Management of gastrointestinal parasites in wildlife rehabilitation centers in Brazil

Dissertação de Mestrado Integrado em Medicina VeterináriaParasites are essential and inevitable part of ecosystems, but simultaneously harm their individual host. This duality leads to dilemmas regarding the best approach to these symbionts when conservation medicine is concerned, such as in wildlife rehabilitation centers. In Brazil, tens of thousands of wildlife specimens are admitted in these centers every year. An online survey was sent to wildlife rehabilitation centers throughout the country, addressing topics like diagnostic testing, deworming and biosecurity. Additionally, a detailed case study of the gastrointestinal parasite profile at one rehabilitation center was performed. This resulted in an exhaustive characterization of gastrointestinal (GI) parasite management in these centers, with some notorious and returning findings: a) Overcrowding and/or understaffing, making time one of the most precious resources in these centers. Veterinarians receive 4 to 18 cases a day, having a total time of 26 to 104 minutes to dedicate to a case from beginning to end, which is virtually impossible. b) Lack of resources (equipment and funding); c) A worryingly high percentage of inefective treatments. 15 to 47% of the organizations perform treatments without considering diagnostic results. From the organizations that check treatment efficacy, 74% already encountered inefective results, 40% frequently. Only 60% of the treatments performed by the author were efective. Based on the collected information, guidelines were written for diagnosis and treatment of GI parasites in wildlife rehabilitation centers, in order to optimize time and resources. A diagnostic protocol was proposed with prioritization of certain patients: a) those with clinical signs suggestive of GI parasitism, such as diarrhea and anemia; b) older animals; c) animals under permanent human care; and d) animals under a high amount of stress (e.g. polytraumatized patients). One should test the efficacy of all treatments and keep extensive records. The use of alternative methods for parasite control, such as fungi and plants, is suggested as a measure with a lot of potential and advantages in wildlife medicine.RESUMO - MANEIO DE PARASITAS GASTROINTESTINAIS EM CENTROS DE REABILITAÇÃO DE ANIMAIS SILVESTRES NO BRASIL - Os parasitas são componentes essenciais e inevitáveis dos ecossistemas, mas simultaneamente prejudicam o hospedeiro. Esta dualidade leva a dilemas sobre a melhor abordagem a estes simbiontes em contexto de medicina de conservação, como é o caso dos centros de recuperação de animais silvestres. No Brasil, dezenas de milhares de animais silvestres são admitidos nestes centros por ano. Um questionário online foi enviado a centros de reabilitação em todo o país, com perguntas relativas a hábitos de diagnóstico, desparasitação e biossegurança. Adicionalmente, foi efetuado um estudo de caso detalhado do perfil de parasitas gastrointestinais (GI) em um centro específico. Do inquérito resultou uma caraterização exaustiva do maneio de parasitas gastrointestinais nestes centros. Alguns resultados notórios e transversais são: - Sobrelotação e/ou falta de pessoal, tornando o tempo num dos mais valiosos recursos destes centros. Os veterinários recebem entre 4 a 18 casos por dia, dispondo de 26 a 104 minutos para dedicar a cada caso do início ao fim, o que é virtualmente impossível; - Falta de recursos (equipamento e financiamento); - Uma percentagem preocupante de tratamentos ineficazes. 15 a 47% das organizações desparasitam sem ter em conta os resultados de diagnóstico. De entre as organizações que avaliam a eficácia, 74% já se depararam com desparasitações ineficazes, 40% com frequência. Apenas 60% das desparasitações realizadas pela autora foram eficazes. Com base na informação recolhida redigiram-se guidelines para maneio de parasitas GI em centros de reabilitação de forma a otimizar tempo e recursos. Foi proposto um protocolo diagnóstico com priorização de determinados pacientes: a) aqueles com sinais clínicos sugestivos de parasitismo GI, como diarreia e anemia; b) animais com mais idade; c) animais sob cuidados humanos permanentes; e d) animais com elevados níveis de stress (ex. animais politraumatizados). É recomendado que a eficácia de todas as desparasitações seja testada e que sejam mantidos registos detalhados. O uso de métodos alternativos de controlo parasitário (ex. fungos e plantas) é aconselhado como uma medida a explorar com muito potencial e vantagens em medicina de conservação.N/

The kinetochore protein, CENPF, is mutated in human ciliopathy and microcephaly phenotypes

Background: Mutations in microtubule-regulating genes are associated with disorders of neuronal migration and microcephaly. Regulation of centriole length has been shown to underlie the pathogenesis of certain ciliopathy phenotypes. Using a next-generation sequencing approach, we identified mutations in a novel centriolar disease gene in a kindred with an embryonic lethal ciliopathy phenotype and in a patient with primary microcephaly. Methods and results Whole exome sequencing data from a non-consanguineous Caucasian kindred exhibiting mid-gestation lethality and ciliopathic malformations revealed two novel non-synonymous variants in CENPF, a microtubule-regulating gene. All four affected fetuses showed segregation for two mutated alleles [IVS5-2A>C, predicted to abolish the consensus splice-acceptor site from exon 6; c.1744G>T, p.E582X]. In a second unrelated patient exhibiting microcephaly, we identified two CENPF mutations [c.1744G>T, p.E582X; c.8692 C>T, p.R2898X] by whole exome sequencing. We found that CENP-F colocalised with Ninein at the subdistal appendages of the mother centriole in mouse inner medullary collecting duct cells. Intraflagellar transport protein-88 (IFT-88) colocalised with CENP-F along the ciliary axonemes of renal epithelial cells in age-matched control human fetuses but did not in truncated cilia of mutant CENPF kidneys. Pairwise co-immunoprecipitation assays of mitotic and serum-starved HEKT293 cells confirmed that IFT88 precipitates with endogenous CENP-F. Conclusions: Our data identify CENPF as a new centriolar disease gene implicated in severe human ciliopathy and microcephaly related phenotypes. CENP-F has a novel putative function in ciliogenesis and cortical neurogenesis

Análise de projeto de investimento em equipamentos de diagnóstico parasitológico num centro de recuperação de fauna silvestre em Portugal

Mestrado em Gestão e EmpreendedorismoExistem vários centros de recuperação de animais silvestres em Portugal, a grande maioria geridos pelo primeiro ou terceiro setor. Uma abordagem comum aos parasitas gastrointestinais é a desparasitação em leque de todos os animais, pois apesar de não ser aconselhado do ponto de vista epidemiológico, é percecionado como tendo um custo reduzido e fácil aplicação. Outra abordagem é o envio de amostras para análise em laboratórios externos. Propõe-se neste estudo uma análise de um projeto de investimento de expansão, com aquisição de equipamentos de laboratório para realizar os exames internamente, considerando vários cenários de origem de mão-de-obra. A viabilidade económica destes cenários foi avaliada para pequenos e grandes centros, em comparação com ambas as abordagens supramencionadas (desparasitação em massa e uso de laboratório externo), por meio da determinação do valor atualizado líquido, da taxa interna de rentabilidade, do período de recuperação e do índice de rentabilidade. Quando comparado com uma desparasitação em massa, a utilização de um colaborador para trabalhar nos diagnósticos parasitários é economicamente favorável, apesar de qualquer modalidade de contratação não o ser. Já comparado com o envio de amostras para serem analisadas em laboratório externo, os resultados são francamente positivos, sendo um indicador muito forte do potencial do investimento num laboratório interno.There are numerous wildlife recovery centers in Portugal, most of which are managed by the first or third sector. A common approach to gastrointestinal parasites is the mass deworming of all animals, because although it is not advisable from an epidemiological point of view, it is perceived as having a low cost and easy application. Another common approach is to send samples for analysis in external laboratories. This study proposes an expansion investment project, with the acquisition of laboratory equipment to carry out the examinations within the organization, considering several scenarios. The economic viability of these scenarios was evaluated for both large and small centers, in comparison with both approaches mentioned above (mass deworming and external laboratory), by determining the net updated value, the internal rate of return, the recovery period and the profitability index. When compared to mass deworming, the use of pre-existing workforce in the lab to diagnose parasites is economically favorable, but any scenario of hiring more manpower is not. When compared to sending samples to be analyzed in an external laboratory, the results are frankly positive, being a strong gauge of the potential of the investment in an internal laboratory.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Bio-based Aromatic Amines from Lignin-Derived Monomers

A new approach to synthesize valuable 3,4- dialkoxyanilines and alkyl propionates from lignin-derived 4- propylguaiacol and -catechol with overall isolated yields up to 65% has been described. The strategy is based on the introduction of nitrogen via a Beckmann rearrangement. Amino introduction therefore coincides with a C-defunctionalization reaction; overall a replacement of the propyl chain by an amino group is obtained. The process only requires cheap bulk chemicals as reagents/reactants and does not involve column chromatography to purify the reaction products. Furthermore, all carbon atoms from the biorenewable lignin-derived monomers are transformed into valuable compounds. Greenness was assessed by performing a Green Metrics analysis on two dialkoxyanilines. A comparison was made with literature routes for these compounds starting from a petrochemical substrate.status: publishe

A nitrilase-mediated entry to 4-carboxymethyl-β-lactams from chemically prepared 4-(cyanomethyl)azetidin-2-ones

(3R, 4S)-3-Alkoxy/aryloxy-4-(cyanomethyl) azetidin-2-ones were efficiently prepared from readily available 1,2: 5,6-di-D-isopropylidene-D-mannitol by means of a classical organic synthesis approach via 4-hydroxymethyl-beta-lactams as key intermediates. The corresponding 4-carboxymethyl-beta-lactams were subsequently obtained after selective hydrolysis of the nitrile functionality by means of a nitrilase enzyme without affecting the sensitive four-membered ring system, hence overcoming the difficulties associated with the chemical hydrolysis approach. Thus, the implementation of a biocatalytic step allows a convenient synthetic route to new 4-carboxymethyl-beta-lactams as versatile building blocks for further elaboration

Bio-based aromatic amines from lignin-derived monomers

A new approach to synthesize valuable 3,4-dialkoxyanilines and alkyl propionates from lignin-derived 4-propylguaiacol and -catechol with overall isolated yields up to 65% has been described. The strategy is based on the introduction of nitrogen via a Beckmann rearrangement. Amino introduction therefore coincides with a <i>C</i>-defunctionalization reaction; overall a replacement of the propyl chain by an amino group is obtained. The process only requires cheap bulk chemicals as reagents/reactants and does not involve column chromatography to purify the reaction products. Furthermore, all carbon atoms from the biorenewable lignin-derived monomers are transformed into valuable compounds. Greenness was assessed by performing a Green Metrics analysis on two dialkoxyanilines. A comparison was made with literature routes for these compounds starting from a petrochemical substrate