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This was the first study of the prevalence of skin diseases in dogs and cats in Santa Catarina. Medical records of all canine and feline patients referred to the Veterinary Clinic of the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Curitibanos campus, were evaluated. From 2015 to 2019, 322 dogs and cats presented dermatological lesions, corresponding to 25.3% of dermatological cases. Among them, 276 (85.7%) were dogs, and 46 (14.3%) were cats. Definitive diagnose were obtained in 72.5% and 71.3% of canine and feline patients, respectively. Mixed breed adults were most likely to develop skin diseases. Among the primary conditions, parasitic, fungal, and bacterial diseases were the most prevalent for both species. In dogs, pulicosis, followed by pyoderma and dermatophytosis, were the major diseases encountered. Nevertheless, cats presented higher prevalence of fungal diseases, followed by parasitic and bacterial disorders. Malassezia otitis was the most prevalent, followed by pulicosis and dermatophytosis.

This study was conducted to determine the occurrence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Staphylococcus piscifermentans nasal colonization among apparently healthy ruminants and their handlers in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. A total of six hundred and five (605) samples were collected aseptically using sterile swab sticks (Oxoid, UK) using a simple random technique from the ruminants and their human handlers at the Maiduguri central abattoir and livestock market (Kasuwan shanu). One hundred and fifty-one (151) samples were collected from each species (cattle, sheep and goat), while 152 samples were collected from animal handlers. The samples were immediately subjected to standard bacteriological analysis. A total of 195 (32.2%) coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species (CoNS) were presumptively identified; out of the 195 identified CoNS, 9 (4.62%) was Staphylococcus piscifermentans nasal colonization. The results revealed that out of 9 isolates, S. piscifermentans was highly isolated 4(8.3%) from sheep, followed by cattle and human handlers 2 (3.8%) respectively, and the least was from goats 1 (2.3%). Meanwhile, all the 9 (4.62%) isolates were negative for both tube and slide coagulase test. However, they were positive for DNase, Ornithine Decarboxylase (ODC) test, betta – hemolysis and synergistic hemolysis. 4(44.4%) of the 9 isolates were positive for Staphylococcus Protein A (SPA) virulence gene, none 0(0%) for mecA virulence gene, and 5(55.6%) were positive for slime (Biofilm) production. The antibiotic susceptibility pattern of these isolates was found to be highly variable to all the used drugs. Therefore, it is concluded that Staphylococcus piscifermentans isolated from these ruminants and their handlers contain virulence genes that could be responsible for pathogenicity. There is a need for more studies using higher technologies in other parts of the country to reveal the thorough status of the disease in Nigeria.

The American pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus, was introduced to Europe more than one hundred years ago. Currently it is a common fish in European freshwaters but relatively few specific parasites infect this fish in this new habitat. In Europe only a single species, Myxobolus dechtiari seems to represent the American myxosporean fauna of centrarchid fishes. M. dechtiari was found in both Portugal and Hungary. This species forms plasmodia with elongated shape inside the cartilaginous rays of gill filaments. In the advanced stage of infection, after disruption of plasmodia, small groups of myxospores remain enclosed in the cartilaginous gill rays causing distortions in the filaments. Myxospores were ellipsoidal in frontal view and lemon-shape in sutural, length 12.5 ± 0.46 (12–13.4) μm, width 10 ± 0.37 (9.6–10.4) μm, and thickness 7.4 ± 0.37 (7–8) μm; the polar capsules were pyriform, equal in size, length 5.6 ± 0.21 (5.3–6) μm, width 3.2 ± 0.16 (3–3.6) μm; Seven to eight polar tube coils were arranged perpendicularly to the capsule length. There was a small, round, 0.4 ± 0.1 (0.3–05) (N = 50) intercapsular appendix in the spores. The small subunit ribosomal DNA (ssrDNA) of M. dechtiari differed from other myxozoans sequenced to date. Phylogenetic analysis of the ssrDNA gene sequence placed this species in a clade including actinospores and Myxobolus species: Raabeia type1, Triactinomyxon sp., and Myxobolus osburni infecting the same host fish. The focus of our study was to prove that the pumpkinseed, a fish originated from North-America introduced one of its myxosporean parasite to Europe. Emphasis was put on to demonstrate the unique feature of this parasite causing infection in the cartilaginous gill rays., Graphical abstract Image 1, Highlights • American pumpkinseed fish were introduced to Europe as an ornamental fish. • Relatively few specific parasites are reported from the pumpkinseed in Europe. • The myxosporean Myxobolus dechtiari described originally in Canada infects the introduced host both in Hungary and Portugal. • SsrDNA sequences of M. dechtiari from pumpkinseed fish is provided.

This study was conducted to determine the occurrence, antibiotic susceptibility pattern, and plasmid profile of multi drug-resistant (MDR) Enterobacteriaceae isolated from soymilk hawked in the Ibadan Polytechnic Com munity, Nigeria. Bacterial isolation and identification were performed using a culture-dependent method and bio chemical characterization, respectively, while antibiotic susceptibility was tested using the disk diffusion method. Plasmid analysis and curing were performed using standard procedures. The results revealed the following occurrence rate of bacterial species in soymilk samples collected from all axes (South, North, East, West, and Central) of Ibadan Polytechnic: Citrobacter spp., 64%; Klebsiella spp., 7%; Enterobacter spp., Escherichia coli, and Serratia spp., 6% each; Proteus spp., 5%; and Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp., 3% each. The highest hetero trophic bacterial count of 9.3 × 103 CFU/ml was recorded at Ibadan Polytechnic North and South, while the least count (3.2 × 107 CFU/ml) was recorded at Ibadan Polytechnic Central. The highest enteric bacterial count of 1.3 × 103 CFU/ml was recorded in soymilk samples from Ibadan Polytechnic Central, while the least count of 1.7 × 107 CFU/ml was recorded in soymilk samples from Ibadan Polytechnic North. A total of 26% of the isolates showed resistance to cefpodoxime, while 88% of the isolates were susceptible to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Four of the MDR isolates possessed plasmid bands ranging from 6 to 1 with molecular weights from 2.7 to 17.2 kbp. Enterobacteriaceae such as isolates O14 (Klebsiella spp.) and B10 (E. coli) retained their resistance to antibiotics even after removal of plasmids, while isolates S13 (Citrobacter spp.) and O4 (Shigella spp.) were susceptible to some antibiotics after curing. Conclusively, soymilk sold in the sampled areas was highly con tami nated with Enterobacteriaceae, thereby indicating poor hygiene standards of soymilk production.

Xanthium spinosum is a naturalized neophyte of agricultural land, its distribution and habitats have not yet been studied in detail in Slovakia. The aim of the work was to collect all floristic data of this weed species, to present its current and historical distribution, and to characterize its typical habitats in Slovakia. As shown in analysis, Xanthium spinosum occurs mainly in the Pannonian region; in the Carpathians it was more frequent only in the 19th century and in connection with the transport of diaspores by sheep wool. The number of localities increased gradually until the 1970s, but then fell sharply due to the intensification of agriculture. Consequently, it is currently not considered to be a significant weed in Slovakia. X. spinosum mostly occupies open and sunny ruderal habitats (road edges, manure pits, field roads, abandoned fields and places) and especially pastures, rarely river banks. Both in the past and today, the species rarely occurs in fields.

During this study the frequency of occurrence and dominance of phytophagous and predatory mites harboring seven vegetable crops in Egypt, namely common bean, cowpea, eggplant, okra, squash, sweet pepper and sweet potato during 2017–2018 were investigated to identify predatory mites that might be useful for the biological control of the phytophagous mites. Three phytophagous and nine predatory mite species were surveyed. The two spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch of the family Tetranychidae was the dominant pest on these vegetables, while phytoseiids Phytoseiulus persimilis (Athias- Henriot), Typhlodromips swirskii (Athias- Henriot) and Euseius scutalis Chant were the dominant predators. The population of the native or indigenous phytoseiid mite fauna in Egypt such as Phytoseiulus persimilis could be considered as a good biocontrol agent and a part of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program in the future. Mite fauna of Egypt especially local populations of Phytoseiulus persimilis can be considered for implementation in future Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

In this study, we report the frst occurrence of the White-winged Scoter Melanitta deglandi for the Azores archipelago and for Portugal. This report is based on a single individual observed in Angra do Heroísmo Bay on 08 December 2020. The record has been approved by the Portuguese Rarities Committee and described as a frst winter female. The occurrence of Nearctic birds in the Azores is important due to the geographic location of the archipelago and its relevance as a stepping stone for migratory species. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

In Vietnam, fisheries play a key role in the national economy. Helminth infections in fish have a major impact on public health and sustainable fish production. A comprehensive summary of the recent knowledge on fish helminths is important to understand the distribution of parasites in the country, and to design effective control measures. Therefore, a systematic review was conducted, collecting available literature published between January 2004 and October 2020. A total of 108 eligible records were retrieved reporting 268 helminth species, among which are digeneans, monogeneans, cestodes, nematodes and acanthocephalans. Some helminths were identified with zoonotic potential, such as, the heterophyids, opisthorchiids, the nematodes Gnathostoma spinigerum, Anisakis sp. and Capillaria spp. and the cestode Hysterothylacium; and with highly pathogenic potential, such as, the monogeneans of Capsalidae, Diplectanidae and Gyrodactylidae, the nematodes Philometra and Camallanidae, the tapeworm Schyzocotyle acheilognathi, the acanthocephalans Neoechinorhynchus and Acanthocephalus. Overall, these studies only covered about nine percent of the more than 2400 fish species occurring in the waters of Vietnam. Considering the expansion of the aquaculture sector as a part of the national economic development strategy, it is important to expand the research to cover the helminth fauna of all fish species, to assess their potential zoonotic and fish health impacts., Graphical abstract Image 1, Highlights • 268 helminth species were reported in 213 fish species occurring in Vietnam. • Reported zoonotic helminths belonged to digeneans, nematodes and cestodes. • Other species included monogeneans, nematodes, cestodes and acanthocephalans.

Hylaeamys megacephalus (G. Fisher, 1814) presents great genetic diversity and wide geographical distribution, and occurs in both the Amazon and Cerrado biomes. Because of its generalist aspect, this species tolerates different eating habits and habitats. It occurs in flooded and dry areas and is predominantly terrestrial, which allows greater gene flow between populations even over long distances. Studies that seek a better understanding of morphological variations resulting from differences imposed by the environment throughout this species’ distribution are still lacking. This study aimed to analyze the differences between H. megacephalus populations based on craniometry, investigating whether the environment has an influence on morphology. We analyzed a total of 142 specimens from three scientific mammal collections: National Museum, “Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro” (MN-UFRJ); “Laboratório de Biologia e Parasitologia de Mamíferos Reservatórios Silvestres”, “Instituto Oswaldo Cruz”, “Fundação Oswaldo Cruz”(LBCE-Fiocruz); and “Laboratório de Biodiversidade”, “Universidade Federal de Goiás”, “Regional Jataí” (LZE-UFG), and took 20 craniometric measurements. Craniometry was explored using unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA), canonical variate analysis, and principal component analysis (PCA). The results led us to conclude that there are three craniometric groups of H. megacephalus with a tendency to differentiate as a result of geographical influences. RESUMO: Com grande diversidade genética e distribuição geográfica, Hylaeamys megacephalus (G. Fisher, 1814) ocorre tanto na Amazônia quanto no Cerrado. Visto seu aspecto generalista, esta espécie tolera diversos hábitos alimentares e habitats, ocorrendo em áreas inundadas ou não, sendo predominantemente terrestre, permitindo maior fluxo de genes entre as populações, mesmo em longas distâncias. Apresenta ampla distribuição, e carece de estudos que busquem um melhor entendimento sobre as variações morfológicas resultantes das diferenças impostas pelo meio ao longo de sua distribuição. O estudo teve como objetivo, analisar as diferenças entre as populações de H. megacephalus, com base na craniometria investigando se o ambiente interfere na morfologia. Analisamos um total de 142 espécimes oriundos de coleções científicas de mamíferos, do Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (MN-UFRJ), Laboratório de Biologia e Parasitologia de Mamíferos Reservatórios Silvestres, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (LBCE-Fiocruz) e Laboratório de Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Regional Jataí, nos quais foram tomadas 20 medidas craniométricas. A craniometria foi explorada nas análises estatísticas de agrupamento de pares não ponderados com médias aritméticas (UPGMA), variação canônica e análise dos Componentes Principais (PCA). Os resultados encontrados nos levaram a concluir a existência de três grupos craniométricos da espécie de H. megacephalus com tendência a se diferenciarem, por influências geográficas.

Summary The mouse bile duct tapeworm Hymenolepis microstoma, is a potentially zoonotic species with a wide variety of reported definitive hosts of rodent genera. In the present study the occurrence of H. microstoma in free-living small mammals in selected areas of Slovakia and the retrospective analysis of epidemiological data published in Slovakia were performed. Hymenolepis microstoma was detected in two animal species, the common shrew (Sorex araneus) and the European hamster (Cricetus cricetus) of 186 small mammals examined from two ecosystems, urban and natural ecosystem of national park. No mention about the presence of this parasite in Slovakia in the past was found following a bibliographical search. Partial sequences of the nuclear paramyosin gene showed the shrew isolate placed in a subclade together with H. microstoma from Portugal, with high bootstrap value for its differentiation from the sister species Hymenolepis nana. Similarly, the analysis of the nuclear ribosomal ITS region placed the hamster isolate in the cluster composed of H. microstoma from Australia, Spain and Portugal. The Slovak isolate was the most distinctive sample among available H. microstoma, differing in 1.4 – 1.9% of nucleotides from the remaining isolates. The difference (seven of 17 nucleotide positions) was partially due to indel polymorphisms associated with two and five nucleotides. To our knowledge, these are the first reports of H. microstoma in Central Europe and also the first record of infection in the common shrew. A recently indicated zoonotic potential of H. microstoma along with a possibility of its direct transmission between animals and/or humans without the need of intermediate hosts pose a public health concern in contaminated areas of Slovakia. The use of molecular techniques may substantially facilitate more thorough understanding of the epidemiological situation of H. microstoma and related tapeworms in various ecosystems of the country.

The Slender-billed Curlew (Numenius tenuirostris) erases of Czech Rarities Committee for Ornithology to December 15, 2011 from Czech bird’s checklist. The first discovery of Othmar Reiser (1861-1936) is located in Cheb in Bohemia, in Czech Republic (50°04′47″N/12°22′26″E; grid square 5940); not in Hungary. Jiří Janda's (1865-1938) locality “from Bohemia”, without precise locality (the evaluation of localities in entomology). Present is reply to emphasize absolutelly scientific competence of Czech zoologist Jiří Janda, personality in Czech and European ornithology. The presented text analyses the transfer of the literature until 1945.

Modern genomic sequencing and bioinformatics approaches have detected numerous examples of DNA sequences derived from DNA and RNA virus genomes integrated into both vertebrate and insect genomes. Retroviruses encode RNA-dependent DNA polymerases (reverse transcriptases) and integrases that convert their RNA viral genomes into DNA proviruses and facilitate proviral DNA integration into the host genome. Surprisingly, DNA sequences derived from RNA viruses that do not encode these enzymes also occur in host genomes. Non-retroviral integrated RNA virus sequences (NIRVS) occur at relatively high frequency in the genomes of the arboviral vectors Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, are not distributed randomly and possibly contribute to mosquito antiviral immunity, suggesting these mosquitoes could serve as a model system for unravelling the function of NIRVS. Here we address the following questions: What drives DNA synthesis from the genomes of non-retroviral RNA viruses? How does integration of virus cDNA into host DNA occur, and what is its biological function (if any)? We review current knowledge of viral integrations in insect genomes, hypothesize mechanisms of NIRVS formation and their potential impact on insect biology, particularly antiviral immunity, and suggest directions for future research.

An association between malaria and risk for death among patients with Ebola virus disease has suggested within-host interactions between Plasmodium falciparum parasites and Ebola virus. To determine whether such an interaction might also influence the probability of acquiring either infection, we used a large snapshot surveillance study from rural Gabon to test if past exposure to Ebola virus is associated with current infection with Plasmodium spp. during nonepidemic conditions. We found a strong positive association, on population and individual levels, between seropositivity for antibodies against Ebola virus and the presence of Plasmodium parasites in the blood. According to a multiple regression model accounting for other key variables, antibodies against Ebola virus emerged as the strongest individual-level risk factor for acquiring malaria. Our results suggest that within-host interactions between malaria parasites and Ebola virus may underlie epidemiologic associations.

O cão é a espécie mais popular no Brasil como animal de companhia e serve como hospedeiro definitivo para diversos parasitos, sendo muitos destes passíveis de transmissão aos humanos. Neste documento foram reunidas informações presentes na literatura sobre a ocorrência de endoparasitoses de caninos; fontes de infecção; manifestação das doenças nos animais e principais métodos de diagnóstico no Brasil, publicados no período de 2013 a 2019, com foco nos helmintos intestinais de maior prevalência no país. As prevalências se mostraram variáveis de acordo com as regiões estudadas, assim como quando comparados cães domiciliados e de rua, evidenciando a importância da compreensão da situação epidemiológica dos parasitos para eficaz abordagem clínica. The dog is the most popular species in Brazil as a companion animal and serves as the definitive host for several parasites, many of which can be transmitted to humans. This document gathered information from the literature on the occurrence of canine endoparasites; sources of infection; manifestation of animal diseases and main diagnostic methods in Brazil, published from 2013 to 2019, focusing on the most prevalent intestinal helminths in the country. The prevalences were variable according to the regions studied, as well as when comparing domiciled and stray dogs, showing the importance of understanding the epidemiological situation of parasites for an effective clinical approach.

Rodents are popular companion animals and are often kept as pets for children. However, they can be reservoirs of a variety of zoonotic pathogens. As little attention is being paid to the possibility of acquiring parasitic infections from pet rodents, the occurrence of Hymenolepis nana in rodents from pet shops and breeding clubs of Slovakia was surveyed, with parallel genetic analyses to type isolates from rodent species. In 2016-2018, pooled faecal samples from 119 boxes with 228 mice, 191 rats, 124 hamsters and 25 Mongolian gerbils were collected from 12 pet shops and 3 breeding clubs in five cities of eastern Slovakia. H. nana eggs were detected in 25 (21.0%) boxes. Animals from pet shops were infected more frequently (24.6% positive boxes) than those from breeding clubs (17.2%), without statistical significance. The highest prevalence was recorded in rats from pet shops, where 41.7% of boxes contained parasite eggs. Hamsters and mice in pet shops were also frequently infected; in 23.8% and 25% of boxes, respectively, H. nana eggs were observed. Prevalence in rats and hamsters from breeding clubs was lower, but in mice surpassed 40%. Nine samples with positive PCR products in any of the four DNA regions, mitochondrial cox1 and nuclear pmy, ITS1 and ITS2 targets, gave profiles characteristic of H. nana. The results imply the risk of zoonotic transmission of hymenolepiasis in Slovakia. Particular attention should be given to hygiene level maintained while keeping rodents. Furthermore, rodents intended for sale should be tested for parasites and then dewormed.

The genus Malassezia currently includes seventeen species that have been isolated from healthy and diseased human and other animal skin. Malassezia are implicated in a range of cutaneous diseases in humans: pityriasis versicolor, atopic or seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff, folliculitis and psoriasis. The outbreak of the disease depends on the interaction between the host immune system and Malassezia species. Malassezia stimulates both the cellular and humoral immune response in humans. Although Malassezia species have been associated with various dermatological diseases in people, the detailed pathological role of Malassezia remains obscured. Malassezia yeasts require lipids for their growth and therefore to a greater extent they colonize the sites with more sebaceous glands. The ecosystem on skin is complex and its balance depends on several factors. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of Malassezia yeasts in clinically normal skin of 42 healthy, randomly selected individuals of different ages. In the group of people examined, up to 30 persons (71.4 %) represented by children, adults and the elderly were positive to Malassezia yeasts. It has been shown that the back is an area with a higher incidence (66.7 %) of observed yeast compared to the head (40.5 %).

Donacaula niloticus (Zeller, 1867) is known from south-eastern Europe, Middle East and Turkey to Central Asia, northern India and China and widely distributed in North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Libya and Egypt). Donacaula niloticus (Zeller 1867) is recorded for the first time from the Iberian Peninsula and the first DNA barcode sequence is published and compared with other European and North American Donacaula species.

20 pages, 7 tables, 5 figures.-- This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), Shorewatch is a citizen science project, managed by Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC), that records the occurrence of cetaceans during regular, standardized watches from a series of locations along the coast of Scotland (United Kingdom). Observer training and a clearly defined protocol help deliver a valuable source of information about cetacean occurrence and activity along the coast. Between 2005–2018, over 52000 watches generated over 11000 sightings of at least 18 cetacean species. Generalized Additive Models based on sightings for the five most commonly sighted species (bottlenose dolphin, harbor porpoise, minke whale, Risso’s dolphin, and common dolphin), at those sites with the longest time series, demonstrated seasonal, geographical and year-to-year differences in their local occurrence and relative abundance. Bottlenose dolphins are mainly present at observation sites located on the east coast of Scotland, being uncommon on the west coast, while harbor porpoise and minke whale are principally present at sites located on the west coast. The seasonality observed in cetacean occurrence is consistent with peak abundance in summer months described by previous studies in the area. Mean depth around the observation sites is the static variable that apparently has the greatest influence on species presence and number of sightings, except for Risso’s dolphin. All the species except bottlenose dolphin showed upward trends in occurrence and number of sightings over the period 2012–2018. Evidence of temporal autocorrelation was found between results from consecutive watches at the same site on the same day as well as between results from consecutive days at the same site. The power to detect declines in local abundance over a 6-year period depends on the underlying sighting rate of each cetacean species, the number of watches performed and the rate of decline. Simulations performed to determine the power to detect a decline suggest that the current intensity of observation effort in some observation sites, of about 2500 watches per year, may offer good prospects of detecting a 30% decline of the most frequently sighted species (95% of the time) over a 6-year period, although a more even distribution of observation effort in space and time is desirable. The data could potentially be used for monitoring and 6-yearly reporting of the status of cetacean populations., This work was funded by Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) and NatureScot (formerly Scottish Natural Heritage)

Cryptosporidium spp. are common protozoan pathogens in mammals. The diversity and biology of Cryptosporidium in tree squirrels are not well studied. A total of 258 Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) from 25 and 15 locations in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, respectively, were examined for Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts and specific DNA at the SSU, actin, HSP70, TRAP-C1, COWP, and gp60 loci. Out of 26 positive animals, only juveniles (9/12) were microscopically positive (18,000 to 72,000 OPG), and molecular analyses revealed the presence of Cryptosporidium sp. ferret genotype in all specimens. Oocysts obtained from naturally-infected squirrels measured 5.54–5.22 μm and were not infectious for laboratory mice (BALB/c and SCID), Mongolian gerbils, Guinea pigs, Southern multimammate mice, chickens, or budgerigars. None of naturally infected squirrels showed clinical signs of disease. The frequency of occurrence of the ferret genotype in squirrels did not vary statistically based on host age, gender or country of capture. Phylogenetic analysis of sequences from six loci revealed that Cryptosporidium sp. ferret genotype is genetically distinct from the currently accepted Cryptosporidium&nbsp, species. Morphological and biological data from this and previous studies support the establishment of Cryptosporidium sp. ferret genotype as a new species, Cryptosporidium&nbsp, sciurinum n. sp.

Aflatoxins (AFs) are secondary metabolites that represent serious threats to human and animal health. They are mainly produced by strains of the saprophytic fungus Aspergillus flavus, which are abundantly distributed across agricultural commodities. AF contamination is receiving increasing attention by researchers, food producers, and policy makers in China, and several interesting review papers have been published, that mainly focused on occurrences of AFs in agricultural commodities in China. The goal of this review is to provide a wider scale and up-to-date overview of AF occurrences in different agricultural products and of the distribution of A. flavus across different food and feed categories and in Chinese traditional herbal medicines in China, for the period 2000–2020. We also highlight the health impacts of chronic dietary AF exposure, the recent advances in biological AF mitigation strategies in China, and recent Chinese AF standards.

The collection of insects of medical importance from the National Institute of Health (Colombia) INS, was started in 1934 with the aim of being an institutional and national repository of the biodiversity of insects involved in vector-borne diseases of importance in public health. Today, the entomological collection includes more than 7.500 specimens. The ceratopogonids insects are one of the Groups of Diptera that conform this collection. Within the Ceratopogonidae family, are the insects of the genera Culicoides which are relevant in public health because of the nuisance caused by their bites when they are presented in great abundance and because of their role as transmitters of several agents (virus, protozoa and nematodes) that causes diseases to the humans and to the animals (Mullen 2002, Kettle 1995). Brief of the Ceratopogonidae insects (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) found in the collection, is presented here. A total of 801 individuals of this family rest in the collection, mainly adult of the genus Culicoides (90%). The collection is the result of the effort of several researchers through the history of the Group of Entomology (INS). These researchers collected ceratopogonids when they went to different transmission scenarios of the vector-borne diseases in Colombia, with the purpose of making the entomological characterizations. The effort of the researchers also included the processing, assembly, and identification of the specimens in the laboratory. New information about the geographical distribution of 39 species of the genera Culicoides appears for Colombia.

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-29T08:45:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-01-01 Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Toxoplasmosis is a protozoonosis caused by an obligate intracellular parasite named Toxoplasma gondii, which can infect humans and a large number of homeothermic animal species with worldwide distribution. The present study aimed to detect anti-T. gondii antibodies from serological samples of free-living wild animals from the northwest region of São Paulo state, Brazil. Thirty-two samples (eight from birds and 24 from mammals) were analyzed by the modified agglutination test (MAT) using 5 cut-off points for birds and 25 for mammals. Seropositivity was observed in 25% (2/8) of birds, including the species Rupornis magnirostris (roadside hawk) and Caracara plancus (southern caracara), and 29.2% (7/24) animals were seropositive among mammals, including one hoary fox (Lycalopex vetulus), two maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus), one black howler monkey (Alouatta caraya), two crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous) and one gray brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira). The results obtained with the present study indicate the exposure to T. gondii of free-living wild animals from the northwest region of São Paulo state and, therefore, that they probably play a role in the transmission and maintenance of T. gondii in the environment they inhabit. Thus, identification of the infection in several animal species in the region indicates the environmental contamination of the area. Studies of this nature may help to understand the importance of the prevention and control of this disease in Brazil. Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto Departamento de Epidemiologia e Saúde Coletiva Centro Universitário de Rio Preto Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto Departamento de Biologia Molecular FAMERP Toxoplasma Research Group Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita” Filho Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas Universidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita” Filho Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas FAPESP: 2013/15879-8 FAPESP: 2014/05302-8 FAPESP: 2014/25872-3 FAPESP: 2015/23605-0

Brassinolide (BL) represents brassinosteroids (BRs)—a group of phytohormones that are essential for plant growth and development. Brassinazole (Brz) is as a synthetic inhibitor of BRs’ biosynthesis. In the present study, the responses of Wolffia arrhiza to the treatment with BL, Brz, and the combination of BL with Brz were analyzed. The analysis of BRs and Brz was performed using LC-MS/MS. The photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls, carotenes, and xanthophylls) levels were determined using HPLC, but protein and monosaccharides level using spectrophotometric methods. The obtained results indicated that BL and Brz influence W. arrhiza cultures in a concentration-dependent manner. The most stimulatory effects on the growth, level of BRs (BL, 24-epibrassinolide, 28-homobrassinolide, 28-norbrassinolide, catasterone, castasterone, 24-epicastasterone, typhasterol, and 6-deoxytyphasterol), and the content of pigments, protein, and monosaccharides, were observed in plants treated with 0.1 µM BL. Whereas the application of 1 µM and 10 µM Brz caused a significant decrease in duckweed weight and level of targeted compounds. Application of BL caused the mitigation of the Brz inhibitory effect and enhanced the BR level in duckweed treated with Brz. The level of BRs was reported for the first time in duckweed treated with BL and/or Brz.

Made available in DSpace on 2021-07-14T10:32:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-06-25. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2021-07-14T11:32:33Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 S1808-16572009000400685.pdf: 257896 bytes, checksum: aebd05b3dd0aedc57885892b289288e4 (MD5) Foram testadas 404 amostras de soro de fêmeas bubalinas (Bubalus bubalis) para se verificar a ocorrência de anticorpos anti-Neospora caninum em rebanhos oriundos de cinco municípios da região oeste do Estado de São Paulo. Empregou-se a técnica da Reação de Imunofluorescência Indireta (RIFI), na diluição inicial de 1:100. Foram observados anticorpos antiNeospora caninum em 38,1% (154/404) dos soros testados, com títulos de anticorpos variando de 100 a 12.800. A frequência de animais sororeagentes observada entre os municípios variaram de 16,2 a 61,4% (P < 0,05). A faixa etária dos animais soropositivos apresentou diferença significativa no Município de Lucélia, onde as vacas com idade superior a 5 anos apresentaram maior frequência de infecção (P < 0,05). Esses resultados alertam para a presença da infecção em bubalinos da região Oeste do Estado de São Paulo. Serum samples from 404 females water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) were tested to verify the occurrence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in 5 counties in the west region of São Paulo State, Brazil. The technique used was indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT), with initial dilutions of 1:100. AntiNeospora caninum antibodies were observed in 38.1% (154/404) of the samples, and antibody titers ranged from 100 to 12,800. The frequency observed among the counties ranged from 16.2% to 61.4% (P < 0.05). Animals from Lucelia County older than 5 years of age presented higher antibody frequencies (P < 0.05). These results are a warning signal for N. caninum infection in water buffaloes in the west region of São Paulo State. Universidade Estadual Paulista, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Faculdade de Agronomia e Medicina Veterinária Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Genética Universidade Estadual Paulista, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia

Made available in DSpace on 2021-07-14T10:29:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-06-11. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2021-07-14T11:31:36Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 S1519-69842022000100213.pdf: 986068 bytes, checksum: 0fee8f102ed8dba854ae4eeb6cf3d2ba (MD5) Ibama UFU Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) A mixosporidiose é considerada uma doença infecciosa causada por mixozoários pertentences ao Filo Cnidaria, Classe Myxosporea e Ordem Bivalvulida, considerados parasitos comuns de peixes de água doce e salgada, parasitando vários órgãos, principalmente as brânquias. No presente estudo, 49 espécimes de peixes pertencentes a oito gêneros: Tetragonopterus, Leporinus, Myleus, Pirinampus, Rhapiodon, Pygocentrus, Ageneiosus and Serrasalmus foram coletados e extensões sanguíneas foram feitas com a finalidade de encontrar hemoparasitos. Entretanto, mixoesporos foram observados em cinco (10.20%) espécimes de peixes, pertencentes aos gêneros Tetragonopterus, Myleus e Pygocentrus. Dois morfotipos de Myxobolus spp. foram identificados parasitando esses peixes. Normalmente, as investigações sobre mixozoários em peixes é realizada com a procura de plasmódios ou cistos nos órgãos dos peixes e observação da cavidade de órgãos. Porém, esse trabalho ressalta a importância de se examinar também o sangue desses animais, já que esses parasitos podem ocasionar patogenias severas em peixes. Sendo assim, a análise sanguínea pode proporcionar controle sanatório preventivo para peixes comerciais e evitar perdas econômicas. Myxosporidiosis is an infectious disease caused by myxozoans of the Phylum Cnidaria, Class Myxosporea, and Order Bivalvulida, considered a common parasite in fresh and saltwater fishes that parasitize many organs, especially gills. In the present study, 49 specimens of fishes belonging to eight genera: Tetragonopterus, Leporinus, Myleus, Pirinampus, Rhapiodon, Pygocentrus, Ageneiosus, and Serrasalmus were collected and blood smears were made, fixed with absolute methanol, and stained with Giemsa 10% to survey hemoparasites. However, myxospores were found in the circulating blood of five (10.20%) fishes belonging to genus Tetragonopterus, Myleus, and Pygocentrus. Two morphological types of Myxobolus spp. were identified in all the five fish specimens analyzed. Usually, investigations on myxozoans in fish are carried out with the search for plasmodia or cysts in the fish organs and observation of the cavity of organs. Nevertheless, this study highlights the importance of also examining the blood of these animals, since these parasites can cause severe pathogenic diseases in fish. Thus, the blood analyses can proportionate preventive sanitary control for commercial fish avoiding economic loss. Universidade Estadual Paulista, Instituto de Biociências Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária Universidade Estadual Paulista, Instituto de Biociências Ibama: 60640-1; 52063-3; 17625-4 UFU: 106/15 CNPq: #309125/2017-0; #2018/00754-9; # 2018q09623-4 FAPESP: #2018/09623-4 FAPESP: 2019/19060-0

The research study deals with the occurrence, cecidogenesis and development of the bisexual generation of Biorhiza pallida in the Brno region. Galls were found most frequently on Quercus petraea and on Q. robur. At the end of the winter season, females deposited 2 - 290 (on average 83.6) eggs, mainly into the above average sized buds on last-year's shoots. Larvae came to age in May in the 3rd instar, in the extremely warm and dry growing period of 2015 already in the 2nd instar. Adult individuals were leaving galls from the end of May to the end of July. Females were 3 - 4.5 - times superior to males in numbers. Females, males and individuals of both sexes emerged from 64.3%, 21.4% and 14.3% of galls, respectively. Galls were created from the beginning of April. In the second half of April (or at the beginning of May) they were 3 - 35 (on average 15.2) mm high and 3 - 45 (on average 20.2) mm wide. The percentage of buds infestation, average number of deposited eggs and average size of galls were increasing with the increasing mean diameter of shoots. Parasitoids (incl. parasitoid inquilines) killed 30 - 100 (on average 65) percent of gall wasp population. We found as many as 40% and 10% of galls with the developing Curculio villosus (Curculionidae) and Synergus spp. (Cynipidae), respectively. In the spring of 2016, nearly the whole gall wasp population in Brno-Komín was killed by late frosts. The pest infests mid-aged woody plants, sporadically also young growths and epicormic shoots of old oak trees. info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

The study was focused on determining the sites of amphibian and reptile occurrence in the Pieprzowe Mountains Nature Reserve (area 18.01 ha) and adjacent areas (total area 58.81 ha). The investigations also involved the biology of breeding in the selected species, as well as determining threats and protection measures. Situated in the eastern part of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, the steppe-like Pieprzowe (Pepper) Mountains Nature Reserve was established in 1979. Its aim is to protect xerothermic assemblages inhabited by many species of rare plants including the largest European aggregation of roses growing wild. The area is located on a steep, sometimes rugged escarpment, which is part of the Vistula River erosional margin. The escarpment exposes Cambrian black pepper-like shales. The slope base is overgrown by a narrow belt of willow thickets. Above occur assemblages of xerothermic thickets with a few trees. The highest parts of the nature reserve are overgrown with xerothermic grasslands with the prevalence of feathergrass steppe (Festuco-Stipion class). The reserve is surrounded by riparian forests, waterlogged meadows and reservoirs of the Vistula former riverbed, the largest of which is an oxbow lake (5.16 ha). The following species were documented in 2016-2017: smooth newt Lissotriton vulgaris L., great crested newt Triturus cristatus Laur., European fire-bellied toad Bombina bombina L., common toad Bufo bufo L., European green toad Bufotes viridis Laur., European tree frog Hyla arborea L., edible frog Pelophylax esculentus L., pool frog Pelophylax lessonae Cam., marsh frog Pelophylax ridibundus Laur., moor frog Rana arvalis Nilss., common frog Rana temporaria L., sand lizard Lacerta agilis L., grass snake Natrix natrix L. and common European adder Vipera berus L. The studies were focused on biology of breeding and phenology in common toad and common frog. The main threats posed on herpetofauna include: human presence, littering, fire raising and changes of water balance. © IOŚ-PIB

Clavigralla spp. (Hemiptera: Coreidae) are major pests of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp, Fabacae), common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L., Fabacae) and pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L., Fabacae) in Africa. Clavigralla spp. egg parasitoids, Gryon spp. (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), have previously been reported as potential biological control candidates. Little is known about the parasitism levels and their potential relationship with cuticular chemistry of Clavigralla spp. The aims of this study were to determine parasitism levels of Clavigralla tomentosicollis Stal (Hemiptera: Coreidae) and C. elongata Signoret (Hemiptera: Coreidae) eggs, and to explore the relationship between egg parasitism and egg cuticular chemistry. High parasitism levels were determined for C. tomentosicollis by collecting eggs from plants in mono‐cropping and multi‐cropping systems in farmers’ fields in Benin and Kenya between April and June 2016. Three species of Clavigralla were recorded: C. tomentosicollis, C. shadabi and C. elongata. Clavigralla tomentosicollis was the most common in both countries, while C. shadabi and C. elongata were only collected in Benin and Kenya, respectively. An egg parasitoid (Gryon sp.) was recovered from egg batches collected from both countries. In parasitism assays using Gryon sp., the incidence of parasitism was higher in C. tomentosicollis eggs than that of C. elongata. Chemical analysis by coupled gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) of cuticular extracts obtained from C. tomentosicollis and C. elongata eggs identified fifteen compounds including ten alkanes of which the amounts varied between the two species. We speculate that Clavigralla spp. cuticular chemistry may serve as potential host location cues for Gryon sp.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to evaluate the occurrence of enterococci in inflammatory secretions from mastitic bovine udders and to assess their antimicrobial resistance. Material and Methods: A total of 2,000 mastitic milk samples from cows were tested in 2014–2017. The isolation of enterococci was performed by precultivation in buffered peptone water, selective multiplication in a broth with sodium azide and cristal violet, and cultivation on Slanetz and Bartley agar. The identification of enterococci was carried out using Api rapid ID 32 strep kits. The antimicrobial susceptibility was evaluated using the MIC technique. Results: Enterococci were isolated from 426 samples (21.3%). Enterococcus faecalis was the predominant species (360 strains), followed by E. faecium (35 isolates), and small numbers of others. The highest level of resistance was observed to lincomycin, tetracycline, quinupristin/dalfopristin (Synercid), erythromycin, kanamycin, streptomycin, chloramphenicol, and tylosin. Single strains were resistant to vancomycin and ciprofloxacin. All isolates were sensitive to daptomycin. E. faecalis presented a higher level of resistance in comparison to E. faecium, except to nitrofurantoin. Conclusion: The results showed frequent occurrence of enterococci in mastitic cow’s milk and confirmed the high rate of their antimicrobial resistance.

Results of ichthyoplankton surveys conducted in the Avachinsky Bay in the springs of 2003–2018 are presented. The larvae of 3 species of genus Sebastes occurred in the bay, starting in March, as shortraker rockfish Sebastes borealis, pacific ocean perch Sebastes alutus, and rougheye rockfish Sebastes aleutianus. The maximal catches of the larvae were obtained at the depth ≤ 500 m, mostly over the deep-water canyons. Problems of the rockfish larvae identifying to species are discussed, as absence of the detailed identifier for these species. Photo-images of the larvae are presented for Sebastes alutus and Sebastes aleutianus collected in spring of 2018, their typical differences are considered. Size composition is presented for the larvae of Sebastes.

Aflatoxins and ochratoxin A are regulated in Europe for some spices (Capsicum spp., Piper spp., Myristica fragrans, Zingiber officinale, Curcuma longa) and mixtures of spices containing one or more of these spices. No mycotoxin limits are in force for herbs. A total of 132 samples of spices (94) and herbs (38) purchased from Beirut in Lebanon were analysed for 12 mycotoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, AFG2, OTA, FB1, FB2, HT-2, T-2, ZEA, DON, NIV) by using a UPLC-MS/MS method based on ‘dilute and shoot’ approach. The limits of detection (LOD) ranged from 0.1 μg/kg (ZEA) to 20.5 μg/kg (DON) and limits of quantification (LOQ) ranged from 0.3 μg/kg (ZEA) to 68.2 μg/kg (DON). 80% of analysed samples were contaminated by 1–11 mycotoxins. Total aflatoxins and ochratoxin A were detected in 19 and 30% of spices, 8 and 11% of herbs, respectively. Mean levels of total aflatoxins and ochratoxin A were 168.1 and 7.1 μg/kg in positive spices, 36.1 and 7.0 μg/kg in positive herbs, respectively. 78 and 10% of positive spice samples contained aflatoxin and ochratoxin A at levels higher than the limits, respectively. Total aflatoxin levels higher than the European limits were also measured in some non-regulated spices (allspice, cloves, coriander, fenugreek) and some herbs (rosemary, sage and oregano). Within the non-regulated mycotoxins FB1 was the most occurring (60% in spices, 55% in herbs) followed by FB2 (35% in spices, 18% in herbs), ZEA (30% in spices, 3% in herbs), DON (12% in spices, 3% in herbs), T-2 and HT-2 toxins (3–5%), whereas NIV and AFG2 were never detected. Mean levels of FB1, FB2, ZEA and DON in positive samples of spices were 6432.3, 203.2, 30.6, 1751.4 μg/kg, respectively; in positive samples of herbs they were 2826.3, 214.9, 2.8, 589.7 μg/kg, respectively. The whole results demonstrate the higher susceptibility of spices to mycotoxin contamination with respect to herbs. Comparison of results obtained for samples produced with (81) and without (51) HACCP and GMP showed that the implementation of HACCP and GMP practices seems to be effective in reducing the occurrence of regulated mycotoxins but was ineffective for the non-regulated ones. The samples analysed in this study originated from at least 15 Countries and the results obtained gives indications about the occurrence of mycotoxins in relation to the Country of origin of the samples. The high percentages of positive samples and the high levels of some mycotoxins observed in this study highlight the problem of mycotoxin contamination in spices and herbs consumed in Lebanon. The occurrence of high levels of aflatoxins and OTA in some non-regulated spices and herbs suggests the addition of these matrices in the list of regulated ones. The high number of positive samples and the high levels of fumonisins observed in this study suggest the inclusions of these mycotoxins in the list of regulated mycotoxins for these matrices.

Resumo. A identificacao de picos populacionais de pragas e a selecao de genotipos resistentes ajudam a definir o momento do controle e reduzir a aplicacao de inseticidas. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar aresistencia varietal de seis cultivares de morangueiro (Aromas, Campinas, Dover, Festival, Oso Grande e Toyonoka) ao ataque de Cerosipha forbesi (Weed)e Chaetosiphon fragaefolii (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). A presenca dos pulgoes nas plantas foi avaliada semanalmente por contagem direta em tres foliolos por planta, durante cinco meses (Fevereiro a Junho de 2012). Marco apresentou a maior densidade de ambas especies de pulgoes, com reducao populacional nos meses proximos ao inverno. As cultivares Campinas, Toyonoka e Dover tiveram maior incidencia de C. forbesi , e Campinas e Toyonoka foram tambem mais atacadas por C. fragaefolii . As cultivares Festival, Aromas e Oso Grande apresentaram menores infestacoes de ambas as especies, tendo potencial para serem utilizadas em programas de melhoramento visando a resistencia ao ataque de C. forbesi e C. fragaefolii . Varietal resistance of strawberry to aphids Cerosipha forbesi (Weed) and Chaetosiphon fragaefolii (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) Abstract. The identification of peak populations of pests and the selection of resistant genotypes help to define the timing of control and to reduce the frequency of insecticide application. The objective of this study was to evaluate varietal resistance of six strawberry cultivars (Aromas, Campinas, Dover, Oso Grande and Toyonoka) to the attack of Cerosipha forbesi (Weed) and Chaetosiphon fragaefolii (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Attack of the aphids was evaluated on a weekly basis by direct counting in three leaflets per plant for five months (February to June 2012). March presented higher densities of both aphids species, with population reductions in months closer to the winter. The cultivars Campinas, Toyonoka, and Dover had higher incidence of C. forbesi , and Campinas and Toyonoka were also more attacked by C. fragaefolii . The cultivars Festival, Aromas, and Oso Grande presented lower infestation of both aphids species, and hold potential to be used in breeding programs aiming resistance to attack of C. forbesi and C. fragaefolli .

Cryptosporidium is a major cause of diarrhoea outbreaks linked to swimming pools, but little is known about the frequency of contamination. The primary aim was to investigate the occurrence and concentration, through sampling and modelling, of Cryptosporidium oocysts in leisure pools. Secondary aims were to compare detections with operational parameters, provide the evidence-base for guidance, and improve sampling capacity and interpretation for public health investigations. Up to 1000 L pool water was sampled during swim sessions once weekly for 10 weeks from 8th August 2017 at six volunteer pools. Oocysts were detected by microscopy in 12/59 (20%) pool water samples, at least once in each pool, 8/12 (66%) detections were in August when bather loads were highest. At three pools, 1 L filter backwash was sampled weekly and oocysts were detected in 2/29 (7%) samples, following detections in pool water. The probabilities of a bather contaminating the pool ranged from 1 in 1000 to over 1 in 10,000. Monte Carlo analysis showed that when high bather numbers caused contamination on over 70% of days, multiple events per day were more likely than single events. In these generally well-managed leisure pools, Cryptosporidium risk related to high bather loads. We conclude that public awareness campaigns for bather hygiene, and reminding pool operators of current guidance for managing faecal accidents, should be ahead of peak swim season.

Simple Summary This study describes how simple traps can be used to study tree crowns and undergrowth at low altitudes. They are used with bait made of fermenting liquids (beer, wine) with the addition of sugar and other carbohydrates. The research was conducted between 2018 and 2020 in several regions of Russia. It was possible to identify 294 species from 45 Coleoptera families during this time. Simple traps have been shown to be highly effective, and can be used to study insect biodiversity in forest ecosystems. Abstract The possibilities of applying various methods to study Coleoptera give unexpected and original results. The studies were carried out with the help of fermental crown traps in 2018–2020 on the territory of eight regions in the central part of European Russia. The biodiversity of the Coleoptera that fall into crown traps includes 294 species from 45 families. The number of species attracted to the fermenting bait is about a third of the total number of species in the traps (this is 97.4% of the number of all of the caught specimens). The largest number of species that have been found in the traps belong to the families Cerambycidae, Elateridae and Curculionidae. The most actively attracted species mainly belong to the families Cerambycidae, Nitidulidae and Scarabaeidae. The species of these families are equally attracted by baits made of beer, white and red wines. In order to identify the Coleoptera biodiversity of a particular biotope, two-year studies are sufficient, and they should be carried out throughout the vegetation season. Especially good results can be obtained from studies of rare species that are actively attracted by such baits. It is possible to study the vertical–horizontal distribution of Coleoptera fauna in individual biotopes.

This study was conducted to estimate the diversity and the occurrence of commercially important finfish species collected by twenty fish sampling site of Sindh and Baluchistan coasts of the Arabian Sea in Pakistan from January to December 2019. Additionally, physicochemical characteristics of seawater were analyzed from these selected sites and found to be within suitable ranges required for fish growth and survive. A total of 81287 fish individuals were collected and identified as 49 species belonging to 26 families in our study. The most diversified family was Sparidae (13 species) followed by Carangidae and Lutjanidae (4 species), Mullidae, Serranidae, Ariidae (3 species), and Sciaenidae (2 species). The remaining 20 families were represented by only one species. The values of Shannon diversity index calculated for the four selected habitats revealed that high fish diversity was reported at Sonmiani Coast (H'=1.81), while less at Ormara Coast (H'=0.23). Likewise, Evenness index (E) was high at Sonmiani Coast (E=0.50) and less fish diversity was reported at Ormara Coast (E=0.06). Reducing risks to threatened marine species in coastal habitats also requires conservation actions at multiple scales. Thus, it was concluded that our study could be valuable in providing the more information’s regarding to the diversity of finfish species and their occurrence along the Pakistan Coast. Further, to better understand the effects, regular monitoring and conservation measures should be taken to mitigate the influence of anthropogenic activities and protect finfish diversity from further decline Resumo Este estudo foi conduzido para estimar a diversidade e a ocorrência de espécies de peixes comercialmente importantes coletadas por vinte locais de amostragem de peixes nas costas de Sindh e Baluchistão do mar da Arábia, no Paquistão, de janeiro a dezembro de 2019. Além disso, as características físico-químicas da água do mar foram analisadas a partir desses peixes locais selecionados e considerados dentro dos intervalos adequados necessários para o crescimento e sobrevivência dos peixes. Um total de 8.1287 indivíduos de peixes foi coletado e identificado como 49 espécies pertencentes a 26 famílias em nosso estudo. A família mais diversificada foi Sparidae (13 espécies), seguida por Carangidae e Lutjanidae (4 espécies), Mullidae, Serranidae, Ariidae (3 espécies) e Sciaenidae (2 espécies). As 20 famílias restantes foram representadas por apenas uma espécie. Os valores do índice de diversidade de Shannon calculados para os quatro habitats selecionados revelaram que uma alta diversidade de peixes foi relatada na costa Sonmiani (H' = 1,81), enquanto menos na costa Ormara (H' = 0,23). Da mesma forma, o índice de regularidade (E) foi alto na costa de Sonmiani (E = 0,50) e menos diversidade de peixes foi relatada na costa de Ormara (E = 0,06). A redução dos riscos para as espécies marinhas ameaçadas em habitats costeiros também requer ações de conservação em várias escalas. Assim, concluiu-se que nosso estudo pode ser valioso para fornecer mais informações sobre a diversidade de espécies de peixes finos e sua ocorrência ao longo da costa do Paquistão. Além disso, para compreender melhor os efeitos, medidas regulares de monitoramento e conservação devem ser tomadas para mitigar a influência das atividades antropogênicas e proteger a diversidade de peixes finos de um declínio maior.

During the last 100 years, rapid advances of trees towards higher elevations and latitudes have been recorded for various regions worldwide, including the Ural Mountains. Climate warming and tree cover increases can lead to significant changes in the high-mountain vegetation. Direct observations on the vegetation of high-mountain regions provide evidence for an increase in the species diversity of plants at high elevations and changes in the composition of the alpine communities. This study investigated the diversity and distribution of vascular plants within the present-day treeline ecotone in Mount Iremel, the Southern Urals. The dataset (Trubina and Nesterkov 2021, available from the GBIF network at https://www.gbif.org/dataset/284f1484-10b7-4ef5-87b7-9de1159e6b42) presents the results of an assessment of species richness and frequency of vascular plants at the different elevation levels (from 1203 to 1348 m a.s.l.) and different biotopes (birch-spruce shrub forest, birch-spruce sparse forest and spruce forest with fragments of meadow plant communities) within the treeline ecotone in Mount Iremel, Southern Urals. Observations were carried out at 700 sampling plots with two estimation methods: small-size plot (0.5 × 0.5 m) sampling (672 plots in total) and large-size plot (10 × 10 m) sampling (28 plots). The dataset includes 700 sampling events (= sampling plots), corresponding to 5585 occurrences (vascular plants, mainly identified to species) observed during July 2003. Only occurrences containing plant taxa (occurrenceStatus = present) have been provided. The dataset includes information about distribution and frequency of the Ural endemic species (Anemone narcissiflora subsp. biarmiensis (Juz.) Jalas, Calamagrostis uralensis Litv., Cerastium krylovii Schischk. & Gorczak., Festuca igoschiniae Tzvel., Hieracium iremelense (Elfstr.) Üksip, Lagotis uralensis Schischk, Pleurospermum uralense Hoffm.) and the Pleistocene relict species (Alopecurus magellanicus Lam., Bistorta vivipara (L.) Delarbre, Cerastium pauciflorum Stev. ex. Ser., Pedicularis oederi Vahl, Saussurea controversa DC., Swertia perennis L.). The dataset also provides information that can be useful for estimating biodiversity and plant communities composition within the treeline ecotone at a specified time period and contributes to the study of biodiversity conservation in the Ural Region.

An attack of Lauritrioza alacris (Flor, 1861) (Hemiptera: Triozidae) was recorded in a commercial plantation of bay laurel (Laurus nobilis L., Lauraceae) in the municipality of Dois Lajeados, Rio Grande do Sul state (RS), Brazil. The immature triozids induced galls on the attacked leaves consisting of the thickened margins that became folded downward, forming an elongated tube-shaped roll that sheltered the immatures. All developmental stages (egg, immatures, and adults) of the psyllid were found on young leaves of bay laurel. Lauritrioza alacris is an introduced pest in Brazil that was detected in Pelotas, RS in 1949 and Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro state in 1953. Therefore, we are reporting the third record of L. alacris; however, it is the first documented information of an infestation in a commercial bay laurel plantations by L. alacris in Brazil. Information on taxonomy, biological aspects, distribution, and damage caused by the laurel psyllid is also provided. Made available in DSpace on 2021-08-05T02:11:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Artigo-143-Article-Text-2724-3-10-20210409-3.pdf: 808029 bytes, checksum: 96b7a2da6b1d82189d3cfe42c45e505b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2021

Made available in DSpace on 2021-06-25T12:39:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-01-01. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2021-07-15T14:36:35Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 S0037-86822021000100621.pdf: 1988932 bytes, checksum: 0df3b5c8dae39de94121b802927b7836 (MD5) Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Introduction: This study confirms the occurrence of Psammolestes tertius Lent & Jurberg, 1965 (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae) in the state of Parana, Brazil. Methods: In 2002, a male specimen of P. tertius was collected in the municipality of Porto Rico, Parana, Brazil. Results: This finding adds to the data on the geographical distribution of P. tertius from 14 to 15 known occurrences in Brazilian states and, therefore, reports the increase in the diversity of triatomines in Parana. Conclusions: The presence of P. tertius in the state of Parana demonstrates that the biodiversity of these insects may have been underestimated. Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Biol, Dept Biol Anim, Campinas, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Fac Ciencias Farmaceut, Dept Ciencias Biol, Araraquara, SP, Brazil Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Saude Publ, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Fac Ciencias Farmaceut, Dept Ciencias Biol, Araraquara, SP, Brazil

Simple Summary The abundance of bark beetles is generally explained by resource-related parameters. The bark beetle Phloeotribus rhododactylus feeds mainly on the shrub Cytisus scoparius. Other host plants include Spartium junceum, Cytisus sp., Ulex europaeus, Calicotome sp., Coronilla emeroides, Genista florida, Adenocarpus complicatus, and Ficus carica. Phloeotribus rhododactylus seems to have a stable range that is centred in Western Europe and extends to Eastern Europe. Its abundance is highest in Western Europe and decreases to the east, which coincides with the distribution of the host tree, Cytisus scoparius. Even though Cytisus scoparius is an invasive plant in agricultural and natural ecosystems out of Europe, Phloeotribus rhododactylus has not been found in any of the areas invaded by Cytisus scoparius. Abstract The bark beetle Phloeotribus rhododactylus feeds mainly on the shrub Cytisus scoparius. The range of P. rhododactylus extends from Spain in the south to southern Sweden, Denmark, and Scotland in the north. Its range to the east extends to Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary, but single localities are known further east in Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece. It is clear that the range of the beetle matches that of its main host. C. scoparius is adapted to Mediterranean and coastal climates, and its range is limited by low winter temperatures. P. rhododactylus is, therefore, rare in Central Europe. It infests either individuals of C. scoparius that have been damaged by mammalian herbivores or snow or that are drought-stressed. Although C. scoparius is an invasive plant in agricultural and natural ecosystems, P. rhododactylus has not been found in any of the areas where C. scoparius has invaded.

The distribution of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) in eutrophic ecosystems has been widely studied, but how phytoplankton blooms affect their occurrence and benthic bioaccumulation is poorly understood. To fill this knowledge gap, the biological pump effects of phytoplankton on the fate of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments and benthos (Corbicula fluminea) from Lake Taihu, a hypereutrophic lake in China, were identified. The spatial-temporal distribution of HOCs suggests that higher phytoplankton biomass, coupled with sediment organic matter (SOM) content, greatly increased the concentration of HOCs in sediments in both winter and summer seasons. This could be attributed to the biological pump effects sequestering more HOCs from water to sediments with settling phytoplankton, especially during the summer. The biological pump effects further promoted the uptake of sediment-bound HOCs by benthos. The significant positive relationships between concentrations of HOCs in sediments and benthos were observed during the winter dormancy phase of benthos. Furthermore, the benthic bioaccumulation of HOCs could be strengthened by phytoplankton, due to their contribution to SOM and the following increased bioavailability of HOCs in sediments. Further research is needed to elucidate the phytoplankton biological pump effects on the fate of HOCs in benthic food chain, especially for hypereutrophic waters.

The Central Siberian Botanical Garden of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (CSBG SB RAS) is the largest botanical institution in the Asian part of Russia. Founded in 1946, CSBG SB RAS is historically a consortium of two herbarium collections with their own acronyms (NS and NSK) and registration in the Index Herbariorum (Thiers 2020). At present the NS+NSK collections contain about 800,000 herbarium specimens comprising vascular plants (680,000), mosses (25,000), lichens (80,000) and fungi (15,000) gathered, not only in Siberia, but also in the European part of Russia and other parts of the Eurasian and American continents. CSBG SB RAS has the third largest collection in Russia after the Komarov Botanical Institute of RAS (LE) and Moscow State University (MW) collections. The dataset consists of 5,384 records of digitised herbarium specimens of vascular plants belonging to 111 families, collected since the 19th century in 54 administrative regions from the European part of Russia and kept in NS+NSK collections. Herbarium specimens were digitised using two special scanners, both ObjectScan 1600, according to international standards, at 600 dpi, with a barcode, 24-colour scale and spatial scale bar and placed into the CSBG SB RAS Digital Herbarium. For each specimen, the species name, locality, collection date, collector, ecology and revision label are recorded. More than 94% of the records have coordinates that fall within the area of European Russia, west of the Ural Mountains. A total of 5,384 records of vascular plant occurrences with 94.8% geolocations in the territory of the European Russia West of the Ural Mountains were entered.

Klebsiella (K.) pneumoniae as a multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogen is an emerging challenge for clinicians worldwide. Virulence factors are capsular antigens, adherence factors, the O-lipopolysaccharide, and siderophores promoting infectivity. Mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance are inactivation of compounds via enzymes, change of membrane permeability, and alteration of the target site of the antimicrobial compound. In addition to environmental resistance, K. pneumoniae can survive increasing concentrations of disinfectants, if exposed. This review describes the temporal and spatial distribution of K. pneumoniae in the past decades in Germany, with emphases on the development of resistance in the non-human columns of the One-Health concept. In general, K. pneumoniae is a neglected pathogen in veterinary and environmental health, and the risk of human infection concerning animal contact and food consumption is barely investigated. Few reports exist (n = 26) on antibiotic resistance of isolates from non-human origin. Multi-drug resistance and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (MDR-ESBL) strains also resistant to carbapenems and antibiotics of the ß-lactam group harbor blaCTX-M, blaOXA, blaTEM, blaSHV, blaCMY, and PMQR have been found in animals, foods, and the environment. Colistin resistant strains carrying the mcr-1 gene were detected in wastewater. The blaCTX-M-15 and blaOXA-48 genes are the most frequently identified AMR genes in isolates of humans and were also the most predominant ESBL-genes in samples collected from animal hosts. Several aspects of the molecular epidemiology and resistance development of K. pneumoniae in farm animal populations, wildlife, and foods need intensive research. Environmental health has to be integrated into national research plans, as a lack of data is apparent. Increasing awareness of the fact that non-human sources can act as a reservoir for this pathogen has to be raised.

In this review article, the occurrence of harpagide in the plant kingdom and its associated biological activities are presented and detailed for the first time. The presence of harpagide has been reported in several botanical families within Asteridae, and harpagide has been observed to exert a wide number of biological activities such as cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective. These results show how harpagide can be recovered from several natural sources for several pharmacological purposes even if there is a lot to still be studied. Nowadays, the interest is related to its presence in phytomedicines. Threfore, these studies are useful to support and validate the large use of several plants in the folklore medicine.

The fate of many chemicals in the environment, particularly contaminants of emerging concern (CEC), have been characterised to a limited extent with a major focus on occurrence in water. This study presents the characterisation, distribution and fate of multiple chemicals including pharmaceuticals, recreational drugs and pesticides in surface water, sediment and fauna representing different food web endpoints in a typical UK estuary (River Colne, Essex, UK). A comparison of contaminant occurrence across different benthic macroinvertebrates was made at three sites and included two amphipods (Gammarus pulex & Crangon crangon), a polychaete worm (Hediste diversicolor) and a gastropod (Peringia ulvae). Overall, multiple contaminants were determined in all compartments and ranged from, Graphical abstract Image 1, Highlights • Multi-compartmental monitoring across three sites of an estuarine habitat is presented. • The most impacted site was next to a WWTP discharge point. • Emerging contaminants across four different macroinvertebrates reached up to 91 ng g−1. • Infaunal species showed greater accumulation of contaminants than epibenthic organisms. • A high proportion of contaminants determined in biota were psychoactive drugs., Multi-class contaminants of emerging concern were determined across surface water, sediment and macroinvertebrate species demonstrating widespread exposure in the aquatic environment.

Background Mycological research in the Northern part of West Siberia has now become sufficient for review and digitisation as over 460 scientific works have been completed mainly since the beginning of the 20th century. The history of research in the region started from isolated studies at the beginning of the 20th century, but regular and systematic research started from the 1970s. Over the following decades, several dozens of researchers have worked in the area, but the reported occurrences were scattered amongst a broad variety of publications, mainly hardly available. The great need in digitisation and accumulation of fungal records reported in published literature in a standardised regional database has now become evident. The «Fungal records database of the Northern West Siberia» (FuNWS) was initiated in 2016 according to contemporary biodiversity data standards (Darwin Core), to be compatible and accessible by the broad research community. The database has been supplemented ever since by the collective effort of specialists working in the area. According to the database summary report, there are 3358 fungal and fungus-like species revealed in the Northern West Siberia at present. The richest in species number classes are Agaricomycetes (60%) and Lecanoromycetes (33%) with a total of 25 classes represented. The FuNWS database was uploaded to Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) (Ygra State University Biological Collection publisher) on 11 November 2017 (earlier titled «Fungal Records Database of Yugra, FReDY») to provide open access to the data and its reusability (Filippova et al. 2020). New information This publication summarises the results of the digitisation of literature-based occurrence records of fungi and fungus-like organisms initiated in the Northern part of West Siberia for the first time in the history of mycological research. The bibliography of regional mycological publications was created to include about 460 published works (Suppl. material 2). In total, about 140 literature sources were digitised and about 22000 occurrence records were integrated into the FuNWS database (Filippova et al. 2020). © Filippova N et al. 20-04-00349 Russian Foundation for Basic Research, РФФР: 18-05-00398 Russian Foundation for Basic Research, РФФР: 13-01-20/39, 18-44-860017 The research was funded by the Russian Fund for Basic Research and Government of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous region according to the research project 18-44-860017 and grant 13-01-20/39 of the Yugra State University. Anton G. Shiryaev was partially funded by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research No 18-05-00398 А. Elena A. Zvyagina was supported by the KhMAO – Ugra government assignment for Surgut State University №20-04-00349. А. S. Arefyev was supported by the Fundemental research programme of the Tyumen Scientific Center SB RAS VI.52.1. project number AAAA-A17-117050400146-1. The authors are grateful to Ilya Filippov for preparation of a graph.

Since the late 1980s, long-term monitoring of various components of natural ecosystems under conditions of industrial pollution has been carried out in the Central Urals. In the mid-2000s, similar programmes were started in the Southern Urals. As a part of these monitoring programmes, the data on invertebrates in different types of biotopes, collected with different methods and in a different time intervals, continue to be gathered. Amongst the most well-studied groups of invertebrates are spiders and harvestmen whose communities are a convenient indicator of the environment. The data collected through these monitoring programmes can also be used to study natural local biodiversity. The dataset, presented here, includes information from a long-term monitoring programme for Araneae and Opiliones that inhabit grass stands of secondary dry meadows and litter of spruce-fir, aspen-birch and pine-birch forests in the Central and Southern Urals. The dataset (available from the GBIF network at https://www.gbif.org/dataset/e170dbd1-a67f-4514-841c-5296b290ca90) describes the assemblage structure of spiders and harvestmen (list of species and their abundance), age-sex composition and seasonal and inter-annual dynamics for two large areas in the southern taiga zone of the Ural Mountains. The dataset includes 1,351 samples, which correspond to 5,462 occurrences identified during 2004–2009, 2013 and 2018. In total, we collected 10,433 specimens, representing 178 species (36% of arachnofauna of the Urals), 115 genera (54%) and 23 families (100%). Most of the data (4,939 of 5,462 occurrences, 90%) were collected in the western macro-slope of the Ural Mountains (European part of Russia), the rest in the eastern macro-slope (Asian part). All represented data were sampled in industrially undisturbed areas and are used as a local reference for ecotoxicological monitoring. The dataset provides new useful information for recording the state of biodiversity for the Central and Southern Urals and contributes to the study of biodiversity conservation.

Bluetongue (BT) is an infectious and non-contagious disease caused by bluetongue virus (BTV) belonging to the genus Orbivirus. It is transmitted by a hematophagous vector, Culicoides sp., to ruminants, particularly to sheep, which are most susceptible to this disease. The main serological tests are agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID), which is recommended by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), and the competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA), which has the advantage of no cross-reaction with other orbiviruses. The aim was to compare the results of these two tests by conducting them on sera collected from sheep in the state of Paraná, Brazil. From March to October 2017, serum samples were collected from 270 sheep from 10 farms in six mesoregions of Paraná. The samples were subjected to AGID and cELISA to detect antibodies against BTV. Based on the test results, we classified the sheep as low, moderate, and high occurrence. The results demonstrated that 64.81% (175/270) of the sheep were seropositive through the cELISA test, showing a high occurrence, and 41.11% (111/270) were seropositive through the AGID test, indicating a moderate occurrence. The concordance between the tests was moderate (0.51) as determined by the Kappa coefficient. Among the studied farms, 90% (9/10) presented at least one seropositive sheep, and the number of animals tested positive by the cELISA test was higher than those by the AGID test. Favorable climate, which favors the presence and multiplication of the culicoid vector and the occurrence of infection, was the biggest predominant factor responsible for the obtained results. The low occurrence in farms with milder climate suggest that the presence of antibodies also occurs due to the low pathogenicity of circulating serotypes in the different mesoregions studied. It is concluded that BTV infection is present in the sheep herds in Paraná, and the occurrence was moderate detected by AGID test and high detected by cELISA test. A língua azul (LA) é uma enfermidade infecciosa e não contagiosa causada por um vírus (VLA) do gênero Orbivirus, transmitida por vetores hematófagos Culicoides sp., aos ruminantes sobretudo aos ovinos, espécie mais susceptível. Os principais testes sorológicos utilizados são a Imunodifusão em Gél de Ágar (IDGA), preconizada pela OIE, e o teste Imunoensaio Enzimático Competitivo (ELISAc), sendo que este tem como vantagem não ocorrer reação cruzada contra outros orbivírus. O objetivo do trabalho foi detectar a presença de anticorpos contra o VLA em ovinos no estado do Paraná através dos testes diagnósticos IDGA e ELISAc. Durante os meses de março a outubro de 2017, colheu-se sangue de 270 ovinos, em 10 propriedades localizadas em seis mesorregiões paranaenses. As amostras foram submetidas aos testes de IDGA e ELISAc para detecção de anticorpos contra o VLA. Baseado nos resultados classificaram-se os rebanhos como baixa, moderada ou elevada ocorrência. Os resultados demonstraram elevada ocorrência através do teste de ELISAc, que apresentou 64,81% (175/270) de ovinos positivos, e moderada ocorrência através do IDGA, com 41,11% (111/270) de ovinos soropositivos. A concordância obtida entre os testes foi moderada (0,51) através do coeficiente Kappa. O número de ovinos reagentes no exame de ELISAc foi maior que o teste de IDGA em todas as propriedades positivas, demonstrando ser superior. O clima propício foi um dos fatores favoráveis para as ocorrências observadas, pois favorece a presença e multiplicação do vetor Culicoide e a ocorrência da infecção. A baixa ocorrência nas propriedades com clima mais ameno sugere que a presença de anticorpos provavelmente ocorra também pela baixa patogenicidade dos sorotipos circulantes nas diferentes mesorregiões estudadas. Conclui-se que há infecção de VLA no rebanho ovino paranaense, e a detecção de anticorpos para o VLA foi moderada, através do teste de IDGA, e elevada, através do teste ELISAc.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is generally described as ubiquitous in natural settings, such as soil and water. However, because anecdotal observations and published reports have questioned whether or not this description is true, we undertook a rigorous study using three methods to investigate the occurrence of P. aeruginosa: We investigated environmental samples, analyzed 16S rRNA data, and undertook a systematic review and meta‐analysis of published data. The environmental sample screening identified P. aeruginosa as significantly associated with hydrocarbon and pesticide‐contaminated environments and feces, as compared to uncontaminated environments in which its prevalence was relatively low. The 16S rRNA data analysis showed that P. aeruginosa sequences were present in all habitats but were most abundant in samples from human and animals. Similarly, the meta‐analysis revealed that samples obtained from environments with intense human contact had a higher prevalence of P. aeruginosa compared to those with less human contact. Thus, we found a clear tendency of P. aeruginosa to be present in places closely linked with human activity. Although P. aeruginosa may be ubiquitous in nature, it is usually scarce in pristine environments. Thus, we suggest that P. aeruginosa should be described as a bacterium largely found in locations associated with human activity., We also thank Colciencias project code 1204‐05‐13630 (Identificación de un gen de patogenicidad en la bacteria ambiental y patógeno oportunista Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and the School of Sciences at Universidad de los Andes for the partial funding of this research.

Populations of Dracaena serrulata are disappearing at an alarming rate in the Arabian Peninsula. They are being destroyed by herders who use the leaves as fodder for camels, goats, and sheep during the dry season. Up until now, precise information about the current distribution and population status of D. serrulata in Oman have not been published. To fill this gap, the main aim of this work was to map the species distribution in the Dhofar Mountains (Oman) and to define the conservation and health status of the populations. Three isolated sub-populations of the study species were defined and mapped: the Jabal Samhan, Jabal al Qara, and Jabal al Qamar sub-populations. Dracaena serrulata occupies an area of 227 km2 in the Dhofar Mountains. More than 43,000 trees were counted, and 2387 trees were inventoried in total. The Jabal Samhan sub-population is an example of an extensively damaged population with 59% of the trees recorded as dead and only 21% healthy trees. Populationsin the western portions of the Dhofar Mountains., Jabal al Qamar, and Jabal al Qara are comparatively abundant stands of healthy trees with a higher proportion of seedlings. The health of trees is strongly influenced by accessibility and precipitation provided by the southwest summer monsoon: the healthy individuals predominate on the steep terrain along the seaward facing cliffs.