Systematic review of dietary intervention trials to lower blood total cholesterol in free-living subjects

Objectives: To estimate the efficacy of dietary advice to lower blood total cholesterol concentration in free-living subjects and to investigate the efficacy of different dietary recommendations.

Patterns of kinship in groups of free-living sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) revealed by multiple molecular genetic analyses.

Mature female sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) live in socially cohesive groups of 10-30, which include immature animals of both sexes, and within which there is communal care of the young. We examined kinship in such groups using analyses of microsatellite DNA, mitochondrial DNA sequence, and sex-linked markers on samples of sloughed skin collected noninvasively from animals in three groups off the coast of Ecuador. Social groups were defined through photographic identification of individuals. Each group contained about 26 members, mostly female (79%). Relatedness was greater within groups, as compared to between groups. Particular mitochondrial haplotypes were characteristic of groups, but all groups contained more than one haplotype. The data are generally consistent with each group being comprised of several matrillines from which males disperse at about the age of 6 years. There are indications of paternal relatedness among grouped individuals with different mitochondrial haplotypes, suggesting long-term associations between different matrilines.

Free living astigmatid mites (Astigmatina): new taxa, rearing and use for mesostigmatid (Mesostigmata) predatory mite production

The cohort Astigmatina is divided in two major groups: Psoroptidia, composed mainly by feather and fur mites, and Non-psoroptidia, a dominant component of the acarofauna in ephemeral habitats. In these environments Astigmatina usually are saprophages or feed on fungi or bacteria. Astigmatina protonymphs undergo a complete reorganization of the body structure leading to the production of heteromorphic deutonymphs, generally specialized for dispersion through phoresy using arthropods and vertebrates as phoronts. Although most Astigmatina occur in natural environments, some species live in anthropic environments, such as food deposits, where some of them became pests; some Astigmatina infest subterraneous plant organs. Despite their economic and ecological importance, studies on the diversity and taxonomy of Astigmatina in Brazil have been rare over the last decades. The general objective of this thesis was to collaborate to the knowledge of the diversity and to evaluate the potential practical uses of these mites in Brazil. For this, new genera and species were described, method for rearing dust mites was studied and the efficiency of Astigmatina as prey for edaphic predators was evaluated. A new species of Thyreophagus (Astigmatina: Acaridae) was described based on specimens collected in Brazil, the association of three other species of this genus with stored food was reviewed and a key to all species of this genus was prepared. The genus Neotropacarus (Astigmatina: Acaridae), commonly found on plant leaves, was reviewed with the redescription of two species and description of new species collected in Brazil and from the Philippines. Two new genera and seven new species of Acaridae associated with the bee family Apidae was described and a key to Acaridae genera in subfamily Horstiinae was prepared. Several species of Astigmatina were evaluated as prey for predatory mites Stratiolaelaps scimitus (Womersley) (Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) and Protogamasellopsis zaheri Abo-Shnaf, Castilho and Moraes (Mesostigmata: Rhodacaridae), which oviposited on all evaluated astigmatids, with Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) and Aleuroglyphus ovatus (Tropeau) (Acaridae) being the most suitable prey. Seven foods and two development period, 30 and 60 days, after the introduction of 400 females of two important dust mite species, Blomia tropicalis van Bronswijk, de Cock e Oshima and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Trouessart) were evaluate. With the most suitable foods, the population growth were higher than 20.2 and 15.3 for B. tropicalis and D. pteronyssinus, respectively.

Factors influencing free-living nematodes in water supplies /

"Supported by Division of Water Supply and Pollution Control U. S. Public Health Service Research Project WP-00047"

Removal of free-living nematodes by rapid sand filters /

Vita.

Interactions between ecology, demography, capture stress, and profiles of corticosterone and glucose in a free-living population of Australian freshwater crocodiles

In this study we examined three aspects pertaining to adrenocortical responsiveness in free-ranging Australian freshwater crocodiles (Crocodylus johnstoni). First, we examined the ability of freshwater crocodiles to produce corticosterone in response to a typical capture-stress protocol. A second objective addressed the relationship between capture stress, plasma glucose and corticosterone. Next we examined if variation in basal and capture-stress-induced levels of plasma corticosterone was linked to ecological or demographic factors for individuals in this free-ranging population. Blood samples obtained on three field trips were taken from a cross-sectional sample of the population. Crocodiles were bled once during four time categories at 0, 0. 5, 6, and 10 h post-capture. Plasma corticosterone increased significantly with time post-capture. Plasma glucose also significantly increased with duration of capture-stress and exhibited a positive and significant relationship with plasma corticosterone. Significant variation in basal or stress induced levels of corticosterone in crocodiles was not associated with any ecological or demographic factors including sex, age class or the year of capture that the crocodiles were sampled from. However, three immature males had basal levels of plasma corticosterone greater than 2 standard deviations above the mean. While crocodiles exhibited a pronounced, adrenocortical and hyperglycaemic response to capture stress, limited variation in adrenocortical responsiveness due to ecological and demographic factors was not evident. This feature could arise in part because this population was sampled during a period of environmental benigness. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.

A simple practical method for bulk and rapid extraction of free-living nematodes from marine and estuarine sediments

A simple, rapid method is described for the extraction of large numbers of free-living nematodes from estuarine sediments. This method does not physically or chemically alter or damage the nematodes, but instead relies on their downward movement through a filtering layer of double ply tissue paper and into aerated water-filled trays. Seven trials each with 10 trays kept at 25degreesC for an initial period of 24 h yielded 3985 live nematodes l(-1) (+/-511.5 standard deviation) of estuarine sediment, free of sediment and with minimal debris. Time effects were statistically significantly different, with the same 10 trays yielding another 1259 nematodes l(-1) (+/-413.4) when kept for a second period of 24 h at the same temperature. Temperature effects were also significant, and 7 trials each with 10 trays kept for 24 h at 20-21degreesC, produced a lower yield of 2160 nematodes l(-1) (+/-532.7) of sediment. The method is expected to be of use in nematode extractions from both estuarine and marine sediments.

Individual calibration for estimating free-living walking speed using the MTI monitor

Purpose: This study was conducted to devise a new individual calibration method to enhance MTI accelerometer estimation of free-living level walking speed. Method: Five female and five male middle-aged adults walked 400 m at 3.5, 4.5, and 5.5 km(.)h(-1), and 800 in at 6.5 km(.)h(-1) on an outdoor track, following a continuous protocol. Lap speed was controlled by a global positioning system (GPS) monitor. MTI counts-to-speed calibration equations were derived for each trial, for each subject for four such trials with each of four MTI, for each subject for the average MTI. and for the pooled data. Standard errors of the estimate (SEE) with and without individual calibration were compared. To assess accuracy of prediction of free-living walking speed, subjects also completed a self-paced, brisk 3-km walk wearing one of the four MTI, and differences between actual and predicted walking speed with and without individual calibration were examined. Results: Correlations between MTI counts and walking speed were 0.90 without individual calibration, 0.98 with individual calibration for the average MTI. and 0.99 with individual calibration for a specific MTI. The SEE (mean +/- SD) was 0.58 +/- 0.30 km(.)h(-1) without individual calibration, 0.19 +/- 0.09 km h(-1) with individual calibration for the average MTI monitor, and 0.16 +/- 0.08 km(.)h(-1) with individual calibration for a specific MTI monitor. The difference between actual and predicted walking speed on the brisk 3-km walk was 0.06 +/- 0.25 km(.)h(-1) using individual calibration and 0.28 +/- 0.63 km(.)h(-1) without individual calibration (for specific accelerometers). Conclusion: MTI accuracy in predicting walking speed without individual calibration might be sufficient for population-based studies but not for intervention trials. This individual calibration method will substantially increase precision of walking speed predicted from MTI counts.

Selective disappearance of individuals with high levels of glycated haemoglobin in a free-living bird

Peer reviewed

Shaving increases daily energy expenditure in free-living root voles

Funding This study was supported by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education grant NN304349335 to P.A.S. J.R.S. was supported by a 1000 talents professorship of the Chinese government.

Carriage of Staphylococcus aureus by free-living wild animals in Spain

The presence of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) was analyzed in different free-living wild animals to assess the genetic diversity and predominant genotypes on each animal species. Samples were taken from the skin and/or nares, and isolates were characterized by spa typing, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The proportion of MSSA carriers were 5.00, 22.93, 19.78, and 17.67% in Eurasian griffon vulture, Iberian ibex, red deer, and wild boar, respectively (P = 0.057). A higher proportion of isolates (P = 0.000) were recovered from nasal samples (78.51%) than skin samples (21.49%), but the 9.26% of red deer and 18.25% of wild boar would have been undetected if only nasal samples had been tested. Sixty-three different spa types were identified, including 25 new spa types. The most common were t528 (43.59%) in Iberian ibex, t548 and t11212 (15.79% and 14.04%) in red deer, and t3750 (36.11%) in wild boar. By MLST, 27 STs were detected, of which 12 had not been described previously. The most frequent were ST581 for Iberian ibex (48.72%), ST425 for red deer (29.82%), and ST2328 for wild boar (42.36%). Isolates from Eurasian griffon vulture belong to ST133. Host specificity has been observed for the most frequent spa types and STs (P = 0.000). The highest resistance percentage was found against benzylpenicillin (average, 22.2%), although most of the S. aureus isolates were susceptible to all antimicrobial tested. Basically, MSSA isolates were different from those MRSA isolates previously detected in the same animal species.

Isolamento de amebas de vida livre potencialmente patogênicas em poeira de hospitais

OBJETIVO: Observar a ocorrência de amebas de vida livre dos gêneros Acanthamoeba e Naegleria em amostras de poeira coletadas em hospitais. MÉTODOS: Foram coletadas 132 amostras de poeira em dois hospitais do município de Presidente Prudente, São Paulo. Os locais da coleta foram: Unidade de Terapia Intensiva, Centro Cirúrgico, Isolamento de Moléstias Infecciosas, Berçário, Emergência e Cozinha. As amostras foram semeadas em três meios de cultura: meio de ágar não nutriente com Escherichia coli, meio de ágar infusão de soja e microcultivo em meio de Pavlova modificado por Giazzi. As amebas isoladas foram identificadas segundo critérios morfológicos. RESULTADOS: O índice geral de positividade para amebas de vida livre, potencialmente patogênicas, dos gêneros Acanthamoeba e Naegleria, foi de 45,5%, sendo positivas 41,6% das amostras de poeira coletadas no hospital universitário e 50% no hospital estadual. Obtiveram-se 45,5% de positividade do gênero Acanthamoeba e 3,8% para amebas do gênero Naegleria. CONCLUSÕES: As amebas de vida livre, potencialmente patogênicas, estavam presentes em todos os ambientes estudados dos dois hospitais, sendo que as espécies do gênero Acanthamoeba foram as isoladas com maior freqüência.

Tungiasis in a free-ranging jaguar (Panthera onca) population in Brazil

Tungiasis is an ectoparasitic disease caused by fleas of the genus Tunga. The disease is reported to occur mostly in human populations. In wildlife, however, the occurrence and impact of this disease remains uncertain. We captured and examined 12 free-ranging jaguars for the presence of Tunga penetrans in the Pantanal region of Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil. Tungiasis prevalence was 100% in the population; lesions were confined to the jaguar's paws. T. penetrans was identified based on the characteristics of the embedded fleas and the morphological identification of a collected free-living flea. The intensity and stage of infestation varied between individual animals. However, in general, all captured jaguars were in good health. The 100% prevalence of tungiasis may be related to the fact that all captures were performed during the dry season. Their high ecological requirements for space make jaguars potential disseminators of T. penetrans in the Pantanal region. Because cattle ranching and ecotourism are the main economic activities in the Pantanal, further studies should evaluate the risks of tungiasis to human and animal health. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of tungiasis in jaguars.