Taenia solium porcine cysticercosis: viability of cysticerci and persistency of antibodies and cysticercal antigens after treatment with oxfendazole

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of treating Taenia solium infected pigs with oxfendazole (OFZ) on viability and clearance of cysticerci and the corresponding persistence of specific antibody isotypes (IgG(total), IgG1, IgG2 and IgA) and circulating cysticercal antigen (CCA). Antibody isotypes and CCA responses were measured by antibody-ELISA (Ab-ELISA) and antigen ELISA (Ag-ELISA), respectively. Correlations were made between antibodies, CCA and the total number of cysticerci enumerated at necropsy. Forty pigs with cysticercosis were randomly allocated into two groups: Treatment group (n=20) was treated with OFZ at 30 mg/kg orally while the treatment control group (n=20) was not treated. Five uninfected pigs served as negative controls. Pigs were killed at 1, 4, 8 and 26 weeks post-treatment (wkpt). Overall, the mean total cyst count in treated pigs was 2904+/-5397 (mean+/-S.D.) while in the controls it was 6235+/-6705. Mean cyst viability was 5+/-11% (mean+/-S.D.) and 97+/-4% in treated and control pigs, respectively. Results showed that OFZ killed muscular cysticerci over a period of 4 weeks but failed to kill cerebral cysticerci. Antibodies, CCA responses and clearance of dead cysts from the meat, depended on the cyst intensity of individual pigs at time of treatment since both antibody and CCA correlated with intensity of cysticerci at necropsy (r=0.441, P=0.005; r=0.654, P<0.001), respectively. IgG1 responses were the best indicator of treatment efficacy because they were predominant in both infected treated and control pigs and disappeared early after treatment. Both Ab/Ag-ELISA failed to detect cysts in the brain. Though dead cysticerci took some time (26 wkpt) to clear from the meat, treatment of porcine cysticercosis with OFZ should, in combination with other intervention measures be considered as an important, cost-effective measure in the control of taeniosis/cysticercosis.     

Oncospheres of Taenia solium develop into cysticerci in normal mice

In vitro-hatched oncospheres of Taenia solium, prepared by the sodium hypochlorite method and adjusted to approximately 5 x 10(2)/2ml phosphate buffer saline, were injected intramuscularly or intravenously into normal Balb/c mice. When these mice were sacrificed 2 months later, all cysticerci were exclusively recovered in the lungs from the mice with intravenous inoculation, but not with intramuscular injection. A high infection rate of 76% was obtained and a total of 45 cysticerci were collected from 50 mice. Thirty-five cysticerci were mature and with normal appearance but the rest were either with abnormal appearance (4) or degenerated (6). These findings give strong evidence that T. solium oncospheres may migrate to the normal mouse lung through venous circulation and develop in this organ.     

Cross-reactivity of anti-Taenia crassiceps cysticerci immune antibodies with Taenia solium antigens

A comparative study of antibody production was carried out using BALB/c mice immunized with 20 or 50microg vesicular fluid (VF)-Tcra (Taenia crassiceps) antigens, and gel of <30kD or eluate from <30kD peptides. Good IgM, IgA and IgG levels were detected by ELISA-Tcra and the antibodies presented reactivity with the <20kD peptides when tested by immunoblotting-Tcra. The antibodies from animals immunized with 20 and 50microg presented high anti-Tso cross-reactivity in ELISA (IgG>IgM and IgA). All groups presented IgG antibodies identifying the 12kD Tso-peptide.     

Performance of the ELISA test for swine cysticercosis using antigens of Taenia solium and Taenia crassiceps cysticerci

Studies were conducted to evaluate antigens of Taenia solium (Tso) and Taenia crassiceps (Tcra) cysticerci in the ELISA test for the diagnosis of swine cysticercosis. The samples analyzed were cysticercosis positive and negative control sera and heterologous sera. Four antigens were assayed: vesicular fluid (VF) and crude (T) Tcra and scolex (S) and crude (T) Tso. All antigens showed good performance, but VF-Tcra was the best followed by T-Tcra. Sensitivity rates of ELISA were respectively, in 2nd and 3rd standard deviation cut-offs, 96.0 and 80.0% for the VF antigen and specificity of 97.5 and 100.0%. Cross-reactivity was verified only for hidatidosis and ascaridiosis. Due to the high performance observed, the ELISA test using Tcra antigens should be recommended for the diagnosis of swine cysticercosis.     

双向电泳结合蛋白质印迹技术分析猪囊尾蚴乳酸脱氢酶

为了研究猪囊尾蚴乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)的表达,试验选择四川省雅江县呷拉乡猪带绦虫病患者,给其口服槟榔-南瓜子驱虫,收集、制备虫卵悬液(8万个/mL),再给3头20日龄三元杂交乳猪猪灌胃虫卵悬液,每头1 mL,40 d后收集、制备猪囊尾蚴蛋白,进行双向电泳(2-DE)分析,将凝胶蛋白斑点转移至聚偏氟乙烯膜(PVDF膜),用自制的大鼠抗猪带绦虫LDH血清作为一抗、健康大鼠血清作为阴性对照进行蛋白质印迹(Western-blotting)分析。结果表明:双向电泳凝胶共检测到(207±9)个蛋白质斑点,相对分子质量(Mr)为14 400～94 000,等电点(pI)为3.0～10.0;试验组特异性抗原抗体阳性杂交斑点为1个,阴性对照未见阳性杂交斑点;将Western-blotting检测的抗原抗体阳性杂交斑点与原双向电泳凝胶斑点进行比对,找到对应蛋白斑点,经ImageMaster 2D Platinum 5.0软件分析后初步确定该蛋白斑点的pI/Mr为7.03/35 368,与猪带绦虫LDH的pI/Mr理论推导值接近,说明猪囊尾蚴表达LDH。     

Distribution and density of cysticerci of Taenia solium by muscle groups and organs in naturally infected local finished pigs in Tanzania

The distribution and density of cysticerci of Taenia solium among distinct carcass sites was determined in 24 naturally infected finished pigs from Mbulu district, Tanzania. The heart, tongue, internal and external masseters, triceps brachii, lungs, liver, kidneys, psoas, diaphragm and brain of each pig as well as the muscles from the forelimb, hind limb, abdomen, head and thorax from one half of each pig carcass were all designated as distinct carcass sites and sliced in such a way that all fully developed cysts could be revealed and enumerated (i.e. each slice was less than 0.5 cm thick). The carcasses harboured from 76 to 80,340 cysts in total. Carcass sites which harboured the highest proportion of cysts were those of the hind and forelimbs (mean: 27.7 and 24.5%, respectively, of the total cysts in the carcass), while lower proportions were found in the tongue, heart, triceps brachii, and diaphragm (7, 3.6, 2 and 2, respectively). Relative cyst density was calculated for the different carcass sites by dividing the mean proportion of the total weight of the tissue groups into the mean proportion of cysts located in that site. The cysticerci in the examined distinct carcass sites were found in the following order of relative density: psoas muscles (10.5), internal masseter (8.1), external masseter (7.1), triceps brachii (4.9), forelimb (4.0), head muscles (3.8), tongue (3.4), hind limb (3.2), diaphragm (2.4), heart (1.9), abdominal muscles (1.3), trunk muscles (1.1), brain (1.0) and oesophagus (0.3). The proportion of cysts expected to be found at the surfaces exposed by visual examination or incision at meat inspection was calculated using an indirect method, which incorporated the area revealed by incision and visual inspection of an organ and the proportion of cysts located in the particular organ. It was estimated that 10.6% of the cysts would be located at inspected sites if regulations were followed carefully.     

Duration of immunity and absorption of cysticerci in calves after treatment of Taenia saginata cysticercosis with praziquantel

Calves were first infected with 5000 Taenia saginata eggs at six to 10 weeks old and treated with praziquantel 12 weeks later. Complete immunity against challenge lasted for at least 12 weeks following anthelmintic treatment. Six months after drug treatment over 90 per cent of the cysticerci had been completely absorbed but some were still detectable especially in the heart. An increase was observed in the ELISA values of sera from infected calves following treatment with praziquantel, but no such rise was detected in sera from resistant calves after challenge infection.     

奥芬达唑和阿苯达唑对猪囊尾蚴作用形态学比较观察

观察了奥芬达唑和阿苯达唑对猪体内及体外培养的不同发育阶段囊尾蚴作用的形态学效果.结果表明奥芬达唑具有显著的疗效,优于阿苯达唑,且对未成熟期猪囊尾蚴的杀灭作用优于成熟期.提示奥芬达唑可能成为抗未成熟期猪囊尾蚴及治疗脑囊虫病的有效药物.     

猪带绦虫TS11抗原基因接种小鼠的免疫应答

本实验以猪带绦虫 TS11抗原基因的真核表达型质粒 VTS11肌肉免疫注射 BAL B/ c小鼠 ,四甲基偶氮唑蓝 (MTT)比色法检测小鼠脾淋巴细胞刀豆蛋白 A(Con A)刺激的增殖反应及 IL- 2的诱生活性 ;用 EL ISA方法检测免疫小鼠 Ig G总量和特异性抗体水平 ,常规法检测外周血免疫细胞数量的动态变化。结果显示 VTS11免疫小鼠血清的特异性抗体滴度和 Ig G含量显著高于空白对照组小鼠 ;免疫小鼠脾脏淋巴细胞 Con A刺激增殖反应和 IL - 2诱生活性均比对照组小鼠显著增强 ;VTS11免疫小鼠的淋巴细胞和巨噬细胞等免疫细胞的数量也显著超过对照组。这表明 VTS11免疫小鼠 ,可诱导其产生特异性的细胞和体液免疫反应 ,VTS11具有很强的免疫激活作用 ,可望成为预防猪囊虫病的一种新型疫苗。     

Morphological changes in trichostrongylid eggs after treatment with fenbendazole

The influence of daily doses of 0.05–0.1 mg fenbendazole/kg body weight on egg development was tested in twenty-seven lambs artificially infected with Haemonchus contortus plus Trichostrongylus colubriformis or Ostertagia circumcincta, as well as in two additional sheep naturally infected with Nematodirus spp.Atypical eggs were detected before a reduction in the number of eggs. Atypical eggs had blastomeres of different sizes and shapes; knot-like, crater-like or bubble-like. In isolated cases eggs with atypical first larvae were recognizable. Morphologically changed eggs occurred in the reproductive organs of female O. circumcincta worms.None, or only a very small number of third stage larvae, could be cultured from the faeces of treated sheep.     

Plasma disposition and faecal excretion of oxfendazole, fenbendazole and albendazole following oral administration to donkeys

Fenbendazole (FBZ), oxfendazole (fenbendazole sulphoxide, FBZSO), and albendazole (ABZ) were administered orally to donkeys at 10mg/kg bodyweight. Blood and faecal samples were collected from 1 to 120 h post-treatment. The plasma and faecal samples were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The parent molecule and its sulphoxide and sulphone (FBZSO(2)) metabolites did not reach detectable concentrations in any plasma samples following FBZ administration. ABZ was also not detected in any plasma samples, but its sulphoxide and sulphone metabolites were detected, demonstrating that ABZ was completely metabolised by first-pass mechanisms in donkeys. Maximum plasma concentrations (C(max)) of FBZSO (0.49microg/mL) and FBZSO(2) (0.60microg/mL) were detected at (t(max)) 5.67 and 8.00h, respectively, following administration of FBZSO. The area under the curve (AUC) of the sulphone metabolite (10.33microg h/mL) was significantly higher than that of the parent drug FBZSO (5.17microg h/mL). C(max) of albendazole sulphoxide (ABZSO) (0.08g/mL) and albendazole sulphone (ABZSO(2)) (0.04microg/mL) were obtained at 5.71 and 8.00h, respectively, following ABZ administration. The AUC of the sulphoxide metabolite (0.84microg h/mL) of ABZ was significantly higher than that of the sulphone metabolite (0.50microg h/mL). The highest dry-faecal concentrations of parent molecules were detected at 32, 34 and 30h for FBZSO, FBZ and ABZ, respectively. The sulphide metabolite was significantly higher than the parent molecule after FBZSO administration. The parent molecule was predominant in the faecal samples following FBZ administration. After ABZ administration, the parent molecule was significantly metabolised, probably by gastrointestinal microflora, to its sulphoxide metabolite (ABZSO) that showed a similar excretion profile to the parent molecule in the faecal samples. The AUC of the parent FBZ was significantly higher than that of FBZSO and ABZ in faeces. It is concluded that the plasma concentration of FBZSO was significantly higher than that of FBZ and ABZ. Although ABZ is not licensed for use in Equidae, its metabolites presented a greater plasma kinetic profile than FBZ which is licensed for use in horses. A higher metabolic capacity, first-pass effects and lower absorption of benzimidazoles in donkeys decrease bioavailability and efficacy compared to ruminants.     

早期判断犬病的“五四三二一”

早期发现犬病的五四三二一法,即五近看、四远观、三闻、二看、一摸.     

Three-plane intertrochanteric osteotomy for treatment of early stage hip dysplasia.

Indications, preoperative planning, and surgical procedure for the three-plane intertrochanteric osteotomy are described. The goal of this procedure is to decrease the biomechanical stress in the coxofemoral joint, thereby relieving pain associated with early stage canine hip dysplasia. Clinical signs of pain are alleviated for many years.     

Efficacy of the immunoblot assay for cysticercosis in pigs and modulated expression of distinct IgM/IgG activities to Taenia solium antigens in experimental infections

A recently invented immunoblot assay for human cysticercosis was evaluated for efficacy in pigs. The test population consists of 45 pigs with parasitologically confirmed cysticercosis, 47 with heterologous infections, 45 SPF or concrete raised control animals. With this group of 137 animals the test performance was 100% sensitive and 100% specific. The antigen-specific responses of immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgG and IgM in four pigs infected with Taenia solium eggs derived from a human were quantified by immunoblot. Antigen-specific activities were observed as early as 1 week postinfection. The first antigen-specific isotypic response was IgM antibodies directed against a glycoprotein at 97 KD (GP97). This activity generally disappeared between the sixth and ninth week postinfection. Between Weeks 5 and 8, IgG activity rose as IgM activity fell. The IgG activity, however, was directed mostly towards GP50 and GP42 antigens. If the same response occurs in people with cysticercosis, identifying specific isotype activity may help to distinguish new infection from old.