SARS Exposure and Emergency Department Workers

Of 193 emergency department workers exposed to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), 9 (4.7%) were infected. Pneumonia developed in six workers, and assays showed anti-SARS immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgG. The other three workers were IgM-positive and had lower IgG titers; in two, mild illness developed, and one remained asymptomatic

Antimicrobial Drug Resistance in Pathogens Causing Nosocomial Infections at a University Hospital in Taiwan, 1981-1999

To determine the distribution and antimicrobial drug resistance in bacterial pathogens causing nosocomial infections, surveillance data on nosocomial infections documented from 1981 to 1999 at National Taiwan University Hospital were analyzed. During this period, 35,580 bacterial pathogens causing nosocomial infections were identified. Candida species increased considerably, ranking first by 1999 in the incidence of pathogens causing all nosocomial infections, followed by Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Candida species also increased in importance as bloodstream infection isolates, from 1.0% in 1981-1986 to 16.2% in 1999. The most frequent isolates from urinary tract infections were Candida species (23.6%), followed by Escherichia coli (18.6%) and P. aeruginosa (11.0%). P. aeruginosa remained the most frequent isolates for respiratory tract and surgical site infections in the past 13 years. A remarkable increase in incidence was found in methicillin-resistant S. aureus (from 4.3% in 1981-1986 to 58.9% in 1993-1998), cefotaxime-resistant E. coli (from 0% in 1981-1986 to 6.1% in 1993-1998), and cefotaxime-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (from 4.0% in 1981-1986 to 25.8% in 1993-1998). Etiologic shifts in nosocomial infections and an upsurge of antimicrobial resistance among these pathogens, particularly those isolated from intensive care units, are impressive and alarming

Detection of SARS-associated Coronavirus in Throat Wash and Saliva in Early Diagnosis

Early detection of SARS-CoV in throat wash and saliva suggests that these specimens are ideal for SARS diagnosis

Neanthes (Annelida: Nereididae) from Taiwanese waters, with description of seven new species and one new species record

Hsueh, Pan-Wen (2019): Neanthes (Annelida: Nereididae) from Taiwanese waters, with description of seven new species and one new species record. Zootaxa 4554 (1): 173-198, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4554.1.

New species and record of Pseudonereis (Annelida, Polychaeta, Nereididae) from Taiwan

Hsueh, Pan-Wen (2021): New species and record of Pseudonereis (Annelida, Polychaeta, Nereididae) from Taiwan. Zootaxa 4996 (3): 492-512, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4996.3.

A new species of Neorhynchoplax (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Hymenosomatidae) from Taiwan

Hsueh, Pan-Wen (2018): A new species of Neorhynchoplax (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Hymenosomatidae) from Taiwan. Zootaxa 4461 (3): 350-358, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4461.3.

FIGURE 1. Composetia budaiensis n in First records of Composetia, Eunereis and Nectoneanthes (Annelida: Nereididae) from Taiwan, with descriptions of two new species

FIGURE 1. Composetia budaiensis n. sp., holotype (NMNS 7898-001). A, anterior body of the animal, dorsal view; B, closeup of anterior body, dorsal view; C, close-up of anterior body, ventral view. Roman numeric numbers: Areas of the pharynx. Scale: A, 1.0 mm; B, C, 0.5 mm

New species and records of Apseudomorpha (Crustacea: Tanaidacea) from Taiwan

Tzeng, You-Wei, Hsueh, Pan-Wen (2014): New species and records of Apseudomorpha (Crustacea: Tanaidacea) from Taiwan. Zootaxa 3869 (3): 313-337, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3869.3.

Eunice taoi Hsueh & Li, 2014, sp. nov.

<i>Eunice taoi</i> sp. nov. <p>Fig. 8</p> <p> <b>Material examined.</b> Holotype (NMNS 6896-001), Jihuei (23°06´53˝N, 121°24´11˝E), Taitung County, intertidal algal and coral mixed reef, August 23, 2010; paratypes: three specimens (NMNS 6896-005, 006~007), Jihuei (23°06´53˝N, 121°24´11˝E), Taitung County, intertidal algal and coral mixed reef, October 18, 2009 and August 22, 2010, respectively; three specimens (NMNS 6896-012~013; AM W45884), Wanlitong (21°59´46˝N, 120°42´12˝E), Pingtung County, intertidal coral reef, November 13, 2009; three specimens (NMNS 6896- 0014~016), Jialulan, Taitung County, rocky intertidal, August 11–12, 2010; one specimen (NMNS 6896-017), Shanyuan (22°50´19˝N, 121°11´19˝E), Taitung County, intertidal algal reef, August 23, 2010; two specimens (NMNS 6896-018; AM W45885), Shitiping (23°28´59˝N, 121°30´47˝E), Hualien County, rocky intertidal, August 27, 2010; seven specimens (NMNS 6896-002~004, 008~011), Jihuei (23°06´53˝N, 121°24´11˝E), Taitung County, intertidal algal and coral mixed reef, October 14, 2007 and August 23, 2010, respectively.</p> <p> <b>Description</b>. Holotype, female with egg, complete specimen but broken in three parts, 561 mm in length for 633 chaetigers; maximum width 4.1 mm at chaetiger 53; length through chaetiger 10 about 9.7 mm, width at chaetiger 10 about 3.6 mm; one pair anal cirri, slender tapering, without articulations.</p> <p>Prostomium distinctly shorter than peristomium, equal width and about 1/2 as deep as peristomium, prostomial lobes frontally rounded, dorsally flattened, median sulcus deep (Fig. 8 A–C). Eyes present, situated posteriorly to base of palps, ovate and greyish purple. Palps and antennae thick, arranged in a semicircle, median antennae separated from lateral antennae; palpophores and ceratophores base short cylindrical, wide than long, with one indistinct ring-shaped articulation; palpostyles and ceratostyles slender tapering, surface with numerous papillae, without articulations; A-I, A-II and A-III similar length, palps distinctly shorter than antennae; A-II reaching to chaetiger 2, A-I and A-III to chaetiger 1, palps to posterior margin of anterior peristomial ring. Peristomium inflated anteriorly, lower lip muscular; separation between rings distinct dorsally and ventrally; anterior ring about 3/4 of total peristomial length; peristomial cirri tapering, without articulations, reaching middle of anterior peristomial ring (Fig. 8 A–C).</p> <p>Maxillary formula: 1+1, 6+5, 6+0, 3+8, 1+1; Maxillary teeth short, MxIII located at front-end part of distal arc with left MxIV (Fig. 8 D); mandibles flat (Fig. 8 E).</p> <p>Branchiae present, pectinate (Fig. 8 G), present from chaetiger 77 to chaetiger 630, representing more than 65% of chaetigers branchiate; 1st to 6th and the last pairs of branchiae with single filament, maximum 6 filaments present from about chaetiger 133–304, not reduced in mid-body region; branchial stems erect, flexible, filaments slender, distinctly longer than dorsal cirri (Fig. 8 G).</p> <p>Anterior neuropodial acicular lobes bilobed, upper lobes distally rounded, lower lobes obliquely truncate (Fig. 8 F), median and posterior acicular lobes not bilobed, triangular aciculae emerging above midline (Fig. 8 M); prechaetal lobes small, transverse folds; anterior postchaetal lobes small, folds following outline of acicular lobes, posterior postchaetal lobes small, transverse folds at middle and posterior segments. First five ventral cirri digitiform, subsequently basally strongly inflated to about chaetiger 133, inflated bases thick, transverse welts, narrow tips short and button-shaped; inflated bases becoming ovate to spherical by chaetiger 134, basal inflation gradually reduced on subsequent chaetigers, becoming slender and digitiform on posterior chaetigers. Anterior dorsal cirri tapering, posterior dorsal cirri slender tapering, all without articulations (Fig. 8 F–G).</p> <p>Limbate chaetae elongate, longer than all other chaetae, narrow, marginally serrated, internal striations present (Fig. 8 H). Pectinate chaetae furled, flaring; shafts slender, surface pilose, one marginal teeth heterodont, 12–14 inner teeth (Fig. 8 I). Compound spinigers present from chaetiger 1 to chaetiger 83; shafts slightly inflated, marginally serrated, internal striations present (Fig. 8 K); appendages thick, knife-shaped, proximal nearly parallel sides, distal slightly curved, length/width ratio (n=4) about 4.06. Compound falcigers replacing compound spinigers from about chaetiger 83; shafts distally inflated, marginally serrated (Fig. 8 L); appendages small, short, length/width ratio (n=4) is about 3.83, with nearly parallel sides, tapering and distinct heads, bidentate; proximal tooth larger than distal tooth, triangular, directed laterally; distal tooth gently curved; guards almost symmetrically rounded, marginal serrations and internal striations present, without mucros (Fig. 8 L); pseudo-compound falcigers absent. Aciculae light brown to black on anterior segments, amber on posterior segments, thick and straight, tapering with blunt tip, cross-sections rounded, not mucronate (Fig. 8 M), paired aciculae present from chaetiger 1 to 45, on subsequent chaetigers only one present; core and sheath distinctly separated in aciculae and subacicular hooks. Subacicular hooks yellow, bidentate, about as thick as aciculae (Fig. 8 N), present from chaetiger 71 to last chaetiger, single in chaetigers 71 to 78 and 261 to 633, paired in chaetigers 79 to 260; shafts of hooks straight, distally tapering; proximal tooth larger than distal tooth, triangle, directed laterally; distal tooth directed obliquely; guards covering only proximal tooth or both teeth (Fig. 8 N).</p> <p> <b>Etymology.</b> The name is derived from the Tao aboriginal tribe on Orchid Island, Taiwan, as a tribute to their oceanic cultures.</p> <p> <b>Type locality.</b> Jihuei, Taitung County, Taiwan</p> <p> <b>Habitat.</b> The worm appears to capable of making a burrow in coral or coral and algal mixed reefs and building leathery tube which protrude a few to several tens of centimeters above the reefs. However, some individuals utilize burrows of the boring bivalve, <i>Jouannetia globulosa</i> (Quoy & Gaimard, 1835) (Family Pholadidae), to build tube in sandstone and shale.</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> Known only from Taiwan, occurs in low intertidal and subtidal habitats on eastern and southern coasts of Taiwan.</p> <p> <b>Colour.</b> In life, anterior body of the worm is orange red with purplish iridescence on the dorsum (Fig. 8 A). This orange red colour fades away at the middle portion of the body and is replaced by whitish with light orange on both sides of the posterior body. Eyes are dark brown colour.</p> <p> <b>Remarks.</b> Eunicid polychaetes with compound spinigers are often referred to the genus <i>Euniphysa</i> Wesenberg-Lund, 1949 (Fauchald 1977: 106). However, Fauchald (1992) noted that three species in the genus <i>Eunice</i> Cuvier, 1817, namely <i>Eunice impexa</i> Grube, 1878, <i>Eunice tubicola</i> (Treadwell, 1922) and <i>Eunice tubifex</i> Crossland, 1904, also have compound spinigers, although <i>E. tubifex</i> was transferred to the genus <i>Euniphysa</i> by Miura (1986). In the study of phylogeny and biogeography of the genus <i>Euniphysa</i> Wesenberg-Lund, 1949, Lu & Fauchald (2000) argued that some <i>Eunice</i> spp. may have both compound spinigers and falcigers as in members of <i>Euniphysa</i>, but those <i>Eunice</i> spp. differed from members of <i>Euniphysa</i> in having short, triangular maxillae teeth (vs. long pointed maxillae teeth), short and distinctly articulated prostomial antennae (vs. slender and smooth prostomial antennae). On the basis of the above arguments, they proposed a new combination of <i>Euniphysa misakiensis</i> Miura, 1987 as <i>Eunice misakiensis</i> (Miura 1987) and acknowledged four species (<i>E</i>. <i>impexa</i>, <i>E</i>. <i>misakiensis</i>, <i>E</i>. <i>tubicola</i> and <i>E</i>. <i>tubifex</i>), which have compound spinigers as belonging to this genus. The present study adds another species to this group of <i>Eunice</i>.</p> <p> Of above-mentioned four <i>Eunice</i> species, <i>Eunice tubifex</i> resembles <i>E</i>. <i>taoi</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> Both species have nonarticulated ceratostyles, deep medial sulcus and pectinate branchiae (Fauchald 1992: 327, Fig. 112a, d, i, n; Fig. 8 B, G). However, they are morphologically different in terms of the form of ceratostyle of prostomial appendages, peristomial cirri, pectinate chaetae and compound spiniger appendages. <i>Eunice tubifex</i> have digitiform ceratostyles, thick and basally inflated peristomial cirri, furled and tapering pectinate chaetae and more slender compound spiniger appendages (Fauchald 1992: 327, Fig. 112a, b, f, i–j, l, r), in comparison to smooth and tapering ceratostyles, tapering peristomial cirri, furled and flaring pectinate chaetae and much shorter and robust compound spiniger blades of <i>E</i>. <i>taoi</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> (Fig. 8 B–C, I, K). <i>Eunice misakiensis</i> is another species that also resembles <i>E</i>. <i>taoi</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> However, it can be separated from <i>E</i>. <i>taoi</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>, by the shape of the median sulcus, the pectinate chaetae and by the compound spiniger appendages. The former species possesses an incised median sulcus, flat and flaring pectinate chaetae and far more slender compound spiniger appendages (Miura 1987: 6, Fig. 4 a–b, i, k, l; Imajima 2007: 353, Fig. 108a, j, l), in contrast to the deep median sulcus, furled and flaring pectinate chaetae and much shorter and robust compound spiniger appendages of <i>E</i>. <i>taoi</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> (Fig. 8 B, I, K). Lastly, <i>E</i>. <i>taoi</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>, have uniquely short and robust compound spinigers that is not seen in the other four species of this group. The length/width ratios of compound spinigers are 7.7, 11.3 or 14.4, 13.0, 9.6 or 11.0 and 5.8 (n=10) for <i>E</i>. <i>impexa</i>, <i>E</i>. <i>misakiensis</i>, <i>E</i>. <i>tubicola</i>, <i>E</i>. <i>tubifex</i> and <i>E</i>. <i>taoi</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>, respectively (measurements for the first four species were from Miura 1987, Fig. 4 l; Fauchald 1992, Fig. 57c, 111c, 112b, j; Imajima 2007, Fig. 108j).</p> <p> <i>Eunice taoi</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>, is the largest worm among the <i>Eunice</i> species discussed in the present study, with some individuals reaching over 710 mm. The body size and the length of the worm tube of <i>Eunice taoi</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>, appears to vary within the different habitats which it occupies. Worms collected from sandstone and shale habitats tend to be much smaller in body size and shorter in tube length than those from coral and algal mixed reefs. Presumably, the body size and tube length of the worm are dependent on the depth of burrows made by <i>J</i>. <i>globulosa</i>, which is often only a few centimeters deep. This may suggest that <i>Eunice taoi</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> cannot bore into shale rocks but can utilize burrows made by the bivalve. However, they appear capable of boring deep into coral reefs; in many collection attempts, we traced those leathery worm tubes deep inside coral reefs by digging out the entire worm tube. However, those worms are still out of reached and hiding deep in tubular burrows. Some of larger sized worms were collected at depths of more than 30 cm deep within the reefs.</p>Published as part of <i>Hsueh, Pan-Wen & Li, Yan-Huei, 2014, New species and new records of eunicids (Polychaeta, Eunicidae) from Taiwan, pp. 151-172 in Zootaxa 3802 (2)</i> on pages 165-168, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3802.2.1, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/225423">http://zenodo.org/record/225423</a&gt