Despite the global distribution of the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1806) sensu lato (s.l.), limited information exists about their identity from the Arabian Peninsula. Ticks from free roaming urban dogs and dromedary camels in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia were morphologically identified, confirmed with scanning electron microscopy and characterised at mitochondrial DNA (cox1, 12S rDNA and 16S rDNA). A total of 186 ticks were collected from 65 free roaming dogs (n = 73) and 84 dromedary camels (n = 113). Morphologically, 5.9% (11/186) were R. sanguineus s.l. and Hyalomma spp. (93.5%, 174/186). From within R. sanguineus s.l., the presence of Rhipicephalus cf. camicasi Morel, Mouchet et Rodhain, 1976 (1 dog, 2 camels) and Rhipicephalus turanicus Pomerantsev, 1936 (1 camel) is reported. The examined R. cf. camicasi form a sister group to R. sanguineus s.l. tropical lineage at all DNA markers. Dogs were parasitised by Hyalomma dromedarii Koch, 1844 (n = 59), Hyalomma impeltatum Schulze et Schlottke, 1930 (n = 1), Hyalomma excavatum Koch, 1844 (n = 2), Hyalomma turanicum Pomerantsev, 1946 (n = 1) and Hyalomma rufipes Koch,1844 (n = 1). DNA from dog blood (n = 53) from Riyadh confirmed a low prevalence of canine vector-borne pathogens that does not exceed 5.7% for Babesia spp., Mycoplasma spp., Anaplasma platys, Hepatozoon canis and Ehrlichia canis using multiplexed tandem PCR (MT-PCR) and diagnostic PCR. Low prevalence of R. sanguineus s.l. on dogs likely contributed to the low level of canine vector-borne pathogens in Saudi Arabia. We demonstrate that dogs in the central Arabian Peninsula are more commonly parasitised by Hyalomma spp. than R. sanguineus s.l., Shona Chandra, Karen Smith, Abdullah D. Alanazi, Mohamed S. Alyousif, David Emery, Jan Šlapeta., and Obsahuje bibliografii
In this paper, the risk zone mapping of declining lowland forests belonging to „Morović“, management unit „Varadin-Županja“ (northern Serbia) is performed using geostatistics analysis. Based on the monitoring of groundwater level, the Kriging method has been performed for the spatial distribution of groundwater level for a multiyear period (2010–2013) – reference level and characteristic levels for the wettest and the driest year during the analyzed period. Risk assessment was determined by the variance of characteristics compared to reference levels. Then, multi-criteria decision analysis methods (AHP, PROMETHEE II) were applied to define the rank of each department (smaller forest management units) located in the research area. These analyses are very important because they enable to locate of the area with a high risk of forest decline and to rank departments using criteria: deviation from water level recorded during dry periods, species demand for water, conservation status and purpose of the unit (seed stands or technical wood). The proposed methodology is usable for the determination of the primary localities for the application of management measures conducting on the level of lower planned units (departments) and thus lead to the successful planning and more efficient forest management. Obtained results at the researched area showed that a negative influence on the watering regime has groundwater level decreasing compared to the reference level because it directly affects available water for the plants. Based on multicriteria analysis methods, it was deduced that the most endangered parts are located at the edge, while this risk is much lower in the central part of the management unit. A combination of applied methods (geostatistics and multicriteria analysis) is of great importance for forestry management.
Parasites commonly manipulate host behaviour to increase transmission success between hosts. While most behavioural changes comprise slight alterations to host activity patterns and habitat use, some represent impressive alterations to routine behaviour which, while having direct positive effects on parasite transmission, compromise host survival. Here, we report conspicuous risky behaviour in an African annual killifish, Nothobranchius furzeri, infected by metacercariae of a strigeid trematode, Apatemon sp., residing in their cranial cavity. We demonstrate a striking contrast in the spatial and temporal behavioural responses of fish from populations naturally infected with Apatemon sp. and fish from two control populations with either a similar baseline parasite fauna but lacking Apatemon, or an overall low-level of infection. During routine activity, fish from Apatemon-infected populations positioned themselves just below the water surface, while other fish spent most of their time near the bottom. During a simulated avian attack, killifish from Apatemon-infected populations jumped above the water surface, moved in an uncoordinated manner, and rotated in the upper water layer, while fish from the control populations rapidly escaped into deeper water and ceased moving. The same self-exposing behaviour (jumping out of the water and lying on floating lily pads for extended periods) was also observed under natural conditions. Such behaviour greatly facilitates location of Apatemon-infected host fish by avian definitive hosts, especially in turbid pools. Moreover, the nothobranchiid killifish host's own life history, i.e. an extremely short lifespan limited to several months, may represent an important driver in the evolution of behavioural manipulation.
Zhrnutie. Cieľom tohto prehľadového článku je popísať objektívne pôrodnícke a populačné faktory, ktoré sa podieľajú na vzniku posttraumatickej stresovej poruchy (PTSP) po pôrode, a tiež spôsoby, akými sa vzájomne ovplyvňujú so subjektívnymi faktormi, s cieľom identifikovať ženy, u ktorých je zvýšené riziko rozvoja symptómov PTSP po pôrode. Výsledky. Výskyt PTSP 4 až 6 týždňov po pôrode sa odhaduje na 5,77 % v celkovej populácii žien po pôrode a na 12,64 % v rizikovej subpopulácii. Pôrodnícke faktory sa javia byť do značnej miery mediované emocionálnou podporou rodiacej ženy zo strany zdravotníckeho personálu, ako aj prítomnosťou a podporou sprevádzajúcej osoby. Subjektívne vnímanie pôrodu rodiacimi ženami a miera kontroly, ktorú počas pôrodu pociťujú, patria medzi najsilnejšie faktory, ktoré ovplyvňujú riziko vzniku PTSP po pôrode. Včasná intervencia v podobe poskytovania dostatočných informácií a emocionálnej podpory počas pôrodu, ako aj v období po pôrode a rôzne formy sociálnej podpory znižujú riziko vzniku chronickej formy PTSP. Limity. Vzhľadom na špecifiká pôrodných systémov sa môže miera výskytu PTSP a zastúpenie rizikových faktorov v českom a slovenskom prostredí líšiť od výskytu a zastúpenia v krajinách, z ktorých pochádzajú zdroje zahrnuté v tomto prehľadovom článku. and Objectives. The aim of this article is to describe objective obstetric and population factors for the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after childbirth, the ways in which they interact with subjective factors, in order to identify those women who are at an increased risk of developing PTSD symptoms after delivery. Methods. The Web of Science database was used to search the literature. The keywords “posttraumatic stress disorder”, “PTSD”, “childbirth”, “trauma” and “risk factors” were entered. Out of 79 resulting articles in English, 48 articles dealing with the topic of postpartum PTSD were selected, of which 29 directly dealt with the identification and description of risk factors for the development of postpartum PTSD. Additional relevant literature has been obtained through the study of these articles. Results. The incidence of PTSD at 4-6 weeks after childbirth is estimated at 5.77% in the total population of postpartum women, and in the at-risk subpopulation, the estimate is 12.64%. Obstetric factors appear to be largely mediated by the emotional support of birthing woman from medical staff as well as by the presence and support of the accompanying person. Subjective perception of childbirth by the women giving birth, and the degree of control they feel during the birth process are among strongest factors which influence the risk of developing PTSD after childbirth. Early intervention in the form of providing comprehensive information and emotional support during childbirth, as well as in the postpartum period, and various forms of social support reduce the risk of developing a chronic form of PTSD. Study limitations. Due to the specifics of childbirth systems across geographies, the incidence rate of PTSD and the representation of risk factors in the Czech and Slovak environments can differ from the incidence and representation of those countries included in the resources for this review article.
Coordinated regulation of apoptosis is critical for development, homeostasis, and immunity in larvae of Metazoa. We determined the full nucleotide sequence of an inhibitor of an apoptosis protein in a lepidopteran insect Mythimna separata (Walker) (MsIAP) and carried out functional analyses of the MsIAP. The full-length cDNA of MsIAP was 1642 bp, which encoded 379 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 41,834 Da, and two BIR domains and one RING domain revealed using amino acid sequence analysis. In addition, the sequences of these domains were similar to Drosophila IAP1 and those of some other lepidopteran insects. We carried out a functional analyses of MsIAP related to apoptosis regulation using RNA interference. The effects of MsIAP knockdown on adhering hemocytes and non-adhering hemocytes as controls were examined using Hoechst33342/propidium iodide staining, effector caspase activity and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) staining. A significantly higher number of propidium iodide and TUNEL-positive cells was recorded in adhering hemocytes from MsIAP knockdown larvae than from control larvae, but these differences were not recorded for non-adhering hemocytes. However, higher effector caspase activity was detected in both adhering and non-adhering hemocytes from MsIAP knockdown larvae compared to that in control larvae. These results indicate that the knockdown of MsIAP induces apoptosis in larval adhering hemocytes, which MsIAP negatively and non-redundantly regulate apoptosis, and that IAP function is conserved in M. separata and other insect species including Drosophila and several lepidopteran insects., Masashi Kamezaki, Kakeru Yokoi, Ken Miura., and Obsahuje bibliografii
A study was conducted in Mabira Central Forest Reserve in Uganda to determine rodent species composition, relative abundance, and habitat association. A total of 1,030 rodents belonging to 14 species were captured on 10,584 trap nights. Rodent species recorded include: Lophuromys stanleyi, Hylomyscus stella, Praomys jacksoni, Mastomys natalensis, Lophuromys ansorgei, Lemniscomys striatus, Aethomys hindei, Mus triton, Mus minutoides, Deomys ferrugineus, Gerbilliscus kempi, Rattus rattus, Grammomys kuru, and Hybomys univittatus. Overall, L. stanleyi (23.7%) was the most dominant species followed by H. stella, P. jacksoni, and M. natalensis. Species richness and evenness was highest in the regenerating forest habitat and least in the intact forest habitat. Rodent abundance was significantly affected by habitat type. The regenerating forest habitat had the highest number of animals, while the lowest numbers were observed in the depleted forest habitat. Species diversity was higher in regenerating forest habitat and lowest in the intact forest. The three habitats appeared distinct in terms of rodent species composition and there was a strong association between the two trapping grids in the same habitat type. All ordination plots showed that different rodent species consistently associated with distinct habitats. Habitat type and seasonal changes influenced rodent composition, relative abundance and habitat association. Composition of rodent community reflected the level of habitat degradation and can be used as a proxy for evaluating the biodiversity of lowland tropical forests.
Faunal studies of rodent assemblages from the areas on and around Choke Mountain (north-western Ethiopia) were conducted during two field seasons in 2012 and 2018. Here we present results of a genetic study of nine rodent species, and evaluate their genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships between conspecific populations from neighbouring montane massifs. Results of comparative analysis of phylogeographic patterns in Lophuromys, Desmomys, Stenocephalemys and Tachyoryctes have emphasized the role of the Blue Nile gorge as a strong biogeographic barrier, separating “northern” and “southern” independently evolved populations. Results of genetic analysis also revealed the presence of a new taxon of Dendromus, presumably belonging to a new species. Our study allows re-evaluation this area as an important “hotspot” of Ethiopian small mammal biodiversity.
V období ranej adolescencie patria rodičia a ich správanie k významným faktorom, ktoré môžu napomôcť predchádzaniu rizikovému správaniu dospievajúcich. K najčastejším formám rizikového správania v tomto období patrí fajčenie a konzumácia alkoholu. Prvým cieľom štúdie je sledovať rozdiely v percepcii s rizikovým správaním súvisiacich faktorov medzi adolescentmi a ich matkami/ otcami. Druhým cieľom je sledovať vzťah medzi premennými súvisiacimi so správaním rodičov (percipované adolescentom) a fajčením a užívaním alkoholu u dospievajúcich. Výskumnú vzorku tvorilo 580 dospievajúcich (priemerný vek 12,51; SD = 0,59; 51,1 % dievčat), 217 matiek a 150 otcov. Vo všetkých sledovaných premenných, s výnimkou trávenia spoločného času, boli identifikované významné rozdiely medzi percepciou dospievajúcich a rodičov. Výsledky logistickej regresie ukazujú, že najvýznamnejším faktorom súvisiacim s pravdepodobnosťou fajčenia a pitia alkoholu je percipované schvaľovanie takéhoto správania zo strany rodičov. Zdá sa, že bez ohľadu na to, akým spôsobom sa rodičia snažia ovplyvňovať rizikové správanie dospievajúcich, najdôležitejšie je zabezpečiť, aby adolescenti skutočne vnímali postoj rodičov voči alkoholu/cigaretám ako nesúhlasný. Získané výsledky by mohli byť aplikovateľné aj pre učiteľov a iných významných dospelých, ktorí sú v pravidelnom kontakte s dospievajúcimi. and During the early adolescence period the parental behaviour belongsto one of the most important factors that may help to avoid adolescent risk behaviour. Among the most prevalent forms of risk behaviour in early adolescence are smoking and alcohol consumption. The first aim of this study is to explore discrepancies between parental and adolescent perceptions of several factors related to risk behaviour. The second aim of the study is to explore relationship between parental behaviour (as perceived by adolescents) and adolescents smoking and alcohol consumption. Research sample consisted of 580 adolescents (mean age 12.51, SD=0.59; 51.1% girls), 217 mothers and 150 fathers. In all studied all variables but spending free time, showed, significant differences between the perception of adolescents and their mothers /fathers were found with an exception of parental companionship. Results of logistic regression show that the most important factor that is associated with probability of smoking and drinking in early adolescence is perceived parental approval of such behaviour. It seems to be, that regardless of the way how parents try to prevent adolescents risk behaviour, the most important is to show clear and consistent disapproval of such behaviour. Our results may be applied also for teachers and significant others that are in contact with adolescents.
Rozchod rodičů je proces, který dlouhodobě ovlivňuje životy všech zúčastněných. Cílem studie je popsat rozchod rodičů z pohledu dítěte. Vnímání rodiny dětmi jsme zkoumali pomocí metody FAST. Děti stavěly typickou, ideální a konfliktní reprezentaci rodiny. Porovnávali jsme skupinu 15 dětí v situaci rozchodu rodičů a skupinu 19 dětí ve stabilním rodinném prostředí bez vážných rodičovských konfliktů, průměrný věk dětí z obou skupin je 9,5 let (rozpětí 5-15 let). Zajímali jsme se o členství v rodině, kohezi a popis konfliktů v rodině. Děti v situaci rozchodu rodičů popisovaly nižší kohezi nejenom ve vztahu mezi rodiči, ale i mezi sebou a oběma rodiči. To je v souladu se zjištěními, která poukazují na horší kvalitu rodičovství po rozchodu rodičů. Děti, jejichž rodiče se v době sběru dat rozcházeli, zahrnovaly do rodiny příbuzné nad rámec primární rodiny. Členství těchto lidí v rodině ale nebylo trvalé. Zdá se, že tyto děti hledají oporu v dalších vztazích v širší rodině, nebo nahrazují kvalitu (zhoršení vztahů po rozchodů rodičů) kvantitou ve vztazích. Popisují také rodinné konflikty s horším výsledkem a nepopisují účinné strategie řešení konfliktů. and The divorce of parents is a situation which in the long term affects life of everyone involved. The aim of this study is to describe the parents’ divorce from the child’s point of view. The perception of the family by children was examined by the FAST method. The children presented a typical, an ideal and a conflict representation of the family. We compared the group of 15 children in a divorce situation with the group of 19 children in stable family environment without significant parental conflicts. The average age of children in both groups was 9,5 years (range 5 – 15 years). We were interested in the family members, cohesion and the description of family conflicts. Children in parents’ divorce described a lower cohesion not only in the parents’ relationship but also between themselves and both parents. This supports the spillover concept in the family and is in harmony with findings, which point out the inferior quality of parenthood after the divorce. Children, whose parents were in the process of divorce during the collecting of data, included into the family also relatives outside the primary family. However, their membership in the family was not permanent. It seems that these children are seeking for support in relationships within the extended family or they substitute the quality (the worsening of quality after the divorce) by quantity in relationships. They also describe family conflicts with worse results, and they don’t describe effective strategies of solving conflicts.