Incrimination of Dog Vector of Cystic Echinococcosis and Impact of the Appropriate Dogs’ Treatment

Dogs are involved in the transmission of several parasitic zoonosis. Among these, hydatidosis is very endemic in many countries of the world. Dog populations are very variable from one region to another, which increases the infestation risks across human populations especially in the developing countries such as in Morocco. Moreover, the risk of exposure is higher in dogs with access to rural slaughterhouses than in owned dogs. As for preventive measures, this calls for effective implementation of the appropriate dogs’ treatment against hydatidosis. Thus, the following chapter updates the most relevant information on the impact of hydatidosis upon human populations and livestock animals, as to stretch understanding on the vector contribution of dogs

Sensory Motor Function Disturbances in Mice Prenatally Exposed to Low Dose of Ethanol: A Neurobehavioral Study in Postnatal and Adult Stages

Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) refers to fetal exposure to alcohol during pregnancy through placental barrier transfer from maternal blood. The postnatal outcomes of PAE differ among exposed individuals and range from overt (serious) alcohol-related behavioral and neurophysiological impairments to covert (silenced) symptoms. The aims of the present investigation were to assess the postnatal neurobehavioral disturbances, particularly, motor coordination and sensory-motor function in mice with PAE. Female mice with positive vaginal plugs were divided into three groups: group 1: Et + Pyr: received two i.p injections of ethanol (1 g/kg) followed by pyrazole (100 mg/kg). Group 2: Pyr: received an i.p injection of pyrazole (100 mg/kg). Group 3: C: of saline controls received, in equal volume, saline solution (NaCl 0.9%). After birth, mice pups were weighed and subjected to behavioral tests for motor function screening using the motor ambulation test, cliff aversion, surface righting, and negative geotaxis, while at the adult stage, mice were subjected to the open field, rotarod, parallel bars, and static rods tests. Our data show an obvious decrement of body weight from the first post-natal day (P1) and continues over the adult stage. This was accompanied by an obvious impaired sensory-motor function which was maintained even at the adult stage with alteration of the locomotor and coordination abilities. The current data demonstrate the powerful neurotoxic effect of prenatal ethanol exposure on the sensory-motor and coordination functions, leading to suppose possible structural and/or functional neuronal disturbances, particularly the locomotor network

Clinical, biochemical and molecular characterization of Wilson's disease in Moroccan patients

Background: Wilson Disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive inherited metabolic disease caused by mutations in the ATP7B gene. WD is characterized by heterogeneous clinical presentations expressed by hepatic and neuropsychiatric phenotypes. The disease is difficult to diagnose, and misdiagnosed cases are commonly seen. Methods: In this study, the presented symptoms of WD, the biochemical parameters as well as its natural history are described based on cases collected in Mohammed VI Hospital University of Marrakech (Morocco). We screened and sequenced 21 exons of ATP7B gene from 12 WD patients that confirmed through biochemical diagnosis. Results: Mutational assessment of the ATP7B gene showed six homozygous mutations in 12 individuals however, 2 patients had no evidence of any mutation in promoter and exonic regions. All mutations are pathogenic and most were missense mutations. c.2507G > A (p.G836E), c.3694A > C (p.T1232P) and c.3310 T > C (p.C1104R) that were identified in 4 patients. The other mutations were a non-sense mutation (c.865C > T (p.C1104R)) detected in 2 patients, a splice mutation (c.51 + 4A > T) detected in 2 patients and a frameshift mutation (c.1746 dup (p.E583Rfs*25) detected in 2 patients. Conclusion: Our study is the first molecular analysis in Moroccan patients with Wilson's disease, the ATP7B mutational spectrum in the Moroccan population is diverse and still unexplored