Seroprevalence of antibodies against bacterial pathogens in sheep from Equatorial Guinea.

Equatorial Guinea (EG) is a country in Central Africa with typical tropical weather. Sheep are an important source of food in EG, but the absence of information regarding infectious diseases that affect the native flocks of small ruminants is a concern. The country is currently implementing several new practices in the sheep industry associated with the importation of sheep from other countries. This study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of bacterial infections that are important to the sheep industry in EG sheep flocks. The detection of specific antibodies for the four agents studied was performed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 1,002 serum samples from EG sheep. The results showed a true prevalence of 13.37% for antibodies against Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, 0.59% for Brucella ovis, 19.89% for Chlamydophila abortus and 0.79% for Mycoplasma agalactiae in animals from production flocks. Among a group of 35 samples from isolated native animals, 47.56% were seropositive for antibodies against C. pseudotuberculosis, 42.84% for B. ovis, 54.28% for C. abortus and 11.35% for M. agalactiae. These results comprise the first report of the prevalence of infectious diseases in sheep in EG. They highlight the importance of adopting adequate measures to prevent infection by bacteria endemic to EG native flocks during the development of the sheep industry in the country.

La Guinée équatoriale est un pays d'Afrique centrale au climat typiquement tropical. Les moutons constituent une source importante d'aliments pour le pays, ce qui rend particulièrement alarmante l'absence d'informations concernant les maladies infectieuses affectant le cheptel autochtone de petits ruminants. Le pays met actuellement en place de nouvelles pratiques d'élevage ovin, en lien avec l'importation de moutons d'autres pays. La présente étude avait pour objet d'évaluer la prévalence sérologique de quelques infections bactériennes majeures pour le secteur de l'élevage dans le cheptel ovin de la Guinée équatoriale. Pour les besoins de l'étude, 1 002 échantillons de sérum prélevés de moutons autochtones ont été soumis à une épreuve immuno-enzymatique pour la détection d'anticorps spécifiques dirigés contre quatre agents bactériens. La prévalence réelle de moutons issus de troupeaux d'élevage possédant des anticorps vis-à-vis de chacune des bactéries recherchées s'est élevée à 13,37 % pour Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, à 0,59 % pour Brucella ovis, à 19,89 % pour Chlamydophila abortus et à 0,79 % pour Mycoplasma agalactiae. Dans un groupe de 35 prélèvements issus d'animaux isolés autochtones, le taux d'échantillons positifs était de 47,56 % pour C. pseudotuberculosis, de 42,84 % pour B. ovis, de 54,28 % pour C. abortus et de 11,35 % pour M. agalactiae. Ces résultats constituent le premier rapport sur la prévalence des maladies infectieuses chez le mouton en Guinée équatoriale. Ils soulignent l'importance d'adopter des mesures appropriées afin de prévenir les infections dues à des bactéries endémiques dans le cheptel autochtone de la Guinée équatoriale, à un moment où ce pays cherche à développer l'élevage ovin.

Guinea Ecuatorial es un país centroafricano con un clima tropical típico, en el que las ovejas constituyen una importante fuente de alimento. Por ello es preocupante la ausencia de información sobre las enfermedades infecciosas que afectan a los rebaños autóctonos de pequeños rumiantes. El país está implantando ahora una serie de nuevos procedimientos en el sector ovino, vinculados a la importación de ovejas de otros países. Los autores describen un estudio encaminado a evaluar la seroprevalencia en los rebaños de ovejas del país de infecciones bacterianas de importancia para el sector. Para detectar anticuerpos específicos contra los cuatro agentes estudiados se aplicó la técnica del ensayo inmunoenzimático a 1 002 muestras de suero de ovejas autóctonas. Los resultados pusieron de manifiesto una prevalencia real de anticuerpos contra Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis del 13,37%, del 0,59% contra Brucella ovis, del 19,89% contra Chlamydophila abortus y del 0,79% contra Mycoplasma agalactiae en ejemplares pertenecientes a rebaños productivos. De un grupo de 35 muestras procedentes de animales autóctonos aislados, un 47,56% resultaron seropositivas para los anticuerpos contra C. pseudotuberculosis, un 42,84% en el caso de B. ovis, un 54,28% en el de C. abortus y un 11,35% en el de M. agalactiae. Estos resultados, que constituyen el primer informe sobre la prevalencia de enfermedades infecciosas en las ovejas de Guinea Ecuatorial, demuestran la importancia de instituir medidas adecuadas para prevenir la infección por bacterias endémicas de los rebaños autóctonos de Guinea Ecuatorial en un momento en que la industria ovina del país está en pleno crecimiento.

Testing monophyly of the freshwater fish Leporinus (Characiformes, Anostomidae) through molecular analysis.

Monophyly of the genus Leporinus (Characiformes: Anostomidae) was tested by sequencing and analysing a total of 4732 bp, including two mitochondrial [cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) and cytochrome b (Cytb)] and three nuclear [myosin heavy chain 6 cardiac muscle alpha (Myh6), recombination activating gene 1 (RAG1) and recombination activating gene 2 (RAG2)] loci for 22 species of Leporinus, or c. 25% of all described species in the genus. Phylogenetic tree analyses (maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian species tree) indicate Leporinus to be paraphyletic, with monophyly being rejected by both Kishino-Hasegawa and Shimodaira-Hasegawa tests. The sequenced species of Leporinus are distributed across five clades that are interleaved among other anostomid genera. Several taxonomic changes are suggested as being necessary to restore monophyly for the group. The clade containing the type species, Leporinus fasciatus, should be considered Leporinus sensu stricto and at least three new genera should be described for other species currently considered part of Leporinus.

Molecular identification of sharks from the genus Sphyrna (Elasmobranchii: Chondrichthyes) in Maranhão Coast (Brazil).

Sharks of the genus Sphyrna are under intense exploitation globally. In Brazil's northern coast, this genus represents a high proportion of fisheries landings and comprises four species. However, due to difficulty of specific identification when specimens are landed, most of the records are limited to the genus level. Here we analyzed the effectiveness of ITS2 (Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 of rDNA) fragment length protocol (Abercrombie et al., 2005) for identifying hammerhead shark species, comparing with the analysis of COI (Cytochrome oxidase subunit I) and ITS2 sequences. We evaluated samples of muscle tissue acquired in the main fishing ports of Maranhão: Carutapera, Raposa e Tutóia. Sampling was conducted between March 2017 to March 2018 and complemented with material deposited in collection (2015). COI results indicated the occurrence of endangered species which are prohibited to be landed. These include Sphyrna mokarran (67%), S. lewini (15%), S. tudes (3%), and S. tiburo (15%). For the ITS2 marker, we investigated the optimization of the protocol developed by Abercrombie (2005) for to improve the use in this geographical area througout design of a new primers.

Efficacy of psychoeducation on symptomatic and functional recovery in bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of psychoeducation in the symptomatic and functional recovery, and quality of life (QoL) in a sample of patients with bipolar disorder (BD). METHOD: The sample comprised 55 patients with BD I and II in remission (Young Mania Rating Scale ≤6 and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale ≤7). Out-patients were matched assigned to receive 16 sessions of psychoeducation [experimental group (EG)] or 16 sessions of placebo without psychoeducation [control group (CG)]. Groups were evaluated at study baseline, midpoint, endpoint, and at 6- and 12-month follow-ups. RESULTS: No significant differences between the groups were found for the variables evaluated (mood symptoms, functioning and QoL), except for overall clinical improvement, subjectively perceived by EG subjects. Both groups showed a trend toward improved clinical global impression and QoL (environmental). No reduction in mood symptoms or improvement in psychosocial functioning was observed. Psychosocial treatment compliance was positively correlated with global functioning, social adjustment, sociability, and global clinical impression. CONCLUSION: Sixteen session psychoeducation seems to be ineffective to prevent mood episodes or improve functioning in a sample of bipolar patients.

Induction of interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-10, IL-8 and immunoglobulin G by Porphyromonas gingivalis HmuY in humans.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Porphyromonas gingivalis, an anaerobic gram-negative bacterium, is associated with chronic periodontitis. This study was undertaken to evaluate the production of interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-8 and IL-10 by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) stimulated with P. gingivalis antigens and to assess the levels of serum immunoglobulin (Ig)G, IgA and IgG subclasses raised against P. gingivalis HmuY protein. MATERIAL AND METHODS: PBMC from patients with chronic periodontitis (CP) and from nonperiodontitis (NP) control subjects were stimulated with P. gingivalis antigens, and the cytokine levels in the culture supernatants were determined by ELISA. The specificity of serum antibodies raised against HmuY was analyzed by Western blotting and by ELISA. RESULTS: Compared with the NP controls, the CP patients produced higher levels of total serum IgG and IgG1 specific for P. gingivalis HmuY. No differences were found between CP and NP groups in the production of IL-1ß and IL-8 by PBMC stimulated with total P. gingivalis antigens. Only P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced higher levels of IL-10 in the CP group. Higher levels of IL-1ß and IL-10 were induced by HmuY than by other antigens derived from the wild-type P. gingivalis strains. In contrast, total antigens derived from the hmuY-deletion mutant strain induced the production of significantly higher levels of IL-8 and significantly lower levels of IL-1ß. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that P. gingivalis HmuY may be considered an immunogenic protein associated with host-pathogen interactions.

Antibody response and avidity of respiratory syncytial virus-specific total IgG, IgG1, and IgG3 in young children.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of acute respiratory disease in infants and young children. Considering that several aspects of the humoral immune response to RSV infection remain unclear, this study aimed to investigate the occurrence, levels, and avidity of total IgG, IgG1, and IgG3 antibodies against RSV in serum samples from children ≤5 years old. In addition, a possible association between antibody avidity and severity of illness was examined. The occurrence and levels of RSV-specific IgG depended on age, with infants <3 months old displaying high levels of antibodies, which were probably acquired from the mother. Children ≥24 months old also showed frequent occurrence and high levels of IgG, which was produced actively during infection. In addition, the avidity assay showed that the avidity of RSV-specific total IgG and IgG1 was lower in infants <3 months old who had acute respiratory disease than in age-matched controls. The avidity of RSV-specific IgG detected in children ≥24 months old with lower respiratory infection was lower than that in children with upper respiratory infection. These results indicate that the presence of high avidity RSV-specific IgG antibodies may lead to better protection against RSV infection in children <3 months old, who may have a lower probability of developing disease of increased severity. In addition, children ≥24 months old with RSV-specific IgG antibodies of low avidity tended to develop more severe RSV illness. These findings may be helpful in establishing vaccination schedules when a vaccine becomes available.

Molecular systematics of the neotropical shovelnose catfish genus Pseudoplatystoma Bleeker 1862 based on nuclear and mtDNA markers.

Pseudoplatystoma is a commercially important genus of Neotropical migratory catfishes widely distributed in all major river basins of South America. Historically, only three species were recognized, but a recent revision proposed eight putative morphospecies for the genus. A molecular study based on mitochondria DNA (mtDNA) provided support for recognition of only some of the species and raised questions about species boundaries in this group. We present a more encompassing analysis based on mtDNA (cytochrome b, 818bp) and nuclear DNA-based phylogenies (Rag1 intron 1, 664bp and S7 intron 1, 635bp) for a more extensive sampling (279 individuals from 42 localities) of all putative species in all major river basins. Patterns generated by individual gene genealogies and a multispecies coalescent analysis provided evidence to suggest recognition of only four distinct species in this genus: Pseudoplatystoma magdaleniatum, Pseudoplatystoma corruscans, Pseudoplatystoma tigrimun (sensu lato) and Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum (sensu lato). The species phylogeny places P. magdaleniatum as the sister group to all the other species in the genus, but the relationships among P. fasciatum s.l, P. tigrimum s.l., and P. corruscans could not be resolved with confidence.

Power laws in the Roman Empire: a survival analysis.

The Roman Empire shaped western civilization, and many Roman principles are embodied in modern institutions. Although its political institutions proved both resilient and adaptable, allowing it to incorporate diverse populations, the Empire suffered from many conflicts. Indeed, most emperors died violently, from assassination, suicide or in battle. These conflicts produced patterns in the length of time that can be identified by statistical analysis. In this paper, we study the underlying patterns associated with the reign of the Roman emperors by using statistical tools of survival data analysis. We consider all the 175 Roman emperors and propose a new power-law model with change points to predict the time-to-violent-death of the Roman emperors. This model encompasses data in the presence of censoring and long-term survivors, providing more accurate predictions than previous models. Our results show that power-law distributions can also occur in survival data, as verified in other data types from natural and artificial systems, reinforcing the ubiquity of power-law distributions. The generality of our approach paves the way to further related investigations not only in other ancient civilizations but also in applications in engineering and medicine.

Evaluation of the humoral and cellular immune response to different antigens of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis in Canindé goats and their potential protection against caseous lymphadenitis.

Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is the etiologic agent of caseous lymphadenitis, a disease that affects goats and sheep, and can cause severe economic losses. In this study, four different antigenic extracts were obtained from the attenuated strain T1, which was isolated in the state of Bahia (Brazil). Forty-four Canindé breed goats were divided in five groups, each receiving a different antigen solution and saline buffer as a control. The humoral response was monitored through the identification of specific IgG by indirect ELISA and Western Blotting, and the production of IFN-gamma was followed in order to observe the activation of cellular response. After twelve weeks of antigen inoculation, the animals were challenged with 2 x 10(5)CFU of a wild strain, also isolated in Bahia, and necropsy was performed on all animals twelve weeks afterwards. It was observed that the attenuated bacteria gave a protection of 33.3%, in addition to the weak humoral response elicited. Animals inoculated with secreted antigen associated with Freund's incomplete adjuvant and oligodeoxynucleotide containing unmethylated CpG dinucleotides (CpG ODN) showed a strong humoral response, but this inoculation could not prevent the spread of challenge bacteria in the majority of animals. These results demonstrate the immunogenic potential of the attenuated T1 strain in the development of a vaccine against caseous lymphadenitis in goats.

Prevalence and clinical aspects of respiratory syncytial virus A and B groups in children seen at Hospital de Clínicas of Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is well recognized as the most important pathogen causing acute respiratory disease in infants and young children, mainly in the form of bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Two major antigenic groups, A and B, have been identified; however, there is disagreement about the severity of the diseases caused by these two types. This study investigated a possible association between RSV groups and severity of disease. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to characterize 128 RSV nasopharyngeal specimens from children less than five years old experiencing acute respiratory disease. A total of 82 of 128 samples (64.1%) could be typed, and, of these, 78% were group A, and 22% were group B. Severity was measured by clinical evaluation associated with demographic factors: for RSV A-infected patients, 53.1% were hospitalized, whereas for RSV B patients, 27.8% were hospitalized (p = 0.07). Around 35.0% of the patients presented risk factors for severity (e.g., prematurity). For those without risk factors, the hospitalization occurred in 47.6% of patients infected with RSV A and in 18.2% infected with RSV B. There was a trend for RSV B infections to be milder than those of RSV A. Even though RSV A-infected patients, including cases without underlying condition and prematurity, were more likely to require hospitalization than those infected by RSV B, the disease severity could not to be attributed to the RSV groups.

Moyamoya disease associated with renovascular disease in a young African-Brazilian patient.

Moyamoya is a rare disease characterized by fibrous dysplasia of the internal carotid and proximal cerebral arteries, which has been described mainly in young Japanese. We present a case of Moyamoya disease with renal artery involvement in a young male patient with an African origin. A 15-year-old boy was referred to our hospital due to uncontrolled blood pressure, headache, somnolence, cognitive deficit and multiple lacunar infarcts in the computed tomography. Cerebral arteriography showed the absence of the normal vascular anatomy at the level of the circle of Willis. The intracranial vessels presented severe stenosis or were occluded and replaced by an extensive network of ectasic collateral vessels. Abdominal ultrasound examination identified asymmetric kidneys, and renal arteriography showed a tight stenosis of the ostium and proximal segment of right main artery, which was only partially relieved by balloon angioplasty. A saphenous bypass from aorta to the right renal artery re-established the renal blood flow. Blood pressure dropped after surgery and was controlled with low doses of diuretic and beta-blocker. After arteriography he presented right hemiplegia, with partial recovering in the following months. In conclusion, we described the first case of Moyamoya disease with concomitant renovascular disease in a young adult of African origin, an association that may be more frequent than usually suspected in clinical practice.

Experimental Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis primary infection in goats: kinetics of IgG and interferon-gamma production, IgG avidity and antigen recognition by Western blotting.

Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is the cause of caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) in small ruminants, a chronic granulomatous disease that provokes significant zootechnics losses to ovine and goat breeders in northern Brazil. The present work was conducted to analyse aspects of humoral and cellular immune responses after experimental infection. Eight goats were infected intradermally with a single dose of virulent C. pseudotuberculosis strain and specific IgG, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production as well as IgG avidity and antigens pattern recognition dynamics against an excreted-secreted antigen were recorded during 20 weeks. At the end of the follow-up, animals were slaughtered and necropsied. Although no animals showed apparent clinical signs of infection at the end of the trial, IFN-gamma response, even more so than the humoral response, differentiated animals into two groups of high or medium/low response. The time-course of IFN-gamma production presented a short-lived primary response on day 5 after infection of animals of both groups, and a strong and long lasting secondary response starting on day 16 after infection in the high response group. The indirect ELISA used was able to detect a positive antibody titre between 6 and 11 days after infection in the two groups. IgG avidity index oscillated initially between 15 and 45%, and showed approximately 5% units increment during the 20 follow-up weeks. With only one individual exception, the qualitative antigens pattern recognition showed on day 11 after infection remained constant through the experiment. IgG avidity is highly correlated with IgG production, but could not be related with specific immunodominant bands. Both humoral and cellular responses kinetics presented a similar pattern of activation/deactivation but necropsy results suggested that the IFN-gamma test would be a very specific marker of CLA status.

Duct-enterostomy as a treatment of pancreatic fistula in a bladder-drained pancreas transplant.

A case of combined pancreaticoduodeno-renal transplant with good graft function was complicated by recurrent episodes of graft pancreatitis treated by vesical catheter drainage. Four months after transplantation, a fistula from the pancreatic body associated with ascitis was identified. Anastomosis between pancreatic fistula and an individualized jejunal loop was performed. The duodenocystostomy was not disconnected. A splint placed inside the wirsung was exteriorized percutaneously through the jejunal loop and removed 30 days after the operation. Both kidney and pancreas grafts are functioning normally 2 years after transplantation.

Follicular development and steroid concentrations in cows with different levels of fertility raised under nutritional stress.

The aim of the present study was to characterize ovarian follicular development and steroid concentrations during postpartum and the estrous cycle of Brangus Ibagé cows (3/8 Nelore + 5/8 Aberdeen Angus) with different levels of fertility. Cows were classified as having high or low fertility according to the calving interval (CI). The average CI of the herd from which cows used in this study were selected was 404.6+/-5.44 and 711.2+/-20.89 days for the high and low fertility groups, respectively. Four cows of high fertility and five cows of low fertility had calves removed between 70 and 100 days after parturition. Ovarian activity was monitored daily by ultrasound for 16 days after calf removal. Days to emergency of the first follicular wave after calf removal, number of follicles with diameter >9 mm, growth rate of largest follicle, maximum diameter of largest follicle, length (days) and number of follicular waves were recorded. During this period, blood was collected daily for measurements of serum progesterone (P(4)) and estradiol (E(2)) concentrations. In another experiment, ovarian activity and P(4) and E(2) concentrations were examined during estrous cycle in five cows of high fertility and four cows of low fertility. Ovarian activity and steroid concentrations were assessed from the day prior to estrus to the 15th day of the estrous cycle (estrus = day 0). In postpartum cows of high fertility, the total number of follicles >5mm and the maximum diameter of the largest follicle were higher than in cows of low fertility (P < 0.05). Concentrations of P(4) and E(2) did not differ between groups in the postpartum cows. However, E(2) increased 5 days after calf removal (around 90 days of postpartum) in the high fertility group, followed by an increase in P(4) with average values indicating ovulation around 100 days postpartum. In cycling cows, the profile of follicular development was similar between cows of high and low fertility. There was no difference between groups for number of follicles >5mm, but the day effect was significant (P < 0.01). Plasma concentrations of P(4) and E(2) were similar in both groups. These data suggest that cows, from a population raised in the same environment have different fertility as a consequence of individual physiological characteristics.

Effect of fetal age and method of recovery on isolation of preantral follicles from bovine ovaries.

The objective of this study was to compare enzymatic and mechanical methods, at distinct fetal ages, on isolation of different developmental stages of preantral follicles from bovine ovaries. Fetal ovaries were obtained from pregnant cattle at 150 to 270 d of gestation, and 135,521 preantral follicles at different stages of development were studied. The dissociation of ovaries with a mechanical procedure resulted in an average of 938.16 prenatral follicles. In contrast, 3,715.56 follicles were obtained when enzymatic digestion was used (P = 0.0001). Histological evaluation confirmed follicular stages and demonstrated that both mechanical and mechanical-enzymatic procedure did not affect the cellular integrity of the follicles. Granulosa cell-oocyte complexes surrounded by a basal membrane, were considered preantral follicles in this study. The ratio of different stages of isolated preantral follicles was significantly (P = 0.0001) correlated to fetal age. The earliest fetal age at which tertiary follicles were identified was at 210 d of gestation. The results confirm previous observation that follicular development and atresia are initiated during fetal development. These data provide information on methodologies to isolate intact bovine preantral follicles for investigating the control and regulation of follicular development and the growth of preantral follicles in vitro.

New software for cervical vertebral geometry assessment and its relationship to skeletal maturation--a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: In the present study, we developed new software for quantitative analysis of cervical vertebrae maturation, and we evaluated its applicability through a multinomial logistic regression model (MLRM). METHODS: Digitized images of the bodies of the second (C2), third (C3) and fourth (C4) cervical vertebrae were analysed in cephalometric radiographs of 236 subjects (116 boys and 120 girls) by using a software developed for digitized vertebrae analysis. The sample was initially distributed into 11 categories according to the Fishman's skeletal maturity indicators and were then grouped into four stages for quantitative cervical maturational changes (QCMC) analysis (QCMC I, II, III and IV). Seven variables of interest were measured and analysed to identify morphologic alterations of the vertebral bodies in each QCMC category. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed among all QCMC categories for the variables analysed. The MLRM used to calculate the probability that an individual belonged to each of the four cervical vertebrae maturation categories was constructed by taking into account gender, chronological age and four variables determined by digitized vertebrae analysis (Ang_C3, MP_C3, MP_C4 and SP_C4). The MLRM presented a predictability of 81.4%. The weighted κ test showed almost perfect agreement (κ = 0.832) between the categories defined initially by the method of Fishman and those allocated by the MLRM. CONCLUSIONS: Significant alterations in the morphologies of the C2, C3 and C4 vertebral bodies that were analysed through the digitized vertebrae analysis software occur during the different stages of skeletal maturation. The model that combines the four parameters measured on the vertebral bodies, the age and the gender showed an excellent prediction.