In vitro propagation of Berberis buxifolia Lam.

Berberis buxifolia is a native shrub of Patagonia with a great importance due to its crop production as soon its medicinal and tinctorial applications. The aim of this work was to develop a protocol for in vitro propagation of B. buxifolia, with special emphasys on the rooting stage. The culture of the explants on Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium added with 0.55 microM BA allowed to attain a multiplication rate of 1:4.7 at day 63. Rooted shoots were obtained on Murashige and Skoog medium with half strength of macronutrient salts. The culture of the shoots with a period of 4 days of darkness at the beginning of the rooting, on a medium with 1.25 microM IBA for 7 days, followed by a IBA free medium until day 28, allowed to attain 80% rooting. These results show that B. buxifolia can be in vitro propagated.

[The 25-year-old Department of Medical Parasitology and the 10-year-old Reference Laboratory for Medical Arachno-entomology of East Germany at the Leipzig District Sanitary Inspection Service and District Institute]. / 25 Jahre Abteilung Medizinische Parasitologie und 10 Jahre Referenzlaboratorium für Medizinische Arachno-Entomologie der DDR an Bezirks-Hygieneinspektion und -Institut Leipzig.

Review of the most important contributions of the-25-year-old Department of Medical Parasitology and of the ten-year-old Reference Laboratory for Medical Arachno-Entomology at the Sanitary Inspection and Institute, District of Leipzig, as an example for the performance of hygienic zoology in the German Democratic Republic.

[Fleas (Siphonaptera) in the human environment. Analytic findings between 1961-1983 in the district of Leipzig (East Germany). II. Spacial and temporal distribution]. / Flöhe (Siphonaptera) beim Menschen. Befundanalyse 1961 bis 1983 im Bezirk Leipzig (DDR). Teil II: Räumliche und zeitliche Verteilung.

During the last 20 years there has been very little infestation with fleas in the district of Leipzig. Out of the 8 species only Pulex irritans and Ctenocephalides felis are of hygienic concern. Greater numbers of them were found in densely populated urban districts. Origins of infestation were mainly dogs and cats kept in unhygienic conditions, and retreats of feral cats. There have been changes in the dominance of fleas associated with man. P. irritans probably had been the dominant species for centuries. About the turn of the 19th century Ctenocephalides canis attained codominance. Since the 1960s C. felis has been dominating.

[Harvest mite Neotrombicula autumnalis in the Leipzig area]. / Die Erntemilbe Neotrombicula autumnalis im Gebiet von Leipzig.

The paper describes an isolated population of the plague-causing harvest mite, Neotrombicula autumnalis autumnalis (Trombiculidae) in the Leipzig area. The focus has an area of about 20 km2 and extends from the eastern outskirts of the city to the built-up sections with a strong anthropogenic impact. It seems to have existed within these limits for at least five decades, with some variation in space and time. The surrounding area is free from Neotrombicula autumnalis, except for two unstable and temporary small populations 7 and 14 km away, respectively. The leipzig population of harvest mites does not prefer river courses, and it does not settle in valley plains with wet soils and woods nor does it prefer the margins of stagnant waters.

[Effect of DDT/lindane on the Lepidoptera parasite Eupteromalus peregrinus (Pteromalidae)]. / Einfluss von DDT/Lindan auf den Goldafterparasiten Eupteromalus peregrinus (Pteromalidae).

A control action against caterpillars of Euproctis chrysorrhoea (Lep.: Lymantriidae) in spring with the insecticide "bercema-Spritzaktiv 80" (72% DDT, 7% lindane) did not destroy nor visible deteriorate a population of the hymenopterous parasite Eupteromalus peregrinus (Pteromalidae). The possible causes are discussed.

[German cockroaches (Blattella germanica) in a refrigerator]. / Hausschaben (Blattella germanica) im Kühlschrank.

German cockroaches (Blattella germanica) regularly occurred in a refrigerator of a hospital in Leipzig. Larvae of instars 1--6 of a population of high density but uneven spatial distribution infiltrated through the defective magnetic tape packing of the refrigerator door into an area maintaining +7...12 degrees C. In this way they utilised their temperature dependent ability to move almost down to the lower limit and gave a new example of the plasticity of their reactions. Behavioural and ecological aspects of the observations as well as hygienic consequences and prophylactic measures are discussed.