Molecular epidemiological study of Trichomonas gallinae focusing on central and southeastern Europe.

Trichomonas gallinae is a geographically widespread protozoan parasite of birds. In this study, oropharyngeal swab samples were collected in Hungary and Romania from 99 columbiform birds, including 76 feral pigeons (Columba livia domestica: 42 kept for racing, 32 with urban and two with rural habitat), four common wood pigeons (C. palumbus), 16 ring doves (Streptopelia risoria) and three Eurasian collared doves (S. decaocto). These samples were analyzed for the presence of T. gallinae using molecular methods. Racing feral pigeons had significantly higher prevalence of T. gallinae infection than urban feral pigeons. The rate of PCR-positivity was the highest among wood pigeons and ring doves. Based on 18S rRNA gene, T. gallinae was the most heterogenous among racing feral pigeons sampled in a trading-breeding place. Clinical signs were associated with only one 18S rRNA gene subtype. The most divergent 18S rRNA gene subtype, Trichomonas sp. Hu-TG37 clustered with T. canistomae and T. tenax and represents probably a new species. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the genetic diversity of T. gallinae in the southeastern European region. The results suggest that most detected T. gallinae 18S rRNA gene subtypes are not host-specific and do not cause clinical signs. The highest number of 18S rRNA gene subtypes was demonstrated among racing feral pigeons. Significantly more captive than free-living columbiform birds had T. gallinae infection. These data highlight the importance of epizootic monitoring of the genetic diversity and presence of T. gallinae in trading-breeding places of pigeons and doves.

Urban emergence of Dermanyssus gallinae lineage L1 and Ornithonyssus sylviarum in Hungary: phylogenetic differentiation between the roles of migrating vs transported synanthropic birds.

BACKGROUND: Among Dermanyssoidea, the chicken red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) and the northern fowl mite (Ornithonyssus sylviarum) are considered to be the cause of high economic losses endured by the poultry industry in the Holarctic region, with O. sylviarum predominating in North America and D. gallinae in Europe. Both species have a short life-cycle (thereby allowing a rapid build-up of massive infestations), a wide range of hosts, synanthropic presence and the ability to bite humans. The aim of this study was to analyze dermanyssoid mite specimens, collected in two human dwellings and two racing pigeon premises in different urban areas in Hungary, with molecular-phylogenetic methods. METHODS: Mite species were identified morphologically. This was followed by DNA extraction and molecular-phylogenetic analyses of selected mites, based on the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) and 28S rRNA (28S) genes. RESULTS: Mites that had invaded a home from a pigeon nest and were linked to human dermatitis were morphologically and molecularly identified as D. gallinae special lineage L1. Specimens collected at all other sampling sites were identified as O. sylviarum, including mites that had invaded a home from a house martin (Delichon urbicum) nest, as well as those which were collected from racing pigeons. House martin- or pigeon-associated O. sylviarum specimens showed the highest sequence identity and closest phylogenetic relationship with conspecific mites reported in GenBank from Israel or Canada, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Detailed morphological and molecular-phylogenetic analyses of D. gallinae lineage L1 confirmed its status as a cryptic species within D. gallinae (s.l.). Taking into account the well-documented latitudinal migratory routes of house martins between Hungary and Africa, O. sylviarum associated with this bird species most likely arrived on its host from the eastern Mediterranean region. On the other hand, mites collected from pigeons in Hungary showed cox1 genetic homogeneity with North American O. sylviarum, which can only be explained by a long-distance (west-to-east intercontinental) connection of birds and their mites as part of human activity (e.g. transportation to exhibitions or trading). In summary, this is the first molecularly confirmed and phylogenetically analyzed case of O. sylviarum infestation of birds in Hungary, implicating urban environment and involving distant parts of the country. This is also the first report of D. gallinae lineage L1 in central Europe.

[Gliomatosis cerebri]. / Gliomatosis cerebri.

A 64 years old woman presented with weakness, vertigo, paresthesia, dementia, which progressed to coma in a three-month-long period. The autopsy revealed pulmonary thrombosis and infarction, gastric erosions, peptic ulcer in the duodenum, leiomyoma in the esophagus, fibrosis of the pancreas and mild atherosclerosis. On macroscopic examination, the 1440 g brain did not show any bleeding, infarction or tumor. The histologic examination revealed gliomatosis cerebri of the white matter of the cerebral hemispheres.

[Primary lymphoma of the heart]. / A szív elsôdleges lymphomája.

The authors describe the case of a 59-year-old woman, treated for breast cancer by mastectomy and chemotherapy 13 years before her death. Eleven years later she was treated successfully by gastric resection and chemotherapy for gastric cancer. In the last five months, the patient presented dyspnoea, leucopenia, hydropericardium and thoracic fluid both sides. In vivo the origin of these symptoms has not been discovered, neither by cytology nor by pleural biopsy.

Correlation and immunolocalization of substance P nerve fibers and activated immune cells in human chronic gastritis.

UNLABELLED: Neuropeptides are able to modulate cytokine production by macrophages in response to various stimulators and have a major role in inflammation of different organs. Mammalian poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) both have been suggested to play a crucial role in inflammatory disorders. Unregulated increase of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) may also be pathogenic in inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between the number of Substance P (SP) containing nerve fibers and activated immune cells using immunohisto-, immunocytochemical (EM) and confocal laser microscopic methods. To investigate expression and activation of immune cells gastric biopsy samples from patients with chronic gastritis were used. The number of SP containing nerve fibers and activated immune cells increased significantly in gastritis. Using monoclonal p65 antibody, activated NF-kappaB was found in inflamed mucosa but was absent in uninflamed mucosa. Immunobinding for the activated form of p65 of NF-kappaB was found in 22% of macrophages and 45% of lymphocytes. The number of immune cells showing IR for NF-kappaB, PARP and TNF-alpha correlated with the increasing number of SP containing fibres. Confocal laser microscopy was used to confirm the colocalization of SP in TNF-alpha and NFkappaB positive lymphocytes and mast cells in inflamed mucosa. Immunoelectronmicroscopic investigation confirmed that these cells belong to lymphocytes, mast cells and macrophages. CONCLUSIONS: The increase of SP in nerve fibers and in activated immune cells further activate the production of other proinflammatory mediators (e.g. TNF-alpha) and therefore generate the chronic inflammation.