Anthropological studies among Libyans. Erythrocyte genetic factors,serum haptoglobin phenotypes and anthropometry

Anthropological studies were done on 1276 Libyans from the Mediterranean cities of Tripoli and Benghazi, and from Sabha southward in The Sahara. The incidences of hemoglobin (Hb)-S and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency were low in the coastal areas and significantly high in Sabha. Hb-C occurred sporadically in Tripoli and Sabha, and was absent from Benghazi in the east. One case of Hb-J Benghazi was noted. There were no significant differences in the ABO blood group and Rh₀ (D) type distributions in the three localities. G-6-PD gene Gd^A frequency was significantly high in Sabha. The lowest value of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6-PGD) gene PGD^A frequency and highest value of the gene PGD^C were in Sabha. Adenylate kinase (AK) gene AK² was only detectable in Tripoli. Acid phosphatase (AP) gene P^a frequency in Sabha was more than twice that in Tripoli and Benghazi, while P^c was distinctly lower in Sabha than in the northern cities. Haptoglobin gene Hp¹ frequency was almost identical in all areas. Anthropometric measurements revealed overall homogeneity of the three samples, closer similarity in the coastal region to adjacent North African populations, and Negroid influence in the Saharan Libyans. Anthropometry substantiated findings from blood markers.     

An Epidemiological Study of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Al-Jabal Al-Gharbi,Libya

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is an endemic parasitic infection in the Mediterranean region, including Libya and its Al-jabal Al-gharbi province. We aimed at studying the occupational relevance as well as other epidemiological aspects of CL. We investigated 140 CL cases who attended at Gharyan outpatient polyclinic during a period of 6 months in 2009. CL infection was clinically diagnosed and confirmed by demonstration of Leishmania parasites on smears from lesions. Our findings showed that males were more affected than females (P=0.04), and people above 10-years were more affected than younger ones (P=0.0001). A significant percent of CL cases belonged to Al-Kawasem subprovince (P=0.0001). Farm-related activities were the most frequent occupations among CL cases (P=0.04). In addition to farm workers, housewives and students are at risk groups since they are engaged at farm activities. Moreover, those who have occupations that require staying outdoors for a part of night, e.g., policemen, are also at risk. Compared to children, adult CL patients had multiple lesions (P=0.001) that were more prevalent in their upper and lower extremities than the face (P=0.0001). We conclude that CL is a major health problem in Al-jabal Al-gharbi province of Libya. The presence of rodents and sandflies makes it a suitable environment for Leishmania to spread in an endemic epidemiological pattern. Being engaged in farming activities or outdoor occupations increases the risk of infection. Various clinical patterns of CL suggest the presence of more than 1 species of Leishmania at Al-jabal Al-gharbi province. We propose that the 2 species responsible for CL in this area are L. major and L. tropica. Further investigations to identify the leishmanial species responsible for CL at Al-jabal Al-gharbi together with adoption of preventive and control programs are needed.     

Middle Telychian (upper Llandovery, Silurian) graptolites from boreholes of northwestern Libya: Their biostratigraphic significance and palaeogeographical implication

A low-diversity but stratigraphically and palaeobiogeographically important graptoloid association comprising Metaclimacograptus flamandi (Legrand), Parapetalolithus meridionalis (Legrand), and Torquigraptus australis Štorch was identified in the core samples of wells A1-66, F1-66 and A1-43 in the Ghadamis Basin of Libya. The former two species have been originally recovered from Algeria. All three taxa are common and widespread in the middle Telychian strata of Spain (Central Iberian Zone and western Iberian Cordillera) and France (Brittany). In European sections, the species are associated with other, moderately diverse graptoloid fauna, which enables a more precise and worldwide biostratigraphic correlation of Saharan boreholes and surface sections. The present faunal association indicates a middle Telychian age (upper crispus, griestoniensis and lowermost crenulata/tullbergi biozones) for the strata and suggests palaeobiogeographical links between North African pericratonic basins and Ibero-Armorican shelves. M. flamandi has not been found outside this NW-Gondwanan realm.     

Is <Emphasis Type="Italic">Testudo werneri</Emphasis> a distinct species?

Sequence variation of a 1066 bp long mtDNA fragment (cytochrome b gene, adjacent part of tRNA-Thr gene) of four known-locality samples of Testudo kleinmanni (Tripolitania, Libya) and of four samples of T. werneri (Negev, Israel) is compared with additional five sequences of pet trade tortoises allegedly representing T. kleinmanni. Four haplotypes, differing in one to four mutation steps occur. The most common haplotype was shared by all known-locality samples of T. kleinmanni and three T. werneri. Sequence variation within each nominal species and in the pooled sample of T. kleinmanni, T. werneri and pet trade tortoises is the lowest known for any Testudo species. We conclude there is no support for the validity of T. werneri Perälä, 2001.     

Phenotypic characteristics of root-nodulating bacteria isolated from Acacia spp. grown in Libya

Thirty isolates of root-nodulating bacteria obtained from Acacia cyanophylla, A. karroo, A. cyclops, A. tortilis (subsp.raddiana), Faidherbia albida and Acacia sp., grown in different regions of Libya, were studied by performing numerical analysis of 104 characteristics. Three fast- and one slow-growing reference strains from herbaceous and woody legumes were included. Five distinct clusters were formed. The fast-growing reference strains were separated from the isolates whereas the slow-growing was included in cluster 4. With the exception of one cluster, the majority of clusters were formed regardless of the host plant or site of origin. Based on plant tests, generation times, acid production and carbon utilization the isolates were diverse (fast and slow-growing isolates). Like slow-growing isolates, most of the fast-growing isolates appeared to be non-specific, nodulated many species from the same genus notably F. albida, known to nodulate only with slow-growing strains. Most clusters grew at temperatures 35 °C and 37 °C; some grew at temperatures above 40 °C. The majority of isolates grew at acid and alkaline pH and only one isolate grew below pH 4. Most isolates were able to utilize many amino acids as nitrogen sources and to reduce nitrate. Urea was hydrolysed by all clusters. Monosaccharides and polyols were used by slow and fast-growing isolates as the only carbon sources whereas assimilation of disaccharides varied: Some isolates, like slow-growing isolates, failed to utilize these carbon sources. Most isolates were unable to utilize polysaccharides. Regarding tolerance to NaCl on agar medium, the majority of isolates were unable to grow at a concentration of 2% NaCl, but some were highly resistant and there was one isolate which grew at 8% NaCl. Most isolates were resistant to heavy metals and to antibiotics.     

First record of Cephalopholis taeniops (Valenciennes) in the Mediterranean Sea

Two specimens of African hind Cephalopholis taeniops (Valenciennes, 1828) are recorded for the first time in the Mediterranean Sea, in the coastal area of Gulf of Syrte, Libya. This finding represents an additional case of a tropical species of fish of West African origin in the Mediterranean Sea.     

An archaeobotanical contribution to the history of watermelon,<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Citrullus lanatus</Emphasis> (Thunb.) Matsum. &; Nakai (syn.<Emphasis Type="Italic"> C. vulgaris</Emphasis> Schrad.)

The discovery of several 5000-year old seeds of wild watermelon, Citrullus lanatus, at an archaeological site Uan Muhuggiag in southwest Libya, re-opens the debate on the origin, wild distribution and domestication history of this species. The seeds were found within a plant assemblage of wild seeds and fruits, associated with pottery and bones of domestic animals belonging to Neolithic pastoralists. The presumed wild progenitor of the modern cultivar C. lanatus is today found exclusively in a region centring on the Kalahari Desert. This new archaeobotanical record raises the possibility that this distribution was much more extensive in the past.     

Reproductive compatibility and mitochondrial DNA restriction site analysis of New World screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax, from North Africa and Central America

The reproductive compatibility of New World screwworms, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel), from North Africa and a strain being mass produced for the Mexican eradication programme was examined to assess the feasibility of using flies from the Mexican screwworm mass production facility for a sterile insect technique eradication programme in North Africa. Males from the production strain mated randomly with females from North Africa and from the production strain when both were present. Neither strain of males discriminated between cuticular extracts of North African and production strain females containing a contact sex pheromone. Interstrain crosses between North African flies and production flies were fertile and produced fertile progeny. Chromosome morphology did not differ significantly between the two strains and homologue pairing was normal in hybrid meiotic and polytene nuclei. Mitochondrial DNA restriction site analyses indicated that the genetic divergence of the North African strain from Mexican and Central American strains was within the range of the diversity observed in Central American, Mexican and Caribbean populations. Test results indicate that New World screwworms from North Africa are reproductively compatible with the strain currently being mass produced in Mexico. Mating barriers should not impede the progress of an eradication programme using the sterile insect technique in North Africa with sterile screwworms from the Mexican mass production facility.     

Deep into the roots of the Libyan Tuareg: a genetic survey of their paternal heritage

Recent genetic studies of the Tuareg have begun to uncover the origin of this semi-nomadic northwest African people and their relationship with African populations. For centuries they were caravan traders plying the trade routes between the Mediterranean coast and south-Saharan Africa. Their origin most likely coincides with the fall of the Garamantes who inhabited the Fezzan (Libya) between the 1st millennium BC and the 5th century AD. In this study we report novel data on the Y-chromosome variation in the Libyan Tuareg from Al Awaynat and Tahala, two villages in Fezzan, whose maternal genetic pool was previously characterized. High-resolution investigation of 37 Y-chromosome STR loci and analysis of 35 bi-allelic markers in 47 individuals revealed a predominant northwest African component (E-M81, haplogroup E1b1b1b) which likely originated in the second half of the Holocene in the same ancestral population that contributed to the maternal pool of the Libyan Tuareg. A significant paternal contribution from south-Saharan Africa (E-U175, haplogroup E1b1a8) was also detected, which may likely be due to recent secondary introduction, possibly through slavery practices or fusion between different tribal groups. The difference in haplogroup composition between the villages of Al Awaynat and Tahala suggests that founder effects and drift played a significant role in shaping the genetic pool of the Libyan Tuareg.