Influence of different pre-treatments on the resin infiltration depth into enamel of teeth affected by molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH).

OBJECTIVES: This in vitro pilot study aimed to evaluate whether different pre-treatments (demineralization, deproteinization, (chemo-)mechanical reduction of the surface layer) influence the penetration depth of a resin infiltrant into MIH-affected enamel compared to initial carious lesions. METHODS: Thirty extracted human permanent molars with non-cavitated initial carious lesions (n = 5) or MIH (n = 25) were chosen and randomly assigned to six experimental groups: IC: initial caries; M: MIH; MN: MIH, 5.25% sodium hypochlorite; MM: MIH, microabrasion; MA: MIH, air abrasion; MAN: MIH, air abrasion and 5.25% sodium hypochlorite. A modified indirect dual fluorescence staining method was adopted to assess the penetration depth (PD) of the resin infiltrant and the lesion depth (LD) by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Exemplarily, scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images were captured. The relationship between group assignment and penetration/lesion depth was estimated using a linear mixed model incorporating the tooth as random effect (two observations/tooth). The significance level was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: For MIH-affected molars, the mean PD (in µm; median, [minimum-maximum]) were M (178.2 [32.5-748.9]), MN (275.6 [105.3-1131.0]), MM (48.7 [0.0-334.4]), MA (287.7 [239.4-491.7]), and MAN (245.4 [76.1-313.5]). Despite the observed differences in PD between the groups, these could not be statistically verified (Bonferroni, p = 0.322). The percentage penetration was significantly higher for IC than for MIH groups (Bonferroni, p < 0.05). SIGNIFICANCE: Compared to IC, resin infiltration into MIH-affected enamel ist more variable. Different pre-treatments influence the resin penetration into developmentally hypomineralized enamel to a fluctuating level.

Parasite fauna of wild Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) of the Andean Region, Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) are large herbivorous aquatic mammals living in limited areas of South, Central and North America. As with other aquatic mammals, Antillean manatees can be infected by a variety of protozoan and metazoan parasites, some of them with zoonotic potential, which affect not only their welfare but also population health status. Therefore, we conducted the first epidemiological survey in Colombian free-ranging Antillean manatees to estimate their actual gastrointestinal parasite status. RESULTS: In total, 69 faecal samples were collected from free-ranging individual manatees during ecology field studies in the rivers Carare and San Juan and in two associated wetlands in the Andean region of Colombia. Parasite diversity encompassed six different endoparasite species. The highest prevalence was found for protozoan infections with Eimeria nodulosa (47.8%) and Eimeria manatus-like species (type A, B; 43.4%), followed by Entamoeba sp. (14.49%) and Giardia sp. (1.4%) infections. In addition, infections with the trematode Chiorchis fabaceus were detected at a high prevalence (33.3%). Molecular characterization of sirenian Eimeria species led to the distinction of three species, E. nodulosa and two E. manatus-like species (type A, B). Phylogenetic analyses indicated a host-specific adaptation of sirenian Eimeria species as previously reported for Eimeria species from other mammalian hosts. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the first record of Antillean manatee infection with Giardia and Entamoeba species in Colombia, representing two important anthropozoonotic parasite genera. This survey should serve as a baseline investigation for future monitoring on parasitic zoonoses in this mammal and encourage for investigations on their impact on both public health and wild manatee welfare.

Novel approach to study gastropod-mediated innate immune reactions against metastrongyloid parasites.

The anthropozoonotic metastrongyloid nematodes Angiostrongylus cantonensis and Angiostrongylus costaricensis, as well as Angiostrongylus vasorum, Crenosoma vulpis, Aelurostrongylus abstrusus and Troglostrongylus brevior are currently considered as emerging gastropod-borne parasites and have gained growing scientific attention in the last years. However, the knowledge on invertebrate immune responses and on how metastrongyloid larvae are attacked by gastropod immune cells is still limited. This work aims to describe an in vitro system to investigate haemocyte-derived innate immune responses of terrestrial gastropods induced by vital axenic metastrongyloid larvae. We also provide protocols on slug/snail management and breeding under standardized climate conditions (circadian cycle, temperature and humidity) for the generation of parasite-free F0 stages which are essential for immune-related investigations. Adult slug species (Arion lusitanicus, Limax maximus) and giant snails (Achatina fulica) were maintained in fully automated climate chambers until mating and production of fertilized eggs. Newly hatched F0 juvenile specimens were kept under parasite-free conditions before experimental use. An improved protocol for gastropod haemolymph collection and haemocyte isolation was established. Giemsa-stained haemolymph preparations showed adequate haemocyte isolation in all three gastropod species. Additionally, a protocol for the production of axenic first and third stage larvae (L1, L3) was established. Haemocyte functionality was tested in haemocyte-nematode-co-cultures. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy analyses revealed that gastropod-derived haemocytes formed clusters as well as DNA-rich extracellular aggregates catching larvae and decreasing their motility. These data confirm the usefulness of the presented methods to study haemocyte-mediated gastropod immune responses to better understand the complex biology of gastropod-borne diseases.

Leukocytes coincubated with human sperm trigger classic neutrophil extracellular traps formation, reducing sperm motility.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the human spermatozoon is a sufficient stimulus to trigger the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in a time- and dose-dependent manner. DESIGN: Experimental study. SETTING: University-based laboratory. PATIENT(S): Semen samples from four men and blood samples from six healthy female donors. INTERVENTION(S): Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) isolated from peripheral blood were incubated with fresh human spermatozoa for 60, 90, 120, and 180 minutes and at different PMN/sperm concentrations (1:1 [25 × 104], 1:3 [25 × 104:75 × 104], 1:6 [25 × 104:15 × 105], 1:18 [25 × 104:45 × 105]). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): During coincubation of PMN/sperm, the release of NETs was measured by PicoGreen. Immunofluorescence for histone H3, neutrophil elastase (NE), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) was performed. Different NETs inhibitors were tested: diphenylene iodonium, Suc-Ala- Ala-Pro-Val chloromethyl ketone (CMK), and 4-aminobenzoic acid hydrazide (ABAH) inhibitors of NADPH oxidase, NE, and MPO. Progressive mobility was assessed at increasing doses of neutrophils (1:18 [25 × 104:45 × 105], 6:18 [15 × 105:45 × 105], 9:18 [252 × 104:45 × 105]). RESULT(S): The quantity of NETs increased at the ratio of 1:6 after 2 hours and continued to increase subsequently. A ratio of 1:18 showed significant increases in NETs production at all times. Assessment of the inhibitors showed that CMK and ABAH inhibit NETs formation. Scanning and transmission electron microphotographs and immunofluorescence confirmed NETs formation induced by the spermatozoa. After 1 hour, progressive motility diminished in the two groups with the highest proportion of neutrophils and after 2 hours in all groups exposed to neutrophils. CONCLUSION(S): We show that the stimulus of the human spermatozoon triggers the release of NETs; this response is dose dependent and increases with exposure time. The motility of affected spermatozoa diminishes, suggesting that this interaction on a larger scale would decrease the probability of successful fertilization.