Histophagous scuticociliatids (Ciliophora) parasitizing turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.). Morphology, in vitro culture and virulence

Systemic ciliatosis caused by histophagous ciliates constitutes a serious disease of cultured turbot. Six ciliate isolates were obtained from parasitized turbot during six epizootics at four different farms located in Spain, France and Portugal. Axenic cultures of the six isolates were obtained by periodical subculturing in ATCC 1651MA or supplemented L-15 media. In basal media or seawater, the parasites could survive starving for long periods with no apparent proliferation. In adequate media, growth kinetics was found to be very similar for isolates A and B, with a clear influence of temperature. Morphological studies demonstrated that all isolates share common features that allows their assignment to either Philasterides Kahl, 1931 or Miamiensis Thompson et Moewus, 1964. However, statistically significant differences were evident in pairwise comparisons of the isolates from the four farm sites in 16 taxonomically relevant morphometric features. This could allow the discrimination of different species or strains. Virulence of isolates A and B for healthy turbot was tested in several experiments. Differences in the virulence were especially evident after long-term in vitro culturing, isolate A being clearly attenuated after 35-42 passages, whereas isolate B became more virulent after 20-42 passages. The need of further studies to confirm such virulence variability and its implications in pathogenesis and prevention of turbot scuticociliatoses is stressed.This study was partly funded by project PTR1995-0604-OP from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología. Additional support was obtained from Stolt Sea Farm, S.A. and Isidro de la Cal, S.L. We thank Mª Luisa Alonso for her assistance in laboratory maintenance and processing of ciliates. The authors are grateful to Dr. Lluis Tort (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona) for kindly facilitating the use of experimental fish-holding facilities, and to Ana Teijido and María Vázquez for their skilled help in some virulence trials. SEM processing and observation were assisted bythe Servicio Central de Soporte a la Investigación Experimental(SCSIE) at the Universitat de València.Peer reviewe

Spondylarthrite ankylosante : état des lieux de l’accompagnement des patients en officine et perspectives d’évolution

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an autoimmune, inflammatory and chronic disease targeting entheses. It is classified as chronic inflammatory rheumatism. Its medical care is very recent in pharmacies in France. In addition to the most well-known non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug therapies, a new therapeutic class as a disease-modifying treatment appeared in pharmacies in the 2000s: the anti-TNFα. Biosimilars medecines also entered the distribution chain in pharmacies. The objective of this research / thesis is to make an assessment regarding patient care in the dispensaries and to make the pharmacist’s role fundamental in optimizing patient care through new missions / tasks. To this end, a study was carried out with patients suffering from AS and pharmacists through interviews. This survey led to several conclusions. First, the pharmacist's role could be improved still further concerning patient care. Then, the results confirmed the need for pharmacist training as well as the need to improve patient support and the importance to broaden the pharmacist’s missions to new roles/tasks. Last but not least, the expansion of pharmaceutical and confidential interviews between pharmacists and patients in need of advice and attention is another solution for this type of pathology.La spondylarthrite ankylosante (SA) est une maladie auto-immune, inflammatoire et chronique, ciblant les enthèses. Elle est classée comme rhumatisme inflammatoire chronique et est récente dans la prise en charge médicamenteuse au sein des officines. Outre les traitements plus connus tels que les anti-inflammatoires non stéroïdiens, une nouvelle classe thérapeutique comme traitement de fond a fait son apparition dans les années 2000 en officine : les anti-TNFα. Les biosimilaires font d’ailleurs leur entrée dans le circuit de ville. L’objectif de recherche est de faire un état des lieux de la prise en charge en officine de ces patients et de proposer des futures missions au pharmacien pour améliorer sa place dans le parcours de soin du patient. Pour cela une étude a été réalisée auprès de patients atteints de SA et de pharmaciens d’officine au moyen d’entretiens. Il ressort de cette enquête que le rôle du pharmacien reste perfectible dans cette prise en charge. Les résultats ont confirmé le besoin de formation des pharmaciens, la nécessité d’améliorer l’accompagnement des patients, et l’utilité d’ouvrir les missions du pharmacien à d’autres rôles. L’élargissement de l’entretien pharmaceutique dans un espace de confidentialité en est un exemple pour ce type de pathologie. En cause le besoin d’écoute et de conseil exprimés par les patients

Effets quantitatifs des fixateurs sur le stockage des ciliés d'eaux douces

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A new low cost microbiotest with the freshwater ciliate protozoan Spirostomum ambiguum - Definition of culturing conditions.

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Rapid Quantification of Planktonic Ciliates: Comparison of Improved Live Counting with Other Methods

The following efficient and quantitatively valid method to filter concentrate and count live planktonic ciliates was developed and compared with other treatments: unconcentrated (raw) samples and centrifuged samples were counted live, and the effects of five different fixatives (HgCl(2), Lugol's iodine, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, and Champy-DaFano) on the counts were monitored. Samples originated from a eutrophic mountain lake (Lake Aydat, near Clermont-Ferrand, France). Overall, live filtered counts were similar to counts of raw samples, but they were significantly higher (2 to 2.3 fold, P < 0.05) by analysis of variance than counts from centrifuged samples. Nevertheless, some taxa, i.e., Halteria and Loxodes spp., were sensitive to filtration. The live filtered counts were also comparable to counts of raw HgCl(2)-fixed and settled samples. HgCl(2) and Lugol fixation consistently gave the highest total counts, while significantly lower counts were always obtained with Champy-DaFano-fixed samples. Losses due to fixation were insignificant for raw samples but were substantial and statistically significant in concentrated samples (15% after filtration and 71% after centrifugation, compared with counts from the corresponding live samples). Live counting of passively filter-concentrated ciliates has many advantages over other methods. It is two to four times quicker and more efficient. Ciliates are recognized with certainty, more species are identified, and enumeration of dead organisms (e.g., tintinnid loricas) is avoided. It should be recommended as a quantitatively valid alternative to classical methods for assessing planktonic ciliate populations

Influence du traitement par la soude et de l'inoculation du cilié Polyplastron multivesiculatum dans le rumen sur la digestion d'un régime riche en glucides pariétaux

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Rôle of the rumen ciliate protozoa Polyplastron multivesiculatum, Entodinium sp. and Isotricha prostoma in the digestion of a mixed diet in sheep

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