Allergenicity of Acroptilon repens and Juglans regia pollen in rats

Pollen proteins that are located in the cytoplasm or on the surface of the exine can function as allergens and evoke immune system responses in sensitive patients, leading to allergic rhinitis and asthma. In this research, the pollen allergenicity and ability to induce IgE response of the pollen of two plant species were studied in rats. Acroptilon repens is an herbaceous, invasive plant with entomophilous pollen, while Juglans regia which is a tree crop produces anemophilous pollen. Immunoblot analysis using sera of sensitised rats revealed IgE reactivity to three protein bands including the 70, 41 and 25.12 kDa bands present in the A. repens pollen extract, while only one single immunogenic band of 11 kDa was detected in J. regia pollen extract. Both pollen extracts increased the eosinophil content and caused some clinical signs of allergy in treated rats. The results showed that both entomophilous and anemophilous pollen can be allergenic.     

Comments on the Mond Scraper, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Capoeta mandica</Emphasis> (Teleostei: Cyprinidae): Re-Description,Molecular Systematics and Distribution Modeling

Capoeta mandica was originally described as C. barroisi mandica from Mond River, Persian Gulf basin, based on morphological characters and later was considered as a distinct species based on a few small specimens. However, there is still controversial debate about its systematic position and morphological characters. To resolve the issue, new collected specimens from Iranian drainage basins examined morphologically and molecularly. Results revealed that C. mandica is a distinct taxon in the Capoeta trutta group. This taxon confirms the zoogeographical separation of the Persis basin (southern Iran) by the rise in post-Pleistocene sea level, isolating rivers from the Tigris-Euphrates and western basins.     

Phylogeography of Walton’s Mudskipper,Periophthalmus waltoni Koumans, 1941 (Perciformes: Gobiidae), from the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman

Mudskippers are amphibious air breathing fish with terrestrial adaptations in contrast to entirely aquatic fish. They are adapted to living on mudflats and show morphological, physiological, and behavioural features that could affect their phylogeny and phylogeography. A comparative genetic analysis was carried out on 100 specimens of the mudskipper Periophthalmus waltoni Koumans, 1941 from eight different sites along the coast of the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. Phylogeographic inference based on two mitochondrial markers (Cyt b and D-loop) suggests that P. waltoni populations are divided into two well-divergent clades western and eastern. This is likely related to the geohydrological history of the area during the last Pleistocene glaciations. The regional phylogeographies are apparently also influenced by ecological and geographical barriers such as salinity, water current, and the geographic position of the Strait of Hormuz.     

Embryology and early ontogeny of an endemic tooth‐carp fish,Aphanius sophiae (Heckel, 1847)

Understanding embryonic development and ontogeny of species is a crucial part of any further biology, ecology and conservation studies. The present study describes the first detailed normal embryonic development of a tooth‐carp, Aphanius sophiae (Heckel, 1847), from fertilization to post‐ hatching. Aphanius sophiae spontaneously spawned at 24 ± 1°C. The newly laid eggs were transparent and spherical (1.45 ± 0.20 mm). We documented developmental times at 24 ± 1°C to egg activation (0.5 hr), cleavage (3 hr), blastula (10 hr), gastrula (20 hr), neurula (24 hr), somite (28 hr), turnover (60 hr), blood circulation (70 hr) and hatching (330 hr). This study contributes to a further understanding of the embryology and the early ontogeny of A. sophiae and may help improve the culture of other threatened species of the genus Aphanius.     

Population Genetic Structure of Transcaucasian Mole Vole (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ellobius lutescens</Emphasis>) Along Zagros Mountains,Iran

The Zagros and Alborz mountainous ridges can be regarded as one of the most interesting and known physical barriers responsible for the vicariance event. Based on the probable effect of Zagros Mountains on the rodent population vicariance, a research on Caucasian mole vole phylogeography, population genetic structure and diversity was designed along the mentioned mountainous areas. To this end, a total of 38 tissue samples were collected from the northern parts of the study area to the southern parts. Obtained mitochondrial cytb (1041 bp) sequences were used in this phylogenetic analysis. The phylogenetic analysis was based on the TRN+I evolutionary model and gaining Bayesian phylogenetic tree with maximum verification. By using median joining logic, the relationships between different acquired haplotypes were analyzed. It was shown that the Caucasian mole vole population had been disjointed (based on posterior probability of 1 and 100 bootstraps) along the Zagros mountainous ridges, especially in both geographical extremes located in the northern and southern parts of the mountainous ridges. Meanwhile from the 38 analyzed sequences, 17 haplotypes were obtained, of which 10 haplotypes were unique. The mutational steps between haplotypes were assessed by generating statistical parsimony haplotype networks, which yielded 36 mutational steps between the northern and southern populations. Based on neutrality tests and analyzing their power under sudden population expansions, it was found that this event happened around the northern and southern populations. Genetic distance of two percent between the northern and southern populations indicated the existence of local adaptations by these two groups, which can be regarded as evolutionary units.     

Sequential release and residual activity of temephos applied as sand granules to water-storage jars for the control of Aedes aegypti larvae (Diptera: Culicidae).

Two long-term experiments were carried out on the release profile and efficacy of temephos 1% GR (sand granules) against Aedes aegypti larvae in water-storage containers. In the first experiment, the efficacy of temephos 1% GR enclosed and tied in a muslin cloth and placed in water at the bottom of 200 L earthen water-storage jars was studied by exposing the packets for four to nine wk in one set ofjars and then transferring them sequentially to new sets ofjars four times successively. Temephos released slowly from the granules, the magnitude of release being adequate in the initial period of two to three wk after treatment. Following this period, the efficacy of the granules increased substantially where 92-100% inhibition of emergence even at the lowest dosage of 1 g/100 L (0.05 mg/L AI) was obtained for about another five mo or longer. On removal of the packets from a given set of jars, the released residues remaining in the jars and water lasted a maximum of one to six wk post-removal depending on the magnitude of prior release into the jars. This experiment provided clear evidence that temephos is released slowly over a long period of time in water-storage jars. In the second experiment, we compared the efficacy of temephos 1% GR at 1 and 10 g (0.05 and 0.5 mg/L AI) per 200-L water in jars painted and unpainted on the inside. The efficacy in the painted jars, although high, was consistently lower than that in the unpainted jars, where 99-100% control of larvae was achieved at both rates for a minimum of five mo after treatment. On the basis of this experimental evidence, it is desirable to study the efficacy of lower dosages of temephos than those currently used in Ae. aegypti control programs. The use of controlled release formulations or sachets that are retrievable during cleaning and washing will be more practical and desirable. Both of these interventions will make the program more cost effective.     

Endonura Cassagnau in Iran,with a key to species of the genus (Collembola,Neanuridae, Neanurinae)

Three new species of Endonura are described from Iran. Endonura dichaeta sp. n. can be recognized by an ogival labrum, head without chaetae O and E, chaeta D connected with tubercle Cl, tubercle Dl with five chaetae on head, absence of tubercles Di on thorax I and tubercle (Di+Di) of thorax V with 2+2 chaetae. Endonura ceratolabralis sp. n. is characterized by large body size, reduction of labral chaetotaxy, ogival labrum, head without chaeta O and fusion of tubercles Di and De on first thoracic segment. Endonura persica sp. n. is distinguished from its congeners by a nonogival labrum, absence of chaeta O, tubercles Dl and (L+So) with five and eight chaetae respectively and claw with inner tooth. The key to all species of the genus is given.     

Olive cultivation in the heart of the Persian Achaemenid Empire: new insights into agricultural practices and environmental changes reflected in a late Holocene pollen record from Lake Parishan,SW Iran

Ancient Persia witnessed one of its most prosperous cultural and socio-economic periods between 550 bc and ad 651, with the successive domination of the Achaemenid, Seleucid, Parthian and Sassanian Empires. During this period agricultural activities increased on the Iranian plateau, as demonstrated by a remarkable arboricultural expansion. However, available data are not very informative about the spatial organization of agricultural practices. The possible links between climate conditions and agricultural activities during this millennium of continuous imperial domination are also unclear, due to the lack of parallel human-independent palaeoclimatic proxies. This study presents a new late Holocene pollen-based vegetation record from Lake Parishan, SW Iran. This record provides invaluable information regarding anthropogenic activities before, during and after the empires and sheds light on (i) spatial patterning in agricultural activities and (ii) possible climate impacts on agro-sylvo-pastoral practices during this period. Results of this study indicate that arboriculture was the most prominent form of agricultural activity in SW Iran especially during the Achaemenid, Seleucid and Parthian periods. Contrary to the information provided by some Greco-Roman written sources, the record from Lake Parishan shows that olive cultivation was practiced during Achaemenid and Seleucid times, when olive cultivation was significant, at least in this basin located close to the capital area of the Achaemenid Empire. In addition, pollen from aquatic vegetation suggests that the period of the latter centuries of the first millennium bc was characterized by a higher lake level, which might have favoured cultural and socio-economic prosperity.