Experimental Infection of Peromyscus Species Rodents with Sin Nombre Virus.

We demonstrate that 6 distinct Peromyscus rodent species are permissive to experimental infection with Sin Nombre orthohantavirus (SNV). Viral RNA and SNV antibodies were detected in members of all 6 species. P.

Epidemiological evidence of mosquito-borne viruses among persons and vectors in Iran: A study from North to South.

• The overall seroprevalence of DENV, WNV and CHIKV in Iran were 5.9%, 18.8% and 1.

Jamestown Canyon and snowshoe hare virus seroprevalence in New Brunswick.

Background: Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV) and snowshoe hare virus (SSHV) are wide-ranging mosquito-borne arboviruses in the California serogroup viruses (CSGV) that are known to circulate in New Brunswick. Despite potential for debilitating central nervous system manifestations, the prevalence of human exposure to these viruses in New Brunswick is unknown. The goal of this study was to quantify rates of human exposure in New Brunswick to these neglected arboviruses.

Bird Species Involved in West Nile Virus Epidemiological Cycle in Southern Québec.

Despite many studies on West Nile Virus (WNV) in the US, including the reservoir role of bird species and the summer shifts of the mosquito, feeding from birds to mammals, there have been few equivalent studies in the neighboring regions of Canada where WNV is endemic. Here, a priority list of bird species likely involved in WNV transmission in the greater Montréal area is constructed by combining three sources of data: (i) from WNV surveillance in wild birds (2002-2015); (ii) blood meal analysis of (CPR), the primary enzootic vectors of WNV in the region, collected from surveillance in 2008 and 2014; (iii) literature review on the sero-prevalence/host competence of resident birds. Each of these data sources yielded 18, 23 and 53 species, and overall, 67 different bird species were identified as potential WNV amplifiers/reservoirs.

Vector Competence of Some Mosquito Species From Canada For Zika Virus.

The recent introduction of Zika virus (ZIKV) into the Americas and the occurrence of birth defects associated with infection during pregnancy have created a concern about the spread of this virus into more northern countries in the Americas. Therefore, we examined several species of mosquitoes found in southern Manitoba, Canada, for their susceptibility to infection and their ability to transmit ZIKV. Aedes cinereus, Ae.

The first case of locally acquired tick-borne Babesia microti infection in Canada.

A child with a complicated medical history that included asplenia acquired an infection with Babesia microti in the summer of 2013 and had not travelled outside of Manitoba. Although the clinical findings were subtle, astute laboratory work helped to reach a preliminary identification of Babesia species, while reference laboratory testing confirmed the diagnosis. Blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) are known to transmit Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in the province; however, the present case represents the first known instance of tick-borne B microti, both in Manitoba and in Canada.

Identification of group I introns within the SSU rDNA gene in species of Ceratocystiopsis and related taxa.

During a recent phylogenetic study, group I introns were noted that interrupt the nuclear small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rDNA) gene in species of Ceratocystiopsis. Group I introns were found to be inserted at the following rDNA positions: S943, S989, and S1199. The introns have been characterized and phylogenetic analysis of the host gene and the corresponding intron data suggest that for S943 vertical transfer and frequent loss appear to be the most parsimonious explanation for the distribution of nuclear SSU rDNA introns among species of Ceratocystiopsis.

Development of three additional Culex species-specific polymerase chain reaction primers and their application in West Nile virus surveillance in Canada.

In 2002, more than 17,000 mosquito pools collected in Canada (Quebec, Ontario, and Manitoba) were tested at the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, Manitoba, for infection with West Nile virus (WNV). Using real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), 558 mosquito pools (86% Culex species and 14% other species) had evidence of infection with WNV. Only 30% of the Culex specimens, however, were identified to the species level.

Molecular evolution of the mtDNA encoded rps3 gene among filamentous ascomycetes fungi with an emphasis on the Ophiostomatoid fungi.

The mitochondrial ribosomal protein S3 (rps3) gene within the fungi is extremely diverse in location and organization, some versions of this gene have been incorporated into a group I intron, others appear to have gained large insertions, microsatellite expansions, or have been invaded by homing endonucleases. Among the ascomycetes fungi the group I intron encoded version of rps3 appears to have a rather complex evolutionary history including first the acquisition of rps3 by a group I intron (mL2449), the loss of the mL2499 intron and the establishment of rps3 as a free-standing gene, and the eventual loss of the intron derived version of rps3.

Phylogeny and jaw ontogeny of beloniform fishes.

To investigate jaw evolution in beloniform fishes, we reconstructed the phylogeny of 54 species using fragments of two nuclear (RAG2 and Tmo-4C4) and two mitochondrial (cytochrome b and 16S rRNA) genes. Our total molecular evidence topology refutes the monophyly of needlefishes (Belonidae) and halfbeaks (Hemiramphidae), but supports the monophyly of flyingfishes (Exocoetidae) and sauries (Scomberesocidae). Flyingfishes are nested within halfbeaks, and sauries are nested within needlefishes.