ABSTRACT
The muricid gastropod, Ocinebrellus inornatus, originates from the coasts of the Korean Sea and southern Japan. This species has been regularly sampled in the bay of Marennes-Oléron (France) since spring 1997, and allowed us to validate the taxonomic status of a previous report of the species in the bay in April 1995. O. inornatus was sampled only in the bay of Marennes-Oléron and has not been observed in the other areas along the Charente-Maritime coast. O. inornatus lives mainly in the same biotope as the local muricid Ocenebra erinacea (i.e. the level of Fucus serratus between MLWN and ELWS) Now, this alien species seems to be very well settled in the bay of Marennes-Oléron, where it causes damage to the farming oyster beds. In the areas of highest densities of Ocinebrellus inornatus, the local species Ocenebra erinacea is observed in comparatively reduced numbers. The probable causes of introduction of O. inornatus in the bay are discussed.
Subject(s)
Mollusca , Ostreidae , Animals , Aquaculture , Predatory BehaviorABSTRACT
For the first time a report is made of Meriones shawi (Duvernoy, 1842) infected by Leishmania major Yakimoff and Shokhor, 1914. The parasite was observed in two of 28 Meriones captured in the immediate vicinity of the Tata administrative center (South Morocco). M. shawi, because it is sub-commercial with man and abundant, is very likely one of the reservoirs of human cutaneous leishmaniasis in this area.
Subject(s)
Disease Reservoirs , Gerbillinae/parasitology , Leishmania/pathogenicity , Animals , Humans , Leishmaniasis/etiology , Male , MoroccoABSTRACT
The Gongylonematid Nematode parasite of the Tunisian hedge-hog has been identified as Gongylonema mucronatum Seurat, 1916. The infective larva has been obtained from Locusta migratoria as intermediate host. The larval characters of this Gongylonema link it to the species G. pulchrum.
