On the taxonomy of Latonigena auricomis (Araneae, Gnaphosidae), with notes of geographical distribution and natural history

The male of Latonigena auricomis Simon, 1893 is described for the first time and the female is redescribed. New records are provided for Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. Notes on the natural history and a potential distribution model of the species are presented in the Neotropical Region.

The Journal of microscopy and natural science.

v. 3 (1894)

The Journal of microscopy and natural science.

v. 6 (1887)

The Journal of microscopy and natural science.

v. 7 (new ser. v. 1) (1888)

The Journal of microscopy and natural science.

v. 9 (new ser. v. 3) (1890)

The Journal of microscopy and natural science.

v. 5 (1886)

The Journal of microscopy and natural science.

v. 4 (1885)

The Journal of microscopy and natural science.

v. 12 (ser. 3, v. 3) (1893)

Genetic analysis of the breeding system of an invasive subterranean termite, Reticulitermes santonensis, in urban and natural habitats.

Reticulitermes santonensis is a subterranean termite that invades urban areas in France and elsewhere where it causes damage to human-built structures. We investigated the breeding system, colony and population genetic structure, and mode of dispersal of two French populations of R. santonensis. Termite workers were sampled from 43 and 31 collection points, respectively, from a natural population in west-central France (in and around the island of Oleron) and an urban population (Paris). Ten to 20 workers per collection point were genotyped at nine variable microsatellite loci to determine colony identity and to infer colony breeding structure. There was a total of 26 colonies, some of which were spatially expansive, extending up to 320 linear metres. Altogether, the analysis of genotype distribution, F-statistics and relatedness coefficients suggested that all colonies were extended families headed by numerous neotenics (nonwinged precocious reproductives) probably descended from pairs of primary (winged) reproductives. Isolation by distance among collection points within two large colonies from both populations suggested spatially separated reproductive centres with restricted movement of workers and neotenics. There was a moderate level of genetic differentiation (F(ST) = 0.10) between the Oleron and Paris populations, and the number of alleles was significantly higher in Oleron than in Paris, as expected if the Paris population went through bottlenecks when it was introduced from western France. We hypothesize that the diverse and flexible breeding systems found in subterranean termites pre-adapt them to invade new or marginal habitats. Considering that R. santonensis may be an introduced population of the North American species R. flavipes, a breeding system consisting primarily of extended family colonies containing many neotenic reproductives may facilitate human-mediated spread and establishment of R. santonensis in urban areas with harsh climates.

Capsule permeability via polymer and protein ingress/egress.

Static incubation tests, where microcapsules and beads are contacted with polymer and protein solutions, have been developed for the characterization of permselective materials applied for bioartificial organs and drug delivery. A combination of polymer ingress, detected by size-exclusion chromatography, and protein ingress/ egress, assessed by gel electrophoresis, provides information regarding the diffusion kinetics, molar mass cutoff(MMCO) and permeability. This represents an improvement over existing permeability measurements that are based on the diffusion of a single type of solute. Specifically, the permeability of capsules based on alginate, cellulose sulfate, polymethylene-co-guanidine were characterized as a function of membrane thickness. Solid alginate beads were also evaluated. The MMCO of these capsules was estimated to be between 80 and 90 kDa using polymers, and between 116-150 kDa with proteins. Apparently, the globular shape of the proteins (radius of gyration (Rg) of 4.2-4.6 nm) facilitates their passage through the membrane, comparatively to the polysaccharide coil conformation (Rg of 6.5-8.3 nm). An increase of the capsule membrane thickness reduced these values. The MMCO of the beads, which do not have a membrane limiting their permselective properties, was higher, between 110 and 200 kDa with dextrans, and between 150 and 220 kDa with proteins. Therefore, although the permeability estimated with biologically relevant molecules is generally higher due to their lower radius of gyration, both the MMCO of synthetic and natural watersoluble polymers correlate well, and can be used as in vitro metrics for the immune protection ability of microcapsules and microbeads. This article shows, to the authors' knowledge, the first reported concordance between permeability measures based on model natural and biological macromolecules.

Histopathological study of experimental and natural infections by Trypanosoma cruzi in Didelphis marsupialis

Didelphis marsupialis, the most important sylvatic reservoir of Trypanosoma cruzi, can also maintain in their anal scent glands the multiplicative forms only described in the intestinal tract of triatomine bugs. A study of 21 experimentally and 10 naturally infected opossums with T. cruzi was undertaken in order to establish the histopathological pattern under different conditions. Our results showed that the inflammation was predominantly lymphomacrophagic and more severe in the naturally infected animals but never as intense as those described in Chagas' disease or in other animal models. The parasitism in both groups was always mild with very scarce amastigote nests in the tissues. In the experimentally infected animals, the inflammation was directly related to the presence of amastigotes nests. Four 24 days-old animals, still in embryonic stage, showed multiple amastigotes nests and moderate inflammatory reactions, but even so they survived longer and presented less severe lesions than experimentally infected adult mice. Parasites were found in smooth, cardiac and/or predominantly striated muscles, as well as in nerve cells. Differing from the experimentally infected opossums parasitism in the naturally infected animals predominated in the heart, esophagus and stomach. Parasitism of the scent glands did not affect the histopathological pattern observed in extraglandular tissues.

IPH response to Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Consultation - National Energy Retrofit Programme

In 2011, the National Energy Retrofit Programme will build upon existing energy saving programmes in both the domestic and non-domestic sectors.  This consultation focused on key design considerations.  IPH agree with the commitment to deliver a National Energy Retrofit Programme as a sustainable means of securing energy savings and reducing energy poverty and the nations carbon footprint.  The IPH response highlighted the significant benefit to health and would support the use of Health Impact Assessment

Biting Indices, Host-seeking Activity and Natural Infection Rates of Anopheline Species in Boa Vista, Roraima, Brazil from 1996 to 1998

The epidemiology of the transmission of malaria parasites varies ecologically. To observe some entomological aspects of the malaria transmission in an urban environment, a longitudinal survey of anopheline fauna was performed in Boa Vista, Roraima, Brazil. A total of 7,263 anophelines was collected in human bait at 13 de Setembro and Caranã districts: Anopheles albitarsis sensu lato (82.8%), An. darlingi (10.3%), An. braziliensis (5.5%), An. peryassui (0.9%) and An. nuneztovari (0.5%). Nightly 12 h collections showed that An. albitarsis was actively biting throughout the night with peak activities at sunset and at midnight. An. darlingi bit during all night and did not demonstrate a defined biting peak. Highest biting indices, entomological inoculation rates and malaria cases were observed seasonally during the rainy season (April-November). Hourly collections showed host seek activity for all mosquitoes peaked during the first hour after sunset. An. darlingi showed the highest plasmodial malaria infection rate followed by An. albitarsis, An. braziliensis and An. nuneztovari (8.5%, 4.6%, 3% and 2.6%, respectively). An. albitarsis was the most frequently collected anopheline, presented the highest biting index and it was the second most frequently collected infected species infected with malaria parasites. An. albitarsis and An. darlingi respectively, are the primary vectors of malaria throughout Boa Vista.

Feeding sources and natural infection of Belminus herreri (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae) from dwellings in Cesar, Colombia

Belminus herreri, originally described from specimens collected in Panama, was considered entirely silvatic until to 2000 when it was found for the first time in a domestic habitat in Colombia. In 2001, during a new search of houses in the Department of Cesar, Colombia, 121 specimens were collected. Study of their feeding sources using an ELISA test revealed that 96% of these specimens had fed on cockroaches (Blattidae). However, a small proportion of these B. herreri specimens also showed the presence of Trypanosoma cruzi in their gut contents, suggesting a possible role for these insects in the epidemiology of Chagas disease.