Hepatocystis in populations of baboons (Papio hamadryas s.l.) of Tanzania and Ethiopia

Bloodsmears from 119 yellow baboons (Papio hamadryas cynocephalus) in six groups in Mikumi National Park, Tanzania, and from 189 olive (P.h. anubis) hamadryas (P.h. hamadryas) and hybrid baboons in three groups in Awash National park, Ethiopia showed differing levels of infection with Hepatocystis simiae. 0% to 42% in the Tanzanian groups were carriers of the parasite but none of the Ethiopian baboons was positive. The remarkable absence of H. simiae in the Ethiopian baboons is believed to be related to environmental factors that exclude transmission in the absence of the Culicoides vector.     

The carbohydrate of human thrombin: Structural analysis of glycoprotein oligosaccharides by mass spectrometry

The carbohydrate structure of human thrombin has been determined by direct probe mass spectrometry of the oligosaccharides released by trifluoroacetolysis from the asialo glycoprotein. The free oligosaccharides were studied as permethylated and N-trifluoroacetylated oligosaccharide alditols. The structure was confirmed by sequential exoglycosidase digestion of intact thrombin and sugar and methylation analysis of the oligosaccharides by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results indicate the following structure:

with Fuc present on only about 50% of the oligosaccharides.     

Gas exchange and blood gases of Puna teal (Anas versicolor puna) embryos in the Peruvian Andes

Oxygen consumption, air cell gases, hematology, blood gases and pH of Puna teal (Anas versicolor puna) embryos were measured at the altitude at which the eggs were laid (4150 m) in the Peruvian Andes. In contrast to the metabolic depression described by other studies on avian embryos incubated above 3700 m, O₂ consumption of Puna teal embryos was higher than even that of some lowland avian embryos at equivalent body masses. Air cell O₂ tensions dropped from about 80 toor in eggs with small embryos to about 45 toor in eggs containing a 14-g embryo; simultaneously air cell CO₂ tension rose from virtually negligible amounts to around 26 torr. Arterial and venous O₂ tensions (32–38 and 10–12 toor, respectively, in 12- to 14-g embryos) were lower than described previously in similarly-sized lowland wild avian embryos or chicken embryos incubated in shells with restricted gas exchange. The difference between air cell and arterial O₂ tensions dropped significantly during incubation to a minimum of 11 torr, the lowest value recorded in any avian egg. Blood pH (mean 7.49) did not vary significantly during incubation. Hemoglobin concentration and hematocrits rose steadily throughout incubation to 11.5 g · 100 ml^-1 and 39.9%, respectively, in 14-g embryos.Abbreviations PO₂ partial pressure gradient of O₂ - BM body mass - D diffusion coefficient - G gas conductance (cm³·s^-1·torr^-1) - conductance to water vapor - IP internal pipping of embryos - P _ACO₂ partial pressure of carbon dioxide in air cell - P _AO₂ partial pressure of oxygen in air cell - P _aCO₂ partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood - P _aCO₂ partial pressure of oxygen in arteries - P _H barometric pressure (torr) - PCO₂ partial pressure of carbon dioxide - P _IO₂ partial pressure in ambiant air - PO₂ partial pressure of oxygen - P _VCO₂ venous carbon dioxide partial pressure - P _VO₂ mixed venous oxygen partial pressure - SE standard error - VO ₂ oxygen consumption     

Receptors for the complement C3d component and the Epstein-Barr virus are quantitatively coexpressed on a series of B-cell lines and their derived somatic cell hybrids

Various human Burkitt lymphoma and LCL lines established in vitro and their derived somatic cell hybrids were tested for their comparative EBV receptor levels in a virus binding assay. Their graded C3b and C3d complement receptor expression was estimated simultaneously by means of isotope labeled rosette marker cells. The receptor concentration of each cell line was related to Raji as the standard of comparison, K 562, P3HR-1, and YACUT were used as negative controls. In general, the charging curves for EBV and C3d receptors parallelled each other (r = 0.97) while C3b receptor charging showed no correlation (r < 0.60). In the Raji hybrids between the C3b receptor positive Raji parent and various patents that were negative for this receptor, C3b receptor expression was low or negative. In contrast, the C3d negative P3HR-1 line gave rise to hybrids, after fusion with receptor-positive cells, that were intermediate with regard to their C3d receptor expression. The host range restriction of the Epstein-Barr virus is determined at the receptor level. The close relationship between the EBV receptor and the C3d receptor, a B-lymphocyte-specific moiety, suggests that the moderate interaction with EBV with the B lymphocytes may have had a selective advantage, favoring the presence of EBV. Since EBV causes lytic infections after artificial introduction into nonnatural host cells, it may represent a B-lymphocyte-specific host range mutant, derived from an originally lytic herpesvirus with a much broader target cell range.     

Characterization of cross-reacting antigens on the Epstein-Barr virus envelope and plasma membranes of producer cells.

A rabbit antiserum has been prepared against the B95-8 transforming strain of EBV. The antiserum has a high virus neutralizing titer (approximately 1:1000) against both the marmoset B95-8 EBV and the human P3HR-1 EBV. The neutralizing antibodies may be absorbed completely with EBV producer cell lines, but not with nonproducer cell lines or producer cell lines treated with phosphonoacetic acid (PAA) so as to be nonproducer. After repeated absorption with PAA-treated B95-8, the serum remains reactive with the membranes of producer cell lines as judged by immunofluorescence or the 125I--Staphylococcal protein A radioimmunoassay. Thus the neutralizing antigens are expressed on the membranes of producer cell lines and may be purified from this source using the serum and 125I--Staph A binding as an assay. The ability of the serum to differentiate between producer and nonproducer cells by means of cell surface determinants has been exploited to achieve a separation of these two populations from the same culture. Immunoprecipitation by the protein A technique shows that the serum recognizes two polypeptides from producer cells of approximate molecular weights 150,000 and 75,000.     

Trypanosoma congolense: thrombocytopenia in experimentally infected cattle

Hereford cattle infected with Trypanosoma congolense developed a thrombocytopenia which was most severe early in the course of infection when parasite levels in peripheral blood were highest. As the disease progressed, parasite levels gradually decreased and a corresponding increase in the number of thrombocytes occurred. In chronically infected animals, the number of thrombocytes was reduced during and shortly after periods of patency. However, during extended remission, thrombocyte values rose to normal or higher levels. Thrombocytes in surviving animals returned to within normal limits. When acutely ill, thrombocytopenic animals were treated with Berenil, a thrombo-cytosis developed rapidly. Accompanying the thrombocytopenia in infected animals was a consistent prolongation of partial thromboplastin times between the 6th and 14th weeks of infection. Plasma protamine paracoagulation tests were positive and fibrinogen levels were decreased in infected animals. No difference were found however in prothrombin times between infected and control animals.     

In vivo glucose-6-phosphatase inhibitory,toxicity and antidiabetic potentials of 2-picolylamine thioureas in Swiss albino mice

The 2-picolylamine is a simplest analogue of the alkaloid that has secondary and tertiary nitrogen function in its cyclic structure like that of alkaloids that can be derivatized to a number of biologically active compounds. In connection to our previous work, in the present work, three thiourea derivatives (I = 1,3-bis(2-benzyl-3-phenyl-1-(pyridine-2-yl) propyl) thiourea, II = 1,3-bis (pyridin-2-ylmethyl) thiourea, and III = 1-(2-benzyl-3-phenyl-1-(pyridine-2-yl) propyl)-3-phenylthiourea) were synthesized using 2-picolylamine template which is a readily available synthetic analogue of naturally occurring alkaloid. The biological effect of the synthesized derivatives were monitored on the activity of glucose-6-phosphatase in Swiss albino mice (21-days). The derivatives were also tested for their potential toxicity in a 28-days sub-chronic toxicity studies by assessing their effects on different parameters like hematological, serum biochemistry and liver histology. The therapeutic effect of the safe derivative (I) was examined in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice as well. The derivatives showed inhibition of the enzyme activity from good to an excellent degree. Compound I had the highest inhibition with 21.42 ± 5.113 mg of the released phosphate as compared to that of the positive control group (84.55 ± 3.213 mg). Only I turned out to be safe for use in animals without exerting any toxic or lethal effects on any of the assessed parameters in the used animal model. Compound I efficiently reversed the effects like hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and weight loss in the test animals. Out of these three-tested compounds, I was found safe to be use as therapeutic agent in diabetes complications. However, further toxicological studies in other animal models are needed as well.     

Technical Aspects of the Mouse Aortocaval Fistula

Technical aspects of creating an arteriovenous fistula in the mouse are discussed. Under general anesthesia, an abdominal incision is made, and the aorta and inferior vena cava (IVC) are exposed. The proximal infrarenal aorta and the distal aorta are dissected for clamp placement and needle puncture, respectively. Special attention is paid to avoid dissection between the aorta and the IVC. After clamping the aorta, a 25 G needle is used to puncture both walls of the aorta into the IVC. The surrounding connective tissue is used for hemostatic compression. Successful creation of the AVF will show pulsatile arterial blood flow in the IVC. Further confirmation of successful AVF can be achieved by post-operative Doppler ultrasound.     

Influence of diets supplemented with vitamins C and E on pirarucu (Arapaima gigas) blood parameters

This study evaluated the influence of diets supplemented with 500, 800, 1200 mg kg^− 1 of vitamin C (ascorbic acid or AA) and vitamin E (α-tocopherol or α-T) on the physiological responses of pirarucu fed for 2 months. Weight and mortality were not affected by dietary vitamin type or their concentrations. Significant increase (p < 0.05) on the red blood cells count was obtained on treatments with 800 and 1200 mg AA kg^− 1 and on the hemoglobin concentration on treatment with 500 mg α-T kg^− 1 relatively to control. Mean corpuscular volume presented a significant decrease (p < 0.05) on treatment with 800 and 1200 mg AA kg⁻¹ when compared to control. Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration was significantly high (p < 0.05) on treatment with 500 mg α-T kg^− 1. Only in vitamin C treatments, we noticed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the number of leucocytes relative to control. All fish in the vitamin-supplemented treatments, except 500 mg AA kg^− 1, had high total protein values compared to control. Fish treated with 800 or 1200 mg α-T kg^− 1 also showed increases in plasma glucose concentrations. Our results suggest that 800 and 1200 mg AA kg^− 1 are probably the most suitable concentrations for pirarucu diets, although high vitamin E diets are not necessary for quantitative leucocyte increases for this species.     

Trypanosoma cruzi: distinct patterns of infection in the sibling caviomorph rodent species Thrichomys apereoides laurentius and Thrichomys pachyurus (Rodentia, Echimyidae)

Thrichomys apereoides, a caviomorph rodent species common in a highly endemic area for Chagas disease in Brazil, may act as reservoir of the parasite. However, no information is available concerning its sibling species Thrichomys pachyurus, found in the Pantanal region, where Trypanosoma cruzi is found only in the enzootic cycle. We followed up the cross infection of these cryptic species with two isolates derived from naturally infected T. pachyurus and Thrichomys apereoides laurentius. No regional co-adaptation between Thrichomys species and the regional isolates were noticed. However, significant differences in the outcome of the infection were observed. T. a. laurentius was more resistant than T. pachyurus, as expressed by lower parasitemia and less histopathological damage. The routine biochemical markers used for laboratory rodents were unsuitable for follow up of infection in Thrichomys spp, since they did not correlate with the histopathological findings or allowed the kinetic follow-up of tissue colonization by the parasite.