacts. The styryl dyes FM4-64 and MDY-64, used in yeast to demonstrate endocytosis, show little or no labeling of internal membranes in undamaged P. tinctorius cells. This agrees with our data showing that other probes for endocytosis such as Lucifer yellow CH are not taken up by hyphal tip cells. Overall, the observations do not support endocytosis in hyphal tips. It has been suggested that tubular vacuole systems carry out longitudinal transport, and evidence in favor of this hypothesis is evaluated. New data are presented to show that many of the large vacuoles in subapical cells are attached to the plasma membrane and are relatively immobile, while video sequences show movement of fluorochrome in pulses along a series of several large vacuoles, all interconnected via tubules. Tubular vacuoles from thick sections of hyphae processed under anhydrous conditions are shown by X-ray microanalysis to contain relatively high levels of P and K, as seen previously in the larger vacuoles. These results provide further evidence for a role of the tubular vacuoles in longitudinal transport of P. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.     

Rapid and sensitive GC/MS characterization of glycolipid released Galalpha1,3Gal-terminated oligosaccharides from small organ specimens of a single pig

Pig to human xenotransplantation is considered a possible solution to the prevailing chronic lack of human donor organs for allotransplantation. The Galalpha1,3Gal determinant is the major porcine xenogeneic epitope causing hyperacute rejection following human antibody binding and complement activation. In order to characterize the tissue distribution of Galalpha1,3Gal-containing and blood group- type glycosphingolipids in pig, acid and nonacid glycosphingolipids were isolated from the kidney, small intestine, spleen, salivary gland, liver, and heart of a single pig obtained from a semi-inbred strain homozygous at the SLA locus. Glycolipids were analyzed by thin-layer immunostaining using monoclonal antibodies, and following ceramide glycanase cleavage as permethylated oligosaccharides by gas chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and matrix- assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry. The kidney contained large amounts of Galalpha1,3Gal-containing penta- and hexasaccharides having carbohydrate sequences consistent with the Galalpha1,3nLc4and Galalpha1,3Lexstructures, respectively. The former structure was tentatively identified in all organs by GC/MS. The presence of extended Galalpha1,3Gal-terminated structures in the kidney and heart was suggested by antibody binding, and GC/MS indicated the presence of a Galalpha1,3nLc6structure in the heart. The kidney, spleen, and heart contained blood group H pentaglycosylceramides based on type 1 (H-5-1) and type 2 (H-5-2) chains, and H hexaglycosylceramides based on the type 4 chain (H-6-4). In the intestine H-5-1 and H-6-4 were expressed, in the salivary gland H-5-1 and H-5-2, whereas only the H-5-1 structure was identified in the liver. Blood group A structures were identified in the salivary gland and the heart by antibody binding and GC/MS, indicating an organ- specific expression of blood group AH antigens in the pig.      

A Dermocystidium infection in Trichomycterus sp. (Osteichthyes, Trichomycteridae)

Two whitish elongate cysts in the left pectoral fin of Trichomycterus sp. (Osteichthyes, Trichomycteridae) were packed with Dermocystidium sp. spores. The spores were spherical and had a large PAS positive central refractile body, the cytoplasm being restricted to a narrow peripheral layer containing the nucleus. The cysts were surrounded by a thin homogeneous wall of parasite origin, and there was no encapsulation of the cysts by host tissue.     

Synopsis of the species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Myxobolus</Emphasis> Bütschli, 1882 (Myxozoa: Myxosporea: Myxobolidae)

A synopsis of 744 nominal species of Myxobolus Bütschli, 1882 (Myxozoa, Myxosporea, Myxobolidae) is presented. For each species, the relevant morphometric and morphological data are indicated, as well as the host(s), site(s) of infection within the host and type-locality.