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Sucking lice live in intimate association with their hosts and often display a high degree of host specificity. The present study investigated sucking lice of the genus Lemurpediculus from six mouse lemur (Microcebus) and two dwarf lemur (Cheirogaleus) species endemic to the island of Madagascar, considered a biodiversity hotspot. Louse phylogenetic trees were created based on cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COI), elongation factor 1α (EF1α) and internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) sequences. While clustering according to host species was generally observed for COI and ITS1, suggesting high host specificity of the examined lice, EF1α sequences alone did not distinguish between lice of different Microcebus species, possibly due to rather recent divergence. As bootstrap support for basal tree structure was rather low, further data are necessary to resolve the evolutionary history of louse-mouse lemur associations. Three new species of sucking lice are described: Lemurpediculus zimmermanni sp. Nov. From Microcebus ravelobensis , Lemurpediculus gerpi sp.nov. from Microcebus gerpi , and Lemurpediculus tsimanampesotsae sp. nov. from Microcebus griseorufus. These new species are compared with all known congeneric species and identifying features are illustrated for all known species of Lemurpediculus. [Display omitted] • Sucking lice (Lemurpediculus spp.) from mouse and dwarf lemurs were studied. • Louse phylogenies were created based on three loci (COI, EF1α, ITS1). • Results suggest a high host specificity of sucking lice from mouse and dwarf lemurs. • Three new Lemurpediculus species are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detection of severe limb malformations in metamorphosing northern leopard frogs (Rana pipiens) from a Colorado pond in August 2022 prompted questions about the cause(s) and concern over the implications. Northern leopard frogs, which are a Tier 1 Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Colorado, have declined over much of their range in the state, particularly along the Front Range. Although malformations in amphibians have been reported in other parts of the USA, they are rare in Colorado, and the current case represents the most severe hotspot reported in the state for over 70 years. Across three survey events in late summer and early fall of 2022, approximately 68% of captured leopard frogs (late-stage larvae and metamorphic frogs) exhibited one or more malformations. Malformations exclusively affected the hind limbs and were dominated by skin webbings (51.7% of the total), bony triangles (32.2%), and extra limbs or digits (11%). Many animals had multiple malformations that limited the movement of one or both limbs (average of 2.3 malformations per malformed frog). Dissection of a subset of animals coupled with 28S rDNA genetic sequencing revealed the occurrence of the trematode Ribeiroia ondatrae at an average of 75.2 trematode cysts (metacercariae) per frog. The parasite was also detected in 2.6% of dissected snails (Helisoma trivolvis), which function as the trematode's first intermediate host. The relatively high loads of infection detected here – coupled with the similarity of observed malformations to those previously linked to R. ondatrae in experimental studies and from other malformation hotspots in the USA – offer compelling evidence that the current case is the result of parasite infection. Unresolved questions include why malformation prevalence was so high in 2022 and the degree to which such abnormalities will affect population persistence for local leopard frogs, particularly if malformations continue. [Display omitted] • We investigated a case of mass malformations in declining leopard frogs from Colorado. • Seventy percent of frogs exhibited skin webbings, bony triangles, or extra limbs. • Morphological and genetic analysis confirmed infection by Ribeiroia ondatrae. • Similarity of malformations with those from experiments suggest R. ondatrae as the cause. • We discuss the implications and potential contributing factors for the current case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We aimed to characterize the urinary microbiome of catheterizing patients with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) and to evaluate differences based on type of bladder management or frequency of urinary tract infections. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective, cross-sectional study of urine samples from asymptomatic, catheterizing patients with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction who used either clean intermittent catheterization or indwelling catheters. Patients without symptoms of urinary tract infection provided a catheterized urine sample for urinalysis, culture and bacterial community microbiome analysis. Results: A total of 95 patients submitted urine for analysis, of whom 69 had sufficient sequence reads (>1,203) for microbiome analysis. Cases with low bacterial signal amplification were associated with use of vaginal estrogen, no intradetrusor botulinum toxin A use and no growth on standard urine culture. The most abundant operational taxonomic units were from the phylum Proteobacteria, classified as Enterobacteriaceae and Escherichia. Alpha diversity varied among those who used indwelling catheters vs clean intermittent catheterization, and those who underwent botulinum toxin A injection vs not. On linear discriminate analysis, the relative abundance of the operational taxonomic units identified as Pseudomonas was higher among patients using indwelling catheters relative to clean intermittent catheterization. The operational taxonomic unit identified as Aerococcus was at a higher relative abundance among males compared to females. Conclusions: Enterobacteriaceae and Escherichia were the most abundant genera in the urinary microbiome of patients with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction. Urinary microbiome diversity varied based on bladder management type. Future clinical correlations between microbiome of neurogenic patients and clinical presentation may help guide treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From November 2016 to October 2020, 14 adult southern short-tailed shrews, Blarina carolinensis (Bachman), were collected from Arkansas (n = 10) and Oklahoma (n = 4) and examined for parasites. All were infected and/or infested with various endo- and ectoparasites, including 3 trematodes (Brachylaima thompsoni, Ectosiphonus rhomboideus, Panopistus pricei), a cestode (Cryptocotylepis anthocephalus), 2 nematodes (Longistriata caudabullata and larval Porrocaecum sp.), an acanthocephalan cystacanth (Centrorhynchus conspectus), 3 mites (Olistrophorus blarina, Echinonyssus blarinae, and Prowichmannia cf. spinifera), and a tick (Ixodes scapularis). In addition, an epifaunistic beetle (Leptinus americanus) was found on 1 of the B. carolinensis collected. We document a new host and 9 new distributional records, and the first records of helminth parasites from any shrew from Arkansas or Oklahoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]