Summary Ektaphelenchus winteri was re-isolated from the county of Færder, southern Norway. Nematodes were feeding on larvae and adults of the gall midge Xylodiplosis nigritarsis as ectoparasites, i.e. , the nematode spears the host’s cuticle and sucks its blood using the stylet. Nematode specimens were collected and morphologically and molecularly examined, although only female materials were available. Generally, the typology of the re-isolated population corresponded well with the type population, with some minor differences. Molecular phylogenetic analysis suggested that E. winteri is closely related to Ektaphelenchoides fuchsi and ‘ Seinura demani ’, but was readily distinguished from these two species by its stylet lacking clear basal swellings, anteriorly located secretory-excretory pore, spherical-oval median bulb, and female elongate conoid posterior body. A literature review confirmed typological similarity between S. demani and E. fuchsi , as well as the vestigial rectum and anus in S. demani . Based on these characteristics, Ektaphelenchoides demani n. comb. is proposed.
[Objective] The paper aimed to evaluate in vitro development of infective structures of Beauveria spp. strains and their effect on the growth of tomato seedlings (Solanum lycopersicum) under high-temperature conditions. [Methodology] The development of five strains was compared under both optimal and high-temperature conditions (up to 35°C) regarding the production of conidia, mycelium growth, and germination. Subsequently, the effect of the strain with the highest yield on the growth of seedlings of S. lycopersicum, cultivar 'Gladiator', was assessed under the same temperature conditions. Furthermore, each strain was identified using PCR amplification of the nuclear intergenic region Bloc and elongation factor EF1-α. [Results] Strains were identified as Beauveria bassiana of neotropical lineage. No significant differences were found in the conidia production between treatments (p-value > 0.05), as opposed to mycelial growth. Minor but significant changes were observed in root-to-surface ratios but not in any other evaluated variables, and only for seedlings treated with strain H-31. [Conclusions] The entomopathogenic potential of B. bassiana was determined under environmental stress conditions, such as high temperatures typical of tropical climates. This study also lays the groundwork for the bioprospecting of thermotolerant microorganisms with agrobiotechnological potential in global warming scenarios.
Three new species of the genus Desoria are described from the eastern Palaearctic, i.e. D. nordenskioldi sp. nov., D. cooki sp. nov. and D. verticillata sp. nov., which belong to three different species groups recognized within the Palaearctic representatives of the genus. Of these, the former species is a member of the tigrina-group and is characterized by fused Abd. V-VI, long smooth macrochaetae and a low number of tergal macrosensilla. Desoria cooki sp. nov. belongs to the pjasini-group and differs from most similar species of the group by macrosetae densely ciliated all around and a fairly large number of tergal macrosensilla. The last species, D. verticillata sp. nov., from the violacea-group is distinguished by fused Abd. V-VI, long, whorled serrated abdominal macrosetae and a manubrial thickening with a free tooth.
Arctic terrestrial invertebrate biodiversity is generally poorly known, but the archipelago of Svalbard has one of the most up-to-date inventories of its terrestrial and freshwater faunas of any Arctic region, offering a baseline for long term monitoring of invertebrate communities in space and time. Since the most recent review of the Svalbard invertebrate fauna was produced in 2014, knowledge of this fauna has developed and this inventory is here critically revised and updated. Our aims are (1) to critically review the inventory based on current taxonomic knowledge, (2) publish the complete species inventory, including cross-referencing to the relevant publications, in an open access data archive (GBIF), and (3) highlight the particular advantages that working in Svalbard may bring for scientists working on terrestrial, freshwater, and cryospheric environments. The inventory contains a total 1091 valid species names or interim names. A gap analysis in the Barcode of Life Data Systems reveals that 50% of the species currently documented from Svalbard lack COI (Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1) barcode reference sequences in this database. Gaps in our knowledge of the Svalbard fauna and how these may be resolved are discussed.
Dengue is the most common arboviral disease. It is typically spread by the bite of an infected female Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. Dengue is endemic in subtropical and tropical regions, but its geographic reach keeps expanding. Ophthalmic manifestations of dengue are common and may present with a wide spectrum of ophthalmic findings. These may range from conjunctival petechiae, retinal hemorrhage, retinal vasculitis to panophthalmitis. Some of these may be vision threatening and may require urgent ophthalmic evaluation. The precise pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in dengue infection involve a complex interplay between host immune responses, virus, and host genes. There is no specific treatment for ocular dengue. Therefore, treatment is supportive. Despite the lack of proven efficacy, corticosteroids have been used in vision-threatening dengue-related ocular complications. Dengue must be considered in endemic areas, and a careful travel history needs to be elicited in nonendemic areas.
