A recent gibbon ape leukemia virus germline integration in a rodent from New Guinea.

Germline colonization by retroviruses results in the formation of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs). Most colonization's occurred millions of years ago. However, in the Australo-Papuan region (Australia and New Guinea), several recent germline colonization events have been discovered. The Wallace Line separates much of Southeast Asia from the Australo-Papuan region restricting faunal and pathogen dispersion. West of the Wallace Line, gibbon ape leukemia viruses (GALVs) have been isolated from captive gibbons. Two microbat species from China appear to have been infected naturally. East of Wallace's Line, the woolly monkey virus (a GALV) and the closely related koala retrovirus (KoRV) have been detected in eutherians and marsupials in the Australo-Papuan region, often vertically transmitted. The detected vertically transmitted GALV-like viruses in Australo-Papuan fauna compared to sporadic horizontal transmission in Southeast Asia and China suggest the GALV-KoRV clade originates in the former region and further models of early-stage genome colonization may be found. We screened 278 samples, seven bat and one rodent family endemic to the Australo-Papuan region and bat and rodent species found on both sides of the Wallace Line. We identified two rodents (Melomys) from Australia and Papua New Guinea and no bat species harboring GALV-like retroviruses. Melomys leucogaster from New Guinea harbored a genomically complete replication-competent retrovirus with a shared integration site among individuals. The integration was only present in some individuals of the species indicating this retrovirus is at the earliest stages of germline colonization of the Melomys genome, providing a new small wild mammal model of early-stage genome colonization.

To and fro in the archipelago: Repeated inter-island dispersal and New Guinea's orogeny affect diversification of Delias, the world's largest butterfly genus.

The world's largest butterfly genus Delias, commonly known as Jezebels, comprises ca. 251 species found throughout Asia, Australia, and Melanesia. Most species are endemic to islands in the Indo-Australian Archipelago or to New Guinea and nearby islands in Melanesia, and many species are restricted to montane habitats over 1200 m. We inferred an extensively sampled and well-supported molecular phylogeny of the group to better understand the spatial and temporal dimensions of its diversification. The remarkable diversity of Delias evolved in just ca. 15-16 Myr (crown age). The most recent common ancestor of a clade with most of the species dispersed out of New Guinea ca. 14 Mya, but at least six subsequently diverging lineages dispersed back to the island. Diversification was associated with frequent dispersal of lineages among the islands of the Indo-Australian Archipelago, and the divergence of sister taxa on a single landmass was rare and occurred only on the largest islands, most notably on New Guinea. We conclude that frequent inter-island dispersal during the Neogene-likely facilitated by frequent sea level change-sparked much diversification during that period. Many extant New Guinea lineages started diversifying 5 Mya, suggesting that orogeny facilitated their diversification. Our results largely agree with the most recently proposed species group classification system, and we use our large taxon sample to extend this system to all described species. Finally, we summarize recent insights to speculate how wing pattern evolution, mimicry, and sexual selection might also contribute to these butterflies' rapid speciation and diversification.

Thirty-four new species of Rhagovelia (Heteroptera: Veliidae) from the East Papua Composite Terrane, far eastern New Guinea.

Thirty-four new species of Rhagovelia are described from the East Papua Composite Terrane of far eastern New Guinea. The new taxa described from this area are as follows: R. yela, R. woa, and R. mbo from Rossel Island; R. tagula, R. kolukolu, and R. riu from Tagula Island; R. bwagabwaga from Misima Island; R. suloga from Woodlark Island; R. torrenticola and R. elongata from Goodenough Island; R. awaetowa from Fergusson Island; R. dibuwa from Normanby Island; R. basima from Fergusson and Normanby islands; R. kalawai from Sideia and Basilaki islands; R. guiagoila from Basilaki, Sideia and Sariba islands; R. tufi, R. bowutu, R. obscura, R. upalai, R. antap, R. goilala, R. udabe, R. watuti, R. peninsularis, R. auga, R. aviavi, R. tekadu, R. sapoi, R. mimani, R. dinga, R. ivimkana, R. loriae, R. grisea, and R. cheesmanae from the Owen Stanley Range of eastern New Guinea. Redescriptions are also provided for five previously described species occurring in this portion of New Guinea: R. peggiae Kirkaldy, R. hirsuta Lansbury, R. priori Lansbury, R. caesius Lansbury and R. aureospicata Lansbury. A regional key is provided for these 39 species of Rhagovelia occurring in the Papuan Peninsula and adjacent island groups, accompanied by figures of the male parameres and other diagnostic morphological structures, and distribution maps for all species.

Species-specific dynamics may cause deviations from general biogeographical predictions - evidence from a population genomics study of a New Guinean endemic passerine bird family (Melampittidae).

The family Melampittidae is endemic to New Guinea and consists of two monotypic genera: Melampitta lugubris (Lesser Melampitta) and Megalampitta gigantea (Greater Melampitta). Both Melampitta species have scattered and disconnected distributions across New Guinea in the central mountain range and in some of the outlying ranges. While M. lugubris is common and found in most montane regions of the island, M. gigantaea is elusive and known from only six localities in isolated pockets on New Guinea with very specific habitats of limestone and sinkholes. In this project, we apply museomics to determine the population structure and demographic history of these two species. We re-sequenced the genomes of all seven known M. gigantaea samples housed in museum collections as well as 24 M. lugubris samples from across its distribution. By comparing population structure between the two species, we investigate to what extent habitat dependence, such as in M. gigantaea, may affect population connectivity. Phylogenetic and population genomic analyses, as well as acoustic variation revealed that M. gigantaea consists of a single population in contrast to M. lugubris that shows much stronger population structure across the island. We suggest a recent collapse of M. gigantaea into its fragmented habitats as an explanation to its unexpected low diversity and lack of population structure. The deep genetic divergences between the M. lugubris populations on the Vogelkop region, in the western central range and the eastern central range, respectively, suggests that these three populations should be elevated to full species level. This work sheds new light on the mechanisms that have shaped the intriguing distribution of the two species within this family and is a prime example of the importance of museum collections for genomic studies of poorly known and rare species.

Revision of the genera of Heligmonellidae (Nematoda, Heligmosomoidea), parasitic in Muridae from New Guinea.

Up to now, 24 genera of Nematoda belonging to the Nippostrongylinae (Heligmonellidae) have been reported from New Guinean murid rodents. Nine of these genera have been reviewed in previous works. In the present work, another 11 genera are re-examined on morphological characters mainly corresponding to the synlophe and to a lesser degree to the bursa. This re-examination leads us to recognize three valid genera: Melomystrongylus, Pogonomystrongylus and Nugininema. The remaining genera appear to us insufficiently described or seem to involve more than one taxon; we consider them genera inquirenda. These are: Mawsonema, Montistrongylus, Parvinema, Missimstrongylus, Flannerystrongylus, Helgenema and Paramelomystrongylus. The genus Rodentanema does not belong to the Nippostrongylinae but to the Herpetostrongylidae (Heligmosomoidea). In addition to the three genera recognized herein, nine other genera of Nippostrongylinae are present in New Guinea: Equilophos, Hasanuddinia, Hasegawanema, Hughjonestrongylus, Lesleyella, Macrostrongylus, Nippostrongylus, Parasabanema and Sanduanensis. Several species attributed to the genera Bunomystrongylus, Chisholmia, Odilia and Sabanema are insufficiently described and their generic assignment could not be rectified or ratified. Consequently, the presence of these latter genera in New Guinean rodents remains unconfirmed, until more complete descriptions or illustrations are provided.

Title: Révision des genres d'Heligmonellidae (Nematoda, Heligmosomoidea) parasites de Muridae de Nouvelle-Guinée. Abstract: Jusqu'à présent, 24 genres de Nématodes appartenant aux Nippostrongylinae (Heligmonellidae) ont été signalés chez des Rongeurs Muridae de Nouvelle Guinée. Parmi ces genres, neuf ont été révisés dans des articles précédents. Dans cet article, 11 autres genres sont réexaminés sur des caractères morphologiques concernant principalement le synlophe et en moindre mesure, la bourse caudale. Trois genres sont considérés comme valides : Melomystrongylus, Pogonomystrongylus et Nugininema. Les genres restants nous paraissent insuffisamment décrits ou représentent plus d'un taxon ; ils sont considérés genera inquirenda. Il s'agit de : Mawsonema, Montistrongylus, Parvinema, Missimstrongylus, Flannerystrongylus, Helgenema et Paramelomystrongylus. Le genre Rodentanema n'appartient pas aux Nippostrongylinae mais aux Herpetostrongylidae (Heligmosomoidea). En plus des trois genres ici reconnus, neuf autres genres de Nippostrongylinae sont présents en Nouvelle Guinée : Equilophos, Hasanuddinia, Hasegawanema, Hughjonestrongylus, Lesleyella, Macrostrongylus, Nippostrongylus, Parasabanema et Sanduanensis. Plusieurs espèces attribuées aux genres Bunomystrongylus, Chisholmia, Odilia et Sabanema sont insuffisamment décrites et leur assignation au niveau générique n'a pas pu être rectifiée ou ratifiée. Jusqu'à ce que des descriptions plus complètes soient apportées, le statut taxonomique de ces derniers genres chez des Rongeurs de Nouvelle Guinée reste incertain.

Papuamicrus gen. n., a new genus of Cephenniini from New Guinea (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scydmaeninae).

A new genus of Cephenniini, Papuamicrus gen. n. (type species Papuamicrus globosus sp. n.) is described based on specimens collected in Papua New Guinea. The new genus belongs to the Cephennomicrus group of genera and is characterized by a highly reductive morphology of the dorsum, lacking pronotal pits and elytral foveae, but having uniquely shaped prosternal and mesoventral processes and a highly unusual for Cephenniini aedeagal structure with a basal lentiform sclerotization situated at middle of a small diaphragm shifted to the basal surface of the median lobe. Updated identification key to the world genera of Cephenniini is given to accommodate the new taxon.

Infección por Salmonella enterica subespecie salamae en un paciente ecuatoguineano consumidor de carne de tortuga / Salmonella enterica subspecies salamae infection in a patient from Equatorial Guinea associated with consumption of reptile meat

No disponible

Paragonimus worm from a New Guinea native in 1926

OBJECTIVE@#To reobserve and research the specimen of Paragonimus worm found in the left lung of a New Guinea native in 1926, which was previously identified as Paragonimus westermani Kerbert or Paragonimus ringeri Cobbold.@*METHODS@#Using reconstructive software and microscopy to observe some organs of the worm, and compared with other species of paragonimus.@*RESULTS@#The three dimensional (3D) views of ovary and two testes of New Guinea specimen showed that the ovary was clearly divided into six lobes. These two testes were situated oppositely in the body. One teste was divided into four branches, while another was divided into five. The cuticular spines were arranged in groups over the entire skin covered in a slide, each group was consisted of two to four single spine.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Based on 3D views and measurements, we reclassified it as Paragonimus siamensis. This was also the first report of human case infected by Paragonimus siamensis.

A Case of Chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium vivax Malaria Imported from Indonesia / 감염과화학요법

Resistance of falciparum malaria to antimalarial agents is prevalent in many areas, whereas chloroquine-resistant vivax malaria has been reported mainly around New Guinea since 1989. Concomitant with the spread of chloroquine-resistant P. vivax and increase in number of international travelers, imported cases of chloroquine-resistant vivax malaria in travelers returning from these areas has been reported. We experienced a case of chloroquine resistance P. vivax infection imported from Mangole Island, Indonesia. Its origin is confirmed not to be indigenous by the gene encoding analysis for the polymorphic region of apical membrane antigen-1 in P. vivax. Gene sequencing of the P. vivax mdr1 gene revealed only one substitution located at the codon 1076 (F1076L). The case was managed with oral quinidine with successful outcomes.

A Case of Chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium vivax Malaria Imported from Indonesia / 감염과화학요법

Resistance of falciparum malaria to antimalarial agents is prevalent in many areas, whereas chloroquine-resistant vivax malaria has been reported mainly around New Guinea since 1989. Concomitant with the spread of chloroquine-resistant P. vivax and increase in number of international travelers, imported cases of chloroquine-resistant vivax malaria in travelers returning from these areas has been reported. We experienced a case of chloroquine resistance P. vivax infection imported from Mangole Island, Indonesia. Its origin is confirmed not to be indigenous by the gene encoding analysis for the polymorphic region of apical membrane antigen-1 in P. vivax. Gene sequencing of the P. vivax mdr1 gene revealed only one substitution located at the codon 1076 (F1076L). The case was managed with oral quinidine with successful outcomes.

Classic slow virus diseases

Two human disease, kuru and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and two animal diseases, scrapie and mink encephalopathy, comprise the group designated the subacute spongiform encephalopathies. Studies on these four classic conditions have generated a new philosophy, new concepts, and new technology that provide a basis for the study of chronic diseases and latent infections of man and animals. These aspects are discussed more broadly and in variable detail in the references listed on the following page (Au)

Comparative immunological recognition of proteins from New Guinea "C" dengue virus type 2 prototype and from a dengue virus type 2 strain isolated in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The protein profiles of the New Guinea "C" dengue virus type 2 (DENV-2)prototype and those of a Brazilian DENV-2 isolated in the State of Rio de Janeiro in 1995 were compared. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that the virus from Rio de Janeiro expresses NS5 (93.0 kDa), NS3 (66.8 kDa) E (62.4 kDa) and NS1 (41.2 kDa) proteins differently from the New Guinea "C" virus. The immunoblot revealed specificity and antigenicity for the NS3 protein from DENV-2 Rio de Janeiro mainly in primary infections, convalescent cases, and in secondary infections in both cases and only antigenicity for E and NS1 proteins for both viruses in primary and secondary infections

Classic slow virus diseases

Two human disease, kuru and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and two animal diseases, scrapie and mink encephalopathy, comprise the group designated the subacute spongiform encephalopathies. Studies on these four classic conditions have generated a new philosophy, new concepts, and new technology that provide a basis for the study of chronic diseases and latent infections of man and animals. These aspects are discussed more broadly and in variable detail in the references listed on the following page (Au)

Border testimonials: patterns of AIDS awareness across the island of New Guinea

This paper compares and contrasts two similar sets of data about AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) and AIDS awareness from the island of New Guinea. The goal of this comparison is to show that state policies and values can dramatically affect personal knowledge about safer sexual practices. One set was collected in 2001 in the Indonesian province of Papua, which is home to indigenous Papuans and many inmigrating Indonesians. The second set was collected in 1991-1992 in the independent state of Papua New Guinea (PNG). Papuans and Papua New Guineans share many sexual beliefs and cultural practices and have experienced similar effects of modernization, but we show that there are marked differences in public knowledge about AIDS and condoms. In general, Papuan respondents know less about condoms and use them less frequently than their PNG counterparts. We argue that a colonial form of government in Papua makes it more difficult to design culturally appropriate and effective programs.

Comparison of dengue-2 and dengue-3 virus strains by neutralization tests and identification of a subtype of dengue-3

Strains of dengue-2 and dengue-3 viruses of diverse geographic origins including southeast Asia, the Caribbean region, and Tahati were compared by plaque-reduction neutralisation tests with hyperimmune-mouse asctic fluids and human convalescent sera. The dengue-2 strains all appeared similar. The dengue-3 strains from the Caribbean and from Tahiti were similar to each other and differed significantly from the southeast Asian strains. A subtype of dengue-3 was defined (AU)

Estudos de intervençäo sobre vacinaçäo BCG em hanseníase: uma análise comparativa / Trial studies about BCG vaccination against leprosy: a comparative analysis

De um total de 468 trabalhos publicados sobre BCG e Hanseníase, os autores selecionaram três trabalhos realizados em Uganda, Nova Guiné e Birmânia, para análise comaprativa. Foram estudados segundo populaçäo de referência; de estudo; critérios de participaçäo e locaçäo; programas oferecidos aos participantes e avaliaçäo. Encontrou-se uma eficácia que variou de 20 a 80 por cento. Diferenças metodológicas na escolha de populaçöes (referência/estudo) e/ou critérios (participaçäo/locaçäo/avaliaçäo) poderiam, entre outras causas, contribuir para explicar as diferentes eficácias encontradas

Hyperreflexia and spastic paralysis among New Caledonian leprosy patients

A survey on New Caledonia confirmed the occurrence of a previously reported syndrome of spastic paralysis among leprosy patients. Of 18 patients recorded as having frank spastic paraplegia, seven were examined neurologically, as well as 51 other patients with leprosy but not spastic paralysis, and 23 patients with tuberculosis. Significant hyperreflexia was fairly common among both Melanesian and European leprosy patients, but was totally absent among tuberculosis patients. This syndrome was clinically unrelated to foci of neurologic disease previously reported in the Pacific Basin on Guam, the Kii Peninsula of Japan, and New Guinea. It is probably more closely related to diseases reported in other parts of the world that are generally regarded as nutritional or toxic in origin. The syndrome is possibly related to sulfone treatment of leprosy, although this has not been reported in other areas of the world where sulfones are used in the treatment of leprosy.(AU)

Superior orbital fissure syndrome in a latent type 2 diabetic patient

@#Although isolated cranial nerve palsies are common in diabetic patients, multiple, simultaneous cranial neuropathies are rare. We describe the second case of a complete superior orbital fissure syndrome including the optic nerve in a middle-aged Papuan man with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus. The differential diagnosis included septic cavernous sinus thrombosis and Tolosa Hunt syndrome, and management was initially directed at excluding these serious, treatable conditions.

Management of vascular trauma in a provincial hospital

@#Three cases of major vessel injuries referred to Mendi Hospital during 1993-1994 are reported. All three vessels were repaired successfully. The surgical management of these cases is described.