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S L Gardner

Publications and source records attributed to S L Gardner.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Vexillata liomyos n. sp. (Nemata: Ornithostrongylidae) from Liomys pictus (Rodentia: Heteromyidae) from Mexico, with comments on the synlophe of Vexillata armandae.

Individuals of a new species of Vexillata were collected from the small intestines of Liomys pictus from the Estaci6n de Biología Chamela, in Jalisco State, Mexico. The new species shows an array of characters that allow us to recognize it as a member of Vexillata; however, it can be distinguished from other species of the genus in that males possess an asymmetrical caudal bursa, females possess a characteristic cuticular inflation at the level of the ovijector, and both sexes possess a synlophe with 9 ridges at the midbody. Additional detail of the synlophe of Vexillata armandae Gardner et al., 1994 from Chaetodipus hispidus in New Mexico shows that both sexes have 12 cuticular ridges just posterior to the cephalic inflation, and in the posterior region of the body, females have 9 ridges of equal size while males possess 11 equal-sized ridges. In both sexes, the carene disappears at the posterior end of the body.

Animals↗

Helminthoxys abrocomae n. sp. (Nematoda: oxyurida) from Abrocoma cinerea in Bolivia.

A new pinworm parasite is described from Abrocoma cinerea, a caviomorph rodent of the superfamily Octodontoidea from the Andes of Bolivia. The new species, Helminthoxys abrocomae n. sp., possesses special secretory mamelons which we consider a synapomorphy of the genus Helminthoxys. Within Helminthoxys, the closest relatives are found in octodontoid rodents: H. gigantea occurs in Octodon degus in Chile and O. bridgesi in Argentina, and H. freitasi is a parasite of Thrichomys aperoides in Brazil. H. abrocomae n. sp. differs from both other species morphometrically in relation to different parts of the body in both sexes, particularly the size of the body, spicule, gubernaculum and eggs, by the presence of a rough cuticular area around the cephalic sensory papillae and by the possession of very well-developed cervical alae which are strongly curved dorsally. H. abrocomae n. sp. is the tenth nominal species described in Helminthoxys, all of them being parasites of caviomorph rodents.

Animals↗

A phylogenetic hypothesis for species of the genus Taenia (Eucestoda : Taeniidae).

Cladistic analysis of a numerical data matrix describing 27 characters for species of Taenia resulted in 4 most parsimonious phylogenetic trees (174 steps; consistency index = 0.28; homoplasy index = 0.72; retention index = 0.48). Monophyly for Taenia is diagnosed by the metacestode that is either a cysticercus or a form derived from a bladder-like larva; no other unequivocal synapomorphies are evident. Tree structure provides no support for recognition of a diversity of tribes or genera within the Taeniinae: Fimbriotaeniini and Taeniini have no phylogenetic basis. Hydatigera, Fimbriotaenia, Fossor, Monordotaenia, Multiceps, Taeniarhynchus, Tetratirotaenia must be subsumed within Taenia as synonyms. Taenia saginata and Taenia asiatica are sister species and distantly related to Taenia solium. Cospeciation with respect to carnivorous definitive hosts and Taenia appears to be limited. Although felids are putative ancestral hosts, contemporary associations appear to have resulted from extensive host-switching among felids, canids, hyaenids, and others. In contrast, relationships with herbivorous intermediate hosts are indicative of more pervasive coevolution; rodents as intermediate hosts are postulated as ancestral for the Taeniidae, Taenia + Echinococcus. Patterns appear consistent with rapid shifts between phylogenetically unrelated carnivores but among those that historically exploited a common prey resource within communities in specific biogeographic regions.

Animals↗

Arthropod and helminth parasites from the Plains Pocket Gopher, Geomys bursarius bursarius from the hosts' northern boundary range in Minnesota.

As part of a continuing and more general study of the diversity of parasites from subterranean mammals in central North America, individuals of the Plains Pocket Gopher, Geomys bursarius bursarius, were collected from 7 localities in northwestern Minnesota from September 1991 through October 1996. Arthropods collected included the fleas, Opisocrostis bruneri (4 of 124, 3.2%), Foxella ignota ignota (85 of 124, 68.5%); the chewing louse, Geomydoecus geomydis geomydis from 98 of 124 (79%), and larvae of the tick, Dermacentor variabilis (1 of 124, 0.8%). Nematodes found included Physaloptera limbata (2 of 118 gophers, 1.7%), Capillaria americana (4 of 118, 3.4%), and Ransomus rodentorum (31 of 118, 26.3%). Cestodes recovered included Anoplocephaloides infrequens (12 of 136 gophers, 8.8%), Anoplocephaloides variabilis (19 of 136, 14%), Andrya macrocephala (20 of 136, 14.7%), and Hymenolepis weldensis from 12 of 136, 8.8%. The acanthocephalan, Moniliformis clarki was found in 1 of 118 gophers (0.8%). No parasites were found in the cheek pouches, thoracic, or peritoneal cavities.

Acanthocephala↗

Phylogeny of species of the genus Litomosoides (Nemata [corrected]: Onchocercidae): evidence of rampant host switching.

Filarioid nematodes of the genus Litomosoides occur in the abdominal and (or) thoracic cavities of marsupials, rodents, and bats of the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. In this study, the phylogenetic relationships among these nematodes were estimated with a parsimony analysis of morphological characters derived from species descriptions. This nonweighted analysis produced 20 shortest trees. The monophyly of the genus was not supported in that Litomosoides thomomydis and Litomosoides westi failed to group with the other members of the genus. When these 2 taxa (parasites of pocket gophers) were excluded, monophyly of Litomosoides was supported by 2 synapomorphies (structure of the walls and general shape of the stoma); however, ancestor-descendant relationships among the species in the genus were not well resolved. A posteriori reweighting of the characters produced a single tree, different from all 20 most parsimonious trees. Alternative host-parasite evolutionary models were tested against these results supporting the process of host switching as being most important in forming the patterns of mammal-nematode associations that have been detected in this group of nematodes.

Americas↗

Phylogenetic relationships among species of Stilestrongylus Freitas, Lent and Almeida, 1937 (Trichostrongyloidea: Heligmonellidae: Nippostrongylinae), parasites of myomorph rodents (Rodentia: Muridae) in the Neotropics.

The phylogenetic relationships of 14 species of Stilestrongylus were analyzed using the comparative morphology of 21 characters. We obtained 2 shortest trees of 50 steps, with a consistency index of 0.540 and 25 apomorphic character states. Ingroup monophyly was supported on these trees by 2 and 3 synapomorphies, respectively, and the ingroup was defined by the following characters: greater number of ventral ridges relative to the number of ridges dorsally, asymmetric bursa, and externodorsal rays differing in size. Sister-group relationships among Stilestrongylus and the other genera designated as outgroups are relatively consistent with those postulated by Durette-Desset's in a classification of the Nippostrongylinae. The ancestor of the species groups comprising Hassalstrongylus, Guerrerostrongylus, and Stilestrongylus originated and diversified in murids in the Neotropical region. Species of Hassalstrongylus occur in rodents between southeastern North America and the eastern part of South America (Brazil and Argentina), whereas species of Guerrerostrongylus and Stilestrongylus diversified exclusively in rodents in the Neotropics.

Animals↗

Three new species of Eimeria from Bolivian marsupials.

Faecal samples collected from 300 Bolivian marsupials (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae) between 1984 and 1993 were examined for coccidian parasites. Sporulated oocysts were present in the faeces of 50 (17%) marsupials representing 11 genera and 22 species. Three new species of Eimeria are described and named from six host species. One species occurred in Marmosops dorothea, Monodelphis domestica and Thylamys venustus, another in Micoureus constantiae constantiae and Micoureus constantiae budini and a third in Marmosops dorothea. A discriminant analysis performed on five quantitative oocyst measurements revealed similarities between the first and third Eimeria species because of similar sizes and shapes of the oocysts, whereas the second Eimeria species was structurally discrete. The Eimeria that infects multiple hosts may be a common widespread species. Future surveys are advised for a thorough assessment of the coccidian biodiversity within Bolivian marsupials.

Animals↗

Systematics of the Eucestoda: advances toward a new phylogenetic paradigm, and observations on the early diversification of tapeworms and vertebrates.

Evolutionary relationships of the Eucestoda have received intense but sporadic attention over the past century. Since 1996, the landscape has dramatically changed with respect to our knowledge of the phylogenetic relationships among the tapeworms. The 2nd International Workshop for Tapeworm Systematics (IWTS) held in Lincoln, Nebraska in October of that year provided the catalyst for development of novel hypotheses for inter- and intraordinal phylogeny. The working-group structure of the 2nd IWTS and results of phylogenetic studies are briefly introduced in the present manuscript. Higher-level phylogenies derived from parsimony analysis of independent data bases representing comparative morphology or molecular sequences were largely congruent and supported monophyly for the Eucestoda. The Caryophyllidea are basal; difossate forms such as the Pseudophyllidea are primitive; tetrafossates including the Tetraphyllidea, Proteocephalidea, Nippotaeniidea, Tetrabothriidea and Cyclophyllidea are derived; and hypotheses differed in the placement of the Trypanorhyncha and the Diphyllidea. These studies may provide a foundation for resolution of inter- and intra-ordinal relationships for the tapeworms. Additionally, the first comprehensive phylogenetic hypotheses for the Pseudophyllidea, Diphyllidea, Trypanorhyncha, the paraphyletic Tetraphyllidea + Lecanicephalidea, Proteocephalidea and Cyclophyllidea were developed during and subsequent to the 2nd IWTS. The stage is now set for continued and rapid advances in our understanding of the eucestodes. These studies have also served to re-emphasise the rich genealogical diversity of tapeworms and the temporally deep history for their origin. A co-evolutionary history and radiation of eucestodes may involve deep co-speciation with vertebrate host taxa, accompanied by some level of colonisation and extinction, extending into the Palaeozoic, minimally 350-420 million years ago.

Animals↗

Human enterobiasis in evolution: origin, specificity and transmission.

The co-evolutionary pathway seems to be the most plausible hypothesis for the explanation of the origin of human pinworms. Of the two modes of transmission of oxyurids among humans which have been documented, the direct oral/anal route is also observed in other Primates and seems to have been favoured by selection. As indirect air-borne transmission has also been shown for human enterobiasis, the question of "How this alternative to the standard transmission method could have arisen" is examined. The results of comparative studies of prevalence of Enterobius in human coprolites, in villages of Neolithic age of the arid west of North America, show that a higher prevalence of pinworms is correlated with the lower total amount of air-exchange in caves relative to other structures. The air-borne route of transmission of pinworms among humans is interpreted as an innovation in the human/Enterobius pair. This mode of transfer could have been favoured during the time when humans changed their behaviour from a hunting-gathering to a more sedentary existence, initially associated with cave habitats.

Biological Evolution↗

Recent advances in understanding the origin of the apoplastic oxidative burst in plant cells.

The origin of the oxidative burst during plant-pathogen interactions remains controversial. A number of possibilities have been identified, which involve the protoplast, plasmalemma or apoplast. The apoplastic production of H2O2 requires three components, an extracellular peroxidase, ion fluxes leading to extracellular alkalinisation and release of a substrate. Fatty acids are the major compounds that appear in the apoplast following elicitation, which can activate H2O2 production by peroxidases in vitro. However, the reaction with peroxidases appears to be novel and is uncharacterised at present. The apoplastic mechanism also cannot be readily distinguished from the operation of a plasma membrane NADPH oxidase system by the use of the inhibitors diphenylene iodonium and N,N diethyl-dithiocarbamate since it is also inhibited by these. These inhibitors have often in the past been used to define the involvement of the latter in the oxidative burst. In common with the NADPH oxidase system, the peroxidase responsible has been cloned but unlike the NADPH oxidase it has been shown to function in vitro to generate H2O2. In vivo studies of the oxidative burst have shown that the alkalinisation is essential and the underlying ion fluxes may be regulated by cAMP. Calcium fluxes are also essential. Although the oxidative activity of peroxidase requires calcium the fluxes have obvious other function. These may include activation of release of substrate and through the activation of a CDPK, regulation of enzymes involved in phytoalexin and cell wall phenolic production such as PAL.

Calcium↗

High-dose carboplatin, thiotepa, and etoposide with autologous stem-cell rescue for patients with recurrent medulloblastoma. Children's Cancer Group.

PURPOSE: Medulloblastoma is a highly lethal disease when it recurs. Very few patients survive with conventional treatment. This study evaluated the use of high-dose carboplatin, thiotepa, and etoposide with autologous stem-cell rescue (ASCR) in patients with recurrent medulloblastoma. METHODS: Chemotherapy consisted of carboplatin 500 mg/m2 (or area under the curve = 7 mg/mL x min via Calvert formula) on days -8, -7, and -6; and thiotepa 300 mg/m2 and etoposide 250 mg/m2 on days -5, -4, and -3; followed by ASCR on day 0. In addition to the study-prescribed therapy, 21 patients received other treatment: neurosurgical resection in seven, conventional chemotherapy in 17, and external-beam irradiation in 11 cases. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients with recurrent medulloblastoma, aged two to 44 years (median, 13 years) at ASCR, were treated. Three patients died of treatment-related toxicities within 21 days of ASCR; multiorgan system failure in two, and Aspergillus infection with venoocclusive disease in one. Seven of 23 patients (30%) are event-free survivors at a median of 54 months post-ASCR (range, 24 to 78 months). Kaplan-Meier estimates of event-free (EFS) and overall survival are 34% +/- 10% and 46% +/- 11%, respectively, at 36 months post-ASCR. CONCLUSION: This strategy may provide long-term survival for some patients with recurrent medulloblastoma.

Adolescent↗

Phylogenetic analysis of nematodes of the genus Pratylenchus using nuclear 26S rDNA.

We used nucleotide sequences of the large subunit ribosomal genes (26S rDNA) to examine evolutionary relationships among species of the genus Pratylenchus (Order: Tylenchida, Family: Pratylenchidae), commonly known as root-lesion nematodes. Ten species of Pratylenchus were studied including, P. penetrans, P. crenatus, P. minyus, P. vulnus, P. thornei, P. musicola, P. coffeae, P. hexincisus, P. scribneri, and P. brachyurus. The species Hirschmanniella belli, Meloidogyne javanica, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, Nacobbus aberrans, Radopholus similis, and Xiphinema index were used as outgroups. Based on parsimony analyses of approximately 307 aligned nucleotides of the D3 expansion region of the 26S rDNA, it is clear that species of Pratylenchus are a paraphyletic assemblage. The outgroup taxon H. belli shares a common ancestor with the clade that includes P. vulnus and P. crenatus while N. aberrans and R. similis share a common ancestor with 5 other species included in this study.

Animals↗

Holding nurses accountable.

In today's changing health care system, the responsibilities of and the accountability for professional practice has not changed. Regardless of the health care setting, professional nurses are morally, ethically, and legally accountable for their nursing judgments and actions.

Clinical Competence↗

Two new species of Litomosoides (Nemata:Onchocercidae) from Ctenomys opimus (Rodentia:Ctenomyidae) on the altiplano of Bolivia.

Two filarioid nematodes, Litomosoides andersoni n. sp. and Litomosoides ctenomyos n. sp. (Nemata: Onchocercidae), are described from the mesenteries of the subterranean rodent Ctenomys opimus (Rodentia: Hystrichognathi) collected on the altiplano of Bolivia. Specimens collected near Rancho Huancaroma (Oruro Dept.) in 1984 and 1986 can be recognized as undescribed by the structures of the spicules and stoma and the shape of the ovijector. This record represents the first time members of the genus Litomosoides have been recovered from rodents of the family Ctenomyidae; this also represents the first published report of these nematodes from mammals in Bolivia.

Animals↗

The Enterobiinae subfam. Nov. (Nematoda, Oxyurida) pinworm parasites of primates and rodents.

Recent redescriptions of most members of the Oxyuridae Cobbold, 1864 parasitic in primates revealed that they share following derived characters: sexual dimorphism of lateral alae (single-crested in the males, double-crested in the females); in males a second pair of genital papillae always surrounded by strongly cuticularized rings; in females, uterine tube divided into 2 parts by a cellular wall forming a diaphragm. These characters are interpreted as synapomorphies, providing evidence that these taxa represent a monophyletic group, and we propose to classify them in a new subfamily of the Oxyuridae: the Enterobiinae subfam.nov. The Enterobiinae as recognized herein occurs in both Old World and New World Primates and rodents of the family Sciuridae (tribe Sciurini in the Holarctic region and tribe Xerini in the Ethiopian region). The new subfamily includes the following genera: Enterobius Leach, 1853; Colobenterobius Quentin, Betterton & Krishnasamy, 1979; Rodentoxyuris Quentin & Tenora 1974; Xeroxyuris Hugot, 1995; Lemuricola Chabaud & Petter, 1959; Protenterobius Inglis, 1961; Madoxyuris Chabaud, Brygoo & Petter, 1965; Trypanoxyuris Vevers, 1923; Hapaloxyuris Inglis & Cosgrove, 1965 and Paraoxyuronema Artigas, 1936. The genus Paraoxyuronema is revalidated as a subgenus of Trypanoxyuris due to its specialized buccal structures. This genus groups all pinworm nematodes specific for primates of the family Atelidae, including: P. brachytelesi Artigas, 1937 occurring in Brachyteles arachnoides; P. atelis (Cameron, 1929) occurring in Ateles spp., and P. duplicidens (Buckley, 1931) and P. lagothricis (Buckley, 1931), which are parasites of Lagothrix spp. Inglisoxyuris inglisi Chabaud, Petter & Golvan, 1961, included in the monospecific genus Inglisoxyuris and previously classified as a subgenus of the Lemuricola, does not share the characters of the new subfamily and, until its precise classification can be considered with more information, it is proposed to refer to this species as an Oxyuridae sensu lato. A diagnosis and a key of the genera included in the new subfamily are given.

Animals↗

Morphology and morphometrics of three oxyurids parasitic in primates with a description of Lemuricola microcebi n. sp.

Classical and morphometric analyses were conducted on several samples of oxyurid nematodes parasitic in strepsirrhine primates: Cheirogaleus major, Galago senegalensis, and Microcebus murinus. A diagnosis of Lemuricola contagiosus Chabaud & Petter, 1959 from C. major is given using syntypes, from which a lectotype is selected. The rest of the specimens were compared to L. contagiosus. From measurements taken from each sex, an initial Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was performed on log-transformed data and a second PCA was performed on log-shape ratios after elimination of the isometric differences. The parasites collected from M. murinus, which can be differentiated from the closely related L. contagiosus by both standard morphological characters and morphometric variables, are described as Lemuricola microcebi n. sp. The parasites collected from Galago are morphologically very similar to L. microcebi n. sp. The most probable explanation for this resemblance is considered to be a transfer from Microcebus to Galago but, due to the small numbers of individuals in our samples, it is impossible to eliminate the possibility that the parasites of Galago belong to an undescribed species. Until more material or information can be obtained, it is proposed to refer to the parasites from Galago as Lemuricola sp.

Animals↗

Phase I study of high-dose cisplatin, ifosfamide, and etoposide.

To test the feasibility of a regimen of high-dose cisplatin, ifosfamide, and etoposide (VP-16; VIPP regimen), we registered 15 patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer in a phase I trial of the Northern California Oncology Group. One cycle of treatment consisted of high-dose cisplatin given at 100 mg/m2 i.v. on days 1 and 8, VP-16 given at 60-75 mg/m2 i.v. on days 1-3, plus ifosfamide given at 1.0-1.2 g/m2 i.v. on days 1-3; cycles were repeated every 28 days. There were 13 men and 2 women; the median age was 59 years (range, 47-72 years). The median Karnofsky performance status (KPS) was 90 (range, 70-100). All patients were assessable for toxicity and response. The median number of cycles delivered per patient was two (range, one to four). Hematologic toxicity was dose-limiting and required de-escalation of the ifosfamide and VP-16 doses. Ten patients developed a white blood count of < 1000/mm3 and seven patients developed a platelet count of < 50,000/mm3. The duration of cytopenia increased progressively with each subsequent cycle of therapy. Two patients required antibiotics for neutropenic fever with documented infections (pneumonia, bacteremia). Seven patients received red blood cell transfusions for a hemoglobin level of < 8 gm/dl. Grade III or IV non-hematologic toxicities were uncommon and involved one patient each with grade 3 ototoxicity and grade 3 neurotoxicity. Five patients developed laboratory evidence of renal salt wasting. The overall response rate was 33% (5/15) with a complete response being achieved by two patients (13%) and a partial response being attained by three (20%). The overall median survival was 44 weeks. We conclude that although this regimen demonstrated activity, hematologic toxicity limited its use in the palliative treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer. Using hemopoietic growth-factor support to permit dose escalation, this schedule of VIPP may be of interest in a number of different chemotherapy-sensitive tumor types.

Aged↗