Zootherapeutic uses of animals excreta: the case of elephant dung and urine use in Sayaboury province, Laos

Background Despite a widespread aversion towards faeces and urine, animal excreta are used in traditional medicine in many countries since centuries, but records are scattered and few therapeutic uses have been accurately documented while in the current context of emerging zoonoses such records may be of major interest. Methodology In this study, we investigated the therapeutic uses that mahouts in Xayaboury province, Lao PDR make of elephant urine and faeces as well as of the brood chamber that beetles (Heliocopris dominus) fashion from elephant dung. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with mahouts on elephant diet, health problems and responses to disease, andwhether they use elephant products. Data were supplemented by interviews with traditional healers. Results Seven respondents reported the use of elephant urine in ethnoveterinary care for elephants and in human medicine in case of diabetes and otitis. 25 respondents reported therapeutic use of elephant faeces (EF) and elephant dung beetle brood chambers. The major indications are gastrointestinal and skin problems. Macerations or decoctions are drunk or used externally as a lotion. The mahouts attribute the therapeutic effectiveness of EFs to their content which includes the remains of many species from the elephant diet which they consider to be medicinal. Discussion The indications of these uses are consistent with pharmacological and clinical studies highlighting the properties of different animals’ urine and faeces and their curative potential tested in vivo. The acknowledgement by the mahouts of medicinal properties of elephant faecal bolus contrasts with the rare justifications of animal material use recorded in zootherapeutic studies, which falls within the symbolic domain. However, numerous studies highlight the preponderant role of the microbiota in physiological processes, raising the hypothesis of a curative action of EF, by rebalancing the user’s microbiota. Conclusion The therapeutic uses of EF preparations despite their possible curative properties are a potential source of zoonotic transmission from elephants to humans. In the current context of globalisation of trade which favours the emergence of zoonoses and in relation with the issue of One Health, it becomes crucial to further document the zootherapeutic practices to prevent emerging diseases. As elephants and local related ethnoethological knowledge are threatened, documenting them is urgent to contribute to their preservation.

Comparative RNA-Seq Analyses of Solenopsis japonica (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Reveal Gene in Response to Cold Stress

Solenopsis japonica, as a fire ant species, shows some predatory behavior towards earthworms and woodlice, and preys on the larvae of other ant species by tunneling into a neighboring colony’s brood chamber. This study focused on the molecular response process and gene expression profiles of S. japonica to low (9 °C)-temperature stress in comparison with normal temperature (25 °C) conditions. A total of 89,657 unigenes (the clustered non-redundant transcripts that are filtered from the longest assembled contigs) were obtained, of which 32,782 were annotated in the NR (nonredundant protein) database with gene ontology (GO) terms, gene descriptions, and metabolic pathways. The results were 81 GO subgroups and 18 EggNOG (evolutionary genealogy of genes: Non-supervised Orthologous Groups) keywords. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with log2fold change (FC) > 1 and log2FC < −1 with p-value ≤ 0.05 were screened for cold stress temperature. We found 215 unigenes up-regulated and 115 unigenes down-regulated. Comparing transcriptome profiles for differential gene expression resulted in various DE proteins and genes, including fatty acid synthases and lipid metabolism, which have previously been reported to be involved in cold resistance. We verified the RNA-seq data by qPCR on 20 up- and down-regulated DEGs. These findings facilitate the basis for the future understanding of the adaptation mechanisms of S. japonica and the molecular mechanisms underlying the response to low temperatures.

Efficacy and temperature dependence of 60% and 85% formic acid treatment against Varroa destructor

The ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor is considered one of the main threats to the western honey bee (Apis mellifera). Efficient pest management is crucial, and the evaporation of formic acid (FA) is an active principle that could be adopted. However, the usage of FA has an extreme variable efficacy depending on several conditions, ambient temperature among them. Cooler conditions, as they usually occur in Central Europe in late summer and autumn, can negatively affect treatment success. Our study aims to evaluate factors that influence the efficacy of different FA treatments. Over a period of 8 years, we investigated the effect of ambient temperature, hive size and dispenser type on the treatment success with 60% and 85% FA and consolidated those factors in a linear regression model. Treatment with 60% FA shows higher variability, and often lowered efficacy, especially in double brood chamber hives. In contrast, 85% FA treatment achieves higher efficacy and lower variability and shows significantly diminished dependence on ambient temperature.

Description and photographs of cricket parental care in the wild

Although certain forms of parental care are relatively widespread phenomena among insects, within Orthoptera, parental care is rare. Short-tailed burrowing crickets (Anurogryllus spp.) are among the few members of this order for which extensive parental care has been documented. However, accounts of parental care in Anurogryllus have been largely under laboratory conditions, and observations of this behavior in the wild are rare. Herein we present photographic observations from a mountain slope in Honduras where we discovered an active Anurogryllus brood chamber where an adult female was tending her brood. We present these results in the context of parental care in insects and compare our observations with those reported in past literature published on Anurogryllus crickets’ parental behavior.

Estimation of the Postmortem Interval Through the Use of Development Time of Two South American Species of Forensic Importance of the Genus Lucilia (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Obtaining the specific development time of each species of forensic interest is crucial for the estimation of an accurate and reliable Minimum Postmortem Interval (PMImin). In Argentina, Lucilia ochricornis (Wiedemann) and Lucilia purpurascens (Walker) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) were masked under the name Lucilia cluvia (Walker) for a long time still in forensic expertise. For this reason, the objective of this work is to deepen the study of the development time of these species and utilize this relevant information in the generation of different associated methods that can be used in forensics to estimate the PMI. Immature stages of L. ochricornis and L. purpurascens were reared in a brood chamber according to the following temperature treatments: 13.4, 15.1, 22.3, and 23.6°C. The development time of each stage/state of these flies was recorded as well as the resulting accumulated degree-hours (ADH), to build isomorphen diagrams and thermal summation models for each species. The development time and ADH were different between both species and their development stages. On the other hand, the methods provided for estimating PMImin provide the forensic entomologist more tools to reach accurate and reliable estimates.

Trait–fitness associations do not predict within-species phenotypic evolution over 2 million years

Long-term patterns of phenotypic change are the cumulative results of tens of thousands to millions of years of evolution. Yet, empirical and theoretical studies of phenotypic selection are largely based on contemporary populations. The challenges in studying phenotypic evolution, in particular trait–fitness associations in the deep past, are barriers to linking micro- and macroevolution. Here, we capitalize on the unique opportunity offered by a marine colonial organism commonly preserved in the fossil record to investigate trait–fitness associations over 2 Myr. We use the density of female polymorphs in colonies of Antartothoa tongima as a proxy for fecundity, a fitness component, and investigate multivariate signals of trait–fitness associations in six time intervals on the backdrop of Pleistocene climatic shifts. We detect negative trait–fitness associations for feeding polymorph (autozooid) sizes, positive associations for autozooid shape but no particular relationship between fecundity and brood chamber size. In addition, we demonstrate that long-term trait patterns are explained by palaeoclimate (as approximated by ∂ 18 O), and to a lesser extent by ecological interactions (i.e. overgrowth competition and substrate crowding). Our analyses show that macroevolutionary outcomes of trait evolution are not a simple scaling-up from the trait–fitness associations.

Bee health: Determining the causes affecting honeybees’ productivity (Apis mellifera)

1. Insects are responsible for the quantity and quality of one-third of all agricultural production worldwide through pollination. The quality of the pollination service and the safety of the honey production depends on the health and nutritional condition of the hives, which, for an important part is related to management practices. 2. This study aims to identify the stressors that lead to the loss of bee health and its consequences for the productivity of the hives. Different aspects related to management practices, productivity, clinical observations related to diseases, presence of health issues in the hives or in the apiaries, to the structure of the hives, weather and infestation rates by Varroa sp. mites were measured. The information was collected during two field surveys in 53 apiaries in the Province of Santa Fe, Argentina. 3. The results show correlations among many of the management practices, health condition and productivity of the hive, with most importantly the change of the bee queen, the disinfection of the beekeeping material and the number of combs in the brood chamber. 4. Although honey production is important in the region, the hive structure was deficient and inadequate during both surveys. Due to its dependence on management by the beekeeper, this suggests that a holistic approach can improve the hive structure, increasing the honey production.

Turning defence into offence? Intrusion of cladoceran brood chambers by a green alga leads to reproductive failure

Microalgae are the foundation of aquatic food webs. Their ability to defend against grazers is paramount to their survival, and modulates their ecological functions. Here, we report a novel anti-grazer strategy in the common green alga Chlorella vulgaris against two grazers, Daphnia magna and Simocephalus sp. The algal cells entered the brood chamber of both grazers, presumably using the brood current generated by the grazer's abdominal appendages. Once inside, the alga densely colonized the eggs, significantly reducing reproductive success. The effect was apparent under continuous light or higher light intensity. The algal cells remained viable following removal from the brood chamber, continuing to grow when inoculated in fresh medium. No brood chamber colonization was found when the grazers were fed the reference diet Raphidocelis subcapitata under the same experimental conditions, despite the fact that both algal species were readily ingested by the grazers and were small enough to enter their brood chambers. These observations suggest that C. vulgaris can directly inflict harm on the grazers' reproductive structure. There is no known prior example of brood chamber colonization by a microalgal prey; our results point to a new type of grazer–algae interaction in the plankton that fundamentally differs from other antagonistic ecological interactions.

STUDY OF THE VARROASIS INFESTATION RATE IN THE CENTRAL AREA OF ECUADOR

Objective: To study the Varroasis Infestation rate in the central area of Ecuador. Methods: The experimental phase was developed in four apiaries distributed in the provinces: Bolivar, Tungurahua, Chimborazo and Los Rios (12 hives), the experimentation lasted 65 d. A DCA design was applied. Three different systems were used for the identification of varroa: soapy water (SW), honeycomb cut (HC) and the cardboard with semi-solid petrolatum (CSP). Results: With the SW method, it was obtained that Chimborazo has 23.14%; followed by Tungurahua (7.99%); Los Rios (3.24%) and finally Bolivar with (0.51%); with the HC method, it was determined that Chimborazo has the highest incidence with 9.13%; followed by Bolivar and finally Los Rios; with the CSP method, the province of Chimborazo presents the highest infestation (26250 individuals); followed by Bolivar, Tungurahua, and Los Rios. Regarding the production of eggs for each frame, 3 frames taken from the brood chamber were used in each of the apiaries under study; Chimborazo being where there is less quantity of eggs for each frame, followed by Bolivar, Tungurahua and finally Los Ríos. Conclusion: The higher the geographical height, the greater the Varroa infestation.

Observations on nesting activity, life cycle, and brood ball morphometry of the Bordered Dung Beetle Oniticellus cinctus (Fabricius, 1775) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) under laboratory conditions

The nesting activity, life cycle, and brood ball morphometry of the dung beetle Oniticellus cinctus (Fabricius, 1775) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) were studied under laboratory conditions for the first time in India. The females made a brood chamber within the dung mass provided, wherein they made brood balls to lay eggs. The life cycle includes egg, larva (three instars), pupa, and adult stages. The total duration for the development was about one month. The study found that there was a significant difference present in the brood ball diameter (except in the first and second instars) and brood ball weight (except in the second instar and pupa) of the six life cycle stages. It was also found that brood ball weight and diameter have a significant positive correlation as well as a linear relationship.