Representatives of Ligophorus Euzet et Suriano, 1977 were found on the gills of Mugil liza Valenciennes caught in southern Brazil. They were identified as Ligophorus uruguayense Failla Siquier et Ostrowski de Núñez, 2009 and Ligophorus saladensis Marcotegui et Martorelli, 2009, even though specific identification proved to be difficult due to inconsistencies in some diagnostic features reported for these two species. Therefore, a combined morphological and molecular approach was used to critically review the validity of these species, by means of phase contrast and confocal fluorescence microscopical examination of sclerotised hard parts, and assessing the genetic divergence between L. saladensis, L. uruguayense and their congeners using rDNA sequences. The main morphological differences between the two species relate to the shape of the accessory piece of the penis and the median process of the ventral bar. The accessory piece in L. uruguayense is shorter than in L. saladensis, has a cylindrical, convex upper lobe and straight lower lobe (vs with the distal tip of the lower lobe turning away from the upper lobe in the latter species). The ventral bar has a V-shaped anterior median part in L. uruguayense (vs U-shaped in L. saladensis). The two species are suggested to be part of a species complex together with L. mediterraneus Sarabeev, Balbuena et Euzet, 2005. We recommend to generalise such comparative assessment of species of Ligophorus for a reliable picture of the diversity and diversification mechanisms within the genus, and to make full use of its potential as an additional marker for mullet taxonomy and systematics., Natalia C. Marchiori, Antoine Pariselle, Joaber Pereira Jr., Jean-François Agnèse, Jean-Dominique Durand, Maarten P.M. Vanhove., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Frezella gen. n. is proposed to accommodate Frezella vaucheri sp. n. from poorly known auchenipterid fish, Tocantinsia piresi (Miranda Ribeiro), from the Xingú River, one of the principal tributaries of the lower Amazon River in Brazil. The new genus belongs to the Proteocephalinae because of the medullary position of the testes, ovary (yet some follicles penetrate to the cortex on the dorsal side), vitelline follicles and uterus. It differs from other proteocephaline genera in the morphology of the scolex, which includes a metascolex composed of two distinct zones: anterior, strongly wrinkled part posterior to the suckers, and posterior, sparsely folded zone. Frezella can also be differentiated by having the internal longitudinal musculature hypertrophied laterally on both sides, the presence of some ovarian follicles in the cortex on the dorsal side and the presence of additional pair of tiny, thin-walled osmoregulatory canals situated slightly dorsomedian to ventral canals. Frezella vaucheri is the first helminth parasite reported from T. piresi, which occurs in the lower reaches of the Amazon and Tocantins River basins in Brazil., Philippe Vieira Alves, Alain de Chambrier, Tomáš Scholz, José Luis Luque., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Monogeneans rely on firm attachment to often flexible and uneven surfaces and are renowned for their effective posterior attachment structures in the form of adhesives, clamps, hamuli and suckers. Polystomatids do not secrete adhesives and do not have clamps. While only some have hamuli, all have suckers in the adult form. Three different types of haptoral suckers have been described based on basic morphology but have never been studied in depth. Using enzyme digestion and light (differential interference contrast), confocal and scanning electron microscopy, we examined representatives and propose four sucker types. Haptoral sucker Type I are symmetrical soft, flexible, cup- to disk-shaped suckers and are found in all polystomes infecting frogs and salamanders. Type II suckers are symmetrical soft, flexible, cup-shaped suckers with a hollow continuous skeletal ring and no other skeletal elements. They are found in species of Nanopolystoma Du Preez, Wilkinson et Huyse, 2008 infecting caecilians. Type III suckers are symmetrical firm, cup-shaped suckers with elaborate skeletal elements that contribute to a secure grip on the host tissue. This type of sucker is found in all polystomes infecting freshwater turtles and the common hippopotamus. Type IV suckers are asymmetrical with an elaborate series of long, thin sclerites with terminal spines or hooks. This type of sucker is only known from Concinnocotyla australensis (Reichenbach-Klinke, 1966) infecting the Australian lungfish. These different sucker types are crucial for the survival of polystomatid flatworms within their respective microhabitats.
Forticulcita platana sp. n. and Forticulcita apiensis sp. n. are described from Mugil liza Valenciennes in Argentina, and from Mugil cephalus Linnaeus in Salt Springs, Florida, USA, respectively. Supplemental material relating to the hermaphroditic sac of Forticulcita gibsoni Blasco-Costa, Montero, Balbuena, Raga et Kostadinova, 2009 is provided from a specimen isolated from M. cephalus off Crete, Greece.Forticulcita platana can be distinguished from all species of Forticulcita Overstreet, 1982 except F. gibsoni, based on possessing small pads or gland cells along the hermaphroditic duct. It can be differentiated from that species in possessing a hermaphroditic sac that is one and a half to two times longer than wide rather than one that is approximately three times longer than wide, longer eggs (44-52μm rather than 34-44 μm long) and a shorter post-testicular space (<45% of the body length). Forticulcita apiensis can be differentiated from the other species of Forticulcita in possessing a testis that is shorter than or equal to the pharynx rather than one that is longer than the pharynx. Xiha gen. n. is erected for Dicrogaster fastigatus Thatcher et Sparks, 1958 as Xiha fastigata (Thatcher et Sparks,1958) comb. n., and we tentatively consider Dicrogaster fragilis Fernández Bargiela, 1987 to be Xiha fragilis (Fernández Bargiela, 1987) comb.n. The new genus fits within the concept of Forticulcitinae Blasco-Costa, Balbuena, Kostadinova et Olson, 2009 in having a vitellarium comprised of a single elongate to subspherical mass. Xiha can be differentiated from Forticulcita in having spines lining the hermaphroditic duct, or intromittent organ. A Bayesian inference analysis of partial 28S rDNA sequences of the two New World species of Forticulcita, Xiha fastigata and previously published haploporids places Xiha fastigata within the Forticulcitinae and sister to Forticulcita. Amended diagnos for the subfamily and for Dicrogaster Looss, 1902 are provided., Michael J. Andres, Stephen S. Curran, Thomas J. Fayton, Eric E. Pulis, Robin M. Overstreet., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation and organic slow release fertilizer (OSRF) on photosynthesis, root phosphatase activity, nutrient acquisition, and growth of Ipomoea carnea N. von Jacquin ssp. fistulosa (K. Von Martinus ex J. Choisy) D. Austin (bush morning glory) was determined in a greenhouse study. The AMF treatments consisted of a commercial isolate of Glomus intraradices and a non-colonized (NonAMF) control. The OSRF was applied at 10, 30, and 100 % of the manufacturer's recommended rate. AMF plants had a higher net photosynthetic rate (PN), higher leaf elemental N, P, and K, and generally greater growth than NonAMF plants. Total colonization levels of AMF plants ranged from 27 % (100 % OSRF) to 79 % (30 % OSRF). Root acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities were generally higher in AMF than non-AMF plants. When compared to NonAMF at 100 % OSRF, AMF plants at 30 % OSRF had higher or comparable ACP and ALP activity, higher leaf elemental P, N, Fe, Cu, and Zn, and a greater PN (at the end of the experiment), leading to generally greater growth parameters with the lower fertility in AMF plants. We suggest that AMF increased nutrient acquisition from an organic fertilizer source by enhancing ACP and ALP activity thus facilitating P acquisition, increasing photosynthesis, and improving plant growth. and L. Amaya-Carpio ... [et al.].
Toxoplasmosis is one of the world's most prevalent zoonoses. The causative agent, Toxoplasma gondii (Nicolle et Manceaux, 1908) is a facultative heteroxenic, polyxenic apicomplexan protist. There are several potential pathways of transmission within and between host species. Most infections with T. gondii result from close contact with pets/cats, ingestion of tissue cysts in undercooked meat of infected animals, and oocysts from food or water contaminated by feline faeces. Recently, epidemiological studies have shown that T. gondii infection plays a prominent role in the pathogenesis of several psychiatric disorders. This report reviews the association between T. gondii infection and patients with psychiatric disorders, particularly schizophrenia, depressive disorders and bipolar disorders.
A sample of chigger mites from bat hosts collected in the Balearic Islands (Western Mediterranean Sea) is found to include two species. These are the first records of bat-infesting chiggers identified to species in Spain. Chiggers collected from Pipistrellus kuhlii (Kuhl) in Menorca are identified as Oudemansidium komareki (Daniel et Dusbábek, 1959); this species, which was known from Austria, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, Moldova, Crimea, and Azerbaijan, is recorded for the first time in Spain. Chiggers collected from Plecotus austriacus (Fischer) in Formentera are identified as Trombicula knighti Radford, 1954, which was insufficiently described from a bat in Yemen and known only from its type locality. We transfer this species to the genus Trisetica Traub et Evans, 1950 and provide its re-description based on paratypes and the material from the Balearic Islands. The species Sasatrombicula (Rudnicula) balcanica Kolebinova, 1966 is synonymised with T. knighti. One species closely related to T. knighti, Trisetica aethiopica (Hirst, 1926), which was recorded in Ghana, Uganda, South Sudan, and Madagascar, is re-described on the basis of its syntype deposited in the Natural History Museum, London, UK. This specimen is designated as lectotype.
Canningia spinidentis gen. et sp. n. infects the fir bark beetle Pityokteines spinidens Rtt. in Austria. The pathogen attacks mainly the fat body, Malpighian tubules, the muscles and the connective tissue of larvae and adults, and the gonads of adults. The development is haplokaryotic, with single spores. Spores are short tubular, uninucleate, with globular anchoring disc inserted subapically, laterally, in a depression of the endospore wall. Polar filament is isofilar, with 5/6 coils. Polaroplast is composed of two lamellar parts of different density. A new genus Canningia gen. n. is proposed based on differences in ultrastmc-tures of spores from Unikaryon Canning, Barker, Hammond et Nicholas, 1974.
This paper seeks to reflect on issues related to the nature of housing choice, drawing on qualitative empirical data collected in in-depth interviews. This paper discusses two perspectives related to housing choice, namely, the ‘market perspective of housing choice’ and the ‘perspective of housing choice for well-being’. The ‘market perspective of housing choice’ highlights that desirability generally increases with a greater range of housing choice as the housing supply increases till a climax is reached, after which a further expansion of housing choice may indicate an excess housing supply, which may not be advantageous and home-buyers may instead ‘decide not to choose or buy’. The ‘perspective of housing choice for well-being’ reveals that choice in the housing arena is often viewed as a means to eventual well-being, rather than as an end in itself. Housing choice is ‘genuine’ and ‘meaningful’ if there are meaningful and significant options among a few desirable housing alternatives. ‘Fake housing choice’ involves having to choose from among housing options that are all generally bad.