Twenty species (sixteen adult and four larval) of parasitic nematodes belonging to the Ascaridoidea, Camallanoidea, Cosmocercoidea, Dioctophymatoidea, Habronematoidea, Oxyuroidea, Seuratoidea, and Thelazioidea were collected from freshwater fishes of the Congo River basin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic in 2008 and 2012, respectively. Based on light and scanning electron microscopical examination, many species are redescribed in detail. This material also contained four previously unknown species, Labeonema longispiculatum sp. n. from Synodontis acanthomias Boulenger, Gendria longispiculata sp. n. from Schilbe grenfelli (Boulenger), G. sanghaensis sp. n. from Schilbe marmoratus Boulenger, and Cucullanus congolensis sp. n. from Auchenoglanis occidentalis (Valenciennes). The new species L. longispiculatum is mainly characterised by conspicuously long (210-228 µm) spicules, approximately twice as long as those in other congeners, the length (45-48 µm) of the gubernaculum and the host family (Mochokidae), whereas G. longispiculata by very long (1.2 mm) spicules, the shape of the oesophagus and cephalic vesicle, distribution of postanal papillae and the host family (Schilbeidae). Main characteristic features of G. sanghaensis are the presence of a hexagonal oral aperture surrounded by lip-like structures, the posterior portion of the oesophagus moderately expanded, spicules and the gubernaculum 414-438 µm and 54-57 µm long, respectively, deirids located at the level of the posterior end of the oesophagus and the absence of cervical alae. Cucullanus congolensis differs from congeneric species parasitising African freshwater and brackish-water fishes mainly in the absence of a ventral precloacal sucker and lateral preanal papillae, the presence of a large median precloacal papilla-like formation, spicules 480-489 µm long and the location of the excretory pore in the regio, František Moravec, Miloslav Jirků., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Based on material collected from Rhinella cf. margaritifera (Laurenti) and Rhi. marina (Linnaeus) (Anura: Bufonidae) during a parasite survey of the herpetofauna of French Guiana, updated descriptions of Rhabdias androgyna Kloss, 1971 and R. fuelleborni Travassos, 1926 are presented. In addition to metrical data, which may overlap in closely related species, emphasis is placed on qualitative characters. Rhabdias androgyna is distinguished by the unique presence of an outer and inner cephalic cuticular inflation, a shoulder-like broadening of the body at the anterior end, a wide and shallow buccal capsule (average buccal ratio 0.36) with serrated lumen in apical view, a prominent anterior dilatation of the oesophagus, and the presence of an additional posterior dilatation anterior to the oesophageal bulb. Characters that may help to differentiate R. fuelleborni from closely related species parasitising the Rhi. marina species group are the presence of six relatively uniform lips, and the division of the buccal capsule into an anterior and posterior segment, with differently structured walls. Both the presence of R. androgyna and R. fuelleborni in French Guiana constitute new geographic records. A single specimen of Rhabdias sp. is described from Pristimantis chiastonotus (Lynch et Hoegmood) (Anura: Craugastoridae). This species differs from all its Neotropical congeners by the distinct globular swelling of its head, similar to that seen in only one Palaearctic and one Afrotropical Rhabdias species. A list of species of Rhabdias parasitising amphibians in the Netropical Realm is also provided., Yuriy Kuzmin, Louis H. du Preez, Kerstin Junker., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Fourteen species (twelve adult and two larval) of nematodes belonging to the Ascaridoidea, Camallanoidea, Cosmocercoidea, Habronematoidea, Oxyuroidea, Seuratoidea and Trichinelloidea were collected from fishes in the Sudan (River Nile and Atbara Dam Lake), whereas only four species (one adult and three larval) of the Ascaridoidea, Camallanoidea, Dioctophymatoidea and Trichinelloideafrom fishes in Ethiopia (Lake Tana). The Sudanese material also contained two previously unknown species, Cucullanus mormyri sp. n. from Mormyrus caschive Linnaeus (type host), Mormyrus sp. and Marcusenius cyprinoides (Linnaeus) (all Mormyridae), and Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) pseudospiralis sp. n. from Synodontis schall (Bloch et Schneider) (type host), S. frontosus Vaillant and S. nigrita Valenciennes (all Mochokidae), which are described based on light and scanning electron microscopical studies. Cucullanus baylisi Campana-Rouget, 1961, a little-known parasite of Synodontis spp., is redescribed in detail. A key to Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) spp. from African inland fishes is provided. Falcaustra guiersi Vassiliadès, 1973 is considered a junior synonym of F. hexapapillata (Khalil, 1962). The findings represent several new host and geographical records. Cucullanus baylisi Lakshmi, 2000 (= a homonym to C. baylisi Campana-Rouget, 1961) is re-named as C. dubius nom. n. and is considered a species inquirenda., František Moravec, Tomáš Scholz., and Obsahuje bibliografii
V této studii se autor zaměřuje na tři okruhy problémů, které pozoruje v oblasti přímé ambulantní péče o duševní zdraví v souvislosti s nemocí covid-19. Jedná se o problematiku: 1) neuropsy-chologických deficitů; 2) úzkostných a afektivních poruch; 3) psychotických poruch. K dosavadním přehledovým studiím z posledního roku se snaží doplnit pozorování z vlastní klinicko-psychologické praxe a upozornit na nutnost přípravy a dostatečné kapacity zdravotních služeb v oblasti péče o duševní zdraví., In this study, the author focuses on three areas of problems that are observed in the direct ambulatory care of mental health in connection with COVID-19 disease. These are the issues of: 1) neuropsychological deficits; 2) anxiety and affective disorders; 3) psychotic disorders. The author tries to supplement the previous overview studies from the last year with observations from his own clinical practice and draw attention to the need for preparation and sufficient capacity of health services in the field of mental health care., Martin Lečbych., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
A historical and instrumental earthquake catalogue is prepared for the Northwest Himalayan Fold and Thrust Belt and Makran Subduction Zone Pakistan from 1960 to 2019 with homogenized moment magnitude. The local and some international published sources were utilized for the preparation of catalogue. This earthquake catalogue contained numbers of duplicate, repeated, dependent and independent events. Declustering process was opted to remove the dependent events such as foreshock and aftershock from catalogue to separate the mainshock only in term of distance and time space window. The declustering found 2714 clusters of earthquakes with total of 19512 (57.19 %) events out of 34112. Only cluster events which contained the mainshock or independent events were drawn on seismicity map with color identification. Maximum likelihood method was used to compute the value of magnitude of completeness i.e., Mc = 3.8 with estimation of a and b-values. Years vise magnitude of completeness was also computed to check the time period variation. The completeness of magnitude for different intervals of time indicates the impartial approximation of previous recorded seismicity. Temporal and spatial maps were also drawn to investigate the slope “b” and rate of productivity “a” in the study region. It is noted that b-values varied from 0.2 to 2.0 due to stress and intensive tectonic setting whereas a value increases due to increase the seismicity rate with respect to region. Seismotectonic map was drawn to delineate the major faults, seismicity pattern and tectonic activities. This work further can be used for single value hazard assessment for any region and their response spectra to update buildings and bridges codes.
The determination of steroid hormones and subsequent interpretation of results is accompanied by a range of difficulties. The amount of information that current technology can provide on the circulating concentrations of more than a hundred various steroid compounds can lead to problems with interpretation. The aim of this study is to help provide orientation in this maze of data on steroid hormones. First we focus on specific aspects arising from the pre-analytical phase of steroid determination that need to be considered when planning sampling, whether for diagnostics or research. Then, we provide a brief summary of the characteristics and diagnostic relevance of several steroid hormones and/or their metabolites: pregnenolone, 17α-hydroxypregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone, hydroxyderivatives of dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, testosterone, estrone, estradiol, estriol, cortisol, cortisone, which in our institute are determined with validated LC-MS/MS methods. For these steroids, we also provide newly calculated reference values in fertile women according to the phase of their menstrual cycle and Obsahuje bibliografii
As gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is both a frequent and serious complication, steroid levels in pregnancy are extremely elevated and their role in pregnancy is crucial, this review focuses on the role of steroids and related substances in the GDM pathophysiology. Low SHBG levels are associated with insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia, while also predicting a predisposition to GDM. Other relevant agents are placental hormones such as kisspeptin and CRH, playing also an important role beyond pregnancy, but which are synthesized here in smaller amounts in the hypothalamus. These hormones affect both the course of pregnancy as well as the synthesis of pregnancy steroids and may also be involved in the GDM pathophysiology. Steroids, whose biosynthesis is mainly provided by the fetal adrenal glands, placenta, maternal adrenal glands, and both maternal and fetal livers, are also synthesized in limited amounts directly in the pancreas and may influence the development of GDM. These substances involve the sulfated Δ5 steroids primarily acting via modulating different ion channels and influencing the development of GDM in different directions, mostly diabetogenic progesterone and predominantly anti-diabetic estradiol acting both in genomic and non-genomic way, androgens associated with IR and hyperinsulinemia, neuroactive steroids affecting the pituitary functioning, and cortisol whose production is stimulated by CRH but which suppresses its pro-inflammatory effects. Due to the complex actions of steroids, studies assessing their predominant effect and studies assessing their predictive values for estimating predisposition to GDM are needed.
Stomatocystis goerresi sp. n., a gregarine (phylum Apicomplexa, Monocystidae) parasite of an important invasive earthworm in North America, Amynthas tokioensis (Beddard), is described. This is the second species placed into the genus, and details of its morphology and life cycle support Stomatocystis Bandyopadhyay, Mitra et Göçmen, 2006 as a valid taxon. The new species is described using standard nomenclature, measurements, shape descriptors, and photographs of living cells. The parasite was found only in A. tokioensis, and absent in sympatric earthworm species, suggesting it arrived when the earthworms were introduced from their origin from Japan. The species is distinctive from the type species in the genus, S. indica Bandyopadhyay, Mitra et Göçmen, 2006, in being substantially larger in all stages, found in only the host's seminal vesicles, and found in a different host species from East Asia. The distinctive trophozoites/gamonts develop a large funnel structure ringed with a collar of pronounced ridges, and the funnel appears even in the smallest cells. This funnel varies greatly in relative size (to the cell body) and shape, sometimes forming a large fan. The life cycle of S. goerresi is described including distinctive syzygy in which the funnels fuse and then produce a large cell with local centres of isogamete production (thus sex without gender). Gametes are large ( ~5 μm) spheres with complex tips. Oocyst production is large, > 1,000 per mature gametocyst. The genus Stomatocystis is placed into the Monocystidae, but the life cycle of the new species differs from those of other monocystid taxa, which may mean the Monocystidae are not monophyletic or life cycles are variable within the family. Prevalence of S. goerresi at the type locality was high (~ 90%). The parasites destroy the earthworm's organ of sperm self-storage thus eliminating the male function in the hermaphroditic host which may influence the ability of the earthworm to invade and be successful at new sites
Spiders are generalist predators that contribute to the control of pests in agroecosystems. Land use management determines habitats including refuges for hibernation and aestivation. The availability of shelters on the ground can be crucial for maintaining populations of spider within crops. We studied the effect of the number of stones on the surface of the soil on the spider community in selected olive groves in Trás-os-Montes (northeastern Portugal). The number of stones significantly influenced the overall diversity of spiders, abundance of immature individuals and abundance of ground hunters. Agricultural management practices aimed at the conservation of soil microhabitats such as hedgerows, stonewalls and stones on the ground should be promoted in order to maintain or increase the number of shelters for potential natural enemies of pests., Jacinto Benhadi-Marín, José A. Pereira, José A. Barrientos, José P. Sousa, Sónia A.P. Santos., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Faecal samples were collected from cats kept as pets (n = 120) and stray cats (n = 135) in Central Europe (Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia) and screened for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia intestinalis (Kunstler, 1882), Encephalitozoon spp. and Enterocytozoon bieneusi Desportes, Le Charpentier, Galian, Bernard, Cochand-Priollet, Lavergne, Ravisse et Modigliani, 1985 by PCR analysis of the small-subunit of rRNA (Cryptosporidium spp. and G. intestinalis) and ITS (microsporidia) genes. Sequence analysis of targeted genes revealed the presence of C. felis Iseki, 1979, G. intestinalis assemblage F, E. cuniculi Levaditi, Nicolau et Schoen, 1923 genotype II, and E. bieneusi genotype D. There was no correlation between the occurrence of detected parasites and sex, presence of diarrhoea or drug treatment (drug containing pyrantel and praziquantel). Compared to pet cats (7%), stray cats (30%) were statistically more frequently infected with protist parasites and overall may present a greater risk to human health., Martin Kváč, Lada Hofmannová, Ynes Ortega, Nikola Holubová, Michaela Horčičková, Marta Kicia, Lenka Hlásková, Dana Květoňová, Bohumil Sak, John McEvoy., and Obsahuje bibliografii