Quantitative study of wild animals received at the Wild Animals Triage Centers (CETAS) in Bahia and identification of trafficking routes

ABSTRACT: In Brazil, the illegal capture of wild animals is a crime that contributes to the extinction of species, besides causing environmental imbalance and suffering to the animals. Here, we undertook a quantitative survey of animals sent to the Centro de Triagem de Animais Silvestres (CETAS - Wild Animals Triage Centers) from units of Porto Seguro, Salvador, and Vitória da Conquista during 2009-2019. The 19,317, 34,460, and 43,874 specimens were registered in the units of Porto Seguro, Vitória da Conquista, and Salvador, respectively. The distribution of the totals by class included 80,948 (82.90%) birds, 12,007 (12.30%) reptiles, 4,661 (4.77%) mammals, and 35 arachnids (0.03%). The operations that generated registration at the CETAS were most frequently apprehensions (67,974; 69.67%), followed by voluntary surrender (13,367; 13.69%), rescues (12,803; 13.11%), and transfers (2,735; 2.67%). The animals came from 236 municipalities in the state of Bahia, with emphasis on the municipalities of Salvador, Vitória da Conquista, Feira de Santana, Lençóis, Jequié, and Paulo Afonso. The evaluation of the quantitative seizures by municipalities indicates that the BR-116 is one of the most representative routes for the illegal traffic of wild animals in the state of Bahia and the country.

RESUMO: No Brasil a captura ilegal de animais silvestres é crime e contribui para a extinção das espécies, além de causar desequilíbrios ambientais e sofrimentos aos animais. Este trabalho apresenta quantitativos de animais recebidos e/ou armazenados nos Centros de Triagem de Animais Silvestres (CETAS) do estado da Bahia, no período de 2009-2019. Os totais de 19.317, 34.460 e 43.874 espécimes foram registrados nas unidades de Porto Seguro, Vitória da Conquista e Salvador, respectivamente. A distribuição dos totais por classe incluiu 80.948 (82,90%) aves, 12.007 (12,30%) répteis, 4.661 (4,77%) mamíferos e 35 aracnídeos. Quanto à natureza da operação que gerou o registro nos CETAS, as mais frequentes foram apreensão (67.974; 69,67%), entrega voluntária (13.367; 13,69%), resgate (12.803; 13,11%) e transferência (2.735; 2,67%). Os animais foram apreendidos em 236 municípios do estado da Bahia, com destaque para Salvador, Vitória da Conquista, Feira de Santana, Lençóis, Jequié e Paulo Afonso. A avaliação dos quantitativos das apreensões por municípios indica que a BR-116 é uma das rotas de escoamento mais representativa do tráfico ilegal de animais silvestres, no estado da Bahia e no país.

Quantitative study of wild animals received at the Wild Animals Triage Centers (CETAS) in Bahia and identification of trafficking routes / Estudo quantitativo de animais silvestres recebidos nos Centros de Triagens de Animais Silvestres (CETAS) da Bahia e identificação de rotas de tráfico

In Brazil, the illegal capture of wild animals is a crime that contributes to the extinction of species, besides causing environmental imbalance and suffering to the animals. Here, we undertook a quantitative survey of animals sent to the "Centro de Triagem de Animais Silvestres" (CETAS - Wild Animals Triage Centers) from units of Porto Seguro, Salvador, and Vitória da Conquista during 2009-2019. The 19,317, 34,460, and 43,874 specimens were registered in the units of Porto Seguro, Vitória da Conquista, and Salvador, respectively. The distribution of the totals by class included 80,948 (82.90%) birds, 12,007 (12.30%) reptiles, 4,661 (4.77%) mammals, and 35 arachnids (0.03%). The operations that generated registration at the CETAS were most frequently apprehensions (67,974; 69.67%), followed by voluntary surrender (13,367; 13.69%), rescues (12,803; 13.11%), and transfers (2,735; 2.67%). The animals came from 236 municipalities in the state of Bahia, with emphasis on the municipalities of Salvador, Vitória da Conquista, Feira de Santana, Lençóis, Jequié, and Paulo Afonso. The evaluation of the quantitative seizures by municipalities indicates that the BR-116 is one of the most representative routes for the illegal traffic of wild animals in the state of Bahia and the country.(AU)

No Brasil a captura ilegal de animais silvestres é crime e contribui para a extinção das espécies, além de causar desequilíbrios ambientais e sofrimentos aos animais. Este trabalho apresenta quantitativos de animais recebidos e/ou armazenados nos Centros de Triagem de Animais Silvestres (CETAS) do estado da Bahia, no período de 2009-2019. Os totais de 19.317, 34.460 e 43.874 espécimes foram registrados nas unidades de Porto Seguro, Vitória da Conquista e Salvador, respectivamente. A distribuição dos totais por classe incluiu 80.948 (82,90%) aves, 12.007 (12,30%) répteis, 4.661 (4,77%) mamíferos e 35 aracnídeos. Quanto à natureza da operação que gerou o registro nos CETAS, as mais frequentes foram apreensão (67.974; 69,67%), entrega voluntária (13.367; 13,69%), resgate (12.803; 13,11%) e transferência (2.735; 2,67%). Os animais foram apreendidos em 236 municípios do estado da Bahia, com destaque para Salvador, Vitória da Conquista, Feira de Santana, Lençóis, Jequié e Paulo Afonso. A avaliação dos quantitativos das apreensões por municípios indica que a BR-116 é uma das rotas de escoamento mais representativa do tráfico ilegal de animais silvestres, no estado da Bahia e no país.(AU)

Lesions of the sheep reproductive system found in a slaughterhouse in the state of Bahia, Brazil / Lesões do sistema reprodutor em ovelhas de abatedouros frigoríficos no estado da Bahia

The present study aimed to evaluate and diagnose pathologies of the reproductive system of slaughtered sheep in slaughterhouses in the state of Bahia since there are few data on the subject as well as it is important to note the diagnosis of these diseases to apply appropriate control and prophylaxis measures. The research was carried out in slaughterhouses in the state of Bahia according to the "Serviço de Inspeção Federal" and "Serviço de Inspeção Estadual" for sheep slaughter. From July 2018 to February 2019, visits and monitoring of 1,072 slaughtered sheep were carried out. The animals came from 22 municipalities in the state of Bahia, aged from six to 18 months. During slaughter, the sheep reproductive systems were sectioned for evisceration and lesion collection. Additionally, epidemiological surveys related to origin, age, and race were obtained. For bacteriological examination, collections were performed with sterile scalpel slides and swabs in Stuart medium sterile tubes and refrigerated in a thermal box. For histopathological analysis, fragments were fixed in 10% formaldehyde and routinely processed for histology, stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE). A study of the sheep's main pathological changes in slaughterhouses in the state of Bahia was carried out, in which 1.072 genital systems were evaluated, and 211 alterations were identified. The most affected reproductive organs were the ovaries (65.3%), followed by the uterus (29.4%) and uterine tubes (5.3%). In the ovaries, the most frequent lesion was a follicular cyst (34.1%); in the fallopian tubes, the cysts represented 3.3% of the lesions, and in the womb, endometritis was observed in 9% of the animals. Other pathologies identified in the ovaries were: luteinized cyst (2.3%); cystic granulosa cell tumor (0.5%); benign lesion (0.5%); agenesis unilateral (0.5%), in addition to other changes of little clinical significance, such as corpus luteum cysts (11.8%) and paraovarian cysts (15.6%). In the fallopian tubes, hydrosalpinx was observed (1%), as well as adenoma (0.5%), agenesis (0.5%), and cysts (3.3%). Uterine lesions included hydrometra (2.3%); Cystic Endometrial Hyperplasia (CEH), abscess, and pyometra (1.4% each); adenomyosis, womb sera petechiae, and total segmental aplasia (1% each); two pregnant uterus, in early pregnancy, presented pyometra (0.9%), however, no change was observed in the fetuses; and uterine polyp (0.5%). Ectopic pregnancy with fetal maceration (0.5%) was observed; vaginitis occurred in 0.5% of the animals, and endometrial melanosis in 8.5%. The high incidence of follicular cysts and endometritis are characterized as diseases that reduce the reproductive efficiency in herds, causing infertility and economic losses in production.(AU)

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar e diagnosticar alterações do sistema reprodutor de ovelhas abatidas em abatedouros frigoríficos no estado da Bahia. A pesquisa foi realizada em abatedouros frigoríficos do estado da Bahia com Serviços de Inspeção Federal e Estadual no abate de ovinos. No período de julho de 2018 a fevereiro de 2019 foram realizadas visitas e acompanhamento do abate de 1.072 ovelhas. Os animais eram provenientes de 22 municípios do estado da Bahia, com idade entre 6 a 18 meses. Durante o abate, na evisceração foram seccionados os sistemas reprodutores das ovelhas para avaliação e coleta das lesões. Adicionalmente foram obtidos inquéritos epidemiológicos relacionados à procedência, idade e raça. Para o exame bacteriológico, as coletas foram realizadas com lâminas de bisturi estéreis e swabs em tubos estéreis com meio Stuart e refrigeradas em caixa térmica. Para análise histopatológica, os fragmentos foram fixados em formol a 10% e processados de forma rotineira para histologia e corados pela hematoxilina e eosina (HE). Entre 1.072 sistemas genitais avaliados, identificou-se 211 alterações. Os órgãos do sistema reprodutor mais acometidos foram os ovários (65,3%), útero (29,4%) e tubas uterinas (5,3%). Nos ovários, a lesão mais frequente foi o cisto folicular (34,1%); no útero a endometrite (9%) e nas tubas uterinas, os cistos representaram (3,3%). Outras lesões identificadas nos ovários foram: cisto luteinizado (2,3%); tumor de células da granulosa (0,5%); adenoma (0,5%); agenesia unilateral (0,5%), além de outras alterações de pouco significado clínico, como cistos paraovarianos (15,6%) e corpo lúteo cístico (11,8%). Nas tubas uterinas observou-se, além dos cistos tubo-ovarianos (3,3%), hidrossalpinge (1%), adenoma (0,5%) e agenesia (0,5%). As lesões uterinas foram endometrite (9%), hidrometra (2,3%); hiperplasia endometrial cística, abscesso e piometra (1,4% cada); adenomiose, petéquias na serosa do útero e aplasia segmentar (1% cada); dois úteros gravídicos, em início de gestação, apresentaram piometra (0,9%), porém os fetos não apresentaram alterações; e pólipo uterino (0,5%). Observou-se uma gestação ectópica com maceração fetal (0,5%); a vaginite ocorreu em 0,5%, e melanose endometrial em 8,5%. Destaca-se a elevada incidência de cistos foliculares e endometrite que são doenças que reduzem a eficiência reprodutiva dos rebanhos, provocando infertilidade e perdas econômicas na produção.(AU)

Nem todo abscesso em pequenos ruminantes é causado por Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis / Not all abscesses in small ruminants are caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis

O presente estudo objetivou determinar a prevalência e distribuição de lesões abscedativas, identificação do agente etiológico e avaliação das lesões histológicas em caprinos e ovinos abatidos em um matadouro-frigorífico com Serviço de Inspeção Federal do estado da Bahia. Foram coletadas 153 amostras de vísceras e linfonodos com abscessos de 1.148 animais abatidos. A maior prevalência na espécie ovina foi em macho, com faixa etária de 12 meses, sendo os principais órgãos acometidos fígado (21,2%) e linfonodo pré-escapular (20,3%). Na espécie caprina, a prevalência maior foi em macho, com faixa etária de 30 meses, sendo os linfonodos retro faríngeo (25%) e pré-escapular os mais acometidos (25%). Isolou-se os seguintes micro-organismos das amostras: Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis em 33,33%, Escherichia coli (19,61%), Proteus mirabilis (9,80%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (7,19%), Trueperella pyogenes (5,22%), Streptococcusspp. (5,22%) e Staphylococcus aureus (4,57%). As lesões macroscópicas e histológicas dos abscessos coletados não apresentaram diferenças entre micro-organismos isolados.(AU)

The study aimed to determine the prevalence and distribution of abscessed lesions, etiologic agent identification and assessment of histological lesions in sheep and goats slaughtered in a slaughter plant refrigerator with Federal Inspection Service in the State of Bahia. The amount of 153 samples of viscera and lymph nodes with abscesses of 1.148 slaughtered animals were collected. The highest prevalence in sheep was in males, aged 12 months, as in liver (21.2%) and prescapular lymph nodes (20.3%) the main affected organs. The prevalence in goats in male, aged 30 months and in retropharyngeal (25%) and prescapular lymph nodes (25%). The following microorganisms were isolated from the samples: Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis 33.33%, Escherichia coli 19.61%, Proteus mirabilis 9.80%, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 7.19%, Trueperella pyogenes 5.22%, Streptococcus spp. 5.22% and Staphylococcus aureus 4.57%. The macroscopic and histological lesions of abscesses collected presented no difference between isolated microorganisms.(AU)

In vitro antimicrobial and antimycobacterial activity and HPLC-DAD screening of phenolics from Chenopodium ambrosioides L

Abstract The main objective of this study was to demonstrate the antimicrobial potential of the crude extract and fractions of Chenopodium ambrosioides L., popularly known as Santa-Maria herb, against microorganisms of clinical interest by the microdilution technique, and also to show the chromatographic profile of the phenolic compounds in the species. The Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of cardiotonic, anthraquinone, alkaloids, tannins and flavonoids. The analysis by HPLC-DAD revealed the presence of rutin in the crude extract (12.5 ± 0.20 mg/g), ethyl acetate (16.5 ± 0.37 mg/g) and n-butanol (8.85 ± 0.11 mg/g), whereas quercetin and chrysin were quantified in chloroform fraction (1.95 ± 0.04 and 1.04 ± 0.01 mg/g), respectively. The most promising results were obtained with the ethyl acetate fraction, which inhibited a greater number of microorganisms and presented the lowest values of MIC against Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis (MIC = 0.42 mg/mL), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC = 34.37 mg/mL), Paenibacillus apiarus (MIC = 4.29 mg/mL) and Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus (MIC = 4.29 mg/mL). Considering mycobacterial inhibition, the best results were obtained by chloroform fraction against M. tuberculosis, M. smegmatis, and M. avium (MIC ranging from 156.25 to 625 µg/mL). This study proves, in part, that the popular use of C. ambrosioides L. can be an effective and sustainable alternative for the prevention and treatment of diseases caused by various infectious agents.

Predicting of biomass in Brazilian tropical dry forest: a statistical evaluation of generic equations

ABSTRACT Dry tropical forests are a key component in the global carbon cycle and their biomass estimates depend almost exclusively of fitted equations for multi-species or individual species data. Therefore, a systematic evaluation of statistical models through validation of estimates of aboveground biomass stocks is justifiable. In this study was analyzed the capacity of generic and specific equations obtained from different locations in Mexico and Brazil, to estimate aboveground biomass at multi-species levels and for four different species. Generic equations developed in Mexico and Brazil performed better in estimating tree biomass for multi-species data. For Poincianella bracteosa and Mimosa ophthalmocentra, only the Sampaio and Silva (2005) generic equation was the most recommended. These equations indicate lower tendency and lower bias, and biomass estimates for these equations are similar. For the species Mimosa tenuiflora, Aspidosperma pyrifolium and for the genus Croton the specific regional equations are more recommended, although the generic equation of Sampaio and Silva (2005) is not discarded for biomass estimates. Models considering gender, families, successional groups, climatic variables and wood specific gravity should be adjusted, tested and the resulting equations should be validated at both local and regional levels as well as on the scales of tropics with dry forest dominance.

Diameter distribution in a Brazilian tropical dry forest domain: predictions for the stand and species

ABSTRACT Currently, there is a lack of studies on the correct utilization of continuous distributions for dry tropical forests. Therefore, this work aims to investigate the diameter structure of a brazilian tropical dry forest and to select suitable continuous distributions by means of statistic tools for the stand and the main species. Two subsets were randomly selected from 40 plots. Diameter at base height was obtained. The following functions were tested: log-normal; gamma; Weibull 2P and Burr. The best fits were selected by Akaike's information validation criterion. Overall, the diameter distribution of the dry tropical forest was better described by negative exponential curves and positive skewness. The forest studied showed diameter distributions with decreasing probability for larger trees. This behavior was observed for both the main species and the stand. The generalization of the function fitted for the main species show that the development of individual models is needed. The Burr function showed good flexibility to describe the diameter structure of the stand and the behavior of Mimosa ophthalmocentra and Bauhinia cheilantha species. For Poincianella bracteosa, Aspidosperma pyrifolium and Myracrodum urundeuva better fitting was obtained with the log-normal function.

Ameliorative effect of black grape juice on systemic alterations and mandibular osteoradionecrosis induced by whole brain irradiation in rats.

PURPOSE: Whole brain irradiation (WBI) causes a variety of secondary side-effects including anorexia and bone necrosis. We evaluated the radiomodifying effect of black grape juice (BGJ) on WBI alterations in rats measuring food and water intake, body weight, hemogram, and morphological and histological mandibular parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty male rats (200-250 g) were exposed to eight sessions of cranial X-ray irradiation. The total dose absorbed was 32 Gy delivered over 2 weeks. Four groups were defined: (i) NG: non-irradiated, glucose and fructose solution-supplemented (GFS); (ii) NJ: non-irradiated, BGJ-supplemented; (iii) RG: irradiated, GFS-supplemented; and (iv) RJ: irradiated, BGJ-supplemented. Rats received daily BGJ or GFS dosing by gavage starting 4 days before, continuing during, and ending 4 days after WBI. RESULTS: RJ rats ingested more food and water and showed less body weight loss than RG rats during the irradiation period. Forty days after WBI, irradiated animals started losing weight again compared with controls as a consequence of masticatory hypofunction by mandibular osteoradionecrosis (ORN). Osteoclastic activity and inflammation were apparent in RG rat mandibles. BGJ was able to attenuate the severity of ORN as well as to improve white and red blood cell counts. CONCLUSIONS: Fractionated whole brain irradiation induces mandibular changes that interfere with normal feeding. BGJ can be used to mitigate systemic side-effects of brain irradiation and ORN.

Enteric viruses in New Zealand drinking-water sources.

This study determined whether human pathogenic viruses are present in two New Zealand surface waters that are used as drinking-water sources. Enteric viruses were concentrated using hollow-fibre ultrafiltration and detected using PCR for adenovirus (AdV), and reverse transcription PCR for norovirus (NOV) genogroups I-III, enterovirus, rotavirus (RoV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV). Target viruses were detected in 106/109 (97%) samples, with 67/109 (61%) samples positive for three or more viral types at any one time. AdV, NoV and ROV were detected the most frequently, and HEV the least frequently. Human NoV was not usually associated with animal NOV. Our results suggest that New Zealand would be well served by assessing the ability of drinking-water treatment plants to remove viruses from the source waters, and that this assessment could be based on the viral concentration of AdV-NoV-RoV. The long-term aim of our work is to use this information to estimate the risk of waterborne viral infection.

[Percutaneous management of penetrating aortic ulcer]. / Tratamento percutâneo da úlcera penetrante de aorta.

Penetrating aortic ulcer is a variant of classic aortic dissection having distinct histopathological characteristics. If not appropriately treated, it evolves to combined morbidity and mortality rates as high as those of classic dissection. This condition, therefore, warrants special attention with accurate diagnosis and treatment. Percutaneous management using endoprosthesis is the method of choice, since the patients are usually elderly and have comorbidities that would increase the complication rates of traditional surgery. A 78-year-old woman complaining of thoracic pain was admitted to the hospital; her pain had been radiating to the interscapular and left lumbar regions for four months. Upon diagnostic investigation, a penetrating aortic ulcer was found, and after being successfully treated percutaneously with stent implantation, the patient became asymptomatic and is under outpatient follow-up.

Tratamento percutâneo da úlcera penetrante de aorta / Percutaneous management of penetrating aortic ulcer

A úlcera penetrante de aorta é uma variante da dissecção aórtica clássica, que apresenta características histopatológicas peculiares e, quando não tratada adequadamente, evolui com taxas de morbimortalidade tão elevadas quanto as da dissecção clássica, merecendo, desta forma, atenção especial com diagnóstico e tratamento precisos. Há a preferência para o tratamento percutâneo com o uso de endopróteses, pois estes pacientes são idosos e apresentam co-morbidades, as quais elevariam as taxas de complicações da cirurgia convencional. Mulher de 78 anos, admitida com queixa de dor torácica com irradiação para região interescapular e lombar à esquerda, com evolução de quatro meses. Na investigação diagnóstica, foi encontrada uma úlcera penetrante de aorta, que foi tratada de forma percutânea, com o implante de stent, com sucesso, estando a paciente em acompanhamento ambulatorial, assintomática.

Timpanismo e empiema de bolsa gutural conseqüente a garrotilho / Timpany and empyema of guttural pouch associated with strangles

Garrotilho é uma doença infecto-contagiosa do trato respiratório superior dos eqüídeos, freqüente e importante, que causa pirexia, descarga nasal e abscedação dos linfonodos adjacentes. Acomete basicamente equídeos jovens, e é causada pelo Streptococcus equi â-hemolítico. Ocasionalmente, o garrotilho pode deixar seqüelas como sinusites, empiema das bolsas guturais e formação de abcessos à distância, principalmente no mesentério. O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar o timpanismo e empiema de bolsa gutural, clínico e cirúrgico, conseqüente a garrrotilho, ocorrido num eqüino jovem.

Conceitos e práticas adotados por pesquisadores em psicologia organizacional e do trabalho / Concepts and practices adopted by researchers in organizational and work psychology

O presente estudo teve por objetivo caracterizar as atividades de pesquisa executadas por pesquisadores em psicologia organizacional e do trabalho no estado de Santa Catarina. Os aspectos considerados foram os fenômenos psicológicos investigados pelos pesquisadores, os tipos de procedimentos e instrumentos empregados com maior freqüência, os grupos estudados, a denominação dada à área pelos pesquisadores e a definição fornecida à mesma. Participaram do estudo 27 pesquisadores vinculados a 13 universidades catarinenses, seja na condição de estudante de pós-graduação ou de docente. Ainda que tenha sido verificado que existe predominância de aspectos comportamentais na psicologia organizacional e do trabalho catarinense, os resultados não deixaram transparecer uma identidade evidente da pesquisa em psicologia organizacional e do trabalho no estado de Santa Catarina. De qualquer forma, é preciso ressaltar o caráter exploratório da investigação

Population genetic structure of a colonising, triploid weed, Hieracium lepidulum.

Understanding the breeding system and population genetic structure of invasive weed species is important for biocontrol, and contributes to our understanding of the evolutionary processes associated with invasions. Hieracium lepidulum is an invasive weed in New Zealand, colonising a diverse range of habitats including native Nothofagus forest, pine plantations, scrubland and tussock grassland. It is competing with native subalpine and alpine grassland and herbfield vegetation. H. lepidulum is a triploid, diplosporous apomict, so theoretically all seed is clonal, and there is limited potential for the creation of variation through recombination. We used intersimple sequence repeats (ISSRs) to determine the population genetic structure of New Zealand populations of H. lepidulum. ISSR analysis of five populations from two regions in the South Island demonstrated high intrapopulation genotypic diversity, and high interpopulation genetic structuring; PhiST = 0.54 over all five populations. No private alleles were found in any of the five populations, and allelic differentiation was correlated to geographic distance. Cladistic compatibility analysis indicated that both recombination and mutation were important in the creation of genotypic diversity. Our data will contribute to any biocontrol program developed for H. lepidulum. It will also be a baseline data set for future comparisons of genetic structure during the course of H. lepidulum invasions.

FHIT RNA and protein expression in oral squamous cell carcinomas.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the possible role of FHIT, a possible tumour suppressor gene, in oral carcinogenesis, we examined 17 oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) for genetic alterations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fresh tissue was obtained during surgery, snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at -70 degrees C. Nested PCR amplification to examine the integrity of FHIT mRNA was performed on the reverse transcribed complementary DNA obtained from the frozen normal and tumour tissue. Immunohistochemistry was done on formal in-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue protein from the same cases using a polyclonal antiserum against the full length Fhit. RESULTS: Twelve out 17 (71%) OSCCs showed reduced or absent Fhit protein and half of the cases with reduced Fhit protein exhibited aberrant RT-PCR products. CONCLUSION: Immunohistochemical detection of Fhit protein expression in OSCCs is the more sensitive method to determine the status of Fhit in these tumours, in agreement with previous studies of other tumour types.

Epstein-Barr virus strain characterisation in South African patients with nasopharyngeal carcinomas.

UNLABELLED: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been implicated in various diseases, among others, nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In this study we investigated the frequency and subtype distribution of EBV in 39 NPCs. The presence of EBV was detected by using a nested PCR to amplify the Bam Hl W-fragment of the genome. Two regions were targeted for subtype analysis, namely the EBNA-2A and EBER regions. PCR was used to amplify these regions, and the EBER region was sequenced to detect subtype specificity. The results showed that EBV could be detected in 82% (31/38) of the tumours. In 15 of these, EBNA subtypes could be identified of which 14 were subtype A and one tumour had both subtypes A and B present. The EBER region was amplified in 21 samples. The majority of cases (18/21) demonstrated a mutation profile which consisted of 5 type B and one type A mutations. The consensus type is therefore type B. IN CONCLUSION: a strong association was found between EBV and NPCs in our group of patients and their "consensus" genotype was A/B based on the two genome areas investigated.

Simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIVs) from eastern and southern Africa: detection of a SIVagm variant from a chacma baboon.

Simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIVs) have been shown to infect many Old World African primate species. Thus far, no work has been published on southern African primates. In this study we investigated the genetic diversity between SIV strains from Kenyan and South African vervets (Cercopithecus aethiops pygerythrus). We amplified and sequenced a 1113 bp region of the env gene. Phylogenetic analysis of these sequences showed that all strains clustered with members of the vervet subgroup of SIVagm. The SIVs from South African vervets differed by 7% from each other and by 8-14% from the Kenyan SIV strains, while the Kenyan SIV strains differed by 10-21% from SIVagm of other east African vervets. We also isolated and sequenced, for the first time, a SIV strain from a healthy chacma baboon (Papio ursinus), caught in South Africa. Phylogenetic analysis of the env region showed the virus to be closely related to the South African vervet SIV strains, while analysis of its pol region confirmed the virus to be a SIVagm variant.

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in New Zealand.

AIM: To measure the incidence rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in New Zealand, by ethnicity, sex, region and age. METHODS: Cancer Registry data for 1983-94 were used to calculate rates of primary liver cancer (ICD code 155.0) and HCC (both ICD code 155.0 and ICD-O morphology code 8170) directly standardised to Segi's world population and standardised for region. RESULTS: Rates of HCC per 100,000 person years 6.6 and 1.3 for Maori males and females, 14.7 and 4.6 for Pacific people, and 0.8 and 0.3 for Other (inclusive of Chinese). The rates for Chinese for 1989-94 were 19.9 and 5.8. These rates are likely to be underestimates due to imperfect sensitivity of ICD-O code 8170 registrations for HCC. The rates of HCC for Maori and Pacific people (sexes combined) were 7.3 and 18.0 times that for other for 1983-94; the HCC rate for Chinese was 25.8 times greater than Europeans for 1989-94. Rates of HCC tended to be higher in the north of New Zealand, compared to the south, for Maori and Other/Europeans, but there was no apparent regional gradient for Pacific people and Chinese. CONCLUSIONS: Non-Europeans have higher rates of HCC than Europeans due to variations in hepatitis B carriage. Males have higher rates than females, and Maori and Europeans living in the north of New Zealand have higher rates of HCC than those living in the south. It is estimated that any hepatitis B screening and follow-up programme will detect one incident case of HCC per year per 2000 hepatitis B carriers in the target population, or one incident case per 1000 carriers actually participating in regular follow-up.