Malaria is one of the most devastating infectious diseases of humans. It is problematic clinically and economically as it prevails in poorer countries and regions, strongly hindering socioeconomic development. The causative agents of malaria are unicellular protozoan parasites belonging to the genus Plasmodium. These parasites infect not only humans but also other vertebrates, from reptiles and birds to mammals. To date, over 200 species of Plasmodium have been formally described, and each species infects a certain range of hosts. Plasmodium species that naturally infect humans and cause malaria in large areas of the world are limited to five-P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae, P. ovale and P. knowlesi. The first four are specific for humans, while P. knowlesi is naturally maintained in macaque monkeys and causes zoonotic malaria widely in South East Asia. Transmission of Plasmodium species between vertebrate hosts depends on an insect vector, which is usually the mosquito. The vector is not just a carrier but the definitive host, where sexual reproduction of Plasmodium species occurs, and the parasite's development in the insect is essential for transmission to the next vertebrate host. The range of insect species that can support the critical development of Plasmodium depends on the individual parasite species, but all five Plasmodium species causing malaria in humans are transmitted exclusively by anopheline mosquitoes. Plasmodium species have remarkable genetic flexibility which lets them adapt to alterations in the environment, giving them the potential to quickly develop resistance to therapeutics such as antimalarials and to change host specificity. In this article, selected topics involving the Plasmodium species that cause malaria in humans are reviewed.
The distributions of amphibians, birds and mammals have underpinned global and local conservation priorities, and have been fundamental to our understanding of the determinants of global biodiversity. In contrast, the global distributions of reptiles, representing a third of terrestrial vertebrate diversity, have been unavailable. This prevented the incorporation of reptiles into conservation planning and biased our understanding of the underlying processes governing global vertebrate biodiversity. Here, we present and analyse the global distribution of 10,064 reptile species (99% of extant terrestrial species). We show that richness patterns of the other three tetrapod classes are good spatial surrogates for species richness of all reptiles combined and of snakes, but characterize diversity patterns of lizards and turtles poorly. Hotspots of total and endemic lizard richness overlap very little with those of other taxa. Moreover, existing protected areas, sites of biodiversity significance and global conservation schemes represent birds and mammals better than reptiles. We show that additional conservation actions are needed to effectively protect reptiles, particularly lizards and turtles. Adding reptile knowledge to a global complementarity conservation priority scheme identifies many locations that consequently become important. Notably, investing resources in some of the world's arid, grassland and savannah habitats might be necessary to represent all terrestrial vertebrates efficiently.
Kepimpinan pengetua diterokai berdasarkan atribut semula jadi yang memfokuskan ketegasan kepimpinan pengetua dalam lapan bidang amalan pengurusan di sekolah. Kerangka teoritikal adalah bersandarkan Teori The Great Man dan model pengetua berkesan diaplikasikan dalam menjalankan kajian secara kualitatif iaitu melalui kajian kes tunggal. Data kualitatif ini diperolehi dengan menemubual pengetua, barisan pentadbir, guru kanan mata pelajaran, dan guru-guru. Data kualitatif dianalisa secara manual. Dapatan menunjukkan atribut semula jadi pengetua berdasarkan aspek ketegasan adalah mencerminkan kewibawaan sikap pengetua dalam amalan pengurusannya di sekolah. Aspek ini diteliti berdasarkan tema demografi pengetua dan pandangan guru-guru. Temu bual mendalam ini menjelaskan amalan pengurusan kepimpinan pengetua dalam lapan bidang utama di sekolah didapati menyokong dapatan sebagaimana dalam teori dibangunkan serta model pengetua berkesan. Bagaimanapun, dalam menghadapi cabaran impak globalisasi, pengetua juga memerlukan sokongan daripada pelbagai pihak sama ada warga sekolah mahupun pihak luar dalam mengurus sekolah dengan lebih berkesan.
Food-borne illness caused by Salmonella enterica remains a public health problem and results in economic loss worldwide. With the up-coming establish- ment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) allowing unrestricted move- ment of labor and goods, there is a higher risk of pathogen transmission among the AEC countries. This study characterized and investigated the spatial and temporal associations of S. enterica strains isolated in AEC countries during 1940- 2012 compared with those isolated in northern-Thailand during 2011-2013. Of the 173 S. enterica strains examined, 68 sequence types (STs) and 32 clonal complexes (CCs) were identified by multi loci sequence typing. Twenty-one strains belonged to four sequence types new to AEC countries, and they constituted only two CCs. A number of strains originated from various countries with multiple hosts, were highlighted. There was evidence of strains circulating in the AEC region well over a decade. Such information will be important in formulating biosecurity measures, as well as in educating regarding the risk of disease transmission in AEC.
Six species of strigeoid trematodes are reported from Malaysia. One new genus and 3 new species are described: Apatemon (Apatemon( jamesi sp. n (Strigeidae); cercaria Cotylurus sullivani sp. n. (Strigeidae); Neodiplostomum (Neodiplostomum) sp. (Diplostomatidae); Fibricola ramachandrani (Diplostomatidae); Pseudoscolopacitrema otteri gen. n. et sp. n. (Diplostomatidae); and cercaria Cyathocotyle malayi sp. n. (Cyathocotylidae). The life cycles of A. jamesi and C. malayi have also been investigated.
Sesi praktikal konvensional sebelum ini telah dilaporkan kurang berkesan dalam mencapai objektif pembelajaran. Oleh itu “Speedy Biochemistry” diperkenalkan untuk membantu pelajar mengaplikasikan pengetahuan yang telah mereka pelajari di dalam kelas. Teknik ini memupuk semangat kerja berpasukan dan penerapan pengetahuan dalam penyelesaian masalah yang dapat dicapai melalui pembelajaran aktif. Pendekatan pembelajaran aktif telah kian diminati oleh para akademik kerana memberikan lebih banyak faedah kepada pelajar. Sesi “Speedy Biochemistry” telah dijalankan di kalangan pelajar perubatan Tahun 1 di Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia dan maklum balas mereka telah direkodkan. “Speedy Biochemistry” boleh menjadi contoh sesi pembelajaran aktif yang baik dalam meningkatkan minat pelajar perubatan di dalam mata pelajaran Biokimia.
A new species of the genus Sabellaria Lamarck, 1818 (Annelida: Polychaeta: Sabellariidae) is described from the intertidal zone of Jeram, Selangor, Malaysia. Sabellaria jeramae n. sp. is a gregarious species that constructs large reefs several hundreds of meters long and 50-200 m wide. The new species is distinguished from other congeners by the character combination of the presence of a single kind of middle paleae with conspicuous morphology, and outer paleae with long frayed teeth. Morphological features of the species are described and compared to those of all congeneric species. We also compare the reef structure and geographical distribution of the new species to those of the members of the family Sabellariidae around the world, demonstrating the ecological traits of the reefs.
The use of carbon dioxide (CO2) exposure as a means of animal euthanasia has received considerable attention in mammals and birds but remains virtually untested in reptiles. We measured the behavioral responses of four squamate reptile species (Homalopsis buccata, Malayopython reticulatus, Python bivitattus, and Varanus salvator) to exposure to 99.5% CO2 for durations of 15, 30, or 90 minutes. We also examined alterations in plasma corticosterone levels of M. reticulatus and V. salvator before and after 15 minutes of CO2 exposure relative to control individuals. The four reptile taxa showed consistent behavioral responses to CO2 exposure characterized by gaping and minor movements. The time taken to lose responsiveness to stimuli and cessation of movements varied between 240-4260 seconds (4-71 minutes), with considerable intra- and inter-specific variation. Duration of CO2 exposure influenced the likelihood of recovery, which also varied among species (e.g., from 0-100% recovery after 30-min exposure). Plasma corticosterone concentrations increased after CO2 exposure in both V. salvator (18%) and M. reticulatus (14%), but only significantly in the former species. Based on our results, CO2 appears to be a mild stressor for reptiles, but the relatively minor responses to CO2 suggest it may not cause considerable distress or pain. However, our results are preliminary, and further testing is required to understand optimal CO2 delivery mechanisms and interspecific responses to CO2 exposure before endorsing this method for reptile euthanasia.
Protected Areas (PAs) are the cornerstone of biodiversity conservation. Here, we collated distributional data for >14,000 (~70% of) species of amphibians and reptiles (herpetofauna) to perform a global assessment of the conservation effectiveness of PAs using species distribution models. Our analyses reveal that >91% of herpetofauna species are currently distributed in PAs, and that this proportion will remain unaltered under future climate change. Indeed, loss of species' distributional ranges will be lower inside PAs than outside them. Therefore, the proportion of effectively protected species is predicted to increase. However, over 7.8% of species currently occur outside PAs, and large spatial conservation gaps remain, mainly across tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, and across non-high-income countries. We also predict that more than 300 amphibian and 500 reptile species may go extinct under climate change over the course of the ongoing century. Our study highlights the importance of PAs in providing herpetofauna with refuge from climate change, and suggests ways to optimize PAs to better conserve biodiversity worldwide.
A survey of ticks and other ectoparasites was carried out during a national biodiversity scientific expedition at Ulu Muda Forest Reserve, Kedah, Malaysia from 23-29 March 2003. A total of 161 animals comprising 20 species of birds, 16 species of bats, six species of non-volant small mammals and 12 species of reptiles were examined for ticks and other ectoparasites. From these animals, nine species in five genera of ticks, 10 species in two families of Mesostigmatid mites and five species of chiggers were collected. Three of the ectoparasitic species found, Dermacentor auratus, Ixodes granulatus and Leptotrombidium deliense are of known public health importance. This survey produced the first list of ticks and other ectoparasites in the forest reserve and the third study of ectoparasites in Kedah. Fourteen species of these ectoparasites are new locality records.
Oleh kerana pelaksanaan pembelajaran sejarah yang berkesan dapat membentuk sikap belajar yang positif dalam kalangan murid, maka kajian tinjauan ini adalah bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti tahap persepsi sikap belajar sejarah dari segi minat belajar sejarah, kebolehan belajar sejarah dan penggunaan bahan sejarah bagi murid yang mengikuti pembelajaran sejarah berasaskan penggunaan sumber sejarah, di samping untuk menentukan sama ada terdapat perbezaan min persepsi sikap belajar sejarah berdasarkan jantina. Seramai 55 orang murid Tingkatan Empat terlibat dalam kajian ini. Soal selidik yang telah diadaptasi yang telah disahkan oleh pakar-pakar penilai dalam bidang pendidikan sejarah serta mempunyai nilai kebolehpercayaan yang baik merupakan instrumen kajian ini. Data kajian ini telah dianalisis secara deskriptif dan inferensi iaitu ujian-t sampel berpasangan melalui perisian IBM SPSS. Dapatan kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa tahap persepsi sikap belajar sejarah dan ketiga-tiga konstruknya adalah tinggi. Selain itu, dapatan kajian ini juga telah melaporkan bahawa tidak terdapat perbezaan min persepsi sikap belajar sejarah berdasarkan jantina. Sikap belajar sejarah yang positif yang telah dipamerkan oleh murid-murid dalam kajian ini telah mencadangkan kepada guru-guru Sejarah untuk merekabentuk dan melaksanakan proses pembelajaran sejarah dengan menggunakan sumber sejarah secara intensif di dalam kelas selaras dengan matlamat kurikulum sejarah untuk membina minat terhadap mata pelajaran sejarah sebagai satu disiplin ilmu yang dinamik dan membina semangat patriotisme dalam mempertahankan kedaulatan negara.
Cryptosporidium parasites can infect a wide range of vertebrate hosts including reptiles, mammals, and birds. Due to the zoonotic nature of cryptosporidiosis and its close contact with exotic birds and humans, the present study aimed to determine the prevalence and genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium spp. in exotic birds of southwest of Iran, by the staining and molecular methods. In the present research, 369 stool specimens were randomly collected from exotic birds and stained by modified acid-fast stain using Ziehl-Neelsen method. The slides were examined using light microscopy at a magnification of 100X. Then, the extracted DNA was amplified using the PCR method. Finally, all genotypes and positive samples from PCR assay were sequenced by Bioneer Company (Daejeon, South Korea). Among 369 stool specimens, 25 and 27 cases were found to be positive for Cryptosporidium spp. by the modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining and the PCR methods, respectively. Based on the genotyping, C. avian genotype III and C. meleagridis were detected in 25 and 2 stool samples, respectively. The results revealed a relatively high prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in exotic birds in the southwest of Iran. Due to the zoonotic nature of C. meleagridis, these exotic birds can be a significant source of cryptosporidiosis. It is important that high-risk people, including immune-deficient patients, receive correct information about the risk of indirect and direct contact with infected exotic birds.
Bukit Perangin Forest Reserve, Kedah Malaysia is a popular forest park well known for its clear rivers and streams, interesting sedimentary rock formations and a rich biodiversity in flora and fauna. However to date no report on the amphibians and reptiles of this forest has ever been published. Therefore, from January 2009 to May 2010, herpetofauna surveys were conducted at Bukit Wang Recreational Forest, which forms a part of the Bukit Perangin Forest Reserve. The results of the survey showed that a total of 15 species of amphibians belonging to 6 families and 15 species of reptiles
belonging to 7 families were found in the study area. These constitute the first records for the amphibians and reptiles in this forest. The herpetofauna checklist showed that the most abundant amphibians were from the family Ranidae while the most abundant reptiles were from the family Gekkonidae.
An integrative taxonomic analysis of the Sphenomorphus stellatus group recovered a newly discovered museum specimen from Phu Quoc Island, Kien Giang Province, Vietnam as a new species most closely related to S. preylangensis from Phnom Chi in central Cambodia, approximately 175 km to the northeast. Most notably, S. phuquocensis sp. nov. lacks the derived condition of having black dorsal stripes that diagnose S. annamiticus-the sister species to S. preylangensis plus S. phuquocensis sp. nov. A BioGeoBEARS analysis recovered the ancestor of the S. stellatus group to likely have ranged across forested regions on an exposed Sunda Shelf from southwestern Indochina to Peninsular Malaysia prior to diverging into northern and southern lineages separated by the Gulf of Thailand. Episodic fluctuations in sea levels and concomitant changes in the physiography of the Mekong Delta contributed to the fragmented distribution within and between species of the northern lineage. Sphenomorphus phuquocensis sp. nov. represents the second species of reptile endemic to Phu Quoc Island.
Sindrom distensi beg kapsul ialah salah satu komplikasi yang jarang berlaku selepas fakoemulsifikasi dengan implan kanta intraokular dimasukkan ke dalam bag kanta dalam mata. Kami menerangkan satu kes sindrom distensi beg kapsul yang berlaku pada seorang lelaki berusia pertengahan yang menjalani fakoemulsifikasi dengan ‘plat haptic’ implan kanta intraokular (Zeiss CT ASPHINA 509MP) ke dalam mata kanan. Penglihatan mata kanan semasa pemeriksaan susulan 1 minggu and susulan 5 minggu selepas pembedahan tidak menunjukan penambahbaikan dengan refraksi kuasa mata bertukar menjadi minus 2.5 diopter. Tekanan intraokular hanya meningkat pada 2 jam selepas pembedahan dan normal semasa pemeriksaan susulan berikutnya. Beg kapsul distensi telah disahkan dengan menggunakan IOL Master 700. IOL Master 700 menunjukkan pengasingan abnormal beg kapsul dari implan kanta intraokular. Diagnosis sindrom distensi beg kapsul yang disebabkan oleh pengekalan viskoelastik dibuat. Pengeluaran viskoelastik yang tertinggal di dalam mata kanan telah dilakukan dan sindrom distensi beg kapsul berjaya diselesaikan dengan penglihatan mata kanan kembali ke 6/6. Oleh itu, pengeluaran viskoelastik dengan sepenuhnya semasa fakoemulsifikasi dengan ‘plat haptic’ implan kanta intrakular adalah penting untuk mengelakkan sindrom distensi beg kapsul.
Kajian ini dilaksanakan untuk melihat penerimaan terhadap penggunaan mobile learning di kalangan pelajar tingkatan 6 dalam mata pelajaran geografi. Kaedah kuantitatif digunakan dalam kajian ini yang melibatkan sebuah pusat tingkatan 6 yang terletak di daerah Kota Kinabalu, Sabah seramai 137 orang pelajar. Semua pelajar yang mengambil mata pelajaran geografi telah diambil sebagai sampel kajian. Borang soal selidik digunakan sebagai instrumen dalam kajian ini yang telah diubahsuai dan dirujuk daripada Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) untuk menentukan tahap penerimaan terhadap penggunaan mobile learning di kalangan pelajar tingkatan 6 dalam mata pelajaran Geografi. Hasil daripada analisis statistik menunjukkan bahawa tahap penerimaan pelajar terhadap mobile learning berada di tahap yang tinggi.
A survey was carried out at the Pasoh Forest Reserve from 13–19 December, 2007 and 20–24 January, 2008, to inventory the herpetofauna contained therein. A total of 23 species of reptiles and amphibians were collected during this survey, five of which have not previously been recorded in the Pasoh Forest Reserve. An updated checklist which incorporates findings from previous studies is presented.
Kajian ini bertujuan untuk meneroka kefahaman Pengetahuan Pedagogi Kandungan (PPK) guru bukan pengkhususan mata pelajaran Reka Bentuk dan Teknologi (RBT) di Sekolah Menengah. Kajian ini adalah kajian kualitatif single case yang melibatkan dua orang guru bukan pengkhususan mata pelajaran RBT dipilih sebagai peserta kajian. Pengumpulan data menggunakan kaedah temu bual, pemerhatian dan juga analisis dokumen. Proses analisis data melibatkan tiga peringkat koding dalam Grounded Theory iaitu open coding, axial coding dan selective coding. Hasil kajian mendapati kedua peserta belum memahami dan menguasai sepenuhnya hala tuju, matlamat dan fokus KSSM RBT. Selain itu, mereka juga masih menghadapi masalah dalam menguasai isi kandungan mata pelajaran tersebut dengan baik. Dari aspek pengetahuan pedagogi, walaupun peserta kajian sedar tentang pendekatan-pendekatan PdPc yang dicadangkan dalam DSKP KSSM mata pelajaran RBT, namun mereka kurang menggunakan pendekatan tersebut dan masih cenderung menggunakan pendekatan pengajaran tradisional yang lebih berpusatkan kepada guru dan menggunakan kaedah syarahan semasa proses PdPc.