Genetic identification of an unknown Rhagoletis fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) infesting Chinese crabapple: implications for apple pest management.

The apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is a serious introduced quarantine pest in the apple (Malus spp.)-growing regions of central Washington and Oregon. In August 2011, seven fly larvae of unknown origin were discovered infesting fruit of an exotic Chinese crabapple, Malus spectabilis (Aiton) Borkhausen, in Kennewick, Benton County, WA. If confirmed, Chinese crabapple would have represented a new host for R. pomonella in Washington and triggered quarantine measures in a surrounding three-county region of the state. Here, we establish, based on five microsatellite loci, the identity of the crabapple-infesting larvae as the western cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis indifferens Curran, representing a new host record for the fly. Morphological analysis of six flies reared to adulthood confirmed the genetic identification. The results demonstrate the utility of integrating rapid genetic identification methods with field surveys of economic pests, which decreased detection times by months, and avoided enacting costly quarantine measures that saved local and federal bodies > US$0.5 million in monitoring, inspection, and control costs. We discuss current ongoing efforts to develop rapid, accurate, and inexpensive on site DNA-based detection tools for R. pomonella that would have general applicability for the control of pest insects.

Treatment of depression in individuals living with HIV/AIDS.

BACKGROUND: Depression is common in patients with HIV/AIDS, and can have an impact on quality of life, as well as various health outcomes. This study was designed to observe the efficacy of standard treatment of depression in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (+) individuals in an urban psychiatric clinic. METHODS: This study consisted of a retrospective chart review of patients presenting for psychiatric services between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2010. A total of 211 charts were examined for factors including diagnosis given at initial visit, health status, sociodemographic factors and comorbid illnesses, as well as treatment plan prescribed; of these, 132 patients were determined to be depressed at the initial evaluation (Beck Depression Inventory (BDI> 13) and to return for at least one follow-up visit. RESULTS: Of the 132 depressed patients, 48 (36.4%) reached remission (BDI <13) at some point at follow-up, and an additional 12 (50.7%) achieved response (decrease in BDI of 50%). Remission correlated with having disability income and having a viral load that was not detectable. CONCLUSIONS: Depression is common in HIV/AIDS, and is important to treat. Furthermore, individuals with depression and HIV/AIDS respond at rates similar to what is seen in other depressed populations.