The behaviour of predators can be an important factor in the transmission success of an insect pathogen. We studied how Calosoma sycophanta influences the interaction between its prey [Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera, Lymantriidae)] and two microsporidian pathogens [Nosema lymantriae (Microsporidia, Nosematidae) and Vairimorpha disparis (Microsporidia, Burellenidae)] infecting the prey.Using...

Species delimitation directly impacts on global biosecurity. It is a critical element in the decisions made by national governments in regard to the flow of trade and to the biosecurity measures imposed to protect countries from the threat of invasive species. Here we outline a novel approach to species delimitation, "tip to root", for two highly invasive insect pests, Bemisia tabaci (sweetpota...

Entamoeba histolytica cells, the cause of amoebic dysentery, are highly motile, and this motility is an essential feature of the pathogenesis and morbidity of amoebiasis. However, the control of E. histolytica motility within the gut and during invasion is poorly understood. We have used an improved chemotaxis assay to identify the key extracellular signals mediating Entamoeba chemotaxis. The d...

The occurrence and metabolism of nicotine and related N-containing compounds in body fluids of the gipsy moth were addressed. Thin layer chromatographic studies clearly showed the simultaneous presence of GABA and 2-pyrrolidone but not of GABamide in the larval haemolymph and osmeterial secretion of Lymantria dispar as well as in the corresponding body fluids of the saturniids, Saturnia pavonia...

1. Weapons are specialized structures that are commonly used by animals to signal fighting ability and resource holding potential during agonistic encounters. Current theory predicts weapon size should reliably indicate weapon strength and unreliable signals should only occur at very low frequencies in nature. However, a recent study found weapon size was an unreliable signal of strength during...

BACKGROUND Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is an important problem in cattle production that is responsible for economic losses in dairy herds. Mycoplasma spp. are described as an important etiological agent of BRD. HYPOTHESIS To evaluate the occurrence of the most important mycoplasmas in the lower respiratory tract of healthy and BRD cattle in relationship to clinical signs of BRD. ANIMA...

It is now well established that Entamoeba moshkovskii and Entamoeba dispar are two distinct nonpathogenic species, but microscopically indistinguishable from the pathogenic species E. histolytica, the causative organism of amoebiasis. Traditionally diagnosis of E. histolytica infection has relied upon microscopic examination of cyst or trophozoite stage in fresh or fixed stool specimens which h...

BACKGROUND Handheld light microscopy using compact optics and mobile phones may improve the quality of health care in resource-constrained settings by enabling access to prompt and accurate diagnosis. METHODOLOGY Laboratory technicians were trained to operate two handheld diagnostic devices (Newton Nm1 microscope and a clip-on version of the mobile phone-based CellScope). The accuracy of thes...

The insect-pathogenic fungal pathogen Entomophaga maimaiga is endemic to northeastern Asia and was first found in North America in 1989. Due to repeated epizootics and spread within populations of the major forest defoliator in northeastern North America, the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), this pathogen has gained much notoriety. Although this pathogen was purposely introduced to North America ...

background: amoebiasis is due to infection with the protozoan parasite entamoeba histolytica. the patients infected with e. histolytica must be treated right after definite diagnosis and no need to treat infected individuals with e. dispar isolates. metronidazole is used as a drug of choice against amoebiasis. however, like a lot of other chemical agents, this drug has its own side effects. thi...