Comparison of the effectiveness of selected essential oils with mineral oil and spinosad on Dermanyssus gallinae.

It seems that essential oils can be a good ingredient in effective preparations against Dermanyssus gallinae. Dermanyssus affects animal health leading to financial losses and bird welfare issues. Collected mites were treated with various essential oils in four (20, 50, 80 and 100%) concentrations at a dose of 0.28 mg/cm2. The direct toxicity of the essential oils, mineral oil and spinosad to D. gallinae was tested in the laboratory. Eucalyptus oil was the most toxic essential oil in all concentrations to D. gallinae (87.6 - 97.6% mortality at all four concentrations), while geranium, pine and rosemary oils showed mortality rates of 14.2 - 68.2%. High mortality after 48 hours of contact was also recorded for the oil of cloves at 80% dilution (85.1% mortality), lavender 100% (94.2% mortality). Similarly, the thyme essential oil produced 83.5 - 93.2% mortality in three concentrations: 50, 80 and 100%. The mineral oil was the least effective oil against mites. Spinosad showed high effectiveness against D. gallinae.

Enhanced expression of IFI16 and RIG-I in human third-trimester placentas following HSV-1 infection.

The innate immune response in the placenta depends on the ability of maternal immune cells and fetal trophoblast cells to detect and eliminate invading pathogens through germline-encoded pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). In the present study, we analysed the transcripts and protein expression of interferon (IFN)-inducible protein (IFI)16, melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA5), RIG-I-like receptor (RIG-I) and Toll-like receptor (TLR)-3 in third-trimester human placentas and investigated cytokine profiles generated during herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1) infection. Decidual and chorionic villous biopsies (38-42 weeks of gestation) were obtained from healthy women immediately after a caesarean section. The expression of the DDX58 (RIG-I), IFIH1 (MDA5), IFI16 and TLR3 transcripts was measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Extracellular cytokine and PRRs levels were then quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). All examined PRRs genes, including DDX58, IFIH1, IFI16 and TLR3, were expressed constitutively at the mRNA and protein levels in the placental biopsies. The concentration of the IFI16 protein was increased in HSV-1-infected decidual and chorionic villous explants compared to those of mock-infected tissues (P = 0·029). Higher protein expression levels of RIG-I in both the maternal and fetal parts of the placenta were found (P = 0·009 and P = 0·004, respectively). In addition, increased production of IFN-ß by HSV-1-infected tissues was noticed (P = 0·004 for decidua, P = 0·032 for chorionic villi). No significant differences in the IFN-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 levels were found. These results showed that HSV-1 infection can enhance the expression of IFI16 and RIG-I proteins in the human term placenta.

Cytomegalovirus DNA is highly prevalent in the blood of patients with asthma and is associated with age and asthma traits.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgG antibodies have been associated with inflammaging and immunosenescence. We aimed to assess the presence of CMV DNA in the blood of adult and elderly patients with bronchial asthma to establish potential association of CMV DNAemia with asthma and asthma characteristics. Eighty-five elderly asthmatics, 74 younger asthma patients, and 114 age-matched controls were recruited. The CMV DNA was detected using commercial artus assay in 10.7% of asthma patients, but was negative in all control individuals. The secondary assay identified CMV DNA in 41.5% of asthmatics and 13.3% of control subjects (P < .001). Presence of CMV DNA was associated with an increased risk of asthma and CMV DNA copy numbers correlated with some asthma traits, including respiratory parameters and exhaled breath nitric oxide. We conclude that CMV infection is associated with asthma and may contribute to the pathogenesis of asthmatic inflammation.

The Strongylidae belonging to Strongylus genus in horses from southeastern Poland.

Postmortem parasitic examinations of the large intestines of 725 slaughtered horses from individual farmers in southeastern Poland were carried out. The examinations were carried out monthly since February 2006 until January 2007 (except for August 2007 because of a technological stoppage in the slaughterhouse). The examinations included the intensiveness and extensiveness of the infestation of the Strongylidae belonging to the Strongylus genus. The Strongylidae were found in 26.5% of the examined horses. Strongylus vulgaris was the most dominant nematode and had a 22.8% prevalence, Strongylus edentatus was carried by 18.3% of the horses. Strongylus equinus was identified only in 1.7% of the examined horses. Our findings revealed that combined infestation of S. vulgaris and S. edentatus occurred in 100 (52.1%) of the 725 horses infected by the Strongylidae. The present results indicate that the lowest prevalence of strongyle species except for S. equinus was found in January, February, and March. However, it is difficult to draw a conclusion because of an extremely low extensiveness of infestation. The results indicate that the prevalence of the Strongylidae in horses from southeastern Poland is limited.

Distribution of UL144, US28 and UL55 genotypes in Polish newborns with congenital cytomegalovirus infections.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the most common congenital infection. HCMV strains display genetic variability in different regions. Distribution of HCMV genotypes in the population of congenitally infected newborns from Central Poland and viral load in newborns' blood is described and discussed. HCMV isolates were analysed by sequencing at three sites on the genome: the UL144 tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα)-like receptor gene, the US28 beta-chemokine receptor gene and the UL55 envelope glycoprotein B (gB) gene. The newborns' blood was examined for HCMV DNA with a nested (UL144, UL55) or heminested (US28) polymerase chain reaction, and the genotypes were determined by sequence analysis. HCMV DNA was detectable in 25 out of 55 examined newborns born by HCMV-infected mothers (45.5%). The blood viral load in mother-infant pairs was determined. Most of the newborns had identical virus genotype, gB2 (96%), UL144 B1 (88%) and US28 A2 (84%). These genotypes were detected in all newborns with asymptomatic congenital infection. The occurrence of UL144 B1 or US28 A2 genotypes in the babies examined was significant in comparison to other genotypes (p=0.0002 and p=0.040 respectively). There was no association between specific gB subtypes in all patients groups (p=0.463). There was no correlation between HCMV genotypes and the outcome.

Comparison of some serological methods and coproscopic examinations for diagnosis of Giardia spp. invasion in dogs.

Giardiasis was detected in 53.5% of dogs examined by FASTest Giardia Strip for use in dogs. Using the ProSpecT Giardia EZ Microplate Assay 52.2% of these results was confirmed. Cysts of Giardia spp. were found only in 6.5% of samples of feces examined by flotation or decantation techniques. The examinations confirmed problems with coproscopic diagnosis of giardiasis in dogs. They confirmed the greater usefulness of FASTest Giardia Strip for immunodiagnostic of giardiasis in carnivores.

Neurological and psychological symptoms after the severe acute neuroborreliosis.

The purpose of this study was to delineate distant neurological and neuropsychological effects of severe neuroborreliosis. A group of 33 patients (12 men and 21 women) were selected for the study. Every patient had suffered from severe meningitis, meningoencephalitis or meningopolyradiculoneuritis due to neuroborreliosis in the chronic form of the illness. Standardised medical interview, physical examination and a series of neuropsychological tests (WAIS-R, BDI, BENTON-BENDER, DUM) were performed. In the clinical history, 36.4% of the patients complained of headache, 27.3% of subjective memory distortions; 33.3% of the patients suffered from sleeplessness. The neurological examination showed that 36.4% of the patients experienced such cerebellum integrity disturbances as abnormalities in gait and coordination or even mild ataxia. 21.2% of the patients experienced dysfunction in the proprioceptive pathways, 9% asymmetry in deep tendon reflexes (DTR's), 27.3% disturbances in the sensory responses. The examination showed, however, no muscular strength abnormalities. Half of the patients had slight depression. Psychological tests indicated that 21.2% of the patients had problems in thinking process and experienced memory impairment. 36.4% of the patients had significant organic damage in the central nervous system. The results of this study suggest the existence of long-lasting consequences of acute neuroborreliosis, which can significantly influence the quality of life of patients.

[Suicidal attempts among young people hospitalized in the department of psychiatry of the Medical Academy in Lublin in 1990-1997]. / Próby samobójcze osób mlodych hospitalizowanych w Klinice Psychiatrii Akademii Medycznej w Lublinie w latach 1990-1997.

Based on clinical assessment of the case histories, the results of a retrospective suicidal research of 66 patients between the ages of 15 and 25 years who were hospitalised in Psychiatric University Hospital in Lublin between 1990 and 1997 were presented. In the paper the analysis was performed of clinical and sociodemographic aspects, significant from suicidal point of view, such as: the psychiatric diagnosis, reasons for suicidal attempts, the means of realization of the suicidal attempts, somatic conditions, alcohol and substance abuse, months of suicidal attempts, months of hospitalisations, duration of hospitalisation, repetition of suicidal acts, suicidal family history, negative interactions in family system, gender, current occupation, education, and marital status. In the examined group, six main reasons of suicidal attempts were selected, such as: 1) delusions (28% patients of the whole group), 2) hallucinatory behaviour (16% patients), 3) situational disorders (17% patients), 4) acute reactions (17% patients), 5) insight disorders (17% patients), 6) depressive disorders (11% patients). The differences between the psychotic group (with a prevalence of males) and the non-psychotic group (with a prevalence of females) proved to be significant. When taking into account the method of the suicide, there was a marked difference between the group of males (prevalence of "hard" methods, mainly hanging themselves) and the group of females (prevalence of "soft" methods, mainly drug intoxications). In the majority the families, systems of mutual interactions were disordered. The exacerbation of suicidal acts was registered in autumn-winter period. Psychoactive drug abuse was a malignant predictor of suicidal behaviour (mainly among males).