Immunohistochemical characteristics of porcine intrahepatic nerves under physiological conditions and after bisphenol A administration

Background: The neurochemistry of hepatic nerve fibres was investigated in large animal models after dietary exposure to the endocrine disrupting compound known as bisphenol A (BPA).   Materials and methods: Antibodies against neuronal peptides were used to study changes in hepatic nerve fibres after exposure to BPA at varying concentrations using standard immunofluorescence techniques. The neuropeptides investigated were substance P (SP), galanin (GAL), pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP), calcitonin gene regulated peptide (CGRP) and cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript (CART). Immunoreactive nerve fibres were counted in multiple sections of the liver and among multiple animals at varying exposure levels. The data was pooled and presented as mean ± standard error of the mean.   Results: It was found that all of the nerve fibres investigated showed upregulation of these neural markers after BPA exposure, even at exposure levels currently considered to be safe. These results show very dramatic increases in nerve fibres containing the above-mentioned neuropeptides and the altered neurochemical levels may be causing a range of pathophysiological states if the trend of over-expression is extrapolated to developing humans.   Conclusions: This may have serious implications for children and young adults who are exposed to this very common plastic polymer, if the same trends are occurring in humans

THE DISTRIBUTION OF PROTEOCEPHALUS EXIGUUS (CESTODA) IN THE ALIMENTARY TRACT OF VENDANCE COREGONUS ALBULA FROM THE UKIEL LAKE

The distribution of Proteocephalus exiguus in the gut of vendance was examined with regard to the age of parasites and infrapopulation density in individual hosts. The tapeworms can occupy the whole length of the intestine, but they are most abundant in its middle and posterior parts. The distribution of four age classes changed in relation to the infrapopulation density. In higher densities young specimens prevailed in the anterior part of the intestine, while the gravid ones were in its posterior part. The possible reasons of such an „age segregation" are discussed

Rozmieszczenie Proteocephalus exiguus [Cestoda] w przewodzie pokarmowym sielawy Coregonus albula z jeziora Ukiel

The distribution of Proteocephalus exiguus in the gut of vendance was examined with regard to the age of parasites and infrapopulation density in individual hosts. The tapeworms can occupy the whole length of the intestine, but they are most abundant in its middle and posterior parts. The distribution of four age classes changed in relation to the infrapopulation density. In higher densities young specimens prevailed in the anterior part of the intestine, while the gravid ones were in its posterior part. The possible reasons of such an „age segregation" are discussed

Deformations of the attachment organ in Diplozoidae [Palombi, 1949] [Monogenea]

This work consisted in studying the frequency of deformations of the attachment organ in specimens representing the family Diplozoidae, occurring in roach, common bream, and white bream from live different water bodies. These water bodies differed in morphometric parameters, levels of eutrophication, and character of their pollution. The presence of three types of deformation was stated. The most common were deformations of type II (morphological changes of clamps, such as sclerite deformation, incomplete sclerite separation or sclerites missing altogether in a clamp), while less frequent were those of types I (chaoges in the size of clamps not associated with the structural changes) and III (missing clamps in a set). Most frequently anomalies of the attachment organ were stated in polluted Łyna River, polluted Wulpińskie Lake, and in dystrophic Warniak Lake. Less frequent were anomalies in less eutrophied lakes Dgał Wielki and Ukiel. Also the prevalence values of those parasites were the highest in the polluted water bodies. The present study suppons believes of other authors, that both infection parameters of Diplozoidae affecting fishes and deformations of monogeneans' attachment apparatus can be treated as indicators of environmental pollution

Host and topic specificity of Monogenea - parasites of Polish fish and amphibians

This paper presents the distribution of Monogenea among Polish fish and amphibians as well as their location on the host body. Out of 127 Monogenea species recorded in Poland, 126 were found in fish, and only one in amphibians. Dactylogyridae were found in 3, Diplozoidae in 2, whereas Ancyrocephalidae in 6, and Gyrodactylidae in 9 fish families. Most Monogenea are closely attached to their location (topospecificity). Some species of fish parasites are found on gills, where they may occupy various microhabitats, while others (especially Gyrodactylidae) were found on fins, skin, gills, and rarely in the oral or nasal cavity

Pijawki pasozytujace na rybach [Hirudinea: Piscicolidae i Glossiphonidae] w jeziorach Ukiel, Warniak i Wulpinskie. Badania wstepne

The aim of the study was to determine leeches found on the lake fishes. From the lake Ukiel, 213 roaches (R. rutilus) and from the lake Wulpińskie 202 were examined between Nov. 1988 and Dec. 1999. From the Warniak 258 roaches and 9 tenches (Tinca tinca) were examined between May 1998 and Nov. 1999. Warniak on roach (R. rutilus) 4 Piscicola geometra and Hemiclepis marginata on the fish body were found, tench (Tinca tinca) P. geometra were found on gills. Ukiel on roach Piscicola pojmanskae on gills were found. Wulpińskie on roach P. pojmanskae and Piscicola sp. as well as 2 Caspiobdella fadejewi on gills were found. Prevalence and intensity of fish infection with leeches was low in all lakes. C. fadejewi and P. pojmanskae are the first recorded on the lake fishes. Further investigations are necessary since they can result in informations conceming inhabitation of new microhabitants with P. geometra gills

Trichodina pediculus Ehrenberg, 1838 in roach Rutilus rutilus [L.], metric and meristic data

During the parasitological studies in Dgał Wielki Lake 32 specimens of Trichodina pediculus were collected from roaches (Rutilus rutilus). T. pediculus were subjected to the metric and meristic measurements. High correlation factors significance was obtained between the following data: body diameter and adhesive disc diameter with border membrane, adhesive disc diameter without border membrane, denticulate ring diameter, height of denticle. However no correlation significance between body diameter and number of denticles was found

The influence of probiotic bacteria and human gut microorganisms causing opportunistic infections on Blastocystis ST3

Abstract Background Blastocystis subtype 3 is an intestinal protist present in humans throughout the world with a controversial pathogenic potential. It has been suggested that probiotic bacteria inhibit the multiplication of gut protozoans, while others are beneficial for their development. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the lactic acid bacteria Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactococcus lactis and Enterococcus faecium in Blastocystis ST3 eradication and the relevance of the intestinal microorganisms Escherichia coli, Candida albicans and Candida glabrata in protozoan proliferation. Blastocystis xenic and axenic culture was co-incubated with the above-mentioned microorganisms and their cell free supernatants at different concentrations in vitro. The number of protozoan cells was counted every day. Results Both experiments, with xenic and axenic cultures, showed Blastocystis inhibition by L. rhamnosus and L. lactis and their supernatants from the 2nd day of co-incubation. Furthermore, co-incubation with both E. faecium and E. coli showed a beneficial influence on Blastocystis during the first 2 days. Only after 3 days did the above-mentioned bacteria start to inhibit Blastocystis growth in both cultures. The supernatant containing the metabolites of E. coli was effective to a lesser degree. Compared to the control samples, co-incubation with both C. albicans and C. glabrata showed a faster decrease in Blastocystis proliferation, but this was not statistically significant. Conclusions This study has shown the potential of using L. rhamnosus and L. lactis, as well as E. faecium as a prophylactic treatment against Blastocystis colonization or as an additional treatment regimen in combination with standard drugs