Isolation of Naegleria fowleri from a domestic water tank associated with a fatal encephalitis in a 4 month-old Venezuelan child.

This study describes the association of household water system contamination with the pathogenic Free-Living Amoeba (FLA) Naegleria fowleri and a case of fatal Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) in a child from the state of Monagas in Venezuela. Amoebae were initially identified by microscopy from a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the child. Direct DNA extraction and specific PCR/sequencing for N. fowleri was also carried out from the same CSF sample. In order to determine a possible environmental source of infection, water samples from the water tank of the child's home and also water bodies recently visited by the child and his family, were examined for the presence of N. fowleri by culture and PCR/sequencing. The results obtained from the collected water samples revealed that only the water tank of the house was positive for N. fowleri. PCR/sequencing showed that the strains isolated from the patient and the water tanks were 100 % identical. Therefore, the house water tank was confirmed as the source of infection in this case, possibly as a result of the occasional immersion of the child´s head under the water while bathing. This case highlights a novel source of thermally polluted water and another threat of N. fowleri infection.

Estudio anatomopatológico de aislados de Leptospira spp., provenientes de Nicaragua en Mesocricetus auratus como biomodelo / Anatomopathologic study of Leptospira spp., isolated in Nicaragua in Mesocricetus auratus as biomodel

Objetivo. El objetivo de este trabajo fue caracterizar en el biomodelo Mesocricetus auratus la sintomatología y lesiones anatomopatológicas que provocan 5 aislados clínicos de Leptospira spp., provenientes de Nicaragua. Materiales y métodos. Con este fin se inocularon 50 hámster por vía i.p con 1mL del cultivo de cada una de las cepas en fase exponencial teniendo una concentración celular de 7.5 x 106 leptospira/mL (10 animales por cepa), evaluándose signos de la enfermedad, mortalidad durante 14 días, lesiones anatomopatológicas macroscópicas y microscópicas mediante tinción con hematoxilina-eosina y tinción de Warthyn Starryn. Resultados. Todas las cepas presentaron alta mortalidad, mostrando un cuadro tanto clínico, como lesional característico de la infección experimental. Además, causaron la muerte al 100% de los animales entre el tercer y décimo día postinfección. En el estudio anatomopatológico la cepa del serogrupo Ballum y la del serogrupo Pomona produjeron focos de hemorragias específicamente en el riñón y pulmones. De forma similar ocurrió una congestión hepática y renal, mientras que la hemorragia renal fue observada con mayor frecuencia en la cepa del serogrupo Pomona, diferenciándose del resto de las cepas que mostraron esta lesión con menos frecuencia. Conclusiones. Este trabajo permitió una mayor caracterización de estas cepas siendo utilizadas como futuras candidatas vacunales frente a una nueva epidemia de Leptospirosis en Nicaragua.

Objective. The aim of this study was to characterize the symptomatology and anatomopathological lesions caused by 5 clinical isolated Leptospira spp. from Nicaragua in a Mesocricetus auratus biomodel. Materials and methods. 50 hamsters were inoculated via i.p with 1mL of the culture of each strain in exponential phase having a cellular concentration of 7.5 x 106 leptospira/mL, (10 animals per strain). Signs of the disease, mortality during 14 days, and macroscopic and microscopic anatomopathological lesions by haematoxylin-eosin and Warthyn Starryn stain technique were evaluated. Results. All the strains presented high mortality, showing clinical lesions of the experimental infection. Death to 100% of the animals was caused between the third and tenth day post-infection. In the anatomopathologic study, the strains of the Ballum and Pomona serogroup produced haemorrhaging specifically in the kidney and lungs. The animals manifested hepatic and renal congestion, while the renal haemorrhage was observed with more frequency in the strain of the Pomona serogroup, differing from the other strains, which presented this lesion less frequently. Conclusions. This work allowed a better characterization of these strains in order to use them as future vaccine candidates for future Leptospirosis epidemics in Nicaragua.

Comparación entre líneas de ratones en el ensayo de aberraciones cromosómicas en médula ósea / Comparison between mice lines in bone marrow chromosomal aberrations testing

Objetivo. El objetivo de este trabajo fue comparar los índices espontáneos e inducidos en ratones de ambos sexos de las líneas Balb/c, NMRI, OF-1 y C57BL/6/cenp, mediante el ensayo de aberraciones cromosómicas en células de la médula ósea. Materiales y métodos. Con este fin se determinó la línea más eficiente, sobre la base de la aparición significativa de índices espontáneos más bajos e índices inducidos altos a sustancias mutagénicas como la ciclofosfamida (CF). Resultados. Se obtuvo como resultado que la línea Balb/c en ambos sexos difiere significativamente de las demás líneas evaluadas. En esta línea se encontró el menor número de células totales con aberraciones estructurales y un mayor número de inducción de aberraciones cromosómicas cuando es utilizada la CF como mutágeno. Conclusiones. Este trabajo permitirá utilizar la mejor línea de ratones como biomodelo en este ensayo de genotoxicidad, además que le confiere a esta técnica citogenética mayor veracidad y robustez.

Objective. The aim of this study was to compare spontaneous and induced rates in mice of both sexes of lines BALB / c, NMRI, OF-1 and C57BL/6/ cenp, by testing chromosomal aberrations in bone marrow cells. Materials and methods. For this purpose, the most efficient line was determined, based on the significant appearance of lower spontaneous rates and higher induced rates to mutagen substances such as cyclophosphamide (CP). Results. The result obtained was that line Balb / c, in both sexes, differs significantly from the other lines tested. The lesser total number of cells with structural aberrations was found in this line and a greater number of induction of chromosomal aberrations when CP was used as a mutagen. Conclusions. This work will give way to the use of the best line of mice as bio model in this genotoxicity test, and will also give this cytogenetic technique greater veracity and robustness.

Computed tomography (CT) of the lungs of the dog using a helical CT scanner, intravenous iodine contrast medium and different CT windows.

The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of helical computed tomography (CT) for visualizing pulmonary parenchyma and associated formations in normal dogs. CT scan was performed by using intravenous contrast medium and by applying different types of CT windows: soft tissue and lung windows, and high-resolution computed tomography of the lung. This technique allowed, especially with lung window types, a good view of the parenchyma, bronchial tree, vascular structures and pleural cavity. The selected images, with high anatomical quality and tissue contrast, may be a reference for future clinical studies of this organ. Thus, helical CT is a promising non-invasive method of diagnosing a wide variety of pulmonary diseases in dogs.

Production of transgenic sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) plants by intact cell electroporation.

We describe an efficient procedure for genetic transformation of commercial sugarcane varieties POJ 2878 and Ja 60-5. The transformation protocol is based on electroporation of a plasmid conferring GUS activity into cell clusters isolated from embryogenic calli. Six to eight weeks after electroporation, Ja 60-5 plants regenerated from electroporated tissues were tested and confirmed to be transgenic using histochemical glucuronidase and Southern hybridization analysis. Electroporation of intact cells is an efficient and reproducible method for sugarcane transformation and may also be useful for transformation of other plants.