Over the last two decades my colleagues and I have assembled the literature on a good percentage of most of the coccidians (Conoidasida) known, to date, to parasitise: Amphibia, four major lineages of Reptilia (Amphisbaenia, Chelonia, Crocodylia, Serpentes), and seven major orders in the Mammalia (Carnivora, Chiroptera, Lagomorpha, Insectivora, Marsupialia, Primates, Scandentia). These vertebrates, combined, comprise about 15,225 species; only about 899 (5.8%) of them have been surveyed for coccidia and 1,946 apicomplexan valid species names or other forms are recorded in the literature. Based on these compilations and other factors, I extrapolated that there yet may be an additional 31,381 new apicomplexans still to be discovered in just these 12 vertebrate groups. Extending the concept to all of the other extant vertebrates on Earth; i.e. lizards (6,300 spp.), rodents plus 12 minor orders of mammals (3,180 spp.), birds (10,000 spp.), and fishes (33,000 spp.) and, conservatively assuming only two unique apicomplexan species per each vertebrate host species, I extrapolate and extend my prediction that we may eventually find 135,000 new apicomplexans that still need discovery and to be described in and from those vertebrates that have not yet been examined for them! Even doubling that number is a significant underestimation in my opinion.
Examinations of nematodes collected from some marine fishes off the southwestern coast of Java, Indonesia in 2000 and 2001 revealed the presence of the following six species: ascaridoids Ichthyascaris grandis sp. n. from the intestine of Lophiomus setigerus (Vahl), I. cf. longispicula Li, Liu, Liu et Zhang, 2012 from the intestine of Conger cinereus Rüppel, Ichthyascaris sp. from the body cavity of Lobotes surinamensis (Bloch), and Raphidascaroides halieutaeae Yin, 1983 from the intestine of Halieutaea stellata (Vahl), and philometrids Philometra ivaschkini Parukhin, 1976 from the stomach wall of Trichiurus lepturus Linnaeus and P. psettoditis Moravec, Walter et Yuniar, 2012 from the body cavity (liver) of Psettodes erumei (Bloch et Schneider). Descriptions of these nematodes based on light and scanning electron microscopical studies are provided. The new species I. grandis sp. n. is mainly characterised by large body measurements (males and females up to 41.8 mm and 73.6 mm long, respectively), the length of spicules (0.99-1.05 mm), the tail tip usually without rudimentary spines and by the presence of 44-53 pairs of caudal papillae, eight to twelve of which being postanals. In addition to new data on the morphology of R. halieutaeae and other nematodes recorded, the 11 species of Raphidascaroides Yamaguti, 1941 poorly described from marine fishes in South Asia and reviewed in the monograph of Sood (2017) are considered species inquirendae and incertae sedis.
The examination of eight spotted skates, Raja straeleni Poll, resulted in the discovery of four new species of Acanthobothrium van Beneden, 1849, namely A. microhabentes sp. n., A. microtenuis sp. n., A. crassus sp. n., and A. dolichocollum sp. n., located off the Western Cape of South Africa. With a total of over 200 valid species of Acanthobothrium recognised worldwide, the use of an integrative approach becomes imperative in the interest of simplifying interspecific comparisons between congeners. In accordance with this, the four new species were incorporated into the category classification system established by Ghoshroy and Caira in 2001, where they were identified as category 2 species, which, at present, includes 47 recognised species of Acanthobothrium. Nevertheless, each of the four new species exhibits postovarian testes, a most intriguing and highly unusual feature among Acanthobothrium, instantly differentiating them from most congeners. This feature has been reported in 12 congeners, which have previously been considered to be restricted to waters of the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Not only do the four new congeners represent the first species of Acanthobothrium reported from southern Africa, but they also represent the first reported species with postovarian testes from the southern Atlantic Ocean. and Regarding the legitimacy of the four new species, only two other category 2 species are reported to exhibit this feature, namely A. popi Fyler, Caira et Jensen, 2009, and A. bobconniorum Fyler et Caira, 2010, to which the four congeners were compared to. Acanthobothrium microhabentes sp. n. is the smallest of the congeners and differs from A. popi and A. bobconniorum by having fewer testes and postovarian testes, a shorter body, fewer proglottids, a shorter scolex, and longer cephalic peduncle. Acanthobothrium microtenuis sp. n. differs from A. popi and A. bobconniorum by having fewer testes and postovarian testes, a shorter scolex, longer cephalic peduncle, and the possession of columnar spinitriches on the anterior region of the terminal proglottid. Acanthobothrium crassus sp.n. differs from A. popi and A. bobconniorum by having fewer postovarian testes, a narrower cirrus-sac, larger vitelline follicles, and a longer cephalic peduncle. Acanthobothrium dolichocollum sp. n. is the longest of the four new species and differs from A. popi and A. bobconniorum by having fewer postovarian testes, more postporal testes, a larger body, more proglottids, larger testes and vitelline follicles, and an exceptionally long cephalic peduncle. Apart from differences in overall size, the four new species differ in a combination of measurements for the scolex, vitelline follicles, muscular pad and cephalic peduncle, and the number of proglottids and testes. The four species were recovered from a previously unexplored host and locality, expanding the host associations and geographical distribution of the genus.
Thirty years after the return of grey wolves (Canis lupus) to the French Alps, the number of livestock losses is on the rise despite livestock guarding dogs (LGDs) being widely used. Their relevance is, therefore, questioned by some sheep owner associations. To date, no study has investigated how LGDs interact with wolves in pastures. We present the results of a 6-year study totalling 3,300 hours of direct night-time observations to record the nature, frequency and outcomes of LGD-wolf interactions in the southern French Alps. We recorded 476 wolf events in the presence of LGDs, including 175 interactions, 66% of which were agonistic. Most (65%) of the interactions occurred at a distance > 100 m from the flock and on average involved more LGDs than wolves. In the presence of LGDs, wolves approached the flocks 134 times resulting in no attack (65%), attacks with no sheep victim (24.6%), or attacks with ≥ 1 sheep victim (10.4%). Our results suggest that LGD-wolf interactions are complex and do not simply occur in the immediate vicinity of the flock. We recommend using groups > 6 LGDs and reinforcing the presence of LGDs in a wider radius around the flock to limit the presence of isolated groups of sheep and to improve protection against wolf attacks.
Cieľom výskumu bolo prvotné overenie psychometrických charakteristík slovenského prekladu Skríningov internalizujúceho (YIBS) a externalizujúceho (YEBS) správania mládeže. Výskumný súbor tvorilo 526 žiakov základných a stredných škôl vo veku 10 až 19 rokov (M = 12,81; SD = 2,00). Koeficienty reliability pre YIBS (ω = 0,87) aj YEBS (ω = 0,81) nadobúdajú uspokojivé hodnoty. Stredne silný vzťah bol zistený medzi školskou začlenenosťou a mierou internalizujúcich (rs = - 0,44; p ˂ 0,001) aj externalizujúcich symptómov (rs = - 0,30; p ˂ 0,001). Výsledky konfirmačnej faktorovej analýzy podporili dvojfaktorovú štruktúru dotazníka YIBS merajúceho úzkosť a depresiu. Hodnoty indikátorov v prípade YEBS boli na hranici akceptovateľnosti pre prijatie trojfaktorového modelu (problémové správanie, hyperaktivita, problémy s pozornosťou) až po identifikovaní a odstránení jednej problematickej položky. Výsledky overovania slovenského prekladu metód poukazujú na uspokojivé psychometrické charakteristiky dotazníka YIBS a zároveň na potrebu reformulácie problematickej položky v škále YEBS. and The aim of the study was an initial investigation of the psychometric properties of the Slovak version of the Youth Internalizing Behavior Screener (YIBS) and Youth Externalizing Behavior Screener (YEBS). The sample consisted of 526 10- to 19-year-old students of primary and secondary schools (M = 12.81; SD = 2.00). Both measures, YIBS (ω = 0.87) and YEBS (ω = 0.81) had satisfactory reliability coefficients. Medium-to-large associations were found between school membership and internalizing (rs = - 0.44; p ˂ 0.001) as well as externalizing behaviors (rs = - 0.30; p ˂ 0.001). Findings from confirmatory factor analysis supported the two-factor structure of YIBS, measuring symptoms of anxiety and depression. Findings for YEBS were barely acceptable to support the three-factor measurement model (conduct problems, hyperactivity, attention problems) only after the identification and removal of a problematic item. The results of the investigation of psychometric properties of methods provide satisfactory evidence in favour of the Slovak version of the YIBS while addressing the need for rewording of the problematic YEBS item.
Práce se třídami představuje v rámci náplně práce školního psychologa značný podíl. O tom, jak často a jakou formou školní psychologové na základních školách se třídami pracují, víme opravdu málo. Cílem našeho výzkumu bylo zjistit zastoupení práce se třídou v činnosti školního psychologa, popsat, jakým způsobem školní psychologové se třídami nejčastěji pracují, a prozkoumat subjektivní hodnocení vlastní kompetence školních psychologů při práci se třídou. Soubor respondentů tvořilo 73 školních psychologů základních škol. Data byla sbírána prostřednictvím on-line dotazníku vlastní konstrukce. Výsledky poukazují, že práce se třídou je třetí nejčastěji uváděnou činností pracovní náplně školního psychologa. Školní psycholog vstupuje do tříd nejčastěji na žádost třídní učitelky (38,26 %), pravidelně na základě vlastní iniciativy (31,51 %) nebo když má dojem, že by to dané třídě mohlo pomoci (20,55 %). Subjektivní hodnocení kompetence školních psychologů v práci s třídními kolektivy mimo jiné ovlivňují výše úvazku, délka praxe a další vzdělávání zaměřené na práci se třídou. Signifikantní rozdíly ve stanovených kritériích však nebyly potvrzeny. and Classwork takes a considerable amount of school psychologists´ work. However, we know little about the frequency and form of their work with the class. We have defined three main goals of our research. First, to set the proportion of time school psychologists to work with the class. Second, to describe the form of their work with the class. And third, to evaluate their subjective competencies for work with the class. The sample consisted of 73 school psychologists working in primary schools. The data were collected using an online self-made questionnaire. The results show that classwork is the third most common activity of school psychologists. School psychologists most often start their classwork upon request from a teacher (38,26 %), regularly as their initiative (31,51 %) or if they find out that a class needs extra support (20,55 %). Subjective level of competence to classwork is influenced especially by the level of workload, length of experience in the field and specialised training in work with groups. However, the difference between the criteria was not significant.
a1_Three genera of rhinebothriideans, previously referred to as New genus 1, New genus 2 and New genus 4, are erected in the the Anthocephaliidae. New genus 1 is established as Divaricobothrium gen. n., with Divaricobothrium tribelum sp. n. as its type species; Echeneibothrium trifidum Shipley et Hornell, 1906 is transferred to the genus as Divaricobothrium trifidum (Shipley et Hornell, 1906) comb. n. This genus is unique among rhinebothriidean genera in bearing bothridia that are posteriorly deeply divided into two lobes with facial loculi but no apical sucker, and a vagina that extends to near the anterior margin of the proglottid. Its species parasitise Indo-Pacific members of the genera Brevitrygon Last, Naylor et Manjaji-Matsumoto, Maculabatis Last, Naylor et Manjaji-Matsumoto and Pateobatis Last, Naylor et Manjaji-Matsumoto. New genus 2 is established as Barbeaucestus gen. n., with Barbeaucestus jockuschae sp. n. as its type species; Barbeaucestus ralickiae sp. n. is also described. Anthobothrium sexorchidum Williams, 1964 and Rhinebothrium shipleyi Southwell, 1912 are transferred to the genus as Barbeaucestus sexorchidus (Williams, 1964) comb. n. and Barbeaucestus shipleyi (Southwell, 1912) comb. n., respectively. This genus is unique among rhinebothriidean genera in that its bothridia are substantially wider than long, bear an apical sucker and at least one row of two or more facial loculi in their anterior half. Its species parasitise the genera Neotrygon Castelnau and Taeniura Müller et Henle. New genus 4 is established as Sungaicestus gen. n. with transfer of Rhinebothrium kinabatanganensis Healy, 2006, as Sungaicestus kinabatanganensis (Healy, 2006) comb. n., as its type species. Among the genera of its order, this genus most closely resembles Rhinebothrium Linton, 1890, however, despite the original description, the bothridia were found to bear, rather than lack, apical suckers., a2_This monotypic genus is known only from the freshwater stingray Urogymnus polylepis (Müller et Henle). The familial diagnosis of the Anthocephaliidae Ruhnke, Caira et Cox, 2015 is emended. The family now houses five genera., Janine N. Caira, Claire J. Healy, Fernando P.L. Marques, Kirsten Jensen., and Obsahuje bibliografii