Current Advances in Detection and Treatment of Babesiosis

Babesiosis is a disease with a world-wide distribution affecting many species of mammals principally cattle and man. The major impact occurs in the cattle industry where bovine babesiosis has had a huge economic effect due to loss of meat and beef production of infected animals and death. Nowadays to those costs there must be added the high cost of tick control, disease detection, prevention and treatment. In almost a century and a quarter since the first report of the disease, the truth is: there is no a safe and efficient vaccine available, there are limited chemotherapeutic choices and few low-cost, reliable and fast detection methods. Detection and treatment of babesiosis are important tools to control babesiosis. Microscopy detection methods are still the cheapest and fastest methods used to identify Babesia parasites although their sensitivity and specificity are limited. Newer immunological methods are being developed and they offer faster, more sensitive and more specific options to conventional methods, although the direct immunological diagnoses of parasite antigens in host tissues are still missing. Detection methods based on nucleic acid identification and their amplification are the most sensitive and reliable techniques available today; importantly, most of those methodologies were developed before the genomics and bioinformatics era, which leaves ample room for optimization. For years, babesiosis treatment has been based on the use of very few drugs like imidocarb or diminazene aceturate. Recently, several pharmacological compounds were developed and evaluated, offering new options to control the disease. With the complete sequence of the Babesia bovis genome and the B. bigemina genome project in progress, the post-genomic era brings a new light on the development of diagnosis methods and new chemotherapy targets. In this review, we will present the current advances in detection and treatment of babesiosis in cattle and other animals, with additional reference to several apicomplexan parasites

Bovipain-2, the falcipain-2 ortholog, is expressed in intraerythrocytic stages of the tick-transmitted hemoparasite Babesia bovis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cysteine proteases have been shown to be highly relevant for Apicomplexan parasites. In the case of <it>Babesia bovis</it>, a tick-transmitted hemoparasite of cattle, inhibitors of these enzymes were shown to hamper intraerythrocytic replication of the parasite, underscoring their importance for survival.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Four papain-like cysteine proteases were found to be encoded by the <it>B. bovis </it>genome using the MEROPS database. One of them, the ortholog of <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>falcipain-2, here named bovipain-2, was further characterized. Bovipain-2 is encoded in <it>B. bovis </it>chromosome 4 by an ORF of 1.3 kb, has a predicted molecular weight of 42 kDa, and is hydrophilic with the exception of a transmembrane region. It has orthologs in several other apicomplexans, and its predicted amino acid sequence shows a high degree of conservation among several <it>B. bovis </it>isolates from North and South America. Synteny studies demonstrated that the <it>bovipain-2 </it>gene has expanded in the genomes of two related piroplasmids, <it>Theileria parva </it>and <it>T. annulata</it>, into families of 6 and 7 clustered genes respectively. The <it>bovipain-2 g</it>ene is transcribed in <it>in vitro </it>cultured intra-erythrocyte forms of a virulent and an attenuated <it>B. bovis </it>strain from Argentina, and has no introns, as shown by RT-PCR followed by sequencing. Antibodies against a recombinant form of bovipain-2 recognized two parasite protein bands of 34 and 26 kDa, which coincide with the predicted sizes of the pro-peptidase and mature peptidase, respectively. Immunofluorescence studies showed an intracellular localization of bovipain-2 in the middle-rear region of <it>in vitro </it>cultured merozoites, as well as diffused in the cytoplasm of infected erythrocytes. Anti-bovipain-2 antibodies also reacted with <it>B. bigemina</it>-infected erythrocytes giving a similar pattern, which suggests cross-reactivity among these species. Antibodies in sera of two out of six <it>B. bovis</it>-experimentally infected bovines tested, reacted specifically with recombinant bovipain-2 in immunoblots, thus demonstrating expression and immunogenicity during bovine-infecting stages.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Overall, we present the characterization of bovipain-2 and demonstrate its <it>in vitro </it>and <it>in vivo </it>expression in virulent and attenuated strains. Given the involvement of apicomplexan cysteine proteases in essential parasite functions, bovipain-2 constitutes a new vaccine candidate and potential drug target for bovine babesiosis.</p

Validation and field evaluation of a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for diagnosis of Babesia bovis infections in Argentina

Infections by Babesia bovis limit cattle production and cause important economic losses in tropical and subtropical areas around the world. Monitoring of calf sera can be used to detect unprotected cattle herds and to decide on strategic control measures, as well as for epidemiological studies. Merozoite surface antigen 2c (MSA-2c) is an immunodominant surface protein expressed in B. bovis merozoites and sporozoites and contains B-cell epitopes that are conserved among geographic isolates. A monoclonal antibody against recombinant MSA-2c (rMSA-2c) was previously shown to inhibit the binding of anti-B. bovis antibodies to a parasite B-cell epitope in a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) format. In the work at hand, the parameters of this cELISA were reevaluated and adjusted when necessary, and a cutoff value was determined by receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of a total of 357 bovine sera of known reactivity, as assessed by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFAT). The established rMSA-2c cELISA demonstrated a specificity of 98% and a sensitivity of 96.2%. An additional set of 303 field bovine sera from regions where ticks are endemic and tick-free regions of Argentina was tested by both rMSA-2c cELISA and IFAT, and the results were shown to be in very good agreement (kappa index, 0.8325). The performance shown by rMSA-2c cELISA in the detection of B. bovis-specific antibodies and its suitability for standardization and large-scale production, as well as the possibility of its application in most veterinary diagnostic laboratories, make the assay a powerful tool for the surveillance of herd immunity as a strategic measure for the control of bovine babesiosis.Fil: Dominguez, Mariana Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Patobiología; ArgentinaFil: Echaide, Ignacio Eduardo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Santa Fe. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela; ArgentinaFil: Torioni de Echaide, Susana Marta. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Santa Fe. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela; ArgentinaFil: Wilkowsky, Silvina Elizabeth. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Biotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Zabal, Osvaldo Alfredo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Virología; ArgentinaFil: Mosqueda, Juan J.. Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro.; MéxicoFil: Schnittger, Leonhard. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Patobiología; ArgentinaFil: Jacobsen, Monica Ofelia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Patobiología; Argentin

Observations About the Seismic Response of RC Buildings in Mexico City

Over 2000 buildings were surveyed by members of the Colegio de Ingenieros (CICM) and Sociedad Mexicana de Ingenieria Estructural (SMIE) in Mexico City following the Puebla-Morelos Earthquake of 2017. This inventory of surveyed buildings included nearly 40 collapses and over 600 buildings deemed to have structural damage. Correlation of damage with peak ground acceleration (PGA), peak ground velocity (PGV), predominant spectral period, building location, and building properties including height, estimated stiffness, and presence of walls or retrofits was investigated for the surveyed buildings. The evidence available suggests that (1) ground motion intensity (PGV) drove the occurrence of damage and (2) buildings with more infill and stiff retrofit systems did better than other buildings

Engaging Undergraduates in Science Research: Not Just About Faculty Willingness.

Despite the many benefits of involving undergraduates in research and the growing number of undergraduate research programs, few scholars have investigated the factors that affect faculty members' decisions to involve undergraduates in their research projects. We investigated the individual factors and institutional contexts that predict faculty members' likelihood of engaging undergraduates in their research project(s). Using data from the Higher Education Research Institute's 2007-2008 Faculty Survey, we employ hierarchical generalized linear modeling to analyze data from 4,832 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) faculty across 194 institutions to examine how organizational citizenship behavior theory and social exchange theory relate to mentoring students in research. Key findings show that faculty who work in the life sciences and those who receive government funding for their research are more likely to involve undergraduates in their research project(s). In addition, faculty at liberal arts or historically Black colleges are significantly more likely to involve undergraduate students in research. Implications for advancing undergraduate research opportunities are discussed

Consecuencias del estrés calórico sobre la reproducción del ganado vacuno

Heat stress represents one of the major environmental factors that adversely affect the reproductive performance of cattle. In this paper the behavioral adjustments, physical mechanisms and physiological responses to heat loss are described; bos indicus adaptive advantages with respect to bos Taurus, pathophysiology of heat stress and heat stress effects in animal reproduction, both the male and the female.El estrés calórico representa unos de los principales factores del medio ambiente que repercuten negativamente en el desempeño reproductivo del ganado vacuno. En este trabajo se describen los ajustes conductuales, mecanismos físicos y respuestas fisiológicas para la pérdida calórica; ventajas adaptativas del bos indicus con respecto al bos Taurus, fisiopatología del estrés calórico y repercusiones del estrés calórico en la reproducción animal, tanto en el macho como en la hembra

Oral Melanoacanthoma And Oral Melanotic Macule: A Report Of 8 Cases, Review Of The Literature, And Immunohistochemical Analysis

Oral melanoacanthoma (MA) is a rare, benign pigmented lesion, similar to cutaneous MA, characterized by hyperplasia of spinous keratinocytes and dendritic melanocytes. The pathogenesis of oral MA remains uncertain, although its clinical behavior is suggestive of a reactive origin. The most common intraoral sites are the buccal mucosa, lip, palate and gingiva. The average age of presentation is 28 years, mainly in blacks, with a strong female predilection. The oral melanotic macule (MM) is a small, well-circumscribed brown-to-black macule that occurs on the lips and mucous membranes. The etiology is not clear and it may represent a physiologic or reactive process. The average age of presentation is 43 years, with a female predilection. A biopsy is recommended to distinguish these lesions from each other and from other oral melanocytic lesions. We depict four cases each of oral MA and MM, affecting Caucasian and Latin American mestizo patients. The clinicopathological features of these cases reflect its ample spectrum, and to the best of our knowledge, it is the first example of oral MA affecting a Caucasian boy reported in the English literature. Therefore oral MA and MM should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pigmented lesions in the oral mucosa in these populations. © Medicina Oral.125E374E379Mishima, Y., Pinkus, H., Benign mixed tumor of melanocytes and malpighian cells. Melanoacanthoma: Its relationship to Bloch's benign non-nevoid melanoepithelioma (1960) Arch Dermatol, 81, pp. 539-550Buchner, A., Merrell, P.W., Carpenter, W.M., Relative frequency of solitary melanocytic lesions of the oral mucosa (2004) J Oral Pathol Med, 33, pp. 550-557Wright, J.M., Binnie, W.H., Byrd, D.L., Dunsworth, A.R., Intraoral melanoacanthomas (1983) J Periodontol, 54, pp. 107-111Buchner, A., Merrell, P., Hanson, L., Leider, A., Melanocytic hyperplasia of the oral mucosa (1991) Oral Surg, Oral Med Oral Pathol, 71, pp. 58-62Wright, J.M., Intraoral melanoacanthoma: A reactive melanocytic hyperplasia. Case report (1988) J Periodontol, 59, pp. 53-55Tomich, C., Zunt, S.L., Melanoacanthosis (melanoacanthoma) of the oral mucosa (1990) J Dermatol Surg Oncol, 16, pp. 231-236Contreras, E., Carlos, R., Oral melanoacanthosis (melanoachantoma): Report of a case and review of the literature (2005) Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal, 10 (1), pp. 11-12,9-11Fornatora, M.L., Reich, R.F., Haber, S., Solomon, F., Freedman, P.D., Oral melanoacanthomas: A report of 10 cases, review of the literature, and immunohistochemical analysis for HMB-45 reactivity (2003) Am J Dermatopathol, 25, pp. 12-15Matsuoka, L.Y., Glasser, S., Barsky, S., Melanoacanthoma of the lip (1979) Arch Dermatol, 115, pp. 1116-1117Goode, R.K., Crawford, B.E., Callihan, M.D., Neville, B.W., Oral melanoacanthoma. Review of the literature and report of ten cases (1983) Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol, 56, pp. 622-628Scheneider, L.C., Mesa, M.L., Haber, S.M., Melanoacanthoma of the oral mucosa (1981) Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol, 52, pp. 284-287Fatahzadeh, M., Sirois, D.A., Multiple intraoral melanoacanthomas: A case report with unusual findings (2002) Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod, 94, pp. 54-56Ho, K.K., Dervan, P., O'Loughlin, S., Powell, F.C., Labial melanotic macule: A clinical, histopathologic, and ultrastructural study (1993) J Am Acad of Dermatol, 28, pp. 33-39Sexton, F.M., Maize, J.C., Melanotic macules and melanoacanthomas of the lip. A comparative study with census of the basal melanocyte population (1987) Am J Dermatopathol, 9, pp. 438-444Horlick, H.P., Walther, R.R., Zegarelli, D.J., Silvers, D.N., Eliezri, Y.D., Mucosal melanotic macule, reactive type: A simulation of melanoma (1988) J Am Acad Dermatol, 19, pp. 786-791Buchner, A., Hansen, L.S., Pigmented nevi of the oral mucosa: A clinicopathologic study of 32 new cases and review of 75 cases from the literature: Part I. A clinicopathologic study of 32 new cases (1979) Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol, 48, pp. 131-142Barker, B.F., Carpenter, W.M., Daniels, T.E., Kahn, M.A., Leider, A.S., Lozada-Nur, F., (1997) Oral mucosal melanomas: The WESTOP Banff workshop proceedings, 83, pp. 672-679. , Western Society of Teachers of Oral Pathology. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol EndodBarrett, A.W., Raja, A.M., The immunohistochemical identification of human oral mucosal melanocytes (1997) Arch Oral Biol, 42, pp. 77-8

Competitividad de las unidades de producción rural en santo domingo Teojomulco y san Jacinto Tlacotepec, sierra sur, Oaxaca, México

In the Sierra Sur region of the state of Oaxaca, México, high indexes of marginalization and poverty prevail. This situation is influenced by several factors, one of them being the low competitiveness of rural production units. The objective of this study was to determine the level of competitiveness of families and to identify the variables that determine it. A survey was carried out with heads of households in Santo Domingo Teojomulco and San Jacinto Tlacotepec, complemented with visits and informal meetings. The competitiveness per productive unit was quantified through the Private Cost Relation (Relación de Costo Privado, RCP), and a multiple linear regression model was formulated where competitiveness was the dependent variable. The results indicated that 83 % of the production units are not competitive, since although their net profit is positive, the added value is insufficient to cover the production factors. Competitiveness is determined by factors such as the cost of labor, auto-consumption, sales, cash expenses, subsidies and maize productivity. In order to improve competitiveness, increasing and diversifying land productivity with technological improvement is required, as well as fostering a higher level of auto-consumption and participation in the market.En la región Sierra Sur del estado de Oaxaca, México, prevalecen elevados índices de marginación y pobreza. Esta situación es influenciada por varios factores, uno de ellos es la baja competitividad de las unidades de producción rural. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar el nivel de competitividad de las familias e identificar las variables que la determinan. Se realizó una encuesta a jefes de familia de Santo Domingo Teojomulco y San Jacinto Tlacotepec, complementada con recorridos y reuniones informales. Se cuantificó la competitividad por unidad productiva mediante la Relación de Costo Privado (RCP), y se formuló un modelo de regresión lineal múltiple en donde la competitividad fue la variable dependiente. Los resultados indicaron que 83 % de las unidades de producción no son competitivas, ya que aunque su ganancia neta es positiva, el valor agregado es insuficiente para cubrir los factores de producción. La competitividad está determinada por factores como el costo de mano de obra, el autoconsumo, las ventas, los gastos en efectivo, los subsidios y la productividad del maíz. Para mejorar la competitividad se requiere incrementar y diversificar la productividad de la tierra con mejoras tecnológicas, y propiciar mayor nivel de autoconsumo y participación en el mercado