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Background: Vietnam and its region are regarded as an ixodid tick biodiversity hotspot for at least two genera: Haemaphysalis and Dermacentor. To contribute to our knowledge on the tick fauna of this country, ticks from these two genera as well as an Ixodes species were analyzed morphologically and their molecular-phylogenetic relationships were examined in taxonomic and geographical contexts. Methods: For this study, seven Haemaphysalis sp. ticks were removed from dogs and collected from the vegetation. These showed morphological differences from congeneric species known to occur in Vietnam. In addition, three Ixodes sp. ticks were collected from pygmy slow lorises (Xanthonycticebus pygmaeus), and a Dermacentor female had been previously collected from the vegetation. After DNA extraction, these were molecularly or phylogenetically analyzed based on the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) and 16S rRNA genes. Results: The three species were morphologically identified as (i) Ixodes granulatus, which had nearly or exactly 100% sequence identities to conspecific ticks reported from large (approximately 2000 km) geographical distances but was more different (having lower, only 94.2% cox1 and 96.7% 16S rRNA sequence identity) from samples collected within 1000 km of Vietnam in Southern China and Malaysia, respectively; (ii) Haemaphysalis bispinosa, which showed 100% sequence identity to samples reported within both narrow and broad geographical ranges; and (iii) a new species, Dermacentor pseudotamokensis Hornok sp. nov., described here morphologically and shown to be phylogenetically a sister species to Dermacentor tamokensis. Conclusions: Haemaphysalis bispinosa shows genetic homogeneity in the whole of South and Southeast Asia, probably owing to its frequent association with domestic ruminants and dogs (i.e. frequently transported hosts). However, I. granulatus, the Asian rodent tick, has a mixed geographical pattern of haplotypes, probably because it may associate with either synanthropic or wild-living rodents as primary hosts. This tick species is recorded here, for the first time to our knowledge, as parasitizing lorises in Vietnam and its region. Based on phylogenetic analyses, D. pseudotamokensis Hornok sp. nov., recognized and described here for the first time, was almost certainly misidentified previously as Dermacentor steini, drawing attention to the need to barcode all Dermacentor spp. in Southern Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the diversity and function of fish gut microbiomes has advanced substantially, yet many aspects remain poorly understood, particularly the interplay among microbiota, host species, and environmental factors in the context of conservation. This review explores the composition and abundance of gut bacterial communities in key aquaculture fish groups—cyprinids, ictalurids (catfish), salmonids, and cichlids (tilapia)—alongside the model organism zebrafish, across diverse geographic regions. The findings highlight environmental habitats and host species as primary determinants of gut microbiome structure, offering a global perspective on these microbial communities. Across all fish groups, the phyla Firmicutes, Fusobacteria, and Proteobacteria consistently dominated, while temperate, sub-equatorial, and sub-tropical regions exhibited the highest microbiome diversity, underscoring the contribution of taxonomic and environmental factors. The gut bacterial diversity of farm-raised fish shows a significant divergence from that of wild-caught fish, reflecting the impacts of ecological and management differences. Understanding the dynamic responses of fish gut microbiota is vital for guiding conservation efforts, safeguarding aquatic biodiversity, and advancing sustainable aquaculture practices. Future research should leverage innovative techniques and integrative approaches, both experimental and theoretical, to uncover the functional roles of microbiomes and predict their responses to environmental changes. Expanding geographic and taxonomic coverage will be critical for creating a comprehensive framework to inform global aquaculture and conservation strategies. Collectively, this perspective highlights the transformative potential of microbiome research in addressing global challenges in aquaculture and conservation biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Asian seed beetles Megabruchidius dorsalis (Fåhraeus, 1839) and M. tonkineus (Pic, 1904) (Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) are reported from several new localities in Bulgaria. These species successfully established in the country, but M. dorsalis appears to be more common and more abundant than M. tonkineus. Four parasitoid species of the superfamily Chalcidoidea - Eupelmus confusus Al khatib, 2015, E. urozonus Dalman, 1820 (Eupelmidae), Cyrtoptyx lichtensteini (Masi, 1922) and Dinarmus acutus (Thomson, 1878) (Pteromalidae) were reared from pods or seeds of Gleditsia triacanthos L. (Fabaceae) inhabited by M. dorsalis. The associations of C. lichtensteini and E. urozonus with M. dorsalis are newly recorded. The pteromalid species C. lichtensteini is reported for the first time from Bulgaria.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) act as intermediaries between the root systems of host plants and the surrounding soil, offering various benefits to medicinal plants, such as promoting growth and enhancing quality. However, the host range of AMF in medicinal plants and the characteristics of plant–AMF networks in farmland ecosystems remain insufficiently studied. In the present study, we measured AMF colonization, species diversity, and soil properties of 31 medicinal plants at the Anguo Medicine Planting Base in Northwest China. The medicinal plant–AMF network was subsequently analyzed, and the growth-promoting effects of AMF on Astragalus mongholicus were examined. Spore density, species richness, and total colonization exhibited significant variation across different medicinal plant species. Glomus melanosporum, G. claroideum, and Septoglomus constrictum were the dominant species among 61 AMF species. Soil organic matter, phosphatase, available nitrogen, and glomalin-related soil proteins (GRSPs) were the main factors affecting the AMF composition. Structural equation models and a variation partitioning analysis suggested a highly plant species-specific pattern of AMF distribution patterns, where the host identities explained 61.4% of changes in spore density and 48.2% of AMF colonization. The soil nutrient availability and phosphatase activity also influenced AMF colonization. Our results confirmed glomalin as an important contributor to the soil carbon in farmland for cultivating medicinal plants. The medicinal plant–AMF symbiotic network exhibited highly nested patterns, a low specialized structure, high connectance, and low modularity, which suggested saturated AMF colonization and symbiosis stability provided by redundant plant–AMF associations. Despite the wide host range among medicinal plants, AMF inoculation revealed species-specific effects on the growth performance and active ingredient content levels in A. mongholicus, G. claroideum and Sep. constrictum induced the highest biomass and active ingredient content accumulation in A. mongholicus. These findings advance our understanding of AMF community dynamics in the rhizosphere of medicinal plants and offer valuable insights for optimizing medicinal plant cultivation practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pine stem rust, the most damaging and widespread forest disease occurring in pine trees in the Northern Hemisphere, is primarily caused by Cronartium species (Pucciniales, Melampsorineae). While the phylogenetic relationships of major Cronartium species have been largely elucidated, there is limited understanding of their species diversity and the evolutionary processes shaping their distribution patterns. In this work, we performed broad sampling and sequencing of Cronartium taxa in China together with additional sequence data and other accessions in NCBI to investigate the diversification and to estimate the divergence time of major evolutionary events in this genus. Molecular dating analysis suggested that the divergence of the genus Cronartium probably was around 91.78 Ma during the Upper Cretaceous. It is believed that Cronartium species may have originated in Asia and North America, with intercontinental dispersals occurring primarily during the Middle Eocene, Middle Miocene, and Pliocene. These dispersal events likely took place through the North Atlantic Land Bridge, the De Geer Route, and the Bering Land Bridge, and subsequently diverged through sporadic dispersal and vicariance events. Furthermore, our analysis of host associations revealed that the diversification of Cronartium species was correlated with their telial‐hosts, and some species may have experienced host jump events, indicating a complex interplay between host specificity and pathogen–host interaction during Cronartium evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the diversity and function of fish gut microbiomes has advanced substantially, yet many aspects remain poorly understood, particularly the interplay among microbiota, host species, and environmental factors in the context of conservation. This review explores the composition and abundance of gut bacterial communities in key aquaculture fish groups—cyprinids, ictalurids (catfish), salmonids, and cichlids (tilapia)—alongside the model organism zebrafish, across diverse geographic regions. The findings highlight environmental habitats and host species as primary determinants of gut microbiome structure, offering a global perspective on these microbial communities. Across all fish groups, the phyla Firmicutes, Fusobacteria, and Proteobacteria consistently dominated, while temperate, sub-equatorial, and sub-tropical regions exhibited the highest microbiome diversity, underscoring the contribution of taxonomic and environmental factors. The gut bacterial diversity of farm-raised fish shows a significant divergence from that of wild-caught fish, reflecting the impacts of ecological and management differences. Understanding the dynamic responses of fish gut microbiota is vital for guiding conservation efforts, safeguarding aquatic biodiversity, and advancing sustainable aquaculture practices. Future research should leverage innovative techniques and integrative approaches, both experimental and theoretical, to uncover the functional roles of microbiomes and predict their responses to environmental changes. Expanding geographic and taxonomic coverage will be critical for creating a comprehensive framework to inform global aquaculture and conservation strategies. Collectively, this perspective highlights the transformative potential of microbiome research in addressing global challenges in aquaculture and conservation biology.

Chalcidoidea is a hyperdiverse superfamily of mostly small, parasitoid wasps of which 14 families and at least 422 species have been recorded from Greece. In the present study, additional distributional data from Greece is provided for Brachymeria rugulosa (Forster, 1859) and Brachymeria tibialis (Walker, 1834). Furthermore, Brachymeria podagrica (Fabricius, 1787) and Monodontomerus obscurus Westwood, 1833 are recorded for the first time from Greece. As well, a new host gall species for B. rugulosa is noted and the presence of Brachymeria inermis (Fonscolombe, 1840) is briefly discussed. Finally, a checklist for the genera Brachymeria (Hymenoptera, Chalcididae) and Monodontomerus (Hymenoptera, Torymidae) is compiled.

We record for the first time from the Galapagos Islands the species Eupelmus pulchriceps (Cameron, 1904) as well as the genus Horismenus Walker, 1843 with its species Horismenus dennoi Hansson, Kenyon & Benrey, 2019, all of them Hymenoptera parasitoids of seed beetles in the genus Acanthoscelides Schilsky, 1905. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regardless of the outcome of symbiosis, whether it is pathogenic, mutualistic or commensal, bacteria must first colonize their hosts. Intriguingly, closely related bacteria that colonize diverse hosts with diverse outcomes of symbiosis have conserved host-association and virulence factors. This review describes commonalities in the process of becoming host associated amongst bacteria with diverse lifestyles. Whether a pathogen, commensal or mutualist, bacteria must sense the presence of and migrate towards a host, compete for space and nutrients with other microbes, evade the host immune system, and change their physiology to enable long-term host association. We primarily focus on well-studied taxa, such as Pseudomonas , that associate with diverse model plant and animal hosts, with far-ranging symbiotic outcomes. Given the importance of opportunistic pathogens and chronic infections in both human health and agriculture, understanding the mechanisms that facilitate symbiotic relationships between bacteria and their hosts will help inform the development of disease treatments for both humans, and the plants we eat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chalcidoidea is a hyperdiverse superfamily of mostly small, parasitoid wasps of which 14 families and at least 422 species have been recorded from Greece. In the present study, additional distributional data from Greece is provided for Brachymeria rugulosa (Forster, 1859) and Brachymeria tibialis (Walker, 1834). Furthermore, Brachymeria podagrica (Fabricius, 1787) and Monodontomerus obscurus Westwood, 1833 are recorded for the first time from Greece. As well, a new host gall species for B. rugulosa is noted and the presence of Brachymeria inermis (Fonscolombe, 1840) is briefly discussed. Finally, a checklist for the genera Brachymeria (Hymenoptera, Chalcididae) and Monodontomerus (Hymenoptera, Torymidae) is compiled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The holobiont concept places emphasis on the strict relationship between a host and its associated microbiome, with several studies supporting a strong effect of the quality of the microbiome on the host fitness. The generalities of the holobiont have been questioned for several invertebrates, including zooplankton. Here we assess the role of host ecology, habitat, and evolutionary history to explain the differences in the microbiomes associated with rotifers, across a broad taxonomic spectrum and from different habitats. The analyses of 93 rotifer-associated microbiomes from 23 rotifer host species revealed that a combination of effects from the host ecology and its habitat seem to be stronger than host phylogenetic distances in explaining differences in microbial composition of the microbiomes. This pattern is in line with the idea of habitat filtering being a stronger explanation than co-evolution in shaping the relationship between a microbiome and its rotifer host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three ladybird (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) species, Coccinella septempunctata L., C. undecimpunctata L. and Hippodamia variegata (Goeze), were recorded as hosts of Dinocampus coccinellae (Schrank, 1802) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in the Khuzestan and Kurdistan provinces of Iran. Coccinella undecimpunctata is a new host of this parasitoid in the country and both provinces are its new distribution records. The rates of emergence of D. coccinellae from field-collected C. septempunctata and H. variegata were very low (below 1%), while C. undecimpunctata was parasitized to a much higher degree (26.7%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Results of the study of fleas associated with four insectivore and rodent species in northern Karelia are reported. Fleas were collected in August–September 2001, 2003–2004, 2006–2009, 2011, 2015, and 2019 in the environs of the White Sea Biological Station "Kartesh" (Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences). The published data on distribution, host-parasite associations, and seasonal dynamics of eight flea species present in Northwestern European Russia are summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Species of the genus Bartonella are facultative intracellular alphaproteobacteria with zoonotic potential. Bartonella infections in humans range from mild with unspecific symptoms to life threatening, and can be transmitted via arthropod vectors or through direct contact with infected hosts, although the latter mode of transmission is rare. Among the small mammals that harbour Bartonella spp., rodents are the most speciose group and harbour the highest diversity of these parasites. Human–rodent interactions are not unlikely as many rodent species live in proximity to humans. However, a surprisingly low number of clinical cases of bartonellosis related to rodent-associated Bartonella spp. have thus far been recorded in humans. Methods The main purpose of this review is to determine explanatory factors for this unexpected finding, by taking a closer look at published clinical cases of bartonellosis connected with rodent-associated Bartonella species, some of which have been newly described in recent years. Thus, another focus of this review are these recently proposed species. Conclusions Worldwide, only 24 cases of bartonellosis caused by rodent-associated bartonellae have been reported in humans. Possible reasons for this low number of cases in comparison to the high prevalences of Bartonella in small mammal species are (i) a lack of awareness amongst physicians of Bartonella infections in humans in general, and especially those caused by rodent-associated bartonellae; and (ii) a frequent lack of the sophisticated equipment required for the confirmation of Bartonella infections in laboratories that undertake routine diagnostic testing. As regards recently described Bartonella spp., there are presently 14 rodent-associated Candidatus taxa. In contrast to species which have been taxonomically classified, there is no official process for the review of proposed Candidatus species and their names before they are published. This had led to the use of malformed names that are not based on the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes. Researchers are thus encouraged to propose Candidatus names to the International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes for approval before publishing them, and only to propose new species of Bartonella when the relevant datasets allow them to be clearly differentiated from known species and subspecies. Graphical Abstract

Stylops pascarellai n. sp. is described from five female specimens collected in their host, Andrena primulifrons. This host is in the subgenus Andrena (Micrandrena) and other strepsipterans hosted by members of this subgenus in the United States are reviewed. One of these species, Stylops bruneri is found to include four other previously described species. Two of these species, Stylops hartfordensis n. stat. and Stylops nasoni n. stat. are returned to synonymy with S. bruneri. Stylops duboisi and Stylops neonanae are maintained as valid species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study could document, Sceliphron coromandelicum (Lepeletier) (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) as the host of the cuckoo wasp, Trichrysis imperiosa (Smith) (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae) from Kerala, India. This is the first host record of T. imperiosa. Interesting observations and notes on their natural history are also reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crawfordia hadrovena n. sp. is described from specimens hosted by bee species Protandrena aethiops and P. rugosa from Central Texas. While these host species overlap in their geographical distribution in this region, their flight times and adult presence in the environment are isolated temporally. The description of males of C. hadrovena represents only the second males known in the genus of now nine species. Females have been described for all species but the description of species only using females has not used consistent characters. Thus, taxonomic characters are discussed with the shape of the cephalothorax, nature of the cephalothoracic basal band, nature of the brood canal, and shape of mandibles being important characters for species identification. The lateral portions of the brood canal that were previously thought to be sutures between head and thorax of the cephalothorax or cord-like extensions of the brood canal are now shown to be the lateral sides of the brood canal. A checklist of all species of Crawfordia and their hosts is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stylops piercei n. sp. and Stylops boharti n. sp. are described based on female specimens associated with their hosts. Both species are hosted by bees in the genus Andrena but are from species in subgenera that have not previously been documented to host strepsipterans in North America. Andrena (Dactylandrena) berberidis is the host of S. piercei n. sp. and Andrena (Scaphandrena) cruciferarum hosts S. boharti. A supplementary description of Stylops cressoni is given based on specimens from Andrena cressoni infaciata, which is the first report of this subspecies of A. cressoni being a strepsipteran host, and this represents a range extension from Maine, USA to Colorado, USA. Range extensions are reported for Stylops bipunctatae now known from Florida and Stylops mandibularis now found in Colorado. A new host record of S. mandibularis from Andrena thaspii is documented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Host association—the selective adaptation of pathogens to specific host species—evolves through constant interactions between host and pathogens, leaving a lot yet to be discovered on immunological mechanisms and genomic determinants. The causative agents of Lyme disease (LD) are spirochete bacteria composed of multiple species of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex, including B. burgdorferi (Bb), the main LD pathogen in North America—a useful model for the study of mechanisms underlying host-pathogen association. Host adaptation requires pathogens’ ability to evade host immune responses, such as complement, the first-line innate immune defense mechanism. We tested the hypothesis that different host-adapted phenotypes among Bb strains are linked to polymorphic loci that confer complement evasion traits in a host-specific manner. We first examined the survivability of 20 Bb strains in sera in vitro and/or bloodstream and tissues in vivo from rodent and avian LD models. Three groups of complement-dependent host-association phenotypes emerged. We analyzed complement-evasion genes, identified a priori among all strains and sequenced and compared genomes for individual strains representing each phenotype. The evolutionary history of ospC loci is correlated with host-specific complement-evasion phenotypes, while comparative genomics suggests that several gene families and loci are potentially involved in host association. This multidisciplinary work provides novel insights into the functional evolution of host-adapted phenotypes, building a foundation for further investigation of the immunological and genomic determinants of host association. IMPORTANCE Host association is the phenotype that is commonly found in many pathogens that preferential survive in particular hosts. The Lyme disease (LD)-causing agent, B. burgdorferi (Bb), is an ideal model to study host association, as Bb is mainly maintained in nature through rodent and avian hosts. A widespread yet untested concept posits that host association in Bb strains is linked to Bb functional genetic variation conferring evasion to complement, an innate defense mechanism in vertebrate sera. Here, we tested this concept by grouping 20 Bb strains into three complement-dependent host-association phenotypes based on their survivability in sera and/or bloodstream and distal tissues in rodent and avian LD models. Phylogenomic analysis of these strains further correlated several gene families and loci, including ospC, with host-specific complement-evasion phenotypes. Such multifaceted studies thus pave the road to further identify the determinants of host association, providing mechanistic insights into host-pathogen interaction.

Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) are the only vectors of Orthotospovirus, a group of viral pathogens that infect plants and cause major economic damage to crops. The virus is acquired by the vector only at the first and early second larval stages and transmitted to plants by adult thrips through the circulatory system and via propagation. Since these vector immatures play a key role in the virus cycle, larval identification can be important for decision‐making about the management of each virus and vector. Thrips identification is mostly based on adult morphology, but second instar larvae recognition can be reliable and may provide advanced diagnosis about the presence and identity of the vector even in the absence of adults. Here, we present an identification tool for second instar larvae of the seven thrips species known to be Orthotospovirus vectors in South America – Frankliniella gemina, F. occidentalis, F. schultzei, F. zucchini, Scirtothrips dorsalis, Thrips palmi and T. tabaci. An illustrated key along with descriptions and comments on each of these species in the continent is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Species of the genus Bartonella are facultative intracellular alphaproteobacteria with zoonotic potential. Bartonella infections in humans range from mild with unspecific symptoms to life threatening, and can be transmitted via arthropod vectors or through direct contact with infected hosts, although the latter mode of transmission is rare. Among the small mammals that harbour Bartonella spp., rodents are the most speciose group and harbour the highest diversity of these parasites. Human–rodent interactions are not unlikely as many rodent species live in proximity to humans. However, a surprisingly low number of clinical cases of bartonellosis related to rodent-associated Bartonella spp. have thus far been recorded in humans. Methods: The main purpose of this review is to determine explanatory factors for this unexpected finding, by taking a closer look at published clinical cases of bartonellosis connected with rodent-associated Bartonella species, some of which have been newly described in recent years. Thus, another focus of this review are these recently proposed species. Conclusions: Worldwide, only 24 cases of bartonellosis caused by rodent-associated bartonellae have been reported in humans. Possible reasons for this low number of cases in comparison to the high prevalences of Bartonella in small mammal species are (i) a lack of awareness amongst physicians of Bartonella infections in humans in general, and especially those caused by rodent-associated bartonellae; and (ii) a frequent lack of the sophisticated equipment required for the confirmation of Bartonella infections in laboratories that undertake routine diagnostic testing. As regards recently described Bartonella spp., there are presently 14 rodent-associated Candidatus taxa. In contrast to species which have been taxonomically classified, there is no official process for the review of proposed Candidatus species and their names before they are published. This had led to the use of malformed names that are not based on the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes. Researchers are thus encouraged to propose Candidatus names to the International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes for approval before publishing them, and only to propose new species of Bartonella when the relevant datasets allow them to be clearly differentiated from known species and subspecies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis, is composed of several lineages characterized by a genome identity higher than 99%. Although the majority of the lineages are associated with humans, at least four lineages are adapted to other mammals, including different M. tuberculosis ecotypes. Host specificity is associated with higher virulence in its preferred host in ecotypes such as M. bovis. Deciphering what determines the preference of the host can reveal host-specific virulence patterns. However, it is not clear which genomic determinants might be influencing host specificity. In this study, we apply a combination of unsupervised and supervised classification methods on genomic data of ~27,000 M. tuberculosis clinical isolates to decipher host-specific genomic determinants. Host-specific genomic signatures are scarce beyond known lineage-specific mutations. Therefore, we integrated lineage-specific mutations into the iEK1011 2.0 genome-scale metabolic model to obtain lineage-specific versions of it. Flux distributions sampled from the solution spaces of these models can be accurately separated according to host association. This separation correlated with differences in cell wall processes, lipid, amino acid and carbon metabolic subsystems. These differences were observable when more than 95% of the samples had a specific growth rate significantly lower than the maximum achievable by the models. This suggests that these differences might manifest at low growth rate settings, such as the restrictive conditions M. tuberculosis suffers during macrophage infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helopeltis bakeri Poppius is a major insect pest of cacao, Theobroma cacao L. in the Philippines. It is one of the four Helopeltis species endemic to the Philippines, easily recognizable for its sexual dimorphism. Up to date, no developmental biology and host plant list have been recorded for H. bakeri. Here, we report its life history, conduct surveys, and present potential host plant species. Biological characteristics of H. bakeri reared on Ipomea batatas (L.) Poir. shoots were observed in the laboratory at 27 ± 1 °C, 59 to 73% RH, and L12:D12. Five nymphal stages were recorded. Egg incubation period was 7.49 ± 0.43 days, and the duration of each of the five developmental stages was 3.11 ± 0.53, 1.51 ± 0.37, 2.07 ± 0.11, 4.40 ± 0.32 and 4.45 ± 0.17 days, respectively. Adult longevity was not significantly different between both sexes. We also provided morphological descriptions and measurements of the immature stages to aid proper nymphal identification of H. bakeri. No choice tests and field observations revealed four potential host plants, i.e., Chromolaena odorata (L.) R King & H Robinson, Cucumis sativus L., Hibiscus rosasinensis L., and Psidium guajava L., and two plants, i.e., Polyscias scutellaria (Burm. f.) Fosb. and Ipomea batatas (L.) Poir with confirmed host association. The information gathered on the life history, and host plant associations of H. bakeri would help decide the appropriate pest management strategy for controlling the population of this insect pest in the country's cacao-growing areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sandalwood (Santalum album L.), a root hemiparasite, endemic to Southern India, is a tree of great commercial value globally. Considering the growing demand and the diminishing supply of sandalwood from its natural habitat, there is a great potential for cultivating sandal trees in agricultural land, home gardens and other agro forestry systems. The cultivation of sandalwood is challenging because of the poor understanding of host parasite relationship as sandalwood is a root parasite. In this context a study was carried out to understand the relationship of sandalwood with its two primary hosts, Cajanus (legume) and Alternanthera (nonlegume). The results showed that sandalwood grown with Cajanus (T3) have greater plant height (176.57 cm), stem girth (12.01 cm) chlorophyll content (3.29 mg/g FW of leaves) in contrast to sandalwood grown with Alternanthera (T2) and control (T1) without a host. The variations in activity of SOD, Peroxidase (POX) and accumulation of phenols, flavonoids, proline in sandalwood indicates differences in sandalwood response at molecular level towards the two hosts. There was a clear shift in SOD isozyme bands in sandalwood when it interacted with Cajanus as compared to Alternanthera (T2) and control (T1). The increase in peroxidases observed in T3 (11.30ƒÝg/mg protein) was significantly higher compared to the T2 and T1. The same trend was observed for the phenols, flavonoids and prolines. The greater reduction in defense response in the host plant Cajanus in comparison to Alternanthera when planted with sandalwood signifies the deliberate vulnerability of Cajanus towards sandalwood parasitism, making it a superior host. Indeed, a polybag experiment to evaluate the direction of root growth shows a clear preference of sandalwood root to Cajanus, as compared to Alternanthera. Overall from the phenotypic observations and also from the biochemical estimations, the leguminous host Cajanus was found to be a better primary host than Alternanthera in the field condition. The insights gained from the present investigation can be used for sandalwood cultivation in large scale in the natural habitat as well as in other agroforestrty region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suillus is among the best-known examples of an ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal genus that demonstrates a high degree of host specificity. Currently recognized host genera of Suillus include Larix, Pinus, and Pseudotsuga, which all belong to the pinoid clade of the family Pinaceae. Intriguingly, Suillus sporocarps have been sporadically collected in forests in which known hosts from these genera are locally absent. To determine the capacity of Suillus to associate with alternative hosts in both the pinoid and abietoid clades of Pinaceae, we examined the host associations of two Suillus species (S. punctatipes and S. glandulosus) through field-based root tip sampling and seedling bioassays. Root tip collections underneath Suillus sporocarps were molecularly identified (fungi: nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer region ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 [ITS barcode]; plant: trnL) to assess the association with multiple hosts. The bioassays contained both single- and two-species treatments, including a primary (Larix or Pseudotsuga) and a secondary (Picea, Pinus, or Abies) host. For the S. punctatipes bioassay, an additional treatment in which the primary host was removed after 8 mo was included to assess the effect of primary host presence on longer-term ECM colonization. The field-based results confirmed that Suillus fungi were able to associate with Abies and Tsuga hosts, representing novel host genera for this genus. In the bioassays, colonization on the primary hosts was detected in both single- and two-species treatments, but no colonization was present when Picea and Abies hosts were grown alone. Removal of a primary host had no effect on percent ECM colonization, suggesting that primary hosts are not necessary for sustaining Suillus colonization once they are successfully established on secondary hosts. Collectively, our results indicate that host specificity is more flexible in this genus than previously acknowledged and help to explain the presence of Suillus in forests where recognized hosts are not present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unparasitized (1) and parasitized (2) eggs of brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens , by Anagrus incarnatus (Mymaridae), the predominant egg parasitoid of rice planthoppers in Taiwan; adult female (3) of A. incarnatus. Photos by Shou-Horng Huang and Serguei Vladimirovich Triapitsyn. [Display omitted] • Mymaridae egg parasitoids of five rice leafhopper and planthopper pests were identified in Taiwan. • Sentinel egg method was used to establish reliable host associations of the egg parasitoids. • Anagrus incarnatus is shown to be the predominant egg parasitoid of rice planthoppers. • Four species of egg parasitoids of zig-zag leafhopper Maiestas dorsalis were newly identified. Fairyfly egg parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) of rice leafhoppers and planthoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae and Delphacidae) known from Taiwan are identified taxonomically, keyed, and illustrated. Their host associations are determined by rearings using sentinel eggs of mainly four key pest species. The previously published records of such egg parasitoids in Taiwan are critically analyzed in the unfortunate absence of almost any voucher specimens. Three species of Mymaridae are shown to be the predominant egg parasitoids of one leafhopper and three planthopper major pests of rice in Taiwan: Anagrus (Anagrus) incarnatus Haliday of the green rice leafhopper Nephotettix cincticeps (Uhler) and the delphacids Laodelphax striatella (Fallén) (small brown planthopper), Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (brown planthopper), and Sogatella furcifera (Horváth) (whitebacked planthopper), as well as Gonatocerus aegyptiacus Soyka and Mymar taprobanicum Ward of N. cincticeps. The zig-zag leafhopper Maiestas dorsalis (Motschulsky), which is also common in paddy fields, is newly recorded as a host for A. incarnatus , G. aegyptiacus , Lymaenon litoralis (Haliday), and M. taprobanicum. Additional new records of some other Mymaridae in Taiwan, mostly from the rice field agroecosystems, are indicated. Litus assamensis Rehmat and Anis, syn. nov. from India, is synonymized with L. sutil Triapitsyn and Berezovskiy from Thailand, which is also newly recorded from Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesonychium asteria (Smith) is a cleptoparasitic bee with occurrence restricted to South America. In this study, we provide new information related to the host association and cleptoparasitic behavior of this species in nests of Centris xanthomelaena Moure & Castro. Observations were conducted at the nesting sites of C. xanthomelaena in a Caatinga area of Pernambuco state, Brazil. Females of M. asteria were observed performing overflying in nest aggregations and attacking some nests. We have confirmed the cleptoparasitic association with the emergence of adult M. asteria from the host bee nests, and also by the presence of its larva on the brood cells.

We record for the first time the host association of the seed beetle Merobruchus paquetae with the invasive legume tree Leucaena leucocephala. This species of beetle was associated in Colombia to the native legume tree Pseudosamanea guachapele.

ABSTRACT We register for first time the occurrence of Epipompilus tucumanus Evans, 1967 in Brazil, and record the spider Ariadna boliviana Simon, 1907 as its host. The observations were made in the National Park of Chapada dos Guimarães, Mato Grosso, Brazil. The prey carriage mechanism is described for first time for this genus, and we provide a video showing this behavior.

Orchidaceae is one of the largest and most diverse families of flowering plants, comprising more than 450 species that span 107 genera in Nepal. Since orchids are facing an extinction risk from various anthropogenic factors at the regional and global level, we attempted to explore the diversity of orchid in two community managed forests – Karunabhumi Community Forest at Daman & Chandragiri Community Forest at Chitlang of Makawanpur District in central Nepal. We compiled a list of 58 species of orchids belonging to 23 genera, including 47 epiphytic and 11 terrestrial species, of which 29 species have medicinal value. Our result also revealed that epiphytic orchids are associated with particular host communities.

A large part of ecosystem function in woodland systems depends on soil fungal communities. However, global climate change has the potential to fundamentally alter these communities as fungal species are filtered with changing environmental conditions. In this study, we examined the potential effects of climate on host-associated (i.e. tree-associated) soil fungal communities at climatically distinct sites in the Tehachapi Mountains in California, where more arid conditions represent likely regional climate futures. We found that soil fungal community composition changes strongly across sites, with species richness and diversity being highest at the most arid site. However, host association may buffer the effects of climate on community composition, as host-associated fungal communities are more similar to each other across climatically distinct sites than the whole fungal community. Lastly, an examination of functional traits for ectomycorrhizal fungi, a well-studied guild of fungal mutualist species, showed that stress-tolerant traits were more abundant at arid sites than mesic sites, providing a mechanistic understanding of these community patterns. Taken together, our results indicate that fungal community composition will likely shift with future climate change but that host association may buffer these effects, with shifts in functional traits having implications for future ecosystem function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Drosophila parasitoid system is an excellent model for the study of biological and ecological interactions. In Japan, extensive studies have been carried out on Drosophila parasitoids since the early 2000s. Here we provide up-to-date information on their diversity, distributions, host use and reproductive mode. Until now, 45 wasp species have been recorded. In addition, four genetically distinct groups (tentatively assigned as "races") have been found in Ganaspis brasiliensis (Figitidae). Most of them are larvo-pupal parasitoids belonging to the families Figitidae and Braconidae, and some are pupal parasitoids of the families Pteromalidae and Diapriidae. A species of Encyrtidae was also recorded. Their major hosts are indicated with information on the host's breeding sites. Except Ganaspis xanthopoda and two races of G. brasiliensis that are distributed both in tropical and temperate regions, they are divided into tropical and temperate species. The tropical species are mainly distributed in Southeast Asia, and their distributions in Japan are restricted to the Ryukyu islands, particularly Iriomote-jima. The temperate species have been recorded from the main islands of Japan and surrounding islands but not from the Ryukyu islands, except two braconid species, Asobara japonica and Phaenocarpa sp. TK1. Some of the temperate species have also been recorded from Korea, China, Europe and/or North America. Among the 45 Japanese parasitoid spe- cies, at least seven are assumed to be thelytokous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lectotype female of Japania andoi (= Paracentrobia (Brachistella) bicolor) (left); lectotype slide of Japania andoi (middle); and Pseudoligosita nephotetticum male (right). Photos by Serguei Vladimirovich Triapitsyn and Junsuke Yamasako. • Trichogrammatidae egg parasitoids of five rice leafhopper and planthopper pests were identified in Taiwan. • Sentinel egg method was used to establish reliable host associations of the egg parasitoids. • Pseudoligosita nephotetticum is shown to be the predominant egg parasitoid of rice leafhoppers and planthoppers. • Pseudoligosita nephotetticum is newly recorded from eggs of zig-zag leafhopper Maiestas dorsalis. Trichogrammatid egg parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) of rice leafhoppers and planthoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae and Delphacidae) known from Taiwan are identified taxonomically and illustrated, and their host associations are determined by rearings using sentinel eggs of the key pest species. The previously published records of such egg parasitoids in Taiwan are critically analyzed in the unfortunate absence of almost any voucher specimens. Pseudoligosita nephotetticum (Mani) is shown to be the most common egg parasitoid of the two leafhopper and three planthopper pests of rice in Taiwan: the zig-zag leafhopper Maiestas dorsalis (Motschulsky) (a new host record), the green rice leafhopper Nephotettix cincticeps (Uhler), and the delphacids Laodelphax striatella (Fallén) (small brown planthopper), Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (brown planthopper), and Sogatella furcifera (Horváth) (whitebacked planthopper). Paracentrobia (Brachistella) andoi (Ishii) syn. nov., originally described from Japan as Japania andoi Ishii, and Paracentrobia (Brachistella) garuda Subba Rao syn. nov. from Thailand are synonymized under Paracentrobia (Brachistella) bicolor (Girault) from northern Queensland, Australia; Pseudoligosita tachikawai (Yashiro) syn. nov., originally described as Oligosita tachikawai Yashiro from Japan, is synonymized under Pseudoligosita nephotetticum. Lectotypes are designated for Japania andoi and Oligosita shibuyae Ishii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(From left to right) Amrasca biguttula adult; Anagrus japonicus female; A. japonicus male; and Arescon enocki female. Photo by Tetsuya Adachi-Hagimori and Serguei Vladimirovich Triapitsyn. • Amrasca biguttula is a serious pest of okra, A. esculentus , in southern Japan. • Mymaridae egg parasitoids of the leafhopper, A. japonicus and A. enocki , were reared. • Host association and males of Anagrus japonicus were described for the first time. The fairyfly Anagrus (Anagrus) japonicus Sahad (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) is identified for the first time as an egg parasitoid of the okra leafhopper Amrasca (Sundapteryx) biguttula (Ishida) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) on Okinawa Island, Japan. Amrasca biguttula is a serious pest of okra, Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench (Malvaceae), both in Okinawa and Bonin Islands. Female of A. japonicus is redescribed, and its previously unknown male is described, based on the reared specimens from Okinawa. Prior to this study, host associations of A. japonicus were unknown. Another species of Mymaridae, Arescon enocki (Subba Rao and Kaur), also emerged from eggs of A. biguttula on okra in Okinawa, albeit in much smaller numbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seven trichodorid species including a new one (Trichodorus hangzhouensis sp. nov., T. nanjingensis, T. pakistanensis, T. cedarus, Paratrichodorus porosus, Nanidorus renifer and N. minor) were recovered from the rhizosphere of different hosts in 13 provinces of China. Each of the recovered species was characterized based on morphology and molecular data using rRNA gene sequences. Trichodorus hangzhouensis sp. nov. is characterized by its males having medium-sized onchiostyle (46-49 µm) and three ventromedian cervical papillae (CP) anterior to the secretory-excretory (S-E) pore, CP1 located opposite the anterior part of isthmus, S-E pore opposite the isthmus or anterior end of pharyngeal bulb, spicules slightly ventrally curved, relatively small, 33.2 (32.0-34.5) µm long, wider slightly marked capitulum, lamina partially striated without bristles at striation; and females having rounded triangular sclerotized vaginal pieces with tips directed towards vulva, 1.5-2.0 µm sized, at about 1 µm apart, vulva pore-like in ventral view. Phylogenetic analysis based on D2-D3 28S rRNA gene sequences differentiated the new species among Trichodorus species from Europe, Asia and USA which formed a large clade. A review of the distribution of Trichodorus, Nanidorus and Paratrichodorus species revealed that T. cedarus, T. nanjingensis, T. pakistanensis and P. porosus are the most widespread species recorded from different provinces of China. This is the first extensive study of trichodorid species occurring in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gonatopus viet Olmi, 1986 was originally described from Vietnam based on a single female. No further distribution records or hosts have been documented since its original discovery. In the present study, this species is newly recorded from China and its host is confirmed as Stirellus capitatus (Distant, 1918) using DNA barcoding techniques. The utility of DNA barcoding to discover host-Dryinidae associations is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the northern hemisphere and is caused by spirochetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex. Lyme borreliae infect diverse vertebrate reservoirs without triggering apparent manifestations in these animals; however, Lyme borreliae strains differ in their reservoir hosts. The mechanisms that drive those differences are unknown. To survive in vertebrate hosts, Lyme borreliae require the ability to escape from host defense mechanisms, in particular complement. To facilitate the evasion of complement, Lyme borreliae produce diverse proteins at different stages of infection, allowing them to persistently survive without being recognized by hosts and potentially resulting in host-specific infection. This review discusses the current knowledge regarding the ecology and evolutionary mechanisms of Lyme borreliae–host associations driven by complement evasion. Emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases have a major impact on global public health, including tick-transmitted illnesses such as Lyme disease. Lyme disease-causing pathogens develop a range of sophisticated strategies to overcome the innate immune system of various vertebrate hosts to accomplish their –enzootic cycle. Inactivation of the host´s complement in the tick's blood meal, and in the host's bloodstream, are crucial steps to prevent the spirochetes from being killed during their transmission and dissemination. Strain-to-strain variation in the spirochetes' ability to evade complement may contribute to variation in the range of Lyme borreliae–host associations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ring nematodes of the genus Criconemoides are a group of polyphagous, migratory root-ectoparasites of plants. In a nematological survey of Zhejiang Province, three new Criconemoides species were isolated from the rhizosphere of Citrus sp., Euonymus alatus and Pterocarya stenoptera trees. In the present study, the new species characterized using an integrative taxonomic approach and described as Criconemoides parainformis n. sp., C. geraerti n. sp. and C. rotundicaudatus n. sp. Three of the species shares truncated anteriorly flattened lip region comprised of two annuli, body annuli margin smooth with few anastomoses, (except C. rotundicaudatus n. sp. it has crenated annuli margins and numerous anastomoses), excretory pore 1–2 annuli posterior to pharyngeal bulb base, (except C. geraerti n. sp. it has excretory pore at the same level, or 1–2 annuli anterior to pharyngeal bulb base), vulva closed, anus hardly visible 1–3 annuli posterior to vulva. The new species can be distinguished based on their en face view pattern under scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the tail shapes. i.e. C. parainformis n. sp. has an ellipsoid oral disc, slightly fused pseudolips and tail ending in a bilobed terminus. C. geraerti n. sp. has a hexagonal oral disc, separated pseudolips, and a bluntly conoid tail. C. rotundicaudatus n. sp. has a rounded oral disc, well developed pseudolips, and a short broadly rounded tail. Besides detailed morphological studies using SEM, genomic and mitochondrial molecular data were obtained for the three described new species. In inferred phylogenies, these three species clustered with known Criconemoides species in 18S, 28S, ITS and coxI trees. Currently, only four known Criconemoides species occur in China and the discovery of the three new Criconemoides species in present study has increased our knowledge on the diversity of Criconemoides in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(From left to right) Corythucha marmorata male (Fuefuki, Yamanashi, Japan); Anagrus virginiae female (Fuefuki); A. virginiae male (Fuefuki); and Erythmelus (Parallelaptera) sp. (Kiyotake, Miyazaki, Japan). Photographs by Serguei V. Triapitsyn. [Display omitted] • Corythucha marmorata is an invasive pest of sweet potato, eggplant, and other crops in Japan. • Chrysanthemum lace bug C. marmorata also feeds on the invasive weeds such as goldenrods. • Fairyflies Anagrus virginiae and Erythmelus (Parallelaptera) sp. were recorded in Japan as egg parasitoids of C. marmorata. • Anagrus virginiae is also an important natural enemy of cassava lace bugs Vatiga spp. in Brazil. The fairyfly Anagrus (Anagrus) virginiae Triapitsyn and Puttler (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) is identified as a principal egg parasitoid of the chrysanthemum lace bug Corythucha marmorata (Uhler) (Hemiptera: Tingidae) in Japan on Solidago altissima L., Solidago sp., and Bidens pilosa L. (Asteraceae), and on sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lamarck (Convolvulaceae). Both C. marmorata and Solidago spp. as well as Bidens pilosa are invasive in Japan, so it is very likely that A. virginiae was unintentionally introduced and established in the country either with or after the introduction of its insect host. Both sexes of A. virginiae are redescribed and illustrated with digital images based on Japanese specimens to facilitate their recognition, and an updated key to females of Anagrus Haliday species in Japan is given to include A. virginiae and the recently recorded leafhopper egg parasitoid A. (Anagrus) turpanicus Triapitsyn and Hu. In Japan, C. marmorata is a pest of eggplant, Solanum melongena L. (Solanaceae), pepino or sweet cucumber, Solanum muricatum Aiton, sweet potato, and other crops, so potential for classical biological control against this lace bug is discussed. One male specimen of another fairyfly, Erythmelus (Parallelaptera) sp., was also reared from an egg of C. marmorata , the first such record from this lace bug host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Host associations of the tick vector for Lyme Borreliosis, Ixodes scapularis, differ across its geographic range. In Florida, the primary competent mammalian host of Lyme disease is not present but instead has other small mammals and herpetofauna that I. scapularis can utilize. We investigated host–tick association for lizards, the abundance of ticks on lizards and the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (sl). To determine which lizard species I. scapularis associates with, we examined 11 native lizard species from historical herpetological specimens. We found that (294/5828) of the specimens had attached ticks. The most infested species were Plestiodon skinks (241/1228) and Ophisaurus glass lizards (25/572). These species were then targeted at six field sites across Florida and sampled from June to September 2020, using drift fence arrays, cover boards and fishing. We captured 125 lizards and collected 233 immature I. scapularis. DNA was extracted from ticks and lizard tissue samples, followed by PCR testing for Borrelia spp. Of the captured lizards, 69/125 were infested with immature I. scapularis. We did not detect Borrelia spp. from tick or lizard tissue samples. Overall, we found that lizards are commonly infested with I. scapularis. However, we did not detect Borrelia burgdorferi sl. These findings add to a growing body of evidence that lizards are poor reservoir species.

Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is an important pathogen in dogs that occasionally causes infections in humans as an opportunistic pathogen of elderly and immunocompromised people. This study compared the genomic relatedness and antimicrobial resistance genes using genome-wide association study (GWAS) to examine host association of canine and human S. pseudintermedius isolates. Canine (n = 25) and human (n = 32) methicillin-susceptible S. pseudintermedius (MSSP) isolates showed a high level of genetic diversity with an overrepresentation of clonal complex CC241 in human isolates. This clonal complex was associated with carriage of a plasmid containing a bacteriocin with cytotoxic properties, a CRISPR-cas domain and a pRE25-like mobile element containing five antimicrobial resistance genes. Multi-drug resistance (MDR) was predicted in 13 (41%) of human isolates and 14 (56%) of canine isolates. CC241 represented 54% of predicted MDR isolates from humans and 21% of predicted MDR canine isolates. While it had previously been suggested that certain host-specific genes were present the current GWAS analysis did not identify any genes that were significantly associated with human or canine isolates. In conclusion, this is the first genomic study showing that MSSP is genetically diverse in both hosts and that multidrug resistance is important in dog and human-associated S. pseudintermedius isolates.

A new species of the encyrtid wasp genus Anagyrus Howard (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), Anagyrus trabutinae Triapitsyn & Andreason, is described and illustrated. Its type series was reared from the mealybug Trabutina serpentina (Green) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on tamarisk, Tamarix spp. (Tamaricaceae), on the Dead Sea shore at an elevation of 402 m below sea level. Using a combination of morphological methods and genetic analyses, the new taxon is separated from the other species comprising the Anagyrus pseudococci species complex. Its relationship to the complex is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Old World plant bug genus Hypseloecus Reuter of the tribe Pilophorini is reviewed on the basis of detailed observation of the morphological characters, with an updated checklist of Asian congeners. "Pleural glands" are herein suggested as a novel diagnostic character and currently considered as an additional autapomorphy for the genus. Two Asian new species, Hypseloecus nakagawai sp. n. (from Honshu, Japan) and H. aaroni sp. n. (Bagmati Zone, Nepal), are diagnosed and described. The host association and habitat of H. nakagawai are also documented. An Old World pilophorine genus, Lasiolabops Poppius, assumed to be a potential sister taxon of Hypseloecus , is diagnosed and discussed; further, two new species, L. cirratus sp. n. (from Japanese Ryukyus) and L. remicornis sp. n. (from Central Thailand), are described, based on their distinctive vestiture pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Borrelia turcica is a reptile-associated Borrelia species that is vectored by the hard tick Hyalomma aegyptium. Tortoises of the genus Testudo represent the principal host of adult H. aegyptium , while immature stages are less host-specific and can be found on various vertebrates and even on humans. Borrelia turcica isolates were already successfully obtained from exotic tortoises suggesting that they are putative hosts. To the best of our knowledge, no further investigations on additional host association of B. turcica were conducted. Since many but not all adult Hyalomma ticks collected from tortoises are infected, questions arise about the direction of transmission between tick and tortoises for this Borrelia species. In addition, there is no information on the potential pathogenicity of B. turcica for humans. For other Borrelia species it has been shown that resistance or sensitivity to complement-active serum can be indicative of host species association(s). In this study, we explored for the first time the in vitro survival of B. turcica isolates from Turkey (IST7) and Greece (171601G) in the presence of 50% complement-active serum of different species (tortoise, turtle, human and bird). Both isolates showed resistance to tortoise serum, partial resistance to turtle serum but did not survive human and bird serum. These data suggest that indeed tortoises are reservoir host species for B. turcica while birds or humans are not. By implication these data suggest that B. turcica is not human pathogenic. Whether or not other reptile species, such as lizards, are also potential hosts, requires further investigation. However, as the life cycle of Borrelia is closely linked to that of their hosts and vectors, in vitro studies can only give clues about the actual in vivo behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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