Données préliminaires sur l’exploitation des pangolins (Pholidota) autour du Parc National de Kahuzi-Biega, République Démocratique du Congo

Dans un contexte où la demande des écailles des pangolins pour la médicine traditionnelle chinoise ne cesse d’augmenter, ces animaux se trouvent de plus à plus braconner. Il est donc important que les études soient menées dans leur zone de répartition pour arriver à dégager les motivations de cette exploitation dans chaque zone. C’est dans cet angle que l’étude sur l’exploitation des pangolins et de leurs produits dérivés a été réalisée autour du parc national de Kahuzi-Biega avec pour objectif de dégager les différentes fins pour lesquelles ces animaux y sont exploités et identifier les différents acteurs intervenant dans ce domaine via l’information et les connaissances des riverains. La méthode d’enquête individuelle et collective a été conduite auprès de 116 personnes pendant une période de deux mois (mars et avril 2019) autour du Secteur Tshivanga et du Secteur Itebero. Les analyses comparatives, Khi-deux, Ficher et les analyses à correspondances multiples (ACM) ont été effectuées à l’aide du logiciel Past 3.2. Les résultats obtenus montrent que les pangolins sont principalement exploités pour l’alimentation et la médecine traditionnelles. Cependant, le trafic de leurs écailles a fait augmenter la demande dans la zone. Les demandeurs des écailles viennent principalement des grandes villes (Bukavu, Goma, Kisangani) et des certaines pays étrangers (Ouganda, Burundi, Tanzanie et les agents de la Mission des Nations-Unies pour la Stabilisation au Congo). Le commerce des écailles pour satisfaire la demande externe, bien qu’encore à ces débuts, vient menacer les pangolins dans cette zone où la chasse est strictement interdite. Ce commerce passe par des intermédiaires, dont les principaux sont les enfants du milieu.Mots clés : Étude préliminaire, exploitation, pangolins, Kahuzi-biega, RDC English Title: Preliminary data on the exploitation of Pangolins (Pholidota) about the National Park of Kahuzi-Biega, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)In a context where the demand for pangolin scales for traditional Chinese medicine continues to increase, these animals are increasingly being poached. It is therefore important that studies be carried out in their area of distribution in order to identify the motivations for this exploitation in each area. It is in this perspective that the study on the exploitation of pangolins and their by-products was carried out around the Kahuzi-Biega National Park with the aim of identifying the different purposes for which these animals are exploited there and to identify the different actors involved in this field through the information and knowledge of local residents. The individual and collective survey method was conducted among 116 people over a two-month period (March and April 2019) around the Tshivanga Sector and the Itebero Sector. Comparative, Chi-square, File and Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) analyses were carried out using Past 3.2 software. The results obtained show that pangolins are mainly exploited for traditional food and medicine. However, the trafficking of their scales has increased demand in the area. The demand for the scales comes mainly from the big cities (Bukavu, Goma, Kisangani) and from some foreign countries (Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania and agents of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Congo). The trade in scales to satisfy external demand, although still in its infancy, is threatening pangolins in this area where hunting is strictly prohibited. This trade goes through intermediaries, the main ones being local children.Keywords: Preliminary study, exploitation, pangolins, Kahuzi-biega, DRC

Translating molecular medicine into clinical tools: doomed to fail by neglecting basic preanalytical principles

This commentary discusses a study on measurements of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) in serum of pseudoxanthoma elasticum patients recently published in Journal of Molecular Medicine. This study can be considered the typical "obstacle" to effective translational medicine as previously documented in JTM journal. Although serum has been frequently proven as inappropriate sample for determining numerous circulating MMPs, among them MMP-9, there are over and over again studies, as in this case, that measure MMP-9 in serum. Comparative measurements in serum and plasma samples demonstrated higher concentrations for MMP-9 in serum due to the additional release from leukocytes and platelets following the coagulation/fibrinolysis process. From this example it can be concluded that translating basic research discoveries into clinical tools needs a more intensive exchange between basic biomedical research and clinical scientists already in an early stage. Otherwise a lost of translation, as discussed in JTM journal, seems to be inevitable

Hexamermis eurygasteri n. sp (Nematoda: Mermithidae) parasitising the sunn pest Eurygaster integriceps Puton (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae) in Turkey

WOS: 000291250900003PubMed ID: 21643896A new species of mermithid nematode, Hexamermis eurygasteri n. sp. (Nematoda: Mermithidae) is described as a parasite of the sunn pest Eurygaster integriceps Puton (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae) in Turkey. The combination of the following characters separate H. eurygasteri from other members of Hexamermis Steiner, 1924, as defined by Artyukhovsky (1990) and Kaiser (1991): amphidial pouch integrated into lateral cephalic papillae; amphidial openings minute; well-developed cuticular vulval cone; small vulval lips; vagina straight or slightly curved at tip, without reverse bend; spicules shorter in length than body diameter at cloaca; spicules straight, except occasionally for short bend at base; spicule tips bluntly rounded; and two double rows of genital papillae. This is the first description of a nematode parasite of a member of the Scutelleridae and the first description of a mermithid nematode from Turkey. This mermithid has potential as a biological control agent in an integrated control programme of the sunn pest

Parasitism of the Wheat Stinkbug, Aelia rostrata Boh. (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) with the Entomopathogenic Nematode, Hexamermis sp (Nematoda: Mermithidae)

WOS: 000314559600008The aim of this study was to determine the rate of parasitism of wheat stinkbug (WSB), Aelia rostrata Boh. (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) with Hexamermis sp. (Nematoda: Mermithidae) in 2010 and 2011. For this purpose, the adults of A rostrata were collected from overwintering areas in Ankara, Turkey. The samples were brought to laboratory and sexed. They were dissected to check for the presence or absence of mermithids. Thus, the rates of parasitism were calculated for females and males of A rostrata. Parasitism rates were 24.7 and 21.4% for females and 33.6 and 36.1% for males in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Parasitized A. rostrata contained an average of 2.6 +/- 0.72 nematode individuals. In a sample of 30 parasitized A. rostrata, 63.3% contained a single juvenile worm, 16.7% contained 2 and 20.0% contained 3 or more individuals. The mean body length of juvenile measured 7.6 +/- 0.24 cm for females and 3.0 +/- 0.15 cm for males. The results suggest that Hexamermis sp. is an important natural enemy of A rostrata in overwintering areas and could be potential a biological control agent for the pest management in the future

Reproduction and survival of overwintered and F1 generation of two egg parasitoids of sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps Put. (Heteroptera: Scutelleridae)

The differences in the reproductive biology of overwintered (OW) and F1 generation of Trissolcus semistriatus Nees and T. festivae Victorov (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) were investigated under laboratory conditions. The experiments were conducted to evaluate oviposition period, lifetime fecundity, female progeny, sex ratio, and longevity of OW and F1 generation with the two species as factors. The results of this study showed that the oviposition period of F1 generation was longer than that of OW females for both of the two parasitoid species. With the exception of F1 generation of T. festivae, the highest daily average progeny production of females was recorded on the first day. The mean lifetime fecundity of ovipositing females were calculated as 88.8 ± 6.13 and 111.9 ± 6.66 for OW and F1 generation of T. semistriatus, 85.6 ± 6.83; 104.7 ± 4.66 for OW and F1 generation of T. festivae, respectively. The sex ratios of progeny for both of the species were distinctly female-biased. The effects of species, factors (OW and F1 generation), and their interactions were significant on the sex ratio of progeny. The average longevity of OW females was 16.2 ± 1.76 days for T. semistriatus and 16.9 ± 1.21 for T. festivae. The average longevity of F1 generation females was 17.5 ± 1.46 days for T. semistriatus and 28.5 ± 1.94 for T. festivae. Thus, some several biological characteristics of both species were compared and discussed with regard to the use of OW populations for the successful implantation of biological control and mass production. © TÜBİTAK

Reproduction and survival of overwintered and F1 generation of two egg parasitoids of sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps Put. (Heteroptera: Scutelleridae)

The differences in the reproductive biology of overwintered (OW) and F1 generation of Trissolcus semistriatus Nees and T. festivae Victorov (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) were investigated under laboratory conditions. The experiments were conducted to evaluate oviposition period, lifetime fecundity, female progeny, sex ratio, and longevity of OW and F1 generation with the two species as factors. The results of this study showed that the oviposition period of F1 generation was longer than that of OW females for both of the two parasitoid species. With the exception of F1 generation of T. festivae, the highest daily average progeny production of females was recorded on the first day. The mean lifetime fecundity of ovipositing females were calculated as 88.8 ± 6.13 and 111.9 ± 6.66 for OW and F1 generation of T. semistriatus, 85.6 ± 6.83; 104.7 ± 4.66 for OW and F1 generation of T. festivae, respectively. The sex ratios of progeny for both of the species were distinctly female-biased. The effects of species, factors (OW and F1 generation), and their interactions were significant on the sex ratio of progeny. The average longevity of OW females was 16.2 ± 1.76 days for T. semistriatus and 16.9 ± 1.21 for T. festivae. The average longevity of F1 generation females was 17.5 ± 1.46 days for T. semistriatus and 28.5 ± 1.94 for T. festivae. Thus, some several biological characteristics of both species were compared and discussed with regard to the use of OW populations for the successful implantation of biological control and mass production. © TÜBİTAK

The species of Oopristus Steffan, 1968 (Hymenoptera: Torymidae: Toryminae: Monodontomerini) of Turkey, with descriptions of two new species [Türkiye'nin Oopristus Steffan, 1968 (Hymenoptera: Torymidae: Toryminae: Monodontomerini) türleri ve iki yeni türün tanımlanması]

The species of Oopristus Steffan, 1968 (Hymenoptera: Torymidae: Toryminae: Monodontomerini) of Turkey were studied. Oopristus turkestanicus (Skriptshinsky, 1929) was reared from the eggs of Apodiphus amygdali (Germar, 1817) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Balcali{dotless}, Adana, as a new record for Turkey. Additionally, 2 new species of the genus, O. tayfursokmeni Tarla and Do?anlar, sp. nov., and O. erganicus Tarla and Do?anlar, sp. nov., were described. The species were also reared from eggs of A. amygdali collected in Antakya, Hatay province, and Ergani, Diyarbaki{dotless}r province, respectively. The diagnostic characters of the species were illustrated and an identification key to species of the genus was provided. © TÜBİTAK