Characterization of genetic diversity of an invasive Lessepsian Migrant, Nemipterus randalli Russell, 1986 from its native and non-native regions using mitochondrial DNA marker

This study assessed and compared the genetic diversity of Nemipterus randalli across its native and non-native regions analysing the mitochondrial DNA D-loop region. Including all the geographical population samples, 68 haplotypes were observed with an average haplotype diversity value of 0.92±0.04. Relatively, a smaller number of haplotypes was observed in the invasive range of the Mediterranean Sea. All other native geographical samples showed high haplotype and nucleotide diversity values. A significant high genetic differentiation value was observed between the native population samples of India and the invasive samples of the Mediterranean Sea. In the median-joining network tree, N. randalli from the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea formed a single haplogroup while other samples from India are clustered into two haplogroups.

Structural characteristics of the cenopopulations of Atraphaxis frutescens (L.) C. Koch (Polygonaceae) in the territory of botanically valuable natural complexes of the Samara region

The reduction in the area occupied by the petrophytic steppes of the European part of Russia, including in the Samara region, due to alienation under agricultural land and high anthropogenic pressure, led to a decrease in the total number of plant species in the steppe and mountain-steppe flora. The current state of the species of these phytocenotic groups in the regions also depends on the ecological and biological characteristics of the representatives.The object of study is Atraphaxis frutescens (L.) C. Koch (Polygonaceae). On the territory of the Samara Pre-Volga and Trans-Volga regions, the structure and current state of 21 coenopopulations were studied. In the course of the work, traditional population-ontogenetic techniques and recommendations were used. The heterogeneity of the ontogenetic spectra was revealed, the regional basic ontogenetic spectrum of Atraphaxis frutescens cenopopulations, the main demographic parameters (including the age-effectiveness criterion L. A. Zhivotovsky was used to determine the type of cenopopulations) were determined. Based on data on the population structure, the protection efficiency of Atraphaxis frutescens as part of nature monuments of regional significance is analyzed in comparison with other valuable natural complexes that do not have conservation status. It has been established that with low and medium load on the vegetation cover, natural monuments are able to ensure the preservation of the species in the region. Significant differences in the ontogenetic spectra of coenopopulations in and beyond protected areas were not noted. In the coenopopulations of A. frutescens in protected areas, there is a slight increase in the number of old generative plants (31.4 %) and a decrease in the proportion of subsenile individuals (7.1 %). The average area of the geographical population on the territory of protected natural complexes is 850 m2, the average number is 2011.7 generative individuals; outside the protected areas, the population area is 275 m2 and the number of individuals is 642.4.Thus, natural monuments contribute to better conservation of the area of the geographical population, ensure the stability of the number of individuals and spatial distribution, including the formation of large aggregations of individuals and a more even distribution of recorded aggregations.

Development of EST-derived microsatellite markers to investigate the population structure of sparganum — the causative agent of zoonotic sparganosis

The plerocercoid (sparganum) of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei is the main aetiological agent of human sparganosis. To improve the current knowledge on S. erinaceieuropaei evolution, we performed multi-locus microsatellite typing of sparganum isolates from China for the first time. All available expressed sequence tag (EST) sequences for the Spirometra were downloaded from the GenBank. The identification and localization of microsatellites in ESTs was accomplished by MISA. Based on the selected microsatellites, the genetic structure of 64 sparganum isolates collected from 11 geographical locations in southwest China were investigated through principal component analysis, STRUCTURE analysis and neighbour-joining clustering. A total of 522 non-redundant ESTs containing 915 simple sequence repeats were identified from 12 481 ESTs screened. Five primer pairs were finally selected. Using these loci, a total of 12 alleles were detected in 64 sparganum isolates. Little variability was observed within each of geographical population, especially among isolates derived from Kunming of Yunnan (YN-KM) province. Both STRUCTURE analysis and the clustering analysis supported that two genotypes existed among the sparganum isolates from southwest China. In conclusion, five microsatellite markers were successfully developed, and sparganum population was observed to harbour low genetic variation, further investigation with deeper sampling was needed to elucidate the population structure.

Rates of population differentiation and speciation are decoupled in sea snakes

Comparative phylogeography can inform many macroevolutionary questions, such as whether species diversification is limited by rates of geographical population differentiation. We examined the link between population genetic structure and species diversification in the fully aquatic sea snakes (Hydrophiinae) by comparing mitochondrial phylogeography across northern Australia in 16 species from two closely related clades that show contrasting diversification dynamics. Contrary to expectations from theory and several empirical studies, our results show that, at the geographical scale studied here, rates of population differentiation and speciation are not positively linked in sea snakes. The eight species sampled from the rapidly speciating Hydrophis clade have weak population differentiation that lacks geographical structure. By contrast, all eight sampled Aipysurus–Emydocephalus species show clear geographical patterns and many deep intraspecific splits, but have threefold slower speciation rates. Alternative factors, such as ecological specialization, species duration and geographical range size, may underlie rapid speciation in sea snakes.

Myxozoans as biological tags for stock identification of the Argentine hake, Merluccius hubbsi (Gadiformes: Merlucciidae)

SUMMARYMyxozoans have been successfully used as tags for fish stock identification around the world. However, few studies using myxozoan tags have been carried out in the Southern Atlantic, a region with complex oceanography that constitutes a potentially suitable scenario for testing the utility of myxozoans as indicators. Its usefulness was tested using six samples of Merluccius hubbsi in two different regions of the Argentine Sea. Generalized linear models were performed to assess the effects of fish size and sex, and year and region of capture and selected using the Information Theoretic approach. Three myxozoan species were recorded: Kudoa rosenbuschi, Myxoproteus meridionalis and Fabespora sp. Results of modelling species individually showed differential capabilities for detecting geographical population structure at different spatial scales, with K. rosenbuschi and Fabespora sp. allowing the discrimination of northern and southern stocks, but Fabespora sp. also as a promissory indicator of intrapopulation sub-structure due to different migratory routes during non-reproductive periods. This work confirms that myxozoans offer a set of suitable markers at different spatial scales, which can be selected individually or in any combination, depending on the geographical extent of the study, constituting tools adaptable to the objectives of further research on fish population structure.

Socio-Clinical Profile Of HIV Patients Visiting To An Art Centre

Introduction: Scenario of the AIDS epidemic, clinical course and pattern of opportunistic infections in HIV patients is changing world-wide. The study aims to fulfill the paucity of socio-clinical profi le among the patient of HIV with geographical population of this region. Methodology: This is a hospital based cross sectional clinical study with a sample size of 110 respondents presenting to ART center at Jayarogya Hospital (JAH) Gwalior from May 2010 to Oct 2011. Results: Mean age of study population was 35.44±9. High Frequency of weight loss > 10% (P<0.001), fever (P=0.0027), breathlessness (P=0.03), itching (P<0.001), lymphadenopathy (P<0.001), oral thrush (P=0.006), extra pulmonary tuberculosis (P=0.04), candidiasis (P=0.006) at low CD4 count (<200) and difference in mean CD4 count (P=0.0039) among male (202.21) and female (291.41) was found to be statistically signifi cant. CD4 counts of the patients were signifi cantly inversely correlated with the number of opportunistic infections and the number of symptoms (R=-0.369; P<0.001, R=-0.223; P=0.019 respectively). Conclusion: The study depicts male predominance, young sexually active group vulnerability, with a quite difference in clinical presentation and occurrence of opportunistic infections from other part of the world necessitating formulation of different set of guidelines for subjects of Indian subcontinent to improve life-span of such patients. SAARC Journal of Tuberculosis, Lung Diseases & HIV/AIDS; 2013; X(2); 7-14 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/saarctb.v10i2.9707