Sepsis due to Yersinia enterocolitica in an aborted equine fetus: case report / Sepse por Yersinia enterocolitica em um feto equino abortado: relato de caso

Yersinia enterocolitica is a bacterium with zoonotic potential and there are no previous records of this bacteria being isolated from aborted foals. This report aims to describe a case of sepsis due to Y. enterocolitica in a seven month old aborted equine. The fequinoetus was submitted to necropsy and samples of all the organs were collected for the histological exam. Samples of liver, lung, placenta, and stomach contents were collected for bacterial culture. Macroscopically, the liver was enlarged with yellowish heterogeneous color, heart with pale myocardial areas; lungs not collapsed, heavy and shiny, thickened umbilical cord covered with fibrin and pus. Histopathologically, there was moderate multifocal necrosuppurative myocarditis and thrombosis, moderate diffuse suppurative bronchopneumonia, mild multifocal fibrinonecrotic hepatitis, and moderate diffuse necrosuppurative omphalitis with intralesional bacterial myriads and thrombosis. Mild multifocal suppurative placentitis, nephritis, myositis, cystitis, and dermatitis were also observed, in addition to mild diffuse lymphoid rarefaction. The microbiological evaluation identified Y. enterocolitica in the liver, lung, and stomach fluid. This is the first report of sepsis due to Y. enterocolitica causing an abortion in a horse. This bacterium has zoonotic importance; therefore, it should be investigated in abortion in this species, serving as a differential diagnosis in reproductive disorders.(AU)

Yersinia enterocolitica é uma bactéria com potencial zoonótico, e não há informações desse agente como causa de abortamento em equinos. O objetivo deste relato é descrever um caso de sepse por Y. enterocolitica em um feto equino abortado aos sete meses. O feto foi submetido à necropsia, e amostras de todos os órgãos foram processadas para histopatologia. Para microbiologia, foram coletadas amostras de fígado, pulmão, placenta e conteúdo estomacal. Macroscopicamente, observou-se fígado aumentado com coloração amarelada heterogênea; coração com áreas pálidas no miocárdio; pulmões não colabados, pesados e brilhantes; e cordão umbilical espessado e recoberto por fibrina e pus. Na análise histopatológica, havia miocardite necrossupurativa multifocal moderada e trombose, broncopneumonia supurativa difusa moderada, hepatite fibrinonecrótica multifocal discreta e onfalite necrossupurativa difusa moderada com miríades bacterianas intralesionais e trombose. Observou-se também placentite, nefrite, miosite, cistite e dermatite supurativa multifocal discreta, além de rarefação linfoide difusa discreta. A avaliação microbiológica identificou Y. enterocolitica no fígado, no pulmão e no líquido estomacal. Este é o primeiro relato de sepse por Y. enterocolitica causando abortamento na espécie equina. Essa bactéria tem importância zoonótica, portanto deve ser investigada em casos de abortamento nessa espécie, servindo como diagnóstico diferencial em tal distúrbio reprodutivo.(AU)

Paro cardiaco tras embolia gaseosa cerebral. Caso clínico / Cardiac arrest after a cerebral gas embolism. Case report

El embolismo gaseoso arterial cerebral es un episodio grave y frecuentemente iatrogénico fatal, asociado a procedimientos invasivos. Se trata de una causa posible de paro cardiaco, y el diagnóstico es difícil. Reportamos un caso de paro cardiaco tras una embolia gaseosa en arteria cerebral, en un varón de 63 años sometido a biopsia por aspiración transtorácica con aguja ecoguiada por TAC, que fue exitosamente tratado con oxigenoterapia hiperbárica

Cerebral arterial gas embolism is a serious and often iatrogenic fatal event associated with invasive procedures. It is a possible cause of a cardiac arrest and the diagnosis is challenging. We report a case of a cardiac arrest after a cerebral arterial gas embolism, in a 63-year-old male subjected to a Computed Tomography-guided Transthoracic Needle Aspiration Biopsy, which was successfully managed with hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Cardiac arrest after a cerebral gas embolism. Case report. / Paro cardiaco tras embolia gaseosa cerebral. Caso clínico.

Cerebral arterial gas embolism is a serious and often iatrogenic fatal event associated with invasive procedures. It is a possible cause of a cardiac arrest and the diagnosis is challenging. We report a case of a cardiac arrest after a cerebral arterial gas embolism, in a 63-year-old male subjected to a Computed Tomography-guided Transthoracic Needle Aspiration Biopsy, which was successfully managed with hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Reverse transcriptase droplet digital PCR to identify the emerging vesicular virus Senecavirus A in biological samples.

Senecavirus A (SVA) belonging to the family Picornaviridae, genus Senecavirus was incidentally isolated in 2002 from the PER.C6 (transformed foetal retinoblast) cell line. However, currently, this virus is associated with vesicular disease in swine and it has been reported in countries such as the United States of America, Canada, China, Thailand and Colombia. In Brazil, the SVA was firstly reported in 2015 in outbreaks of vesicular disease in swine, clinically indistinguishable of Foot-and-mouth disease, a contagious viral disease that generates substantial economic losses. In the present work, it was standardized a diagnostic tool for SVA based on RNA reverse transcriptase droplet digital PCR (RT-ddPCR) using one-step and two-step approaches. Analytical sensitivity and specificity were done in parallel with real-time PCR, RT-qPCR (one-step and two-step) for comparison of sensitivity and specificity of both methods. In the standardization of RT-ddPCR, the double-quenched probe and the temperature gradient were crucial to reduce background and improve amplitude between positive and negative droplets. The limit of detection and analytical specificity of techniques of one-step techniques showed superior performance than two-step methods described here. Additionally, the results showed 94.2% concordance (p < 0.001) for RT-ddPCR and RT-qPCR using the one-step assay approach and biological samples from Brazilian outbreaks of Senecavirus A. However, ddRT-PCR had a better performance than RT-PCR when swine serum pools were tested. According to the results, the one-step RT-ddPCR and RT-qPCR is highlighted to be used as an auxiliary diagnostic tool for Senecavirus A and for viral RNA absolute quantification in biological samples (RT-ddPCR), being a useful tool for vesicular diseases control programs.

Nutraceutical potential of Asparagopsis taxiformis (Delile) Trevisan extracts and assessment of a downstream purification strategy.

The main goal of the present work was to determine the nutraceutical potential of Asparagopsis taxiformis D. extracts from Madeira Archipelago south coast. Extraction methodologies consisted either/or in 72 hours stirring, at room temperature (M1), or 6 cycles of Soxhlet extraction (M2), both with re-extraction. Solvents used were distilled water, ethanol, methanol and ethyl acetate. M1 allowed to obtain the highest values for extraction yield (31.65 g.100g-1 dw) using water, whereas iodine content (3.37 g.100g-1 dw), TPC (1.71 g GAE.100g-1 dw) and chlorophyll a (45.96 mg.100g-1 dw) were obtained using ethanol, and TCC (36.23 mg.100g-1 dw) with methanol. Extracts that showed higher reduction activity in M1 were derived from ethanol extraction (1,908 mg AAE.100g-1 dw). Water and ethanol were the best solvents for higher DPPH scavenging activity in M2, both with same result (IC50 1.37 mg.mL-1). The lowest value of IC50 for chelating activity (1.57 mg.mL-1) was determined in M1, using ethyl acetate. The remaining residue was used to obtain other products, i.e. lipid extraction (M1, 2.05 g.100g-1 dw), carrageenans (M2, 21.18 g.100g-1 dw) and cellulose (M1, 23.81 g.100g-1 dw) with subsequent FTIR ATR analysis. Our results show that A. taxiformis is a valuable source of bioactive compounds. The M1 extraction methodology using ethanol is the most effective solvent to produce an iodine rich bioactive extract with potential of being used as a nutraceutical supplement. Also, we have demonstrated a possible downstream strategy that could be implemented for multiple compound extraction from A. taxiformis residue. This has a vital importance for future feasibility, when using this biomass as an industrial feedstock for multiple products production. Statistical analysis, using SPSS 24.0, was also performed and important correlations were found between assays and methods.

Prevalência e perfil de resistência a antimicrobianos de sorovares de Salmonella isolados de lingüiças suínas tipo frescal em Lages, SC / Prevalence and profile of resistance to antimicrobials of Salmonella serovars isolated from raw pork sausage in Lages, SC

The prevalence and profile of resistance to antimicrobials of Salmonella serovars isolated from raw pork sausage were studied in Lages county, Santa Catarina, Brazil. A total of 125 samples of 12 trademarks were collected in different commercial establishments. Salmonella sp. was present in 12.8 percent (16/125) of the samples and Typhimurium serovar was the most prevalent. Fourteen different antimicrobials were tested and most of the samples showed resistance to sulfonamide and tetracycline (81.2 percent). Eight positive samples (50 percent) were resistant at least to four antimicrobials, being considered as multi-resistant Salmonella. Seven (58.3 percent) trademarks were disagreement with the Brazilian law, representing a risk to the public health. The high level of resistance to the antimicrobials should produce a concern by the pig industry and veterinarians in order to prevent the transmission of resistant strains through the food chain.

Rest-dependence of twitch amplitude and sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium content in the developing rat myocardium.

Post-rest contractile response was studied in isolated ventricular muscle from rats aged 1 to 90 days. Amplitude of rapid cooling contractures (RCC) was taken as an index of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ content. We observed that: (a) developed tension (per cross-section area) increased with age; (b) time to peak twitch force and relaxation half-time decreased from 87+/-6 to 56+/-2 ms and from 68+/-6 to 36+/-1 ms, respectively, from the neonatal period to adulthood; (c) post-rest twitch potentiation was observed at all ages, with greater relative potentiation in younger preparations, although relative potentiation of [Ca2+]i transient amplitude was similar in young and adult isolated ventricular myocytes; (d) rest did not significantly affect the amplitude of RCC in muscle or caffeine-evoked [Ca2+]i transients in myocytes at any studied age; (e) favoring Ca2+ efflux via Na+-Ca2+ exchange (NCX) during rest reversed twitch potentiation and caused a similar decrease in RCC amplitude ( approximately 40%) at all ages; (f) stimulation of Ca2+ influx via NCX during rest increased RCC amplitude ( approximately 40%) only in immature preparations. However, when this procedure was repeated after partial SR Ca2+ depletion, increase in RCC amplitude was not significantly age-dependent. We conclude that post-rest twitch potentiation is already present early after birth and does not require rest-dependent changes in SR Ca2+ content at any studied age. Our results suggest that NCX is close to equilibrium during rest in both adult and developing rat myocardium, and does not seem to mediate diastolic net Ca2+ fluxes which may affect the SR Ca2+ content.

Casuística de epilepsia sintomática en una unidad de neuropediatría de referencia regional / Cases seen with symptomatic epilepsy in a regional reference neuropediatric unit

Objetivo. Analizar la casuística de epilepsia sintomática de la Sección de Neuropediatría del Hospital Miguel Servet de Zaragoza (España) desde el punto de vista etiológico. Pacientes y métodos. Se han estudiado los casos diagnosticados de epilepsia sintomática desde mayo de 1990 a noviembre de 1999. Resultados.De un total de 4.466 niños valorados durante el período de estudio, se ha establecido el diagnóstico de epilepsia en 461 niños (10,3 por ciento del total), que correspondió a epilepsias idiopáticas en 110 casos (23,9 por ciento), criptogénicas en 119 (25,8 por ciento) y sintomáticas en 232 casos (50,3 por ciento). La etiología de las epilepsias sintomáticas ha sido: encefalopatías prenatales en 137 casos (59 por ciento), perinatales en 33 (14,3 por ciento), posnatales (por accidentes, infecciones adquiridas y accidentes cerebrovasculares posnatales) en 20 (9 por ciento), patología tumoral (incluido período posquirúrgico) en 14 (6 por ciento), síndromes neurocutáneos en 13 (5,6 por ciento), enfermedades metabólicas y degenerativas en 13 (5,6 por ciento) y 1 caso de malformación vascular. Conclusiones. Las epilepsias sintomáticas representan la mitad de las epilepsias valoradas en la sección de neuropediatría, y en el 59 por ciento de ellas el origen es prenatal. Las demás causas de epilepsia sintomática han quedado representadas en la serie; su estudio detallado debe contribuir a profundizar en su conocimiento y mejorar su manejo.Consideramos de especial interés la aproximación etiológica en el estudio de la epilepsia, puesto que la etiología es uno de los factores pronósticos más importantes (AU)

[Torticollis as a cause of consultation in neuropediatrics]. / Tortícolis como motivo de consulta en neuropediatría.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Torticollis is a very non-specific symptom occurring in different conditions and may therefore be the reason for consultation in many specialties including neuropaediatrics. Analysis of torticollis as a cause for consultation in neuropaediatrics may contribute to the establishment of a suitable strategy for diagnosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We review, from the diagnostic point of view, the clinical histories of cases in which the reasons for consultation included torticollis. These cases were included in the database of all the patients assessed by the neuropaediatric department of the Hospital Miguel Servet in Zaragoza between May 1990 and February 1999. RESULTS: Of the 4,138 new patients evaluated during the period studied, in 60 patients torticollis was either the sole symptom or was one of the symptoms leading to consultation. The diagnoses established were: 30 congenital torticollis (50%), 6 secondary to space-occupying intracranial lesions (10%), 5 benign paroxystic torticollis (8.3%), 4 post-traumatic, 3 secondary to ocular disorders, 3 Sandifer syndrome, 1 focal dystonia of the neck, 1 secondary to a submandibular adeno-phlegmon, 1 secondary to an epidural hematoma of the cervical spine, 1 to encephalomyelitis and 1 to spondylodiscitis, with 4 cases unclassified. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical history, physical examination and follow-up of the course of the disorder orientate or permit the diagnosis to be established in many cases of torticollis. The indications for complementary investigations, particularly neuroimaging, should be considered individually in each case.

Santo Inácio revisited: protozoan diseases in an isolated village in northeastern Brazil after twenty years.

The northeastern highlands of Brazil are endemic for several tropical diseases, especially American trypanosomiasis (Chagas' disease) and schistosomiasis. Twenty years ago, we measured the seroprevalence of protozoan diseases in Santo Inácio, a village of approximately 1,000 inhabitants located 1,000 m above sea level. We detected small numbers of sera with antibodies against Trypanosoma cruzi and Toxoplasma gondii, and the area had a low prevalence both of American trypanosomiasis (3.54%) and toxoplasmosis (27.43%) compared with nearby Brazilian areas. This was attributed to a specific triatomine vector and local housing conditions. Twenty years later, we again determined the prevalences of both diseases and compared these results with those from Iraquara, a larger town with the same ethnic and social background but with a higher prevalence of rural activities. The incidence of Chagas' disease in San Inácio showed the same low level, i.e., 3.78% (5 of 132) with only adult males affected in contrast with Iraquara, which had an incidence of 34.5%, but a low prevalence of only one of 22 among children up to 14 years of age. Santo Inácio maintained a low (25.8%) seroprevalence for toxoplasmosis. Housewives presented a higher incidence of toxoplasmosis during both periods, probably due to related risk factors. Cats were found less frequently in Santo Inácio than in Iraquara, which showed an incidence of 65.5% seropositivity for Toxoplasma gondii. These results suggest that the environmental conditions of Santo Inácio were preserved after 20 years, with a low incidence of these selected protozoan diseases.

Experimental toxoplasmosis, and immunosuppression (parasite evaluation and histological alterations)

With the purpose of studying immunosuppressant drug action on parasites, the effect of Cyclosporine and cortisone in experimental toxoplasma evaluation, a highly virulent strain of Toxoplasma gondii (RH strain) was used. The animals were divided in two groups: control and immunosuppressed. Two animals from each group were sacrificed daily. Evaluation was based on parasitemia and parasitism of peritoneal exsudate and presence of the parasite in heart, lung, liver, spleen, small bowel, brain, cerebellum, spinal cord and eyes. Parasite infestation in peritoneal exsudate was 10 times greater than parasitemia. Red spots were observed after the second day; after the fourth day, focal necrosis with softening and fluidification of brain tissue spattered throughout the nervous tissue with enhanced vascularization. Capillaries obstructed by Toxoplasmas gondii were found, causing infarction and necrosis due to toxic or enzymatic substances. Images suggestive of cells an "owl-eye", Cytomegalovirus-like were found, with T. gondii, both in the brain, as well as in the tear glands and small bowel. Blood stream parasite infestation was observed, no histopathological lesions were found in the remaining tissue, possibly due to lack of time, for all animals died within a week's observation. We conclude that immunosuppression has worsened the outcome, anticipating the disease in 24 hours.

Efeito ovicida de fungos nematófagos sobre ovos embrionados de Toxocara canis / Ovicidal effect of nematophagous fungi on embrionate eggs of Toxocara canis

O efeito ovicida dos fungos nematófagos Paecilomyces lilacinus, Arthrobotrys robusta e A. conoides sobre ovos embrionados de Toxocara canis foi estudado em testes de laboratório. Após contato dos fungos com os ovos, por sete dias, P. lilacinus apresentou maior efeito ovicida em relaçäo as duas outras espécies que apresentaram apenas aderência de hifas a casca de ovos, enquanto que P. lilacinus apresentou hifas que colonizaram-se inteiramente nos ovos

Biological control "in vitro" of infective Haemonchus placei larvae by predacious fungi Arthrobotrys musiformis

Testes "in vitro" de seis isolados do fungo Arthrobotrys musiformis, originados de solos de diferentes localidades do Brasil, para predar e matar larvas infectantes de Haemonchus placei, mostraram que houve diferença (P<0,05) entre as açöes dos isolados sobre as larvas. Este resultado indica que pode haver variaçäo dentro da mesma espécie de fungo na sua predaçäo a larvas infectantes de H. placei

Antagonistic effect of predacious Arthrobotrys fungi on infective Haemonchus placei larvae.

Laboratory experiments were performed to investigate the ability of isolates from the predacious fungus species Arthrobotrys conoides (one isolate) and Al. robusta (four isolates) to trap and kill infective Haemonchus placei larvae. Three groups for each isolate were formed: group 1, fungi and infective larvae; group 2, fungi; group 3, infective larvae. There were statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) between the antagonistic effects of three isolates of A. robusta, but there was no such difference between the isolate of A. conoides and isolates of A. robusta. This result indicates that there can be a variation in the predatory capacity of different isolates within a single fungus species. After 20 days of assay, there was greater recuperation of infective H. placei larvae in group 3 compared to group 1.