Occurrence of the bentfin devil ray, Mobula thurstoni (Chondrichthyes : Mobulidae), in the western Atlantic

This paper reports the occurrence of the fifth species of Mobula in the western Atlantic, M. thursloni, based on specimens caught by artisanal and driftnet fisheries in coastal waters off southern Brazil.

An extraordinary new species of Melanophryniscus (Anura, Bufonidae) from southeastern Brazil

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Lobe identity in the Mongolian gerbil prostatic complex: A new rodent model for prostate study

Knowledge of structural and physiological differences among the prostatic lobes (PL) is the basis for development of experimental studies in traditional laboratory rodents. Although Mongolian gerbil reproductive organs have been increasingly investigated, its prostate structure is far from being properly known, and investigations of this organ focused on the ventral lobe (VL). Thus, the present study provides a thorough morphological description of prostatic complex in the male adult gerbil on the basis of topographic, histological, and ultrastructural analysis and ductal branching. Like other rodents, four pairs of PL were observed. However, in contrast to the rat and mouse, the VL is the least voluminous component and the dorsolateral lobe (DLL) is the most prominent and spatially isolated from remaining PL. The occurrence of a dorsal lobe (DL), hidden between bladder and insertion of seminal vesicles, has not been mentioned in previous reports with Mongolian gerbil. Collagenase digestion followed by microdissection revealed that, except for DL, which has a tubularacinar organization, all PL exhibit tubular organization and variable ductal branching. Distinct histological and ultrastructural features such as secretory epithelium, aspect of luminal secretion and stromal organization are reported for each PL and are confirmed by morphometric and stereological methods. Histological sections showed at least three intralobar segments in VL and DL. Ultrastructural analysis evidenced that, although luminal epithelial cells of PL share typical features of exocrine secretory cells, there are striking lobe phenotypical variations. Both merocrine and apocrine pathways are observed in variable rates in all PL, with the predominance of the former in the DLL and the latter in the CG. The morphological observations presented herein point to distinct structural identities for each PL, which probably reflects,specific functional compromise of seminal fluid secretion. These data also point to the gerbil as a good model for investigations concerning the regulation of prostate development and homeostasis, mainly with regard to the dorsal and dorsolateral PL.

The cyanobacterial genus Cyanoarbor Wang (Chroococcales, Entophysalidaceae) and its occurrence in Brazil

The new cyanobacterial species Cyanoarbor violascens was found and described from subaerophytic habitats (wet lateritic soils) in the northwest region of São Paulo State, Brazil. The phenotypic generic features of the population were confirmed and the genus Cyanoarbor Wang 1989 was revised with four species recognized. Cyanoarbor rupestris Wang was first described from subaerophytic habitats in China. Cyanoarbor violascens Branco sp. nov. is here described from subaerophytic habitats (wet lateritic soils) in the northwest region of São Paulo State, Brazil, differing from other species by violet-coloured sheaths, cell sizes and ecotopic preference. Additionally, material previously identified as Chlorogloea cf. microcystoides from Nepal was recognized as belonging to Cyanoarbor and is here described as C. himalayensis M. Watanabe et Komdrek sp. nov. Chlorogloea gessneri Schiller is transferred to the genus Cyanarbor, as C. gessneri (Schiller) nov. comb. All four species can be differentiated based on a combination of morphological characters and biotopic preferences. Descriptions and an identification key of the four species of this genus are provided.

Mites (Acari: Mesostigmata, Sarcoptiformes and Trombidiformes) associated to soybean in Brazil, including new records from the cerrado areas

In Brazil, soybean Glycine max (L.) Merril crops are subjected to incidence of several pests, which are mainly insect species. However, the occurrences of other pest species are growing. In this context, outbreaks of phytophagous mites are becoming more frequent. Nevertheless, records of mites in such crop are available only for Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul states. Thus, this work gathers all information published about the diversity of mites found in soybean in Brazil, and also new records of mite species made on samplings taken from the central Cerrado area. In the whole, occurrence of 44 species of plant mites in soybean has been recorded in Brazil. Data from prior studies and the results of this work present the tetranychid Mononychellus planki (McGregor) as the mite species most frequently occurring in the Brazilian soybean crops. A large portion of Phytoseiidae species has occurred in crops from Rio Grande do Sul state. In addition, spontaneous soybean has hosted almost half of the phytoseiid species sampled in Cerrado region. High diversity of Tarsonemidae has been found in the cultivated soybean. More studies about soybean mites are needed to clarify the damage potential of phytophagous mites and the biological role of predatory mites in this crop.

Synthesis and Study of the Photophysical Properties of a New Eu3+ Complex with 3-Hydroxypicolinamide

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Occurrence of Contracaecum pelagicum Johnston & Mawson 1942 (Nematoda, Anisakidae) in Sula leucogaster Boddaert 1783 (Pelecaniformes, Sulidae)

Relata-se a ocorrência de Contracaecum pelagicum Johnston & Mawson 1942 (Nematoda, Anisakidae) em um novo hospedeiro, Sula leucogaster Boddaert 1783 (Pelecaniformes, Sulidae), espécie conhecida como atobá. Três machos e três fêmeas dessa espécie de nematódeo foram coletados no regurgito da ave. Pela análise morfológica conclui-se que C. pelagicum era a espécie envolvida no parasitismo. Este é o primeiro relato sobre a ocorrência de nematódeos do gênero Contracaecum em S. leucogaster.

Occurrence of biflagellate spermatozoa in Cetopsidae, Aspredinidae, and Nematogenyidae (Teleostei : Ostariophysi : Siluriformes)

In the present study spermiogenesis was investigated in Cetopsis coecutiens (Cetopsidae), and Bunocephalus amazonicus (Aspredinidae), while spermatozoa ultrastructure was investigated in C. coecutiens, B. amazonicus, and Nematogenys inermis (Nematogenyidae). Aspredinidae and Cetopsidae share a spermatogenesis of the semicystic type, and a particular type of spermiogenesis process not reported in any fish group. In the three species analyzed, spermatozoa are biflagellate with flagella having the classical axoneme formulae (9 + 2). The analysis of thirteen characters showed the presence of eight characters shared by Cetopsidae and Aspredinidae, and six characters shared by Cetopsidae and Nematogenyidae, which may suggest that these three families may be more related than actually hypothesized, comprising a very primitive siluriform lineage originated after Diplomystidae.

Intrageneric karyotypic divergence in Scythrophrys and new insights into the relationship with Paratelmatobius (Anura, Leptodactylidae)

Three populations of Scythrophrys from Brazil were studied cytogenetically. The karyotype found in Piraquara (Parana State) and Sao Bento do Sul (Santa Catarina State) (karyotype 1) differed from that of Rancho Queimado (Santa Catarina State) (karyotype 11) in NOR location and in the occurrence of some C-bands. In karyotype I, pair 5 contained NOR-bearing chromosomes, while in karyotype 11 the NOR occurred in pair 10. This difference probably accounts for the inverted classification of pairs 5 and 6 in these karyotypes, which appear to be homologous, as suggested by the presence of heterochromatic markers. These karyotypes also differed in the size of the non-centromeric C-bands in pairs 1 and 8. Comparison of the Scythrophrys karyotypes with those of the related genus Paratelmatobius revealed several similarities, especially between karyotype 11 of Scythrophrys and that of P. poecilogaster. Both karyotypes had a NOR in pair 10, so it was inferred to be present also in the common ancestor for these genera. The non-centromeric C-bands in pairs 7, 10, and in pair 5 of karyotype I and pair 6 of karyotype II of Scythrophrys are characters exclusively found in this genus.

rDNA-based characterization of a new binucleate Rhizoctonia spp. causing root rot on kale in Brazil

In this paper we present the first report of the occurrence of a binucleate Rhizoctonia spp. causing hypocotyl and root rot in kale in Brazil. Rhizoctonia spp. were isolated from kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) with symptoms of hypocotyl and root rot. The isolates, characterized as binucleate Rhizoctonia spp., did not show an anastomosis reaction with any of the binucleate Rhizoctonia spp. testers used. The pathogenicity of the isolates was tested under greenhouse conditions; all isolates were pathogenic and showed different symptom severities on kale. The ITS-5.8S rDNA sequences of kale isolates and 50 testers (25 binucleate Rhizoctonia spp. and 25 Rhizoctonia solani) were compared in order to characterize the genetic identity of Rhizoctonia spp. infecting kale. The kale isolates showed genetic identities ranging from 99.3 to 99.8% and were phylogenetically closely related to CAG 7 (AF354084), with identities of 98.5 and 98.7%. It is suggested that the binucleate Rhizoctonia spp. causing hypocotyl and root rot on kale Brazil comprises a new AG not yet described.

A new specimen of Stratiotosuchus maxhechti (Baurusuchidae, Crocodyliformes) from the Adamantina Formation (Upper Cretaceous), southeastern Brazil.

This is a report about the second occurrence and description of the third specimen of Stratiotosuchus maxhechti (Baurusuchidae, Crocodyliformes) from the Bauru Basin, Upper Cretaceous of southeastern Brazil. The material was found in the typical reddish, fine-grained sandstone from the Adamantina Formation, Bauru Group, Monte Alto County, São Paulo State. These strata are considered to be Campanian-Maastrichtian in age. It is the second skull of Stratiotosuchus maxhechti recovered where the choanal region and the skull-mandible articulation is preserved. The holotype of this species comes from the Adamantina Formation from southwestern São Paulo State, while this new specimen comes from its northern-central region, making possible biocbronological and paleoccological correlations among different geographically distant stratigraphic horizons within the Bauru Basin. The main osteologic contributions from this new specimen are the surangular taking part in the skull/mandible articulation and the presence of a relatively well-preserved choanal region, which are not seen in the holotype, furthering the knowledge of Stratiotosuchus maxhechti. Based on the features of this new specimen, an emended diagnosis is provided.

A NEW SPECIES of THE BOKERMANNOHYLA MARTINSI GROUP FROM CENTRAL BAHIA, BRAZIL WITH COMMENTS on BOKERMANNOHYLA (ANURA: HYLIDAE)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Occurrence of antibodies anti-Neospora caninum, anti-Toxoplasma gondii, and anti-Leishmania chagasi in serum of dogs from Para State, Amazon, Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The occurrence of Austrodiplostomum compactum (Lutz, 1928) (Digenea: Diplostomidae) metacercariae in the eyes of loricariid fish (Siluriformes: Osteichthyes: Loricariidae) from Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Ulnar-to-median nerve anastomosis in the forearm. Review and report of 2 new cases

The ulnar-to-median nerve anastomosis in the forearm is a very rare occurrence, not mentioned in many anatomical text books. We found only 4 cases cited in medical literature. Here we describe 2 new cases, for which diagnosis was suspected when the compound muscle action potential of the abductor pollicis brevis muscle (APB), obtained by maximal stimulation of the median nerve at the elbow, was lower than that obtained at the wrist. The diagnosis was confirmed by stimulation of the ulnar nerve at the elbow, which evoked a compound muscle action potential of the APB with a clear negative initial deflection without volume-conducted potential.