Saduria entomon infected with Hysterothylacium aduncum found in situ in the stomach of cod (Gadus morhua) from the Baltic Sea.

The parasite fauna of cod (Gadus morhus) is well described, but the life cycles of Baltic cod parasites are known only in general terms. Invertebrates commonly found in the stomach of cod are recognized as intermediate hosts in the life cycles of nematodes or acanthocephalans. The aim of this study was to determine the source of infection of Baltic cod with parasites found in situ in invertebrates present in the cod stomach. Our results indicate that Saduria entomon is both a source of infection of Baltic cod with parasites and an intermediate host in the life cycle of Hysterothylacium aduncum in the Baltic Sea.

Great sandeel (Hyperoplus lanceolatus) as a putative transmitter of parasite Contracaecum osculatum (Nematoda: Anisakidae).

In the Baltic Sea, the great sandeel (Hyperoplus lanceolatus), a common fish species that inhabits sandy substrates, is an important element in the diet of marine mammals, sea birds, and piscivorous fish. It can also act as a transmitter of parasites to its predators, but parasitological studies on this species are limited. We sampled great sandeels in April 2016 in two areas of the southern Baltic Sea (SB-south of Bornholm and GG-the Gulf of Gdansk) and found parasitic anisakid nematodes in both locations. The only one species of nematode parasites has been detected: liver worm (Contracaecum osculatum) with average prevalence of infection 8.96%. This is the first study to report on infection of H. lanceolatus with anisakid nematodes in the southern Baltic Sea and our results suggest that the great sandeel may play a role in the transmission of liver worm in the food web of this marine environment.

Host condition and accumulation of metals by acanthocephalan parasite Echinorhynchus gadi in cod Gadus morhua from the southern Baltic Sea.

In this study, we analyzed the relationship between concentration of metals in the host-parasite system (cod - acanthocephalan Echinorhynchus gadi) and Fulton's condition factor (FCF) of the host. The relationship between metal (Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Pb, Sr, Zn) concentrations in E. gadi and cod tissues was expressed as a bioconcentration factor (BCF), the ratio of the concentration in the parasite tissue to that in host tissues. Acanthocephalans accumulated mainly toxic metals (Cd, Pb), as well as Sr, Ca, Na. Cadmium showed the highest bioconcentration in parasites (BCF >200) compared to fish muscle. Significant negative correlation was detected between FCF and the concentration of Cd and Hg in cod liver. In contrast, FCF was positively correlated with the concentration of Hg in acanthocephalan tissues.

Sweet but dangerous - the role of immunoglobulin G glycosylation in autoimmunity and inflammation.

Glycosylation is well-known to modulate the functional capabilities of immunoglobulin G (IgG)-mediated cellular and humoral responses. Indeed, highly sialylated and desialylated IgG is endowed with anti- and pro-inflammatory activities, respectively, whereas fully deglycosylated IgG is a rather lame duck, with no effector function besides toxin neutralization. Recently, several studies revealed the impact of different glycosylation patterns on the Fc part and Fab fragment of IgG in several autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Here, we provide a synoptic update summarizing the most important aspects of antibody glycosylation, and the current progress in this field. We also discuss the therapeutic options generated by the modification of the glycosylation of IgG in a potential treatment for chronic inflammatory diseases.

A blast without power - cell death induced by the tuberculosis-necrotizing toxin fails to elicit adequate immune responses.

In this study, we deploy a doxycycline-dependent suicide switch integrated in a tumor challenge model. With this experimental setup, we characterized the immunological consequences of cells dying by four distinct cell death stimuli in vivo. We observed that apoptotic cell death induced by expression of the truncated form of BH3 interacting-domain death agonist (tBid) and a constitutively active form of caspase 3 (revC3), respectively, showed higher immunogenicity than cell death induced by expression of the tuberculosis-necrotizing toxin (TNT). Our data indicate that the early release of ATP induces the silent clearance of dying cells, whereas the simultaneous presence of 'find me' signals and danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) promotes inflammatory reactions and increased immunogenicity. This proposed model is supported by findings showing that the production and release of high concentrations of IL-27 by bone-marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) is limited to BMDM exposed to those forms of death that simultaneously released ATP and the DAMPs heat-shock protein 90 (HSP90) and high-mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1). These results demonstrate that the tissue microenvironment generated by dying cells may determine the subsequent immune response.

Acetylcholinesterase activity in the host-parasite system of the cod Gadus morhua and acanthocephalan Echinorhynchus gadi from the southern Baltic Sea.

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity measurement is widely used as a specific biomarker of neurotoxic effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate AChE activity in a host fish (the cod) and its acanthocephalan parasite Echinorhynchus gadi from the southern Baltic. AChE activity in hosts and parasites was inversely related: the highest cod AChE activity corresponded to the lowest E. gadi enzymatic activity and vice versa ("mirror effect"). This is the first report on the simultaneous application of this biomarker in cod and its acanthocephalan parasites. Results obtained for the host-parasite system are complementary and provide comprehensive information about the response of this biomarker. Analysis of the system allows for detection of a greater number of factors influencing AChE activity in the marine environment than separate analysis of the host and parasites. Thus, AChE activity measurement in a host-parasite system may be considered to be a promising tool for biomonitoring.

Anisakid larvae in the liver of cod (Gadus morhua) L. from the southern Baltic Sea.

In the present investigation a sample of 490 cod (Gadus morhua) was examined from three regions in the southern Baltic Sea (the Polish Exclusive Economic Zone, EEZ). Three species of anisakid nematodes with zoonotic potential, namely species of Contracaecum, Anisakis and Pseudoterranova, were found in the liver of cod, with Contracaecum being the most dominant species. The prevalence of infection was highest in the Western Baltic (22.5%) compared to the Central Baltic (10.4%) and the Gulf of Gdansk (3.4%). Generalized linear models (GLMs) were applied to analyse the prevalence of infection with Anisakis sp. and Contracaecum sp. relative to biological and spatial parameters. The effect of the sampling region, age and body length of the fish were significant in both GLMs. The effect of region was higher in the Western Baltic than in other regions. The prevalence of infection was correlated with the length of the fish and was higher in adult compared with sub-adult fish. These results suggest that the prevalence of infection with anisakid nematodes (especially Contracaecum sp.) in cod sampled in Polish waters of the Baltic Sea has significantly increased compared with previous studies undertaken over the past few decades.

Identification of anisakid nematodes with zoonotic potential from Europe and China by single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis of nuclear ribosomal DNA.

Using genetic markers defined previously in the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS-2) of nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA), isotopic, and non-isotopic polymerase-chain-reaction-coupled single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) were utilized to identify each of three anisakid species [Anisakis simplex (s.l.), Contracaecum osculatum (s.l.), and Hysterothylacium aduncum] from different host species and geographical locations in Poland and Sweden. While subtle microheterogeneity was observed within each of Anisakis simplex (s.l.) and H. aduncum, distinct SSCP profiles were displayed for each of the three species, allowing identification and differentiation of the three taxa. Subsequent sequencing of the ITS-1 and ITS-2 rDNA revealed that A. simplex (s.l.) represented Anisakis simplex s.s. and Contracaecum osculatum (s.l.) represented C. osculatum C. Application of the non-isotopic SSCP assay of ITS-2 to larval anisakid samples from different hosts and geographical locations in China revealed three distinct SSCP profiles, one of which was consistent with that of A. simplex (s.l.), and the other two had different SSCP profiles from that of C. osculatum C and H. aduncum. Sequencing of the ITS-1 and ITS-2 rDNA for representative Chinese anisakid samples examined revealed three anisakid species in China, i.e., Anisakis typica, Anisakis pegreffii, and Hysterothylacium sp. These molecular tools will be useful for identification and investigation of the ecology of anisakid nematodes in China and elsewhere.

Complexometric determination of diphosphonic acid derivatives. Part II.

The purpose of the study is to develop complexometric method determination of diphosphonic acid derivatives in pharmaceutical preparations used in the treatment of osteoporosis, vis., disodium etidronate, disodium tiludronate, disodium pamidronate and sodium alendronate. The visual end-point titration method involving either as complexing reagent Th(DCTA) or Th(EDTA) in the presence of xylenol orange or methyl thymol blue, uses the ability of these compounds to form complexes.

Characterisation of anisakid nematodes with zoonotic potential by nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences.

Larvae of three species of anisakid nematode from fish, Anisakis simplex, Hysterothylacium aduncum and Contracaecum osculatum, were characterised genetically using a molecular approach. The nuclear ribosomal DNA region spanning the first internal transcribed spacer, the 5.8S gene and the second internal transcribed spacer was amplified and sequenced. The lengths of the first and second internal transcribed spacer sequences of the three species ranged from 392 to 449 bp and 262 to 347 bp, respectively, whereas the 5.8S sequence was 157 bp. For the three species, the G+C contents for the three regions of ribosomal DNA ranged from 42.4 to 52.2%. While no intraspecific variation was detected in the second internal transcribed spacer or 5.8S sequence of any species examined, one polymorphic nucleotide position was detected in the first internal transcribed spacer sequence for A. simplex and H. aduncum. The extent of sequence differences in the first (approximately 34-45%) and second (approximately 50-53%) internal transcribed spacers among the species was greater than in the 5.8S gene (approximately 3-5%). Based on the sequence differences, PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism and single-strand conformation polymorphism methods were established for the unequivocal delineation of the three species. These methods should provide valuable tools for studying the life-cycle, transmission pattern(s) and population structure of each of the three anisakid nematodes examined herein, and for the diagnosis of anisakiasis in humans and animals.

Analysis of selected diphosphonic acid derivatives used in treatment of osteoporosis. Part I. Complexometric determination of diphosphonic acid derivatives.

The purpose of the study was to develop a simple method for determination of diphosphonic acid derivatives in pharmaceutical preparations used in treatment of osteoporosis: disodium etidronate, disodium clodronate, disodium tiludronate, disodium pamidronate, sodium alendronate. The analysis performed by the visual end point titration method with complexing reagent Th(DCTA) in presence of xylenol orange used the ability of these compounds to form complexes.

Leukocyte parameters in the course of pig infection with III larval stage of Anisakis simplex.

Experimental anisakiosis covered 6 pigs infected with III larval stage of A. simplex. Changes in leukocytes were analysed. The blood showed an increased number of eosinophiles after 5th day. The number of High-affinity and EAC rosettes decreased after 8th day.

[Anisakis simplex (larva III stage) in stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus from the southern Baltic region]. / Anisakis simplex (larwa III stadium) u ciernika Gasterosteus aculeatus z poludniowego Baltyku.

One specimen of III larval stage of Anisakis simplex was found in body cavity of female stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus caught in Southern Baltic, in Kolobrzeg. In stickleback from Baltic Sea A. simplex was noted for the first time. It usually occurs in many other species of fish.

Haematological and morphological changes in experimental anisakiasis in pigs.

The aim of this paper is to establish the haematological and organic changes in halothane-sensitive and halothane-resistant pigs in the course of experimental anisakiasis. Experiments were carried out on two groups of pigs (3 animals each). The pigs from the first group were given fifty A. simplex B larvae, the pigs from the second one received ten larvae and then again fifteen larvae each after the 5th and 6th days. The number of leucocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes and eosinophils was greater--different in both series, but similar in halothane (stress)-resistance and -sensitive pigs. In the case of sensitive pigs much greater reactive changes were found in the stomach submucosa than in that of resistant pigs. In this group of pigs nematode larvae have also been traced in the submucosa of the same organ.