Non-gravid Females Research Articles

Life stage and seasonal habitat use of the porbeagle Lamna nasus in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean

For highly mobile marine species such as pelagic elasmobranchs, the development of effective spatial management requires a comprehensive understanding of movement ecology. Research incorporating movement data across seasons and life stages, including reproductive states, is valuable for informing spatial management, yet is absent for most species. In the Northwest (NW) Atlantic Ocean (hereafter referred to as NW Atlantic), the porbeagle shark Lamna nasus is a pelagic species that is overfished, has a live retention ban (Canada) or landings regulations (United States), and is also commonly captured incidentally as bycatch. Research on the spatiotemporal dynamics of NW Atlantic porbeagle habitat use is limited, with all previous research utilizing pop-off satellite archival tags that are prone to large uncertainty in location estimates. This study used higher-accuracy fin-mount satellite tags to identify patterns in habitat use across life stages and seasons for porbeagle sharks tagged off the northeastern coast of the United States. During the summer and fall, the 95% kernel density estimate (referred to as “activity space”) of tagged porbeagles occurred almost exclusively on the continental shelf in the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank. Activity space expanded and shifted southwards to include offshore environments during the winter and spring for juveniles, mature non-gravid females, and mature females of unknown reproductive states, while the activity space of mature males and gravid females remained in shelf waters year-round. This finding differs from the previous assumption that southward migrations are linked to reproduction for NW Atlantic porbeagles. Tagged porbeagles were also found to have a relatively small 50% kernel density estimate (referred to as “high occupancy area”) located around Cape Cod, Massachusetts that was well-conserved across life stages and seasons. This relatively static, small high occupancy area has implications for the population’s conservation given the high amount of fishing activity (rod-and-reel, trawl, gillnet) occurring within this region. Given the overlap between porbeagle high occupancy area and fishing activity, as well as the relatively high recapture rate of tagged sharks (10.5%), the coastal waters around Cape Cod, Massachusetts should be considered for spatial management of the NW Atlantic porbeagle.

Combined effects of copper and temperature on the functional response of native (Mesocyclops longisetus and Microcyclops dubitabilis) and invasive (Mesocyclops pehpeiensis) copepods fed rotifers and cladocerans.

Combined effects of copper and temperature on the functional response of native (Mesocyclops longisetus and Microcyclops dubitabilis) and invasive (Mesocyclops pehpeiensis) copepods fed rotifers and cladocerans.

Nymphal feeding suppresses oviposition-induced indirect plant defense in rice

Feeding and oviposition by phytophagous insects are both known to trigger defenses in plants. Whether these two defenses functionally interact remains poorly studied, although these interactions are likely important for pests with overlapping generations. Here we investigated the differences and interaction between feeding- and oviposition-induced plant defenses triggered by the brown planthopper (BPH, Nilaparvata lugens), which gregariously feeds and oviposits on rice. Analyses of host-plant transcriptomes, phytohormones, and direct and indirect defense compounds all show that BPH gravid females (GFs), but not nymphs and non-gravid females (NFs), strongly induce rice defenses. BPH nymphs and GFs prefer to feed on plants previously infested by nymphs over un-attacked plants, but are repelled by plants previously infested by GFs. Moreover, nymph feeding is found to reduce the attractiveness of rice plants to natural enemies and decrease egg parasitism by suppressing GF-induced volatiles that mediate indirect defenses in both growth chambers and paddies. Intergenerational interactions between oviposition- and feeding-induced plant defenses not only promote the development of the population of pest insects but may also contribute to the aggregation behavior of pest insects by suppressing oviposition-induced indirect plant defenses.

Food availability has direct and delayed effects on structural growth and body reserves in garter snakes.

Phenotypic plasticity in body growth enables organisms to cope with unpredictable paucities in resource availability. Growth traits influence survival and reproductive success, and thereby, population persistence, and early-life resource availability may govern lifetime patterns in growth, reproductive success, and survival. The influence of early-life environment is decidedly consequential for indeterminately growing ectotherms, which rely on available resources and ambient temperatures to maximize fitness throughout life. Using 17 years of mark-recapture data, we evaluate the effects of resource availability on patterns in growth for populations of western terrestrial garter snakes (Thamnophis elegans), which differ along pace-of-life continuums into fast- and slow-living ecotypes. We use an adaptation of the von Bertalanffy estimator to fit structural growth models and linear predictors for body condition to analyze the consequences of annual and early-life prey availability. Snakes from resource-poor early-life environments are primed to exploit conditions in high-prey environments later in life. Slow pace-of-live animals exhibit a greater capacity for compensatory strategies in structural growth, while body condition was best explained by a complex interaction across males and non-gravid females between prey availability and ecotype. Our findings highlight the importance of accounting for context-dependent early-life environments as well as sex-specific reproductive demands when evaluating population traits.

Large-scale performance assessment of the BG-Counter 2 used with two different mosquito traps

BackgroundMosquitoes are important vectors of pathogens. They are usually collected with CO2-baited traps and subsequently identified by morphology. This procedure is very time-consuming. Automatic counting traps could facilitate timely evaluation of the local risk for mosquito-borne pathogen transmission or decision-making on vector control measures, but the counting accuracy of such devices has rarely been validated in the field.MethodsThe Biogents (BG)-Counter 2 automatically counts mosquitoes by discriminating the size of captured objects directly in the field and transmits the data to a cloud server. To assess the accuracy of this counting device, 27 traps were placed at 19 sampling sites across Germany and used in daily, weekly or bimonthly intervals from April until October 2021. The BG-Counter 2 was attached to a CO2-trap (BG-Pro trap = CO2-Pro) and the same trap was converted to also attract gravid mosquitoes (upside-down BG-Pro trap with a water container beneath = CO2-Pro-gravid). All captured mosquitoes were identified by morphology. The number of females (unfed and gravid), mosquito diversity and the number of identified specimens in relation to the counting data of the BG-Counter were compared between the two trapping devices to evaluate sampling success and counting accuracy.ResultsIn total 26,714 mosquitoes were collected during 854 trap days. The CO2-Pro-gravid trap captured significantly more mosquitoes per trap day for all specimens, gravid females and non-gravid females, while there was no difference in the mosquito diversity. The linear model with the captured mosquitoes as a response and the counted specimens as a predictor explained only a small degree of the variation within the data (R2 = 0.16), but per individual trap the value could reach up to 0.62 (mean R2 = 0.23). The counting accuracy for the daily samples had a significant positive correlation with sample size, resulting in higher accuracy for the CO2-Pro-gravid trap and higher accuracy for sites and sampling months with high mosquito abundance.ConclusionsWhile the accuracy of the BG-Counter 2 is quite low, the device is able to depict mosquito phenology and provide information about local population dynamics.Graphical

Thermo-physiological changes and reproductive investment in a liolaemid lizard at the extreme of the slow-fast continuum.

Gravid female lizards often experience reduced thermal preferences and impaired locomotor performance. These changes have been attributed to the physical burden of the clutch, but some authors have suggested that they may be due to physiological adjustments. We compared the thermal biology and locomotor performance of the lizard Liolaemus wiegmannii 1week before and 1week after oviposition. We found that gravid females had a thermal preference 1°C lower than that of non-gravid females. This was accompanied by a change in the thermal dependence of maximum running speed. The thermal optimum for locomotor performance was 2.6°C lower before oviposition than after. At relatively low temperatures (22 and 26°C), running speeds of females before oviposition were up to 31% higher than for females after oviposition. However, at temperatures above 26°C, females achieved similar maximum running speeds (∼1.5 m s-1) regardless of reproductive stage. The magnitude of the changes in thermal parameters and locomotor performance of L. wiegmannii females was independent of relative clutch mass (clutches weighed up to 89% of post-oviposition body mass). This suggests that the changes are not simply due to the clutch mass, but are also due to physiological adjustments. Liolaemus wiegmannii females simultaneously adjusted their own physiology in a short period in order to improve locomotor performance and allocated energy for embryonic development during late gravid stage. Our findings have implications for understanding the mechanisms underlying life histories of lizards on the fast extreme of the slow-fast continuum, where physiological exhaustion could play an important role.

Tick infestation in spur-thighed tortoise population: a pilot study for unraveling epidemiological patterns and demographic consequences

Ectoparasites, such as ticks, modulate host population dynamics by impacting demographic traits. They transmit infectious agents among their hosts, posing a critical threat to animal and public health. This study aimed to characterize and analyze the Hyalomma aegyptium infestation on one of its main hosts, the spur-thighed tortoise, its effects on demographic traits, and to determine the diversity of infectious agents present in both ticks and tortoises in the Maamora forest (northwestern Morocco). Our results show that 100% of the tortoises were parasitized by adult ticks in spring, an infestation intensity of 4 ticks/tortoise (5.1 and 3.6 ticks/tortoise in males and females, respectively; 4.2 and 3.3 ticks/tortoise in gravid and non-gravid females, respectively) and an abundance ranging from 1 to 12. Although without significant differences, male tortoises had higher tick abundances than females. The interaction of tortoise sex and body condition was significantly related to tick abundance, male body condition decreased with higher tick abundance in contrast to females. Nevertheless, the interaction of body condition and reproductive stage of females was not significantly related to tick abundance. Gravid females were significantly associated with tick abundance, showing a slightly higher infestation than non-gravid females. Molecular analysis of pooled tick samples revealed the presence of Ehrlichia ewingii, Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii, and Rickettsia africae, with a minimum infection rate of 0.61 to 1.84%. However, blood sample analysis of the tortoises was infectious agent-free, pinpointing a lack of significant health problems. Given the possible effect on the transmission of zoonotic diseases by spur-thighed tortoises associated with their frequent collection as pets, it should be surveyed to control possible human health problems. In conservation terms, as a long-lived species, the role of tick infestation in demographic traits might be included in the management and conservation programs of spur-thighed tortoises.

Two new and one newly recorded gonad-infecting species of Philometra Costa, 1845 (Nematoda: Philometridae) parasitising marine fishes in Iraq.

Specimens of two undescribed and one known gonad-infecting species of Philometra Costa, 1845 (Nematoda: Philometridae) were collected in some marine fishes from off the southern coast of Iraq. Based on light and scanning electron microscopy, the following new species are described: Philometra tayeni n. sp. (males and nongravid females) from ovaries of the purple-spotted bigeye Priacanthus tayenus Richardson (Priacanthidae, Acanthuriformes), and Philometra nibeae n. sp. (males and gravid female) from the ovary of the blotched croaker Nibea maculata (Bloch et Schneider) (Sciaenidae, Acanthuriformes). Philometra tayeni is mainly characterised by a pair of postanal papillae and a V-shaped caudal mound in males and by their body lengths (2.42-2.99 mm), whereas P. nibeae differs from its gonad-infecting congeners parasitising scienids mainly based on the body length of males (2.29-2.49 mm) and their spicules (96-117 µm), absence of a pair of postanal papillae and shape of caudal mound consisting of two parts. Philometra piscaria Moravec & Justine, 2014 (males and nongravid females), a parasite of the orange-spotted grouper Epinephelus coioides (Hamilton) (Epinephelidae, Perciformes), is recorded from the Arabian (= Persian) Gulf for the first time; previously unknown females of this species are described.

Behavior, stress and metabolism of a parthenogenic lizard in response to flyover noise

The Colorado checkered whiptail (Aspidoscelis neotesselatus) is a parthenogenetic lizard that is listed as a “species of special concern” in the state of Colorado. A. neotesselatus occupies a small range that includes the US Army Fort Carson Military Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The species is exposed to a variety of military disturbances, including aircraft flyover noise. We sampled 82 females during the 2021 reproductive season to assess whether scheduled flyovers would impact the behavior, stress, and metabolism of A. neotesselatus, while controlling for size and reproductive stage differences. We measured corticosterone (CORT) as a marker of anthropogenically induced stress during flyovers compared to a control. We further tested for the downstream effects of flyovers on plasma glucose (free energy available to tissues), elevated metabolism with oxidative stress (ROMs), and ketone bodies (alternative cerebral energy substrates to glucose). When disturbed by flyovers, these lizards spent less time moving but more time eating. Aircraft noise also increased CORT when controlling for clutch size, indicating a stress response driven by flyovers, as well as an independent effect of reproductive investment on CORT. CORT did not affect plasma glucose. Flyovers led to a marginally decrease in circulating ROMs, with gravid females experiencing lower plasma ROMs than non-gravid females, but that later effect was independent of flyovers. Flyovers significantly increased ketone bodies, with smaller animals experiencing higher ketone concentrations than larger individuals, yet the effect of size on ketone bodies was independent of the flyover treatment. Although A. neotesselatus seem to adjust their behavior and eat more to buffer the potentially negative effect of flyovers on energetic pathways, they still appear to suffer a metabolic cost driven by the stress response via ketone accumulation, as well as a reproductive cost driven by clutch size investment that is independent of flyover disturbance. We suggest that military aircraft operators attempt to avoid dense populations of A. neotesselatus during the reproductive season or fly at altitudes that lead to decibel reads that fall below 50 dB at ground level, as a cautious management step that ensures the resilience and local abundance of A. neotesselatus at Fort Carson.

Sonographic Evaluation of Pelvic Pain in Gravid and Non-Gravid Uterus

Aim: To evaluate sonographically pelvic pain and contribution of pelvic ultrasound in diagnosing pelvic pathologies in females with gravid and non-gravid uterus. Study Design: Cross-sectional analytical study Place and Duration: Sami Diagnostic and Waraich Ultrasound center Jauharabad (Khushab). Duration of study was 9 months. Methodology: Convenient sampling technique was used and 100 patients were enrolled. Toshiba Xario and Hitachi Aloka ultrasound machines were used. Study included females with gravid uterus, nongravid uterus, and those with pelvic pain present and also with absent pain. It excluded females with non-gynecological complaints. Both transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasound modalities were used. Longitudinal, transverse and oblique views were taken. Based on sonographic findings, diagnosis was made and image recorded. SPSS version 22.0 was used for data analysis. Results: In patients with gravid uterus pelvic pain was present in 23 (67.6%) and absent in 11 patients (32.4%). In non-gravid uterus pelvic pain was present in 64 (97.0%) and absent in 2 (3.0%). Most common finding was Intramural uterine fibroid (12%) with pain present in 8 and absent in 4 patients followed by hemorrhagic ovarian cyst HOC (10%) with pelvic pain present in 9 and absent in 1, simple ovarian cysts (7%) caused pelvic pain in 7 patients and in subserosal fibroid (6%) pelvic pain was present in 4 patients and absent in 2 patients. 10% females were presented with pelvic pain but showed normal ultrasound findings. Conclusion: Ultrasound is modality of choice to determine the pelvic pathologies in females. Pelvic pain was present more in non-gravid females. Most incident etiology causing pelvic pain was intramural fibroids. Age factor is one of the most effecting factors for the pelvic pain in gravid uterus. Keywords: Ultrasound, Pelvic pain, Fibroids, Hemorrhagic ovarian cyst, Ovarian cyst

Breeding phenology and population dynamics of the endangered Forest Spiny Reed Frog Afrixalus sylvaticus Schiøtz, 1974 in Shimba Hills, Kenya

Afrixalus sylvaticus Schiøtz, 1974 is a species of hyperoliid frog inhabiting coastal forest Kenya. It is classified as endangered under IUCN B2ab(iii) ver 3.1 and occurs in the Shimba Hills National Park and hinterlands. Habitat loss and other human activities are threatening the species. Therefore, understanding the breeding ecology and population dynamics is important for its conservation. This study assessed the breeding ecology and population dynamics of the species in the protected and community landscapes in Shimba Hills National Reserve in Kenya. Data was collected through ecological surveys conducted from June 2016 to July 2017 using a visual encounter surveys (VES) method. The results show that the species was more abundant during the wet season than dry (58% and 42%, respectively). The population estimate was 192 individuals and a density of 0.98 individuals/km2. Regarding the morphology, the mean snout-vent length (SVL) for males was 15.12 mm and females 15.96 mm, but there was no significant difference (t-test = 0.87, p = 0.390, df = 39). The mean weight of both gravid and non-gravid females was 6.05 g and males was 4.82 g. The weights were statistically different between both sexes (t-test = 3.50, p-value = 0.001, df = 39). The sex ratio was 1:2 (male: female). There was more activity in the wet season (April and May), and the breeding habitats were reeds and water lilies. The threats identified to their habitat include; human activities such as bush burning, livestock grazing, drainage, and plantation of exotic tree species (Eucalyptus sp.) that have led to habitat loss and degradation. The study recommends that the reforestation processes such as plantation of exotic species such as Eucalyptus sp. and Casuarina sp. and bush burning in the wetlands and species habitats must be discouraged among the stakeholders (community and park management). Moreover, more synchronized studies are necessary to highlight the driver(s) of imbalanced sex ratios and species habitat shifts.

Interactions Between Temperature Variability and Reproductive Physiology Across Traits in an Intertidal Crab.

Thermal extremes alter population processes, which can result in part from temperature-induced movement at different spatial and temporal scales. Thermal thresholds for animal movement likely change based on underlying thermal physiology and life-history stage, a topic that requires greater study. The intertidal porcelain crab Petrolisthes cinctipes currently experiences temperatures that can reach near-lethal levels in the high-intertidal zone at low tide. However, the thermal thresholds that trigger migration to cooler microhabitats, and the extent to which crabs move in response to temperature, remain unknown. Moreover, the influence of reproductive status on these thresholds is rarely investigated. We integrated demographic, molecular, behavioral, and physiological measurements to determine if behavioral thermal limits varied due to reproductive state. Demographic data showed a trend for gravid, egg bearing, crabs to appear more often under rocks in the cooler intertidal zone where crab density is highest. In situ expression of 31 genes related to stress, metabolism, and growth in the field differed significantly based on intertidal elevation, with mid-intertidal crabs expressing the gene for the reproductive yolk protein vitellogenin (vg) earlier in the season. Furthermore, VG protein levels were shown to increase with density for female hemolymph. Testing for temperatures that elicit movement revealed that gravid females engage in heat avoidance behavior at lower temperatures (i.e., have a lower voluntary thermal maximum, VTmax) than non-gravid females. VTmax was positively correlated with the temperature of peak firing rate for distal afferent nerve fibers in the walking leg, a physiological relationship that could correspond to the mechanistic underpinning for temperature dependent movement. The vulnerability of marine organisms to global change is predicated by their ability to utilize and integrate physiological and behavioral strategies in response to temperature to maximize survival and reproduction. Interactions between fine-scale temperature variation and reproductive biology can have important consequences for the ecology of species, and is likely to influence how populations respond to ongoing climate change.

Swarms of the hyperiid amphipod Themisto gaudichaudii along the False Bay (Western Cape, South Africa) coastline

ABSTRACT Tornado-shaped swarms of the hyperiid amphipod Themisto gaudichaudii were observed along the coast of False Bay, South Africa. This is the first time such swarming behaviour has been recorded in the area. The swarms were confirmed to be monospecific, with the majority of the individuals being female. At least 26% of females were gravid and there was no statistical difference in size among males, gravid females, and non-gravid females.

Carotid doppler indices with age and body mass index in a sampled Nigerian population

Background: Carotid doppler studies are frequently carried out to assess for possible stenosis resulting from presence of carotid plaques. The carotid peak systolic velocity (PSV) and end diastolic velocity (EDV) are key indices for determining the severity of the stenosis. However, normative values of these parameters may be dependent on anthropological variables like age and body mass index (BMI)Objective: The study was aimed at assessing the variations of PSV and EDV with age and BMI in a sampled Nigerian population.Materials and Methods: A total of 204 participants (72 males and 132 non-gravid females) aged between 20 and 70 years who were normotensive with no cardiovascular diseases were selected. Their ages, BMI, PSV and the EDV were measured using standard protocols for the four segments of the carotid artery: common carotid (CC), carotid bulb (CB), internal carotid (IC) and the external carotid (EC). Data obtained were presented using tables and line graphs while the analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine significant difference in measurement across the groups.Results: The mean PSV recorded were 88.25 ± 7.43 cm/s for the CC, 73.93 ± 6.23 cm/s for the IC, 51.01 ± 4.30 cm/s for the CB and 50.41 ± 4.25 cm/s for the EC. There was a steady increase of the PSV between 20 and 46 years from 74.91 cm/s to 98.78 cm/s for the CC, from 62.76 cm/s to 82.75 cm/s for the IC, from 42.80 cm/s to 56.43 cm/s for the EC and from 43.30 cm/s to 57.10 cm/s for the CB. The maximum EDV measured for the IC was (24.75 ± 2.11 cm/s). Others were 21.12 ± 1.8 cm/s for the CC, 19.38 ± 1.65 cm/s for CB and 16.92 ± 1.44 cm/s for the EC. The EDV also increased steadily between 20 to 46 years from 17.76 cm/s to 23.68 cm/s for the CC, from 21.04 cm/s to 27.75 cm/s for the IC, from 14.38 cm/s to 18.97 cm/s for the EC and from 16.48 cm/s to 21.73 cm/s for the CB. The PSV and EDV varied significantly with age (p >0.05). Also, the PSV and EDV increased slightly with increasing BMI from 30 – 31.9 kg/m2. For a BMI of 20 kg/m2 to 32 kg/m2, the increase in PSV were from 79.48 cm/s to 90.75 cm/s for the CC, from 66.58 cm/s to 76.03 cm/s for the IC, from 45.40 cm/s to 51.85 cm/s for the EC and from 45.94 cm/s to 52.46 cm/s for the CV. Similarly, the PSV and EDV values decreased at a BMI of 30 – 31.99 kg/m2. Thus, the BMI was significantly associated with PSV and EDV across all segments of the carotid artery (p > 0.05).Conclusion: arotid PSV and EDV with age and BMI. These variations should be taken in to consideration when diagnosis on alterations in carotid artery flow are to be made using PSV and EDV values.

Context-dependent effects of glucocorticoids on the lizard gut microbiome.

The vertebrate gut microbiota (bacterial, archaeal and fungal communities of the gastrointestinal tract) can have profound effects on the physiological processes of their hosts. Although relatively stable, changes in microbiome structure and composition occur due to changes in the environment, including exposure to stressors and associated increases in glucocorticoid hormones. Although a growing number of studies have linked stressor exposure to microbiome changes, few studies have experimentally explored the specific influence of glucocorticoids on the microbiome in wild animals, or across ecologically important processes (e.g., reproductive stages). Here we tested the response of the gut microbiota of adult female Sceloporus undulatus across gestation to ecologically relevant elevations of a stress-relevant glucocorticoid hormone (CORT) in order to determine (i) how experimentally elevated CORT influenced microbiome characteristics, and (ii) whether this relationship was dependent on reproductive context (i.e., whether females were gravid or not, and, in those that were gravid, gestational stage). We show that the effects of CORT on gut microbiota are complex and depend on both gestational state and stage. CORT treatment altered microbial community membership and resulted in an increase in microbiome diversity in late-gestation females, and microbial community membership varied according to treatment. In nongravid females, CORT treatment decreased interindividual variation in microbial communities, but this effect was not observed in late-gestation females. Our results highlight the need for a more holistic understanding of the downstream physiological effects of glucocorticoids, as well as the importance of context (here, gestational state and stage) in interpreting stress effects in ecology.

Increasing Body Size after Exploitation in a Population of Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus)

At a field site in northeastern New York during a 40-yr study, we measured the body sizes (total length, snout–vent length [SVL], mass) in three intrinsic groups of adult Crotalus horridus: nongravid (N) females, gravid (G) females, and males. We argue that a bounty system in effect for 75 yr caused a probable decline of the largest animals. After this lengthy period of exploitation, we observed that body sizes began to increase. Across 4 decades, the three intrinsic groups were significantly larger in the final decade (2009–18) than in the first decade (1979–88), stabilizing at a mean body mass of »710 g in N females, »870 g in G females, and »1,200 g in males. Mean SVLs of N females (94.1 cm) and males (111.0 cm) in the final 3 decades were significantly larger than their SVLs in the first decade. The body condition index (BCI) increased over time, and the intrinsic groups differed significantly in mean BCI: N females (-0.0764), G females (0.0146), and males (0.0899). Among recaptured snakes, wide fluctuations of body mass were not uncommon as most snakes experienced annual losses as well as gains. Geographic variation in body size of C. horridus is illustrated by comparing our New York population with a northern population (Massachusetts) and a southern population (Virginia). Across the species' range, we suggest that body size could be associated primarily with prey size. Because many populations of C. horridus are slow growing and long lived, correlated effects of exploitation on body size may negatively affect the snakes' reproductive biology and longevity.

Density-dependent mating behaviors reduce male mating harassment in locusts

Male mating harassment may occur when females and males do not have the same mating objectives. Communal animals need to manage the costs of male mating harassment. Here, we demonstrate how desert locusts in dense populations reduce such conflicts through behaviors. In transient populations (of solitarious morphology but gregarious behavior), we found that nongravid females occupied separate sites far from males and were not mating, whereas males aggregated on open ground (leks), waiting for gravid females to enter the lekking sites. Once a male mounted a gravid female, no other males attacked the pair; mating pairs were thereby protected during the vulnerable time of oviposition. In comparison, solitarious locusts displayed a balanced sex ratio in low-density populations, and females mated irrespective of their ovarian state. Our results indicate that the mating behaviors of desert locusts are density dependent and that sex-biased behavioral group separation may minimize the costs of male mating harassment and competition.

Evaluating and comparing the efficacy of histopathology to TVS/TAS in diagnosing the abnormal uterine bleeding: A prospective clinical study

Background: AUB (Abnormal Uterine Bleeding) is any bleeding outside normal frequency, regularity, duration, and volume. Abnormal bleeding in menstruation is depicted using terms such as oligomenorrhea, Polymenorrhea, Metorrhagia, and menorrhagia.Objectives: The present clinical study was conducted to assess the efficacy of histopathological findings and TVS/TAS in subjects with AUB.Methods: In the present prospective clinical study, 102 subjects within the age of 21-85 years with abnormal uterine bleeding. All subjects underwent hysteroscopy and premenstrual dilatation and curettage despite sonography findings and baseline investigations. The obtained endometrial tissue was assessed via histopathological examination.Result: Cervical carcinoma, Endometrial carcinoma, Cervical polyp, Endometrial polyp, Adenomyosis, and Myoma as seen in 3.92% (n = 4), 12.74% (n = 13), 2.94% (n = 3), 32.35% (n = 33), 51.96% (n = 53), and 54.90% (n = 56) study subjects respectively. Tissue findings in the study were assessed as Cervical Carcinoma, Endometrial Carcinoma, Endometrial polyp, Endometritis, Atrophic endometrium, Mixed, Secretary, Proliferative phase, Endometrial hyperplasia, and normal epithelium was seen in 1.96% (n = 2), 10.78% (n = 11), 5.88% (n = 6), 0.98% (n = 1), 2.94% (n = 3), 3.92% (n = 4), 15.68% (n = 16), 11.76% (n = 12), 25.49% (n = 26), and 20.58% (n = 21) subjects respectively.Conclusion: The present study concludes that transvaginal/transabdominal ultrasounds are an economical and primary assessment tool for screening of AUB, and must be included in routine assessment and examination. Although, the diagnosis and management of AUB are confusing among non-gravid females, however, histopathologic assessment is the gold standard in such cases.

CAROTID DOPPLER INDICES WITH AGE AND BODY MASS INDEX IN A SAMPLED NIGERIAN POPULATION

Background: Carotid Doppler studies are frequently carried out to assess for possible stenosis resulting from the presence of carotid plaques. The carotid peak systolic velocity (PSV) and end-diastolic velocity (EDV) are key indices for determining the severity of the stenosis. However, normative values of these parameters may be dependent on anthropological variables like age and body mass index (BMI) Objective: The study was aimed at assessing the variations of PSV and EDV with age and BMI in a sampled Nigerian population. Materials and Methods: A total of 204 participants (72 males and 132 non-gravid females) aged between 20 and 70 years who were normotensive with no cardiovascular diseases were selected. Their ages, BMI, PSV and the EDV were measured using standard protocols for the four segments of the carotid artery: common carotid (CC), carotid bulb (CB), internal carotid (IC) and the external carotid (EC). Data obtained were presented using tables and line graphs while the analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the significant differences in measurement across the groups. Results: The mean PSV recorded were 88.25 ± 7.43 cm/s for the CC, 73.93 ± 6.23 cm/s for the IC, 51.01 ± 4.30 cm/s for the CB and 50.41 ± 4.25 cm/s for the EC. There was a steady increase of the PSV between 20 and 46 years from 74.91 cm/s to 98.78 cm/s for the CC, from 62.76 cm/s to 82.75 cm/s for the IC, from 42.80 cm/s to 56.43 cm/s for the EC and from 43.30 cm/s to 57.10 cm/s for the CB. The maximum EDV measured for the IC was (24.75 ± 2.11 cm/s). Others were 21.12 ± 1.8 cm/s for the CC, 19.38 ± 1.65 cm/s for CB and 16.92 ± 1.44 cm/s for the EC. The EDV also increased steadily between 20 to 46 years from 17.76 cm/s to 23.68 cm/s for the CC, from 21.04 cm/s to 27.75 cm/s for the IC, from 14.38 cm/s to 18.97 cm/s for the EC and from 16.48 cm/s to 21.73 cm/s for the CB. The PSV and EDV varied significantly with age (p > 0.05). Also, the PSV and EDV increased slightly with increasing BMI from 30 – 31.9 kg/m2. For a BMI of 20 kg/m2 to 32 kg/m2, the increase in PSV were from 79.48 cm/s to 90.75 cm/s for the CC, from 66.58 cm/s to 76.03 cm/s for the IC, from 45.40 cm/s to 51.85 cm/s for the EC and from 45.94 cm/s to 52.46 cm/s for the CV. Similarly, the PSV and EDV values decreased at a BMI of 30 – 31.99 kg/m2. Thus, the BMI was significantly associated with PSV and EDV across all segments of the carotid artery (p > 0.05). Conclusion: There are significant variations in carotid PSV and EDV with age and BMI. These variations should be taken into consideration when diagnoses on alterations in carotid artery flow are to be made using PSV and EDV values.

Records of two gonad-infecting species of Philometra (Nematoda: Philometridae) from marine fishes off Iraq, including the description of Philometra parabrevicollis n. sp. from the bigeye snapper Lutjanus lutjanus Bloch (Pisces, Lutjanidae).

Recent examinations of some marine fishes from off the southern coast of Iraq revealed the presence of two species of Philometra Costa, 1845 (Nematoda: Philometridae): P. parabrevicollis n. sp. (males and subgravid and nongravid females) from the ovary of the bigeye snapper Lutjanus lutjanus Bloch (Perciformes, Lutjanidae) and Philometra sp. (subgravid females) from the ovary of the bartail flathead Platycephalus indicus (Linnaeus) (Perciformes, Platycephalidae). Specimens of species are described and illustrated based on light and scanning electron microscopical examinations. Philometra parabrevicollis n. sp. is mainly characterised by the length of spicules (267–285 µm) and gubernaculum (159–168 µm), the gubernaculum/spicule length ratio (1:1.64–1.76), the structure of the gubernaculum distal tip and of the male caudal end, and the body length of males (4.03–4.90 mm). The description of this new species again confirms a high degree of host specificity of gonad-infecting species of Philometra in congeneric lutjanid hosts. Although Philometra sp. parasitising P. indicus in Iraqi waters was previously recorded, its subgravid females are described for the first time. A key to gonad-infecting species of Philometra parasitic in fishes of the family Lutjanidae is provided.