Cytokine profiles in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with cystic echinococcosis

IntroductionCystic echinococcosis (CE) is a chronic zoonotic disease caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus), which affects domestic and wild carnivores as the definitive host and ungulates as intermediate hosts. In intermediate hosts, both Th1 and Th2 cells are involved in the immune responses to an echinoccocal infection. This study aimed to investigate production of IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-γ cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of CE patients before and after surgical treatment.MethodsTo evaluate cytokine production in response to E. granulosus antigens, we investigated IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-γ production in PBMCs of 20 CE patients in response to hydatid cyst fluid antigen (HCF-Ag) before and after surgical treatment using ELISA.ResultsThe mean IL-4 production from HCF-Ag stimulated PBMCs was significantly decreased (p < 0.05), while IFN-γ was significantly increased in HCF-Ag stimulated PBMCs in patients after surgery (p = 0.005).Furthermore, our results showed that there is no significant difference between IL-10 production in patients before and after treatment (p = 0.562).ConclusionsOur data Indicated production of IL-4 in cultured PBMCs of CE patients stimulated with HCF-Ag was decreased significantly. While, production of IFN-γ was increased significantly in responses to HCF Ag after surgery. We concluded that the evaluation of IL-4 and IFN-γ in HCF-Ag stimulated PBMCs of CE patients should be considered as a useful marker in the follow up of patients with cystic echinococcosis.     

细粒棘球蚴TSP1和TSP6基因的克隆及生物信息学分析

为了研究绵羊细粒棘球蚴重要抗原基因Tetraspanin 1-TSP1(TSP1)和Tetraspanin 1-TSP6(TSP6)的功能,对Gen Bank中Eg基因组数据库检索,获得TSP1和TSP6的c DNA序列并设计特异性引物。以Eg头节为总RNA模板,进行RT-PCR,将PCR产物克隆到p MD19-T载体后测序并进行生物信息学分析。TSP1 c DNA全长792个核苷酸,编码263个氨基酸,该多肽含有3个潜在的N端糖基化位点,2个N端酰基化位点,与已登录的标准株TSP1基因序列(EG_11043)同源性为98.99%,其推导的氨基酸序列同源性为98.48%;TSP6 c DNA全长666个核苷酸,编码221个氨基酸,该多肽含有5个N端酰基化位点,1个酪氨酸激酶磷酸化位点,与已登录的标准株TSP6基因序列(EG_00715)同源性为98.18%,其推导的氨基酸序列同源性为85.07%。运用分子生物学软件对Eg TSP1和TSP6基因进行生物信息学分析,预测已知序列的蛋白质抗原的结构和表位,为疫苗的研发奠定了前期基础。     

四川动物刺球蚴病流行病学及防制策略

通过对动物棘球蚴病（包虫病）流行病学研究和分析，以及防治手段综合比较，找到该病流行规律及防制该病的策略和综合措施。     

河北省承德市接坝地区畜间包虫病感染风险因素研究

为寻找河北省承德市接坝地区牛羊群包虫病潜在风险因素,对承德市接坝地区23个乡镇的184个养殖户进行风险因素问卷调查,并分析调查结果。结果显示,牛羊养殖方式粗放、犬粪不进行无害化处理、犬密切接触羊牛群、驱虫后没有对犬进行拴养是包虫病感染的重要风险因素。通过Hosmer-Lemeshow检验,证明建立的Logistic回归模型拟合较好。结果表明,养殖户加强牛羊管理,对犬合理驱虫,限制散养犬接触牛羊群对于降低包虫病感染风险具有重要意义。     

牛、羊包虫病及其实验室诊断技术

包虫病(echinococcosis)是由寄生于终末宿主(犬、狼、狐狸等)小肠的棘球蚴感染中间宿主(牛、羊、猪、骆驼、人类等)而引起的一种严重的人兽共患寄生虫病。该病在临床表现上缺乏特异性,且多为隐性感染,病原体不易检出,严重危害牧区人民健康和畜牧业发展。对包虫病的病原学特点、流行病学特点、实验室检测和诊断技术作一介绍,以期为该病的预防控制和进一步研究提供参考。     

ULTRASONOGRAPHIC DIAGNOSIS OF OVINE CYSTIC ECHINOCOCCOSIS

The sanitary and economic impact of cystic echinococcosis is serious in those countries where it becomes endemic. Ultrasonography is one technique that may be used to diagnose this disease in endemic areas. In parasitized sheep, hydatid cysts appear sonographically as a round hypoechoic structure. Twenty two sheep destined for slaughter were studied sonographically and imaging findings compared to post-mortem findings. Three sheep with hydatid cysts were identified. Eighty additional sheep not destined for slaughter were also studied. Echinococcus granulosus cysts were detected in three animals. Forty sheep from a non-endemic area had no hepatic cysts. The in vivo sonographic study of sheep provides a useful screening tool for echinococcosis.     

Echinococcus granulosus infection in Spain

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) caused by the cestode Echinococcus granulosus is an endemic disease in Spain. Although specific control programmes initiated in the 1980s have led to marked reductions in CE infection rates in Spain, the disease still remains an important human and animal health problem in many regions of the country. Human incidence and livestock (including sheep, cattle, pigs and horses) prevalence data were gathered from national epidemiological surveillance information systems and regional institutions for the period 2000-2005. Additionally, data on the prevalence of E. granulosus infection in dogs were obtained from published literature. The most affected regions were those of the North Eastern, Central and Western parts of the country, (Autonomous Regions of Aragon, Castile-La Mancha, Castile-Leon, Extremadura, Navarre and La Rioja), where human CE incidence rates in the range of 1.1-3.4 cases per 10(5) inhabitants coexist with ovine/bovine CE prevalence rates up to 23%. Control programmes of hydatidosis/echinococcosis should be reinforced in these regions to reduce the prevalence of the disease.     

Molecular update on cystic echinococcosis in cattle and water buffaloes of southern Italy

Cystic echinococcosis (CE)--caused by the larval stage (hydatid cyst) of the cestode Echinococcus granulosus--is one of the most widespread zoonoses of veterinary and medical importance. Molecular techniques have allowed the identification of 10 different genotypes (G1-G10) of the parasite. The present paper is an update regarding the E. granulosus genotypes infecting water buffaloes and cattle bred in the Campania region of southern Italy. The molecular study was performed on 30 hydatid cysts (11 from water buffaloes and 19 from cattle). Two different mitochondrial DNA genes, namely the cytochrome c oxidase subunits 1 and the 12S ribosomal DNA (12S rDNA) were used as genetic markers. Three different genotypes of E. granulosus were unequivocally identified, i.e. the G1 (common sheep), G2 (Tasmanian sheep) and G3 (buffalo) genotypes, as well as some G1 and G2 variants. It should be noted that the present study demonstrated for the first time: (i) the presence of the G2 genotype in water buffaloes from a Mediterranean area; and (ii) the fact that the analysed portion of the 12S rDNA gene can not discriminate between the G2 and G3 genotypes of E. granulosus. The finding of the G1, G2 and G3 genotypes in large ruminants from southern Italy is of epidemiological relevance and immediate public health importance because of their recognized infectivity in humans.