Helminth infections in small mammals from Ulu Gombak Forest Reserve and the risk to human health.

A survey for small mammal parasites carried out in a secondary forest of Ulu Gombak, Selangor, Peninsula Malaysia yielded the following animals: Rattus bowersi (7), Rattus tiomanicus jalorensis (2), Maxomys rajah (12), Maxoyms whiteheadi (3), Leopoldamys sabanus(13), Sundamys muelleri(10), Lariscus insignis (1), Sundasciurus tenuis (1) and Tupaia glis (2). The following nematodes: Capillaria hepatica, Hepatojarakus malayae, Trichostrongylus sp. and Streptopharagus sp., the following cestodes: Hymenolepis sp., Raillietina sp. and Taenia taeniaformis; and trematode, Zonorchis sp. from Tupaia glis were recovered. No parasites were observed during blood examination. No endoparasite was seen in Maxomys whiteheadi, Lariscus insignis and Sundasciurus tenuis. The following parasites, Capillaria hepatica, Hymenolepis sp., Raillietina sp. and Taenia taeniaformis are considered of medical importance.

Comparison of biochemical and cytotoxic functions of hepatocytes from goat, pig and human fetuses.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: To overcome the problem of shortage of donor organs, xenotransplantation of cells offers an alternative to orthotopic transplantation. Of the higher animals, the pig is considered as a suitable donor because of the similarity in size and function of pig organs to human organs. However, successful transplantation of pig organs/cells for human therapy is limited by hyperacute rejection, improper functioning of xenografts and the risk of transmission of endogenous retroviruses to the recipient. Thus, there is a pressing need to explore an alternate mammalian source to bridge the gap between the donor and the recipient waiting for transplantation. This has warranted us to explore the application of goat hepatocytes as a treatment modality in acute liver failure. METHODS: In the present investigation, isolated goat hepatocytes were assessed for their viability, membrane integrity, synthetic and cytotoxic functions, and compared with the hepatocytes of pig and human fetuses (28-36 weeks). RESULTS: The isolated hepatocytes from goat, pig and human fetuses were comparable in their viability, membrane integrity and synthetic functions. However, the cytotoxic functions assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2 thiazoyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay demonstrated a significant reduction in the viability of the pig hepatocytes (38%) as compared with the goat and human fetal hepatocytes, which retained their viability (98%) on incubation with normal human serum. CONCLUSION: These observations are significant as they suggest that goat hepatocytes probably can be explored as a source for cell therapy in the treatment of acute liver failure.

Peritoneal transplantation of human fetal hepatocytes for the treatment of acute fatty liver of pregnancy: a case report.

We report the case of a 26-year-old second gravida in the third trimester of pregnancy who presented with a history of nausea, repeated vomiting and jaundice. The patient was diagnosed as acute fatty liver of pregnancy. After delivery, the condition of the patient progressed to grade IV encephalopathy and did not improve despite all intensive clinical management measures. After 3 days in grade IV encephalopathy, the patient was infused 3 x 10(8) human foetal hepatocytes. The patient's level of consciousness started improving after 24 hours of foetal hepatocyte transfusion and she recovered completely within 7 days.