Giardia duodenalis in small animals and their owners in Germany: A pilot study

Giardia duodenalis is a relevant gastrointestinal protozoan pathogen of humans and animals. This species complex consists of eight genetically different assemblages. Assemblages A and B are pathogenic to humans and pets, thus confer zoonotic potential. The risk of zoonotic transmission has been controversially discussed. The aim of this monocentric cross‐sectional pilot study was to investigate G. duodenalis assemblages in humans and pets living in common households in Berlin/Brandenburg (Germany). Samples from dogs, cats and humans sharing the same households were screened for Giardia infection by antigen‐detecting assays. All human samples were additionally analysed by a Giardia‐specific qPCR. Cyst quantification and sequences of different gene loci (triosephosphate isomerase (tpi), glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh), β‐giardin (bg) and for dogs SSUrDNA) were analysed. A total of 38 households (31 households with dogs and seven with cats) with 69 human individuals participated in the study. Initial antigen‐detecting assays revealed Giardia‐positive results for 13 (39%) canine, one (14%) feline and one human sample. Reanalysis of the human samples by qPCR revealed two more positive specimens (4%). Two of these three samples were identified as assemblage B at all tested loci. Success rate of assemblage typing for pet samples was generally low and comprised mainly the SSUrDNA locus only. Overall, six of 13 Giardia‐positive canine samples were typable (2× A, 1× co‐infection: A and B, 1× C; 2× D). One pair of samples (dog and human) from the same household had a similar but not identical assemblage B sequence at tpi locus. Assemblage A was also detected in the dog specimen, which hampered sequence analysis. In conclusion, although exhibiting limitations due to the sample size, our study highlights the need for better and standardized typing tools to distinguish G. duodenalis strains with higher resolution in order to perform proper case–control studies for a realistic estimation of zoonotic risk.     

Diagnosis of ovine chlamydial abortions by PCR-RFLP performed on vaginal swabs

Ovine enzootic abortion is an infectious and contagious disease clinically characterized by abortion and weak neonates, affecting sheep and goats. The etiological agent is Chlamydophila (C.) abortus, which is considered one of the most common animal pathogens of small ruminants; it has important economic implications and represents a significant zoonotic risk. Clinical diagnosis is often difficult because the clinical signs and the pathological lesions are not specific for C. abortus infection, in fact they can also be observed as a result of infections with other abortifacient agents. Moreover, the involvement of the laboratory is necessary to perform the definitive diagnosis. One hundred and seventeen vaginal swabs from sheep with clinical signs related to chlamydial infection were examined by a PCR-RFLP assay that demonstrated high specifity and sensitivity. Six samples were positive for C. abortus. Vaginal swabs are easy to handle and allow to deal with biohazardous material in safety conditions.     

骆驼尿液对预防CCl_4诱导小鼠肝损伤的保护作用

试验旨在研究骆驼尿液对预防四氯化碳(CCl_4)诱导小鼠肝损伤的保护作用。将40只C57BL/6小鼠随机分为正常组,模型组,骆驼尿液低剂量组(170 mg/kg)、中剂量组(340 mg/kg)和高剂量组(500 mg/kg),3组骆驼尿液组灌胃相应剂量的骆驼尿液,正常组和模型组灌胃等量的生理盐水,每日灌胃1次,连续14 d;试验末期,除正常组外(橄榄油),各组小鼠腹腔注射20%CCl_4橄榄油混合溶液,建立小鼠急性肝损伤模型;12 h后摘眼球取血和采集肝脏样本,并记录肝脏重量,计算肝脏指数;测定小鼠血清相关指标,并进行肝脏组织病理切片检查。结果显示,与模型组比较,低、中、高剂量骆驼尿液组小鼠血清中谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、谷草转氨酶(AST)活性及总胆红素(TBIL)、碱性磷酸酶(ALP)、葡萄糖(GLU)含量较模型组均明显降低,白蛋白(ALB)、总蛋白(TP)含量升高,且高剂量组效果较好;而小鼠肝脏病理学切片观察显示,骆驼尿液组均有不同程度的改善,其中高剂量骆驼尿液组小鼠肝脏组织病理学损伤明显减轻,与正常组的肝脏组织形态接近。比较低、中、高3种浓度骆驼尿液处理发现,浓度越高治疗效果越好,说明骆驼尿液治疗效果具有剂量依赖性。综上所述,骆驼尿液对CCl_4诱导小鼠肝损伤具有一定的预防保护作用,且高剂量骆驼尿液组的效果较好。     

Evidence for recombination in neboviruses

Neboviruses are bovine enteric caliciviruses (genus Nebovirus) associated with enteric diseases in calves. By screening the stools of calves collected from Italian herds using primers targeted to a conserved stretch in calicivirus RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase (RdRp), nebovirus RNA was detected in calves with enteritis (13.1%) but not in overtly health animals. Upon sequence analysis of the RdRp fragment, the Italian viruses formed a tightly conserved group and resembled closely the nebovirus prototype Nebraska/80/US. The sequence of a 2.2kb ORF1 fragment, spanning the 3' end of the RdRp and the full-length capsid coding region, of two nebovirus strains was determined, revealing marked genetic heterogeneity in the capsid protein, as the two Italian viruses were classified into two distinct capsid lineages, and suggesting a recombination event downstream the highly conserved shell (S) domain.     

Reconstructing the soil food web of a 100 million-year-old forest: The case of the mid-Cretaceous fossils in the amber of Charentes (SW France)

Over the past decade, the mid-Cretaceous amber deposits of Charentes (SW France) have been intensively studied. The fossils investigated were not only limited to arthropods preserved in amber, but also included microorganisms, plant debris and vertebrate remains. This plethora of analyses provided important data about the ecology of the overall system, including sources of litter input into the soil and of the above-ground ecology. More precisely, they showed that most of the microfossils were those of soil organisms or organisms that participated in the ecology of the forest soil. This new discovery provided the opportunity to study the ecology of the soil as preserved in the 100 million years old Charentes amber. Indeed, the trophic links of the fossil forest soil have been reconstructed on the basis of the fossil assemblage discovered in amber outcrops and overlayed on a model ecological forest soil food web. We relied on existing phylogenetic information to discuss the absence of certain taxonomic groups in the fossilized specimens. Our synthesis shows that although the organisms of this ancient forest of Charentes were different from those of modern soils, the soil food web was organized functionally the same as modern soils. It also demonstrated that trophic links of the soil community were already diverse, including various means of predation, parasitism and organic matter decomposition. The most obvious differences are the absence of evidence for symbiotic root nitrogen fixation and mycorrhizae.     

Ambivalent effects of atorvastatin on angiogenesis, epidermal cell proliferation and tumorgenesis in animal models

Background: A growing body of preclinical data indicates that statins may possess antineoplastic properties; however, some studies have raised the possibility that statins may also have carcinogenic potential. Methods: An air pouch model was used for angiogenesis. Single or multiple applications of croton oil on the back of Swiss albino mice with or without initiation by dimethylbenz(a)antheracene (DMBA) were used to evaluate the skin tumorgenesis, ultrastructural and histological alterations. Results: Atorvastatin (orally, 10 mg/kg/day) produced a significant (P<0.05) reduction in angiogenesis. Concurrent administration of mevalonate reversed the anti-angiogenic effect of atorvastatin. However, local injection of atorvastatin (200 µg) into the pouches induced a significant (P<0.5) increase in angiogenesis that was not reversed by co-administration of mevalonate. The disturbance of cell polarity, inflammatory response, thickness of epidermal layer, and mitotic index induced by croton oil were inhibited markedly and dose-dependently (P<0.001) by pre-treatment with atorvastatin. In spite of the strong anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects of atorvastatin on epidermal cell proliferation, it was identified that the same doses of atorvastatin in DMBA-initiated and croton oil-promoted skin tumorgenesis in mice increased the incidence of tumors and their conversion into malignant carcinoma. Conclusion: The reasons for these discrepancies remain unclear, and could be related to ambivalent effects of atorvastatin on angiogenesis or to specific differences in the experimental conditions. It is suggested that the pro-angiogenic effect of the drug, which could be responsible for promotion of skin tumors, is independent of the 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibition that can be mediated directly by atorvastatin.Key Words: Atorvastatin, Angiogenesis, Cell Proliferation, Cancer     

The effects of electromagnetic field on the microstructure of seminal vesicles in rat: a light and transmission electron microscope study

In the industrial world, almost everyone is unavoidably exposed to ambient electromagnetic field (EMF) generated from various technical and household appliances. Controversy exists about the effects of EMF on various tissues of the living bodies. Seminal vesicles as one of these accessory glands play an important role in natural seminal fluid formation and the effects of EMF on its tissue is worthy of investigation. In order to examine this 30 rat were selected and kept for one weeks in quarantine and 15 (experimental group) were exposed to 50 Hz (non-ionizing radiation) during postnatal life for 2 months. The materials were processed and observed under a light and transmission electron microscope. In the experimental rats epithelial and basal cells showed significant destructions presented by heterochromatin and dense nuclei. Cell debris and abnormal areas was recognizable in the stromal connective tissue. Obvious vacuolization was present within the epithelial cell cytoplasm and also between the cellular organelles. The nuclei of the endothelial cells of the blood vessels were more rigid and endothelial cell cytoplasm contained a lot of vacuoles and pinoctotic vesicles. The results suggested that EMF exposure may cause profound changes in the vesicle seminal tissues. Therefore exposure to EMF may result in pathological changes that lead to sub fertility and infertility.     

梅花在梅州园林造景中的应用

本文叙述了广东梅州梅花在园林造景中的应用状况,通过调查梅州城区的公园、景区现有的梅花造景方式,介绍了梅花在园林造景中的主要方式,包括作为主景、配景、用于水域景观、用于公园点缀等。从梅州现有的梅花种植方式出发,结合梅州经济、文化发展实际,提出了梅花在梅州园林造景中的存在问题,并对此提出了改进意见。