THE ABUNDANCE OF BORRELIA INIXODID TICKS OF BAIKAL REGION

Ixodid ticks (n=3714) from natural foci of Baikal Region (Irkutsk Region and Republic of Buryatia) have been examined for pathogenic Borrelia DNA during 2013-2010. On average 40.9 % of the samples were positive for Borrelia markers during the survey period; the range of variantion was – 32–55 %. The increasing of infection rate in ticks is traced in multi-year trends. During the ticks’ activity season, maximal infection rates have been noted at the end of the season (60 %), minimal – at the very beginning of the season (28,6 %) and on the peak of vectors’ abundance (36-39 %). The significant geographical, species and age differences have been detected in Borrelia infection rate of Ixodid ticks. Borrelia DNA have been detected considerably more often in taiga tick (the main vector of Ixodid tick borrelioses in Siberia) and in its nymphs more often, than in adult ticks. There was no difference in the infection rate of male and female ticks, and also between ticks, collected from the vegetation and from human and animals. The ratio og genotyped Borrelia species had been as follows: 64.2 % – B. garinii, 21,7 % – B. afzelii, 14,2 % – B. miyamotoi. Key words: Ixodid ticks, pathogenic Borrelia, PCR, genotyping, Baikal Region.

Four records of new to Egypt gastropod species including the first reported Tropical Leatherleaf slug Laevicaulis alte (d’A. de Férussac, 1822) (Pulmonata: Veronicellidae)

A survey of terrestrial mollusks was performed during their activity season in various spots of gardens, nurseries and agricultural fields in Cairo, Giza as well as in some neighboring areas between December 2014 and October 2018. Several invasive terrestrial gastropod species were identified. These gastropods are invasive and abundant pests causing considerable and serious damage to agricultural areas in the Nile Delta Region of Egypt. The specimens were collected from different locations in the governorates of Cairo and Giza. A total of 12 species (8 species of terrestrial snails and 4 of slugs) were identified by their shell characteristics and genital-anatomical characters. The following four species were identified for the first time in Egyptian gardens and nurseries: 1) Polygyra cereolus (Megerle von Mühlfeld, 1816), 2) Oxychilus cf. cellarius (O. F. Müller, 1774), 3) Zonitoides arboreus (Say, 1816) and 4) Laevicaulis alte (d’ A. de Férussac, 1822), which is particularly injurious to agricultural production. The other invasive species reported in this study were recorded in other agricultural fields and are common pests of gardens, nurseries and agricultural areas in Egypt. This study presents essential information on each species, their original and current distribution in Egyptian agricultural fields.

Endure your parasites: Sleepy Lizard (Tiliqua rugosa) movement is not affected by their ectoparasites

Movement is often used to indicate host vigour, as it has various ecological and evolutionary implications, and has been shown to be affected by parasites. We investigate the relationship between tick load and movement in the Australian Sleepy Lizard (Tiliqua rugosa (Gray, 1825)) using high resolution GPS tracking. This allowed us to track individuals across the entire activity season. We hypothesized that tick load negatively affects host movement (mean distance moved per day). We used a multivariate statistical model informed by the ecology and biology of the host and parasite, their host–parasite relationship, and known host movement patterns. This allowed us to quantify the effects of ticks on lizard movement above and beyond effects of other factors such as time in the activity season, lizard body condition, and stress. We did not find any support for our hypothesis. Instead, our results provide evidence that lizard movement is strongly driven by internal state (sex and body condition independent of tick load) and by external factors (environmental conditions). We suggest that the Sleepy Lizard has largely adapted to natural levels of tick infection in this system. Our results conform to host–parasite arms race theory, which predicts varying impacts of parasites on hosts in natural systems.

Some Ecological, Clinical and Epidemiological Characterisics of the Tick-Borne Encephalitis Incidence in Irkutsk (1995 - 2015)

The results of archive data analysis of the tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) cases in Irkutsk during 1995 - 2015, got from Irkutsk Regional Center for hygiene and epidemiological surveillance, are shown. During the examined period the percent of severe forms and lethal outcomes of the disease have risen. The severe forms came more often at the very beginning and at peak of ticks’ activity season. The number of alimentary TBE cases, illness of anti-TBE vaccinated persons and persons with professional risk of infection have increased in Pribaikalie during 1995 - 2015. The recurring TBE cases have been also recorded.

Foraging behavior, environmental parameters and nests development of Melipona colimana Ayala (Hymenoptera: Meliponini) in temperate climate of Jalisco, México

Melipona colimana Ayala is an endemic species inhabiting temperate forests of pine and oak of south of Jalisco in Mexico. During a year, it was recorded every 15 days foraging activity, environmental parameters and the development of colonies of M. colimana in its wild habitat. For five minutes every hour from 7:00 to 21:00, the bees that entered and left the hive and bringing pollen and resin were registered. Every hour the relative humidity, temperature, wind speed and light intensity was recorded and related to foraging activity. Additionally, the weight of the colonies recently transferred to wooden boxes, the number of brood combs, honey pots and pollen were registered. The time of beginning and ending of the foraging activity differs from the reports of stingless bees of tropical weather and the same happens with the pollen collection. The environmental parameters that affect other tropical stingless bees in the foraging activity also affect M. colimana in temperate climate. It was determined that the major activity season and the presence of more pollen pots in the colony is from November through February, for what it could be the best time of the year for the division and obtainance of new colonies, while the critical period of minor activity and pollen flow was during rainy season. These data may be useful for the future sustainable use of this species in temperate climate.

Scatting behaviour of the pygmy bluetongue lizard

We used video recordings of 29 pygmy bluetongue lizards for ten days of each month during their spring and summer activity season to observe scatting behaviour. This was possible because resident lizards rarely moved from their single entrance burrows. We used these observations to ask questions about social communication that might be relevant to conservation of this endangered species. We found lizards produced more scats in the middle of the day than earlier or later in the day, and more scats in the spring and early summer than later in the summer. Lizards moved an average of 68.54 ± 0.09 cm from their burrow entrance to deposit scats, taking an average of 2.4 min per defecation trip. They tended to use the same path direction for most defecation trips, but used more different directions if there were more close neighbours, strongly supporting a hypothesis that scats mark burrow ownership. The results suggested that conservation managers might reduce stress for relocated lizards by removing scat piles in the early stages of settlement.