Epidemiological and molecular data on heterophyid trematode metacercariae found in the muscle of grey mullets (Osteichthyes: Mugilidae) from Sardinia (western Mediterranean Sea).

This study is a contribution to the molecular taxonomy and epidemiology of heterophyid (Trematoda: Heterophyidae) metacercariae found in the muscle of Mugilidae (Osteichthyes) from Sardinia (western Mediterranean Sea). Sixty specimens of mugilids (13 Chelon labrosus, 18 Liza aurata, 6 Liza ramada, 8 Liza saliens, 15 Mugil cephalus) were examined and 17,899 metacercariae isolated in 95 % of the hosts. Four types of metacercariae were identified: Heterophyes sp. (n = 14,113), Heterophyes sp. -small (1225), Stictodora sp. (1606), and Ascocotyle (Phagicola) sp. (955). The experimental infection of a hamster with Heterophyes sp. metacercariae produced six adults identified as Heterophyes heterophyes and two as Heterophyes cf. nocens. The morphology of Heterophyes sp. -small metacercariae matched with that of Heterophyes dispar. The sequence analysis of the ITS2 and 28S portions of rDNA confirmed the morphological identification of metacercariae, showing four clusters. All adults grouped together with the Heterophyes sp. metacercariae, whereas adults of Heterophyes nocens from Korea clustered separately, showing that this species is distinguished from H. heterophyes, and suggesting caution in the exclusive use of the number of rodlets of the genital sucker to separate the two species. The presence of metacercariae was high in all hosts; the highest prevalence is of Heterophyes sp. (prevalence ≥78 %; mean intensity ≥135 metacercariae/100 g muscle), and the most heavily infected host is M. cephalus (prevalence = 100 %; mean intensity = 841 metacercariae/100 g muscle).

New cellulose-supported reagent: a sustainable approach to guanidines.

[reaction: see text] A new cellulose-supported reagent for the synthesis of guanidine in aqueous medium is reported starting from commercially available functionalized cellulose beads. Primary and secondary amines, anilines, and amino acids were transformed to the corresponding guanidines in high yields and under very mild conditions.

Trichloroisocyanuric/TEMPO oxidation of alcohols under mild conditions: a close investigation.

Efficient oxidation of primary alcohols to the corresponding carboxylic acids can be carried out at room temperature and in acetone/water, using trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) in the presence of catalytic TEMPO. The mild conditions of this procedure and the total absence of any transition metal make this reaction suitable for safe laboratory use. A possible mechanism is presented and discussed.