First evidence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paraheligmonina gracilis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hymenolepis sulcata</Emphasis> among fat dormice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Glis glis</Emphasis> L.) from Croatia

Summary The present study reports for the first time on the helminth species occurring in the gastro-intestinal system of fat dormice (Glis glis) in Croatia. Out of 55 dormice, 63.7 % harboured helminths belonging to two species, the nematode Paraheligmonina gracilis (syn. Longistriata elpatievskii) (Heligmonellidae, Trichostrogyloidea) in the prevalence of 52.7 %, and the cestode Hymenolepis sulcata (Hymenolepididae, Cyclophyllidea) in the prevalence of 32.7 %. Concurrent infections of both parasites were found in 12 fat dormice, P. gracilis alone was detected in 17 hosts and H. sulcata alone in 6 samples. No influence of parasitic infestation on animal weight was observed. Glirid helminths do not represent zoonotic pathogens despite the fact that dormice occasionally inhabit cottages and village houses, and are used in human nutrition.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphanocladium album</Emphasis> by via sub-irrigation in the control of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pyrenochaeta lycopersici</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Meloidogyne incognita</Emphasis> on tomato in a plastic-house

Summary  Two experiments were carried out to assess the efficacy of different chemicals (azoxystrobin, fosthiazate, metham-sodium) and of the chitinolytic fungus Aphanocladium album (isolate MX-95), that could be alternatives to methyl bromide, against the soil borne pathogen Pyrenochaeta lycopersici and the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita on tomato in a plastic house in southern Italy. In the first trial, the treatments were azoxystrobin (1.25 l a.i. /ha), fosthiazate (1.5 l a.i. /ha) and biological control agent Aphanocladium album isolate MX-95 (2.5 l/plot at 2×10⁷ CFU/ml; plot surface 96 m²). In the second experiment, treatments were metham-sodium (1000 l c.p./ha) and A. album (5 l/plot at 1×10⁷ CFU/ml). In both trials, chemicals and the fungus were applied by via sub-irrigation. Satisfactory control of the corky root and the root-knot nematode attack and a significant yield increase were obtained by application of azoxystrobin, fosthiazate and metham-sodium. A significant reduction of M. incognita soil population density occurred in plots treated with A. album. Also, high positive correlations were found between the symptoms caused on tomato roots by M. incognita and P. lycopersici.     

The <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicobacter pylori</Emphasis> duodenal ulcer promoting gene, <Emphasis Type="Italic">dupA</Emphasis>in China

Background  

The prevalence of H. pylori is as high as 60–70% in Chinese population. Although duodenal ulcer and gastric cancer are both caused by H. pylori, they are at opposite ends of the spectrum and as such are considered mutually exclusive. Duodenal ulcer promoting (dupA) gene was reported to be associated with duodenal ulcer development. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of dupA gene of Helicobacter pylori in patients with various gastroduodenal diseases and to explore the association between the gene and other virulence factors.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphelenchus avenae</Emphasis> (Nematoda: Aphelenchidae) under the rhizosphere of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis>

Soil samples under the rhizosphere of Brasicca napus were collected from three localities (Bílé Podolí, Prague, Kylešovice). All three localities were positive for the presence of Aphelenchus avenae. Morphological and molecular features of A. avenae are presented in this research note.     

10 Jahre <Emphasis Type="Italic">Der Pneumologe</Emphasis>

There are currently about 8,000 individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) living in Germany. This disease is the most common fatal congenital metabolic disorder in the Caucasian population. The first causal therapy is now available for CF patients with the G551D mutation. Rapidly developing diagnostic and therapeutic options have led to a significant increase in life expectancy and more than half of CF patients are older than 18 years. Nevertheless, in 2010, 42.8% of adult CF patients were still being treated in pediatric institutions. This requires a prompt development of adequate models of care as well as of transitional structures, both of which still constitute a problem. The transition process with the goal of professional adult care is insufficiently defined; therefore, models allowing a successful transition with sustainable professional care and a positive effect on the long-term course of the disease and the prognosis are being developed. Several transition models have been tested in Germany. A uniform, comprehensive model is unlikely to be applicable for all institutions, whereas structural developments considering local conditions and supported by participating stakeholders on both sides (pediatrics and internal medicine) are realistic. Two different transitional models tested locally are described.     

Mutation detection analysis of a region of 16S-like ribosomal RNA gene of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Entamoeba histolytica</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Entamoeba dispar</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Entamoeba moshkovskii</Emphasis>

Background  

The level of intra-species genetic variation in Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba dispar and Entamoeba moshkovskii populations in a localized geographic area, like Puducherry, India, remains unknown.     

Association of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> O157:H7 <Emphasis Type="Italic">tir</Emphasis>polymorphisms with human infection

Background  

Emerging molecular, animal model and epidemiologic evidence suggests that Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli O157:H7 (STEC O157) isolates vary in their capacity to cause human infection and disease. The translocated intimin receptor (tir) and intimin (eae) are virulence factors and bacterial receptor-ligand proteins responsible for tight STEC O157 adherence to intestinal epithelial cells. They represent logical genomic targets to investigate the role of sequence variation in STEC O157 pathogenesis and molecular epidemiology. The purposes of this study were (1) to identify tir and eae polymorphisms in diverse STEC O157 isolates derived from clinically ill humans and healthy cattle (the dominant zoonotic reservoir) and (2) to test any observed tir and eae polymorphisms for association with human (vs bovine) isolate source.     

Effect of treating <Emphasis Type="Italic">Schistosoma haematobium</Emphasis> infection on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plasmodium falciparum-specific</Emphasis> antibody responses

Background  

The overlapping geographical and socio-economic distribution of malaria and helminth infection has led to several studies investigating the immunological and pathological interactions of these parasites. This study focuses on the effect of treating schistosome infections on natural human immune responses directed against plasmodia merozoite surface proteins MSP-1 (DPKMWR, MSP1₁₉), and MSP-2 (CH150 and Dd2) which are potential vaccine candidates as well as crude malaria (schizont) and schistosome (whole worm homogenate) proteins.     

Temporal dynamics of soil nematode community structure under invasive <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ambrosia trifida</Emphasis> and native <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chenopodium serotinum</Emphasis>

Summary Temporal dynamics of soil nematode community structure at the depth of 0 — 30 cm was compared under invasive Ambrosia trifida and native Chenopodium serotinum in an abandoned cropland in Northeast China. The results showed the difference of nematode taxa and dominant genera under A. trifida and C. serotinum during the study period. Acrobeloides and Paratylenchus were found to be dominant genera under both A. trifida and C. serotinum. Helicotylenchus prevailed in soil with C. serotinum, while Macroposthonia was dominant in soil with A. trifida. Nematode taxa was higher under A. trifida than under C. serotinum from June to September. Except in the July, significantly higher numbers of plant-parasites were observed under A. trifida than under C. serotinum during the study period (P < 0.05). Nematode taxa, Simpson index and structure index were found to be sensitive indicators that detected nematode community structural differences under A. trifida and C. serotinum during the study period.     

Metacercariae of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Centrocestus formosanus</Emphasis> in goldfish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Carassius auratus</Emphasis> L.) imported into Croatia

Summary The presence of metacercariae of Centrocestus formosanus was detected on the gills of goldfish (Carassius auratus L.) imported from Singapore and obtained from two pet shops. This is the first report of the parasite in Croatia. The histopathological changes observed lead to the conclusion that the infection could be one of the reasons for the death of goldfish.     

Ageing in nematodes: do antioxidants extend lifespan in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Caenorhabditis</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">elegans</Emphasis>?

Antioxidants are often investigated as a promising strategy for extending lifespan. Accordingly, there is significant interest in novel antioxidant compounds derived from natural sources such as plant extracts. However, because lifespan studies are laborious and expensive to conduct, candidate compounds are frequently selected based simply on their in vitro antioxidant efficacy, with the implicit assumption that in vitro antioxidants are also in vivo antioxidants, and that in vivo antioxidants will decrease functionally relevant oxidative damage and thereby extend lifespan. We investigated the validity of these assumptions in the model organism, Caenorhabditis elegans. Nematodes were exposed to 6 plant extracts, selected out of a total of 34 based on a simple in vitro antioxidant assay. We found no correlation between in vitro and in vivo antioxidant capacities. Antioxidant efficacies were also not predictive of lifespan benefits. Further studies into those extracts that produced significant lifespan extension indicated that a direct antioxidant effect is unlikely to be the main factor responsible for the modulation of nematode lifespan.     

Study of the 49 kDa excretory-secretory protein gene of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichinella nativa</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichinella spiralis</Emphasis>

Summary To study the function of the 49 kDa excretory-secretory (ES) protein gene (P49) of Trichinella, the genes was amplified by RT-PCR from RNA of Trichinella spiralis and Trichinella nativa and several Chinese Trichinella isolates of domestic animals, and sequenced after being cloned. The amplified products of these parasites produced bands of about 950 bp. The 97.2 % to 100 % nucleotides identity and 94.3 % to 100 % identity of deduced amino acids among P49 gene of these Trichinella strains showed the close relationship of these parasites. The P49 gene of T. nativa was cloned into the BamHI site of the prokaryotic expression vector pET-30a, and the recombinant vector was expressed. The expressed product was 40.8 kDa in size. In Western blot analysis, the expressed product was reactive to sera of mice infected with T. nativa, T. spiralis and their Chinese geographical strains.     

Occurence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Echinococcus multilocularis</Emphasis> in red foxes (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vulpes vulpes</Emphasis>) in southern Poland

Summary The prevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis in 214 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in the southern part of Poland (Małopolskie voivodship) was evaluated post mortem in 2005. Infected foxes were found in 8 districts within 17 examined, with the prevalence from 10.0 % to 63.9 % (a mean 20.1 % in the whole study area). The highest prevalence (41.2 % and 63.9 %) was revealed in two districts, in the south and the east of the province, respectively. The high prevalence of E. multilocularis in red foxes in the region previously recognised as that of low parasite endemicity provides evidence for the need of regular screening of the current epidemiological situation in foxes as well as the monitoring of humans from risk groups for early recognition of possible AE cases.