No abstract

A survey of naso-pharyngeal myiasis affecting red deer (Cervus elaphus) in southern Spain was conducted. The parasites involved were the larvae of Pharyngomyia picta and Cephenemyia auribarbis (Diptera:Oestridae), which coexist sympatrically within this host. Males and older animals had higher prevalences and intensities of fly larvae. Differences in behaviour and habitat use by male and female deer, and the increase of head size in older males are possibly responsible for this. There were low densities of C. auribarbis while P. picta was the species most frequently observed, although both oestrids were located in the same host cavities. The earlier larviposition by C. auribarbis, and its faster larval development may reflect asynchronous life-cycles of both oestrids; this may decrease inter-specific competition between these sympatric species.

Abstract. Chytridiomycosis caused by the fungal invasive pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) was first detected in 1999 in Christchurch, New Zealand, in the Australian introduced frog species Litoria raniformis. It was detected in wild native frogs in the critically endangered Leiopelma archeyi in 2001 on the Coromandel Peninsula and has been suggested as responsible for a mass decline (88%) in that population between 1994 and 2002. We report the current distribution, host species and prevalence, where known, of Bd in New Zealand, which is essential for conservation management of New Zealand native frogs (Leiopelma spp.). The data set is structured so that it can be readily added to the Australian Bd database for further analyses. Our data included all regions in New Zealand and six offshore islands at 135 sites with 704 records from 23 contributors spanning collection dates 1930-2010. We report 54 positive sites from 132 positive individuals. We also detail negative findings, but declaring an area free from disease should consider the sensitivity of the test used and numbers of individuals tested. The data also included a comprehensive museum survey testing 152 individuals from five species (20 L. archeyi, 50 L. hochstetteri, 15 L. aurea, 40 L. ewingii, and 27 L. raniformis) from 1930-1999 using histology and Bd-specific immunohistochemistry. All museum specimens were negative, so the 1999 positive result is still the earliest record. In the L. archeyi Coromandel Ranges population, the period prevalence of Bd from 2006 to 2010 was relatively stable at 16%, but the number of animals tested remains low (up to N ¼ 19) due to the now depleted population numbers. The period prevalence of Bd in the L. archeyi Whareorino population has remained both consistent and low (6%) between 2005 and 2010. In L. hochstetteri, L. hamiltoni, and L. pakeka all sampling for Bd has been negative. Positive Bd results have been found in all three Litoria spp., but Bd has not been found in the six offshore areas tested. Most data have been previously unpublished and represent the first confirmed reports of Bd in many regions and species in New Zealand.

Use of the Cognitive Skills Inventory (CSV) in a cross-cultural study is described. It was assumed that the factorial structure of study skills parallel control processes of the information-processing system. Difficulties in using 2nd-order factors in previous studies and avoiding confounding due to language differences were addressed. Responses on the CS1 of monolingual English-speaking American students, bilingual Puerto Rican students and monolingual Spanish students were compared. Analyses indicated that the CSI has a stable and reliable factor structure across cultures. The factors were (a) Integration, (b) Repetition, (c) Monitoring, and (d) Coping. Differences were found among groups on one or more factor scores. The findings supported the main hypothesis that factorial structure remains constant across cultures, whereas factor scores reflect cultural differences.

No abstract

From February 1992 to March 1997, 245 European mouflon (Ovis orientalis musimon) from Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park (southern Spain) were surveyed for oestrid larvae in order to estimate prevalence and mean intensity of parasitism by Oestrus ovis. Over 46 percent of the animals surveyed were infected, with a mean intensity of 9.6 larvae/host parasitized. No significant differences in prevalence rates between host sexes were observed, but older mouflons were infected with more larvae than younger ones.

No abstract

Oestrosis is one of the most prevalent parasitosis affecting the Iberian ibex, Capra pyrenaica . To date, both the diagnosis of oestrosis and the determination of the intensity of parasitism require the use of invasive methods (necropsy), which necessarily limit research possibilities. We analyzed the immune humoral response (IgM and IgG) against Oestrus ovis L. excretory/secretory larval antigens in 32 sera taken from Iberian ibex from the Sierra Nevada Natural Space (southern Spain). Three antigens were collected: L1OES (from L1 larvae), L2OES (L2), and L3OES (L3). Necropsy was considered as the gold standard. The percentage of ibexes harboring Oestrus spp. larvae was 88%, the mean intensity of parasitism being 16.96 ± 14.96 larvae per parasitized host (range: 2-52). In our sample, first-instar larvae (L1) were found in 9% of ibexes, while 69% of hosts carried L2 larvae and 88% L3 larvae. Positive correlations between L1 and L2 numbers, and between L2 and L3 numbers were detected. The best results with the immunoenzymatic assay were obtained using IgG antibodies against the L1OES antigens (specificity = 89%; sensitivity = 100%; positive predictive value = 100%; negative predictive value = 57%). The IgG seroprevalence against L1OES was 78%. Thus, the analysis of IgG antibodies against antigens collected from L1 O. ovis larvae would seem to be a noninvasive method for reliably diagnosing oestrosis in naturally infested Iberian ibex. Nevertheless, additional immunological and methodological advances are still required because false positive and false negative results still represent a non-negligible part of the results of the ELISA tests.