Decreased embryo implantation in rabbits infected with Taenia pisiformis.

Parasitic infections can have detrimental effects on the reproductive capacity of their hosts. Infections by the cestode Taenia pisiformis in rabbits is generally not associated with increased mortality of offspring or with loss of maternal body condition but can result in reduced fecundity, and increased circulating progesterone levels have been reported in infected does compared to uninfected ones. In the present study, the possibility that T. pisiformis infection affects fecundity by reducing embryonic implantation was examined. Seven anesthetized New Zealand does were orally infected with 1000 eggs of T. pisiformis, and seven were administered saline. Seven weeks after infection, does were mated, and 7 days after, humanely sacrificed. A decrease in the number of implanted embryos and a decrease in the size of the embryo vesicles in infected does were observed (P ≤ 0.02, Student's t-test). There was a negative correlation between the number of hepatic granulomas and embryo implantation (ρ = - 0.8, P = 0.04, Spearman's test).

Clinical and immunological factors that distinguish COVID-19 from pandemic influenza A(H1N1)

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is a global health threat with the potential to cause severe disease manifestations in the lungs. Although clinical descriptions of COVID-19 are currently available, the factors distinguishing SARS-CoV-2 from other respiratory viruses are unknown. Here, we compared the clinical, histopathological, and immunological characteristics of patients with COVID-19 and pandemic influenza A(H1N1). We observed a higher frequency of respiratory symptoms, increased tissue injury markers, a histological pattern of alveolar pneumonia, and higher levels of IL-1RA, TNF-, CCL3, G-CSF, APRIL, sTNF-R1, sTNF-R2, sCD30, and sCD163 in influenza patients. Conversely, dry cough, gastrointestinal symptoms, interstitial lung pathology, increased Th1 (IL-12, IFN-{gamma}) and Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13) cytokine levels, along with IL-1{beta}, IL-6, CCL11, VEGF, TWEAK, TSLP, MMP-1, and MMP-3, were observed in COVID-19 cases. We demonstrated the diagnostic potential of some clinical and immune factors to differentiate COVID-19 from pandemic influenza A(H1N1). Our data suggest that SARS-CoV-2 induces a dysbalanced polyfunctional inflammatory response that is different from the immune response against influenza. These findings might be relevant for the upcoming 2020-2021 influenza season, which is projected to be historically unique due to its convergence with COVID-19.