Skeletal Manifestations of Hydatid Disease in Serbia: Demographic Distribution,Site Involvement,Radiological Findings,and Complications

Although Serbia is recognized as an endemic country for echinococcosis, no information about precise incidence in humans has been available. The aim of this study was to investigate the skeletal manifestations of hydatid disease in Serbia. This retrospective study was conducted by reviewing the medical database of Institute for Pathology (Faculty of Medicine in Belgrade), a reference institution for bone pathology in Serbia. We reported a total of 41 patients with bone cystic echinococcosis (CE) during the study period. The mean age of 41 patients was 40.9±18.8 years. In 39% of patients, the fracture line was the only visible radiological sign, followed by cyst and tumefaction. The spine was the most commonly involved skeletal site (55.8%), followed by the femur (18.6%), pelvis (13.9%), humerus (7.0%), rib (2.3%), and tibia (2.3%). Pain was the symptom in 41.5% of patients, while some patients demonstrated complications such as paraplegia (22.0%), pathologic fracture (48.8%), and scoliosis (9.8%). The pathological fracture most frequently affected the spine (75.0%) followed by the femur (20.0%) and tibia (5.0%). However, 19.5% of patients didn''t develop any complication or symptom. In this study, we showed that bone CE is not uncommon in Serbian population. As reported in the literature, therapy of bone CE is controversial and its results are poor. In order to improve the therapy outcome, early diagnosis, before symptoms and complications occur, can be contributive.     

Embracing the Emerging Precision Agriculture Technologies for Site-Specific Management of Yield-Limiting Factors

Precision agriculture (PA) is providing an information revolution using Global Positioning (GPS) and Geographic Information (GIS) systems and Remote Sensing (RS). These technologies allow better decision making in the management of crop yield-limiting biotic and abiotic factors and their interactions on a site-specific (SSM) basis in a wide range of production systems. Characterizing the nature of the problem(s) and public education are among the challenges that scientists, producers, and industry face when adapting PA technologies. To apply SSM, spatio-temporal characteristics of the problem(s) need to be determined and variations within a field demonstrated. Spatio-temporal characteristics of a given pathogen or pest problem may be known but may not be the only or primary cause of the problem. Hence, exact cause-and-effect relationships need to be established by incorporating GIS, GPS, and RS-generated data as well as possible interactions. Exploiting the potential of PA technologies in sustainable ways depends on whether or not we first ask ''''Are we doing the right thing?'''' (strategic) as opposed to ''''Are we doing it right?'''' (tactical).     

Prevalence of Serum IgG Antibodies to Cystic Echinococcus Antigen among Patients in an Uzbekistan Emergency Hospital

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is one of the most widespread zoonotic helminthiases, which can last an asymptomatic infection for several years. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate serum antibody prevalence of CE among asymptomatic people in Uzbekistan using ELISA. A total of 2,547 serum samples were collected, 66 from confirmed CE patients and 2,481 of patients with other diseases than CE at a hospital in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The serum samples were screened for CE specific IgG antibodies by ELISA using cystic fluid antigen obtained from sheep. The serum antibody positive rate was 89.4% (59/66) in CE and 3.6% (89/2,481) in other disease patients. The present ELISA recognized 89.4% sensitivity and 96.4% specificity. The ELISA absorbance of positive samples was distributed 0.271-0.971 for CE and 0.273-0.887 for other disease patients. The other disease patients with high absorbance over 0.3 were 50 (2.0%) who were presumed to be active CE patients. The patients in their 40s showed the highest positive rate of 5.2% (P=0.181), and women were 4.4% while men were 3.1% positive (P=0.136). The data confirmed that there are many asymptomatic patients of CE in Tashkent. It is indicated that CE is an endemic disease of public health importance in Uzbekistan.     

Pelvic Hydatidosis Mimicking a Malignant Multicystic Ovarian Tumor

Echinococcosis is a multisystem disease and has propensity to involve any organ, an unusual anatomical site, and can mimic any disease process. Primary peritoneal echinococcosis is known to occur secondary to hepatic involvement but occasional cases of primary peritoneal hydatid disease including pelvic involvement have also been reported. We report here 1 such case of primary pelvic hydatidosis mimicking a malignant multicystic ovarian tumor where there was no evidence of involvement of the liver or spleen. Our patient, a 27-year-old female, was detected to have a large right cystic adnexal mass on per vaginal examination which was confirmed by ultrasonography. Her biochemical parameters were normal and CA-125 levels, though mildly raised, were below the cut off point. She underwent surgery and on exploratory laparotomy, another cystic mass was found attached to the mesentery of the small gut. The resected cysts were processed histopathologically. On cut sections both large cysts revealed numerous daughter cysts. Microscopic examination of fluid from the cysts revealed free scolices with hooklets and the cyst wall had a typical laminated membrane with inner germinal layer containing degenerated protoplasmic mass. The diagnosis of pelvic hydatid disease was confirmed and patient was managed accordingly. Hydatid disease must be considered while making the differential diagnosis of pelvic cystic masses, especially in endemic areas.     

Impact of Planting 'Bell', a Soybean Cultivar Resistant to Heterodera glycines, in Wisconsin

Although the soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines, has been known to exist in Wisconsin for at least 14 years, relatively few growers sample for SCN or use host resistance as a means to manage this nematode. The benefit of planting the SCN-resistant cultivar Bell on a sandy soil in Wisconsin was evaluated in 1992 and 1993. A range of SCN population densities was achieved by planting 11 crops with varying degrees of susceptibility for 1 or 2 years before the evaluation. Averaged over nematode population densities, yield of ''Bell'' was 30 to 43% greater than that of the susceptible cultivars, ''Corsoy 79'' and ''BSR 101''. Counts of cysts collected the fall preceding soybean were more predictive of yield than counts taken at planting. Yields of all three cultivars were negatively related (P < 0.001) to cyst populations. Fewer (P < 0.01) eggs were produced on ''Bell'' than on the susceptible cultivars. The annual (fall to fall) change in cyst population densities was dependent on initial nematode density for all cultivars in 1992 and for the susceptible cultivars in 1993. Yield reductions induced by the SCN under the conditions of this study indicate that planting a SCN-resistant cultivar in Wisconsin can be beneficial if any cysts are detected.     

Selection Against Heterodera glycines Males by Soybean Lines with Genes for Resistance

Soybeans with genes for resistance select against Heterodera glycines with the corresponding genes for avirulence. There may be a differential effect of sex with some specific gene interactions, which would influence the magnitude of gene frequency changes. No effect on H. glycines males was detected with one selected nematode population and the resistant soybean line PI88788. The selective effect of PI89772 against male nematodes was greater with two inbred nematode populations than with one selected (on PI88788) population, presumably due to differences in H. glycines gene frequencies. ''Peking'' also had few males with the one inbred nematode population, whereas Forrest and ''Pickett 71'' had intermediate numbers. Apparently Forrest and Pickett 71 did not get all the Peking genes for resistance that affect male as well as female nematode development. Other H. glycines-soybean genes stop only females, since there were few or no cysts, except on the susceptible soybean Williams. The number of males'' phenotype will help identify specific genes in both organisms.     

Structural Changes Associated with Resistance of Soybean to Heterodera glycines

Subcellular responses to infection by Race 3 of Heterodera glycines in susceptible (''Lee'') and resistant (''Forrest'' and ''Bedford'') soybean cultivars were compared. Syncytial formation, initiated in susceptible as well as resistant soybean cultivars, was characterized by wall perforations, dense cytoplasm, and increased endoplasmic reticulum, In susceptible plants, syncytia developed continuously until nematode maturity. This included hypertrophy of nuclei, increase of rough endoplasmic reticulum in early stages of infection, and formation of wall ingrowths at a late stage of infection. In the resistant reaction in Forrest, a necrotic layer surrounded syncytium component cells demarcating them from surrounding normal cells and leading to syncytial necrosis. Wall appositions were prominently formed near the necrotic layer, and the cytoplasm of the syncytium component cells was extremely condensed. The whole syncytium became necrotic at a late stage of infection. Bedford had nuclear degeneration prior to cytoplasmic degradation. Chromatin was often scattered throughout the syncytial cytoplasm. Finally the whole syncytium became degenerated with plasmalemma completely detached from the syncytial cell walls. The differences in resistant responses reflect a difference in genetic composition of the soybean cultivars tested.     

Rewriting the history of an extinction—was a population of Steller's sea cows (Hydrodamalis gigas) at St Lawrence Island also driven to extinction?

The Kommandorskiye Islands population of Steller''s sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas) was extirpated ca 1768 CE. Until now, Steller''s sea cow was thought to be restricted in historic times to Bering and Copper Islands, Russia, with other records in the last millennium from the western Aleutian Islands. However, Steller''s sea cow bone has been obtained by the authors from St Lawrence Island, Alaska, which is significantly further north. Bone identity was verified using analysis of mitochondrial DNA. The nitrogen-15 (δ¹⁵N)/carbon-13 (δ¹³C) values for bone samples from St Lawrence Island were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) different from Bering Island samples, indicating a second population. Bone samples were dated to between 1030 and 1150 BP (approx. 800–920 CE). The samples date from close to the beginning of the mediaeval warm period, which could indicate that the population at St Lawrence Island was driven to extinction by climate change. A warming of the climate in the area may have changed the availability of kelp; alternatively or in addition, the animals may have been driven to extinction by the expansion of the Inuit from the Bering Strait region, possibly due to opening waterways, maybe following bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus), or searching for iron and copper. This study provides evidence for a previously unknown population of sea cows in the North Pacific within the past 1000 years and a second Steller''s sea cow extirpation event in recent history.     

Infection Status of Hydatid Cysts in Humans and Sheep in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is endemic of cystic echinococcosis (CE). In order to estimate endemicity of CE, we collected data from emergency surgery due to CE in 2002-2010 and also investigated the prevalence of hydatid cysts in the liver and lungs of sheep at an abattoir in Uzbekistan from July 2009 to June 2010. In 14 emergency hospitals, 8,014 patients received surgical removal or drainage of CE during 2002-2010, and 2,966 patients were found in 2010. A total of 22,959 sheep were grossly examined of their liver and lungs, and 479 (2.1%) and 340 (1.5%) of them were positive for the cyst in the liver and lungs, respectively. Echinococcus granulosus is actively transmitted both to humans and sheep, and CE is a zoonotic disease of public health priority in Uzbekistan.     

First report of c. 1499G>C mutation in a 6-month-child with cystic fibrosis

So far, more than 1800 mutations identified in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. In this case report, we presented first report of c. 1499G>C mutation in a 6-month-old girl with cystic fibrosis (CF) diagnosis. A 6-month-old girl with weakness and meconium Ileus referred to the pediatric clinic in Ilam, in the west of Iran. Patient''s skin was dark and suffered from bronchiectasis. The sweat test was performed, and the concentration of chloride and sodium in patient''s sweat was 130-135 mmol/L and 125-128 mmol/L, respectively. The exon 10 mutation analysis of a CF patient was performed. CFTR mutation analysis revealed the identification of 2 mutations in patient, the mutations were p.F508del (ΔF508) and c. 1499G>C (cd500), respectively. The mutation c. 1499G>C (cd500) were found for the first time in the world. Assessing this mutation in future study and genetic investigation is recommended.     

A Technique for Evaluating Heterodera glycines Development in Susceptible and Resistant Soybean

A technique was developed to evaluate Heterodera glycines development in susceptible and resistant soybean. Roots of 3-day-old soybean were exposed to infective juveniles of H. glyci.nes in sand for 8 hours followed by washing and transfer to hydroponic culture. The cotyledons and apical meristem were removed and plants were maintained under constant light, which resulted in a dwarfed plant system. After 15 or 20 days at 27 C, nematodes were rated for development. Emerged males were sieved from the culture water and females were counted directly from the roots. Nematodes remaining in the roots were rated for development after staining and clearing the tissues. The proportion of nematodes at each stage of development and the frequency of completed molts for each stage were calculated from these data. This technique showed that resistance to H. glycines was stage related and did not affect males and females equally in all resistant hosts. The resistance of plant introduction PI 209332 primarily affected development of third and fourth-stage juveniles; ''Pickett'' mainly affected second and third-stage juveniles, whereas PI 89772 affected all stages. Male development was markedly affected in PI 89772 and ''Pickett'' but not in PI 209332.     

Resistance Genes in a 'Williams 82' x 'Hartwig' Soybean Cross to an Inbred Line of Heterodera glycines

The number of resistance genes in soybean to soybean cyst nematode (SCN) Heterodera glycines was estimated using progeny from a cross of ''Williams 82'' x ''Hartwig'' (derived from ''Forrest''³ x PI 437.654) screened with a fourth-generation inbred nematode line derived from a race 3 field population of SCN. Numbers of females developing on roots of inoculated seedlings were assigned to phenotype cells (resistant, susceptible, or segregating) using Ward''s minimum variance cluster analysis. The ratio obtained from screening 220 F₃ soybean families was not significantly different from a 1:8:7 (resistant:segregating:susceptible) ratio, suggesting a two-gene system for resistance. The ratio obtained from screening 183 F₂ plants was not significantly different from a 3:13 (resistant:susceptible) ratio, indicating both a dominant (Rhg) and a recessive (rhg) resistance gene.     

Location of Heterodera glycines-induced Syncytia in Soybean as Affected by Soil Water Regimes

Locations of syncytia induced by the soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines race 3, were compared in roots of ''Essex'', a susceptible soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) cultivar, at three soil water regimes. The plants were grown in wet (-5 to -20 kPa), moderately wet (-30 to -50 kPa), and moderately dry (-60 to -80kPa) autoclaved Captina silt loam soil (Typic Fragiudult). In the moderately dry soil, syncytia were found only in the stele, but in moderately wet and wet soils, syncytia occurred primarily in the cortex and occasionally in the stele. The location of syncytia in the cortical tissue of roots growing in wet and moderately wet soils may account for the tolerance of susceptible soybean cultivars grown under well-irrigated conditions where there is less interference with water transport through roots. Cell-wall perforations and dense cytoplasm were characteristic of syncytial cells observed in root tissues of all treatments.     

An Imported Case of Echinococcosis of the Liver in a Korean Who Traveled to Western and Central Europe

Echinococcus granulosus, an intestinal tapeworm of dogs and other canids, infects humans in its larval stage and causes human echinococcosis or hydatid disease. In the Republic of Korea, 31 parasite-proven human echinococcosis cases have been reported, most of which were imported from the Middle East. We recently examined a 61-year-old Korean man who had a large cystic mass in his liver. ELISA was negative for tissue parasitic infections, including echinococcosis, cysticercosis, paragonimiasis, and sparganosis. The patient underwent surgery to remove the cyst, and the resected cyst was processed histopathologically for microscopic examinations. In sectioned cyst tissue, necrotizing protoscolices with disintegrated hooklets of E. granulosus were found. In some areas, only freed, fragmented hooklets were detected. The patient had traveled to western and central Europe in 1996, and had no other history of overseas travel. We report our patient as a hepatic echinococcosis case which was probably imported from Europe.     

Population Dynamics of Heterodera glycines in Conventional Tillage and No-Tillage Soybean/Corn Cropping Systems

The effects of no-tillage (NT), conventional tillage (CT), and crop rotation on soybean yield and population dynamics of Heterodera glycines were compared during a 7-year study in a silty clay loam soil with 6% organic matter. Either H. glycines-resistant ''Linford'' soybean or susceptible ''Williams 82'' soybean was rotated with corn and grown on 76-cm-wide rows in both tillage systems. Soybean was planted in 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000. Yield of Linford was significantly greater than Williams 82 in all years. Soybean yield was affected by tillage in 1999 and 2000. No-tillage production tended to support more reproduction (R = number of eggs at harvest/number of eggs at planting) on both cultivars. The largest R for Williams 82 were in 1998: 58.35 for NT plots and 11.78 for CT plots. For Linford, the largest R were 12.09 for NT plots in 1996, and 3.71 for CT in 1999. When corn was planted, R decreased more in NT. When soybean was planted in years subsequent to 1994, numbers of eggs at harvest (Pf) were greater for Williams 82 NT than for Williams 82 CT or Linford in both tillage systems; however, crop rotation with corn negated these population increases. The soil became suppressive to H. glycines in 1999 and was suppressive in 2000. After the 3 years of continuous soybean, Pf per 250 cm[sup3] soil were 2,870 for Williams 82 NT, 791 for Williams 82 CT, 544 for Linford NT, and 990 for Linford CT in 2000, compared with Pf of 13,100 for Williams 82 NT, 15,000 for Williams CT, 2,360 for Linford NT, and 2,050 for Linford CT in 1994. Describing population dynamics solely on the basis of R was not adequate, but also required independent examination of initial populations following overwintering and Pf after the growing season. Planting soybean either NT or CT in rotation with corn did not result in long-term increases in numbers of H. glycines eggs.     

Spinal Cystic Echinococcosis – A Systematic Analysis and Review of the Literature: Part 1. Epidemiology and Anatomy

Bone involvement in human cystic echinococcosis (CE) is rare, but affects the spine in approximately 50% of cases. Despite significant advances in diagnostic imaging techniques as well as surgical and medical treatment of spinal CE, our basic understanding of the parasite''s predilection for the spine remains incomplete. To fill this gap, we systematically reviewed the published literature of the last five decades to summarize and analyze the currently existing data on epidemiological and anatomical aspects of spinal CE.     

Variation in Resistance of Soybean Lines to Races of Heterodera glycines

The objective of this study was to determine the interrelationships of Heterodera glycines races based on their resistance to soybean (Glycine max) cultivars and lines against which they were tested. Greenhouse tests determined the numbers of females of each of eight races of H. glycines that developed on 277 to 522 soybean cultivars and lines. A Female Index (number of females on a test cultivar as a percentage of the number on ''Lee 74'') was calculated and used in frequency distributions, correlations, and duster analyses of the resistance reactions to the different races in an attempt to determine relationships among cultivars. Frequency distribution patterns of all cultivars and lines tested against each race were skewed in favor of resistance, and in some cases bimodality was observed. The majority of correlations between pairs of races were highly significant. Cluster analyses based on the correlations divided eight races into four clusters that explained 73% of the variation in resistance. Cluster 1 was comprised of races 2, 4, and 14; Cluster 2 was comprised of races 6 and 9; Cluster 3 was comprised of races 1 and 3; and Cluster 4 was comprised of race 5. The information obtained in this study could increase the efficiency of testing resistant soybean breeding lines for resistance to H. glycines.     

Biological Relationship of Meloidogyne hapla Populations to Alfalfa Cultivars

Greenhouse and growth chamber studies were established to determine if there are pathological and physiological differences among Meloidogyne hapla populations from California (CA), Nevada (NV), Utah (UT), and Wyoming (WY) on alfalfa cultivars classified as resistant or susceptible to root-knot nematodes. In the greenhouse, plant survival was not consistent with resistance classifications. While all highly resistant Nevada Synthetic germplasm (Nev Syn XX) plants survived inoculation with all nematode populations, two cultivars classified as moderately resistant (''Chief'' and ''Kingstar'') survived (P ≤ 0.05) inoculation with M. hapla populations better than did ''Lobo'' cultivar, which is classified as resistant. Plant growth of Nev Syn XX was suppressed by only the CA population, whereas growth of the other alfalfa cultivars classified as M. hapla resistant or moderately resistant was suppressed by all nematode populations. Excluding Nev Syn XX, all alfalfa cultivars were severely galled and susceptible to all nematode populations. Except for Nev Syn XX, reproduction did not differ among the nematode populations on alfalfa cultivars. Nev Syn XX was not as favorable a host to CA as were the other cultivars; but, it was a good host (reproductive factor [Rf] = 37). Temperature affected plant resistance; the UT and WY populations were more pathogenic at 15-25 C, and CA was more pathogenic at 30 C. Nev Syn XX was susceptible to all nematode populations, except for CA, at only 30 C, and all other alfalfa cultivars were susceptible to all nematode populations at all temperatures.     

Construction of In Vivo Fluorescent Imaging of Echinococcus granulosus in a Mouse Model

Human hydatid disease (cystic echinococcosis, CE) is a chronic parasitic infection caused by the larval stage of the cestode Echinococcus granulosus. As the disease mainly affects the liver, approximately 70% of all identified CE cases are detected in this organ. Optical molecular imaging (OMI), a noninvasive imaging technique, has never been used in vivo with the specific molecular markers of CE. Thus, we aimed to construct an in vivo fluorescent imaging mouse model of CE to locate and quantify the presence of the parasites within the liver noninvasively. Drug-treated protoscolices were monitored after marking by JC-1 dye in in vitro and in vivo studies. This work describes for the first time the successful construction of an in vivo model of E. granulosus in a small living experimental animal to achieve dynamic monitoring and observation of multiple time points of the infection course. Using this model, we quantified and analyzed labeled protoscolices based on the intensities of their red and green fluorescence. Interestingly, the ratio of red to green fluorescence intensity not only revealed the location of protoscolices but also determined the viability of the parasites in vivo and in vivo tests. The noninvasive imaging model proposed in this work will be further studied for long-term detection and observation and may potentially be widely utilized in susceptibility testing and therapeutic effect evaluation.     

Early Growth of Soybean as Altered by Heterodera glycines,Phenamiphos and/or Alachlor

Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to determine the effects of phenamiphos and/or alachlor on early growth of soybean, root morphology, and infection and resurgence of Heterodera glycines (race 1). All tests were planted to ''Ransom'' soybeans. In greenhouse experiments without nematodes, root growth was inhibited at 5 days by alachlor treatments and at 10 days by phenamiphos treatments; with nematodes, phenamiphos treatments enhanced root growth. Phenamiphos also suppressed early penetration of soybean roots by H. glycines in the greenhouse. Early soybean growth parameters among treatments were generally similar in the field. Nematode penetration was limited with treatments containing phenamiphos at one location. Plants treated with only alachlor had less nematode infection than did the control; however, plants treated with herbicide/nematicide combinations had more nematode penetration than did plants treated with phenamiphos alone. Alterations of root growth and interference with the efficacy of phenamiphos are two processes by which alachlor may enhance soybean susceptibility or suitability to H. glycines.