The geographical distribution and diversity of the scorpion fauna of Egypt was examined based on a large collection covering most of the country and in view of recent revisionary systematics. Six ecologically distinct zoogeographical regions are targeted in a collection scheme. The ecological and historical biogeography of the present-day distribution of the scorpion fauna of Egypt is discussed.

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Despite a significant number of studies on the taxonomy of small mammals, very little of this work has been conducted on species in Egypt. External, cranial and dental morphometric analysis of the closely related Gerbillus andersoni, G. campestris and G. amoenus from different ecogeographical regions of Egypt were studied. Statistical analyses of cranial and dental variability allowed us to discriminate three morphological groups which are congruent with the three clusters suggested by previous morphological studies. Higher similarity is observed between G. andersoni populations in the Sinai and Western Mediterranean Coastal Desert despite the fact that they are separated from each other by about 200 km of the Nile Delta. Cluster and principal component analysis, show higher degree of divergence between the subgenus Dipodillus and the other two subgenera Gerbillus and Hendecapleura. This fact suggests that the morphometric differences observed among species within the genus Gerbillus are not mainly related to its phylogeny.

BackgroundThe new SARS-CoV-2 variant VUI (202012/01), identified recently in the United Kingdom (UK), exhibits a higher transmissibility rate compared to other variants, and a reproductive number 0.4 higher. In the UK, scientists were able to identify the increase of this new variant through the rise of false negative results for the spike (S) target using a three-target RT-PCR assay (TaqPath kit).MethodsTo control and study the current coronavirus pandemic, it is important to develop a rapid and low-cost molecular test to identify the aforementioned variant. In this work, we designed primer sets specific to SARS-CoV-2 variant VUI (202012/01) to be used by SYBR Green-based RT-PCR. These primers were specifically designed to confirm the deletion mutations Δ69/Δ70 in the spike and the Δ106/Δ107/Δ108 in the NSP6 gene. We studied 20 samples from positive patients, 16 samples displayed an S-negative profile (negative for S target and positive for N and ORF1ab targets) and four samples with S, N and ORF1ab positive profile.ResultsOur results emphasized that all S-negative samples harbored the mutations Δ69/Δ70 and Δ106/Δ107/Δ108. This protocol could be used as a second test to confirm the diagnosis in patients who were already positive to COVID-19 but showed false negative results for S-gene.ConclusionsThis technique may allow to identify patients carrying the VUI (202012/01) variant or a closely related variant, in case of shortage in sequencing.

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The study investigates the occurrence of age-related allometric changes in a number of cranial and dental measurements of the Egyptian wolf Canis anthus lupaster from different areas of Egypt.The age structure of a sample of 55 specimens of both sexes of C.a. lupaster was investigated using counting dentine layers on longitudinally sanded canine roots.The results showed that most of the wolves were between one and three years of age. The oldest individual was 11 years old. A set of isometric cranial and dental characters that qualify as diagnostic characters for analyzing interaspecific, morphological differentiation among populations of this and other closely related canids are identified.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains a rapid spread emerging disease. Recently, a new variant of this virus called SARS-CoV-2 VOC 202012/01 (or B.1.1.7 lineage), described in the United Kingdom (UK), has become highly prevalent in several countries. Its rate of transmission has been estimated to be greatly higher. B.1.1.7 lineage harbors 23 mutations co-existed for the first time in the same variant. Herein, we are interested only by the deletion mutation ΔH69/ΔV70 in the spike protein.In the UK they were able to identify the increase of this new variant through the increase in the false negative result for the spike target of a three-target RT-PCR assay from Thermo Fisher Scientific (TaqPath kit). Later, the manufacturer announced that this false negative result is because of the deletion ΔH69/ΔV70 in the area targeted by the TaqPath Kit. Furthermore, The European CDC recommended that the use of this kit help to track the new variant.Genome sequencing is the gold method to confirm the new variant, but observational studies provide also stronger evidence if similar models are observed in multiple countries, especially when randomized studies are not possible. In Lebanon, the highest number of confirmed cases were reported in first week of 2021. In the present study, we show the emergence and the fast spreading of the new variant in Lebanon and a relationship between SARS-CoV-2 transmission intensity and the frequency of the new variant during the first twelve days of January.

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