Trypanosoma evansi: Hematologic changes in experimentally infected cats

This study aimed at evaluating hemogram and erythropoietic changes in cats experimentally infected with Trypanosoma evansi. Thirteen adult female non-breeding Felix catus were separated into two groups: seven animals were infected with 10⁸ trypomastigotes each, and six animals were used as negative controls. Animals were kept in air-conditioned rooms and blood smears were performed daily for 49 days. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein at days 0, 7, 21, 35 and 49 and stored in blood-collecting tubes containing anticoagulant. Bone marrow was collected from the proximal epiphysis of the right femur at days 14 and 42 post-inoculation (PI). Total erythrocyte count, hematocrit and hemoglobin showed statistical differences among groups from the seventh day PI onwards (P < 0.05). The mean corpuscular volume and the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration remained normal, characterizing a normocytic-normochromic anemia. Reticulocyte count increased in the infected group from the 21st day onwards, but remained near normal values suggesting a mild regenerative anemia. Moreover, the myeloid:erythroid ratio significantly reduced at day 42 PI, evidencing a bone marrow hematopoietic response. Based on these results we conclude that cats infected with T. evansi have normocytic, normochromic, regenerative anemia.     

A Comparative Genotoxicity Study of a Supraphysiological Dose of Triiodothyronine (T3) in Obese Rats Subjected to Either Calorie-Restricted Diet or Hyperthyroidism

This study was designed to determine the genotoxicity of a supraphysiological dose of triiodothyronine (T₃) in both obese and calorie-restricted obese animals. Fifty male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to one of the two following groups: control (C; n = 10) and obese (OB; n = 40). The C group received standard food, whereas the OB group was fed a hypercaloric diet for 20 weeks. After this period, half of the OB animals (n = 20) were subjected to a 25%-calorie restriction of standard diet for 8 weeks forming thus a new group (OR), whereas the remaining OB animals were kept on the initial hypercaloric diet. During the following two weeks, 10 OR animals continued on the calorie restriction diet, whereas the remaining 10 rats of this group formed a new group (ORS) given a supraphysiological dose of T₃ (25 µg/100 g body weight) along with the calorie restriction diet. Similarly, the remaining OB animals were divided into two groups, one that continued on the hypercaloric diet (OB, n = 10), and one that received the supraphysiological dose of T₃ (25 µg/100 g body weight) along with the hypercaloric diet (OS, n = 10) for two weeks. The OB group showed weight gain, increased adiposity, insulin resistance, increased leptin levels and genotoxicity; T₃ administration in OS animals led to an increase in genotoxicity and oxidative stress when compared with the OB group. The OR group showed weight loss and normalized levels of adiposity, insulin resistance, serum leptin and genotoxicity, thus having features similar to those of the C group. On the other hand, the ORS group, compared to OR animals, showed higher genotoxicity. Our results indicate that regardless of diet, a supraphysiological dose of T₃ causes genotoxicity and potentiates oxidative stress.     

Feline Nasal Granuloma Due to Cryptoccocus gattii Type VGII

The aims of this study are to make a more precise identification of the etiologic agent of a nasal granuloma in a cat, to verify the susceptibility to the antifungal drugs: ketoconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole, amphotericin B and the proper treatment. Part of the granuloma’s fragment was removed, added to a saline solution and sent to the Laboratory of Mycology. The solution was then seeded in Sabouraud dextrose agar, and the yeast was primarily identified by the traditional methods. The confirmation of the specie Cryptococcus gattii and its molecular type were performed using the PCR–RFLP molecular techniques. The antifungal susceptibility was verified by using the E-test method, and the cat was treated with itraconazole associated with 5-flucytosine. The isolated strain was identified as C. gattii type VGII and was susceptible to all antifungal drugs tested. The treatment with itraconazole associated with 5-flucytosine led to the cure of granulomatous lesions in the feline after 6 months. The characterization and molecular investigation of this microorganism are relevant because they could help us better understand the epidemiology of the infection and to guide us to treat properly the disease.     

Disseminated Amphotericin-Resistant Fusariosis in Acute Leukemia Patients: Report of Two Cases

Disseminated fusariosis has emerged as a significant, usually fatal infection in immunocompromised hosts despite antifungal treatment. We describe here two patients with acute leukemia who developed disseminated amphotericin-resistant fusariosis, and review of six studies of cases series in the literature. Two Fusarium solani strains were isolated from blood and skin cultures of one patient, and one strain from the blood culture of the second patient. Both patients died despite antifungal treatment. Strains were identified by sequencing of ITS1 and ITS4 regions. Random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis of the three F. solani isolates showed a low degree of similarity. Screening for Fusarium spp. contaminants within our facility was negative. Using the CLSI M-38-A2 broth dilution method and E tests^®, we found that the MICs were low for voriconazole (0.12 and 0.5 mg/L, respectively), unexpectedly high for amphotericin B (≥8 and ≥32 μg/mL, respectively) and itraconazole (≥16 mg/ml). Patients with leukemia or persistent neutropenia should be assessed for disseminated fungal infections, including biopsy and skin cultures. Antifungal susceptibility tests are important due to the possibility of the strains being amphotericin resistant. Treatments must be aggressive, with high doses of antifungals or combined therapy.     

Feeding ecology of a nocturnal invasive alien lizard species, Hemidactylus mabouia Moreau de Jonnès, 1818 (Gekkonidae), living in an outcrop rocky area in southeastern Brazil.

We studied in fieldwork, the feeding ecology of a Hemidactylus mabouia population from southeastern Brazil throughout one year in a region with marked climatic seasonality. A sampling of availability of arthropods in the environment was carried out, which evidenced that the availability of food resources influenced the composition of the diet of H. mabouia. There were no seasonal differences on diet composition, which may be due to the relatively constant availability on prey throughout the year. In general, this population can be classified as generalist and opportunistic regarding diet. There was a high food niche overlap among juveniles and adults, although juvenile lizards tend to eat higher number of prey (but in lower volume) when compared to adult lizards. The ability to exploit a wide array of prey in an efficient way, maintaining a positive energetic balance, may be a factor determining the efficiency of this exotic species to occupy invaded areas.     

Enzymatic and oxidative metabolites of lycopene

Using the post-mitochondrial fraction of rat intestinal mucosa, we have investigated lycopene metabolism. The incubation media was composed of NAD(+), KCl, and DTT with or without added lipoxygenase. The addition of lipoxygenase into the incubation significantly increased the production of lycopene metabolites. The enzymatic incubation products of (2)H(10) lycopene were separated using high-performance liquid chromatography and analyzed by UV/Vis spectrophotometer and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectroscopy. We have identified two types of products: cleavage products and oxidation products. The cleavage products are likely: (1) 3-keto-apo-13-lycopenone (C(18)H(24)O(2) or 6,10,14-trimethyl-12-one-3,5,7,9,13-pentadecapentaen-2-one) with lambdamax = 365 nm and m/z = 272 and (2) 3,4-dehydro-5,6-dihydro-15,15'-apo-lycopenal (C(20)H(28)O or 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-2,4,6,8,12,14-hexadecahexaen-1-al) with lambdamax = 380 nm and m/z = 284. The oxidative metabolites are likely: (3) 2-apo-5,8-lycopenal-furanoxide (C(37)H(50)O) with lambdamax = 415 nm, 435 nm, and 470 nm, and m/z = 510; (4) lycopene-5, 6, 5', 6'-diepoxide (C(40)H(56)O(2)) with lambdamax = 415 nm, 440 nm, and 470 nm, and m/z = 568; (5) lycopene-5,8-furanoxide isomer (I) (C(40)H(56)O) with lambdamax = 410 nm, 440nm, and 470 nm, and m/z = 552; (6) lycopene-5,8-epoxide isomer (II) (C(40)H(56)O) with lambdamax = 410, 440, 470 nm, and m/z = 552; and (7) 3-keto-lycopene-5',8'-furanoxide (C(40)H(54)O(2)) with lambdamax = 400 nm, 420 nm, and 450 nm, and m/z = 566. These results demonstrate that both central and excentric cleavage of lycopene occurs in the rat intestinal mucosa in the presence of soy lipoxygenase.     

Recent chromosome diversification in the evolutionary radiation of the freshwater fish family Curimatidae (Characiformes)

Neotropical Curimatidae fishes include 97 species in eight genera. Basic cytogenetic studies show a karyotype of 2 n = 54 chromosomes in most species. Karyotype divergence of the nucleolus organizing regions between species has been reported, and these regions appear to be good cytotaxonomic markers. In the present work, karyotype, heterochromatin and Ag-NOR variability in 13 species were investigated to analyse the chromosome diversification in view of the biogeographic history of this group. Only Cyphocharax platanus showed a karyotype with 2 n = 58 chromosomes. Ag-NOR and C-banding patterns were quite divergent among the species studied. All species whose C-bands were analysed had heterochromatic blocks associated with the nucleolus organizing regions. Species with multiple Ag-NORs also showed an increase in NOR-associated heterochromatic blocks. C-banding showed considerable differentiation among species, revealing a pronounced chromosome diversification in this group. Karyotypic variability corroborates the hypothesis that these fishes in Amazon region show various discrete patterns of species endemism. Chromosome diversification in curimatids has a recent origin and appears to be accompanying the post-Andean speciation responsible for the diversity of species in the family.