Lice, Mites, and Ticks of Southeastern Wisconsin Mammals

Seventeen species of southeastern Wisconsin mammals were found to 6e infected with arthropod ectoparasites other than fleas. One host species was infested with one species of biting lice (Mallophaga), five with five species of sucking lice (Anoplura), ten with at least 16 species of mites (Acari) and nine with six species of hard ticks (Ixodidae). Many new state and/or host records are reported. Host specificity was very pronounced in lice but less marked in ticks and mites particularly in the more common species, ex. Androlaelaps fahrenholzi (Berlese) and Ixodes cookei Packard, respectively

Marine Flora and Fauna of the eastern United States: Acanthocephala

The phylum Acanthocephala (intestinal worm parasites of vertebrates) of the Atlantic coast of the United States comprises 43 species and 20 genera belonging to three orders: Echinorhynchida, Neoechinorhynchida, and Polymorphida. Adults are exclusively intestinal parasites of vertebrates. This study includes those species found in vertebrates of marine and estuarine environments along the North American Atlantic coast between Maine and Texas. Species that can be found within that geographical range and those that typically infect freshwater fishes but that are occasionally present in marine or estuarine hosts are also included. The taxonamy, anatomy, natural history, and ecology of the phylum Acanthocephala are discussed, and an illustrated key to the genera is presented. Techniques, an\ud annotated systematic treatment of all 43 species, and a systematic index are included. No systematic decisions will be made at this time, but areas where such decisions are pending will be indicated and discussed for future reports. (PDF file contains 32 pages.

AN EIGHTEEN YEAR STUDY OF INTESTINAL PROTOZOANS IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA BETWEEN 1996 AND 2013

Seasonal and annual prevalence of intestinal protozoans were studied for a period of 18 years in an urban/suburban Los Angeles area. This is the first such study anywhere in the world. A total of 7766 fecal specimens from 3883 patients in Los Angeles County, from 1996 to 2013 were tested at Parasitology Center, Inc. (PCI), Scottsdale, Arizona. During this period, 1629 (41%) of patients were found infected with one or more protozoan parasites. The most prevalent parasites were Blastocystis hominis (19%), Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar (6%) E. hartmanni (6%), and Cryptosporidium parvum (5%). Blastocystis hominis made up 45% of all infections. Infections with Blastocystis hominis progressively declined through 2013 while those of C. parvum increased. Infections with B. hominis were more prevalent in colder weather and lowest in August and September. Infections with C. parvum were most prevalent from March to June and lowest in August. The overall monthly prevalence for all protozoan parasites varied between 34% in August and 51% in February. The composition of the parasitic fauna diagnosed, annual prevalence rates, and seasonality were discussed in comparison with other studies. Keywords: Intestinal protozoans, Los Angeles, 1996-2013, Prevalence, Seasonality

Acanthocephala of Cichlids (Pisces) in Lake Malawi, Africa, with a Description of \u3ci\u3eAcanthogyrus (Acanthosentis} malawiensis\u3c/i\u3e sp. n. (Quadrigyridae) from \u3ci\u3eLabeo cylindricus\u3c/i\u3e Peters, 1852 (Cyprinidae)

Two species of acanthocephalans are reported from fishes collected during the summer of 1996 in the southeast arm of Lake Malawi (Lake Nyasa), East Africa. The common Acanthogyrus (Acanthosentis) tilapiae (Baylis, 1948) had infected 18 cichlid and 1 bagrid host species (all new host records) netted by divers wearing scuba gear around Harbor Island or caught by hook and line in deep water. The specimens of this parasite were some of the smallest ever reported for that species. Two males of a new species, Acanthogyrus (Acanthosentis) malawiensis, are described from 2 male Labeo cylindricus (Cyprinidae). This is the fifth species of this genus and subgenus described in Africa. It is distinguished from the other 4 African and 33 mostly Asian species in that the proboscis hooks of the middle circle are longer than those of the anterior circle. The new species further differs from the other African species in proboscis and hook size, posterior hook root, trunk spination, and lemniscal form. Observations on host and geographical distribution, prevalence, and developmental stages of A. (A.) tilapiae are also reported

An SEM study of Acanthogyrus (Acanthosentis) tilapiae (Acanthocephala: Quadrigyridae) from Africa documenting previously unreported features and host parasite interface

Abstract. Acanthogyrus (Acanthopsentis) tilapiae (Baylis, 1948) is the most widely distributed species of Acanthogyrus in many countries associated with the Nile River in Africa. It has been described by various authors but much of its external morphological features remained unknown until recently explored by SEM in our present study from specimens collected from cichlid fishes in Lake Malawi, Africa. Newly observed features include the proboscis armature and sensory pores, epidermal micropores, and trunk spines. Attachment and interface between worm and host intestinal lining are also reported for the first time

The effectiveness of scientific approach using encyclopedia as learning materials in improving students’ science process skills in science

A scientific approach for biology students in the Vertebrate course is needed in order to improve the skills and enrich the experience for new spirit of learning. The research was a quantitative research aiming to explain the influence of the encyclopedia as learning materials used in the scientific approach to improving the students’ science process skills. Meanwhile, to reveal the influence of each indicator in each predictor, a qualitative descriptive analysis was employed. The encyclopedia was found to be able to provide visualization to represent an explanation. The respondents in this study were biology students who attended the Vertebrate course. Thirty respondents were selected through a cluster random sampling technique. A test of science process skills was the instrument of this research. Furthermore, the ANOVA was utilized in testing the hypothesis. The analysis results showed that there was a different effect of the learning approach on the basic science process skills. Moreover, there was also a significant influence of the scientific approach to basic science processing skills at a significance level of 0.001 (on corrected model) with F value equal to 7.411. Meanwhile, the significance level for basic science process skills was 0.024 with the p-value <0.05 and F value of 5.357. For the integrated science, there was a significant effect of the learning approach to the integrated science process skills at the significance level of 0.000 with the F value of 12.537. The significance value for the integrated science process skills was 0.044 with p-value <0.05 and F value of 4.224

Integration of waqf-Islamic microfinance model for poverty reduction: the case of Bangladesh

Purpose – This paper aims to develop an integrated waqf-based Islamic microfinance (IsMF) for poverty reduction in Bangladesh. Microfinance institutions (MFIs) have been constrained by the high cost of funds, high interest rate charges and poor human resource quality of the recipients. Islamic MFIs have recently evolved with the hope of overcoming these financial, ethical and human capital deficiencies faced by the conventional financial institutions. Moreover, a good number of integrated models have been proposed to enhance the role played by Islamic MFIs. Most of these models, however, lack empirical justifications. Design/methodology/approach – The research uses survey techniques. A total of 381 respondents were included in the survey. The integrated waqf-based Islamic microfinance model (IWIMM) was earlier on developed using literature and intellectual discussions. There are six constructs presenting the IWIMM, namely, waqf resources, IsMF, takaful, project financing, human resource development and poverty alleviation. In the survey instrument, 45 items represent the six constructs, but only 26 items have been retained after factor analysis. Structural equation modelling has been adopted to examine the relationship among the constructs. Findings – The results show that there are significant relationships between IsMF and takaful, waqf resources and human resource development, takaful and human resource development, IsMF and human resource development and, waqf resources and project financing. The results also indicate that poverty alleviation is possible through the integration of these constructs. Research limitations/implications – Though the paper has studied conventional and Islamic MFIs in Bangladesh, one of the populated Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member countries and also where poverty incidence is high, further studies need to be conducted in other OIC member countries to adopt the model in line with practical and regulatory environment of those countries. Similarly, the study is based on the perception of the respondents, which limits the generalization of the result. Practical implications – The paper proposed a model that has the potential of being applied for poverty alleviation programmes in most of the OIC member states. Originality/value – The present paper has developed an IWIMM for poverty reduction

ESTADIOS LARVALES DE POLYMORPHUS SPINDLATUS (ACANTHOCEPHALA: POLYMORPHIDAE) DE UN NUEVO PEZ HOSPEDERO, OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS, EN PERÚ

Larval stages of the acanthocephalan Polymorphus spindlatus Amin &amp; Heckmann, 1991(Polymorphidae) were obtained from the intestine of tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus Linnaeus, 1758 (Pisces: Cichlidae) in Villa Swamps, Lima, Peru during 2006. Cystacanth stages were recovered from the intestine, observed live, and documented photographically. Early stages had an ovoid proboscis that developed into the spindle-shaped form characteristic of the adult proboscis only in the late cystacanth stage. Form and pattern of adult proboscis hooks were evident in the younger larvae. The constriction in the trunk of the early stages was lost in the developed cystacanth. The morphology of the spindle-shaped trunk and other features of the cystacanth from the fish host were similar to those reported for cystacanths previously reported from the body cavity of fish hosts in Lake Titicaca, Peru.Estadios larvales del acantocéfala Polymorphus spindlatus Amin &amp; Heckmann, 1991(Polymorphidae) fueron obtenidos del intestino de la tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus Linnaeus, 1758 (Pisces: Cichlidae) en los Pantanos de Villa, Lima, Perú durante el 2006. Estadios de cistacantos fueron recuperados del intestino, observados vivos, y documentados fotográficamente. Los estadios tempranos tuvieron una proboscide ovoide que desarrolló en una forma de huso característica de la probóscide adulta solo en el último estadio de cistacanto. Formas y modelos de los ganchos de las proboscides adultas fueron evidentes en las larvas jóvenes. La constricción en el tronco de los estadios tempranos se desapareció al desarrollo del cistacanto. La morfología del tronco en forma de huso y otras características del cistacanto en el pez hospedero fueron similares a aquellas reportadas para cistacantos previamente reportadas de la cavidad corporal de los peces hospederos en el Lago Titicaca, Perú

Integrating remote sensing, GIS and in-situ data for structural mapping over a part of the NW Rif belt, Morocco

This study adopts an integrated approach using the geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing techniques for structural mapping in inaccessible zone of the internal segment of North-Western Rif belt, Morocco. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Optimal Index Factor (OIF), band ratios and directional filtering are applied to Landsat 8 OLI (Operational Land Imager) image for mapping lithology and geological structures. Tectonic lineaments are extracted using the remote sensing and GIS approach and verified by in-situ data. Lithology and detailed structural features in the study area as well as the main sets of fractures trending NW–SE and E–W are identified and highlighted. The results obtained in this research demonstrate that the integration of remote sensing imagery and GIS techniques is a reliable and low-cost approach to fracture extraction and structural mapping, particularly in remote and inaccessible regions of the African plate and other analogue zones around the world