Molecular and MALDI-TOF MS identification of swallow bugs Cimex hirundinis (Heteroptera: Cimicidae) and endosymbionts in France

Background The Cimicidae are obligatory blood-feeding ectoparasites of medical and veterinary importance. We aim in the current study to assess the ability of MALDI-TOF MS to identify Cimex hirundinis swallow bugs collected in house martin nests. Methods Swallow bugs were picked out from abandoned nests of house martin swallows and identified morphologically to the species level. The bugs were randomly selected, dissected and then subjected to MALDI-TOF MS and molecular analyses. Results A total of 65 adults and 50 nymphs were used in the attempt to determine whether this tool could identify the bug species and discriminate their developmental stages. Five adults and four nymphs of C. hirundinis specimens were molecularly identified to update our MS homemade arthropod database. BLAST analysis of COI gene sequences from these C. hirundinis revealed 98.66–99.12% identity with the corresponding sequences of C. hirundinis of the GenBank. The blind test against the database supplemented with MS reference spectra showed 100% (57/57) C. hirundinis adults and 100% (46/46) C. hirundinis nymphs were reliably identified and in agreement with morphological identification with logarithmic score values between 1.922 and 2.665. Ninety-nine percent of C. hirundinis specimens tested were positive for Wolbachia spp. The sequencing results revealed that they were identical to Wolbachia massiliensis, belonging to the new T-supergroup strain and previously isolated from C. hemipterus. Conclusions We report for the first time to our knowledge a case of human infestation by swallow bugs (C. hirundinis) in France. We also show the usefulness of MALDI-TOF MS in the rapid identification of C. hirundinis specimens and nymphs with minimal sample requirements. We phylogenetically characterized the novel Wolbachia strain (W. massiliensis) infecting C. hirundinis and compared it to other recognized Wolbachia clades. Graphical Abstract

Urban emergence of Dermanyssus gallinae lineage L1 and Ornithonyssus sylviarum in Hungary: phylogenetic differentiation between the roles of migrating vs transported synanthropic birds

Background Among Dermanyssoidea, the chicken red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) and the northern fowl mite (Ornithonyssus sylviarum) are considered to be the cause of high economic losses endured by the poultry industry in the Holarctic region, with O. sylviarum predominating in North America and D. gallinae in Europe. Both species have a short life-cycle (thereby allowing a rapid build-up of massive infestations), a wide range of hosts, synanthropic presence and the ability to bite humans. The aim of this study was to analyze dermanyssoid mite specimens, collected in two human dwellings and two racing pigeon premises in different urban areas in Hungary, with molecular–phylogenetic methods. Methods Mite species were identified morphologically. This was followed by DNA extraction and molecular–phylogenetic analyses of selected mites, based on the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) and 28S rRNA (28S) genes. Results Mites that had invaded a home from a pigeon nest and were linked to human dermatitis were morphologically and molecularly identified as D. gallinae special lineage L1. Specimens collected at all other sampling sites were identified as O. sylviarum, including mites that had invaded a home from a house martin (Delichon urbicum) nest, as well as those which were collected from racing pigeons. House martin- or pigeon-associated O. sylviarum specimens showed the highest sequence identity and closest phylogenetic relationship with conspecific mites reported in GenBank from Israel or Canada, respectively. Conclusions Detailed morphological and molecular–phylogenetic analyses of D. gallinae lineage L1 confirmed its status as a cryptic species within D. gallinae (s.l.). Taking into account the well-documented latitudinal migratory routes of house martins between Hungary and Africa, O. sylviarum associated with this bird species most likely arrived on its host from the eastern Mediterranean region. On the other hand, mites collected from pigeons in Hungary showed cox1 genetic homogeneity with North American O. sylviarum, which can only be explained by a long-distance (west-to-east intercontinental) connection of birds and their mites as part of human activity (e.g. transportation to exhibitions or trading). In summary, this is the first molecularly confirmed and phylogenetically analyzed case of O. sylviarum infestation of birds in Hungary, implicating urban environment and involving distant parts of the country. This is also the first report of D. gallinae lineage L1 in central Europe.

Survey on the Avian Diversity along the Annapurna Sanctuary Trekking Route in Western Nepal

A bird survey was carried out on one of Nepal’s most popular trekking destinations, Annapurna Base Camp in the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA). ACA trekking route was selected as our transect line. Direct observation method and call count method were used during the survey following the transect line. A total of 166 species were recorded representing nine orders and 39 families. The main objective of the present work was to study the avian diversity. Eight nationally threatened and three globally threatened bird species were recorded during the survey. White-rumped vulture Gyps bengalensis (Gmelin) and Red-headed vulture Sarcogyps calvus (Scopoli) (critically endangered species) were also recorded. The abundancy of Rufous sibia Malacias capistratus (Vigors) was higher, while Nepal house martin Delichon nipalense (Moore) had the highest number. Hunting, excessive harvesting of bamboo shoots, orchids, overgrazing and improper management of solid waste were directly observed threats.

Birds observed during the monitoring period of 2013-2017 in the revegetation area of ex-coal mining sites in South Kalimantan, Indonesia

Soendjoto MA, Riefani MK, Triwibowo D, Metasari D. 2018. Birds observed during the monitoring period of 2013-2017 in the revegetation area of ex-coal mining sites in South Kalimantan, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 19: 323-329. The number of bird species in the reclaimed and revegetated ex-mine site increases as the vegetation age increases. To test the hypotheses, the number of bird species was recorded at 08.00-12.00 and 14.00-17.00, 6-8 days for eight consecutive semiannual monitorings of 2013-2017 in four revegetation sites. Since the second half of 2015, another revegetation site, namely BP was added. Bird species were recorded in 25 m right side and 25 m left side of the observation path and within a radius of 25 m of observation points. To show an increase in the number of bird species, the number of newly discovered bird species in the given semiannual monitoring was added to the number of bird species in the previous semiannual monitoring. The number of bird species in the early semiannual monitoring was used as the baseline value. A bird species was categorized as a resident if the species was observed in each monitoring in the four vegetated sites. Up to the last monitoring, 53 bird species were recorded in the first four sites and 70 bird species in five sites (four reclamation and revegetation sites and one additional site, BP), while in the early semiannual monitoring (second half of 2013) birds recorded were only 30 species. This result shows that the older the vegetation age in the vegetated site, the greater the number of bird species utilizing the site. Seventeen species of birds were categorized as residents. These resident bird species includes White-breasted Woodswallow, Pied Triller, Scalybreasted Munia, Asian House-martin, Pacific Swallow, Long-tailed Shrike, Blue-throated Bee-eater, Olive-backed Sunbird, Sootyheaded Bulbul, Yellow-vented Bulbul, White-breasted Waterhen, Ashy Tailorbird, Yellow-bellied Prinia.