First record

Among about 50 Paragonimus species, Paragonimus proliferus is a rare species characterized by extremely large metacercariae, most of which are present excysted in the crab hosts. Recently, this species was discovered by us in northern Vietnam as the first record outside of China. DNA sequences of both second internal transcribed spacer region (ITS2) and cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 gene (CO1) genes of the metacercariae and adult worms of P. proliferus of the Vietnamese isolates were identical with those of Paragonimus hokuoensis in the DNA database of the GenBank. To confirm those observations and to clarify the molecular phylogenetic status of P. proliferus, we determined the ITS2 and CO1 sequences of the metacercariae of P. proliferus obtained in Yunnan province, China where the original specimen was discovered. The results show that both ITS2 and CO1 sequences of P. proliferus of the Chinese isolates are identical with those of P. proliferus of the Vietnamese isolates and are also identical with those of P. hokuoensis that appeared in the DNA database (obtained in Yunnan province), suggesting the synonymy of P. hokuoensis with P. proliferus. By phylogenetic tree analyses, all samples of P. proliferus from China and Vietnam together with P. hokuoensis constructed a distinct group within, or very close to, Paragonimus skrjabini complex in both trees.

The paper presents the results of an investigation of Collembola occurring in soil, litter, mushrooms around tree trunks and from moss with Sphagnum of the only peat-bog in the Bucegi Massif - Tinovul de la Lãptici. Microhabitats preferences of Collembola are discussed. The first records of Collembola from peat-bogs of Romania are reported. Friesea truncata is a new species for

In May 2005, an epidemic of the cestode Triaenophorus crassus occurred in the Salvelinus umbla population of Lake Grundlsee, an oligotrophic Austrian Alpine Lake. Based on catches with a standardized multi-mesh gillnet survey 53% of S. umbla were infected with up to 17 cysts of T. crassus per fish. This is the first documented record of an epidemic of this tapeworm in S. umbla.

During spring 2009, lavender plants (Lavandula stoechas L.) showing a bright yellow mosaic of calico type and light stunting were observed in a commercial nursery in Liguria Province in northern Italy. Of 300 plants inspected, ~2% were symptomatic. Preliminary observations of leaf sap with the transmission electron microscope revealed bacilliform virus-like particles in three symptomatic plants, whereas no virus-like particles were observed in asymptomatic plants. The same symptomatic plants were tested by double-antibody sandwich-ELISA with polyclonal antisera against Cucumber mosaic virus, Potato virus Y, Tobacco mosaic virus, and Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV). All three plants reacted positively against AMV antibodies, but not the other antibodies. A crude sap extract obtained from a single symptomatic plant, hereafter referred to as the Lst isolate, was prepared by macerating 1 g of fresh leaves in 4 ml of sodium phosphate 0.03 M, containing 0.2% sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, 75 m...

Abstract: A new species of the sphenacodontid synapsid Dimetrodon, D. teutonis, is described on the basis of a single, adult specimen consisting of a large portion of the presacral vertebral column. The holotype was collected from the Lower Permian Tambach Formation, ...

SUMMARY Tagetes Witches'Broom disease (TWB) was first recorded in Italy in 1958, and in 1972 a phytoplasma was associated with the disease. Infected Tagetes patu- lus plants were used as source of inoculum for phyto- plasma transmission to Catharanthus roseus. The phyto- plasma was also back-transmitted from C. roseus to T. patulus and T. erectus by dodder. Three monoclonal an-

Sediment core palaeomagnetic and mineral magnetic records from two crater lakes in central Italy and from the western margin of the Adriatic Sea have been used to evaluate local and regional responses to Holocene environmental change. In all cores, sediment magnetism reflects the interplay between catchment material and the in situ production of bacterial magnetite (magnetotactic bacteria). In the lakes, the earliest Holocene sediments record a waning catchment input that we attribute to rising lake levels and increased tree cover in the catchment. From ∼9000 to 5000 yr BP, both lakes become anoxic, a consequence of water-mass stratification driven by high lake levels. Bottom-water anoxia also developed in the Adriatic, with sapropel S1 produced between ∼9000 and 7000 yr BP. Subsequently, the lake and Adriatic mineral magnetic records show evidence for increased catchment delivery, consistent with pollen evidence for Bronze Age deforestation. In the lakes, this evidence is first recorded at ∼4300 yr BP and a number of distinct clearance events are recorded. In comparison, at Adriatic site RF93-30, lithogenic input increases abruptly at ∼3500 yr BP and is followed by a slowly changing record of waxing and waning sediment delivery.Inter-site comparisons of palaeomagnetic data point to a possible link between the magnitude of the bacterial magnetite component and the recorded magnetic inclination. The sites are at near identical latitudes and have similar sediment accumulation rates but the Adriatic sites have a core-average magnetic inclination that is some 10° steeper than the lake average values. We suggest that the large dipole moment of the magnetosome chains, which in life produce the passive alignment of the bacterium along the local geomagnetic field line, produce a more faithful (albeit smoothed) record of the geomagnetic field.

Outbreaks of yellow fever (YF) have never been recorded in Kenya. However, in September 1992, cases of hemorrhagic fever (HF) were reported in the Kerio Valley to the Kenya Ministry of Health. Early in 1993, the disease was confirmed as YF and a mass vaccination campaign was initiated. Cases of suspected YF were identified through medical record review and hospital-based disease surveillance by using a clinical case definition. Case-patients were confirmed serologically and virologically. We documented 55 persons with HF from three districts of the Rift Valley Province in the period of September 10, 1992 through March 11, 1993 (attack rate = 27.4/100,000 population). Twenty-six (47%) of the 55 persons had serologic evidence of recent YF infection, and three of these persons were also confirmed by YF virus isolation. No serum was available from the other 29 HF cases. In addition, YF virus was isolated from a person from the epidemic area who had a nonspecific febrile illness but did ...

We report the discovery of the Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile var. aegyptiaca in Qatar for the first time. According
to the national biodiversity reports and national and international literatures, there are no record for the species in
Qatar. Also, its presence has not been detected either by locals or experts in Qatar before, although the species
present in the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, and much of South Asia. We had discovered this species in Ar-Rayyan
municipality at a location near Salwa road, 25 km from Doha, 90 km to Qatar–KSA borders (25°11'38.9"N
51°22'32.3"E). However, our findings highlights the need of a comprehensive survey around all Qatar, in order to
document the presence of other plant species, and also to complete the catalogue of flora in Qatar.

A survey conducted in 1995 investigated long term declines reported in a population of box turtles Terrapene carolina monitored each decade since 1945 in bottomland hardwood forest at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Maryland. Methods duplicated past surveys in most respects, but were supplemented by radiotelemetry and a survey of dominant vegetation. Seventy different turtles were found on the 11.8

Herein we report 22 individuals of Xenosaurus newmanorum representing a new state record for Hidalgo, Mexico from the Municipality of Pisaflores. Previously, this species was known only from the Municipality of Xilitla in San Luis Potosí. These new records extend the distribution of this species 13.6 km south of its previously known occurrence. We also compare total body and tail lengths for the lizards in addition to cloacal temperatures and several measurements associated with microhabitat characteristics, which are equivalent at all three sites. That microhabitat congruence suggests that its preservation is critical for protecting X. newmanorum from population decline.

First record of Scarabaeus irakensis Stolfa 1938 in Israel is given. Scarabaeus armeniacus (Ménétriés 1832), Scarabaeus semipunctatus Fabricius, 1792 and Scarabaeus silenus (Gray 1832) are removed from the checklist of species occurring in Israel.