A new subspecies identification and population study of the Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus) in Malay Peninsula and southern Thailand based on fecal DNA method.

Three species of otter can be found throughout Malay Peninsula: Aonyx cinereus, Lutra sumatrana, and Lutrogale perspicillata. In this study, we focused on the A. cinereus population that ranges from the southern and the east coast to the northern regions of Malay Peninsula up to southern Thailand to review the relationships between the populations based on the mitochondrial D-loop region. Forty-eight samples from six populations were recognized as Johor, Perak, Terengganu, Kelantan, Ranong, and Thale Noi. Among the 48 samples, 33 were identified as A. cinereus, seven as L. sumatrana, and eight as L. perspicillata. Phylogenetically, two subclades formed for A. cinereus. The first subclade grouped all Malay Peninsula samples except for samples from Kelantan, and the second subclade grouped Kelantan samples with Thai sample. Genetic distance analysis supported the close relationships between Thai and Kelantan samples compared to the samples from Terengganu and the other Malaysian states. A minimum-spanning network showed that Kelantan and Thailand formed a haplogroup distinct from the other populations. Our results show that Thai subspecies A. cinereus may have migrated to Kelantan from Thai mainland. We also suggest the classification of a new subspecies from Malay Peninsula, the small-clawed otter named A. cinereus kecilensis.

Ultrastructural alteration of larvae and puparia of blow fly Chrysomya megacephala (F.) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and house fly Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae) exposed to neem extract.

The effect of neem, Azadirachta indica A. Juss, on ultrastructural alteration of larvae and puparia of the blow fly, Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and house fly, Musca domestica (Linnaeus) (Diptera: Muscidae), was investigated in the laboratory by using neem extract containing 0.24% azadirachtin A. Larvae of both species exposed to single dipping with the neem product exhibited swelling of the integument in relation to the control as determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis revealed slight thickness of epicuticle, but intense thickness of procuticle. Multiple treatment of the larvae displayed noticeably swelling integument and bleb formation on the integument, indicating a dose-dependent relationshipPuparia of both fly species treated with neem product showed similar appearance under SEM and TEM analyses.