Risk of transmission of canine leishmaniosis in eastern Spain.
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Animals↗
Biomedical subjects
J A Castillo
Publications and source records attributed to J A Castillo.
Granulomatous lesion on a bitch's nipple caused by Leishmania infantum.
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Allopurinol↗
Ten-year viability study on natural populations of Drosophila sibling species from Laguna Verde, Veracruz, México.
The generation of electricity in nuclear power plants produces an increase in background radiation that could possibly have some impact on the organisms that live in that area. In order to identify and quantify any such possible effect, the natural populations of two sibling species, D. melanogaster and D. simulans, that live in the immediate vicinity of the first Mexican Nuclear Power Plant were analyzed for a period of 10 years. Collections of flies were made at two sites, one close to and one farther from the power plant, during the pre and operational stages of the reactor, and their egg-to-adult viability was analyzed. The data obtained indicate that in both sites, the egg-to-adult viability was generally higher in D. melanogaster than in D. simulans. Further, a relationship was found between egg-to-adult viability and the season of the year (warm-wet or cool-dry season). Some differences were found between the two sites. It may be concluded that there is no negative impact on the Drosophila populations studied.
Air Pollution, Radioactive↗
Rupatadine 10 mg and ebastine 10 mg in seasonal allergic rhinitis: a comparison study.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to establish the efficacy and safety of rupatadine vs ebastine and placebo in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR). Rupatadine is a new second generation H(1)-antihistamine with once-daily dosing that may provide better control of symptoms than the currently used H(1)-receptor blockers because of its dual pharmacological profile (anti-PAF and anti-H(1)). METHODS: In a multicentre study, 250 patients with SAR were included in a double-blind, randomized, parallel-group and placebo-controlled study. Patients received either rupatadine 10 mg, ebastine 10 mg or placebo once daily for 2 weeks. The main efficacy outcome was based on the patient's record of severity of nasal symptoms (sneezing, nasal itching, runny nose and nasal obstruction) and nonnasal symptoms (conjunctival itching, tearing and pharyngeal itching). The daily total symptom score (DTSS) was the mean of the DSS recorded for each of the seven symptoms assessed, and the mean DTSS (mDTSS) was the mean of the DTSS values for each study day. RESULTS: Significant differences in mDTSS were detected between rupatadine and placebo (33% lower for rupatadine group; P = 0.005) after 2 weeks of treatment. The TSS for rupatadine were 22% lower than for ebastine, although the differences were not statistically significant. No serious adverse events were reported during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Rupatadine 10 mg once daily was clearly superior to placebo in alleviating the symptoms of SAR over a 2-week period. In comparison with ebastine, rupatadine shows a trend towards a better profile as regard several secondary efficacy variables.
Adolescent↗
Lactating females Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) show protection against experimental Leishmania infantum infection.
The Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) is the best animal model for human leishmaniosis, an emergent disease that causes 400,000 new cases every year. The main objective of this assay was to prove the relationship between female lactation, which implies hyperprolactinaemia (IFN-gamma, IL-12, IL-2 and TNF-alpha elevated), and leishmaniosis (IFN-gamma, IL-12, IL-2 and TNF-alpha diminished). The results demonstrate the clear implication of lactation in immune response. The infected lactating females did not show any symptoms of sickness, a 24 g mean increase was noticed, throughout the assay they were negative in the indirect diagnosis test (Direct Agglutination Test (DAT)), and in the direct diagnosis tests (N-N-N isolation, tissue impressions).
Agglutination Tests↗
Modified direct agglutination test for simplified serologic diagnosis of leishmaniasis.
Human leishmaniasis is a severe health problem in many countries around the world. Hence, a cheap, reliable, and accurate diagnostic test is required to fight this disease. Perhaps the direct agglutination test (DAT) meets these criteria, but antigen elaboration involves many difficulties. We have developed a new antigen elaboration method, the EasyDAT method, that avoids the problems associated with the DAT. In this study, we compared the traditional DAT antigen method with our EasyDAT antigen method by using canine sera. The sensitivities (100%) and specificities (98.7%) were the same for both methods; we therefore concluded that the EasyDAT Leishmania antigen method simplifies serologic diagnosis, making this method easier and cheaper to use.
Agglutination Tests↗
Histochemical differentiation of Dirofilaria immitis, Dirofilaria repens and Acanthocheilonema dracunculoides microfilariae by staining with a commercial kit, Leucognost-SP.
The diagnosis of canine heartworm infection is based upon the presence of circulating Dirofilaria immitis microfilariae or on techniques for the detection of serum antibodies or antigens. In the first of these, discrimination between D. immitis, D. repens and Acanthocheilonema dracunculoides microfilariae is based upon the acid phosphatase histochemical stain. In this paper, we propose an alternative technique for histochemical staining using a commercial kit test of naphthol-AS-OL (Leucognost-SP). This offers the advantages of speed and simplicity as compared to the standard Barka procedure.
Acid Phosphatase↗
[Diagnosis of apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy using contrast echocardiography].
Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a disease with clear electrocardiographic and echocardiographic characteristics. However, poor visualization of apical endocardial border is a limiting factor to diagnose apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy by echocardiography. We present a case report of a patient with a characteristic electrocardiogram but poor apical endocardial border delineation. A contrast-enhanced echocardiography was performed to confirm the diagnosis of apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. We discuss the role of echocardiographic image enhancement with contrast to diagnose apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Aged↗
Structure, organization and characterization of the gene cluster involved in the production of microcin E492, a channel-forming bacteriocin.
Microcin E492 is a low-molecular-weight, channel-forming bacteriocin produced and excreted by Klebsiella pneumoniae RYC492. A 13 kb chromosomal DNA fragment from K. pneumoniae RYC492 was sequenced, and it was demonstrated by random Tn5 mutagenesis that most of this segment, which has at least 10 cistrons, is needed for the production of active microcin and its immunity protein. Genes mceG and mceH correspond to an ABC exporter and its accessory protein, respectively, and they are closely related to the colicin V ABC export system. The microcin E492 system also requires the product of gene mceF as an additional factor for export. Despite the fact that this bacteriocin lacks post-translational modifications, genes mceC, mceI and mceJ are needed for the production of active microcin. Genes mceC and mceI are homologous to a glycosyl transferase and acyltransferase, respectively, whereas mceJ has no known homologue. Mutants in these three genes secrete an inactive form of microcin, able to form ion channels in a phospholipidic bilayer, indicating that the mutation of these microcin genes does not alter the process of membrane insertion. On the other hand, microcin isolated from mutants in genes mceC and mceJ has a lethal effect when incubated with spheroplasts of sensitive cells, indicating that the microcin defects in these mutants are likely to alter receptor recognition at the outer membrane. A model for synthesis and export is proposed as well as a novel maturation pathway that would involve conformational changes to explain the production of active microcin E492.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Seasonal abundance of fleas (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae, Ceratophyllidae) on wild rabbits in a semiarid area of northeastern Spain.
This paper reports the annual dynamics of wild rabbit fleas in a study site located in the Middle Ebro Valley, northeastern Spain. Fleas collected directly from wild rabbits included the species Spilopsyllus cuniculi (Dale), Xenopsylla cunicularis (Smit), Echidnophaga iberica (Ribeiro, Lucientes, Osácar, and Calvete), Caenopsylla laptevi (Beaucournu, Gil-Collado and Gilot), and Pulex irritans (L.). Monthly collections of adult and larval fleas made from within the first meter of selected burrow entrances also yielded fleas belonging to the same five species. Larval specimens of X. cunicularis, E. iberica, and C. laptevi were also found. Spilopsyllus cuniculi, a winter species that can only breed during the rabbit breeding season, was common on hosts from November to April. Xenopsylla cunicularis and E. iberica were summer species, whereas C. laptevi was abundant during the autumn and winter. Xenopsylla cunicularis and E. iberica larvae were found in burrows only during April and May, whereas those of C. laptevi were collected from October to January. The data suggested that X. cunicularis and E. iberica might diapause during the egg stage whereas C. laptevi diapauses during the pupal stage.
Animals↗
Experimental infection of Phlebotomus perniciosus and determination of the natural infection rates of Leishmania infantum in dogs.
Direct xenodiagnosis has been used to determine the infection rates in sand flies of 12 dogs parasitized by Leishmania infantum and classified in function of clinical signs. The dogs were divided into three clinical groups and no statistically significant differences in the infection rates of female sand flies were observed among them. This result indicates the epidemiological importance of asymptomatic and oligosymptomatic dogs. Indirect xenodiagnosis uses sand flies fed on the blood of dogs ex vivo. This technique was not found to be useful as an alternative to the direct method for the detection of dogs parasitized by L. infantum. The clinical worsening of the disease was not reflected in the increasing number of parasites detected in the animals' blood by the indirect technique, thereby rejecting its utility as an indicator of the prognosis of the disease.
Animals↗
Canine leishmaniasis transmission: higher infectivity amongst naturally infected dogs to sand flies is associated with lower proportions of T helper cells.
The dog is the main reservoir of Leishmania infantum, which is a parasite spread among canine hosts by the bite of sand flies. Phlebotomus perniciosus is the sand fly acting as a major vector in the Mediterranean basin. As a consequence, the dog will suffer from leishmaniasis. In this work the infective capacity of infected dogs, established by direct xenodiagnosis, has been investigated in relation to their immunological status by determining the lymphocyte percentages present in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. We found a significant association between the percentages of T helper cells (CD4/TcR alpha beta(+)and CD4/CD45RA(+)) and the infection rates detected in the vector, while significant association was not detected in the case of the T cytotoxic cells (CD8/TcR alpha beta(+)and CD8/CD45RA(+)). The relationship discovered was that the lower the CD4(+)T cell count, the higher the rate of the infection in the vector.
Animals↗
Two cases of feline visceral and cutaneous leishmaniosis in Spain.
This paper describes clinical signs and lesions in two cases of leishmaniosis--one visceral and one cutaneous in the cat (Felis catus domesticus). The diagnosis was achieved by a combination of serology, light and electron microscopic studies. The vague nature of the clinical signs observed in both cases was particularly striking, and clinical features were similar to many other diseases commonly found in cats. Therefore, the use of various investigations to detect leishmaniosis (serum chemistry, serology and histopathology) is highly recommended in cases where clinical signs do not respond to conventional treatment.
Animals↗
Preparation and characterization of albendazole beta-cyclodextrin complexes.
Albendazole (ABZ), mebendazole (MBZ), and ricobendazole (RBZ) are low-soluble anthelmintic benzimidazole carbamate drugs. To increase their aqueous solubility, three different types of beta-cyclodextrins (CyDs): beta-cyclodextrin (CD), hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPCD), and methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MCD) were used. Solubility depended on the type of CyDs. Increased solubility was obtained when the more substituted CyDs (HPCD or MCD) were used instead of nonsubstituted CD. Stability constants were calculated assuming a 1:1 stoichiometry. Calculated stability constant values depended on initial solubility of drug and pH of the medium. Solid ABZ complexes were prepared by coprecipitation and freeze-drying methods. These products were compared with physical mixtures of ABZ and CyDs. The characterization of these products was made by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and drug release studies. True inclusion complexes were obtained only by the freeze-drying method. Drug release studies showed that the freeze-dried inclusion complexes increased the solubility rate of ABZ, although a supersaturation effect was observed when drug release studies were performed in nonsink conditions. A bioavailability study on mice was done with a formulation of ABZ:HPCD complex and was compared to a conventional ABZ suspension. A significantly (p < .05) shorter Tmax of absorption was obtained by using the complex formulation. Greater and significant (p < .05) differences for AUC and Cmax were observed.
Albendazole↗
[Subarachnoid hemorrhage: electrocardiographic, left ventricular wall motion abnormalities and mortality analysis in 14 cases].
BACKGROUND: Electrocardiographic (ECG) changes have been frequently observed in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Their association with wall motion abnormalities of the left ventricle (LV) have not been well established. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixteen patients with SAH were included; 2 patients with previous history of heart disease were subsequently excluded. We studied the neurological damage (Hunt-Hess grading scale), ECG (ST segment, T wave) and echocardiography (LV regional and global contractility) of 14 patients. RESULTS: The ECG was abnormal in 11 patients (T wave: 6 patients; ST segment: 5 patients). Echocardiography showed alterations in 5 patients, all of them with ECG changes (T wave: one patient; ST segment: 4 patients). The neurological lesion was higher in patients with abnormal echocardiogram (Hunt-Hess mean grade: 4.6 vs 2.7 in patients with normal echocardiogram; p < 0.001). An intravenous infusion of dobutamine in a 23 years old male, improved the LV ejection fraction, which was severely depressed at baseline. Mortality, in all cases secondary to the neurological damage, was higher in patients with abnormal ECG (91% vs 0% in patients with normal ECG; p = 0.01) and when the echocardiogram showed alterations although in the last case no statistical differences were found. CONCLUSIONS: Echocardiography abnormalities in patients with SAH and without previous history of heart disease are more frequently related to ECG changes affecting ST segment, and to a higher cerebral damage.
Adult↗
Efficacy of orally administered invermectin against larval stages of Oestrus ovis in sheep.
The efficacy of ivermectin administered orally at a dosage rate of 0.2 mg/kg liveweight against naturally acquired larval infestations of Oestrus ovis in sheep was 100% in a field trial. Ten sheep were free from infestation by first, second and third instar larvae of O. ovis 12 days post treatment, whereas 10 control sheep harboured 37.7 larvae on average, most of them first stage.
Administration, Oral↗
Gastrointestinal helminth parasites in stray cats from the mid-Ebro Valley, Spain.
Gastrointestinal helminths were collected from 58 necropsied stray cats (Felis catus) in the mid-Ebro Valley, North-East Spain, from December 1989 to March 1992. The prevalence was 89.7%, with those of individual parasites being Toxocara cati 55.2%C, Ancylostoma tubaeforme 29.3% Joyeuxiella pasqualei 55.2%, Diplopylidium acanthotetra 20.7%, Dipylidium caninum 20.7%, Mesocestoides spp. 13.8%, Taenia taeniformis 8.6% and Diplopylidium nölleri 8.6%. In relation to sex, the differences were not significant. However, the season of the year significantly affected the prevalence of A. tubaeforme and D. acanthotetra.
Ancylostoma↗
[Elective noninvasive test in the diagnosis of coronary disease in the aged].
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the best noninvasive test to diagnose coronary artery disease in the elderly. PATTERNS AND METHODS: We conducted a study on 56 elderly patients (> 65 years) with chest pain and no previous history of coronary artery disease. They underwent exercise stress test, dipyridamole echocardiography (0.84 mg/kg), dobutamine echocardiography (up to a total dose of 40 microgram/kg/min and atropine when it was necessary), dobutamine MIBI-SPECT and coronary angiography. RESULTS: Angiography detected significant coronary artery disease in 41 patients. All tests used in this study had a similar sensitivity (conclusive exercise stress test 87%, dipyridamole echocardiography 83%, dobutamine echocardiography 80% and MIBI-SPECT 87%; p = NS). Coronary angiography did not identify significant lesions in 15 patients. Specificity of conclusive exercise stress test, dipyridamole and dobutamine echocardiography was similar (75%, 100% and 93% respectively; p = NS). However, the specificity of stress echocardiography was higher than that of scintigraphy (100% vs 66%; p = 0.02 for dipyridamole echocardiography and 93% vs 66%; p = 0.07 for dobutamine echocardiography). Diagnostic accuracy of each test was similar. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise stress test remains the non invasive diagnostic test of choice to detect coronary disease in the elderly. If this test is inconclusive, both stress echocardiography and isotopic studies are useful, although the specificity of stress echocardiography is higher than that of scintigraphy.
Aged↗