Hematologic and serum biochemistry values in two species of free-ranging porcupines (Coendou prehensilis, Coendou melanurus) in French Guiana.

Individuals of two porcupine species (Coendou prehensilis and Coendou melanurus) were translocated during the flooding of a forest at a hydroelectric dam site in French Guiana. Blood samples were collected for 11 mo to determine hematologic and serum chemistry reference mean values and ranges and to look for blood parasites. Male C. prehensilis had significantly higher hemoglobin levels, packed cell volumes, and creatinine and potassium values than did females of the same species. Coendou prehensilis had significantly lower amylase levels but higher creatinine, calcium, lactate dehydrogenase, and gamma glutamyl transferase levels than C. melanurus.     

Eine Methode zur Prüfung der Anfälligkeit und Ausbreitungsresistenz der Fichte (Picea abies Karst.) gegenüber dem Wurzelschwamm Fomes annosus (Fr.) Cooke1

A method for examining Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.) for susceptibility and resistance to the spread of Fomes annosus (Fr.) Cooke . An easily applied method is described for determining the results of infections and the reactions of young Norway spruce to Fomes annosus. By the use of genetically homogeneous material, e. g. clonal plants, the importance of environmental factors such as nutrient supply and also the varying virulence of different fungal strains can be studied.     

Verdeckte Ausbringung von Rodentiziden in Köderstationen zur Abwehr von Mäuseschäden in Forstkulturen

The Common Vole (Microtus agrestis) and the Redbacked Vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) can cause severe damages in forest plantations. Different application techniques of rodenticides to control these harmful rodents were tested by several institutions of plant protection in the Federal Republic of Germany. The following registered baits were used: A bluestained pectin-wax pellet containing 0.0075% Chlorphacinon (Lepit^®-Forstpellet), small flour-plates (Arrex^®-M-Köder klein) and sunflower kernels coated with plastique-foil (Arrex^®-E-Köder) both incorporated with 2% resp. 3.75% zinc-phosphide. In 1985 disperse spraying versus concentrated offering of the baits in 12 earthenware pipes/ha was tested. The density of mice and voles could be reduced nearly to the same level with both methods. However, the amount of baits needed was much less when bait stations were used. In 1986 a new and save type of bait station (Theyson-Köder-station) was tested, from which non-target animals cannot get baits. The acceptance of the bait station could be improved by aromatic compounds from apples. According to the obtained first results forest plantations can be protected during the whole wintertime against vole-damages by means of bait stations.     

橡胶树树皮坏死:症状学、病原学、流行病学方面的发展和树干生理病症的发因

橡胶树排胶障碍是制约全球橡胶种植园发展的主要因素,它是由以下两个不同病症导致的:(1)割面干涸(TPD)-过度割胶引起的可逆生理反应,(2)割面树皮坏死(BN)-由橡胶树根颈韧皮部扩展的不可逆病变。树皮坏死(BN)目前危害了世界大部分胶园,胶园受害严重度取决于橡胶品种、树龄、种植地和种植地区。橡胶树树皮病的多态性一直是一个有争议的问题,通过对许多胶园的调研,该问题最近得到了解决。虽然前期和最近的病原分析不具决定性,但是环境因素却显示出同树皮坏死有联系。在对近期开割的胶园进行流行病调查,发现早期患病胶树地点呈非随机性。这些易发病区主要靠近沼泽地、路旁、风干行、原推土机过道、树林树桩残余地和斜坡缓冲地段的附近区域。在树皮坏死发生区,虽然没有发现与土壤化学因素有明显的关系,但是,土壤物理分析(如透度法)却表明,土壤的较高紧实度常同患病胶树的根系生长较弱有关联。另外,通常在芽接点接合处可以很好地观察到树皮坏死早期症状。通过PMS压力室获得的大量可比生态生理的测量数据显示,患病胶树呈现水分协迫特征,意味着病树树干同其根系存在着一种非理想的维管关系。因此,同土壤紧实度相关的土壤缺水状况、旱季不能满足胶树水分需求的脆弱根系、被扰乱的树液流动和土壤排水等因素的共同作用,被怀疑是诱导树干接芽区树皮坏死(坏死向上扩展到割面) 生理的一个主要外部诱因。在这些协迫的作用下,细胞与分子研究显示,橡胶树生理失调是导致树皮坏死迅速扩展的原因。在这些协迫的作用下,在胶树芽接部位的细胞破裂,释放极具扩散性的高浓度氰化物。在患病胶树的韧皮部生氰和解氰活动的极不协调,以及氰化物的释放,导致其周围的细胞受到毒害。最后, 这样一种多学科的研究方法为由协迫诱导的多因素生理病害研究提供了一个完整的新模式。     

Phylogeny of the ants: diversification in the age of angiosperms

We present a large-scale molecular phylogeny of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), based on 4.5 kilobases of sequence data from six gene regions extracted from 139 of the 288 described extant genera, representing 19 of the 20 subfamilies. All but two subfamilies are recovered as monophyletic. Divergence time estimates calibrated by minimum age constraints from 43 fossils indicate that most of the subfamilies representing extant ants arose much earlier than previously proposed but only began to diversify during the Late Cretaceous to Early Eocene. This period also witnessed the rise of angiosperms and most herbivorous insects.     

Humoral and cellular immune responses to Fasciola gigantica experimental infection in buffaloes

Humoral and cellular immune responses to Fasciola gigantica experimental infection in buffaloes were studied. The results showed that 33.4+/-9.1% of the infection dose was recovered as adult flukes from infected animals at necropsy. Significant differences of weight gain between infected and non-infected buffaloes was observed at 4 MPI (months post-infection). Anti F. gigantica excretory-secretory products (FgESP)-IgG levels increased significantly from 3 WPI (weeks post-infection) and displayed a peak at 13 WPI. Western blot indicated that in FgESP six major bands of 11.5, 19.0, 23.4, 29.8, 47.5 and 53.2kDa were recognized by F. gigantica-infected buffaloes sera after 0 WPI. Eosinophil numbers increased significantly from 3 WPI in F. gigantica-infected buffaloes and displayed a peak at 8 WPI. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) proliferation induced by FgESP increased from 2 WPI with a peak at 5 WPI. IFNgamma secretion by FgESP-stimulated PBMC appeared early from 1 WPI with three peaks at 2, 5 and 8 WPI, respectively. IL-10 production was observed from 2 WPI with two peaks at 4 and 9 WPI, respectively. Our results suggested that buffaloes were highly susceptible to F. gigantica infection, and this susceptibility could be associated with the late and weak cellular immune response in the early phase of infection and the Th0-like response throughout the infection.     

Babesia and its hosts: adaptation to long-lasting interactions as a way to achieve efficient transmission

Babesia, the causal agent of babesiosis, are tick-borne apicomplexan protozoa. True babesiae (Babesia genus sensu stricto) are biologically characterized by direct development in erythrocytes and by transovarial transmission in the tick. A large number of true Babesia species have been described in various vertebrate and tick hosts. This review presents the genus then discusses specific adaptations of Babesia spp. to their hosts to achieve efficient transmission. The main adaptations lead to long-lasting interactions which result in the induction of two reservoirs: in the vertebrate host during low long-term parasitemia and throughout the life cycle of the tick host as a result of transovarial and transstadial transmission. The molecular bases of these adaptations in vertebrate hosts are partially known but few of the tick-host interaction mechanisms have been elucidated.