The schism between North Africa and Southern Europe caused by the opening of the Strait of Gibraltar and the consequent refilling of the Mediterranean basin at the end of Messinian salinity crisis (MSC), 5.33 million years ago, has been advocated as the main event shaping biogeographical patterns in the western Mediterranean as exemplified by the distribution of species and subspecies and genetic variation within the ocellated lizard group. To reassess the role of the MSC, partial sequences of three mitochondrial DNA genes (cytochrome b, 12S and 16S ribosomal RNA) and two nuclear genes (b-fibrinogen and C-mos) from species of the ocellated lizard group were analysed. Three alternative hypotheses were tested: that divergence was initiated (i) by post-MSC vicariance as the basin filled, (ii) when separate populations established either side of the strait by pre-MSC overseas dispersal, and (iii) by post-MSC overseas dispersal. The pattern and level of divergence detected clearly refute the post-MSC vicariance hypothesis, and support a model of divergence initiated by earlier overseas dispersal. Indeed, our best estimate is that the basal Euro-African divergence predates the MSC event by several million years. The estimated divergence times among the populations in former Miocene Mediterranean islands, the current Betic and Rifian mountains, from adjacent mainland populations suggest overseas dispersal for the former and overland dispersal, or perhaps vicariance, for the latter. These results suggest that the MSC may have played a much less important role in shaping the current western Mediterranean biogeographical patterns than might have been anticipated from the dramatic nature of the episode.

Imidacloprid [1-(6-chloro-3pyridylmethyl)-N-nitroimidazolidin-2-ylideneamine] is a new and potent nitromethylene insecticide with high insecticidal activity at very low application rates. It is the first highly effective insecticide that, like nicotine, acts on the nervous system, causing blockage of postsynaptic nicotinergic acetylcholine receptors. Two fatal cases with this insecticide in two male individuals, of 33 and 66 years old, are presented.An LC/MS with electrospray method for measuring imidacloprid and its metabolites in post-mortem samples is described. In the chromatographic separation, a reverse-phase column XTerra TM MS C 18 (2.1 mm i.d. Â 150 mm, 5 mm) was used and the mobile phase composed with acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid (15:85), at a 0.25 mL/min flow rate. Samples were prepared with a liquid-liquid extraction procedure with dichloromethane.Calibration curves for imidacloprid in blood and urine samples were linear from 0.2 to 15 mg/mL. The mean recovery was 86% with a coefficient of variation of AE5.9%. The detection limit was 0.002 mg/mL. Quantitative results were obtained for all post-mortem matrices available of the two fatal cases: blood, urine, stomach contents, lung, liver and kidney. The imidacloprid blood concentrations found in two-cases were 12.5 and 2.05 mg/mL.The authors validated a method to detect and quantify imidacloprid in post-mortem samples, and to our knowledge for the first time a post-mortem tissue distribution was performed on various samples for this insecticide. #

Parasitic castration in the snail-trematode relationship can be understood as any change in the reproductive function of the snail that is due to interference by the developing larvae inside the snail that leads to the reduction or complete disruption of egg-laying activity. This study was designed to observe the parasitic castration of Biomphalaria glabrata infected with Schistosoma mansoni during both the pre-patent and patent periods. The effect of infection on snail fecundity and fertility, growth rate and survival was studied during the 62 days following miracidia exposure. An integrated approach was employed that used biochemical and histological tools over the same period. To study the effect of infection on reproduction, we individually exposed 30 snails to 5 miracidia each and tracked their fertility and fecundity. For our histopathological studies, 50 snails were exposed to 20 miracidia each, and for our histochemical studies, 50 snails were exposed to 5 miracidia each. An equal number of uninfected snails were used as a control for each group. The B. glabrata exposed to the BH strain of S. mansoni showed 50% positivity for cercarial shedding. Both the experimental and control groups showed 100% survival. The pre-patent period lasted until 39 days after exposure to miracidia. Exposed snails that showed cercarial shedding exhibited higher growth rates than either exposed snails that did not demonstrate cercarial shedding or uninfected controls. Exposed snails without cercarial shedding and uninfected controls showed no differences in the reproductive parameters evaluated during the patent period; snails experiencing cercarial shedding showed a reduction in fecundity and fertility. These snails began to lay eggs only after the 50th day post miracidia exposure. The haemolymph glucose levels showed an oscillating pattern that decreased during periods of greater mobilisation of energy by the larvae and was accompanied by a depletion of glycogen in the cephalopodal mass and digestive gland. Histopathological examination at 55 days showed that the ovotestis was highly atrophied. There was almost complete disappearance of germ cells, and the supporting stroma formed a nearly empty net. At day 45, the infected digestive gland showed a high cylindrical epithelium with little preserved cytoplasm. The contents of the secretory granules of the albumen gland of infected animals stained with Alcian blue (AB), pH 1.0, indicating the presence of sulphated carbohydrates. Thus, parasitic castration in the B. glabrata-S. mansoni model may be regulated directly and indirectly by the developmental stage of the trematode and the biochemical and histopathological alterations during the patent period of infection.

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Biomphalaria glabrata is the main intermediate host involved in schistosomiasis in Brazil. Studies have shown that physiological stress conditions, such as infection with Schistosoma mansoni, starvation, aestivation and exposure to molluscicides, can alter its carbohydrate metabolism (Schwartz & Carter 1982, Becker 1983, Bezerra et al. 1999, Alcanfor 2001, Mello-Silva et al. 2006a). These changes can alter the glycogenesis, gluconeogenesis and glycolysis in the snail.One of most promising Brazilian molluscicides is the crude extract of Euphorbia splendens (Sin. Euphorbia milii), which under laboratory and field conditions meets the recommendations of the WHO for use as a natural molluscicide (Vasconcellos & Amorim 2003). Mello-Silva et al. (2006a, 2007 studied the influence of sublethal doses of the latex of this plant on the carbohydrate and protein metabolism and reproductive biology of B. glabrata and found strong metabolic changes leading to a reduction in its population and consequently in the transmission of the parasite. In spite of this potential, there are no studies of the influence of this product on the physiology of Biomphalaria infected with S. mansoni.The present paper examines the action of the latex of E. splendens var. hislopii on the glucose content of the haemolymph and on the carbohydrate (glycogen) deposits of B. glabrata (BH strain) infected with S. mansoni (BH strain). MATERIALS AND METHODSObtaining the latex of E. splendens var. hislopiiSamples of E. splendens var. hislopii latex were collected in the autumn from plants cultivated in plots near the Biology Department, Fiocruz, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The latex was collected as described by Vasconcellos and Amorim (2003) on the same day the tests were conducted.Lethal dose experiment -Using the recently collected latex, an aqueous stock solution at a concentration of 100 mg/L was prepared and, from this, solutions of different concentrations were prepared for use in the bioassays. The lethal (LC 90 ) and sublethal (LC 50 ) concentrations were determined according to Vasconcellos and Amorim (2003), as recommended by the World Health Organization (1983) and Mott (1987). The LC 50 and LC 90 values were, respectively, 1.0 mg/L and 2.3 mg/L (Mello-Silva et al. 2006a).Balloon flasks (1000 mL) were used and the latex solution was divided into two 500 mL glass beakers. The groups of B. glabrata (BH lineage), infected and uninfected, respectively, were placed in LC 50 solutions and exposed for 24 h (Vasconcellos & Amorim 2003) at 21ºC. Two glass beakers received 500 mL of distilled water without latex as a control group. None of the snails was fed during this period.After the latex exposure period, the snails were removed from the flasks and rinsed in distilled water to remove the residues. The number of dead specimens was noted. (1990). The snails were grouped according to their infection stage (1 day and 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks post exposure). In each period analysed, 100 infected and 20 uninfected snails (control) were used. Sixty infected sn...

The extended-range-of-vision IOL was a useful option to restore visual function after cataract surgery in eyes that previously had myopic LASIK surgery, offering levels of visual quality comparable to those achieved with the monofocal IOL.

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This study showed for the first time changes in the reproductive biology of Biomphalaria glabrata experimentally infected with Angiostrongylus cantonensis. The values of all the parameters analyzed (total number of eggs, number of egg masses, number of eggs/mass, number of eggs/snail, percentage of viable eggs and galactogen content in albumen gland) changed with progressive infection. The results indicate the occurrence of partial parasitic castration of B. glabrata by A. cantonensis larvae, probably in response to the depletion of energy reserves, with no injuries to the gonadal tissues.