Synopsis of the species of Myxobolus Bütschli, 1882 (Myxozoa: Myxosporea,Myxobolidae) described between 2005 and 2013

A synopsis of the species of Myxobolus Bütschli, 1882 (Myxozoa, Myxosporea, Myxobolidae) described between 2005 and 2013 is presented, including 112 nominal species. For each species the most important morphological and morphometric features are indicated in tabulated format. Included are also accession numbers for molecular data (when available), site of the infection within the host, features of the vegetative stage, organ infected, etc., plus a full bibliography of the original records for these species.     

Behavioural effects of minor sex pheromone components in Brazilian apple leafroller Bonagota cranaodes (Lep., Tortricidae)

Abstract:  The behavioural response of Brazilian apple leafroller males, Bonagota cranaodes (Meyrick), to natural and synthetic sex pheromone was studied in a wind tunnel. Calling females elicited upwind flights followed by landing and wingfanning at the source in 72% of the males tested. Female gland extracts, with the main compound ( E , Z )3,5dodecadienyl acetate released at 100 pg/min, attracted 57% of the males to the source. Few males (1%) were attracted to the main compound alone, released at the same rate. Even a synthetic blend of all five gland compounds eliciting an antennal response, formulated according to their proportion in female gland extracts, was barely attractive (7%). Comparison of this synthetic blend and female gland extracts indicates a behavioural role of other gland compounds. Male attraction was significantly increased (34%) in response to a 100 : 5 : 5 : 5-blend of the main compound and three minor gland compounds, ( Z )-5-dodecenyl acetate, ( E , Z )-3,5-tetradecadienyl acetate, and ( Z )-9-hexadecenyl acetate.     

Description of a new synactinomyxon type from the River Sousa, Portugal

Actinospore infection of oligochaetes collected from the mud of 2 freshwater biotopes in Portugal was studied. Using the 'cell-well plate method', a new synactinomyxon type was found in 2 specimens (1.3%) of the examined Tubifex tubifex oligochaetes from the River Sousa north of Porto, Portugal. In Criodrilus lacuum and Dero digitata specimens collected from the same river, no actinosporeans were released during the 12 wk observation period. Infected oligochaetes were only found immediately post-collection, and no further actinosporean release was recorded in Tubifex specimens kept alive for several weeks. Actinospore infection showed high intensity in oligochaetes in both positive cases. No actinosporean stages of myxosporeans have as yet been described from Portugal. On the basis of spore morphology and 18S rDNA sequence data, the synactinomyxon type presented in this paper differs from those already known and described in the literature.     

Cholinergic activity regulates the secretome of epicardial adipose tissue: Association with atrial fibrillation

Botulinum toxin injection on epicardial fat, which inhibits acetylcholine (ACh) release, reduced the presence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients after heart surgery. Thus, we wanted to study the profile of the released proteins of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) under cholinergic activity (ACh treatment) and their value as AF predictors. Biopsies, explants, or primary cultures were obtained from the EAT of 85 patients that underwent open heart surgery. The quantification of muscarinic receptors (mAChR) by real-time polymerase chain reaction or western blot showed their expression in EAT. Moreover, mAChR Type 3 was upregulated after adipogenesis induction (p < 0.05). Cholinergic fibers in EAT were detected by vesicular ACh transporter levels and/or acetylcholinesterase activity. ACh treatment modified the released proteins by EAT, which were identified by nano-high-performance liquid chromatography and TripleTOF analysis. These differentially released proteins were involved in cell structure, inflammation, or detoxification. After testing the plasma levels of alpha-defensin 3 (inflammation-involved protein) of patients who underwent open heart surgery ( n = 24), we observed differential levels between the patients who developed or did not develop postsurgery AF (1.58 ± 1.61 ng/ml vs. 6.2 ± 5.6 ng/ml; p < 0.005). The cholinergic activity on EAT might suggest a new mechanism for studying the interplay among EAT, autonomic nervous system dysfunction, and AF.     

Remission in psoriatic arthritis: is it possible and how can it be predicted?

Introduction

Since remission is now possible in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) we wished to examine remission rates in PsA patients following anti tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) therapy and to examine possible predictors of response.

Methods

Analysis of a prospective patient cohort attending a biologic clinic, between November 2004 and March 2008, was performed prior to commencing therapy and at regular intervals. Baseline clinical characteristics including demographics, previous disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) response, tender and swollen joint counts, early morning stiffness, pain visual analogue score, patient global assessment, C reactive protein (CRP) and health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) were collected.

Results

A total of 473 patients (152 PsA; 321 rheumatoid arthritis (RA)) were analyzed. At 12 months remission, defined according to the disease activity score using 28 joint count and CRP (DAS28-CRP), was achieved in 58% of PsA patients compared to 44% of RA patients, significant improvement in outcome measures were noted in both groups (P < 0.05). Analysis of a subgroup of PsA and RA patients matched for DAS28-CRP at baseline also showed higher numbers of PsA patients achieving remission. Linear regression analysis identified the HAQ at baseline as the best predictor of remission in PsA patients (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

DAS28 remission is possible in PsA patients at one year following anti-TNF therapy, at higher rates than in RA patients and is predicted by baseline HAQ.     

Dengue Fever Occurrence and Vector Detection by Larval Survey, Ovitrap and MosquiTRAP: A Space-Time Clusters Analysis

The use of vector surveillance tools for preventing dengue disease requires fine assessment of risk, in order to improve vector control activities. Nevertheless, the thresholds between vector detection and dengue fever occurrence are currently not well established. In Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais, Brazil), dengue has been endemic for several years. From January 2007 to June 2008, the dengue vector Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti was monitored by ovitrap, the sticky-trap MosquiTRAP™ and larval surveys in an study area in Belo Horizonte. Using a space-time scan for clusters detection implemented in SaTScan software, the vector presence recorded by the different monitoring methods was evaluated. Clusters of vectors and dengue fever were detected. It was verified that ovitrap and MosquiTRAP vector detection methods predicted dengue occurrence better than larval survey, both spatially and temporally. MosquiTRAP and ovitrap presented similar results of space-time intersections to dengue fever clusters. Nevertheless ovitrap clusters presented longer duration periods than MosquiTRAP ones, less acuratelly signalizing the dengue risk areas, since the detection of vector clusters during most of the study period was not necessarily correlated to dengue fever occurrence. It was verified that ovitrap clusters occurred more than 200 days (values ranged from 97.0±35.35 to 283.0±168.4 days) before dengue fever clusters, whereas MosquiTRAP clusters preceded dengue fever clusters by approximately 80 days (values ranged from 65.5±58.7 to 94.0±14. 3 days), the former showing to be more temporally precise. Thus, in the present cluster analysis study MosquiTRAP presented superior results for signaling dengue transmission risks both geographically and temporally. Since early detection is crucial for planning and deploying effective preventions, MosquiTRAP showed to be a reliable tool and this method provides groundwork for the development of even more precise tools.