Trypanosoma evansi (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) in capybaras ( Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris ): prevalence, effect and sexual selection / Trypanosoma evansi(Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) en capibaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris):prevalencia, efecto y selección sexual

AbstractParasites play a crucial role in the ecology of animals. They also appear to be important in mechanisms underlying sexual selection processes. In this article we study the prevalence, effect and potential role in sexual selection of the protozoon Trypanosoma evansi in capybaras, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris. We collected our samples from the annual capybara cull of a ranch in Venezuela, using the volume of the snout scent gland as an indicator of dominance; the residuals of body weight as indicators of condition; and the residuals of the spleen mass as indicators of immune function. Overall prevalence was 30.9 % (N= 97) with no difference between males and females, and no relation between infection with T. evansi and condition. However, we found that infected animals had larger spleens (residuals), indicating an immunological cost of the infection. Furthermore, males with larger snout scent glands (more dominant) were less likely to be infected than males with smaller glands (less dominant), suggesting that by choosing males with a large glands, females may be using the gland as an indicator of health, which is consistent with the "good genes" view of sexual selection. Rev. Biol. Trop. 65 (1): 229-237. Epub 2017 March 01.

ResumenLos parásitos juegan un papel crucial en la ecología de todos los animales. También parecen ser importantes en los mecanismos subyacentes a la selección sexual. En este artículo estudiamos la prevalencia, el efecto y el papel potencial en procesos de selección sexual del protozoario Trypanosoma evansi sobre el capibara (chigüire o carpincho), Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris. Recolectamos las muestras en una finca ganadera en Venezuela donde se lleva a cabo la matanza anual de capibaras para aprovechar su carne. Usamos el volumen de la glándula del hocico (el "morrillo") como indicador de dominancia; los residuales del peso como indicadores de condición física; y los residuales del peso del bazo como indicadores de la función inmunológica. La prevalencia total fue de 30.9 % (N= 97) y no encontramos diferencia entre machos y hembras ni tampoco detectamos correlación entre estado de infección y condición física. Sin embargo, encontramos que los animales infectados tenían el bazo inflamado, lo que indica un costo inmunológico de la infección. Además los machos con morrillos más grandes (más dominantes) tendían a estar menos infectados que los machos con morrillos más pequeños (subordinados), lo cual sugiere que al escoger machos con morrillos grandes, las hembras pueden estar escogiendo machos saludables, lo cual es consistente con la visión "buenos genes" de la selección sexual.

Preputial gland activates olfactory receptor neurons in rat: Calcium imaging study using laser scanning confocal microscopy.

The rodent preputial gland is one of the major sources of odours and is reported to be involved in several behavioural activities. However, how the preputial gland initiates the olfactory response to manifest the effects is not known. Olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) present in the olfactory epithelium are involved in the perception of odorant/pheromonal compounds. In the present study, the response of rat ORNs to preputial gland extract was evaluated by calcium imaging analysis. We found that some rat ORNs responded to the preputial gland extract by exhibiting an intracellular calcium response. By contrast, the ORNs did not respond at all to the foot pad extract (control). The results indicated that the substances contained in the preputial gland might interact with a type of receptor expressed in the female rat ORNs, suggested to manifest the behavioural responses, such as social and sexual interactions. This study provided the first evidence of activation of ORNs by the preputial gland extract.

Morphological and morphometrical assessment of spermathecae of Aedes aegypti females

The vectorial capacity of Aedes aegypti is directly influenced by its high reproductive output. Nevertheless, females are restricted to a single mating event, sufficient to acquire enough sperm to fertilize a lifetime supply of eggs. How Ae. aegypti is able to maintain viable spermatozoa remains a mystery. Male spermatozoa are stored within either of two spermathecae that in Ae. aegypti consist of one large and two smaller organs each. In addition, each organ is divided into reservoir, duct and glandular portions. Many aspects of the morphology of the spermatheca in virgin and inseminated Ae. aegypti were investigated here using a combination of light, confocal, electron and scanning microscopes, as well as histochemistry. The abundance of mitochondria and microvilli in spermathecal gland cells is suggestive of a secretory role and results obtained from periodic acid Schiff assays of cell apexes and lumens indicate that gland cells produce and secrete neutral polysaccharides probably related to maintenance of spermatozoa. These new data contribute to our understanding of gamete maintenance in the spermathecae of Ae. aegypti and to an improved general understanding of mosquito reproductive biology.

Behavioral and olfactory antennal responses of Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) workers to their dufour gland secretion

Behavioral and electrophysiological tests were performed to evaluate the responses of workers of the ant Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius) from different size categories to Dufour gland extracts. Morphometric measures based in head widths across eyes were used to determine worker sizes. Trail following response of different worker sizes to Dufour gland extract from workers of different sizes was assessed. For each worker size category olfactory responses to Dufour gland extracts were determined using electroantennography (EAG). Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used to determine the chromatographic profile of Dufour gland secretion for each worker size. Morphometric measures permitted to classify the workers of S. geminata as large, medium and small workers. Medium S. geminata workers displayed a significantly higher behavioral response to Dufour gland extracts produced by medium size workers. Similarly, medium workers showed a significantly higher EAG response to Dufour gland extracts produced by medium sized workers. Chromatographic profile of Dufour gland secretions produced by workers showed that each size category exhibited a characteristic profile of the three main components considered as potential trail pheromone constituents. This work showed that medium workers of S. geminata exhibited a high trail-following behavior as well as a high antennal response to Dufour gland secretion. This and their relative abundance in field foraging areas, suggest that medium-sized workers are specialized in foraging activities.

Se efectuaron pruebas comportamentales y electrofisiológicas para evaluar las respuestas de obreras de Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius) de diferentes tamaños a extractos de la glándula de Dufour. Se usaron medidas del ancho de la cabeza para determinar el tamaño de las obreras. Se evualuó la respuesta de seguimiento de ruta de obreras de diferentes tamaños a extractos de la glándula de Dufour proveniente de obreras de diferentes tamaños. Para cada grupo de obrera de determinado tamaño se le determinó la respuesta olfatoria por medio de electroantenografía (EAG). Se utilizó Cromatografía de Gases acoplada a Espectrometría de Masas (GC-EM) para determinar el perfil cromatográfico de la secreción de la glándula de Dufour para cada grupo de obreras. Las medidas morfométricas permitieron clasificar a las obreras de acuerdo a su tamaño en grandes, medianas y pequeñas. Las obreras medianas de S. geminata exhibieron una respuesta comportamental alta a los extractos glandulares de hormigas medianas. Las obreras medianas mostraron también una alta respuesta antenal a los extractos de obreras medianas. El perfil cromatográfico de la secreción de la glándula de Dufour producida por obreras muestra que cada tamaño exhibió un perfil característico de los tres componentes potenciales como feromona de ruta. Concluimos que las obreras de tamaño mediano exhibieron altas respuestas tanto comportamentales como olfatorias a la secreción de la glándula de Dufour. Lo anterior y el hecho de que sean las más abundantes en el área de forrajeo sugieren que este grupo de obreras está especializado en actividades de forrajeo.

Histochemical and ultrastructural evidence of lipid secretion by the silk gland of the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

The silk gland in Lepidoptera larvae is responsible for the silk production used for shelter or cocoon construction. The secretion of fibroin and sericin by the different silk gland regions are well established. There are few attempts to detect lipid components in the insect silk secretion, although the presence of such element may contribute to the resistance of the shelter to wet environment. This study characterizes the glandular region and detects the presence of lipid components in the secretion of the silk gland of Diatraea saccharalis(Fabricius). The silk gland was submitted to histochemical procedure for lipid detection or conventionally prepared for ultrastructural analyses. Lipid droplets were histochemically detected in both the apical cytoplasm of cell of the anterior region and in the lumen among the microvilli. Ultrastructural analyses of the anterior region showed lipid material, visualized as myelin-like structures within the vesicular Golgi complex and in the apical secretory globules, mixed up with the sericin; similar material was observed into the lumen, adjacent to the microvilli. Lipids were not detected in the cells neither in the lumen of the posterior region. Our results suggest that the silk produced by D. saccharalis has a minor lipid content that is secreted by the anterior region together with the sericin.

A glândula da seda de larvas de Lepidoptera é responsável pela produção da seda usada na construção do casulo ou do abrigo. A secreção de fibroína e sericina pelas diferentes regiões da glândula da seda está bem estabelecida. Existem poucos trabalhos tentando identificar componentes lipídicos na secreção de seda de insetos, embora a presença desse componente contribua para a resistência da seda a ambiente úmidos. Este estudo teve como objetivo identificar a presença de componente lipídico na secreção da glândula da seda de larvas de Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius), bem como caracterizar a região glandular responsável pela secreção. A glândula da seda foi submetida a procedimentos histoquímicos para detecção de lipídeos e convencionalmente preparada para análise ultra-estrutural. Gotas lipídicas foram histoquimicamente detectadas no citoplasma apical de células da região anterior e no lúmen, entre os microvilos. A análise ultra-estrutural da região anterior mostrou material lipídico, visualizado como figuras do tipo mielina dentro do complexo de Golgi vesicular e nos glóbulos secretores apicais, misturados com sericina; material semelhante foi observado dentro do lúmen, adjacente aos microvilos. Nenhum componente secretor lipídico foi detectado nas células ou no lúmen da região posterior. Os resultados sugerem que a seda produzida pela D. saccharalis tem, pelo menos, um discreto componente lipídico, que é secretado pela região anterior, junto com a sericina.

Light and electron microscopic aspects of glands and pseudoglandular structures in the legs of bees (Hymenoptera, Apinae, Euglossini)

The presence of glands and pseudoglandular structures in the legs of male and female of Euglossine bees was studied. Insect gland cells belonging to class I or class III are present in all pairs of legs and in all leg segments. Pseudoglandular structures are present in the male pretarsus, which lacked a typical tarsal gland. A special, probably absorptive epidermis, is present in addition to class III glandular cells in this segment. The basitarsus epidermis has special features which differed from other bees, and males have a tibial organ in the hind pair of legs. Light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy of the component parts of these structures showed that the tibial organ consists of three morphologically distinct parts, which could be distinguished in Euglossa cordata, Eulaema mandibularis and Eufrisea violacens. However, in Exaerete smaradigina, zone III was absent and there was a poorly defined zone IV.

Dufour glands in the hymenopterans (Apidae, Formicidae, Vespidae): a review

Associated to the sting apparatus of the aculeate hymenopterans is found the poison gland, originated from the glands associated to the ovipositor of the non-aculeate hymenopterans and the less derived Dufour gland, homologue of the coletterial gland of other insects, and found in all hymenopteran females. The Dufour gland functions is mostly uncertain in hymenopterans but in ants it is involved with communication and defense and in non social bees with the nest building and protection. In wasps possibly with kin-recognition. Differences in morphology and chemical composition of the gland secretion were observed among species, in the same species, between the castes in the social species and among individual of the same caste playing different tasks or belonging to different nest. Its original function of egg-protective substance producing, or favoring the oviposition, appear to have been replaced or complemented in hymenopterans by the production of semiochemicals with function in communication

Influence of fowl uropygial gland and its secretory lipid components on the growth of skin surface fungi of fowl.

Fungal species, which were shown to colonize consistently on the skin surface of the breast region of adult (1 year old) white leghorn fowl, were identified as Aspergillus sydowii, A. tamarii, A. rugulosus and Absidia corymbifera. Of these, A. sydowii and A. tamarii were the dominant forms. Two species of fungi, namely, Aspergillus niger and Scopulariopsis brevicaulis were shown to be present in the cultures of the scrubbings from breast skin surface after 60 days of captivity of the fowls. Extirpation of the uropygial gland resulted in encouragement of the in vitro population growth of all species of fungi except that of A. rugulosus. The effect was found to be very conspicuous for A. sydowii and A. tamarii, particularly after 60 days of gland removal. Addition of total lipids and the wax diester component of free-flowing uropygial secretion as 0.2% suspension in Sabouraud's agar medium of individual fungal isolates caused marked suppression of the population growth of A. sydowii, A. tamarii, Absidia corymbifera and to some extent of S. brevicaulis. Other components of secretory lipids, such as wax alcohols (2,3-alkane-diols), wax acids, triglycerides and hydrocarbons (including squalene) when supplemented separately to culture medium of individual fungi at identical concentration, were also shown to cause inhibition of the growth of most of fungal species at different degrees.