Prevalence of Toxocara cati and other parasites in cats' faeces collected from the open spaces of public institutions: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Toxocarosis is a worldwide parasitic infection that affects both cats and dogs. Toxocara cati (Schrank, 1788) syn.Toxocara mystax (Zeder, 1800) prevalence was studied in faeces from stray cats collected from the open spaces of public institutions of Buenos Aires city, both building and surrounding open spaces are fenced off. Of the 465 samples obtained from March to June of 2005, 58.3% were found to have parasite eggs. The following parasites were identified from the 271 positive samples: T. cati (61.2%), Cystoisospora spp. (20.3%), Trichuris spp. (17.0%), Toxascaris leonina (15.1%), Ancylostoma spp. (14%) and Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (2.6%). T. cati prevalence was 35.7% (95% confidence interval: 31.2–40.1), with a 42.2% single isolations. The most frequent combination was T. cati and Cystoisospora spp. (9%). More than half the areas studied showed over 40% prevalence. Seventy-one percent of the collected samples were fresh with a variable moist consistency and 29% were older with a dry consistency. A statistically significant association was found between sample consistency and presence of parasites (χ² = 10.81; p = 0.001) as also between sample consistency and presence of T. cati (χ² = 11.27; p = 0.0007). Moist consistencies were significantly different from the rest: consistency (wet or dry) versus parasites (z = 1.95; p = 0.02) (95% confidence interval: 0.004–0.203); consistency (wet or dry) versus T. cati (z = 3.25; p = 0.0006) (95% confidence interval: 0.075–0.254). The cat population that inhabits these public green spaces contaminates the environment, thus transforming them into dangerous spaces with a variable rate for the human population that spends time in these places.     

猪圆环病毒2型感染裸鼠及BALB/c小鼠的研究

用猪圆环病毒2型（PCV2）经腹腔注射BALB/c小鼠及裸鼠各15只,每隔2周1次,共感染3次.BALB/c小鼠初次、再次感染后均未出现明显的临床症状,仅有2只小鼠出现病理变化;从血清中可检测到PCV2核酸及其ORF2抗体;同时淋巴细胞增殖反应显著增强,NK和CTL细胞杀伤率显著升高;CD4^＋、CD8^＋、CD3^＋T淋巴细胞及CD19^＋B淋巴细胞数量显著减少.裸鼠也未出现明显的临床症状,从血清中可检测到PCV2核酸,但未检测到PCV2 ORF2抗体;除NK细胞杀伤率显著升高外,其余免疫学指标无显著改变.结果表明,BALB/c小鼠比裸鼠对PCV2易感,各项免疫学指标变化与PCV2感染猪一致,但不表现临床症状,仅个别BALB/c小鼠出现病理变化,说明BALB/c小鼠对PCV2不如猪易感.     

Evaluation of the effect of Toxocara cati infection in the mouse model of allergic asthma: Exacerbation of allergic asthma symptoms and Th2 types of response

Toxocariasis is considered a neglected disease despite the importance of Toxocara spp. infections for human health and is little recognized as a significant problem by public health institutions in developing countries. Epidemiological studies suggest that infection with Toxocara cati contributes to the development of allergic asthma.In the present study, we investigated the effect of T. cati infection on experimental allergic airway inflammation using murine model. BALB/c mice were infected by oral administration with 500 embryonated T. cati eggs followed by ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and challenge to induce allergic airway inflammation. Infection with T. cati in combination with OVA treatment leads to exacerbation of pulmonary inflammation, eosinophilia, airway hyperresponsiveness, OVA specific IgE. Cytokines measurement in bronchoalveolar lavage indicated that the levels of IL-4 and IL-5 in BAL fluid significantly increased after T. cati infected, OVA treated or a combination of both. Increased level of IL-5 was measured in the lungs of T. cati-infected or OVA-treated mice compared with controls. Moreover, combining infection and OVA treatment significantly increase the level of these cytokines.A direct association between T. cati infection and asthma was found in murine model. Although a wide range of helminth species have been demonstrated to modulate allergic responses, most notably the intestinal nematode T. cati, increases airway hyperresponsiveness, lung histopathology, eosinophil recruitment, and Th2 cytokines in alum-sensitized models of airway allergy.     

Tissue-specific expression of the NOD-like receptor protein 3 in BALB/c mice

Activation of the innate immune system requires recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns, such as NOD-like receptors. The NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is involved in induction of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, IL-1β, and subsequent inflammatory responses. NLRP3 inflammasome plays important roles in the inflammatory and innate immune responses associated with autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome. However, analysis of the tissue distribution and expression profiles in BALB/c mice is still incomplete. In this study, we investigated the tissue distribution and expression pattern of NLRP3 in BALB/c mice to further elucidate its function in innate immunity in this commonly used laboratory animal model. NLRP3 mRNA expression levels and tissue distribution of the protein were investigated by real-time quantitative PCR and immunohistochemical analyses, respectively. NLRP3 mRNA expression was higher in the kidney and inguinal lymph nodes than in other tissues. Cytoplasmic expression of NLRP3 was detected in the epithelial reticular cells of the spleen and thymus, lymphocytes in the inguinal lymph nodes, cardiac muscle cells, cerebral cortex neurons, alveolar macrophages, renal tubule cells and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells. The results of this study will assist investigators in interpreting site-specific functions and roles of NLRP3 in inflammatory responses.     

Effects of social isolation,re‐socialization and age on cognitive and aggressive behaviors of Kunming mice and BALB/c mice

Both Kunming (KM) mice and BALB/c mice have been widely used as rodent models to investigate stress‐associated mental diseases. However, little is known about the different behaviors of KM mice and BALB/c mice after social isolation, particularly cognitive and aggressive behaviors. In this study, the behaviors of KM and BALB/c mice isolated for 2, 4 and 8 weeks and age‐matched controls were evaluated using object recognition, object location and resident‐intruder tests. The recovery of behavioral deficits by re‐socialization was also examined for the isolated mice in adolescence. Our study showed that isolation for 2, 4 and 8 weeks led to cognitive deficits and increased aggressiveness for both KM and BALB/c mice. An important finding is that re‐socialization could completely recover spatial/non‐spatial cognitive deficits resulted from social isolation for both KM and BALB/c mice. In addition, age only impacted aggressiveness of KM mice. Moreover, isolation duration showed different impacts on cognitive and aggressive behaviors for both KM and BALB/c mice. Furthermore, BALB/c mice showed weak spatial/non‐spatial memory and low aggressiveness when they were at the same age and isolation duration, compared to KM mice. In conclusion, KM mice and BALB/c mice behaved characteristically under physiology and isolation conditions.     

Female scent mobilizes leukocytes to airways in BALB/c male mice

The scent of receptive females as a signal to reproduction stimulates male mice to olfactory search of a potential breeding partner. This searching behavior is coupled with infection risk due to bacterial contamination of the fecal and urine scent marks. We hypothesized that sniffing of female soiled bedding induced the migration of immuno‐competent cells into airways as a possible adaptation to breeding‐related infection. Using bronchoalveolar lavage in a study on mice, we found the number of leukocytes to be significantly higher in male mice that were provided new portions of soiled bedding daily from female cages, in comparison with male mice that were kept in isolation from female scent. The number of leukocytes in blood was equal in both groups. However, monocytes were fewer in number in male mice exposed to female scent than in male mice isolated from female mice. Scent‐induced migration of leukocytes was accompanied by typical behavioral (increased sniffing activity and aggressiveness) and morphological (increase preputial glands and seminal vesicles) responses to olfactory sexual stimulus.     

应用BALB／c小鼠评价口蹄疫灭活疫苗的免疫效力

用不同剂量的口蹄疫灭活疫苗免疫3组雌性BALB／c小鼠，同时设空白对照组，每组8只。免疫后每7d采血一次，用液相阻断ELISA（LPB-ELISA）检测血清抗体水平；第28d用800LD50同源强毒攻击，攻毒后36h，每组随机选取3只BALB／c小鼠，采全血，分别用每只BALg／c小鼠全血注射12只乳鼠，每组共注射36只乳鼠，以乳鼠试验判定BALB／c小鼠的病毒血症和攻毒保护情况。结果表明，免疫组BALB／c小鼠均可产生特异性抗体，保护率分别为75．0％、63．9％、36．1％；对照组小鼠血清抗体为阴性。提示，BALB／c小鼠可以用来评价口蹄疫灭活疫苗的免疫效力。     

BALB/c小鼠肝螺杆菌感染模型的建立及其病理特征

建立BALB/c小鼠肝螺杆菌(Helicobacter hepaticus,Hh)感染模型,旨在研究Hh在小鼠感染不同时期的病理特征。以Hh灌饲SPF级BALB/c雄性小鼠,于最后1次接种后第2、4、6、8周收集小鼠粪便提取DNA,PCR扩增Hh16SrRNA基因检测小鼠感染率;结果表明随时间延长,小鼠的Hh感染率逐步增加,获得了稳定的BALB/c小鼠Hh感染试验模型。接种后2、3、4和5个月,分别取小鼠肝脏、胃、盲肠和结肠,进行Hh16SrRNA基因扩增和病理组织学检查。结果显示,小鼠的肝脏、胃、盲肠和结肠组织均检测到了Hh的定植;小鼠肝细胞发生脂肪变性、肝小叶局灶性坏死、坏死灶周围有不同程度的炎性细胞浸润等病变,随时间延长,病变严重程度增加;少量小鼠胃黏膜下层有炎性细胞浸润、胃黏膜上皮坏死脱落;盲肠表现不同程度的炎性细胞浸润。该研究结果表明,Hh可引起小鼠肝炎、胃炎和盲肠炎。     

鼠类机会性寄生虫感染的实验研究

将住家附近诱捕到的74只黄胸鼠、43只褐家鼠和56只小家鼠随机分为实验Ⅱ组和对照组。实验Ⅰ组90只野鼠饮用1.0/L醋酸地塞米松水溶液；实验Ⅱ组66只野鼠给予皮下注射醋酸可的松；对照组不作任何处理。结果从实验Ⅰ组和实验II组的野鼠粪便和各种组织内共分离出5种机会性寄生虫，即微小隐孢子虫，结肠小袋纤毛虫，溶组织内阿米巴，弓形虫和卡氏肺孢子虫。然后将分离的虫体分别制成接种物，接种各种实验动物。接种后.经免疫处理的实验动物均出现典型的临床症状或死亡；未经免疫处理的实验动物则呈隐性感染。结果证明在机体免疫功能低下时.实验动物接种机会性病体后均能获得感染。提示我们，鼠类机会性寄生虫可能成为人体和其他动物感染的传染源，在公共卫生学上有重要意义。     

LPS对BALB/c小鼠血清及肝脏铁状态的影响

采用血清铁和组织铁测定及ELISA方法检测了脂多糖(LPS)作用不同时间点小鼠血常规、血清铁含量、组织铁含量及血清转铁蛋白(Tf)含量变化.结果显示,与对照组相比注射LPS组红细胞计数(RBC)和血红蛋白含量(HGB)均显著下降(P＜0.05),但平均红细胞体积(MCV)和HGB含量在注射后1.5h组与对照组相比均无显著差异.结果表明,在注射LPS后1.5h没有形成小细胞低色素性贫血,即缺铁性贫血(IDA),在此时间点适合进行铁代谢研究.而在其他作用时间点,可能是由于RBC和HGB显著下降,从而使MCV代偿性增加.另外,在注射LPS后1.5h组白细胞计数(WBC)与对照组相比显著下降,是临床革兰阴性细菌感染的特征,而LPS是革兰阴性细菌细胞壁内毒素的主要成分,可见其在对小鼠作用1.5h时起到了有效作用,而其他时间点WBC与对照组相比均没有出现显著差异.     

KM和BALB/c小鼠痘病毒感染的诊断

20只外购的KM和BALB/c小鼠发生了酷似鼠脱脚病的典型症状，取病鼠的肝、脾、肾、淋巴结和脑作组织学检查，发现其病理变化呈痘病毒感染的特征性改变，组织镁浆液接种传代的BHK细胞，可发生明显的CPE变化，经电镜超薄切征及负染检查发现大量的痘病毒颗粒，粒子的中心为DNA核酸和蛋白质组成的拟核，在衣壳的外面有囊膜包裹，对鸡红细胞均呈阳性凝集反应（HA为1：16），用小鼠痘病毒ELISA试剂盒检测病鼠血清呈阳性反应，用病毒悬液免疫接种KM和BALB／C小鼠后，发现前者感染性强，发病快，症状典型，以急性为主，并迅速出现死亡。后者对鼠痘抵抗力强，一般呈陷性感染，特征性症状出现较缓慢，但后者一旦施加实验因素动物则出现症状，也可迅速死亡。实验证明，该群小鼠患的传染病病原为鼠痘病毒。     

Vertical transmission of Neospora caninum in BALB/c mice in both acute and chronic infection

To examine the frequency of congenital infection by Neospora caninum, BALB/c mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with tachyzoites of N. caninum either during pregnancy (Group 1) or 4 weeks or more before pregnancy (Group 2). Further, the mice inoculated during pregnancy were bred at 4 weeks or more after delivery to form Group 3. Congenital transmission was observed in 76% of the neonates of the mice in Group 1 and in 50% of the neonates of the mice in Group 2. Interestingly, congenital transmission was observed in 86% of the neonates from Group 3. These results suggest that chronically-infected BALB/c mice efficiently transmit N. caninum infection to their offspring.     

不同剂量小鹅瘟病毒VP3基因疫苗肌肉注射诱导小鼠细胞免疫

将小鹅瘟(Gosling plagne,GP)VP3基因疫苗(pcDNA-GPV-VP3)分别按每只50、100、200 μg肌肉注射免疫BALB/c小鼠,以pcDNA3.1( )和生理盐水为对照,于免疫后7、14、21、28、35、63、105 d采血用淋巴细胞转化实验(MTT法)和流式细胞仪(FACS)分别检测小鼠外周血T淋巴细胞转化效果和CD4 、CD8 T淋巴细胞动态变化.结果表明,pcDNA-GPV-VP3免疫小鼠能够诱导机体产生良好的细胞免疫应答.50、100 μg pcDNA-GPV-VP3免疫后小鼠外周血T淋巴细胞对ConA刺激的反应显著或极显著高于200 μg组、空载体和生理盐水对照组,且以100 μg组最优,而200 μg组的转化效果比空载体组差;100 μg pcDNA-GPV-VP3免疫小鼠后所诱导的CD4 T淋巴细胞免疫功能最强,50 μg组次之;50 μg pcDNA-GPV-VP3免疫小鼠后所诱导的CD8 T淋巴细胞免疫功能最强,100 μg组次之.     

BALB/c小鼠肺组织中氧化及抗氧化系统的动态研究

为探讨BALB/c小鼠正常生理状况下肺组织中的氧化及抗氧化系统的动态变化规律,采用分光光度计法分别测定了肺组织中的黄嘌呤氧化酶（xanthine oxidase,XOD）活性、丙二醛（malondialdehyde,MDA）含量、超氧化物歧化酶（superoxide dismutase,SOD）活性变化。结果表明,在第3、6、7、12天BALB/c小鼠肺组织的XOD活性、MDA含量、SOD活性均无显著差异（P＞0.05）。说明生理状态下,BALB/c小鼠肺组织中自由基的产生与清除的酶系统之间维持动态平衡。     

Immunological changes in Babesia rodhaini infected BALB/c mice after treated with anti-babesial drug; diminazene diaceturate.

A model system capable of investigating immunological changes was first established in Babesia rodhaini infected mice with an aid of a drug, diminazene diaceturate (DD). Intraperitoneal (ip) inoculation with B. rodhaini resulted in acute death in euthymic (nu/+) and athymic (nu/nu) BALB/c mice. Treatment with DD at an early stage of infection saved both mice from acute death. Parasitemia recurred in some of them but resulted in death only in nu/nu mice. A re-challenge with 10(5) parasitized erythrocytes (PE) on the surviving mice on day 28 post infection revealed resistance in nu/+ but not in nu/nu mice. The results suggested a participation of the thymus in the protective mechanisms. Immunological changes were then observed on nu/+ and nu/nu mice which were inoculated ip with 10(4)PE and treated with the drug, and then challenged with 10(5)PE ip on day 28. An antibody response was measured with immediate reaction by footpad injection of a soluble antigen of B. rodhaini and by ELISA of serum antibody using the antigen and protein A, on day 10 and later, and further a pronounced response was detected after re-challenge in nu/+ mice. No response was detected by ELISA in nu/nu mice. Delayed footpad reaction was seen in nu/+ mice by day 14 and later but it was suppressed after the re-challenge.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Balb/c小鼠肺组织一氧化氮及一氧化氮合酶的动态变化

为探讨Balb/c小鼠正常生理状况下肺组织中一氧化氮自由基含量以及一氧化氮合酶活性的动态变化,采用电子自旋共振法直接测定了一氧化氮自由基含量,采用分光光度计法测定了一氧化氮合酶的活性.结果表明:在第3,6,7,12天Balb/c小鼠肺组织的一氧化氮自由基含量、一氧化氮合酶活性均无显著性差异(P＞0.05).说明生理状态下,Balb/c小鼠肺组织一氧化氮自由基的产生维持动态平衡.     

Protection of palmitic acid treatment in RAW264.7 cells and BALB/c mice during Brucella abortus 544 infection

BackgroundWe previously elucidated the protective mechanism of Korean red ginseng oil (RGO) against Brucella abortus infection, and our phytochemical analysis revealed that palmitic acid (PA) was an abundant component of RGO. Consequently, we investigated the contribution of PA against B. abortus.ObjectivesWe aimed to investigate the efficacy of PA against B. abortus infection using a murine cell line and a murine model.MethodsCell viability, bactericidal, internalization, and intracellular replication, western blot, nitric oxide (NO), and superoxide (O₂^-) analyses and flow cytometry were performed to determine the effects of PA on the progression of B. abortus infection in macrophages. Flow cytometry for cytokine analysis of serum samples and bacterial counts from the spleens were performed to determine the effect of PA in a mouse model.ResultsPA did not affect the growth of B. abortus. PA treatment in macrophages did not change B. abortus uptake but it did attenuate the intracellular survivability of B. abortus. Incubation of cells with PA resulted in a modest increase in sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) expression. Compared to control cells, reduced nitrite accumulation, augmented O₂^-, and enhanced pro-inflammatory cytokine production were observed in PA-treated B. abortus-infected cells. Mice orally treated with PA displayed a decreased serum interleukin-10 level and enhanced bacterial resistance.ConclusionsOur results suggest that PA participates in the control of B. abortus within murine macrophages, and the in vivo study results confirm its efficacy against the infection. However, further investigations are encouraged to completely characterize the mechanisms involved in the inhibition of B. abortus infection by fatty acids.     

影响昆明小鼠和BALB/c小鼠胚胎干细胞分离、克隆、传代的若干因素

对昆明小鼠和BALB／c小鼠2种胚胎的研究表明，2种品系小鼠胚胎均可用作胚胎干细胞（ES）分离建系的材料，两者在ES分离、传代上无显著差异（P〉0．05）；大鼠心肌细胞条件培养液与添加LIF的ES常规培养液相比，显著提高了小鼠ES细胞F1、F2出现率（P〈0．05）；采用低浓度消化液使形成ES克隆的比率分别从14％、16％提高到35％、32％，使ES传到第5代的比率分别从1．7％、0提高到5％、7．1％；而采用连续消化法使形成ES克隆的比率从15％、17％提高到40％、50％，使ES传到第5代的比率从0、1％提高到10％、20％；对ES进行伊红染色、核型分析、AKP染色及体外分化能力检测，证实所分离的ES符合小鼠ES的一系列特征。