Trap-nesting biology of an ectoparasitoid spider wasp, Auplopus subaurarius (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae): the importance of wooded environments for niche generalist species.

The insect group is one of the most diverse on the planet and due to habitat degradation, many of these species are becoming extinct, leaving a lack of information on the basic biology of each one. In this study, previously unseen information about nesting biology is revealed in Auplopus subaurarius trap nests. This is a solitary ectoparasitoid spider wasp that nests in preexisting cavities. We used a trap-nesting methodology to sample A. subaurarius in two different sampling periods (2017/2018 and 2020/2021) in three types of environment (forest, grassland and Eucalyptus plantation). In our study, the A. subaurarius nest building was more frequent during the hottest months of the year (November to March), with its highest abundance found within natural forest areas and in Eucalyptus plantation than in grassland areas. In addition, the species had two development times: a short one (three months) and a delayed one (up to one year). Moreover, females were larger than males (weight and size) and the species' sex ratio had a tendency toward female production. Auplopus subaurarius presented seven natural enemy species: Ceyxia longispina, Caenochrysis crotonis, Photochryptus sp.1, Photochryptus sp.2, Messatoporus sp., Ephuta icema and Sphaeropthalma sp. We emphasize the importance of wooded environments to maintain the A. subaurarius populations and their associated interactors, both spiders and natural enemies, as these environments can provide better life conditions than grassland areas. Furthermore, other solitary wasps that may have the same lifestyle of A. subaurarius can also be improved by natural forest conservation and by good silviculture plantation planning, which should consider ecological aspects of Atlantic Forest landscapes.

West Nile virus infection and serologic response among persons previously vaccinated against yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis viruses.

It is hypothesized that previous heterologous flaviviral exposure may modulate clinical illness among persons infected with West Nile virus (WNV). Little is known about the serological response in such persons. In summer 2003, a WNV outbreak occurred in Colorado, the location of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases (DVBID). DVBID employees, most previously vaccinated with yellow fever virus (YFV) or Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) vaccines, were studied to determine whether previous vaccination affected symptom development among those subsequently infected with WNV during the outbreak, as well as their serological response. Serum samples collected in December 2003 and previously banked samples were tested using the plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) against WNV, Saint Louis encephalitis virus, dengue- 4 virus, JEV, and YFV. Specimens shown to have WNV antibody by PRNT were tested by IgM and IgG enzymelinked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Ten (9%) of 113 serosurvey participants had WNV neutralizing antibody titers in December 2003. PRNT titers from previous specimens showed that one of the ten had seroconverted to WNV before 2003. Of the remaining nine participants, seven reported illness in the summer of 2003, two of which were unvaccinated and five previously vaccinated. In the December 2003 specimens, five persons previously unvaccinated or vaccinated only against YFV had a fourfold or greater neutralizing titer with WNV than with other flaviviruses, whereas no persons previously vaccinated against JEV or JEV and YFV showed a similar difference in neutralizing titers. Eight of nine persons infected in 2003 had negative or indeterminate WNV MAC-ELISA results in the December 2003 sample; the ninth person was vaccinated against YFV one month previously, and was also YFV positive by MAC-ELISA. We conclude that previous flaviviral vaccination does not markedly affect the development of WNV fever and that the IgM antibody response in patients without neuroinvasive WNV disease is transient.

Long-term results of kidney staghorn stone treatment with percutaneous nephrolithotripsy and extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy.

Between January 1988 and December 1990, 210 staghorn stones were treated in 185 patients with combination of percutaneous nephrolithotripsy and extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy. A total number of 105 patients (110 renal units) were controlled with a mean follow-up of at least 16 months after the last ESWL procedure. Of these, 77 renal units (70.0%) were stone free, 11 (10.0%) had stone particles less than 5 mm in largest diameter and 22 renal units (20.0%) had stone particles larger than 5 mm.

Use of a PCNL set for urinary stone removal from ureter, bladder and urethra.

A technique of urinary stone removal from ureter, bladder and urethra by means of a PCNL set is described. Results are excellent and the procedure seems to be simple.

Endopyelotomy for ureteropelvic junction stenosis.

The authors review their experience with percutaneous endopyelotomy in the treatment of ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) stenosis. The method was used in 64 patients of whom 59 had also renal stones. There was only one patient with secondary UPJ stenosis following pyeloplasty. The total success rate was 61%. It is pointed out that the results depend in a great part on the skill of the surgeon.

[Ormond's disease: difficulties with diagnosis and treatment]. / Choroba Ormonda--trudnosci diagnostyczne i lecznicze.

A case of a female patient is presented. The patient was treated for retroperitoneal fasciitis. An emphasis is on the diagnostic, differential, and therapeutic problems in this entity. Close cooperation of various specialists is needed in such a case.

[Macroscopic painless hematuria in urologic neoplasms]. / Makroskopowy krwiomocz bezbólowy w nowotworach ukladu moczowego.

A group of 100 patients with urinary system tumours and asymptomatic macroscopic haematuria in the past were analysed retrospectively. The analysis showed that the time between the appearance of macroscopic haematuria and the final diagnosis and treatment was from 18 to 560 days. The authors suggest ultrasonographic examination and urography in each case of macroscopic haematuria, and possibly early referral of the case to specialist in urology.

The effect of avermectins on feeding, salivary fluid secretion, and fecundity in some ixodid ticks.

We tested the effects of the potent acaricides, avermectin B1a (AVM) and 22,23-dihydroavermectin B1 (ivermectin; IVM) when injected directly into partially fed and fully engorged female ticks. When injected into small ticks (Amblyomma hebraeum Koch), neither drug (up to 100 micrograms/kg b.w.) inhibited subsequent engorgement nor affected oviposition latency, weight of total egg mass laid nor viability of laid eggs. At higher concentrations (1000 and 5000 micrograms/kg b.w.), AVM and IVM were markedly toxic. When injected into engorged ticks, both drugs increased oviposition latency, and reduced fecundity at about 75-100 micrograms/kg b.w. Vitellogenesis, as assessed by a spectrophotometric assay of the ovaries, was not inhibited. Also at 50-100 micrograms/kg b.w., AVM and IVM caused paralysis of the abdominal dorso-ventral muscles and the leg muscles. Both drugs, at 7 days post-injection, proved detrimental to salivary gland function in both small and large ticks, but had little effect on salivary gland weight. At concentrations which did not inhibit oviposition (20-50 micrograms/kg b.w.) many of the eggs dried out even though they were kept at high RH. We then demonstrated in Amblyomma americanum, Dermacentor andersoni and D. albipictus that removal of egg wax (by extraction with hexane) induced a marked increase in water permeability. IVM neither increased water permeability of D. andersoni eggs nor diminished the amount of egg wax deposited on the surface of the eggs, when injected posteriorly through the alloscutum. However, injection of IVM, dimethylsulphoxide (vehicle for IVM) or distilled water through the articulation between the capitulum and scutum ('anterior injection'), did markedly reduce the wax coating and increased egg permeability. We suggest that anterior injection damages Gené's organ and thus causes the latter effects.