Secondary and primary murine alveolar echinococcosis: combined albendazole/nitazoxanide chemotherapy exhibits profound anti-parasitic activity

In this study, the efficacies of chemotherapy employing nitazoxanide (NTZ), albendazole (ABZ), and a NTZ/ABZ-combination against alveolar echinococcosis (AE) were investigated in an experimental murine model. Following secondary infection, meaning i.p. injection of 20 Echinococcus multilocularis metacestodes, the drugs were administered by intragastric inoculation on a daily bases for a period of 5 weeks. Treatment was started either immediately on the day of infection, or at 2 months p.i., respectively. Application of the NTZ/ABZ-combination starting at 2 months p.i. was proven to be most effective in terms of reducing parasite weight (from 4.42+/-1.03 to 1+/-0.05 g; P=0.01). Inspection of treated parasites by transmission electron microscopy showed that ABZ- and NTZ-treated metacestode tissues, respectively, were heterogeneous in that both largely intact parasites as well as severely altered metacestodes could be observed. NTZ/ABZ-combination treatment induced the most severe ultrastructural alterations, including massive reduction in length and number of microtriches, severely damaged tegumental architecture, and progressive loss of viability of the germinal layer, associated with encapsulation by host connective tissue. A comparative pharmacokinetic study in mice revealed that the application of ABZ and NTZ in combination resulted in a two- to four-fold increase of albendazole sulfoxide serum levels for the period of 4-8 h following drug uptake compared to application of ABZ alone. In a third experiment, mice were orally infected with E. multilocularis eggs, and treated with NTZ starting at 2 months p.i. This resulted in a significantly lower lesion number in treated versus untreated mice (P=0.01). This investigation indicates the potential value for NTZ and/or a combined ABZ/NTZ chemotherapy against AE.     

Pathogenesis of autoimmunity after xenogeneic thymus transplantation

Thymus transplantation is a promising strategy to induce xenotolerance, but may also induce an autoimmune syndrome (AIS). The pathogenesis of this AIS was explored using nude rats as recipients. Thymus grafts consisted of fetal hamster thymic tissue with or without mixing with fetal rat tissue such as thymus, thyroid, salivary gland, and heart. All hamster thymus recipients died of AIS within 2-3 mo. In most recipients of xenothymus mixed with rat tissues such as thymus, thyroid, and salivary gland, but not heart, AIS was prevented, indicating an insufficient presence of rat epithelial cell Ags within the xenothymus. AIS could be transferred to control nude rats by whole splenocytes or by splenocyte subpopulations such as CD3(+), CD3(-), and B lymphocytes, but not by non-T, non-B cells from AIS animals. This transfer could be suppressed by cotransferring either CD4(+) or CD8(+) lymphocytes from euthymic rats, but not by splenocytes from recipients of syngeneic or xenogeneic thymus mixed with rat tissue, indicating a defective generation of regulatory lymphocytes. As for CD4(+) regulatory cells this defect was probably qualitative, because the percentages of CD4(+)CD25(+) or CD4(+)CD45RC(low) populations were normal after xenothymus transplantation. As for the CD8(+) regulatory cells, the defect was quantitative, as CD8(+) cell levels always remained low. The latter was related to the nonvascularized nature of thymus grafts. In conclusion, AIS after xenothymus transplantation in nude rats is due to a combination of insufficient intrathymic presence of host-type epithelial cell Ags and a defective generation of regulatory T lymphocytes.     

Rotifera, Cladocera, Copepoda, and Ostracoda from coastal wetlands in northeast Algeria

Two wetland complexes in the El Kala area, northeast Algeria, were sampled for zooplankton over a two-month period (mid-May to mid-July 1993). Some samples from 1976 and 1978 were also studied. A total of 98 taxa (51 species of Microcrustacea and 47 species of Rotifera) are recorded. Twenty-seven of these (26.5% overall) are new to Algeria and/or to the Maghreb and Africa. A significant fraction of Afrotropical species was found in all four groups, beside species of northern (European) origin, and at least one cyclopoid copepod with an Irano-Turanian range. These results confirm the El Kala wetlands as an important relict pocket of species of various historical and geographical origin, and highlight the urgency of safeguarding these sites. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

New records of Rotifera from India

Fifteen species of monogonont Rotifera are recorded from India for the first time. These are Lecane acanthinula (Hauer), L. aspasia Myers, L. monostyla (Daday), L. ruttneri (Hauer), L. simonneae Segers, Lepadella costatoides Segers, L. cf. favorita Klement, L. minuta (Montet), L. triba Myers, Notommata pachyura (Gosse), N. saccigera Ehrenberg, Sinantherina semibullata (Thorpe), Trichocerca chattoni (De Beauchamp), T. kostei Segers and Taphrocampa selenura (Gosse). Taxonomic and/or zoogeographic notes are added, when appropriate.     

Rotifera of some lakes in the floodplain of the River Niger (Imo State,Nigeria)

The Rotifera of thirteen freshwater habitats in the upper floodplain of the River Niger were studied. Thirteen new species are described, viz. Lepadella berzinsi n. sp., L. discoidea n. sp., Squatinella lunata n. sp., Dipleuchlanis ornata n. sp., Euchlanis semicarinata n. sp., Itura deridderae n. sp., L. dumonti n. sp., L. nigeriensis n. sp., L. nwadiaroi n. sp., L. simonneae n. sp., L. stichoclysta n. sp., L. sylviae n. sp. and Trichocerca kostei n. sp., L. climacois Harring & Myers is reestablished as a valid species. The synonymy of Hemimonostyla Bartos and Monostyla Ehrenberg with Lecane Nitzsch is commented upon. The names Lecane myersi nom. nov. and L. robertsonae nom. nov. are proposed to replace L. ornata (Harring & Myers) non (Daday) and L. amazonica Koste & Robertson non (Murray) (new status), respectively. Lecane amazonica (Murray) and L. latissima Yamamoto replace L. murrayi Hauer non Korde and L. rotundata (Olofsson) non (Jakubski), respectively. The following new synonymies are proposed: Lepadella williamsi Koste & Shiel with L. vandenbrandei Gillard; Lecane longidactyla (Edmondson) comb. nov. (ex. Proales) with L. clara (Bryce); Lecane longidactyla Arora non (Edmondson) with L. curvicornis (Murray); L. truncata Yamamoto non (Leissling) nec (Turner) with L. brachydactyla (Stenroos); L. amazoniana Koste & Robertson with L. eutarsa Harring & Myers.     

Distribution of Brachionidae (Rotifera,Monogononta) in Inner Mongolian Waters

Two-hundred and fourty-six freshwater and saline-alkaline waters in Inner Mongolia, P.R. China were surveyed for Brachionidae. Twenty-nine brachionid morphospecies (33 taxa) are recorded, four are new to China. Some data on their distribution, and comments on selected taxa are provided. Brachionus asplanchnoides (stat.nov.) is reinstated at the morphospecies level. We suggest that this taxon may be used in aquaculture, considering that, by its large size, it extends the size range of brackish-water Rotifera potentially available as food for fish larvae.     

Rotifera from Peat-Swamps in Phuket Province,Thailand, with the Description of a New Colurella Bory de St. Vincent

The rotifer fauna of three peat-swamps in Phuket province, southern Thailand was investigated. A total of 77 species is identified, 12 of which are new to Thailand. A new species, Colurella sanoamuangae n. sp., is described. The zoogeography of the registered species is discussed.     

Taxonomy and systematics in biodiversity research

A new species of freshwater kamptozoan (Entoprocta) is described from the Mae Klong and Prachin Buri Rivers in central Thailand. This brings to two the number of known entoproct species occurring in fresh water. The new species, Loxosomatoides sirindhornae, grows as stolonate colonies; each diminutive zooid has a muscular, unsegmented stalk, and an obliquely oriented calyx. A well-formed hibernaculum originates from a short, lateral stolon at the base of certain zooids. The calyx bears a rigid shield with a conspicuous aboral carina extending along the entire length. Colonies have been found only in fully freshwater habitats and appear not to tolerate salinities higher than 1.0 ppt.     

Individualizing the aorto-radial pressure transfer function: feasibility of a model-based approach

We fitted a three-segment transmission line model for the radial-carotid/aorta pressure transfer function (TFF) in 31 controls and 30 patients with coronary artery disease using noninvasively measured (tonometry) radial and carotid artery pressures (P(car)). Except for the distal reflection coefficient (0.85 +/- 0.21 in patients vs. 0.71 +/- 0.25 in controls; P < 0.05), model parameters were not different between patients or controls. Parameters were not related to blood pressure, age, or heart rate. We further assessed a point-to-point averaged TFF (TFF(avg)) as well as upper (TFF(max)) and lower (TFF(min)) enveloping TFF. Pulse pressure (PP) and augmentation index (AIx) were derived on original and reconstructed P(car) (P(car,r)). TFF(avg) yielded closest morphological agreement between P(car) and P(car,r) (root mean square = 4.3 +/- 2.3 mmHg), and TTF(avg) best predicted PP (41.5 +/- 11.8 vs. 41.1 +/- 10.0 mmHg measured) and AIx (-0.02 +/- 0.19 vs. 0.01 +/- 0.19). PP and AIx, calculated from P(car) or P(car,r), were higher in patients than in controls, irrespectively of the TFF used. We conclude that 1) averaged TFF yield significant discrepancies between reconstructed and measured pressure waveforms and subsequent derived AIx; and 2) different TFFs seem to preserve the information in the pressure wave that discriminates between controls and patients.