We document the first record of Borrelia americana in Canada. This Borrelia was detected in an avian coast tick, Ixodes auritulus (Acari: Ixodidae), collected from a Varied Thrush, Ixoreus naevius, along coastal British Columbia. Using real-time PCR and DNA sequencing of the flagellin gene, we determined that the borrelial amplicon from the I. auritulus nymph was 99% homologous with B. american...

The virilis phylad of the Drosophila virilis group consists of five closely related taxa: D. virilis, D. lummei, D. novamexicana, D. americana americana and D. americana texana. DNA sequences from a 2.1-kb pair portion of the period locus were generated in four to eight individuals from each of the five taxa. We found evidence of recombination and high levels of variation within species. We fou...

Many studies have demonstrated the rapid diversification of reproductive genes that function after mating but before fertilization. This process might lead to the evolution of postmating, prezygotic barriers between species. Here, I investigate the phenotypic and genetic basis of postmating, prezygotic isolation between two closely related species of Drosophila, Drosophila virilis and D. americ...

The effect of plant growth-promoting bacteria inoculation on plant growth and the sugar content in Agave americana was assessed. The bacterial strains ACO-34A, ACO-40, and ACO-140, isolated from the A. americana rhizosphere, were selected for this study to evaluate their phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. The three bacterial strains were evaluated via plant inoculation assays, and Azospi...

Various morphological parts of Persea americana Mill (Lauraceae) (avocado) are widely used in African traditional medicines for the treatment, management and/or control of a variety of human ailments, including childhood convulsions and epilepsy. This study examined the anticonvulsant effect of the plant's leaf aqueous extract (PAE, 50-800 mg/kg i.p.) against pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-, picrotox...

Kenk, Roman. Freshwater Triclads (Turbellaria) of North America, VI: The Genus Dendrocoelopsis. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, number 138, 16 pages, 12 figures, 1973.—Five species of Dendrocoelopsis occur in North America, D. vaginata Hyman, D. piriformis Kenk, D. alaskensis Kenk, D. hymanae Kawakatsu, and D. americana [=Sorocelis americana Hyman]. Dendrocoelopsis vaginata, D. piriformis...

Blood and extracts of gut of the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, powerfully stimulate contractions of the isolated rat uterus. The contractions are characterized by long latency and a prolonged relaxation phase having superimposed rhythmic contractions. Evidence indicates that the stimulating factor is not acetylcholine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, histamine, or substance P. The active fact...

Adult male and female cockroaches, Periplaneta americana (L.) were assayed for the presence of digestive enzymes in the fore-, midand hindgut regions. Activities of αamylase, β-amylase, γ-amylase, proteinase and lipase were detected in the three gut regions except for the absence of γamylase and lipase in female hindgut. The presence of these enzymes partly explains the polyphagous feeding habi...

Cellulase activity measured as filter paper digesting activity (FPase) and carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase) was demonstrated in hindgut extracts of the cockroach Periplaneta americana. The highest activities measured amounted to 0.89 and 0.12 U . ml for CMCase and FPase, respectively. The cellulolytic capacity of the hindgut population increased dramatically when protozoa were present, and the ...

We examined the effects of aerodynamic forces on the mechanical power output of running insects for which kinematic data were available. Drag and lift on the cockroaches Periplaneta americana (a small, rapidly running species) and Blaberus discoidalis (a larger, more slowly moving species) were measured in a wind tunnel. Although lift would be expected to affect power output by altering functio...