Urocleidus sayani n. sp. (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) from Gills of Pirate Perch (Aphredoderus sayanus).

Urocleidus sayani n. sp. is described from the gills of pirate perch (Aphredoderus sayanus) in the Wisconsin backwaters of the upper Mississippi River and was found in samples from the Southeastern United States.

Exploring epidermal mucus protease activity as an indicator of stress in Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrhinchus).

Atlantic sturgeon are anadromous fish that spend much of their life in near-shore environments. They are designated as "threatened" by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada and listed by the IUCN as "near threatened." In Canada, Atlantic sturgeon support small commercial fisheries in the Saint John River, New Brunswick, and the St.

The mitogenome of freshwater loach (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) with phylogenetic analysis of Nemacheilidae.

The complete mitogenome can provide valuable genetic information to reconstruct relationships between species. In this study, we sequenced a stone loach, (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae), which is found in the northern region of the Qinling Mountains in China. The size of the mitogenome is 16,570 bp, which contains 37 typical mitochondrial genes including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs, two ribosomal RNAs, and a control region (D-loop) with a total AT content of 55.

Predator exposure-induced immunosuppression: trade-off, immune redistribution or immune reconfiguration?

Although predator exposure increases the risk of wound infections, it typically induces immunosuppression. A number of non-mutually exclusive hypotheses have been put forward to explain this immunosuppression, including: trade-offs between the immune system and other systems required for anti-predator behaviour, redistribution of immune resources towards mechanisms needed to defend against wound infections, and reconfiguration of the immune system to optimize defence under the physiological state of fight-or-flight readiness. We tested the ability of each hypothesis to explain the effects of chronic predator stress on the immune system of the caterpillar Predator exposure induced defensive behaviours, reduced mass gain, increased development time and increased the concentration of the stress neurohormone octopamine.

The parasitic wasp Cotesia congregata uses multiple mechanisms to control host (Manduca sexta) behaviour.

Some parasites alter the behaviour of their hosts. The larvae of the parasitic wasp Cotesia congregata develop within the body of the caterpillar Manduca sexta During the initial phase of wasp development, the host's behaviour remains unchanged. However, once the wasps begin to scrape their way out of the caterpillar, the caterpillar host stops feeding and moving spontaneously.

A viral aphrodisiac in the cricket Gryllus texensis.

We identified the insect iridovirus IIV-6/CrIV as a pathogen of the cricket Gryllus texensis using electron microscopy (EM) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. EM showed that the virus attacks the fat body, an organ important for protein production, immune function and lipid storage. During infection the fat body hypertrophied, but egg production withered, leaving the lateral oviducts empty of eggs; the females were effectively sterile.

Changes in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) epidermal mucus protein composition profiles following infection with sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis).

The mucus protein profile of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and changes due to infection with sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) were examined. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis was performed on salmon skin mucus and comparisons between control and infected fish mucus were made. LC MS/MS identified intracellular proteins, calmodulin, actin, and hemopexin and plasma proteins, such as apolipoproteins, lectin, plasminogen and transferrin.

Supplemental diagnosis and molecular taxonomy of Myxobolus diaphanus (Fantham, Porter et Richardson, 1940) (Myxozoa) parasitizing Fundulus diaphanus (Cyprinodontiformes) in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Myxobolus diaphanus (Fantham, Porter et Richardson, 1940) was found in banded killifish Fundulus diaphanus (Lesueur) at several freshwater localities in Nova Scotia, including the type locality at the mouth of the Salmon River, Guysborough County. The new material, the first to be reported in 64 years, was used to supplement information on spore morphology, to document the site of development in the tissue, and to compare sequence data of the 18S rDNA to other studied myxobolids. Plasmodia with developed spores occurred in loose connective tissue of the head, the dermis (particularly in the roof of the mouth and at the base of fins), surface of the brain and ovary, muscle epimysium, and the submucosa of the intestine.

PCR for detection of cdt-III and the relative frequencies of cytolethal distending toxin variant-producing Escherichia coli isolates from humans and cattle.

A PCR assay that uses primers whose sequences were obtained from the published sequence of the cdt-III gene was developed to determine the frequencies of the cdt-I, cdt-II, and cdt-III genes in Escherichia coli isolates from humans and animals. E. coli isolates producing cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) were infrequently detected.