Unexpected intracranial location of a Cephenemyia stimulator larva in a roe deer, Capreolus capreolus, revealed by computed tomography

In this study we describe the finding of a Cephenemyia stimulator larva in the brain of a roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) after performing a computed tomography (CT) scan of its head. Despite this anatomical location of oestrid larvae could be relatively frequent in other genera, such as Oestrus, to our knowledge, this is the first reported case involving the genus Cephenemyia. Concretely, a second-instar C. stimulator larvae was found in the basis of the cranium. The location of a macroscopic hemorrhagic lesion involving the brain parenchyma peripheral to the location of the larva suggests that tissue colonization occurred before the animal was hunted. Since no detectable alterations or damage to the cranial bones were observed, we suggest a possible larval migration route drilling the skull bones. Finally, we propose the use of the term “neuromyiasis” to be referred to the invasion of the central nervous system by dipteran larvae, particularly oestrids.

Nuevos datos de distribución de marta Martes martes en Ourense, Galicia. El fototrampeo como herramienta de muestreo de la especie

Pine marten Martes martes is a medium size mustelid that inhabits well-conserved forests of the northern Iberian Peninsula. Currently, the distribution and ecology of the species in the Iberian Peninsula is poorly known. In this work, 27 UTM 10x10km grids in the province of Ourense were sampled using camera-trapping techniques, with the aim of increasing knowledge about the distribution of the species in Galicia. The presence of pine marten was confirmed in 18 of the surveyed grids, which increases the species´ known distribution area by 21% in this community and by 62% in Ourense province, confirming camera-trapping specific survey as a highly effective method to know the distribution of elusive species such as the pine marten.