Embryotoxicity of a single dose of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and maternal serum MPA concentrations in cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis)

A single dose of MPA (Depo-Provera; Upjohn Co., Kalamazoo, Michigan) was administered intramuscularly to 12 time-mated pregnant cynomolgus monkeys on day 27 (+/- 2) of gestation at 25 mg/kg or at 100 mg/kg. Maternal blood samples were collected immediately prior to MPA injection and then at regular intervals until cesarean section at term (day 152 +/- 3). Infants in both dose groups had external genital abnormalities. Female infants in the low-dose groups had partial or complete labial fusion, prominent median raphe, and clitoral hypertrophy; at high doses (100 mg/kg), the female infants had complete labial fusion and a distinct penile urethra. MPA had an opposite effect on external genitalia of male infants. The penis was short and the scrotal swelling was absent or less conspicuous, and two males had hypospadias. The adrenal glands were significantly smaller (P less than 0.05) in infants of both sexes treated with 100 mg/kg. One of the infants treated with 25 mg/kg of MPA had a muscular ventricular septal defect. Serum concentrations of MPA were determined by radioimmunoassay in eight pregnant monkeys. In the 25 mg/kg group the patterns of MPA profiles in the serum were similar in all four animals. An initial peak occurred at 24-48 hr postinjection (2.7-9.6 ng/ml), followed by a slight decrease at 3 days postinjection (gestational day 30), and then a steady increase to maximum levels of 10-14 ng/ml occurring between gestational days 37 and 50. Serum levels gradually declined to concentrations below 5 ng/ml by midgestation in three of four monkeys. By comparison, both the patterns and magnitude of MPA concentration showed great interanimal variation in the 100 mg/kg group. MPA was present in cord blood at measurable concentrations in infants at both dose groups; the levels ranged from 0.6 to 8.3 ng/ml, corresponding to 40-72% of the maternal concentrations. These results demonstrate that a single injection of MPA during early pregnancy causes selective embryotoxicity in both male and female fetuses. Presence of high levels of MPA in maternal sera during the critical period of genital development can cause specific genital defects; however, the exact mechanism by which MPA causes these paradoxical genital abnormalities is unknown.     

Experimental toxoplasmosis in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus)

The susceptibility of budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) to graded doses of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts was studied. Sixteen budgerigars were divided into 4 groups (A-D) of 4 each. Birds in groups A-C were fed 100,000, 1,000, or 100 infective oocysts of the VEG strain of T. gondii, respectively. Budgerigars in group D were not fed oocysts and served as controls. All 4 birds in group A died (or were killed) because of acute severe enteritis 5 or 6 days after feeding oocysts (DAFO). Three of the 4 birds in group B were killed (or died) because of toxoplasmosis 9 or 14 DAFO. One budgerigar in group C and the 4 budgerigars in group D remained healthy and were killed 35 or 39 DAFO. Toxoplasma gondii was demonstrated in tissues of all budgerigars fed oocysts. The control budgerigars remained clinically normal and showed no evidence of T. gondii exposure. These results indicate that, compared to other passerines, budgerigars are relatively resistant to clinical toxoplasmosis.     

Fatal toxoplasmosis in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)

Toxoplasma gondii-like organisms were seen in the heart, kidney, liver, lung, lymph node, spleen, small intestine, and stomach from 2 koalas that died suddenly in a fauna park in Sydney, Australia. Diagnosis was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. This is the first confirmed report of toxoplasmosis in an arboreal marsupial.     

南麂列岛海洋保护区浮游动物调查

主要研究南麂列岛海洋保护区浮游动物种类组成、数量分布、多样性指数、浮游动物与浮游植物动态变化及浮游动物数量变化与营养盐的关系。经鉴定共发现,浮游动物98种,主要有2个生态类群:(1)暖温带近海类群,优势种有中华哲水蚤(Calanus sinicus)、中华假磷虾(Pseudeuphausia sinicas)、五角水母(Muggiaea atlantica)、百陶箭虫(Sagitta bedoti)、拿卡箭虫(S.nagae)等;(2)暖水性外海类群,代表性种类有肥胖箭虫(S.enflata)、精致真刺水蚤(Euchaeta concinna)等。结果表明,8月份南麂列岛浮游动物生物量和丰度出现最高值,9、10月份逐渐减少,多样性指数变化范围1.78~4.38,平均3.99;保护区内浮游动物数量与浮游植物细胞密度呈良好的正相关关系,与氮含量呈负相关关系。     

中街山列岛海洋保护区鱼类物种多样性

基于2010-2012年在中街山列岛海洋保护区进行的8个航次底拖网调查数据资料,从鱼类分类学和生态类群等方面,结合多样性、资源密度和相对重要性指数,对该保护区鱼类物种多样性特征进行了分析。调查海域共采集鱼类55种,隶属2纲12目32科44属。其中,鲈形目鱼类26种,占47.3%;趋礁性鱼类41种,占74.5%;暖温性、暖水性和冷温性鱼类分别为30、24和1种,其中暖水种约占所有偶见种的70%;定居种、近海洄游种和季节性种分别为27、24和24种;底层、近底层和中上层鱼类分别占40.0%、36.4%和23.6%,其中矛尾鰕虎鱼(Chaeturichthys stigmatias)、龙头鱼(Harpodon nehereus)和鳀科鱼类分别成为各水层的绝对优势种。所有调查站点鱼类平均生物量指数夏季最高(1043.7 kg/km²),春季最低;尾数密度指数春季最高(122×10³ 尾/km²),冬季最低;生物量与尾数密度指数最高与最低季节之间均存在显著性差异(P<0.05)。对多样性的分析显示,Margalef丰富度(D)冬季最高,秋季最低,Shannon-Wiener多样性(H')与Pielou均匀度(J')均为夏季最高,秋季最低。聚类和NMDS方法分析显示不同季节鱼类群落组成格局差异极显著(P<0.01)。研究结果表明,中街山列岛海洋保护区鱼类资源结构受近海季节性洄游种类影响较大,鱼类分布季节动态多呈现洄游性更替节律,保护区内虽已出现鱼类多样性下降趋势和生态系统功能退化现象,传统经济种类的优越性在逐渐下降或边缘化,但独特的岛礁生境仍能很好地发挥着维持固有种类和提供良好栖息场所的优势,随着海洋牧场建设与一系列资源保护与修复措施,石首鱼科幼体已形成优势群体,而且保护区内出现大量小型饵料鱼类。     

Fatal neonatal toxoplasmosis in a bobcat (Lynx rufus)

Toxoplasma gondii was found in tissues of a captive 1-week-old bobcat (Lynx rufus) that died of myocarditis, hepatitis and encephalitis. Although infection is common in wild Felidae, clinical toxoplasmosis is rarely seen. In this case, the infection was apparently congenitally acquired.     

Fatal toxoplasmosis in a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites were identified in the myocardium of a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) that died of necrotizing myocarditis. The diagnosis was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining with T. gondii-specific polyclonal antibodies. This is a new host record for T. gondii.     

In vitro functions of lymphocytes during high-dose medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) treatment

Summary The number and function of T and B lymphocytes were studied in endometrial cancer patients during 3 months' treatment with high-dose medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA). No significant changes were observed in the proportions of T and B cells or in the function of B cells during MPA treatment. At 3 months, lymphocyte blastogenic responsiveness to mitogens was slightly reduced both in patients treated with standard therapy alone (intracavitary radium and surgery) and in patients receiving additional MPA therapy. These results indicate that other factors than progesterone are responsible for the suppression of lymphocyte blastogenesis induced by mitogens during high-dose progestin treatment.     

Acute visceral toxoplasmosis in captive dik-dik (Madoqua guentheri smithi)

Acute toxoplasmosis was diagnosed in 2 captive dik-dik (Madoqua guentheri smithi) in the Houston Zoo. Both animals became ill suddenly and died in spite of supportive therapy. Toxoplasma gondii was identified in tissues of both animals immunohistochemically, and antibodies to T. gondii were found in titers of 1:800 or more in both animals upon examination by the modified agglutination rest. The cause of death was considered to be toxoplasmic pneumonia. This is the first report of toxoplasmosis in M. g. smithi.     

Acute disseminated toxoplasmosis in a red fox (Vulpes vulpes)

A red fox (Vulpes vulpes) with signs of neurological disease was captured in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA). The animal died in captivity and was examined because of suspected rabies. The liver had pale foci up to 4 mm in diameter. Foci of necrosis were associated with Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites in several organs including liver, lungs and adrenal glands. Rabies antigen and distemper virus inclusions were not detected. The diagnosis of acute disseminated toxoplasmosis was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining.     

Congenital toxoplasmosis in a Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus)

Toxoplasma gondii was identified in tissues of a stillborn late-term fetus from an Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus). Myocardial necrosis and nonsuppurative inflammation in the heart and nonsuppurative necrotizing encephalitis were associated with tachyzoites and tissue cysts. The diagnosis was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining with anti-T. gondii-specific polyclonal rabbit serum.     

Disseminated toxoplasmosis in a captive ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta)

A 3-yr-old secundiparous female ring-tailed lemur presented to the Auburn University Small Animal Clinic with signs of dyspnea, lethargy, and anorexia. The animal died before she could be examined, and a full necropsy was immediately performed. Provisional necropsy findings included moderate pneumonia and hepatopathy. Acute interstitial pneumonia and focal hepatocellular necrosis were confirmed histologically. Lung impression smears, histopathology, electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and tissue culture isolation resulted in a diagnosis of acute disseminated Toxoplasma gondii infection, which was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. The isolate of T. gondii was avirulent for mice and was named AU Tgl and genetically is type II. The source of the infection remains unclear, but speculation suggests contaminated fruit or blackbirds (Passeriformes: Icteridae) acting as transport hosts for oocysts from nondomestic felids and feral cats on the property.