A Study on the Pathological Effects of Trypanorhyncha Cestodes in Dusky Groupers Epinephelus marginatus from the Canary Islands.

Trypanorhyncha are cestodes commonly infecting marine fish. Numerous studies have detailed the biology of Trypanorhyncha species, but information on the pathological changes produced by these parasites is limited. Dusky groupers are keystone species necessary for the preservation of several marine ecosystems. Considering their vulnerable state of conservation and the efforts being made to culture them, identification of the effects caused by Trypanorhyncha is vital. Here, we aimed to determine the prevalence and pathological changes produced by Trypanorhyncha in dusky groupers from the Canary Islands. The prevalence of trypanorhynch plerocerci was 96%. Grossly, in the abdominal cavity, there were numerous larvae-filled cysts and nodules. These were embedded in abundant fibrosis, producing visceral adhesions. Histologically, affecting the peritoneum, stomach, and intestine there were numerous degenerated encysted plerocerci and extensive deposition of mature connective tissue. These findings indicate that Trypanorhyncha is highly prevalent in adult dusky groupers from the Canary Islands, producing a progressive and chronic response. Furthermore, fish immune system appears to attempt to eliminate the parasites through fibrous encapsulation. Nonetheless, extensive fibrosis may have a detrimental impact on fish health when adjacent cells or tissues are compressed and their functions impaired.

The oligomeric assembly of galectin-11 is critical for anti-parasitic activity in sheep (Ovis aries).

Galectins are a family of glycan-binding molecules with a characteristic affinity for ß-D-glycosides that mediate a variety of important cellular functions, including immune and inflammatory responses. Galectin-11 (LGALS-11) has been recently identified as a mediator induced specifically in animals against gastrointestinal nematodes and can interfere with parasite growth and development. Here, we report that at least two natural genetic variants of LGALS-11 exist in sheep, and demonstrate fundamental differences in anti-parasitic activity, correlated with their ability to dimerise. This study improves our understanding of the role of galectins in the host immune and inflammatory responses against parasitic nematodes and provides a basis for genetic studies toward selective breeding of animals for resistance to parasites.

Asociación entre la deficiencia de sueño y sobrepeso y obesidad en estudiantes de medicina de nueva generación de México: un cambio de paradigma / Association between sleep deficiency and overweight and obesity in new generation medical students in Mexico: a paradigm shift

FUNDAMENTOS: Anteriormente se ha propuesto que la deficiencia de sueño juega un papel importante para el desarrollo de sobrepeso y obesidad, especialmente en carreras con más índice de deficiencia de sueño como la de medicina. El objetivo fue determinar si esta asociación prevalece en estudiantes de medicina de nuevas generaciones (posteriores a 1985). MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal analítico prospectivo. Se evaluó la asociación entre el índice de masa corporal (peso/talla2) y la calidad de sueño mediante el PSQI en 628 estudiantes universitarios de tres facultades de Medicina de Generación Y y posteriores. RESULTADOS: La frecuencia de sobrepeso y obesidad fue sólo de 41,87%, más frecuente en varones (p= 0,0005). Se encontró asociación estadísticamente significativa entre mala calidad del sueño y sobre peso y obesidad (p< 0,0001) independientemente de sexo y edad. CONCLUSIONES: La menor frecuencia de obesidad y sobrepeso encontrada sugiere un cambio importante en los hábitos higiénico-dietéticos en los estudiantes de las nuevas generaciones, el cual deberá de ser estudiado. Aún así, la asociación que tiene con la mala calidad de sueño prevalece

BACKGROUND: It has been proposed that sleep deficiency plays an important role for the development of overweight and obesity, especially in careers with bigger index of sleep deficiency such as medicine. The objective of the study was to determine the association between sleep deficiency and overweight and obesity in the medical student of new generation (bornafter 1985). METHODS: Cross sectional study of 628 medicine students. The body mass index (weight/height2) and the quality of sleep were measured by the PSQI in its Spanish version. RESULTS: The frequency of overweight and obesity was 41.87 %, more frequent in males (p=0.0005); A statistically significant association was found between poor quality of sleep and and obesity (p <0.0001) regardless of sex and age. CONCLUSIONS: The lower frequency, lack of associationfound and difference in sexes in obesity and overweight suggests a change in the hygienic-dietetic habits in medical students of new generation that should be studied

Possible mechanisms of host resistance to Haemonchus contortus infection in sheep breeds native to the Canary Islands.

Haemonchus contortus appears to be the most economically important helminth parasite for small ruminant production in many regions of the world. The two sheep breeds native to the Canary Islands display distinctly different resistant phenotypes under both natural and experimental infections. Canaria Hair Breed (CHB) tends to have significantly lower worm burden and delayed and reduced egg production than the susceptible Canaria Sheep (CS). To understand molecular mechanisms underlying host resistance, we compared the abomasal mucosal transcriptome of the two breeds in response to Haemonchus infection using RNAseq technology. The transcript abundance of 711 and 50 genes were significantly impacted by infection in CHB and CS, respectively (false discovery rate <0.05) while 27 of these genes were significantly affected in both breeds. Likewise, 477 and 16 Gene Ontology (GO) terms were significantly enriched in CHB and CS, respectively (P < 1.0 × 10(-4)). A broad range of mechanisms have evolved in resistant CHB to provide protection against the parasite. Our findings suggest that readily inducible acute inflammatory responses, complement activation, accelerated cell proliferation and subsequent tissue repair, and immunity directed against parasite fecundity all contributed to the development of host resistance to parasitic infection in the resistant breed.

Immunoprotection in goats against Haemonchus contortus after immunization with cysteine protease enriched protein fractions.

Haemonchus cysteine proteases, because of their apparent critical function in worm physiology, are considered important candidates in the immunological control of haemonchosis in sheep. Only limited information is, however, available on the immunoprotective properties of these molecules in goats. In the present study cysteine proteases of Haemonchus contortus adult worms isolated from a goat strain (Gran Canaria, Spain) were enriched by affinity chromatography and evaluated as immunoprotective antigens against caprine haemonchosis. The eggs per gram of faeces averaged over the whole experiment for unvaccinated goats (550 +/- 13.5) was significantly greater (P < 0.001) than that of vaccinated goats (61 +/- 2.9). Accordingly, the worm burden was significantly different between the groups (P < 0.05), with mean values of 247.5 +/- 43.8 and 762.5 +/- 78.3 worms per animal in the immunized and nonimmunized goats, respectively. The percentage of egg (89%) and worm (68%) reduction approached those attained with other immunogens used in sheep.