CORYNOSOMA AUSTRALE JOHNSTON, 1937 AND C. CETACEUM JOHNSTON & BEST, 1942 (ACANTHOCEPHALA: POLYMORPHIDAE) FROM MARINE MAMMALS AND FISH IN ARGENTINIAN WATERS: ALLOZYME MARKERS AND TAXONOMIC STATUS

Genetic and morphological studies were carried out on acanthocephalans belonging to Corynosoma Luhe, 1904 and referable to the species C. cetaceum Johnston & Best, 1942 and C. australe Johnston, 1937, which were recovered from both definitive and intermediate hosts in Argentinian waters. The aims were to estimate the level of genetic differentiation between the two taxa at any stage of their life-cycle, to provide genetic ( allozyme) markers for their recognition and to analyse the systematic status of both taxa. Acanthocephalans were collected from the stomach and intestine of Arctocephalus australis (Zimmerman), the intestine of Mirounga leonina (Linnaeus) and the stomach of Pontoporia blainvillei Gervais & D'Orbigny (definitive hosts) in Argentinian waters. Alternative alleles at all the 13 enzymatic loci studied were observed for C. australe and C. cetaceum. The specimens from the stomach of both P. blainvillei and A. australis were identified, on the basis of the great number of diagnostic loci found, as C. cetaceum; those from intestine of both A. australis and M. leonina as C. australe. A high level of genetic differentiation (D-Nei= infinity: I-Nei= 0.00) between the two taxa was found, suggesting a generic distinction between the two species. Cystacanths of the two species from the body-cavity of the fish Cynoscion guatucupa (Cuvier) collected from the same geographical area were identified genetically. Morphological patterns, such as the number of hooks and hook rows on the proboscis, the distribution of somatic and genital armature, and other morphometric and meristic differences, in addition to ecological data, enabled the identification of these two species at cystacanth, juvenile and adult stages. However, a number of morphological and morphometric features of the Argentinian material were different to those of C. australe and C. cetaceum described from other regions of the world

Actinomycosis of the Tongue: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Background: Actinomycosis of the tongue is an uncommon, suppurative infection of lingual mucosa, caused by actinomyces. The clinical diagnosis may present serious difficulties because of its ability to mimic other lesions, including both benign and malignant neoplasms. Methods: Here, we describe the case of a 52-years-old patient affected by an asymptomatic, tumor-like tongue swelling, then diagnosed as actinomycosis. A review of tongue localization of actinomycosis is also reported, with emphasis on clinical findings and therapy. Results and Conclusion: Early diagnosis and treatment, with pus drainage and systemic antibiotic therapy, are pivotal to avoid severe and life-threatening complications

Relevamiento coproparasitológico de aceras y calles de la ciudad de Mar del Plata, Argentina

El objetivo del presente trabajo fue conocer el grado de parasitosis de la materia fecal canina existente en aceras y calles de dos zonas de la ciudad de Mar del Plata con distinta afluencia de personas (Céntrica y Periférica), identificar las especies de parásitos presentes y estudiar las variaciones entre los períodos pre–temporada, temporada y post–temporada turística. Durante los meses de diciembre de 2003, enero y marzo de 2004 se hallaron el mismo día y durante las primeras horas de la mañana, 351 muestras de heces caninas (286 en la zona Periférica y 65 en la zona Céntrica), de las que se colectó una submuestra de 36 de la zona Céntrica y 76 de la Periférica para su análisis coproparasitológico mediante técnicas de flotación–sedimentación. Se calcularon y se analizaron las prevalencias parasitarias totales y por especie de parásito para cada período y zona. La prevalencia parasitaria total registrada fue del 42,8%, (55,55% para la zona Céntrica y 36,84% para la Periférica). Se hallaron los siguientes parásitos, todos de importancia zoonótica: Entamoeba sp., Ancylostoma caninum, Trichurus vulpis, Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina y coccidios. En el período temporada en la zona Céntrica se registró la prevalencia significativamente más alta, con predominio de A. caninum. En la zona Periférica T. vulpis fue la especie más prevalente y las infestaciones de grado severo se registraron mayoritariamente en el período pre–temporada. Entamoeba sp. fue altamente prevalente en ambas áreas. Se discuten las implicancias del riesgo de infección parasitaria para las personas sanas, en especial para los niños y la importancia de tomar medidas sanitarias y educativas y de tenencia responsable de mascotas

Relevamiento parasitológico de areneros de jardines de infantes de Mar del Plata, Argentina

Uno de los ambientes más propicios para la transmisión de las zoonosis entre el hombre y los animales lo constituyen los areneros de jardines de infantes, sitios habituales de recreación para los niños y espacios frecuentes para la contaminación fecal de animales. Existen antecedentes de estudios parasitológicos realizados en areneros de plazas de la ciudad de Mar del Plata, pero hasta el momento no se cuenta con información para los areneros de jardines de infantes municipales. Los objetivos del presente estudio fueron evaluar el grado de contaminación parasitaria de tales areneros, identificar las especies de parásitos presentes y examinar las medidas de control sanitario que se ejercen sobre los mismos. Al azar, se colectaron muestras de arena de 25 jardines de infantes, entre los meses de octubre y noviembre de 2002. Se calculó la prevalencia de parásitos totales y las frecuencias de cada uno de ellos. Se calcularon los porcentajes de areneros parasitados en relación con las medidas de control sanitario implementadas en cada jardín de infantes. El 52% de los areneros presentó huevos u ooquistes de algunos de los siguientes parásitos: Uncinaria sp., Ancylostoma spp., coccidios y larvas no identificadas de nematodes parásitos. Del total de areneros, el 44% realizó algún tipo de tratamiento de control sanitario. El 36% de los areneros sujetos a medidas de control resultó contaminado por algunos de los parásitos mencionados anteriormente. Las altas prevalencias de areneros parasitados registradas en el presente trabajo, sumado a que los parásitos hallados son zoonóticos, indican que existe un riesgo sanitario potencial para la población, especialmente para los niños que concurren a los jardines de infantes. Los animales que ingresan frecuentemente a los establecimientos son de alto riesgo por la contaminación ambiental que provocan

Genetic evidence of two sibling species within the Contracoecum ogmorhini Johnson & Mawson 1941 complex (Nematoda; Anisakidae) from otariid seals in boreal and austral regions

Genetic variation of Contracaecum ogmorhini (sensu lato) populations from different otariid seals of the northern and southern hemisphere was studied on the basis of 18 enzyme loci as well as preliminary sequence analysis of the mitochondrial cyt b gene (260 bp). Samples were collected from Zalophus californianus in the boreal region and from Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus, A. pusillus doriferus and A. australis from the austral region. Marked genetic heterogeneity was found between C. ogmorhini (sensu lato) samples from the boreal and austral region, respectively. Two loci (Mdh-2 and NADHdh) showed fixed differences and a further three loci (Iddh, Mdh-1 and 6Pgdh) were highly differentiated between boreal and austral samples. Their average genetic distance was DNei = 0.36 at isozyme level. At mitochondrial DNA level, an average proportion of nucleotide substitution of 3.7% was observed. These findings support the existence of two distinct sibling species, for which the names C. ogmorhini (sensu stricto) and C. margolisi n. sp., respectively, for the austral and boreal taxon, are proposed. A description for C. margolisi n. sp. is provided. No diagnostic morphological characters have so far been detected; on the other hand, two enzyme loci, Mdh-2 and NADHdh, fully diagnostic between the two species, can be used for the routine identification of males, females and larval stages. Mirounga leonina was found to host C. ogmorhini (s.s.) inmixed infections with C. osculatum (s.l.) (of which C. ogmorhini (s.l.) was in the past considered to be a synonym) and C. miroungae; no hybrid genotypes were found,confirming the reproductive isolation of these three anisakid species. The hosts and geographical range so far recorded for C. margolisi n. sp. and C. ogmorhini (s.s.) are given

Vortex Matter Transition in Bi2{}_2Sr2{}_2CaCu2{}_2O8+y{}_{8+y} under Tilted Fields

Vortex phase diagram under tilted fields from the $c$ axis in Bi${}_2$Sr${}_2$CaCu${}_2$O${}_{8+y}$ is studied by local magnetization hysteresis measurements using Hall probes. When the field is applied at large angles from the $c$ axis, an anomaly ($H_p^\ast$) other than the well-known peak effect ($H_p$) are found at fields below $H_p$. The angular dependence of the field $H_p^\ast$ is nonmonotonic and clearly different from that of $H_p$ and depends on the oxygen content of the crystal. The results suggest existence of a vortex matter transition under tilted fields. Possible mechanisms of the transition are discussed.Comment: Revtex, 4 pages, some corrections are adde

A Clathrin light chain A reporter mouse for in vivo imaging of endocytosis

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) is one of the best studied cellular uptake pathways and its contributions to nutrient uptake, receptor signaling, and maintenance of the lipid membrane homeostasis have been already elucidated. Today, we still have a lack of understanding how the different components of this pathway cooperate dynamically in vivo. Therefore, we generated a reporter mouse model for CME by fusing eGFP endogenously in frame to clathrin light chain a (Clta) to track endocytosis in living mice. The fusion protein is expressed in all tissues, but in a cell specific manner, and can be visualized using fluorescence microscopy. Recruitment to nanobeads recorded by TIRF microscopy validated the functionality of the Clta-eGFP reporter. With this reporter model we were able to track the dynamics of Alexa594-BSA uptake in kidneys of anesthetized mice using intravital 2-photon microscopy. This reporter mouse model is not only a suitable and powerful tool to track CME in vivo in genetic or disease mouse models it can also help to shed light into the differential roles of the two clathrin light chain isoforms in health and disease