Survey of coccidia on commercial broiler farms in Colombia: frequency of Eimeria species, anticoccidial sensitivity, and histopathology.

Avian coccidiosis continues to be one of the costliest diseases of commercial poultry. Understanding the epidemiology of Eimeria species in poultry flocks and the resistance profile to common anticoccidials is important to design effective disease prevention and control strategies. This study examined litter samples to estimate the prevalence and distribution of Eimeria species among broiler farms in 4 geographic regions of Colombia. A total of 245 litter samples were collected from 194 broiler farms across representative regions of poultry production between March and August 2019. The litter samples were processed for oocysts enumeration and speciation after sporulation. End-point polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis was conducted to confirm the presence of Eimeria species. Anticoccidial sensitivity was determined with 160 Ross AP males in 5 treatment groups: noninfected, nonmedicated control (NNC), infected, nonmedicated control (INC), infected salinomycin treated (SAL, dose: 66 ppm), infected diclazuril treated (DIC, dose: 1 ppm), and infected methylbenzocuate-Clopidol treated (MET.CLO, dose: 100 ppm), All birds were orally inoculated with 1 × 106 sporulated oocysts using a 1 mL syringe, except for the NNC- group who received 1ml of water.Eimeria spp. were found in 236 (96.3%) out of 245 individual houses, representing 180 (92.8%) out of 194 farms. Eimeria acervulina was the most prevalent species (35.0%) followed by Eimeria tenella (30.9%), Eimeria maxima (20.4%), and other Eimeria spp. (13.6%). However, mixed species infections were common, with the most prevalent combination being mixtures of E. acervulina, E. maxima, E. tenella, and other species in 31.4% of the Eimeria-positive samples. PCR analysis identified E. acervulina, E. maxima, E. tenella, Eimeria necatrix, Eimeria mitis, and Eimeria praecox with variable prevalence across farms and regions. Anticoccidial sensitivity testing of strains of Eimeria isolated from 1 region, no treatment difference (P > 0.05) was observed in final weight (BW), weight gain (BWG) or feed conversion (FCR). For the global resistance index (GI) classified SAL and MET.CLO as good efficacy (85.79 and 85.49, respectively) and DIC as limited efficacy (74.52%). These results demonstrate the ubiquitous nature of Eimeria spp. and identifies the current state of sensitivity to commonly used anticoccidials in a region of poultry importance for Colombia.

[Qualification needs of the nursing team for care provided to HIV and AIDS patients]. / Necessidades de qualificação da equipe de enfermagem para a assistência aos clientes portadores do HIV e da AIDS.

This study discourses about the especific training needs of the nursing teams of the Centers of Reference of Sexual Transmissible Diseases (STD) and Aids from the STD/Aids Program of the Health Secretary of the Township of São Paulo for the assistance of clients with HIV and Aids. From a total of 671 nursing workers, 453 answered the questionnaire. They identified the following training needs: contents related to standard precautions, preparation and administration of specific drugs and other general nursing care to HIV + clients.

Evidence for protein tyrosine kinase involvement in CD6-induced T cell proliferation.

Several studies have demonstrated that addition of soluble anti-CD6 mAbs to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA)-treated naive T cells can induce cell proliferation. We showed in the present study that cell proliferation in TPA-treated T cell cultures can be enhanced several fold when the anti-CD6 mAbs are either immobilized or crosslinked with rabbit anti-mouse immunoglobulins (RAM Ig). Using a src family protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitor, herbimycin A, the cell proliferation induced by the anti-CD6 mAb, IOR-T1, in TPA-treated T cells were effectively abolished. Analysis of the cellular proteins in these cells after crosslinking the CD6 receptor with IOR-T1 (followed by RAM Ig) in the presence of TPA resulted in an increased level of tyrosine phosphorylation. Pretreatment of native T cells with herbimycin A (0.5 and 1 microgram/ml) for 18 hr completely inhibited the tyrosine phosphorylation on cellular substrates in T cell cultures stimulated with IOR-T1/RAM Ig and TPA. Similar concentrations of herbimycin A also inhibited the increase in IL-2 mRNA expression and cell proliferation in T cell cultures after IOR-T1/RAM Ig and TPA treatment. Furthermore, the increase in cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration in naive T cells after crosslinking of the CD6 receptor with IOR-T1/RAM Ig was also inhibited by herbimycin A. Taken together, our results suggest that CD6-mediated T cell proliferation is IL-2 dependent, and involves tyrosine kinase activity which is strictly dependent on protein kinase C activation.

The anti-CD6 mAb, IOR-T1, defined a new epitope on the human CD6 molecule that induces greater responsiveness in T cell receptor/CD3-mediated T cell proliferation.

The T lymphocyte cell surface molecule, CD6, has been shown in a number of studies to play an important role in T cell activation. Its physiological ligand or function is still unknown. A panel of five anti-CD6 mAbs was used in the present study to investigate the structure-function relationship of this molecule. Cross-blocking assays indicate that three different epitopes were defined on the CD6 molecule by these mAbs. One of these epitopes defined by the mAb, IOR-T1, is insensitive to thiol-reducing agents, such as dithiothreitol and 2-mercaptoethanol. Of the other two epitopes, one was defined by 2H1 and the other was shared by three other mAbs, T12, 6D3, and Dako-CD6. All the CD6 mAbs at optimal concentration exhibit equal potency in enhancing T cell proliferation mediated through the T cell receptor/CD3 complex by optimal concentration of the anti-CD3 mAb, OKT3 (100 ng/ml). Simultaneous cross-linking of both the anti-CD6 mAbs and OKT3 is essential for the synergistic effect. When suboptimal concentrations of OKT3 (1 ng/ml) were used (no detectable cell proliferation), the synergistic effect of the anti-CD6 mAbs was still evident but with a differential effect. The epitope defined by IOR-T1 consistently induced greater T cell responsiveness under these conditions. Our results suggest that the CD6 molecule may play an important role in T cell activation, and that signals through an epitope of stable conformation appear to be of importance when antigen levels are low or interacting with low-avidity antigen receptors.

A new test for infection by Entamoeba histolytica.

Entamoeba histolytica is a common parasite of the human intestine, and in a significant percentage of cases it invades the tissues. Virulent strains of the organism produce the proteinose histolysain, which almost certainly facilitates the invasive behaviour. Histolysoin has been isolated, a selective assay developed, and specific antisera raised against the enzyme. As described here by Alfredo Luaces, Lyda Osorio and Alan Barren, the ENZYMEBA test for infection by E. histolytica combines the specificities of both antibodies and enzyme assay to achieve a high degree of sensitivity and selectivity. Circulating antibodies to histolysain were detected in a solid-phase enzyme immunoassay, the results suggesting that a humoral immune response is induced by histolysain during the formation of liver abscess.

Circulating antibodies to histolysain, the major cysteine proteinase of Entamoeba histolytica, in amoebic liver abscess patients.

A solid-phase enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was used to detect circulating antibodies to histolysain, the major cysteine proteinase of Entamoeba histolytica. Serum samples from 40 healthy controls, 33 asymptomatic E. histolytica cyst passers and 22 patients with amoebic liver abscess were tested. Antibodies to histolysain were found in 72.7% of cases of amoebic liver abscess, 18.1% of the cyst passers and 2.5% of healthy controls, which suggests that a humoral immune response is induced by histolysain during amoebic liver abscess.

Inhibition of human monocyte function by prophylactic doses of chloroquine.

The effect of prophylactic doses of chloroquine on the phagocytic function of human monocytes was studied in young healthy male volunteers. They received placebo, 300, or 600 mg of chloroquine base/week for six weeks. In each subject, the phagocytic function was tested before and at the end of the chloroquine intake period. In the 600-mg chloroquine group, it was also tested six weeks after receiving the last dose. Chloroquine at both doses inhibited the phagocytosis of IgG-coated sheep red blood cells and of zymosan particles. The effect was more pronounced with the 600 mg dose of chloroquine. The phagocytic activity returned to normal values six weeks after the end of treatment.