5 research outputs found
Intraspecific phylogeny of the house shrews, Suncus murinus-S-montanus species complex, based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene
No full textA phylogenetic tree was reconstructed based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene nucleotide sequences of 169 individuals of house shrews (Suncus murinus and S. montanus) from 44 localities in East Asia, Southeast Asia, West Asia, and islands in the western Indian Ocean. Shrews from China (Zhejiang), Japan (Okinawa), Vietnam, and Indonesia (Java) formed a monophyletic group with less genetic variation. Therefore, the shrews of these regions appeared to have originated from one or a few localities. Contrary to this, shrews from Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Pakistan consisted of several haplogroups. This finding suggests immigration movements to these areas. Fascinating findings were also obtained concerning the islands in the western Indian Ocean. First, shrews on Zanzibar Island (Tanzania) had almost the same haplotype as those in southwestern Iran. Therefore, the house shrew in Zanzibar may have immigrated from Iran (or vice versa). Second, shrews from Madagascar and Grande Comore Island shared the same haplotype, whereas the shrews on Reunion Island were clearly different from those of Madagascar and Comoros. Thus, there appears to have been several immigration routes to the islands of the western Indian Ocean
High prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth infections in Myanmar schoolchildren
No full textBACKGROUND: Achieving the elimination of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections requires a sufficient understanding of the current epidemiological status of STH endemicity. We aimed to examine the status of STH in Myanmar - a country with the eighth highest STH prevalence in the world, 10 years after instigation of the national deworming programme.METHODS: In August 2016 we screened for STH infections using Kato Katz (KK) microscopy and real-time PCR (qPCR) in schoolchildren from the Bago Region township of Phyu, a STH sentinel site in Myanmar. Ten schools were randomly selected, and one stool sample each from a total of 264 students was examined. Prevalence and intensity of infection were calculated for each STH.RESULTS: High prevalence of STH was identified in the study area with 78.8% of the schoolchildren infected with at least one STH by qPCR, and 33.3% by KK. The most prevalent STH was Trichuris trichiura, diagnosed by both KK (26.1%) and qPCR (67.1%), followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (15.5% KK; 54.9% qPCR). No hookworm infections were identified by KK; however, the qPCR analysis showed a high prevalence of Ancylostoma sp. infection (29.6%) with few Necator americanus (1.1%) infections.CONCLUSIONS: Despite bi-annual deworming of schoolchildren in the fourth-grade and below, STH prevalence remains stubbornly high. These results informed the expansion of the Myanmar National STH control programme to include all school-aged children by the Ministry of Health and Sports in 2017, however further expansion to the whole community should be considered along with improving sanitation and hygiene measures. This would be augmented by rigorous monitoring and evaluation, including national prevalence surveys.</p
Intraspecific phylogeny of the house shrews, Suncus murinus-S. montanus species complex, based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene
No full textA phylogenetic tree was reconstructed based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene nucleotide sequences of 169 individuals of house shrews (Suncus murinus and S. montanus) from 44 localities in East Asia, Southeast Asia, West Asia, and islands in the western Indian Ocean . Shrews from China (Zhejiang), Japan (Okinawa), Vietnam, and Indonesia (Java) formed a monophyletic group with less genetic variation. Therefore, the shrews of these regions appeared to have originated from one or a few localities. Contrary to this, shrews from Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Pakistan consisted of several haplogroups. This finding suggests immigration movements to these areas. Fascinating findings were also obtained concerning the islands in the western Indian Ocean. First, shrews on Zanzibar Island (Tanzania) bad almost the same haplotype as those in South-western Iran. Therefore, the house shrew in Zanzibarmay have immigrated from Iran (or vice versa). Second, shrews from Madagascar and Grande Comoros Island shared the same haplotype, whereas the shrews on Reunion Island were clearly different from those of Madagascar and Comoros. Thus, there appears to have been several immigration mutes to the islands of the western Indian Ocean
Intraspecific phylogeny of the house shrews, Suncus murinus-S-montanus species complex, based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene
No full textDistribution and growth of Nga Myin Yinn, Silonia silondia (Actinopterygii: Siluriformes: Schilbeidae), in the Ayeyarwady River, Myanmar
No full textThe silond catfish, Silonia silondia (Hamilton, 1822), known locally as Nga Myin Yinn, is rare in Myanmar fish markets and can fetch a high price. Efforts are being made to increase the production for domestic demand. We examined the distribution and growth of S. silondia based on catches in the Ayeyarwady River and growth records in fish farms near the river. The smaller fish were observed downstream near their nursery and the medium fish were around 1 m total length (TL) were often widespread, whereas the larger fish preferred upstream locations. Estimating the individual age from poorly defined periodic rings on the surface of otolith sections was difficult, but their microchemistry may reflect a shared nursery environment and subsequent migration throughout the entire river region. The growth curve estimates in the farmed population revealed a mean TL of 60 cm at four years, indicating that farmed fish were smaller than commercially captured wild fish. This is one of the first comprehensive studies of the river region, but more detailed surveys are needed to manage the fish resource sustainably
