Specific IgE response in dracunculiasis.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to C Genchi.
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The effects of liver fluke infection (Fasciola hepatica) on hepatic microsomal UDP-glucuronosyl-transferase activity have been studied in microsomes from experimentally infected rats and naturally infected cattle to see if they explain the toxic episodes observed in parasite-infected animals subjected to intensive chemotherapy with the flukicidal drug oxyclozanide. Dramatic decreases in the activity of this enzyme system with the typical substrate p-nitrophenol were observed in both animal species, even when little or no degenerative lesions could be seen in the liver parenchyma. In vitro there was a similar loss of glucuronic acid conjugation of oxyclozanide by hepatic microsomes from infected cattle. In vivo this would result in slower elimination of the drug and in drug accumulation.
The distribution of gastrointestinal nematodes in different populations of wild ruminants has been studied with regard to density of the animals and the presence of domestic ruminants in the habitat. The degree of parasite overdispersion among the hosts has been examined in the hypothesis of a negative binomial model of distribution. The results show that the density has a greater weight than cohabitation with domestic ruminants, in destabilizing the host-parasite relationship.
The results of a parasitological survey carried out on 116 cats found dead in Bologna, Firenze and Milano was reported. The parasites identified were: Toxocara cati (49.1%); Toxascaris leonina (3.4%); Ancylostoma tubaeforme (9.5%); Ollulanus tricuspis (3.4%); Dipylidium caninum (41.4%); Taenia taeniaeformis (11.2%); Mesocestoides lineatus (1.7%); Spirometra sp. (0.9%); Coccidia (12.9%). The autopsies' results were compared with coprological ones in order to assess their reliability.
In vitro metabolism by liver tissue of the flukicidal agent nitroxynil has been studied in cattle naturally infected with Fasciola hepatica. A dramatic impairment of the cytochrome P-450-dependent nitroxynil metabolism both in the acute and in the milder stage of the disease has been observed and this is due to a loss in the integrity and functionality of the cytochrome P-450 enzyme system. These results suggest that in bovine fascioliasis the in vivo metabolism of nitroxynil will be decreased with consequent increase of nitroxynil retention in the animal's body.
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The results obtained in a survey on the gastrointestinal helminths of 32 chamois of the Riserva of Valbelviso on the Alpi Orobie are reported. All the animals were infested: the species identified with more frequence were O. circumcinta, M. marshalli, N. filicollis. Of great significance was the diffusion of N. filicollis, compared with other species of this genus, typical of the wild ruminants; Oe. radiatum, never previously observed in chamois, was also found. These results show that the promiscuity of wild and domestic ruminants in the pasture could interfere with the natural focality of the respective gastrointestinal nematodes.
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Hepatitis C virus serotypes and sources of infection in HCV-positive patients from a restricted geographical area were evaluated. HCV serotypes were determined by Murex serotyping assay. Of 192 samples, serotypes were detected in 189 (98.5%): type 1 proved to be the most common (53.1%), followed by types 2 (15.2%), 3 (6.2%), 6 (5.3%), 4 (3.6%) and 5 (1.6%). Intravenous drug users were significantly younger than the rest of the patients and infected mainly with HCV type 3. Transmission of HCV 3 has only been observed over the past 20 years; other types have been transmitted for up to 40 years. These results support the view that the prevalence of the infection by different HCV types in one restricted geographical area may be associated with the source and duration of infection.
Fascioliasis causes a dramatic decrease in drug-metabolizing ability of the hepatic monooxygenase (MFO) and glucuronosyltransferase (GT) enzyme systems in the rat. The present study was undertaken to determine whether lipid peroxidation is involved in the enzymatic loss. Peroxidative damage of membrane lipids (as assessed by the tissue content of malonic dialdehyde, MDA, and the diene conjugation absorption in microsomal membranes) was found to occur over the entire course of the liver infection (concomitant to a decrease in glutathione levels), and to different degrees in relation to the various steps of the parasite cycle. The onset (MDA six times the controls; delta E 1% = 1.55 at the 20th day) coincides with the beginning of the loss of MFO (-30%) and GT (-20% at the 20th day), and peaks between the 30th and 40th day (MDA eight times the controls; delta E 1% = 1.96), when the loss in the enzyme activities is maximal (MFO - 60/70%; GT - 65/95%). There was a strict correlation at all the observation times between the extent of lipid peroxidation and the decrease in drug metabolizing ability: this supports the view that lipid peroxidation is the major agent in the impairment of MFO and GT enzyme activities, and very likely in the initiation of the pathological degeneration of the liver tissue. As evidenced by histological examination, the phagocytic response of the liver tissue to the parasite invasion and growth leads to oxidative stress, which is the causative agent in the initiation and development of lipid peroxidation.
Somatic antigens from third stage larvae of Dirofilaria immitis (SL3) were used to detect IgG response against heartworm infection in 8 experimentally infected cats. A moderate specific anti-SL3 IgG response was found one month post-infection. Afterwards, antibodies decreased reaching a basal level 4 months post-infection and remained at this level until the end of the study. 6 months post-infection. Western blot analysis showed specific recognition of polypeptides of 79, 73, 60, 52, 40 and 39 kDa by sera from infected cats 1 month post-infection, but not by sera taken prior to the infection. The low antigenicity of the SL3 antigen in the cat should allow the parasite to escape the host's immune response.
Strongyloides westeri larvae transmission by mare milk in foals has been studied; the results show the importance of this route for parasite penetration.