Potential role of lava lizards as pollinators across the Galápagos Islands

Lizards have been reported as important pollinators on several oceanic islands. Here we evaluate the potential role of Galápagos lava lizards (Microlophus spp.) as pollinators across their radiation. Over 3 years, we sampled pollen transport by 9 lava lizard species on the 10 islands where they are present, including 7 single‐island endemics. Overall, only 25 of 296 individuals sampled (8.4%) transported pollen of 10 plant species, the most common being Prosopis juliflora, Exodeconus miersii, Sesuvium sp. and Cordia leucophlyctis. At least 8 of these plant species were native, and none were confirmed as introduced to the archipelago. Despite the low overall proportion of individuals carrying pollen, this was observed in 7 of the nine lizard species, and on 8 of the ten main islands (Española, Fernandina, Floreana, Isabela, Marchena, Pinta, Santa Cruz and Santiago), suggesting that this is a widespread interaction. The results reported here support the potential role of lava lizards as pollinators across their radiation, although they may represent a relatively modest contribution when compared with birds and insects. However, we cannot discard that lizards may be ecologically significant for particular plant species and ecosystems given the specific climatic condition and functional diversity of each island.     

Molecular identification and mycotoxin production of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lilium longiflorum</Emphasis>-associated fusaria isolated from two geographic locations in the United States

Fusarium diseases of Liliaceae crops cause significant losses worldwide. Yet some Fusarium species are found in planta without causing disease or even in a symbiotic relationship with its host. In this study we identified and characterized the Fusarium species isolated from soil, and from healthy and diseased bulbs of Lilium longiflorum grown in New Jersey and Oregon in the United States. The predominant Fusarium species from the Oregon location were F. solani (74%) and F. oxysporum (20%), whereas F. concentricum (43%) and F. proliferatum (26%), both belonging to the Gibberella fujikuroi species complex (GFSC), were the most commonly isolated species from New Jersey. To our knowledge, this is the first report of F. concentricum associated with Liliaceae. All of the isolates were characterized with sequences of the internal transcribed spacer and translation elongation factor 1-alpha genes. The 24 GFSC isolates were further characterized with mating type, mating population, and mycotoxin analysis. Results showed that all GFSC isolates were MAT-2, suggesting that the populations may be asexually reproducing in the region examined. The majority of the GFSC isolates produced beauvericin. Enniatin A, B, B₁ and fusaproliferin were produced by a few isolates. Enniatin A₁ and fumonisins were not detected in any of the isolates. Although F. oxysporum and F. solani are well-known bulb pathogens, many isolates of F. oxysporum and F. solani, and all of the F. concentricum and F. proliferatum were isolated from asymptomatic bulbs, suggesting their endophytic association with lilies.     

Forest humus forms as potential indicators of soil carbon storage in Mediterranean environments

The aim of this work was to investigate the potential of forest humus forms as indicators of soil C storage. To this purpose, Mediterranean forest soils in Southern and Central Italy were examined. Sites differed for elevation, climate, parent material and vegetation conditions, while summer drought was the common ecological factor. A morpho-functional criterion, based on holorganic layers thickness and A horizon properties, was used to classify humus forms, which ranged from Dysmoder to Eumull. Such variability allowed understanding of factors influencing organic matter storage. The relations between carbon stock and humus form were investigated for the topsoil layer (0–20 cm), which was supposed to contain the soil C pools most sensitive to climate change. We found that humus forms can be grouped in statistically different populations, with respect to topsoil C stocks. The use of A horizon structure was the main diagnostic criterion and represented the most effective approach to humus classification in Mediterranean conditions. It appears that humus forms have a clear potential as indicators of organic carbon status in Mediterranean forest soils.     

Evaluation of a Novel Real-Time Continuous Glucose-Monitoring System for Use in Cats

Background: The Guardian REAL‐Time is a continuous glucose‐monitoring system (CGMS) recently developed to provide instantaneous interstitial glucose concentrations; the system does not require a monitor being fixed to the animal. Hypothesis: The CGMS provides accurate and reproducible real‐time readings of glucose concentration in cats. Animals: Thirty‐two diabetic cats, 2 cats with suspected insulinoma, and 5 healthy cats. Methods: Prospective, observational study. CGMS accuracy was compared with a reference glucose meter at normal, high, and low blood glucose concentrations using error grid analysis. Reading variability of 2 simultaneously used CGMS was determined in diabetic cats by calculating correlation and percentage of concordance of paired data at different glycemic ranges. The time interval between increasing glycemia and a rise in interstitial fluid glucose measured by the CGMS was assessed in healthy cats receiving glucose IV; the time point of maximal increase in interstitial glucose concentrations was calculated. Results: The CGMS was 100, 96.1, and 91.0% accurate at normal, high, and low blood glucose concentrations. Measurements deviated from reference by ?12.7 ± 70.5 mg/dL at normal, ?12.1 ± 141.5 mg/dL at high, and ?1.9 ± 40.9 mg/dL at low glucose concentrations. Overall, paired CGMS readings correlated significantly (r= 0.95, P < .0001) and concordance was 95.7%. The median delay after IV administration of glucose to an increase in interstitial glucose was 11.4 minutes (range: 8.8–19.7 minutes). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Although some readings substantially deviated from reference values, the CGMS yields reproducible results, is clinically accurate in cats with hyperglycemia and euglycemia, and is slightly less accurate if blood glucose concentrations are low. Rapidly increasing interstitial glucose after a glycemic rise suggests that the CGMS is suitable for real‐time measurement under clinical conditions.     

Conventional PCR and real time quantitative PCR detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytophthora cryptogea</Emphasis> on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gerbera jamesonii</Emphasis>

A conventional PCR and a SYBR Green real-time PCR assays for the detection and quantification of Phytophthora cryptogea, an economically important pathogen, have been developed and tested. A conventional primer set (Cryp1 and Cryp2) was designed from the Ypt1 gene of P. cryptogea. A 369 bp product was amplified on DNA from 17 isolates of P. cryptogea. No product was amplified on DNA from 34 other Phytophthora spp., water moulds, true fungi and bacteria. In addition, Cryp1/Cryp2 primers were successfully adapted to real-time PCR. The conventional PCR and real-time PCR assays were compared. The PCR was able to detect the pathogen on naturally infected gerbera plants and on symptomatic artificially infected plants collected 21 days after pathogen inoculation. The detection limit was 5 × 10³ P. cryptogea zoospores and 16 fg of DNA. Real-time PCR showed a detection limit 100 times lower (50 zoospores, 160 ag of DNA) and the possibility of detecting the pathogen in symptomless artificially infected plants and in the re-circulating nutrient solution of closed soilless cultivation systems.     

Antispasmodic effect of 4'-methylepigallocatechin on guinea pig ileum

The antispasmodic effect of 4'-methylepigallocatechin (MEC), which was isolated from Maytenus rigida Mart (Celestraceae), was investigated in vitro in guinea pig intestinal segments. In the isolated ileum, MEC (1 nM-100μM) did not modify the ileal spontaneous tonus or the electrically elicited contractions. MEC (8μM) significantly (p<0.01) reduced the submaximal contractions induced by histamine (2μM), carbachol (100μM) and BaCl(2) (0.03M). An additive relaxing action (p<0.001) was observed by co-incubation of verapamil (10 nM) and MEC (8μM). Although MEC (1nM-100μM) did not modify the contractions elicited by 60mM KCl, it significantly reduced the CaCl(2) contractile response without changing the EC(50) (effective concentration of CaCl(2) causing 50% of maximum response). In brief, these results show that MEC has a potent ileal spasmolytic effect and blocks spasms induced by specific and nonspecific stimuli. Importantly, the spasmolytic effects were attained at low concentrations and might be related to the symptomatic relief of abdominal pain that is obtained from the use of the M. rigida stem bark.     

Occurrence of Giardia duodenalis infection in chinchillas (Chincilla lanigera) from Italian breeding facilities

The present work investigated the occurrence of Giardia infection in Chinchilla lanigera reared in three Italian breeding facilities and determined their role as potential zoonotic reservoir. One hundred and four fecal samples were tested for the presence of Giardia spp. cysts using a Direct Fluorescent Assay (DFA). A high positivity rate (39.4%) was found despite all animals were asymptomatic at the time of sampling. Thirty-one positive samples were genetically characterized by sequence analysis of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region of the Giardia ribosomal DNA. Assemblages B (29 isolates) and C (two isolates) were identified. These results showed that Giardia infection can be common in chinchillas, thus spurring further molecular epizootiological studies of the infection to assess the zoonotic potential or host specificity of their isolates, to determine the source of infections, to identify the routes of transmission, and to control the infection among animal populations.