First Systematic CGH-based Analyses of Ancient DNA Samples of Malformed Fetuses Preserved in the Meckel Anatomical Collection in Halle/Saale (Germany)

We present the first data on our comparative genomic hybridization (CGH)–based strategy for the analysis of ancient DNA (aDNA) samples extracted from fetuses preserved in the Meckel Anatomical Collection in Halle, Germany. The collection contains numerous differently fixed ancient samples of fetal malformations collected from the middle of the 18th to the early 19th century. The main objective of this study is to establish a “standard” aDNA extraction and amplification protocol as a prerequisite for successful CGH analyses to detect or exclude chromosomal imbalances possibly causative for the malformations described for the fetuses.

Nuchal cystic hygroma in five fetuses from 1819 to 1826 in the Meckel-anatomical collections at the University of Halle, Germany

The Anatomical collection of the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical School of the University of Halle, Germany, comprises more than 8,000 specimens. Around 600 of them show congenital anomalies. The collection of abnormal human and animal fetuses began as the private collection of Johann Friedrich Meckel the Elder (1724-1774), his son Philipp Friedrich Theodor Meckel (1755-1803) and his grandson Johann Friedrich Meckel the Younger (1781-1833). Meckel the Younger founded the systematic science of developmental pathology. Radiographical techniques, computer tomographic (CT) methods, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) were used to diagnose abnormal human fetuses in the Meckel-anatomical collections. Cystic hygroma colli was found in five of the human fetuses originally described by JF Meckel the Younger in 1826 and one of his students in 1819 [Hencke, 1819]. CGH analyses were used to test whether the observed cystic hygroma colli could be caused by chromosomal aneuploidies. CGH-ratio profiles of all chromosomes were apparently normal. PCR-based sex determination tests on ancient DNA were used to determine the fetal gonosomal constitution. It is likely that the Meckel specimens are among the oldest fetuses in which Ullrich-Turner "phenotype" has been diagnosed.

Acrofacial dysostosis (AFD) with preaxial limb hypoplasia (Nager AFD) and club foot diagnosed in a fetus from 1812 in the anatomical collections at the University of Halle, Germany

The Anatomical Collections of the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at the University of Halle, Germany, comprise more than 8,000 specimens, about 600 of them congenital anomalies. The collection of abnormal human and animal specimens began with the private collections of Johann Friedrich Meckel the Elder (1724-1774), his son Philipp Friedrich Theodor Meckel (1755-1803), and his grandson Johann Friedrich Meckel the Younger (1781-1833). Meckel the Younger founded the science of developmental pathology in Germany. Radiographical techniques, computer tomographic methods (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and molecular cytogenetic techniques, for example, comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) were used to diagnose abnormal human fetuses in the Meckel Collection. On examination of one of the human fetuses, originally described by JF Meckel the Younger in 1812 or earlier, we found striking clinical manifestations including mandibulofacial defects and preaxially malformed limbs. With respect to external findings, we propose that the condition is acrofacial dysostosis (AFD) with preaxial limb hypoplasia (Nager AFD) in combination with club foot, tibial torsion, and single umbilical artery. We used genetic analyses to test whether the observed limb malformations could be caused by aneuploidy. CGH-ratio profiles of all chromosomes were apparently normal. It is likely that Meckel's specimen is the earliest known fetus with Nager AFD.

[Johann Friedrich Meckel the Younger (1781-1833) and modern teratology]

Among other special topics Johann Friedrich Meckel the Younger concentrated his scientific researches on the systematic investigations of the human and animal malformations. He explored many samples which were part of his private anatomical collection. Today, the Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology possesses a number of important teratological preparations which Meckel and his graduate students minutely investigated (e.g. the individuals to the Meckel, Klippel Feil and Hanhart syndrome). The goals of our studies are to identify the samples originating from the Meckel Collections, and to reinvestigate them with modern methods. Two objects (brainless malformation, Halle I, and neural tube defect, Halle II) were analysed by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). These results obtained are published in Toennies et al. (2002).

[The occurrence of puparium parasitoids as natural enemies of house flies]

Investigations on the pupal parasitoid complex of the house fly Musca domestica L. and its seasonal occurrence were carried out, mainly in the Land Brandenburg, during 1987-1990. Samples of about 500-1,500 puparia were collected at irregular from composted calf dung at Ruhlsdorf, a pig farm at Wittbrietzen, and from straw calf bedding at Beelitz. The rates of parasitism varied considerably between seasons and years, as well as stable types and dung managements. The highest level of parasitism was 47%, the lowest fly emergence about 7%. The average total parasitism at Ruhlsdorf in successive years was 20.9%, 4.7%, 14.0% and 7.3%, respectively. The dominant parasitoids were Muscidifurax raptor Gir. & Sand., Spalangia cameroni Perkins and S. nigroaenea Curtis. Phygadeuon fumator Grav. was less common. Spalangia nigra Latr., S. subpunctata Förster, Nasonia vitripennis (Walk.) and larvae of Aleochara spp. were rare. The proportion of diapausing larvae of Spalangia spp. increased steadily from mid-June onwards but was highest from September through to the end of November. Superparasitism was most common in M. raptor, up to 8.1%. Multiparasitism occurred in 12.8% of total parasitism, mostly in associations between M. raptor and Spalangia spp. Up to three individuals of these solitary parasitoids were found in single host puparia.

[The secondary action of neporex on the pupa of parasitoids of stable flies]

In field tests for the control of house fly larvae in dung heaps of a pig fattening and breeding farm with Neporex SP 50 revealed, that the same species of parasitoids (Muscidifurax raptor, Spalangia nigroaenea, S. cameroni, Phygadeuon fumator) were capable to develop in cyromazine-damaged, larviform host puparia as in undamaged puparia. The parasitization rate is, however, about 3 times and the hatch of flies is twice as high in normal formed puparia compared with larviform puparia. Comparing the attractivity of untreated normal puparia with cyromazine-damaged, larviform puparia under laboratory conditions showed that the mentioned puparia gave rise to 2-3 times as much parasitoids. Rearing M. raptor and M. zaraptor on larviform host puparia in the laboratory led to a distinct decrease in the development of the parasitoid between populations within 3 ... 5 generations. Parasitoids emerged from larviform and from undamaged puparia showed not differences in their life dates in the F1 generation.

[Control of the Pharaoh's ant with borax bait formulations]

Results are given for the experimental control of Pharaoh ants, Monomorium pharaonis L., with persistent borax baits in the laboratory and the field. DYBH-bait formulations with about 17 per cent borax are very attractive and have a good effectivity. In 5 different objects infested with this ant eradication was proved to be possible with this experimental formulations. The progress of eradication depends essentially on the good organisational preparation of control measures.

[The appearance of insecticide resistance in Blattella germanica in the German Democratic Republic]

A review is given on the situation of resistance in the German cockroach (Blattella germanica) to insecticides during the last 15 years in the GDR, and conclusions are drawn for the future. From 23 samples trapped in various localities and subsequently reared in the laboratory, susceptibilities were measured against lindane, pyrethrin + PBO, trichlorfon, dichlorvos, and propoxur, the most used insecticides against cockroaches in our country. Detection of resistance was done with discriminating doses and the degree of resistance was measured with the doses-mortality method in deposit tests. In no case we found any resistance to propoxur but, for the first time, strains with a low resistance to dichlorvos. There was a distinct increase in the resistance to lindane, trichlorfon and pyrethrins + PBO during the lost years. A strain selected with pyrethrins in the laboratory showed marked group resistance to all tested pyrethroids (permethrin, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, tetramethrin, deltamethrin, bioresmethrin, bioallethrin), but no cross resistance to the other insecticides.

[The attractiveness of various heat insulation substrates and their effect on the reproductive rate of the German cockroach and recommendations for preventing cockroaches]

Attractivity of some heat-isolating materials (glass wool, mineral wool, foam polystyrol, "texdur"-sheets and textile isolating mats) to the German cockroach, Blattella germanica L. and the effects on rate of increase were studied in the laboratory in comparison with folded cardboard as a check. The influence of structure (pressed sheets or loosely quilted materials) and exposition (single, piled or between sheets of plaster) was represented. Loose glass wool, open or between plaster sheets, shows a clearly higher attractivity than the other materials tested. increase of populations on glass wool is almost the same as on folded cardboards. The solid variants were less suitable for the settlement of the cockroaches. General recommendations for the prevention of infestations by cockroaches are given.

[25 years of the state testing section and 10 years of the reference laboratory for the control of arthropods harmful to health in East Germany]

The development during the past 25 years of a public-health institution in the German Democratic Republic working specifically on the control of arthropod pests is outlined. Essential fields of the work are: Biological effectiveness tests of pesticides and the instructions for pesticide application; advice on the introduction of new means of control and participation in their further development; investigation on resistance against insecticides; cooperation with the departments of parasitology in the local institutes of hygiene and with the professional branch of pest control operators; contributions to the updating of the specific legislation. Structure of the reference laboratory and selected data on the extent of work. Scientists of the laboratory are active members of scientific societies, especially of the Parasitological Society of GDR.

[Control of Monomorium pharaonis using a methoprene bait in the Berlin Zoo and its combined application with a residue insecticide in the Olomouc Children's Clinic]

The control of Monomorium pharaonis by a methoprene bait in the Tierpark Berlin and its combined application with a residue insecticide in the children's hospital in Olomouc. In two different institutions heavy infestations with the Pharaoh's ant (Monomorium pharaonis L.) could be eradicated with a methoprene bait applied by different methods. In a zoological garden the bait was continuously exposed in boxes for many weeks. The dosage was about 2.5 g/10 m2, and 1.42 kg of DYBH-bait were used. On average 50% of this amount was taken off by the ants during the eradication period of 14...37 weeks. In a children's hospital after spraying permethrin 10 weeks before the bait was exposed uncovered with 0.5 g per bait station. Within 13 days an area of 9,000 m2 was treated with about 1.8 kg of DYBH-bait. 131/2 weeks after the beginning of the application no more ants could be detected by visual checking. Further checking with baited traps after 128 days confirmed eradication. The bait was very persistent being still attractive and effective after an exposition of about 8 months.

[The suitability of cold preserved Musca domestica puparia for the mass rearing of the ichneumon fly Muscidifurax raptor (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)]

The preceding production of essential numbers of hosts--puparia of Musca domestica L.--requires more labour and space and higher costs than the virtual rearing of the hymenopterous parasitoid Muscidifurax raptor GIRAULT & SANDERS itself. Therefore, the possibility of preserving the host by freezing would be a substantial improvement in the mass rearing of the parasitoid. It was demonstrated that frozen puparia were not less attractive for females of M. raptor than fresh ones. Puparia less than 24 hours old are not suitable for cold storing. Host pupae stored under freezing temperatures or heat (treated for 5 min at 65 degrees C) showed a higher hatching rate of the parasitoid than fresh ones. Freezing temperatures of about -7 degrees C are not sufficient for longer storage. At a temperature of -21 degrees C the host suitability of the frozen puparia did not decrease for a storage period of 53 weeks. The average size of M. raptor remained unchanged after rearing 8-9 generations upon coldstored hosts.

[Development of African ticks Ornithodoros moubata during in vitro rearing]

The suitability of in vitro-feeding for the laboratory rearing of Ornithodoros moubata Murray was tested by the development of about 3,000 first-stage nymphs to the adult stage. At intervals of 3 to 4 weeks defibrinated blood of sheep was fed to the ticks through a parafilm "M" membrane on an electric hot plate. On average 61% of the ticks were found engorged after the feeding. The highest rate of about 78% in the first nymphal stage decreased to about 45% in the fifth. The increase was highest in the second and third stages and lowest in the fifth. The total survival rate in this experiment was about 46%. Losses by the feeding could be reduced by means of some improvements in the experiment.

[Rearing the common housefly Musca domestica (L.) in small cages]

A simple and time-saving rearing method of the house fly (M. domestica L.) is described. Additionally a brief review is given on some manual techniques in breeding of flies. Rearing is carried out in small cages, which are completely supplied from outside. This method is especially suitable in case of many strains kept together in small rooms. Breeding is done in wire-frame cages in shape of a truncated pyramide covered with dederon wire-gauze. Flies are fed and lay eggs through the gauze. The breeding medium of larvae consists of wheat bran, fresh curdled whole milk and water with addition of dried yeast and methylhydroxybenzoat. Pupae weigh 25 to 31.5 mg, when stocking of the medium with larvae is near the optimum (1 larvae/1 g medium). The small cages admit 500 to 3,000 flies each.

[Review of in vitro feeding of bloodsucking anthropods]

A review on methods of in-vitro-feeding of bloodsucking arthropods is given. The most important sphere of application of these methods are the in-vitro-rearing, experiments of transmission of virulent and avirulent pathogens, investigations about the nutrition of haematophagous arthropods, and about the efficiency of phagostimulants, repellents et al. Composition, preparation and preservation of natural blood are briefly described. The kind and the handling of the blood and the suitability of methods depends on the bionomic and feeding behaviour of arthropods and on the specific task of work. The most important methods of the in-vitro-feeding are inoculation, capillary method, feeding from the absorptive substrats of from embryonated eggs, and especially feeding through membranes.