scholarly journals Ectoparasites of brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) in Grenada, West Indies

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 1390-1394
Author(s):  
Katelyn Noelle Thille ◽  
Nia Francesca Rametta ◽  
Daniel Mark Fitzpatrick ◽  
Camille Coomansingh Springer ◽  
Keshaw Tiwari ◽  
...  

Background and Aim: Arthropod ectoparasites (mites, lice, ticks, and fleas) on common house rats or brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) are known to transmit zoonotic pathogens and diminish rat health. To the best of our knowledge, there is no published information regarding the prevalence of ectoparasites on R. norvegicus in Grenada. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and types of ectoparasites present on brown rats from Grenada. Materials and Methods: One hundred sixty-eight rats were collected live from the parishes of St. George and St. David, Grenada, from May to July 2017. Following euthanasia, external parasites were collected using fine combs, thumb forceps, and paper tape. Tape samples and free specimens were placed in containers with 70% ethanol. External parasites were evaluated using dissection microscopy. Results: Over 2000 ectoparasites were collected from 149 of the 168 trapped rats (88.7%). Ectoparasites identified included mesostigmatid mites (found on 84.6% of infested rats), fur mites in the families Atopomelidae and Listrophoridae (67.1%), Polyplax spp. lice (6.7%), fleas (3.4%), an unidentified larval tick (0.7%), and a mite in the family Myobiidae (0.7%). Infestation rates were higher in St. David Parish (86/89; 96.6%) than in St. George Parish (63/79; 79.7%) (p=0.001). When comparing sex and age, males had a marginal increase in infestation rate (83/89; 93.3%) compared to females (66/79; 83.5%) (p=0.054), and adults had an infestation rate of 90.7% (97/107) compared to juvenile rats who had a 66.7% (14/21) infestation rate. Conclusion: Brown rats in Grenada are heavily infested with ectoparasites, including known vectors of pathogens. Future studies will examine the prevalence of zoonotic pathogens in these arthropods.

1969 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 172-184

Frederick Robert Miller, who died on 11 November 1967, was born on 2 May 1881, in Toronto, Canada. His paternal grandfather, Captain John Miller, of Bermuda, was co-owner of the brig Demerara which he sailed many times between Liverpool and the West Indies and South America. Following a mutiny on board his ship, Captain Miller was persuaded by his wife to leave the sea. They settled for a time in Dublin, Ireland, where they had a son, Allan Frederick Miller. The family later emigrated to Toronto, Canada, where Mr Allan Miller eventually became Secretary-Treasurer of the Toronto General Hospital, a position which he held for many years.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ravindra Sharma ◽  
Keshaw Tiwari ◽  
Gitanjali Arya ◽  
Victor Amadi ◽  
Darnell Blackman ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Luiz Carlos Marinovic Doro ◽  
◽  
Vinícius Demarchi Silva Terra ◽  
Império Lombardi Junior

In the present study, we dealt with the relationship between lifestyle and adherence to the physical activity and discussed the conditions that make it possible for amateur to remain in a complex practice as surfing. For these purpose, we interviewed eleven surfers with over eleven years of uninterrupted practice on the South Coast of São Paulo. Through an analysis of the interviews content, it was possible to verify that their permanence is less influenced by gender issues, age and marital status (usually prioritized in the literature about this subject) than employment conditions. It is argued that adherence to surfing is linked to lifestyle and youth ideals, while the conditions for the continuity of the amateurs practice involves the family and employment ties, whose stability gives security to the routine and modulates the possibilities between social times and nature times. Thus, mature surfers narrate a way of life that values prudent attitudes as a way of redefining surfing in their lives, pointing out to a transformation of surf culture. It is considered that the relationship between permanence in practice and job stability deserves to be investigated in future studies


Heliyon ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (8) ◽  
pp. e02382
Author(s):  
C. Coomansingh-Springer ◽  
V. Vishakha ◽  
A. Montanez Acuna ◽  
E. Armstrong ◽  
R.N. Sharma

mBio ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Firth ◽  
M. Bhat ◽  
M. A. Firth ◽  
S. H. Williams ◽  
M. J. Frye ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 413-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Surasak Saokaew ◽  
Preyanate Wilairat ◽  
Paranya Raktanyakan ◽  
Piyameth Dilokthornsakul ◽  
Teerapon Dhippayom ◽  
...  

Kaempferia parviflora (Krachaidum) is a medicinal plant in the family Zingiberaceae. Its rhizome has been used as folk medicine for many centuries. A number of pharmacological studies of Krachaidum had claimed benefits for various ailments. Therefore, this study aimed to systematically search and summarize the clinical evidences of Krachaidum in all identified indications. Of 683 records identified, 7 studies were included. From current clinical trials, Krachaidum showed positive benefits but remained inconclusive since small studies were included. Even though results found that Krachaidum significantly increased hand grip strength and enhanced sexual erotic stimuli, these were based on only 2 studies and 1 study, respectively. With regard to harmful effects, we found no adverse events reported even when Krachaidum 1.35 g/day was used. Therefore, future studies of Krachaidum are needed with regards to both safety and efficacy outcomes.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ravindra Sharma ◽  
Keshaw Tiwari ◽  
Kristen Birmingham ◽  
Elan Armstrong ◽  
Andrea Montanez ◽  
...  

Cat is the definitive host of Taenia taeniaeformis (T. taeniaeformis). Cysticercus fasciolaris (C. fasciolaris), the larval stage of T. taeniaeformis, develops in small rodents which act as intermediate host. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of C. fasciolaris in brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) in the densely human populated parishes, St. George’s and St. David’s of Grenada, West Indies. One hundred and seventy rats were trapped near the residential areas from May to July, 2017 and examined for C. fasciolaris in their liver. Of the 170 rats 115 (67.6%, CI 95% from 60.1 to 74.6) were positive for the larval stage of T. taeniaeformis. One to three cysts were observed in each liver, containing a single larva in each cyst. The prevalence was 77.9% in St. George and 59.1% in St. David which is a significant difference (p<0.05) between the two parishes under study. Based on gender, prevalence in males was 60.9% and females 74.7%. Significant difference was observed between young and adult rats (p=0.03). Prevalence in young rats was 45.0% compared to adults (70.7%). Further study of risk assessment in the cat population in areas of the present research is strongly suggested.


1998 ◽  
Vol 30 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 463-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan-Eric Mattsson ◽  
Mats Wedin

AbstractIn order to identify monophyletic groups within the family Parmeliaceae, eleven taxa (Bryoria capillaris, Cetraria islandica, Evernia pruniastri, Hypogymnia physodes, Parmelia saxatilis, Platismatia glauca, Pleurosticta acetabulum, Usneaflorida, Vulpicida juniperina, V. pinastri, and Xanthoparmelia conspersa) were studied using newly produced nuclear rDNA sequence data from the ITS and 5·8S regions. The resulting evolutionary hypothesis was compared with results from previous phylogenetic analyses based on anatomy, morphology, and chemistry. The outcome of this comparison does not support the earlier proposed phylogenies but is not stable enough for identifying monophyletic groups, with one exception. The results indicate a close relationship between Cetraria and Vulpicida, which is contradictory to previous published analyses. The variation in ascus structures in the Parmeliaceae is discussed and it is questioned whether the earlier distinguished ‘ forms ’ of ascus types represent synapomorphies, if they are based on poorly supported analyses, or if they are exaggerations of relatively slight variation in shape. Further interpretations of the results are discussed and areas of future studies based on DNA-data are suggested.


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