Differences in the compatibility of infection between the liver flukes Fascioloides magna and Fasciola hepatica in a Colombian population of the snail Galba sp.

Experimental infections of Galba sp. (origin, Colombia) with allopatric isolates of Fasciola hepatica from France or Fascioloides magna from the Czech Republic were carried out during five successive snail generations to determine if this lymnaeid might sustain complete larval development of either parasite. In snails exposed to F. hepatica, 7 of 400 snails harboured several rediae and only two snails contained a small number of free cercariae on day 50 post-exposure. In contrast, the intensity of F. magna infection in Galba sp. progressively increased from the F1 to F5 generations. Spontaneous cercarial shedding of F. magna occurred in 7 of 100 Galba sp. belonging to the F5 generation and the number of shed cercariae did not differ significantly from that noted in control Galba truncatula of French origin. Galba sp. from Colombia can be added to the list of potential intermediate hosts for F. magna

Out of place: Genius loci the boundaries of heritage interpretation

The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between the interpretation of cultural heritage sites and the genius loci. In her seminal essay Against Interpretation (1966), Susan Sontag stigmatises the dissociation between form and content and the constant focus on the latter in the name of interpretation. She opposes the need for us to "learn to see more, to hear more, to feel more", and therefore to concentrate on the form. On the other hand, interpretation is paramount to the understanding of heritage site as promoted by the Charleston Declaration on Heritage Interpretation (2005) and The ICOMOS Charter for the Interpretation and Presentation of Cultural Heritage Sites (2007). This work does not propose to refute in their entirety the possible or established benefits of site interpretation. It is however envisaged to discuss the potential shortcomings of interpretation as it is approached today and its possible detrimental effects on the genius loci. Hence the two-fold question is brought forward: is interpretation out of place at heritage sites, or is a site out of place 'm the absence of interpretation In order to approach this question, the methodology suggested consists of the presentation and analysis of the existing literature and theory underpinning the principles of interpretation, as well as a discussion of the concept of place. The notions of significance, value and meaning are also explored, with a view towards understanding the process that informs site interpretation. This theoretical framework is put into perspective by considering the case of the Turkish Cemetery in Malta, a 19th century monument which presents in many ways, an interesting ground for testing different theories for interpretation

HUMAN PARAGONIMIASIS IN AFRICA

An up-to-date review on human paragonimiasis in Africa was carried out to determine the current geographical distribution of human cases and analyze the animal reservoir, snails and crustaceans which intervene in the local life cycle of Paragonimus species. Two countries, i.e., Cameroon and Nigeria, were mainly affected by this disease, while the distribution of human cases in the other eight states of the intertropical zone was scattered. Infected patients were currently few in number and two Paragonimus species: P. africanus and P. uterobilateralis, were found. The animal reservoir is mainly constituted by crab-eating mammals. The identity of the host snail remains doubtful and was either a prosobranch, or a land snail. Seven crab species belonging to Callinectes, Liberonautes and Sudanonautes genera are able to harbour paragonimid metacercariae. Due to the current low prevalence of human paragonimiasis recorded in Africa and the high cost of wide-scale screenings for this disease, training of technicians in anti-tuberculosis centers would be the most realistic attitude to detect mycobacteria and/or Paragonimus eggs during the same sputum examinatio

Symplectic No-core Shell-model Approach to Intermediate-mass Nuclei

We present a microscopic description of nuclei in an intermediate-mass region, including the proximity to the proton drip line, based on a no-core shell model with a schematic many-nucleon long-range interaction with no parameter adjustments. The outcome confirms the essential role played by the symplectic symmetry to inform the interaction and the winnowing of shell-model spaces. We show that it is imperative that model spaces be expanded well beyond the current limits up through fifteen major shells to accommodate particle excitations that appear critical to highly-deformed spatial structures and the convergence of associated observables.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figure

Incidence and impact on clinical outcome of infections with piperacillin/tazobactam resistant Escherichia coli in ICU: A retrospective study

Escherichia coli infections are frequent in ICU patients. The increased resistance to fluoroquinolones and amoxicillin/clavulanate of this pathogen mandates the prescription of broad-spectrum antibiotics such as piperacillin/tazobactam (PIP-TAZ) or third generation cephalosporins (3GC)

Two sequential outbreaks caused by multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates producing OXA-58 or OXA-72 oxacillinase in an intensive care unit in France

International audienc

Zygapophysial joint blocks in chronic low back pain: a test of Revel's model as a screening test

BACKGROUND: Only controlled blocks are capable of confirming the zygapophysial joints (ZJ) as the pain generator in LBP patients. However, previous workers have found that a cluster of clinical signs ("Revel's criteria"), may be valuable in predicting the results of an initial screening ZJ block. It was suggested that these clinical findings are unsuitable for diagnosis, but may be of value in selecting patients for diagnostic blocks of the lumbar ZJ's. To constitute evidence in favour of a clinical management strategy, these results need confirmation. This study evaluates the utility of 'Revel's criteria' as a screening tool for selection of chronic low back pain patients for controlled ZJ diagnostic blocks. METHODS: This study utilized a prospective blinded concurrent reference standard related validity design. Consecutive chronic LBP patients completed pain drawings, psychosocial distress and disability questionnaires, received a clinical examination and lumbar zygapophysial blocks. Two reference standards were evaluated simultaneously: 1. 75% reduction of pain on a visual analogue scale (replication of previous work), and 2. abolition of the dominant or primary pain. Using "Revel's criteria" as predictors, logistic regression analyses were used to test the model. Estimates of sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and likelihood ratios for selected variables were calculated for the two proposed clinical strategies. RESULTS: Earlier results were not replicated. Sensitivity of "Revel's criteria" was low sensitivity (<17%), and specificity high (approximately 90%). Absence of pain with cough or sneeze just reached significance (p = 0.05) within one model. CONCLUSIONS: "Revel's criteria" are unsuitable as a clinical screening test to select chronic LBP patients for initial ZJ blocks. However, the criteria may have use in identifying a small subset (11%) of patients likely to respond to the initial block (specificity 93%)

Paramphistomum daubneyi : caractéristiques de l’infestation chez trois espèces de limnées

Experimental infections of two South American lymnaeids (Lymnaea neotropica and L. viatrix var. ventricosa) with Paramphistomum daubneyi were carried out to determine if these snail species could sustain larval development of this digenean and, if so, to specify their potential for cercarial production. A French population of Galba truncatula infected and raised according to the same protocol served as controls. In both experiments, prevalence of P. daubneyi infections in snails did not significantly differ from each other. In snail groups evaluated for cercarial shedding (first experiment), a significantly lower number of shed cercariae was noted for L. neotropica, while those from G. truncatula and L. v. ventricosa did not differ significantly from each other. Dissection of infected snails at day 65 post-exposure at 20°C (second experiment) found significantly lower burdens of P. daubneyi rediae and cercariae in the bodies of L. neotropica than in those of G. truncatula and L. v. ventricosa. Compared to total cercarial production observed in dissected snails, the percentage of cercariae which exited from snails was 75.6% for G. truncatula, 21.6% for L. neotropica, and 91.4% for L. v. ventricosa. This last species seems to be a good candidate for metacercarial production of P. daubneyi.Des infestations expérimentales de deux limnées sud-américaines (Lymnaea neotropica et L. viatrix var. ventricosa) avec Paramphistomum daubneyi ont été réalisées pour déterminer si ces espèces peuvent assurer le développement larvaire de ce Digène et, dans l’affirmative, pour préciser leur potentiel dans la production cercarienne. Les témoins sont constitués par une population française de Galba truncatula infestée et élevée selon le même protocole. Dans les deux expériences, les prévalences de l’infestation par P. daubneyi chez les mollusques sont proches les unes des autres. Chez les groupes suivis pour les émissions cercariennes (première expérience), le nombre de cercaires émises est significativement plus faible chez L. neotropica, tandis que les chiffres notés chez G. truncatula et L. v. ventricosa ne présentent pas de différence significative. Si les mollusques infestés sont disséqués au 65ème jour post-exposition à 20 °C (seconde expérience), les charges rédienne et cercarienne trouvées dans le corps des L. neotropica sont significativement plus faibles que celles notées chez G. truncatula et L. v. ventricosa. Par rapport à la production cercarienne totale chez les mollusques disséqués, le pourcentage de cercaires qui sont émises est de 75,6 % chez G. truncatula, 21,6 % chez L. neotropica et de 91,4 % chez L. v. ventricosa. Cette dernière espèce semble être un bon candidat pour la production métacercarienne de P. daubneyi.Centro de Diagnóstico e Investigaciones Veterinaria