Diagnosis of foot-and mouth disease by real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction under field conditions in Brazil

Background  

Indication-based data on the use of antimicrobials in animals were collected using a prospective cross-sectional survey, similarly as for surveys carried out in human medicine, but adapting the questionnaire to include veterinary-specific issues. The participating veterinarians were randomly selected from a sample population of practising veterinarians. The sampling was stratified to take into account the proportions of different types of veterinary practice in the country. All patients consulting the veterinary practice during a 1-week period were included in the study and veterinarians returned a completed questionnaire for each patient receiving antimicrobial treatment. As cattle received most of the treatments, results from the survey are given using cattle as an example species.     

Olfactory responses of Anaphes nitens (Hymenoptera,Mymaridae) to host and habitat cues

The eucalyptus weevil, Gonipterus spp. Schoenherr, 1833 (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) is considered a major pest of eucalyptus plantations. In regions where control is achieved, success is usually brought by the action of the solitary egg parasitoid Anaphes nitens (Girault, 1928) (Hymenoptera, Mymaridae). Research was conducted to ascertain which cues might mediate female wasp host location and selection. In Petri dish arenas, females were attracted to Gonipterus platensis Marelli, 1927 egg capsules, to G. platensis mated female faeces and to leaves of Eucalyptus globulus Labillardière, 1799. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry electroantennographic detection analysis was conducted using extracts obtained from leaves of E. globulus, from G. platensis egg capsules, as well as from adults of both sexes and their faeces, in order to detect and identify compounds perceived by the wasp's olfactory system. The parasitoids were shown to detect a wide range of compounds emitted by each one of these sources, and for 31 compounds, antennal response was confirmed by dose-response tests. Further behavioural trials were conducted in Petri dishes in order to decode the effect, on parasitoid behaviour, of selected compounds emitted by E. globulus and of the pheromones, emitted by the weevils on parasitoid behaviour. Attraction was observed to two compounds emitted by E. globulus, namely 1,8-cineole and γ-terpinene, and to the main component of the male sex/aggregation pheromone, cis-verbenol. To our knowledge, this is the first report of attraction of a parasitoid from the family Mymaridae to a component of its host's sexual/aggregation pheromone. Similarly, to other egg parasitoid species, A. nitens females are likely to use the host plant volatiles as long-range host location cues and to adopt the ‘infochemical detour’ strategy in order to get in the vicinity of their hosts.     

Identification of midgut microvillar proteins from Tenebrio molitor and Spodoptera frugiperda by cDNA library screenings with antibodies

The objective of this study was to identify midgut microvillar proteins in insects appearing earlier (Coleoptera) and later (Lepidoptera) in evolution. For this, cytoskeleton-free midgut microvillar membrane from Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera) and Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera) were used to raise antibodies. These were used for screening midgut cDNA expression libraries. Positive clones were sequenced, assembled and searched for similarities with gene/protein databases. The predicted midgut microvillar proteins from T. molitor were: cockroach allergens (unknown function), peritrophins (peritrophic membrane proteins), digestive enzymes (aminopeptidase, alpha-mannosidase) and unknown proteins. Predicted S. frugiperda midgut proteins may be grouped into six classes: (a) proteins involved in protection of midgut (thioredoxin peroxidase, aldehyde dehydrogenase, serpin and juvenile hormone epoxide hydrolase); (b) digestive enzymes (astacin, transporter-like amylase, aminopeptidase, and carboxypeptidase); (c) peritrophins; (d) proteins associated with microapocrine secretion (gelsolin, annexin); (e) membrane-tightly bound-cytoskeleton proteins (fimbrin, calmodulin) and (f) unidentified proteins. The novel approach is compared with others and microvillar function is discussed in the light of the predicted proteins.     

Genetic isolation through time: allochronic differentiation of a phenologically atypical population of the pine processionary moth

Allochronic speciation refers to a mode of sympatric speciation in which the differentiation of populations is primarily due to a phenological shift without habitat or host change. However, it has been so far rarely documented. The present paper reports on a plausible case of allochronic differentiation between sympatric populations of the pine processionary moth (PPM), Thaumetopoea pityocampa. The PPM is a Mediterranean insect with winter larval development. A phenologically atypical population with early adult activity and summer larval development was detected 10 years ago in Portugal. Mitochondrial and nuclear sequences strongly suggest that the 'summer' individuals are closely related to the sympatric winter population, while microsatellite data show a reduction in allelic richness, a distortion of allelic frequencies and significant genetic differentiation. Moreover, monitoring of adult flights suggests that reproductive activity does not overlap between the summer and winter populations. We postulate that the summer population appeared after a sudden phenological shift of some individuals of the sympatric winter population, leading to a founder effect and complete reproductive isolation. Given that the individuals showing this new phenology are subject to different selection pressures, the observed allochronic differentiation may rapidly lead to deeper divergence.     

5S rDNA chromosomal mapping and COI sequence analysis reveal differentiation among distinct populations of a characid fish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Serrapinnus notomelas</Emphasis>

Cheirodontinae comprises a small-sized fish group with a wide geographical distribution throughout Central and South America, mainly in Brazilian Basins. The species Serrapinnus notomelas is widely distributed in the Upper Parana River Basin. In this work, chromosomal mapping of 5S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene was performed trough fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in speciemens from three distinct localities belonging to two basins in the São Paulo State. All populations presented 5S clusters in two chromosome pairs. One additional pair was detected in samples from the Rio Paraitinguinha (Tietê Basin), and two additional pairs were detected in the population from Córrego Campo Novo (Tietê Basin). Analyses with partial sequences of COI were performed to verify the interelationship among the studied specimens, revealing Córrego Campo Novo population as a sister-group to the clade formed by the two other populations. The samples from Rio Paraitinguinha and Recanto dos Cambarás presented two distinct haplotypes each, while five haplotypes were observed in the Córrego Campo Novo population, sugesting that this could be older than the other populations. None of the nine haplotypes were shared among the three populations. The similarities and differences observed among the three populations using cytogenetic data and COI analysis are not related to geographic distances that separate the samples, suggesting that the origin of the Rio Paraitinguinha and Recanto dos Cambarás populations may be related to faunal exchanges. Additionally, the present data suggest that the analyzed populations of S. notomelas may be on independent evolutionary trajectories but in a very initial diversification stage. Moreover, the use of integrative information, such as molecular and chromosomal data in the analysis of population divergence and evolutionary trajectories in freshwater fishes is reinforced.