Ecto and gut parasitic fauna of the African Giant Rat (Cricetomy gambianus) in a semi-urban tropical community

An investigation of ecto and gut parastic fauna of African giant rat Cricetomys gambianus was carried out to determine the composition and prevalence of ecto and gut parasites in the giant rat.Fifteen giant rats, C. gambianus were caught from different locations in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and some other villages in Nsukka. They were all examined for ecto and gut parasites. A total of 2503 gut parasites and 27 ectoparasites were recovered. Considering the gut parasitic worms, nematodes were the most prevalent (87.4%) and included species such as  Nippostrongylus braziliensis, Capillaria columbae and Strongyloides ophidae. Hymenolepis dimnuta (cestode) (126%) was the least in prevalence. All recovered ectoparasites were fleas – Leptopsylla segnis. The health sgnificances of these parasites along with control and management measures are discussed.Keywords: Ectoparasite, Gut parasites, African giant rat, Cicetomys gambianus, Semi-urban tropical communit

Longevity and fecundity of Gasteroclisus rhomboidalis

Both the cultivated and the wild spinach (Amaranthus species) have been found to be host to an important beetle pes Gasteroclisus rhomboidalis. The longevity of the beetles was studied under a variety of conditions. It was observed that the e span of the beetles varied widely with the beetles capable of leaving up to 70 days (about 42 days 0n the average). The beetles generally lived longerunder the ambient condition than inside room condition. Studies on the survivorship of the immature stages of the beetles revealed that the larva has the highest mortality rate amongst stages with the egg being the highest surviving stage. Studies on the fecundiy of the female adult beetles showed that about 80% of ther life span is utilised in egg laying. On the average, about 2½ eggs are laid per day (.e. about 5 eggs laid within 2 days).Keywords: Longevity, Fecundity, Gasteroclisus rhomboidalis, Coleoptera, Cruculiondae, Amaranthus specie

Comparison of Community Reintegration and Selected Stroke Specific Characteristics in Nigerian Male and Female Stroke Survivors

This study investigated the difference between community reintegration of male and female stroke survivors and the association between gender of stroke survivors and some selected stroke specific characteristics (type,side of paresis and occurrence) Fifty-two patients (25 males and 27  females) recruited from hospitals in Nigeria took part in the study. Community reintegration (CR) was assessed three months post-admission discharge using the Reintegration to Normal Living Index (RNLI).  Demographic and stroke-specific characteristics were obtained using a dataform. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, the Mann-Whitney U test and the chi-square test. Level of significance was set at p = 0.05.The mean age of the participants was 61.21 ± 11.25 years (range 31 – 86 years). There was no significant difference (p = 0.173) between the community reintegration scores of male and female participants. There wasalso no significant association between gender and each of the selected stroke specific characteristics such as type of stroke (p = 0.279); side of paresis (p = 0.250) and occurrence of stroke (p = 0.670). Community reintegration scores of male and female stroke survivors are not  significantly different. There is no significant association between gender and each of the selected stroke specific characteristics.KEYWORDS: community reintegration, stroke, stroke survivors,  participation, gende

Heterosis Increases Fertility, Fecundity and Survival of Laboratory-Produced F1 Hybrid Males of the Malaria Mosquito Anopheles coluzzii

The success of vector control strategies aiming to decrease disease transmission via the release of sterile or genetically-modified male mosquitoes critically depends on mating between laboratory-reared males and wild females. Unfortunately, mosquito colonization, laboratory rearing, and genetic manipulations can all negatively affect male competitiveness. Heterosis is commonly used to produce domestic animals with enhanced vigor and homogenous genetic background and could therefore potentially improve the mating performance of mass-reared male mosquitoes. Here, we produced enhanced hybrid males of the malaria mosquito Anopheles coluzzii by crossing two strains colonized 35+ and 8 years ago. We compared the amount of sperm and mating plug proteins they transferred to females, as well as their insemination rate, reproductive success and longevity under various experimental conditions. Across experiments widespread adaptations to laboratory mating were detected in the older strain. In large-group mating experiments, no overall hybrid advantage in insemination rates and the amount of sperm and accessory gland proteins transferred to females was detected. Despite higher sperm activity, hybrid males did not appear more fecund. However, individual-male mating and laboratory-swarm experiments revealed that hybrid males, while inseminating fewer females than older inbred males, were significantly more fertile, producing larger mating plugs and drastically increasing female fecundity. Heterotic males also showed increased longevity. These results validate the use of heterosis for creating hybrid males with improved fitness from long-established inbred laboratory strains. Therefore, this simple approach could facilitate disease control strategies based on male mosquito releases with important ultimate benefits to human health

Effects of sodium chloride concentrations on larvae and pupae of Aedes aegypti

Aedes aegypti is one of the commonest mosquitoes in the tropics and sub topics, feeding on human blood when exposed and is responsible for the transmission of urban yellow fever in Africa and out side Africa, it transmits dengue fever. Aedes aegypti are basically freshwater mosquito. The effect of different concentrations of saline solution on the survivorship of larvae and pupae of Aedes aegypti is studied to possibly find a controlmeasure that will utilize waste water from our kitchen which contains some form of saline solution. Different grams of NaCl were measured and dissolved in 100 ml of water to get the different concentrations and the different larva were subsequently introduced into these solutions. Increase in salinity, brings about increase in mortality rate as well as increase in length of days for development. While there was no mortality in salineconcentration between 0.1 - 1.0 % the length of days for development remains almost the same as in freshwater. But from 1.5%-5.0% saline concentration, mortality recorded was on the increase and rate of development was delayed taking about 4.5 days in pupa as against the normal 2.5 days on the average. However optimal mortality was recordedin the first larval instars having 100% mortality in 1.5% to 5.0%. Where as the pupal stage recorded the highest survivorship rate of 83.3% in all. Finally it was observed that Aedes aegypti even though a freshwater mosquito tolerated some level of salinity and at the same time can be controlled effectively with NaCl solution

Biological studies of Gasteroclisus rhomboidalis (Coleoptera: curculionidae) on Amaranthus species

In West Africa, the foliage of both wild and cultivated varieties of Amarnathus species is used widely as vegetable and as fodder for cattle. This widely cultivated vegetable is severely attacked by the snouted beetle, Gastreoclisus rhomboidalis. A comprehensive study on some aspects of the biology of G. rhomboidalis has been carried out. The full life cycle of the beetle (from copulation and oviposition through the various immature stages to the emergence of adult beetles) was investigated It took on the average 40 days for the adult beetle to emerge from the day of oviposition. Studies on the feeding habit of the beetles revealed that the beetles fed heavily on theleaves and can inflict an enormous destruction on the host plant over a short period of time. Generally; the studies have been able to confirm that the larva and adult beetles are the most potent destroyers of the host plant. While the adult beetle fed heavily on the leaves and tender plant sem, the larva when hatched in the plant stem, destroyed the host plant (particulary durngthe tender ages of between 2 - 3 weeks) with its boring activities causing the plant to wilt and die.Keywords: Gasteroclisus rhomboidalis, Beetles, Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Amaranthu

Arthropod pests of dried fish and fish by product in a tropical urban community market

A four months research survey of arthropod pests infesting dried fish sold in a tropical urban community market (Ogige), Nsukka, Ngeria showed that 10 genera o dried freshwater fish (Synodontis, Hemisynodontis, Oreochromis, Hepsetus, Gymnarchus, Labeo, Protopterus, Heterobranchus, Alestes, Heterotis) and two species of cod fishes sold in the market were arthropod infested. The pests were extracted by iumination and cracking methods and identifed using relevant taxonomic keys. Voucher specimens were kept n the Museum of Natural History, Department of Zoology University of Nigeria. Each of the fish genera harboured at least one of the following arthropods: Dermestes maculatus, Necrobia rufipes, Lardoglyphus konoi, Theridion saxatile and Tribolium castaneum. T. castaneum was found only in fish bones in the stall. Besides the resident pests, Peripaneta americana, Lucilia spp, Calliphora spp and Musca domestica were visiting pests of the dried fish sampled. D. maculatus was the dominant resdent pest accounting or 57.07 % of the colected arthropods whle Necrobia rufipe was next in importance, accounting for 21.54 %The pests were identified using keys and voucher methods.Keywords: Arthropod pests, Visiting pest, Resident pest, Dried fish, Cod, Fish bone, Urban marke

Differential effects of inbreeding and selection on male reproductive phenotype associated with the colonization and laboratory maintenance of Anopheles gambiae.

BACKGROUND: Effective mating between laboratory-reared males and wild females is paramount to the success of vector control strategies aiming to decrease disease transmission via the release of sterile or genetically modified male mosquitoes. However mosquito colonization and laboratory maintenance have the potential to negatively affect male genotypic and phenotypic quality through inbreeding and selection, which in turn can decrease male mating competitiveness in the field. To date, very little is known about the impact of those evolutionary forces on the reproductive biology of mosquito colonies and how they ultimately affect male reproductive fitness. METHODS: Here several male reproductive physiological traits likely to be affected by inbreeding and selection following colonization and laboratory rearing were examined. Sperm length, and accessory gland and testes size were compared in male progeny from field-collected females and laboratory strains of Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto colonized from one to over 25 years ago. These traits were also compared in the parental and sequentially derived, genetically modified strains produced using a two-phase genetic transformation system. Finally, genetic crosses were performed between strains in order to distinguish the effects of inbreeding and selection on reproductive traits. RESULTS: Sperm length was found to steadily decrease with the age of mosquito colonies but was recovered in refreshed strains and crosses between inbred strains therefore incriminating inbreeding costs. In contrast, testes size progressively increased with colony age, whilst accessory gland size quickly decreased in males from colonies of all ages. The lack of heterosis in response to crossing and strain refreshing in the latter two reproductive traits suggests selection for insectary conditions. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that inbreeding and selection differentially affect reproductive traits in laboratory strains overtime and that heterotic 'supermales' could be used to rescue some male reproductive characteristics. Further experiments are needed to establish the exact relationship between sperm length, accessory gland and testes size, and male reproductive success in the laboratory and field settings