Ovarian Filariasis: Diagnosis by detection of microfilariae in follicular fluid,a case report

Filariasis is a common parasitic infection in India. It is rare to find neglected cases of Filariasis nowadays. We reported the presence of microfilaria species in the follicular fluid of an egg donor undergoing an ovum pick up procedure. She was a 23-year-old egg donor who underwent stimulation using the GnRH antagonist protocol. Antagonist protocol is one of the standard protocols used for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation as a part of the IVF/ICSI(in-vitro fertilization / intracytoplasmic sperm injection) procedure where GnRH antagonist (cetrorelix) is used to suppress the endogenous LH surge. Her baseline investigations were normal, with no significant history suggestive of any worm infestations. During the ovum pickup procedure, follicular fluid revealed the presence of worm-like structures suggestive of larvae of some parasites. The follicular fluid was sent to the microbiology department along with the blood sample to confirm the parasite species. The parasite was found to be the larvae of W. Bancroft. The oocytes were of poor quality and were discarded. The patient was treated with Diethylcarbamazine citrate. There are so many reports about scrotal Filariasis, but rare literature quotes ovarian Filariasis.     

Prevalence and isolation of Toxoplasma gondii in goats slaughtered for human consumption in the semi-arid of northeastern Brazil

The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and factors associated with infection in goats, and to isolate protozoan strains in tissue samples from seropositive goats that were destined for human consumption in the state of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. Serum samples from 229 slaughtered goats were tested using the indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT), with a cutoff point of 1:64. Epidemiological questionnaires were applied to the producers, to acquire information about the sanitary management used in their herds. Tissue samples from the animals were collected during slaughter, in order to perform bioassays in mice. The seroprevalence found was 21.39% (49/229), with antibody titers ranging from 1:64 to 1:32,768. The municipalities of origin, Patos (OR: 3.047; CI: 1.384–6.706) and Sousa (OR: 3.355; CI: 1.536–7.327), were considered to be factors associated with infection by T. gondii. Thirty-eight bioassays were performed in mice, using tissues from seropositive goats, with an isolation rate of 50% (19/38). There was no correlation between isolation rate and antibody titers. Only one mouse died, at 30 days post-infection, which demonstrated that the strains isolated had low virulence towards mice. It was concluded that there is high seroprevalence in goats in northeastern Brazil, as well as a high percentage of viable tissue cysts in slaughtered animals destined for human consumption. These results demonstrate that there is an imminent one health problem relating to toxoplasmosis, especially in the most populous municipalities in the study (Patos and Sousa), which were identified as factors associated with T. gondii infection in goats.     

DNA barcoding and haplotyping in different species of Andrographis

The genus Andrographis, belonging to the family Acanthaceae, contains several species of medicinal importance. Species, such as Andrographis alata, Andrographis echioides, Andrographis glandulosa, Andrographis lineata, Andrographis nallamalayana and Andrographis paniculata, with several bio-active compounds are being extensively used in folk medicine. However, difference of opinion exists with regard to inclusion of the species echioides into the genus Andrographis. The present study, using rbcL and matK sequences, for the first time established DNA barcodes for these six species. The nucleotide sequence of rbcL provided species-specific haplotypes for A. alata, A. lineata, and A. paniculata. Despite the differences with regard to nucleotide sequence, all the six species showed conserved amino acid sequence. However, all the six species showed distinct haplotypes in nucleotide sequence of matK and facilitated the identification and discrimination of these species. The phylogenetic tree generated with combined sequence of rbcL and matK revealed grouping of all the six species into a single clade confirming the positioning of the species echioides into the genus Andrographis.     

Effect of alar and CCC on induction and germination of bulbils in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Curculigo orchioides</Emphasis> grown in shake flask cultures

Bulbil formation in Curculigo orchioides is followed by asynchronous germination. The effect of alar and CCC incorporated in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium has been studied on bulbil induction from leaf explants and subsequent germination of bulbils. MS medium contained 1 mg/l BA and 0.1 mg/l morphactin for bulbil induction while germination medium contained 1 mg/l gibberrelic acid and both the media contained alar or CCC (0.5–5.0 mg/l). Growth retardants markedly reduces the bulbil formation, yield and fresh weight of bulbils. Incorporation of retardants resulted in 60% germination inhibition, thereby prolonging the storage conditions.     

Expression of Outer Capsid Protein VP5 of Grass Carp Reovirus in E.coli and Analysis of its Immunogenicity

Grass carp reovirus （GCRV） is a tentative member of the Aquareovirus genus in the family Reoviridae. The mature virion comprises 11 dsRNA genomes enclosed by two concentric icosahedral proteins shells that is comprised of five core proteins and two outer capsid proteins. The genome sequence and 3D structure demonstrate there is a higher level of sequence homology in structural proteins between GCRV and mammalian orthoreoviruses （MRV） compared to other members of the family. To understand the pathogenesis of GCRV infection, the outer capsid protein VP5, a homology of the μ1 protein of MRV, was expressed in E.coli. It was found that the recombinant VP5 was highly expressed, and the expressed His-tag fusion protein was involved in the formation of the inclusion body. Additionally, specific anti-VP5 serum was prepared from purified protein and western blot demonstrated that the expressed protein was able to bind immunologically to rabbit anti GCRV particle serum and the immunogenicity was determined by ELISA assay. Additional experiments in investigating the functional properties of VP5 will further elucidate the role of the GCRV outer capsid protein VP5 during entry into host cells, and its interaction among viral proteins and host cells during the infection process.     

青虾“软壳综合症”病原及其特性

从患软壳综合症的濒死青虾体内分离到一株细菌QXL0711B, 经人工感染试验, 其对青虾的半数致死浓度(LC50)为1.47×106 CFU/mL, 具有较强毒力。API 32E系统鉴定及16S rRNA序列分析, 该病原菌为维罗纳气单胞菌温和生物变种(Aeromonas veronii biovar sobria, 登录号: FJ808727)。其系统发育分析表明, 菌株QXL0711B与维罗纳气单胞菌(登录号: X71120)和维罗纳气单胞菌温和生物变种(登录号: AY987729)的亲缘关系最近,     

Effect of controlled carbon dioxide on in vitro shoot multiplication in Feronia limonia (L.) Swingle

The effect of controlled carbon dioxide environment on in vitro shoot growth and multiplication in Feronia limonia (a tropical fruit plant, Family- Rutaceae) was studied. Carbon dioxide available in the ambient air of the growth room was insufficient for in vitro growth of the shoots alone. Also, the presence of sucrose only as the C-source in the medium (without CO₂), was found to be inadequate for sustainable growth and multiplication of shoots. The carbon dioxide enrichment promoted shoot multiplication and overall growth. The promotory effect of CO₂ was independent of the presence of sucrose in the medium. In the presence of both CO₂ and sucrose, an additive effect was observed producing maximum shoot growth. In the absence of sucrose a higher concentration of CO₂ (10.0)g m⁻³ was required to achieve photoautotrophic shoot multiplication comparable to ambient air controls. Highest leaf area per shoot cluster promoting shoot growth and multiplication was recorded under this treatment. Shoots growing on sucrose containing medium under controlled CO₂ environment of 0.6 g m⁻³ concentration evoked better response than ambient air controls (shoots growing on sucrose containing medium) in growth room. This treatment produced the overall best response. The present study highlighted the possibility of photoautotrophic multiplication which might prove useful for successful hardening and acclimatization in tissue culture plants.     

Single-cell analysis of paralytic shellfish toxins in Alexandrium tamarense by HPLC with post-column fluorescent derivatization

We developed a methodology for analyzing the C-toxin (C2) content in single Alexandrium tamarense cells; this method was based on high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). C2 is the main paralytic shellfish toxin (PST) detected in a clonal culture of A. tamarense, which is a common causative organism in cases of paralytic shellfish poisoning in Japan. This HPLC method employs post-column fluorescent derivatization (FL). Mobile phase, column size, flow rate, reagent concentrations, and lamp type for the fluorescent detector were all optimized for the detection of C2. With this improved methodology, we could measure 1 fmol of C2 with a signal to noise ratio (S/N) = 2. Clonal heterogeneity within the toxic strain, which was maintained for 13 years after re-isolation from the original clonal culture, ranged from <1 fmol to 700 fmol cell⁻¹. This report is the first to demonstrate definitively that PST content varies on a cell-by-cell basis in a clonal culture of a dinoflagellate that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning.     

饲料蛋白质和能量水平对齐口裂腹鱼生长、体组成和蛋白质利用的影响

齐口裂腹鱼（Schizothorax prenanti Tchang）隶属鲤科、裂腹鱼亚科,俗称“雅鱼”,为长江上游重要经济鱼类,也是川西高原特有的冷水性鱼类。其肉质细嫩,味道鲜美,是名贵野生经济鱼类。近年来由于过度捕捞、环境污染等因素的影响,齐口裂腹鱼种群数量不断下降,分布区域日趋缩小,而随着人们生活水平的不断提高,对齐口裂腹鱼等名优水产品的需求却在不断增加。为保护和持续利用这一野生动物资源,     

水产养殖中枯草芽孢杆菌的分子鉴定

微生物种类繁多,以形态学和生理生化指标为基础的细菌鉴定较为复杂,是一项繁琐、费时的工作,对一种未知细菌的鉴定和分类,不仅需要分析多个生化指标,有时还要取决于工作人员的经验。因此迫切需要建立一些简单、方便、易于操作的分类鉴定方法对微生物进行分析,使人们在一定程度上更科学、更精确、更快速地找到分离物的分类地位。