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Fulltext Revision of the pseudo-orbweavers of the genus Fecenia Simon, 1887 (Araneae, Psechridae), with emphasis on their pre-epigyne

Bayer S

Zookeys, 2011.
PMID: 22287909 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.153.2110

The present paper provides a taxonomic revision of the genus Fecenia with emphasis on the characteristics of the pre-epigynes which are integrated for the first time into an identification key. As a result, one species is revalidated, Fecenia protensa Thorell, 1891, stat. n., and two new junior synonyms for Fecenia protensa are recognised: Fecenia sumatrana Kulczyński, 1908, syn. n. and Fecenia nicobarensis (Tikader, 1977), syn. n. New records are reported: Fecenia ochracea (Doleschall, 1859)from Malaysian Borneo, Fecenia macilenta (Simon, 1885) from Sumatra, Indonesia, Fecenia protensa from Thailand and Malaysia, Fecenia travancoria Pocock, 1899 from Sri Lanka and Thailand, and Fecenia cylindrata Thorell, 1895 from Thailand and Laos. Additional information on the biology of Fecenia is provided and the validity of characters for identifying Fecenia species is discussed.

Matched MeSH terms: Thailand
Biological diversity of fish communities: pattern and process

Magurran AE, Khachonpisitsak S, Ahmad AB

J Fish Biol, 2011 Dec;79(6):1393-412.
PMID: 22136233 DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8649.2011.03091.x

For over 150 years, ecologists have been striving to explain fundamental patterns of biological diversity, such as the observation that communities invariably consist of common and rare species, and to unravel the processes that underpin these patterns. This task is increasingly urgent given the accelerating loss of biological diversity. Although fishes are the most diverse vertebrate taxon and fish communities occur in a wide range of habitats, they have been relatively little studied in the quest to elucidate the processes that shape patterns of biological diversity. Here, some of the topics that investigations of fish assemblages can illuminate are highlighted. These include the characteristics of ecological communities and the role that dispersal limitation plays in structuring them, the distinction between core and occasional species, the insights that evaluating abundance in different currencies can bring and the assessment of community capacity. Questions are identified that future investigations of fish communities might tackle and a case study of a biodiverse ecoregion (Thailand and Peninsula Malaysia) is used to illustrate the need for better links between these ecological questions and effective conservation practice.

Matched MeSH terms: Thailand
Fulltext Four new species of the genus Philanthaxia Deyrolle, 1864 from Southeast Asia and comments on P. iris Obenberger, 1938 (Coleoptera, Buprestidae, Thomassetiini)

Bílý S, Nakládal O

Zookeys, 2011.
PMID: 21998499 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.116.1403

Descriptions of four new species of the genus Philanthaxia Deyrolle, 1864: Philanthaxia pseudoaeneasp. n. (Thailand), Philanthaxia jaklisp. n. (Indonesia, Sumatra), Philanthaxia chalcogenioidessp. n. (Indonesia, Sabah) and Philanthaxia lombokanasp. n. (Indonesia, Lombok) are given. The new species and male genitalia are illustrated and compared with the most similar congeners. Sexual dimorphism of Philanthaxia iris Obenberger, 1938 is described and discussed.

Matched MeSH terms: Thailand
Fulltext Reevaluation of the odd chrysidid genus Atoposega Krombein (Hymenoptera, Chrysididae, Amiseginae)

Kimsey LS

Zookeys, 2014.
PMID: 24899842 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.409.7414

The south Asian amisegine genus Atoposega Krombein, 1957, is reevaluated. Three new species, A. rufithorax, A. striata and A. thailandica are described from Thailand and the previously described species, A. lineata (Krombein, 1957) from Borneo, A. rieki (Krombein, 1957) from Myanmar and A. simulans Kimsey, 1986 from Malaysia are redescribed. The species, A. decorata Kimsey, 1995, was found to lack the generic characters diagnostic for Atoposega. Atoposega is only known from females.

Matched MeSH terms: Thailand
Fulltext Revision of the carnivorous snail genus Discartemon Pfeiffer, 1856, with description of twelve new species (Pulmonata, Streptaxidae)

Siriboon T, Sutcharit C, Naggs F, Rowson B, Panha S

Zookeys, 2014.
PMID: 24843260 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.401.7075

Twelve new species of the streptaxid snail genus Discartemon Pfeiffer, 1856 are described from southern Thailand and western Malaysia, D. afthonodontia sp. n., D. circulus sp. n., D. deprima sp. n., D. discadentus sp. n., D. discamaximus sp. n., D. expandus sp. n., D. flavacandida sp. n., D. kotanensis sp. n., and D. megalostraka sp. n. from southern Thailand, as well as D. conicus sp. n., D. epipedis sp. n. and D. triancus sp. n. from western Malaysia. All 15 previously described species are revised and commented upon based on examined material. Streptaxis paradiscus Möllendorff, 1900 is considered a junior subjective synonym of the type species D. discus (Pfeiffer, 1853). Details of the genital anatomy of twelve species, and the radula and pallial system, are provided for the first time. An identification key is provided.

Matched MeSH terms: Thailand
Fulltext Rainfall seasonality and pest pressure as determinants of tropical tree species' distributions

Baltzer JL, Davies SJ

Ecol Evol, 2012 Nov;2(11):2682-94.
PMID: 23170205 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.383

Drought and pests are primary abiotic and biotic factors proposed as selective filters acting on species distributions along rainfall gradients in tropical forests and may contribute importantly to species distributional limits, performance, and diversity gradients. Recent research demonstrates linkages between species distributions along rainfall gradients and physiological drought tolerance; corresponding experimental examinations of the contribution of pest pressure to distributional limits and potential interactions between drought and herbivory are limited. This study aims to quantitate differential performance and herbivory as a function of species range limits across a climatic and floristic transition in Southeast Asia. Khao Chong Botanical Garden, Thailand and Pasoh Forest Reserve, Malaysia straddle the Kangar-Pattani Line. A reciprocal transplantation across a seasonality gradient was established using two groups of species ("widespread" taxa whose distributions include seasonally dry forests and "aseasonal" taxa whose distributions are limited to aseasonal forests). Growth, biomass allocation, survival, and herbivory were monitored for 19 months. Systematic differences in performance were a function of species distribution in relation to rainfall seasonality. In aseasonal Pasoh, aseasonal species had both greater growth and survivorship than widespread species. These differences were not a function of differential herbivory as widespread and aseasonal species experienced similar damage in the aseasonal forest. In seasonally dry Khao Chong, widespread species showed higher survivorship than aseasonal species, but these differences were only apparent during drought. We link this differential performance to physiological mechanisms as well as differential tolerance of biotic pressure during drought stress. Systematic decreases in seedling survival in aseasonal taxa during drought corresponded with previously documented physiological differences and may be exacerbated by herbivore damage. These results have important implications for tropical diversity and community composition in light of predicted increases in the frequency and severity of drought in hyperdiverse tropical forests.

Matched MeSH terms: Thailand
Fulltext Medical tourism and policy implications for health systems: a conceptual framework from a comparative study of Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia

Pocock NS, Phua KH

Global Health, 2011;7:12.
PMID: 21539751 DOI: 10.1186/1744-8603-7-12

Medical tourism is a growing phenomenon with policy implications for health systems, particularly of destination countries. Private actors and governments in Southeast Asia are promoting the medical tourist industry, but the potential impact on health systems, particularly in terms of equity in access and availability for local consumers, is unclear. This article presents a conceptual framework that outlines the policy implications of medical tourism's growth for health systems, drawing on the cases of Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia, three regional hubs for medical tourism, via an extensive review of academic and grey literature. Variables for further analysis of the potential impact of medical tourism on health systems are also identified. The framework can provide a basis for empirical, in country studies weighing the benefits and disadvantages of medical tourism for health systems. The policy implications described are of particular relevance for policymakers and industry practitioners in other Southeast Asian countries with similar health systems where governments have expressed interest in facilitating the growth of the medical tourist industry. This article calls for a universal definition of medical tourism and medical tourists to be enunciated, as well as concerted data collection efforts, to be undertaken prior to any meaningful empirical analysis of medical tourism's impact on health systems.

Matched MeSH terms: Thailand
Reproductive Mode of Fejervarya limnocharis (Anura: Ranidae) Caught from Mae Sot, Thailand Based on Its Gonadosomatic Indices

Othman MS, Khonsue W, Kitana J, Thirakhupt K, Robson MG, Kitana N

Asian Herpetol Res, 2011;2(1):41-45.
PMID: 26389013

Amphibians show a variety of reproductive modes and strategies. The cyclicity and continuity of reproduction can often be predicted from the annual gonadosomatic index trends in a species specific manner. This research aims to document the female and male gonadosomatic index profiles and to ascertain the reproductive cyclicity or continuity of Fejervarya limnocharis (Anura: Ranidae) caught in Mae Sot, Tak Province, Thailand. Frogs were collected monthly between November 2007 and October 2009 in rice fields and their surrounding areas in the study site. For each frog, total weight and ovarian/testicular weight were measured to obtain the female and male gonadosomatic index. The number of female individuals with mature eggs (postvitellogenic eggs) was also counted. The results showed that female frogs had two main surges of increased GSI in March and September of 2008. Alternatively, male frogs showed a more gradual increase and decrease in gonadosomatic index, thus the index remaining high throughout the year. This study concluded that while F. limnocharis in this area is essentially a continuous breeder, it is more optimized for a cyclic reproduction mode with two breeding cycles during the rainy season.

Matched MeSH terms: Thailand
A new species of Simulium (Asiosimulium) (Diptera: Simuliidae) from northeastern Thailand, with its phylogenetic relationships with related species in the subgenus Asiosimulium

Aupalee K, Srisuka W, Taai K, Takaoka H, Saeung A

J Med Entomol, 2023 Nov 14;60(6):1330-1342.
PMID: 37669777 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjad118

Simulium (Asiosimulium) khongchiamense sp. nov. is described based on females, males, pupae, and mature larvae collected from Khong Chiam District, Ubon Ratchathani Province, northeastern Thailand. It is characterized in the female by the medium-long sensory vesicle, scutum with 3 dark longitudinal vittae and elongate cercus; in the male by the number of upper-eye (large) facets in 17 or 18 vertical rows and 18 or 19 horizontal rows, hind basitarsus moderately enlarged and ventral plate with the posterior margin moderately concave medially; in the pupa by the head and thoracic integument sparsely covered with tubercles and gill of arborescent type with 32 or 33 filaments; and in the larva by the postgenal cleft deep, reaching the posterior margin of the hypostoma and sheath of the subesophageal ganglion dark pigmented. DNA analysis based on COI gene of all known species of the subgenus Asiosimulium, except for S. shanense and S. suchitrae, indicated that this new species can be clearly differentiated from all other related species (S. phurueaense, S. oblongum, S. saeungae, S. furvum, and S. wanchaii) with interspecific genetic distances ranging between 4.79% and 19.18%. This is the eighth species of the subgenus Asiosimulium. Taxonomic notes are given to distinguish this new species from the 7 known species members in its same subgenus. Additionally, keys to species of all members in the subgenus Asiosimulium are provided.

Matched MeSH terms: Thailand
Molecular detection of filarial nematode from Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in northeastern Thailand

Pramual P, Khamluea S, Butlun P, Promdungdee A

Trop Biomed, 2023 Jun 01;40(2):188-193.
PMID: 37650406 DOI: 10.47665/tb.40.2.010

Culicoides Latreille biting midges are important blood feeding insects. Many species are pests and vectors of the disease causing agents including viruses, protozoa and filarial nematodes which can be transmitted to humans and other animals. However, knowledge of the role of Culicoides as vectors of filarial nematodes is limited, particular in Thailand, where at least 100 species of the genus Culicoides have been reported. In this study, a molecular approach using the 12S rRNA gene sequence was used to detecting the filarial nematode in four common biting midge species, C. actoni Smith, C. oxystoma Kieffer, C. peregrinus Kieffer and C. mahasarakhamense Pramual, Jomkumsing, Piraonapicha & Jumpato in animal shelters from northeastern Thailand. A total of 1,721 specimens were used for molecular screening. An unidentified Onchocercidae sp. was detected in a specimen of C. mahasarakhamense collected from Maha Sarakham province. This filarial species shows 93% sequence similarity with an unidentified Onchocercidae sp. isolated from Culex mosquitoes. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that Onchocercidae sp. from C. mahasarakhamense formed a clade with strong bootstrap support (100%) with filarial species detected in birds. Thus, it is very likely that the Onchocercidae sp. found in this study employes birds as vertebrate hosts which agrees with feeding behavior of C. mahasarakhamense which is known to feed on chicken. Further study is requiring to examine whether this biting midge species is a competent vector of this Onchocercidae sp.

Matched MeSH terms: Thailand
Fulltext Primary immunodeficiencies (PID) Life Index in Southeast Asia: A comparative analysis of PID Principles of Care (PoC)

Chan CM, Mahlaoui N, Sánchez Ramón S, Pergent M, Solis L, Prevot J, et al.

Front Immunol, 2023;14:1151335.
PMID: 37063889 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1151335

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the implementation of the Principles of Care (PoC) in primary immunodeficiencies (PID) in Southeast Asia (SEA) countries - six years after its call of action.
METHODOLOGY: Using the newly developed PID Life Index software, the index of implementation of principles of care in the management of PIDs patients involving the six participating SEA countries (Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Philippines) were extracted. For each of the six separate principles, the index from the six countries will be compared and presented based on the calculated index.
RESULTS: Comparative analysis of the six principles of care of PID in the SEA countries showed low diagnostic rate with minimal availability of diagnostic tests options. Generally, almost all SEA countries provide curative treatments, vaccines, and anti-infectious therapies although the reimbursement scheme varied in relieving patients' financial burden. We also highlighted the active involvement of patient organizations in SEA, with main areas of work focused on advocacy and increasing awareness among public and healthcare professionals.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: It is applaudable that the SEA continent is gradually strengthening its work in management of PID, especially in Thailand and Vietnam. However, more emphasis must be placed among stakeholders in SEA countries towards successful implementation of the PoC for a holistic management of PID patients.

Matched MeSH terms: Thailand
Simulium (Gomphostilbia) wijiti, a new species of black fly (Diptera: Simuliidae) from northern Thailand and its genetic position with related species in the Simulium ceylonicum species-group

Srisuka W, Takaoka H, Aupalee K, Saeung A

Acta Trop, 2023 Aug;244:106947.
PMID: 37196907 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106947

A new black fly species, Simulium (Gomphostilbia) wijiti, is described based on adult females, males, pupal exuviae and mature larvae from Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. This new species is placed in the Simulium ceylonicum species-group. It is distinguished from four Thai members of the S. ceylonicum species-group [S. (G.) curtatum Jitklang et al., S. (G.) pangsidaense Takaoka, Srisuka & Saeung, S. (G.) sheilae Takaoka & Davies, and S. (G.) trangense Jitklang et al.], in the female by the short to medium long sensory vesicle; in the male by the large number of upper-eye (large) facets in 15 vertical columns and 15 or 16 horizontal rows; in the pupa by the dorsum of abdominal segments darkened; and in the larva by the antenna as long as or slightly shorter than the stem of the labral fan (longer than the stem of the labral fan in four other species). Phylogenetic analysis based on the COI gene sequences revealed that this new species is genetically closely related to S. leparense of the S. ceylonicum species-group, but is clearly separated from the latter species, and also from the three Thai related species (S. curtatum, S. sheilae and S. trangense) of the same species-group with interspecific genetic distances ranging from 9.65% to 12.67%. This is the fifth member of the S. ceylonicum species-group recorded from Thailand.

Matched MeSH terms: Thailand
Fulltext Descriptive analysis to assess seasonal patterns of COVID-19 and influenza in low-income and middle-income countries in Asia, the Middle East and Latin America

Kyaw MH, Spinardi JR, Jagun O, Franco Villalobos C, Kapetanakis V, Sharf-Williams R, et al.

BMJ Open, 2024 Jan 31;14(1):e081019.
PMID: 38296298 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-081019

OBJECTIVES: Understanding disease seasonality can help predict the occurrence of outbreaks and inform public health planning. Respiratory diseases typically follow seasonal patterns; however, knowledge regarding the seasonality of COVID-19 and its impact on the seasonality of influenza remains limited. The objective of this study was to provide more evidence to understand the circulation of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, in an endemic scenario to guide potential preventive strategies.
DESIGN: In this study, a descriptive analysis was undertaken to describe seasonality trends and/or overlap between COVID-19 and influenza in 12 low-income and middle-income countries using Our World in Data and FluMart data sources. Plots of COVID-19 and influenza cases were analysed.
SETTING: Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
OUTCOME MEASURES: COVID-19 cases and influenza cases.
RESULTS: No seasonal patterns of SARS-CoV-2 or SARS-CoV-2/influenza cocirculation were observed in most countries, even when considering the avian influenza pandemic period.
CONCLUSIONS: These results can inform public health strategies. The lack of observed seasonal behaviour highlights the importance of maintaining year-round vaccination rather than implementing seasonal campaigns. Further research investigating the influence of climate conditions, social behaviour and year-round preventive measures could be fundamental for shaping appropriate policies related to COVID-19 and respiratory viral disease control in low-income and middle-income countries as COVID-19 variant data and epidemiologic patterns accrue over time.

Matched MeSH terms: Thailand
Test of Sex Estimation Equations on Carpal Bones in a Northeastern Thai Population

Laowatthanaphong S, Das S, Phatsara M, Tuamsuk P, Mahakkanukrauh P

Clin Ter, 2016 Mar-Apr;167(2):29-32.
PMID: 27212569 DOI: 10.7417/CT.2016.1917

Sex assessment is an essential step in person identification, both in forensic and anthropological contexts. Many parts of skeletal remains such as skull, pelvis and long bones have been proven to be useful in determining sex. However, literature has shown that short bones such as carpal bones are also sexually dimorphic. In the last few years, there was an unpublished study using lunate, scaphoid and hamate from bone collection in Northern Thailand to create 6 discriminant equations to assess sex. The objective of this study was to investigate the application of those equations in the sample from other parts of Thailand.

Matched MeSH terms: Thailand
Fulltext Review of the Southeast Asian millipede genus Antheromorpha Jeekel, 1968 (Diplopoda, Polydesmida, Paradoxosomatidae)

Likhitrakarn N, Golovatch SI, Panha S

Zookeys, 2016.
PMID: 27110157 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.571.7566

The genus Antheromorpha is redefined and shown to comprise 11 valid species: Antheromorpha miranda (Pocock, 1895), Antheromorpha bistriata (Pocock, 1895), Antheromorpha comotti (Pocock, 1895), Antheromorpha festiva (Brölemann, 1896), Antheromorpha harpaga (Attems, 1937), Antheromorpha mediovirgata (Carl, 1941), Antheromorpha minlana (Pocock, 1895), Antheromorpha pardalis (Pocock, 1895), Antheromorpha paviei (Brölemann, 1896), comb. n., Antheromorpha rosea Golovatch, 2013 and Antheromorpha uncinata (Attems, 1931). Three new synonymies are proposed: Antheromorpha bivittata (Pocock, 1895) and Antheromorpha melanopleuris (Pocock, 1895) are synonymized under Antheromorpha miranda (Pocock, 1895), and Antheromorpha orophila (Carl, 1941) under Antheromorpha comotti (Pocock, 1895). Detailed descriptions and illustrations of fresh material from Thailand and Malaysia are given, especially regarding colour patterns which appear to be crucial for accurate species identifications. Two Antheromorpha species proposed by Attems are redescribed, based on type material. The genus is rediagnosed and a key and a distribution map are also provided. At least in Thailand, adult Antheromorpha rosea have been found to occur every year only for one or two weeks in September or October, disappearing thereafter.

Matched MeSH terms: Thailand
Revision of the genus Procoryphaeus Mazur, 1984 (Coleoptera: Histeridae: Histerinae: Exosternini)

Lackner T

Zootaxa, 2015;4044(2):289-300.
PMID: 26624713 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4044.2.6

The genus Procoryphaeus Mazur, 1984 is revised herein. It contains three species: Procoryphaeus violaceus (Lewis, 1905) from Thailand: Tenasserim Mountains; Malaysia: Borneo: Sabah; Indonesia: Java, Sumatra and Papua, Procoryphaeus pilosus (Lewis, 1893) from Tanimbar Island, Indonesia and Procoryphaeus wallacei (Marseul, 1864) from Indonesia: Papua. All type specimens are figured, and male genitalia of P. violaceus are drawn. Lectotypes of Pachycraerus (Coryphaeus) wallacei Marseul, 1864, Coryphaeus violaceus Lewis, 1905 and Coryphaeus pilosus Lewis, 1893 are designated. The exact identities of P. violaceus and P. wallacei species remain unclear since they are morphologically very similar and both respective type specimens are females. A key to species is given.

Matched MeSH terms: Thailand
The Kra Isthmus Canal: A New Strategic Solution for China's Energy Consumption Scenario?

Lau CY, Lee JW

Environ Manage, 2016 Jan;57(1):1-20.
PMID: 26280310 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-015-0591-0

This paper is a conceptual study that examines the viability of the construction of the Kra Isthmus within the context of the five dimensions of megaproject success of Sovacool and Cooper (The governance of energy megaprojects: politics, hubris, and energy security, 2013)-social (governance), technological (systems), democratic (politics), externalities (economics, ecology), and risks assessments (accountability), and its possible impact on China's strategic energy supply chain. One of the objectives of this study is also to discuss the current impacts, perceived benefits, and risks of China's dependence on its multinational and transnational pipelines. China could see the construction of Kra Canal as an alternative option for its strategic sourcing activities especially crude oil and gas at much lower costs. The megaproject would become a passageway that connects the Indian Ocean, Andaman Sea, and the Gulf of Siam at the choke point of Isthmus region in Thailand. However, this megaproject could also trigger the internal conflicts of Thailand, and affect the ASEAN countries' political and economic relationships.

Matched MeSH terms: Thailand
Research to inform health systems' responses to rapid population ageing: a collection of studies funded by the WHO Centre for Health Development in Kobe, Japan

Rosenberg M, Tomioka S, Barber SL

Health Res Policy Syst, 2022 Nov 29;20(Suppl 1):128.
PMID: 36443868 DOI: 10.1186/s12961-022-00917-z

Population ageing is a global phenomenon that has profound implications for all aspects of health systems development. Research is needed to understand and improve the health system response to this demographic shift, especially in low- and middle-income countries where the change is happening rapidly. This Supplement was organized by the WHO Centre for Health Development in Kobe, Japan (WHO Kobe Centre) whose mission is to promote innovation and research for equitable and sustainable universal health coverage considering the impacts of population ageing. The Supplement features 10 papers all based on studies that were funded by the WHO Kobe Centre in recent years. The studies involve a diverse set of 10 countries in the Asia Pacific (Cambodia, Japan, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam); address various aspects of the health system including service delivery, workforce development and financing; and utilize a wide range of research methods, including economic modelling, household surveys and intervention evaluations. This introductory article offers a brief description of each study's methods, key findings and implications. Collectively, the studies demonstrate the potential contribution that health systems research can make toward addressing the challenges of ensuring sustainable universal health coverage even while countries undergo rapid population ageing.

Matched MeSH terms: Thailand
Fulltext Invasive meningococcal disease in Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam: An Asia-Pacific expert group perspective on current epidemiology and vaccination policies

Thisyakorn U, Carlos J, Chotpitayasunondh T, Dien TM, Gonzales MLAM, Huong NTL, et al.

Hum Vaccin Immunother, 2022 Nov 30;18(6):2110759.
PMID: 36084311 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2022.2110759

Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) imposes a significant burden on the global community due to its high case fatality rate (4-20%) and the risk of long-term sequelae for one in five survivors. An expert group meeting was held to discuss the epidemiology of IMD and immunization policies in Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Most of these countries do not include meningococcal immunization in their routine vaccination programs, except for high-risk groups such as immunocompromised people and pilgrims. It is difficult to estimate the epidemiology of IMD in the highly diverse Asia-Pacific region, but available evidence indicate serogroup B is increasingly dominant. Disease surveillance systems differ by country. IMD is not a notifiable disease in some of them. Without an adequate surveillance system in the region, the risk and the burden of IMD might well be underestimated. With the availability of new combined meningococcal vaccines and the World Health Organization roadmap to defeat bacterial meningitis by 2030, a better understanding of the epidemiology of IMD in the Asia-Pacific region is needed.

Matched MeSH terms: Thailand
Fulltext Necrophilic behaviour in wild stump-tailed macaques (Macaca arctoides)

Toyoda A, Gonçalves A, Maruhashi T, Malaivijitnond S, Matsuda I

Sci Rep, 2024 May 13;14(1):10946.
PMID: 38740882 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61678-z

Necrophilic behavior (attempted copulation with corpses) has been scarcely reported in non-human primates, especially in the wild. Here is the first case of necrophilic behavior observed in wild stump-tailed macaques in Thailand. Six groups of total N > 460 individuals have been identified and habituated. The corpse of an adult female was found and directly observed for 2 days and by camera trap for 3 days. The cause of death could not be identified, but no prominent physical injury was detected. Within 3 days of the observation, three different males attempted copulation with the corpse. Noteworthy for this observation was that not only males in the group of the dead female but also males from different groups interacted with the corpse. Taken together, these observations suggest that some cues emanating from the corpse coupled with a nonresistant/passive orientation may have triggered these responses in the males. Given that necrophiliac responses have been scarcely reported in non-human primates, our findings provide new insight into these behaviors and to comparative thanatology in general.

Matched MeSH terms: Thailand

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