Orbiviruses in biting midges and mosquitoes from the Zambezi region, Namibia

2021 ◽  
Vol 102 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heiko D. Guggemos ◽  
Matthias Fendt ◽  
Kyra Hermanns ◽  
Christian Hieke ◽  
Verena Heyde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Culture ◽  
North America ◽  
National Park ◽  
African Horse Sickness ◽  
Biting Midges ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Complete Genomes ◽  
Pathogenic Viruses ◽  
Nucleotide Divergence ◽  
Foetal Malformations

The genus Orbivirus includes a variety of pathogenic viruses that are transmitted by biting midges, mosquitoes and ticks. Some of the economically most relevant orbiviruses are endemic to Namibia, like the livestock-pathogenic Bluetongue and African horse sickness viruses. Here, we assessed the diversity of orbiviruses circulating in the Zambezi region of north-eastern Namibia. A total of 10 250 biting midges and 10 206 mosquitoes were collected and screened for orbivirus infections. We identified Palyam virus (PALV) in a pool of biting midges (Culicoides sp.) sampled in the Wuparo Conservancy and three strains of Corriparta virus (CORV) in Culex sp. mosquitoes sampled in Mudumu National Park and the Mashi Conservancy. This is, to our knowledge, the first detection of PALV and CORV in Namibia. Both viruses infect vertebrates but only PALV has been reported to cause disease. PALV can cause foetal malformations and abortions in ruminants. Furthermore, a novel orbivirus, related to Kammavanpettai virus from India and Umatilla virus from North America, was discovered in biting midges (Culicoides sp.) originating from Mudumu National Park and tentatively named Mudumu virus (MUMUV). Complete genomes of PALV, CORV and MUMUV were sequenced and genetically characterized. The Namibian CORV strain showed 24.3 % nucleotide divergence in its subcore shell gene to CORV strains from Australia, indicating that African CORV variants vary widely from their Australian relatives. CORV was isolated in cell culture and replicated to high titres in mosquito and duck cells. No growth was found in rodent and primate cells. The data presented here show that diverse orbiviruses are endemic to the Zambezi region. Further studies are needed to assess their effects on wildlife and livestock.

scholarly journals Effects of aerosols on precipitation in north-eastern North America

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 5111-5125 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Mashayekhi ◽  
J. J. Sloan
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Atlantic Coast ◽  
Inverse Correlation ◽  
Cloud Droplet ◽  
Cloud Microphysics ◽  
Convective Precipitation ◽  
Eastern North America ◽  
Anthropogenic Aerosols ◽  
Convective Rain ◽  
North Eastern

Abstract. The changes in precipitation in north-eastern North America caused by chemistry – and particularly anthropogenic aerosols – are investigated using the Weather Research Forecasting with Chemistry (WRF/Chem v3.2) model. The simulations were carried out for a five-month period from April to August 2009. The model results show that non-negligible changes in both convective and cloud-resolved (non-convective) precipitation are caused by chemistry and/or aerosols over most parts of the domain. The changes can be attributed to both radiative and microphysical interactions with the meteorology. A chemistry-induced change of approximately −15% is found in the five-month mean daily convective precipitation over areas with high convective rain; most of this can be traced to radiative effects. Total convective rain is greater than total non-convective rain in the domain, but a chemistry-induced increase of about 30% is evident in the five-month mean daily non-convective precipitation over the heavily urbanized parts of the Atlantic coast. The effects of aerosols on cloud microphysics and precipitation were examined for two particle size ranges, 0.039–0.1 μm and 1–2.5 μm, representing the nucleation and accumulation modes respectively. Strongly positive spatial correlation between cloud droplet number and non-convective rain are found for activated (cloud-borne) aerosols in both size ranges. Non-activated (interstitial) aerosols have a positive correlation with cloud droplet number and non-convective rain when they are small and an inverse correlation for larger sizes.

scholarly journals Biodiversity of bulbous and tuberous geophytes from the El Kala National Park (North-Eastern Algeria): checklist, vulnerability and conservation

2019 ◽  
pp. 25-38
Author(s):  
Besma Dechir ◽  
Atef Chouikh ◽  
Tarek Hamel ◽  
Nawel Nadia Azizi ◽  
Nawel Ganaoui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
National Park ◽  
Multivariate Analyses ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Floristic Analysis ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Eastern Algeria ◽  
A New Species

Treinta estaciones en el Parque Nacional El Kala (Noreste de Argelia) fueron objeto de un inventario florístico que se centró en el estudio de la ecología de geófitos bulbosos y tuberosos. La flora se caracteriza por una alta proporción de taxones raros y/o endémicos, entre ellos, 6 especies son endemismos algero-tunecinos pertenecientes a la familia Orchidaceae. En este trabajo, se da a conocer la presencia de una nueva especie para la flora argelina, Ophrys fusca subsp. lupercalis. Los análisis multivariantes revelaron, ciertas variables ambientales que determinan la distribución de los geófitos. Los lugares de interés son particularmente sensibles a las amenazas, particularmente las de origen antrópico. Thirty stations at the El Kala National Park (North Eastern Algeria) were the subject of a floristic focused on the study of the ecology of bulbous and tuberous geophytes. The floristic analysis was used to draw up a checklist of 67 species belonging to 36 genera and 14 families, among of which 19 species a high proportion of rare and/or endemic taxa; among them six signed taxa are endemic to algerian-tunisian mainly represented by family of Orchidaceae. In this work, we recorded the presence of a new species for the Algerian flora which is Ophrys fusca subsp. lupercalis. Multivariate analyses revealed certain environmental variables determining the distribution of geophytes. The visited sites show an alarming vulnerability and subject to threats, particularly anthropogenic ones.

Age of the Rockland tephra, western USA

2004 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 94-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.A. Lanphere ◽  
D.E. Champion ◽  
M.A. Clynne ◽  
J.B. Lowenstern ◽  
A.M Sarna-Wojcicki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
National Park ◽  
Fall Deposit ◽  
Ion Microprobe ◽  
Western North America ◽  
Weighted Mean ◽  
Central California ◽  
Ash Fall ◽  
Lassen Peak ◽  
Eruption Age

The age of the Rockland tephra, which includes an ash-flow tuff south and west of Lassen Peak in northern California and a widespread ash-fall deposit that produced a distinct stratigraphic marker in western North America, is constrained to 565,000 to 610,000 yr by 40Ar/39Ar and U–Pb dating. 40Ar/39Ar ages on plagioclase from pumice in the Rockland have a weighted mean age of 609,000 ± 7000 yr. Isotopic ages of spots on individual zircon crystals, analyzed by the SHRIMP-RG ion microprobe, range from ∼500,000 to ∼800,000 yr; a subpopulation representing crystal rims yielded a weighted-mean age of 573,000 ± 19,000 yr. Overall stratigraphic constraints on the age are provided by two volcanic units, including the underlying tephra of the Lava Creek Tuff erupted within Yellowstone National Park that has an age of 639,000 ± 2000 yr. The basaltic andesite of Hootman Ranch stratigraphically overlies the Rockland in the Lassen Peak area and has 40Ar/39Ar ages of 565,000 ± 29,000 and 565,000 ± 12,000 yr for plagioclase and groundmass, respectively. Identification of Rockland tephra in ODP core 1018 offshore of central California is an important stratigraphic age that also constrains the eruption age to between 580,000 and 600,000 yr.

Estimating brush-tailed rock-wallaby population size using individual animal recognition

2011 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 228
Author(s):  
Karl Vernes ◽  
Stuart Green ◽  
Piers Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Population Size ◽  
National Park ◽  
New South ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Population Estimates ◽  
Individual Animal ◽  
Mark Recapture ◽  
South Wales ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Estimate Population Size

We undertook surveys of brush-tailed rock-wallabies (Petrogale penicillata) at four colonies in Oxley Wild Rivers National Park, north-eastern New South Wales, with the aim of developing a technique based upon individual animal recognition that could be used to obtain robust population estimates for rock-wallaby colonies. We identified individuals on the basis of distinct morphological characters in each colony using visual observations, and used the data within a ‘mark–recapture’ (or sight–resight) framework to estimate population size. More than 37 h of observations were made over 10 sampling days between 18 May and 9 June 2010. We could identify 91.7% of all rock-wallabies that were independently sighted (143 of 156 sightings of 35 animals). A small percentage of animals could not be identified during a visit because they were seen only fleetingly, were in dense cover, or were partly obscured by rock. The number of new animals sighted and photographed declined sharply at the midpoint of the survey, and there was a corresponding increase in resighting of known individuals. Population estimates using the mark–recapture methodology were nearly identical to estimates of total animals seen, suggesting that this method was successful in obtaining a complete census of rock-wallabies in each colony.

Comparative viromes of Culicoides and mosquitoes reveal their consistency and diversity in viral profiles

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin Liu ◽  
Qin Shen ◽  
Nan Li ◽  
Yuwen He ◽  
Na Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatiotemporal Distribution ◽  
Viral Diversity ◽  
Emerging Viruses ◽  
Biting Midges ◽  
Viral Ecology ◽  
Pathogenic Viruses

Abstract The genus Culicoides includes biting midges, some of which are vectors for viruses that cause diseases in humans and animals. Knowledge of the roles of Culicoides in viral ecology is inadequate. We collected ~300 000 samples of Culicoides and mosquitoes in 15 representative regions within Yunnan, China. Using mosquitoes as reference vectors, we designed a comparative virome strategy to study the viral composition, diversity, hosts and spatiotemporal distribution of Culicoides. A map of viromes in Culicoides and mosquitoes in Yunan province, China, was constructed. At the same locations, Culicoides and mosquitoes usually share a similar viral diversity. At least 10 important pathogenic viruses were detected from Culicoides. Many novel viruses were discovered, including 21 segmented viruses of Flaviviridae, 180 viruses of Monjiviricetes and 130 viruses of Bunyavirales. The findings demonstrate that Culicoides is an important part of viral ecology and should be studied and monitored for potentially emerging viruses.

A revision of the genus Orchestia Leach, 1814 with the reinstatement of O. inaequalipes (K.H. Barnard, 1951), the designation of a neotype for Orchestia gammarellus (Pallas, 1776) and the description of three new species (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Talitridae: Talitrinae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4808 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-250
Author(s):  
ALAN A. MYERS ◽  
JAMES K. LOWRY
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
North America ◽  
South America ◽  
Type Species ◽  
Pacific Coast ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Eastern North America ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Three New Species

The amphipod genus Orchestia is revised. It now includes 10 species of which three are new: O. forchuensis sp. nov. from north-eastern North America and Iceland., O. perezi sp. nov. from Chile and O. tabladoi sp. nov. from Argentina. Orchestia inaequalipes (K.H. Barnard 1951) is reinstated. The type species of the genus, O. gammarellus is redescribed based on material from Fountainstown, Ireland and a neotype is established to stabilize the species. The species was originally described from a garden in Leiden, far from the sea. Its true identity is unknown and no type material exists. Orchestia gammarellus (Pallas, 1776) is shown to be a sibling species group with members in both hemispheres of the temperate Atlantic as well along the Pacific coast of South America. A hypothesis for the establishment of the current distribution of Orchestia species is presented that extends back to the Cretaceous. 

scholarly journals Isolation and characterization of hantavirus carried by Apodemus peninsulae in Jilin, China

2007 ◽  
Vol 88 (4) ◽  
pp. 1295-1301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong-Zhen Zhang ◽  
Yang Zou ◽  
Lai-Shun Yao ◽  
Guang-Wei Hu ◽  
Zhan-Shen Du ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Culture ◽  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Immunofluorescence Assay ◽  
Haemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Apodemus Peninsulae ◽  
Isolation And Characterization ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Field Mice

To provide a better understanding of hantavirus epidemiology in China, Korean field mice (Apodemus peninsulae) and striped field mice (Apodemus agrarius) were captured in Jilin province, China, where haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is endemic. Hantavirus antigens were detected in eight of the 130 A. peninsulae individuals and in four of the 193 A. agrarius individuals by using an immunofluorescence assay. Partial S and M segments were amplified from all of the antigen-positive samples. Furthermore, two hantaviruses (CJAp89 and CJAp93) were isolated successfully in cell culture and the entire S and M segments were amplified from one of them (CJAp93). Phylogenetic analysis of these sequences (partial or complete) showed that hantaviruses carried by A. peninsulae and A. agrarius form two distinct lineages, although viruses carried by A. peninsulae are similar to those isolated previously from A. agrarius in China and from HFRS patients in Russia. However, the viruses detected in A. peninsulae in China are genetically different from those detected in A. peninsulae in other countries. These data suggest that A. peninsulae is also a natural host for HTNV in north-eastern China.

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