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The recognition of the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) as a potential global threat to sea turtle eggs represents yet another instance of an emerging fungal infection impacting wildlife. Traditionally, culturing has been used to identify fungi associated with sea turtle eggs. Since culturing recovers only a subset of environmental microbes, a molecular approach was adopted instead to survey the fungal composition inside unhatched eggs. DNA was directly extracted from the embryonic fluid and biofilms in 73 fully incubated unhatched loggerhead sea turtle eggs collected from different regions of Jekyll Island, GA, USA, in 2010 and 2012. The fungal internal transcribed spacer region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS nrDNA) was amplified from the DNA samples, and ITS products were cloned, sequenced and subjected to phylogenetic analysis. Sequences corresponded to previously cultivated fungi and were dominated by the FSSC members Fusarium falciforme and F. keratoplasticum. These fungi were consistently detected in unhatched eggs throughout Jekyll Island during each nesting year examined. Fusarium falciforme and F. keratoplasticum ITS sequences were nearly identical to isolates implicated in causing disease in sea turtle embryos from Ascension Island, Australia, Central America and Cape Verde. This represents the first survey establishing these fungal groups in North American loggerhead eggs and provides confirmation of the widespread distribution of F. falciforme and F. keratoplasticum using a novel approach. As we begin to meet conservation goals of species recovery, density-dependent management issues such as emerging fungal infections become a growing concern. Assessing the long-term impacts of Fusarium may be a rising priority.

Background: The present study examined the effects of repeating questions in interviews investigating the possible sexual abuse of children and youths who had a variety of intellectual disabilities. We predicted that the repetition of option-posing and suggestive questions would lead the suspected victims to change their responses, making it difficult to understand what actually happened. Inconsistency can be a key factor when assessing the reliability of witnesses. Materials: Case files and transcripts of investigative interviews with 33 children and youths who had a variety of intellectual disabilities were obtained from prosecutors in Sweden. The interviews involved 25 females and 9 males whose chronological ages were between 5.4 and 23.7 years when interviewed (M = 13.2 years). Results: Six per cent of the questions were repeated at least once. The repetition of focused questions raised doubts about the reports because the interviewees changed their answers 40% of the time. Conclusions: Regardless of the witnesses' abilities, it is important to obtain reports that are as accurate and complete as possible in investigative interviews. Because this was a field study, we did not know which responses were accurate, but repetitions of potentially contaminating questions frequently led the interviewees to contradict their earlier answers. This means that the interviewers' behaviour diminished the usefulness of the witnesses' testimony.

Background: We predicted that repeated interviewing would improve the informativeness of children with intellectual disabilities who were questioned in criminal investigations. Materials: The chronological ages of the 19 children, involved in 20 cases, ranged between 4.7 and 18 years (M = 10.3 years) at the time of the first alleged abuse. Method: The utterances used by interviewers to elicit information in both initial and later interviews were examined. We then assessed the substantive information provided in both interviews and compared information elicited using focused questions in the initial interview with responses about the same topic elicited using open questions in the second interview. Results: The hypothesis was supported: over 80% of the information reported in the repeated interviews was about completely new topics or was new information elaborating upon previously discussed topics. However, because the interviewing techniques were so poor in both first and second interviews, information provided in the repeated interviews may have been contaminated irrespective of the children's capacities. Conclusion: When children with intellectual disabilities are given a second chance to provide information about their abuse, they can further develop the information that they report and even provide entirely new information about their experiences. When interviewers are not specially trained in how to interview children with intellectual disabilities, we cannot assume that repeated interviews provide reliable and accurate information, however.

Background: When interviewing alleged victims of crime, it is important to obtain reports that are as accurate and complete as possible. This can be especially difficult when the alleged victims have intellectual disabilities (ID). This study explored how alleged victims with ID are interviewed by police officers in Sweden and how this may affect their ability to report information as accurately as possible. Methods: Twelve interviews with 11 alleged victims were selected from a larger sample. The complainants were interviewed when their chronological ages ranged from 6.1 to 22 years. A quantitative analysis examined the type of questions asked and the numbers of words and details they elicited in response. Results: Instead of open-ended questions, the interviewers relied heavily on focused questions, which are more likely to elicit inaccurate information. When given the opportunity, the witnesses were able to answer directive questions informatively. Conclusions: Interviewers need special skills in order to interview alleged victims who have ID. In addition to using more open-ended questions, interviewers should speak in shorter sentences.