Localización anatómica y proporción de sexos de los tricostrongílidos gastrointestinales en el ganado ovino de la región de Murcia / Anatomical location and sex ratio of gastrointestinal trichostrongylids in sheep in the Region of Murcia

Entre 1998 y 2001 se estudiaron un total de 181 ovejas sacrifi cadas en un matadero de Cartagena (Murcia).El contenido del abomaso y del intestino delgado se recogió y se procesó con objeto de recontar e identifi carlos tricostrongílidos encontrados. Se contabilizaron 156.889 nematodos en 158 ovejas parasitadas; de ellos,103.076 localizados en el abomaso y 53.813 en el intestino delgado. En ambas localizaciones el número dehembras superó al de machos, siendo la proporción entre sexos de 1,57 en el abomaso y de 1,98 en el intestinodelgado. Se identifi caron trece especies, ocho de ellas en hábitats no comunes: Teladorsagia circumcincta, T.trifurcata, Marshallagia marshalli, Trichostrongylus vitrinus, T. colubriformis, T. axei, Nematodirus spathigery N. fi licollis en ambos órganos; T. davtiani, M. occidentalis y H. contortus tan solo en el abomaso y T. capricolay N. abnormalis únicamente en el intestino delgado(AU)

A total of 181 adult sheep from a slaughterhouse in Cartagena (Murcia) were studied between 1998 and2001. The content from the abomasum and small intestine was collected and processed in order to quantify and hasidentifytrichostrongylids. One hundred and fi fty eight sheep were parasited with 156.889 nematodes: 103.076were recovered from the abomasum and 53.813 from the small intestine. In both locations the number of femaleswas higher than males, being sex ratio 1,57 in the abomasum and 1,98 in the small intestine. Thirteenspecies were identifi ed: Teladorsagia circumcincta, T. trifurcata, Marshallagia marshalli, Trichostrongylusvitrinus, T. colubriformis, T. axei, Nematodirus spathiger and N. fi licollis in both abomasums and small intestine;T. davtiani, M. occidentalis and H. contortus only in abomasum and T. capricola and N. abnormalis justin the small intestine(AU)

Epidemiological study of non-systemic parasitism in dogs in southeast Mediterranean Spain assessed by coprological and post-mortem examination.

The prevalence and risk factors of non-systemic canine ecto- and endoparasitism and anthelminthic use in Murcia located at the centre of the Spanish Mediterranean coastal arch, was investigated by coprology and necropsy in up to 275 pet, city shelter and stray dogs in 2001-2004. Faecal parasite stages were detected in 25% of dogs. Species frequency was 6-10% for Toxocara canis, Ancylostomatidae spp., Toxascaris leonina and Isospora canis, and 0.4-1% for Trichuris vulpis, Giardia lamblia, and Dipylidium caninum. Logistic regression indicated that the risk of intestinal parasitism was highest for dogs

Experimental toxoplasmosis in red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) fed Toxoplasma gondii oocysts.

Thirty red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa), 5-month-old, were orally inoculated with oocysts of the OV-51/95 strain of Toxoplasma gondii. Birds were distributed into five groups and received, respectively, 10 (group A, 4 birds), 50 (group B, 14 birds), 10(2) (group C, 4 birds), 10(3) (group D, 4 birds) and 10(4) (group E, 4 birds) oocysts. One partridge from group B and one from group E died suddenly of acute toxoplasmosis at 7 day after inoculation (DAI) with demonstrable T. gondii in several tissues. The rest of birds remained clinically normal until killed at 44, 58, 65, 72, 79 or 100 DAI. Brain, heart, liver and skeletal muscle from these partridges were bioassayed individually in mice; T. gondii was demonstrated in all these tissues, except in heart of three birds inoculated, respectively, with 10, 50 and 10(2) oocysts. Lesions were not seen in histologic sections of tissues from surviving partridges. These results suggest that red-legged partridges are resistant to clinical toxoplasmosis.

Serologic response of red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) after oral inoculation with Toxoplasma gondii oocysts.

Thirty 5-month-old red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) reared in battery were divided into five groups: 4 birds in group A, 14 birds in group B, 4 birds in group C, 4 birds in group D and 4 birds in group E, and were inoculated orally with 10, 50, 10(2), 10(3) and 10(4) oocysts of the OV-51/95 strain of Toxoplasma gondii, respectively. During the experiment, blood samples from all birds were drawn every 3-7 days and at necropsy. Serologic response was measured by the modified agglutination test (MAT) and the latex agglutination test (LAT). One bird from each group was killed at 44, 58, 65 and 72 days after inoculation (DAI). From 72 DAI to the end of the experiment, surviving partridges from group B were killed at weekly intervals. The last partridges were sacrified 100 DAI. MAT was the most sensitive and specific test for detecting T. gondii antibodies in the birds. First positive titers were detected by MAT in all sera on 7 DAI, but titers by LAT did not appear until 13 DAI. Antibody titers detected by MAT on 7 DAI were higher in the partridges with the largest inocula (10(3) or 10(4) oocysts) than those inoculated with 10, 50 or 10(2) oocysts. All surviving birds developed a serologic response to T. gondii, with maximum titers of 512-32,768 in the MAT on 13-17 DAI, and positive titers persisted at least until 100 DAI. To the contrary, LAT reveals only very low antibody titers even in partridges inoculated with the highest dose of T. gondii.

Prevalence and viability of eggs of Toxocara spp. and Toxascaris leonina in public parks in eastern Spain.

To demonstrate the prevalence of Toxocara spp. and Toxascaris leonina eggs in parks in Murcia city, eastern Spain, a total 644 soil samples were examined from nine parks. More than 67% of parks and 1.24% of soil samples were contaminated and the mean egg density per sample was eggs per 100 g of soil. Over 97% of eggs identified were viable. Only one sample was positive for Toxascaris leonina. The present findings suggest that shady conditions are important for the occurrence and viability of Toxocara spp. and Toxascaris leonina eggs in soil as there were significantly more positive samples in shaded and moist areas compared with open and dry habitats.

Improved methods for recovering eggs of Toxocara canis from soil.

The ingestion of soil in parks and public places containing eggs of Toxocara may constitute a significant health risk, particularly to children. To determine the most efficient method for extracting eggs from experimentally contaminated soil, two consecutive studies were undertaken. Four techniques, including washing, sieving, vacuum, and the one recommended by the World Health Organization, were evaluated. Recovery rates of over 85% were recorded with both washing and sieving methods. Using the washing technique, all combinations of the four pre-treatment solutions, distilled water, acetoacetic solution pH 5, 0.1 n sodium hydroxide and 1% Tween 20, and seven flotation fluids with different specific gravities (S.G.) ranging from 1.20 to 1.35 were assayed. The association of distilled water and saccharose solution with an S.G. of 1.27 showed the best results, with a recovery rate of 99.91%.

[Gene sequence analysis of suppressor oncogene p53 in bladder carcinoma]. / Análisis por secuenciación genómica del oncogen supresor p53 en el carcinoma vesical.

A prospective study which analyzes the presence of mutations in the suppressor oncogene p53 through automated genome sequentiation in 75 specimens of transitional cell carcinoma. The presence of mutations correlated to the pathological stage and cellular grade. Also, both the different types of mutations detected and the diversity of their location indicate the heterogeneity of bladder transitional cells carcinoma. The automated genome sequentiation method allows to detect both the type of mutation and the exact location. The detection of suppressor oncogene p53 mutations allows to identify those patients who may be at higher risk of disease progression and therefore those who should undergo a more intense follow-up.

Influence of different systems of feeding in the appearance of cryptosporidiosis in goat kids.

This study evaluated how different systems of feeding may influence the appearance, maintenance, or both of cryptosporidial infection. Animals reared with natural lactation, a traditional artificial feeding system, and a variety of the latter were studied for oocysts in feces. The diagnosis was made by examination of fecal smears stained with auramine-O. Morbidity and mortality were high, particularly in farms with bad hygienic conditions and natural feeding systems. The traditional artificial feeding system is not enough to reduce the presence of parasites. Isolation of newborns at birth and colostrum administration with a feeding bottle, obtained in the most aseptic conditions possible, seems to be an effective prophylactic method for cryptosporidiosis control.