Occurrence of Amblyomma rotundatum Koch, 1844 on Epicrates assisi Machado, 1945 in João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil

The Caatinga rainbow boa (Epicrates assisi Machado, 1945) is a snake belonging to the order Squamata, family Boidae, and subfamily Boinae. It has a wide distribution in Brazil and can be found in the Caatinga biome. The present study aims to report the first occurrence of Amblyomma rotundatum on E. assisi in the municipality of João Pessoa, Paraíba State (PB). On March 3, 2020, a tick collection was performed on the dorsal region of the head of an E. assisi, which was captive at the Arruda Câmara Zoobotanical Park, João Pessoa-PB. After collecting the tick, it was transferred to a flask containing 70º alcohol and sent to the Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of the Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid (UFERSA) for analysis. Identification was done with the aid of a stereomicroscope using a taxonomic key. The result identified this specimen as a nymph of A. rotundatum. The occurrence of this tick species on E. assisi is reported for the first time and constitutes new data applicable to the ectoparasites that occur in this host species in Brazil.

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Advertisement call of the rare, explosive breeding caatinga horned frog Ceratophrys joazeirensis Mercadal de Barrio, 1986 (Anura, Ceratophryidae)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.3540.1.5 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 3540 (1) ◽

pp. 65 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

BÁRBARA FERNANDES ZAIDAN ◽

FELIPE SÁ FORTES LEITE

Keyword(s):

Rio Grande ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Type Locality ◽

Advertisement Call ◽

Caatinga Biome ◽

First Time ◽

Semi Arid

The present study describes for the first time the advertisement call of Ceratophrys joazeirensis Mercadal de Barrio, 1986. This rare explosive breeding species is endemic to the semi-arid Caatinga biome and is known only from four localities in northeastern Brazil: Municipality of Juazeiro, State of Bahia (type locality); Municipalities of Araruna and Triunfo, State of Paraíba; and Municipality of Passa and Fica, State of Rio Grande do Norte (Mercadal de Barrio, 1986; Vieira et al. 2006; Santos et al. 2009).

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Atlas of ticks (Acari: Argasidae, Ixodidae) in Germany

Experimental and Applied Acarology ◽

10.1007/s10493-021-00619-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Franz Rubel ◽

Katharina Brugger ◽

Lidia Chitimia-Dobler ◽

Hans Dautel ◽

Elisabeth Meyer-Kayser ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tick Species ◽

Migratory Birds ◽

Dermacentor Reticulatus ◽

Ixodid Ticks ◽

Federal States ◽

Ixodes Frontalis ◽

Argas Reflexus ◽

The One ◽

Argasid Tick ◽

First Time

AbstractAn updated and increased compilation of georeferenced tick locations in Germany is presented here. This data collection extends the dataset published some years ago by another 1448 new tick locations, 900 locations of which were digitized from literature and 548 locations are published here for the first time. This means that a total of 3492 georeferenced tick locations is now available for Germany. The tick fauna of Germany includes two species of Argasidae in the genera Argas and Carios and 19 species of Ixodidae in the genera Dermacentor, Haemaphysalis, and Ixodes, altogether 21 tick species. In addition, three species of Ixodidae in the genera Hyalomma (each spring imported by migratory birds) and Rhipicephalus (occasionally imported by dogs returning from abroad with their owners) are included in the tick atlas. Of these, the georeferenced locations of 23 tick species are depicted in maps. The occurrence of the one remaining tick species, the recently described Ixodes inopinatus, is given at the level of the federal states. The most common and widespread tick species is Ixodes ricinus, with records in all 16 federal states. With the exception of Hamburg, Dermacentor reticulatus was also found in all federal states. The occurrence of the ixodid ticks Ixodes canisuga, Ixodes frontalis, Ixodes hexagonus and I. inopinatus were documented in at least 11 federal states each. The two mentioned argasid tick species were also documented in numerous federal states, the pigeon tick Argas reflexus in 11 and the bat tick Carios vespertilionis in seven federal states. The atlas of ticks in Germany and the underlying digital dataset in the supplement can be used to improve global tick maps or to study the effects of climate change and habitat alteration on the distribution of tick species.

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Host density predicts the probability of parasitism by avian brood parasites

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rstb.2018.0204 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 374 (1769) ◽

pp. 20180204 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Iliana Medina ◽

Naomi E. Langmore

Keyword(s):

Spatial Distribution ◽

Reproductive Success ◽

Host Species ◽

Field Data ◽

Host Density ◽

Brood Parasites ◽

Parasitism Rates ◽

Analyse Data ◽

First Time ◽

Determining Factor

The spatial distribution of hosts can be a determining factor in the reproductive success of parasites. Highly aggregated hosts may offer more opportunities for reproduction but can have better defences than isolated hosts. Here we connect macro- and micro-evolutionary processes to understand the link between host density and parasitism, using avian brood parasites as a model system. We analyse data across more than 200 host species using phylogenetic comparative analyses and quantify parasitism rate and host reproductive success in relation to spatial distribution using field data collected on one host species over 6 years. Our comparative analysis reveals that hosts occurring at intermediate densities are more likely to be parasitized than colonial or widely dispersed hosts. Correspondingly, our intraspecific field data show that individuals living at moderate densities experience higher parasitism rates than individuals at either low or high densities. Moreover, we show for the first time that the effect of host density on host reproductive success varies according to the intensity of parasitism; hosts have greater reproductive success when living at high densities if parasitism rates are high, but fare better at low densities when parasitism rates are low. We provide the first evidence of the trade-off between host density and parasitism at both macro- and micro-evolutionary scales in brood parasites. This article is part of the theme issue ‘The coevolutionary biology of brood parasitism: from mechanism to pattern’.

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Biosynthesis of anandamide and N-palmitoylethanolamine by sequential actions of phospholipase A2 and lysophospholipase D

Biochemical Journal ◽

10.1042/bj20040031 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 380 (3) ◽

pp. 749-756 ◽

Cited By ~ 143

Author(s):

Yong-Xin SUN ◽

Kazuhito TSUBOI ◽

Yasuo OKAMOTO ◽

Takeharu TONAI ◽

Makoto MURAKAMI ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biosynthetic Pathway ◽

Brain Homogenate ◽

Wide Distribution ◽

Rat Tissues ◽

Lysophospholipase D ◽

Pla2 Enzyme ◽

First Time ◽

Hydrolysis Of ◽

The Brain

Anandamide (an endocannabinoid) and other bioactive long-chain NAEs (N-acylethanolamines) are formed by direct release from N-acyl-PE (N-acyl-phosphatidylethanolamine) by a PLD (phospholipase D). However, the possible presence of a two-step pathway from N-acyl-PE has also been suggested previously, which comprises (1) the hydrolysis of N-acyl-PE to N-acyl-lysoPE by PLA1/PLA2 enzyme(s) and (2) the release of NAEs from N-acyllysoPE by lysoPLD (lysophospholipase D) enzyme(s). In the present study we report for the first time the characterization of enzymes responsible for this pathway. The PLA1/PLA2 activity for N-palmitoyl-PE was found in various rat tissues, with the highest activity in the stomach. This stomach enzyme was identified as group IB sPLA2 (secretory PLA2), and its product was determined as N-acyl-1-acyl-lysoPE. Recombinant group IB, IIA and V of sPLA2s were also active with N-palmitoyl-PE, whereas group X sPLA2 and cytosolic PLA2α were inactive. In addition, we found wide distribution of lysoPLD activity generating N-palmitoylethanolamine from N-palmitoyl-lysoPE in rat tissues, with higher activities in the brain and testis. Based on several lines of enzymological evidence, the lysoPLD enzyme could be distinct from the known N-acyl-PE-hydrolysing PLD. sPLA2-IB dose dependently enhanced the production of N-palmitoylethanolamine from N-palmitoyl-PE in the brain homogenate showing the lysoPLD activity. N-Arachidonoyl-PE and N-arachidonoyl-lysoPE as anandamide precursors were also good substrates of sPLA2-IB and the lysoPLD respectively. These results suggest that the sequential actions of PLA2 and lysoPLD may constitute another biosynthetic pathway for NAEs, including anandamide.

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AGRONOMIC EFFICIENCY OF THE INTERCROPPING OF ARUGULA WITH CARROT UNDER DIFFERENT POPULATION COMBINATIONS

Revista Caatinga ◽

10.1590/1983-21252016v29n109rc ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

pp. 76-84 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

THAÍZA MABELLE DE VASCONCELOS BATISTA ◽

FRANCISCO BEZERRA NETO ◽

ÍTALO NUNES SILVA ◽

MAIELE LEANDRO DA SILVA ◽

ELIANE QUEIROGA DE OLIVEIRA ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Experimental Design ◽

Maximum Yield ◽

Population Densities ◽

Agronomic Efficiency ◽

Green Mass ◽

Sole Crop ◽

Arid Conditions ◽

Caatinga Biome ◽

Brazilian Northeast ◽

Semi Arid

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic efficiency of intercropping combinations of carrot and arugula at different population densities in bicropping in the semi-arid conditions of the Brazilian Northeast. The study was conducted at the "Rafael Fernandes" Experimental Farm of the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA) during the period September 2011 to February 2012. The experimental design was of randomized complete blocks with treatments arranged in a 4 x 4 factorial scheme with four replications. The combinations were four population densities of carrot (40, 60, 80 and 100% of the recommended population in sole crop - RPSC) with four population densities of arugula (40, 60, 80 and 100% of the RPSC). The recommended population densities for sole crops of carrot and arugula are 500,000 and 1,000,000 plants per hectare, respectively. All treatments were fertilized with hairy woodrose (Merremia aegyptia L.), a spontaneous species of the Caatinga biome. The highest agronomic efficiency of carrot intercropped with arugula in bicropping was achieved in the combination of 40% of RPSC for the carrot and 100% of RPSC for the arugula. The commercial maximum yield (33.74 t ha-1) of carrot roots and the maximum yields of arugula green mass (8.06 and 2.67 t ha-1) in both cultivations were also obtained in the combination of population densities of 40% of RPSC for carrot and 100% of RPSC for arugula.

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The sequence and correlation of Early Ordovician (Arenig) graptolite faunas in the Richardson Trough and Misty Creek Embayment, Yukon Territory and District of Mackenzie, Canada

Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences ◽

10.1139/e06-065 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 43 (12) ◽

pp. 1791-1820 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

D E Jackson ◽

A C Lenz

Keyword(s):

Northwest Territories ◽

Deep Water ◽

Yukon Territory ◽

Early Ordovician ◽

The Road ◽

Bedded Chert ◽

First Occurrence ◽

Mackenzie Mountains ◽

First Time

Four graptolite biozones are recorded from the Arenig portion of the Road River Group in the Richardson and Mackenzie mountains in the Yukon and Northwest Territories. In ascending order, these zones are Tetragraptus approximatus, Pendeograptus fruticosus, Didymograptus bifidus, and Parisograptus caduceus australis (new). The Castlemainian stage may be represented by nongraptolitic massive bedded chert. The Arenig–Llanvirn boundary is drawn below the first occurrence of Undulograptus austrodentatus. Fifty-four graptolite taxa are present, and 16 of these species and subspecies are recorded for the first time in this deep-water biotope, namely, Didymograptus? cf. adamantinus, D. asperus, D. dilatans, D. cf. kurcki, D. validus communis, Holmograptus aff. leptograptoides, H. sp. A, Isograptus? sp. nov. A, I. ? dilemma, Keblograptus geminus, Pseudisograptus manubriatus harrisi, Ps. m. koi, Ps. m. janus, Ps. cf. tau, Xiphograptus lofuensis, and Zygograptus cf. abnormis.

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First record of Ornithodoros faccinii (Acari: Argasidae) on toads of genus Rhinella (Anura: Bufonidae) in Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-296120180032 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Hermes Ribeiro Luz ◽

Bruna Barboza Bezerra ◽

Walter Flausino ◽

Arlei Marcili ◽

Sebastián Muñoz-Leal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

16S Rrna ◽

Tick Species ◽

Rio De Janeiro ◽

Bird Species ◽

First Record ◽

Molecular Approach ◽

Phylogenetic Relatedness ◽

Mitochondrial Sequence ◽

First Time

Abstract Although a group of soft ticks (Argasidae) associated with amphibians was recently discovered in Brazilian rainforests, parasitism by these ticks on cold-blooded animals remains less common than on mammal and bird species. In this study, we identified ticks that were collected from toads that had been caught in December 2016 and January 2017, at Itinguçú waterfall (22°54’05” S; 43°53’30” W) in the municipality of Itaguaí, state of Rio de Janeiro. Tick specimens were identified using a morphological and molecular approach. In total, twelve larvae of Ornithodoros ticks were collected from three individuals of Rhinella ornata and were identified as Ornithodoros faccinii. Our results include a longer 16S rRNA mitochondrial sequence for O. faccinii that supports its phylogenetic relatedness to Ornithodoros saraivai, and we report this tick species parasitizing Rhinella toads for the first time in Brazil.

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The demography of desert Australia

The Rangeland Journal ◽

10.1071/rj07043 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 30 (1) ◽

pp. 29 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Dominic Brown ◽

John Taylor ◽

Martin Bell

Keyword(s):

Economic Policy ◽

Arid Zone ◽

Policy Implications ◽

Population Projections ◽

Research Centre ◽

Arid Zones ◽

Demographic Information ◽

The Impact ◽

First Time ◽

Semi Arid

In recent years, with the formation of organisations such as the Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre, social science interest in the Australian desert has re-surfaced with a research emphasis that is focused on creating sustainable futures for the region. One consequence of this is a demand for detailed demographic information to allow an assessment of different quanta of need in social and economic policy, and for assessment of the impact of these in environmental policy. However, demographic analysis on human populations in the desert to date has attracted very little research attention. In this paper we begin to address this lack of analysis by focusing on the populations, both aboriginal and non-aboriginal, of the arid and semi-arid zones of Australia. We extend earlier analysis by including for the first time demographic information on the semi-arid as well as the arid zone to establish the spatial pattern of population growth within the whole desert area drawing attention to the resulting settlement structure as an outcome of prevailing social, cultural and economic conditions. By examining population structure and demographic components of population change we also present for the first time population projections for the semi-arid zone and, therefore, in combination with the arid zone, for the entire Australian desert. All of this provides a basis for considering social and economic policy implications and the nature of underlying processes that drive change in this region.

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First occurrence of Amblyomma ovale in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-29612013000100032 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 167-170 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Caroline Gracielle Torres Ferreira ◽

Ana Carla Diógenes Suassuna Bezerra ◽

Otávio Valério de Carvalho ◽

Márcia Rogéria de Almeida ◽

Claudio Mafra

Keyword(s):

Tick Species ◽

Rio Grande ◽

The State ◽

Boophilus Microplus ◽

Domestic Dogs ◽

Wild Animals ◽

Emerging Pathogens ◽

Wild Carnivores ◽

Amblyomma Ovale ◽

First Occurrence

This study aims to report the occurrence of parasitism byAmblyomma ovale (Koch, 1844) in dogs in the municipality of Apodi, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Specimens were identified as being one female and two males of A. ovale, besides; the animal was infested by five females of Rhipicephalus(Boophilus) microplus and seven females and three males of R. sanguineus. The finding ofA. ovale confirms results in the literature that these ticks, reported in several species of wild carnivores, can also infect dogs in Brazil. The distribution of this tick species in several Brazilian states has already been confirmed, but this is the first report in the State of Rio Grande do Norte. This finding highlights the risk of the carrying of emerging and re-emerging pathogens to peridomestic hosts are as, either because of the frequency of these ticks in wild environments or the presence of infected wild animals near peridomestic environments, exposing domestic dogs to parasitism byA. ovale ticks and, therefore, to agents potentially carried by this ectoparasite.

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The Genome Size of Some Species of Hyalomma Ticks from Turkish Thrace

Systematic and Applied Acarology ◽

10.11158/saa.23.11.5 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 23 (11) ◽

pp. 2122 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nadim Yılmazer

Keyword(s):

Genome Size ◽

X Chromosome ◽

Tick Species ◽

Animal Health ◽

Chromosome Size ◽

Diploid Genome ◽

Flow Cytometric ◽

Determination System ◽

Sex Determination System ◽

First Time

Hyalomma scupense, H. excavatum and H. marginatum are globally important tick species, as well as in Turkey, both in terms of human and animal health. The genome sizes of these tick species were determined in this study for the first time. From flow cytometric measurements, diploid genome sizes of female and male H. scupense were found to be 2.13 pg and 1.75 pg, respectively, while H. excavatum were 2.21 pg and 1.94 pg, and H. marginatum were 2.48 pg and 1.98 pg, respectively. Differences in diploid genome size indicate X chromosome size of females and males in these ticks because they have an XX:XO sex determination system. Thus, it was estimated that the X chromosome of H. scupense, H. excavatum, and H. marginatum may be composed of as much as 0.38 pg, 0.27 pg, and 0.50 pg of DNA, respectively. These findings indicate suitability of these three species for genome sequencing due to the relatively small size of their genomes compared with other tick species.

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