Distribution of desmoscolecida (Nematoda) in surface sediments of the Iberian Deep-Sea, North Atlantic (Table 1)

1. Desmoscolecida from the continental slope and the deep-sea bottom (59-4354 m) off the Portuguese and Moroccan coasts are described. 18 species were identified: Desmoscolex bathyalis sp. nov., D. chaetalatus sp. nov., D. eftus sp. nov., D. galeatus sp. nov., D. lapilliferus sp. nov., D. longisetosus Timm, 1970, D. lorenzeni sp. nov., D. perspicuus sp. nov., D. pustulatus sp. nov., Quadricoma angulocephala sp. nov., Q. brevichaeta sp. nov., Q. iberica sp. nov., Q. loricatoides sp. nov., Tricoma atlantica sp. nov., T. bathycola sp. nov., T. beata sp. nov., T. incomposita sp. nov., T. meteora sp. nov., T. mauretania sp. nov. 2. The following new terms are proposed: "Desmos" (ring-shaped concretions consisting of secretion and concretion particles), "desmoscolecoid" and "tricomoid" arrangement of the somatic setae, "regelmaessige" (regular), "unregelmaessige" (irregular), "vollstaendige" (complete) and "unvollstaendige" (incomplete) arrangement of somatic seta (variations in the desmoscolecoid arrangement of the somatic setae). The length of the somatic setae is given in the setal pattern. 3. Desmoscolecida identical as to genus and species exhibit no morphological differences even if forthcoming from different bathymetrical zones (deep sea, sublitoral, litoral) or different environments (marin, freshwater, coastal subsoil water, terrestrial environment). 4. Lorenzen's (1969) contention that thearrangement of the somatic setae is more significant for the natural relationships between the different genera of Desmoscolecida than other characteristics is further confirmed. Species with tricomoid arrangement of somatic setae are regarded as primitive, species with desmoscolecoid arrangement of somatic setae are regarded as more advanced. 5. Three new genus are established: Desmogerlachia gen. nov., Desmolorenzenia gen. nov. and Desmofimmia gen. nov. - Protricoma Timm, 1970 is synonymized with Paratricoma Gerlach, 1964 and Protodesmoscolex Timm, 1970 is synonymized with Desmoscolex Claparede,1863. 6. Checklists of all species of the order Desmoscolecida and keys to species of the subfamilies Tricominae and Desmoscolecinae are provided. 7. The following nomenclatorial changes are suggested: Desmogerlachia papillifer (Gerlach, 1956) comb. nov., D .pratensis (Lorenz, 1969) comb. nov., Desmotimmia mirabilis (Timm, 1970) comb. nov., Paratricoma squamosa (Timm, 1970) comb. nov., Desmolorenzenia crassicauda (Timm, 1970) comb. nov., D. desmoscolecoides (Timm, 1970) comb. nov., D. eurycricus (Filipjev, 1922) comb. nov., D. frontalis (Gerlach, 1952) comb. nov., D. hupferi (Steiner, 1916) comb. nov., D. longicauda (Timm, 1970) comb. nov., D. parva (Timm, 1970) comb. nov., D. platycricus (Steiner, 1916) comb. nov., D. viffata (Lorenzen, 1969) comb. nov., Desmoscolex anfarcficos (Timm, 1970) comb. nov.

First Triassic tetrapod (Sauropterygia, Nothosauridae) from Castilla y León: evidence of an unknown taxon for the Spanish record

Several vertebrae of a sauropterygian specimen have been recovered in Fuencaliente de Medinaceli (Soria Province, Castilla y León, Spain). The remains come from Middle–Upper Triassic Muschelkalk Facies. This finding represents the first documented evidence of a Triassic tetrapod in Castilla y León. The vertebrae belong to Nothosaurus, a sauropterygian genus found in Europe, Middle East, North of Africa and China. This genus is poorly-known in the Iberian record. The new remains constitute the first evidence of the species Nothosaurus giganteus, or a related taxon, in the Iberian Peninsula. This study reveals the occurrence of at least two species of the sauropterygian Nothosaurus in the Spanish record.

Systematic review of Late Jurassic sauropods from the Museu Geológico collections (Lisboa, Portugal)

The Museu Geológico collections house some of the first sauropod references of the Lusitanian Basin Upper Jurassic record, including the Lourinhasaurus alenquerensis and Lusotitan atalaiensis lectotypes, previously considered as new species of the Apatosaurus and Brachiosaurus genera, respectively. Several fragmentary specimens have been classical referred to those taxa, but the most part of these systematic attributions are not supported herein, excluding a caudal vertebra from Maceira (MG 8804) considered as cf. Lusotitan atalaiensis. From the material housed in the Museu Geológico were identified basal eusauropods (indeterminate eusauropods and turiasaurs) and neosauropods (indeterminate neosauropods, diplodods and camarasaurids and basal titanosauriforms). Middle caudal vertebrae with lateral fossae, ventral hollow border by pronounced ventrolateral crests and quadrangular cross-section suggest for the presence of diplodocine diplodocids in north area of the Lusitanian Basin Central Sector during the Late Jurassic. A humerus collected from Praia dos Frades (MG 4976) is attributed to cf. Duriatitan humerocristatus suggesting the presence of shared sauropod forms between the Portugal and United Kingdom during the Late Jurassic. Duriatitan is an indeterminate member of Eusauropoda and the discovery of new material in both territories is necessary to confirm this systematic approach. The studied material is in according with the previous recorded paleobiodiversity for the sauropod clade during the Portuguese Late Jurassic, which includes basal eusauropods (including turiasaurs), diplodocids and macronarians (including camarasaurids and basal titanosauriforms).

Phenotypic and Genotypic Characteristics of Members of the Genus Streptobacillus

The genus Streptobacillus (S.) remained monotypic for almost 90 years until two new species were recently described. The type species, S. moniliformis, is one of the two etiological agents of rat bite fever, an under-diagnosed, worldwide occurring zoonosis. In a polyphasic approach field isolates and reference strains of S. moniliformis, S. hongkongensis, S. felis as well as divergent isolates were characterized by comparison of molecular data (n = 29) and from the majority also by their physiological as well as proteomic properties (n = 22). Based on growth-independent physiological profiling using VITEK2-compact, API ZYM and the Micronaut system fastidious growth-related difficulties could be overcome and streptobacilli could definitively be typed despite generally few differences. While differing in their isolation sites and dates, S. moniliformis isolates were found to possess almost identical spectra in matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Spectroscopic methods facilitated differentiation of S. moniliformis, S. hongkongensis and S. felis as well as one divergent isolate. Sequencing of 16S rRNA gene as well as functional genes groEL, recA and gyrB revealed only little intraspecific variability, but generally proved suitable for interspecies discrimination between all three taxa and two groups of divergent isolates.

A new species of gall midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) feeding on ornamental Cordyline fruticosa(Asparagaceae) in Australia

Larvae of an undescribed gall midge were found feeding on leaves and stems within leaf sheaths and between leaf blades of potted plants of Cordyline fruticosa (Asparagaceae) in a production nursery in Queensland. The following varieties of the host plant were infested: Apple Blossom', Glauca', Kilauea', Negra', Pink Diamond, 'Purple Prince' and Willy's Gold'. The new species, Dasineura cordylineaeKolesik sp. nov., is described and its cytochrome oxidase unit I mitochondrial gene segment is sequenced. The new species is the first known gall midge feeding on a plant species of the genus Cordyline. Orange larvae induce oval shallow swellings on the leaf and stem tissue, which becomes necrotised during the later stage of larval feeding. Necrotic areas remain visible to the end of leaves' lives and decrease the market value of the plants. In the production nursery investigated, the lesions caused by the gall midge provided an entry for a fungal infection by Fusarium sp. inflicting further injury to plants. Larvae of the new species were preyed on by larvae of Gaurax sp. (Diptera: Chloropidae). This is the first worldwide record of Chloropidae preying on Cecidomyiidae.

Les pagures du Viet-Nam. 1. Le genre Diogenes Dana

This first note deals with Diogenes of Group II (cf. Forest, 1952, p. 11). This group contains a number of highly variable species which are, in some cases, poorly characterized due to the vagueness of the original descriptions. Diogenes from Nhatrang belong to four different species but only one of them was identified with a species already described: Diogenes avarus Heller. The other three described and figured in this paper, are probably Diogenes Goniochirus, and D. leptocerus, D. serenei sp. nov.

Les pagures du Viet-Nam. II. Sur quelques esp��ces du Genre Calcinus Dana

The collections of the Oceanographic Institute of Vietnam include several species of hermit crabs of the genus Calcinus Dana. Three of keys were studied by Fize and Serene (1955): C. herbsti Man, C. gaimardi H. Milne Edwards and C. latens Randall . The seventy specimens belong to four species. The first one, C. minutus Buytendijk, was described by Indonesia in 1937; the second one, represented by a single small specimen is related to C. spicatus Forest. Finally, two other are Calcinus vachonis sp. November and Colcinus pulcher sp. nov.

Towards an integrated taxonomy of the Merodon equestris species complex (Diptera: Syrphidae) including description of a new species, with additional data on Iberian Merodon

Study of specimens of Merodon Meigen collected in southwestern Europe resulted in new data and taxonomic changes for this genus. The cryptic species Merodon confusus sp. nov. (Merodon equestris species group) is described based on specimens collected in Cabañeros National Park, central Spain. Morphological and molecular diagnostic characters are provided to separate members of the species group. Merodon aeneus fulvus Gil Collado is proposed as a junior synonym of Merodon pumilus Macquart. The first Iberian record of Merodon rufus Meigen is reported and updates of the revision of Iberian Merodon are provided.

Description of a new species of skate of the genus Malacoraja Stehmann, 1970: the first species from the southwestern Atlantic Ocean, with notes on generic monophyly and composition (Chondrichthyes: Rajidae)

O primeiro registro para o Atlântico Sul ocidental de uma esp��cie do gênero Malacoraja Stehmann, 1970 é feita com base na descrição de Malacoraja obscura, esp��cie nova, proveniente do talude continental do Sudeste brasileiro dos estados do Esp��rito Santo e Rio de Janeiro em profundidades de 808-1105 m. A esp��cie nova é conhecida através de cinco exemplares e é distinta de seus congêneres pela sua coloração dorsal composta por numerosas manchas esbranquiçadas e pequenas na região do disco e nadadeiras pélvicas, por apresentar uma fileira irregular de espinhos ao longo da superfície dorsal mediana da cauda a qual persiste em esp��cimes maiores (desde a base da cauda até dois-terços do seu comprimento numa fêmea de 680 mm de comprimento total, CT) e uma região pequena desprovida de dentículos na base ventral da cauda (estendendo somente até a margem distal da nadadeira pélvica). Outros caracteres diagnósticos em combinação incluem a ausência de espinhos escapulares em indivíduos maiores, número elevado de fileiras dentárias (64/62 fileiras num macho subadulto de 505 mm de CT e 76/74 numa fêmea de 680 mm de CT) e de vértebras (27-28 Vtr, 68-75 Vprd), coloração ventral do disco uniformemente castanha escura, duas fenestras pós-ventrais na cintura escapular, fenestra pós-ventral posterior grande, forame magno circular e dois forames para a carótida interna na placa basal ventral do neurocrânio. Machos adultos não são conhecidos, porém uma descrição anatômica de M. obscura, sp. nov., é fornecida. Comparações são realizadas com todo o material conhecido de M. kreffti, com a literatura sobre M. senta e com material abundante de M. spinacidermis da África do Sul; M. obscura, sp. nov., assemelha-se mais a M. spinacidermis do Atlântico Sul oriental em esqueleto dérmico, coloração e tamanho. Malacoraja é monofilético devido à sua espinulação e apêndices rostrais consp��cuos e é aparentemente composta por dois grupos de esp��cies, um para M. obscura e M. spinacidermis e outro para M. kreffti e M. senta, porém a elucidação das relações filogenéticas entre as esp��cies necessita de mais informações anatômicas, principalmente das duas últimas esp��cies.

An integrated approach to delimiting species borders in the genus Chrysotoxum Meigen, 1803 (Diptera: Syrphidae), with description of two new species

Integrative taxonomy tests the validity of taxa using methods additional to traditional morphology. The existence of two different morphotypes in specimens identified as Chrysotoxum vernale Loew (Diptera: Syrphidae) prompted their taxonomic study using an integrative approach that included morphology, wing and male-surstylus geometric morphometrics, genetic and ecological analyses. As a result, a new species is recognised, Chrysotoxum montanum Nedeljković & Vujić sp. nov., and C. vernale is re-defined. A lectotype and paralectotypes are designated for C. vernale to stabilize this concept. An additional species, Chrysotoxum orthostylum Vujić sp. nov., with distinctive male genitalia is also described. The three species share an antenna with the basoflagellomere shorter than the scape plus pedicel and terga with yellow fasciae not reaching the lateral margins. This study confirms the value of integrative approach for resolving species boundaries.

Evaluación del desempeño de pruebas diagnósticas de tuberculosis en pacientes VIH positivo en dos hospitales públicos de Bogotá

La tuberculosis TB es una de las principales causas de muerte en el mundo en individuos con infección por VIH. En Colombia esta coinfección soporta una carga importante en la población general convirtiéndose en un problema de salud pública. En estos pacientes las pruebas diagnósticas tienen sensibilidad inferior y la enfermedad evoluciona con mayor frecuencia hacia formas diseminadas y rápidamente progresivas y su diagnóstico oportuno representa un reto en Salud. El objetivo de este proyecto es evaluar el desempeño de las pruebas diagnósticas convencionales y moleculares, para la detección de TB latente y activa pacientes con VIH, en dos hospitales públicos de Bogotá. Para TB latente se evaluó la concordancia entre las pruebas QuantiFERON-TB (QTF) y Tuberculina (PPD), sugiriendo superioridad del QTF sobre la PPD. Se evaluaron tres pruebas diagnósticas por su sensibilidad y especificidad, baciloscopia (BK), GenoType®MTBDR plus (Genotype) y PCR IS6110 teniendo como estándar de oro el cultivo. Los resultados de sensibilidad (S) y especificidad (E) de cada prueba con una prevalencia del 19,4 % de TB pulmonar y extrapulmonar en los pacientes que participaron del estudio fue: BK S: 64% E: 99,1%; Genotype S: 77,8% E: 94,5%; PCRIS6110 S: 73% E: 95,5%, de la misma forma se determinaron los valores predictivos positivos y negativos (VPP y VPN) BK: 88,9% y 94,8%, Genotype S: 77,8% E: 94,5%; PCRIS6110 S: 90% y 95,7%. Se concluyó bajo análisis de curva ROC que las pruebas muestran un rendimiento diagnóstico similar por separado en el diagnóstico de TB en pacientes con VIH, aumentando su rendimiento diagnostico cuando se combinan

Distribution and morphology of two endemic gomphonemoid species, Gohphonema kaznakowi Mereschkowsky and G-yangtzensis Li nov sp in China

The morphology of Gomphonema kaznakowi Mereschkowsky was investigated using light microscopy. This species has two morphologically distinct areas near the headpole; an unornamented and an ornamented area. The two areas are distinguished from each other by the combination of size and striae number. A new species, Gomphonema yangtzensis Li nov. sp. is identified based on an ornamented area near the headpole. G. kaznakowi is reported from the upper and middle part of the Yangtze River, and was also found in the upper section of the Yellow River. G. yangtzensis was found in the upper area of the Yellow River and the middle of the Yangtze River. Their limited distribution may be due to certain environmental conditions or a different dispersal rate. Both species are illustrated.

Rubus Pfuhlianus mh. nov. sp.

von Professor F. Spribille