Molecular identification of Neoechinorhynchus rutili parasite diagnosed in some fish species caught in Menzelet dam lake in Kahramanmaras province (Turkey)

This study details the molecular identification of the parasite Neoechinorhynchus rutili diagnosed in fish (Capoeta barroisi, Cyprinus carpio, Barbus rajanorum) caught in Menzelet Dam Lake in Kahramanmaras Province, Turkey. Parasite samples were obtained from the intestines of fish caught from January to June of 2013. The collected parasites were stored in sample vials containing 70% alcohol. Using staining methods and based on morphology, 120 N. rutili specimens were identified. DNA isolation of N. rutili was accomplished using special tissue sets for parasites. Specific primers were utilized in the molecular identification of N. rutili using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and it was possible to verify that all of the parasites contained N. rutili molecules. In conclusion, using multiple methods we successfully identified and confirmed the presence of N. rutili parasites in the fish caught in Kahramanmaras Province. The process of identification of N. rutili using morphology and staining methods is time-consuming; however, PCR was successfully performed in a short time to accomplish the same results. The success of this study may lead to more original and extensive work aimed at the efficient molecular identification of parasitic agents found in fish.     

Examining the impact of a symbiotic lifestyle on the fecundity of the marine gastropod Crepidula plana

The marine gastropod Crepidula plana has an extensive latitudinal range along the eastern coast of the United States. It is usually found living within gastropod shells occupied by hermit crabs, although individuals can sometimes also be found living on rocks and on the exposed surfaces of shells. Our study sought to determine the extent to which residing inside periwinkle (Littorina littorea) shells occupied by the hermit crab Pagurus longicarpus at a study site in coastal Massachusetts compromises the fecundity of C. plana, through size limitation. The egg masses of symbiotic and free‐living females of C. plana included comparable numbers of egg capsules and embryos per female despite the smaller sizes of the symbionts; symbiotic females compensated for their smaller size by producing significantly more embryos per milligram of female body tissue than their free‐living counterparts. These data raise interesting questions about why—unlike its congener C. fornicata—C. plana has not yet become a successful invasive species.     

Confirmation of the wide host range of Parvilucifera corolla (Alveolata,Perkinsozoa)

Marine parasites of the genus Parvilucifera have been described as endoparasitoids of dinoflagellates. Recently, the species Parvilucifera corolla was described, but its host range was not examined. Here, the host selectivity of P. corolla was screened, including 110 strains of dinoflagellates (24 genera) and other microalgal groups as potential hosts. Infections and the full life cycle of the parasitoid were observed in 73 strains (16 genera) of dinoflagellates. Parvilucifera corolla did not infect most chlorophytes, cryptophytes, chrysophytes, diatoms, haptophytes and raphidophytes but one strain of Pyramimonas (chlorophyte) was infected, although without viable sporangia. In Symbiodinium natans, a transition to the coccoid stage was induced above a certain parasite:host ratio. These results confirm P. corolla as a generalist parasitoid of dinoflagellates, with important differences in host range regarding other species of the genus.     

施钾对苜蓿上牛角花齿蓟马产卵选择、生长发育、 成虫寿命和繁殖力的影响

【目的】为了探讨施钾对苜蓿上牛角花齿蓟马Odontothrips loti的产卵选择、生长发育、成虫寿命和繁殖力的影响,明确施钾苜蓿叶片营养物含量与牛角花齿蓟马生命参数的关系。【方法】在不同钾量(40, 60, 80和100 mg/kg)处理下(以不施钾作为对照),观察记录牛角花齿蓟马在紫花苜蓿品种甘农3号Medicago sativa cv. Gannong No. 3叶片上的产卵量,幼期各龄期发育历期和存活率以及二代成虫的寿命和繁殖力,同时测定不同施钾量下苜蓿叶片的可溶性糖、游离氨基酸及钾含量。【结果】随着施钾量的增加,牛角花齿蓟马在苜蓿叶片上的产卵量(粒/复叶)先降低后升高,在60 mg/kg钾处理降幅最大,较对照降低了45.58%;卵孵化率和1-2龄若虫的存活率变化不显著,但3-4龄若虫的存活率和幼期总存活率显著下降,分别在100 mg/kg 和80 mg/kg钾处理下降幅最大,较对照分别下降了54.36%和48.48%。不同施钾量下苜蓿叶片上牛角花齿蓟马卵和1-2龄若虫发育历期无显著变化,3-4龄若虫及幼期总发育历期均延长;牛角花齿蓟马二代成虫的繁殖力均显著下降,成虫寿命显著缩短(40 mg/kg钾处理除外)。施钾后,苜蓿叶片可溶性糖含量、钾含量和糖氮比增大,游离氨基酸含量减少。相关关系分析表明,苜蓿叶片钾含量与牛角花齿蓟马幼期总存活率和成虫繁殖力无显著相关性,而苜蓿叶片可溶性糖含量和糖氮比均与3-4龄若虫存活率和繁殖力极显著负相关,与幼期总存活率呈显著负相关。【结论】施钾苜蓿对牛角花齿蓟马成虫产卵产生显著的排趋性;施钾提高了苜蓿叶片的可溶性糖含量及糖氮比,不利于若虫的生长发育,并使成虫寿命缩短、繁殖力下降,对牛角花齿蓟马产生了显著的抗生作用。     

A global assessment of Echinococcus multilocularis infections in domestic dogs: proposing a framework to overcome past methodological heterogeneity

Echinococcus multilocularis, the aetiological agent of human Alveolar Echinococcosis, is transmitted between small mammals and wild or domestic canids. Dogs infected with E. multilocularis as dead-end hosts. Whereas E. multilocularis infections in wild hosts and humans have been well-studied in recent decades, infections in domestic dogs are sparsely reported. This literature review and meta-analysis highlighted gaps in the available data and provided a re-assessment of the global distribution of domestic dog E. multilocularis infections. We found 46 published articles documenting the prevalence of E. multilocularis in domestic dogs from 21 countries across Europe, Asia and North America. Apparent prevalence estimates ranged from 0.00% (0.00–0.33%) in Germany to 55.50% (26.67–81.12%) in China. Most studies were conducted in areas of high human Alveolar Echinococcosis. By accounting for reassessed diagnostic sensitivity and specificity, we estimated true prevalence in a subset of studies, which varied between 0.00% (0.00–12.42%) and 41.09% (21.12–65.81%), as these true prevalence estimates were seldom reported in the articles themselves. Articles also showed a heavy emphasis on rural dogs, dismissing urban ones, which is concerning due to the role urbanisation plays in the transmission of zoonotic diseases, especially those utilising pets as definitive hosts. Lastly, population studies on canine Alveolar Echinococcosis were absent, highlighting the relative focus on human rather than animal health. We thus developed a framework for investigating domestic dog E. multilocularis infections and performing risk assessment of dog-associated transmission to fill the gaps found in the literature.     

Ptk2b deletion improves mice folliculogenesis and fecundity via inhibiting follicle loss mediated by Erk pathway

Ptk2b has been found playing critical roles in oocyte maturation and subsequent fertilization in vitro. But what is the exact in vivo function in reproduction still elusive. Here, by constructing Ptk2b mutant mice, we found Ptk2b was not essential for mice fertility, unexpectedly, contrary to previously reported in vitro findings, we found Ptk2b ablation significantly improved female fecundity. Follicle counting indicated that the number of primordial follicles and growing follicles in matured mice was significantly increased in the absence of Ptk2b, whereas the primordial follicle formation showed no defects. We also found this regulation was in an autophosphorylation independent pathway, as autophosphorylation site mutant mice (PTK2B^Y402F) show no phenotype in female fertility. Further biochemistry studies revealed that Ptk2b ablation promotes folliculogenesis via Erk pathway mediate follicle survival. Together, we found a novel biological function of Ptk2b in folliculogenesis, which could be potentially used as a therapeutic target for corresponding infertility.