The roles of ecological fitting, phylogeny and physiological equivalence in understanding realized and fundamental host ranges in endoparasitoid wasps

Co-evolutionary theory underpins our understanding of interactions in nature involving plant–herbivore and host–parasite interactions. However, many studies that are published in the empirical literature that have explored life history and development strategies between endoparasitoid wasps and their hosts are based on species that have no evolutionary history with one another. Here, we investigated novel associations involving two closely related solitary endoparasitoids that originate from Europe and North America and several of their natural and factitious hosts from both continents. The natural hosts of both species are also closely related, all being members of the same family. We compared development and survival of both parasitoids on the four host species and predicted that parasitoid performance is better on their own natural hosts. In contrast with this expectation, survival, adult size and development time of both parasitoids were similar on all (with one exception) hosts, irrespective as to their geographic origin. Our results show that phylogenetic affinity among the natural and factitious hosts plays an important role in their nutritional suitability for related parasitoids. Evolved traits in parasitoids, such as immune suppression and development, thus enable them to successfully develop in novel host species with which they have no evolutionary history. Our results show that host suitability for specialized organisms like endoparasitoids is closely linked with phylogenetic history and macro-evolution as well as local adaptation and micro-evolution. We argue that the importance of novel interactions and ‘ecological fitting’ based on phylogeny is a greatly underappreciated concept in many resource–consumer studies.

Simultaneous detection of hepatitis c virus antigen and antibodies in dried blood spots

AbstractBackgroundEnzyme immunoassays (EIA) designed to detect hepatitis C virus (HCV) core antigen and anti-HCV antibodies (HCV AgAb) simultaneously can improve the early detection of HCV infection when molecular diagnostic methods are not widely available.ObjectivesTo evaluate the suitability of dried blood spot (DBS) samples for detecting HCV AgAb using commercial EIAs.Study designPaired serum and DBS samples were assayed using two commercial EIAs for HCV AgAb (Monolisa™ HCV AgAb ULTRA and Murex HCV AgAb). Manufacturer's recommendations were followed for sera while sample volume, incubation time and cut-off (CO) determination were evaluated for the DBS samples. The values of sensitivity, specificity, inter-rater agreement, detection limit, assay precision and stability of DBS samples at different conditions (22–26°C, 2–8°C and −20°C) were determined.ResultsIt was necessary to increase the DBS sample volume fourfold compared to the sera samples to approximate the DBS Optical Density (OD) values to the sera OD values. Using ROC curve to recalculate CO values for the DBS samples, sensitivity was 97.5% for both EIAs, while the specificity was 99.71% for Monolisa™ HCV AgAb ULTRA and 95.95% for Murex HCV AgAb. Accurate testing results were obtained with DBS samples for 60 days at all conditions evaluated; storage at −20°C resulted in low OD variation. Both EIAs demonstrated the same limit of detection among DBS samples [estimated viral load of 3.1 International Units per millilitre (IU/mL)] and low OD value variability in repetitivity and reproducibility studies.ConclusionDBS samples can be used for the detection of HCV AgAb by EIA as they present comparable performance characteristics and excellent stability among various storage conditions

Taxonomia e variação geográfica das espécies do gênero Alouatta Lacépède (Primates, Atelidae) no Brasil Taxonomy and geographic variation of species of the genus Alouatta Lacépède (Primates, Atelidae) in Brazil

Neste estudo analisou-se a variação geográfica e não-geográfica de táxons de bugios, gênero Alouatta Lacépède, 1799, que ocorrem no Brasil, com o objetivo de esclarecer a taxonomia do grupo. Para a análise morfológica, examinou-se um total de 1.286 espécimes mantidos em cinco museus brasileiros e dois norte-americanos. O material consistiu basicamente de peles, crânios e ossos hióides; esqueletos e espécimes preservados em via úmida foram escassos. O estudo se baseou na análise qualitativa dos complexos morfológicos em adição a 18 morfométicos do crânio e osso hióide. Antes das decisões taxonômicas, elaborou-se um estudo de variação geográfica, sexual, ontogenética e individual. Reconheceu-se 10 espécies de Alouatta ocorrendo no Brasil, sendo a maioria definida por caracteres discretos, porém diagnósticos. São elas: Alouatta caraya (Humboldt, 1812), A. fusca (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1812), A. clamitans Cabrera, 1940, A. belzebul (Linnaeus, 1766), A. discolor (Spix, 1823), A. ululata Elliot, 1912; A. juara (Linnaeus, 1766), A. macconnelli (Humboldt, 1812), A. puruensis Lönnberg, 1941 e A. nigerrima Lönnberg, 1941. Alouatta macconnelli e A. clamitans mostraram notável variação geográfica na coloração da pelagem e algumas variáveis morfométricas (polimorfismo) o que dificultou as definições e limites dos táxons. Alouatta belzebul apresentou variação em mosaico na coloração da pelagem. Alouatta ululata e A. puruensis foram definidas pela presença de dicromatismo sexual na pelagem, mas este caráter pode ser um artefato e necessita estudos adicionais para corroborar sua validade. Sinonimizou-se Alouatta belzebul mexianae Hagmann, 1908 com A. discolor; e a validade de Alouatta seniculus amazonica Lönnberg 1941, não foi considerada.<br>In this monograph, was studied non-geographic and geographic variation of taxa of Howling Monkeys, genus Alouatta Lacépède, 1799, occuring in Brazil, in order to solve the taxonomy of the group. For the morphological analysis, were examined a total of 1,286 specimens kept in five Brazilian and two North-American museums. The material consisted mostly of skin, skull and hyoid bone; skeleton or fluid-preserved specimens were scarse. The study was based on qualitative analysis of the morphological complexes in addition 18 morphometric characters of the skull and hyoid bone. Prior to making taxonomic decisions, was conducted a study of geographic, sexual, ontogenetic, and individual variation. Were recognized ten species of Alouatta occuring in Brazil and most of them were defined by discrete, but diagnostic characters. The species are: Alouatta caraya (Humboldt, 1812), A. fusca (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1812), A. clamitans Cabrera, 1940, A. belzebul (Linnaeus, 1766), A. discolor (Spix, 1823), A. ululata Elliot, 1912; A. juara (Linnaeus, 1766), A. macconnelli (Humboldt, 1812), A. puruensis Lönnberg, 1941, and A. nigerrima Lönnberg, 1941. Alouatta macconnelli and A. clamitans showed noticeable geographic variation on pelage coloration and some morphometric characters (polymorphism) difficulting their definition and geographic limits. Alouatta belzebul presented an accentuated geographic mosaic variation on coat coloration. Alouatta ululata and A. puruensis were defined in presenting sexual dicromism on pelage, but this character can be an artefate due the small sample and both taxa need further studies to confirm their validity. Alouatta belzebul mexianae Hagmann, 1908 was sinonimized with A. discolor; and the validity of Alouatta seniculus amazonica Lönnberg 1941 was not considered