Nationwide Seroprevalence Survey of Angiostrongylus vasorum-Derived Antigens and Specific Antibodies in Dogs from Colombia

Angiostrongylus vasorum is a cardiopulmonary nematode, causing several clinical manifestations in dogs, e.g., severe respiratory signs, coagulopathy, and gastrointestinal or neurological signs. In the last decades, this parasite has been described to spread and emerge in Europe and North America. Scant studies on A. vasorum occurrence in South America exist. Recently, A. vasorum was detected in gastropod intermediate hosts in Colombia, where data on definitive host prevalence, e.g., dogs and wild canids, are still limited. Therefore, the sera of 955 dogs, varying in age and breed from seven different departments all over Colombia, were collected and analysed for A. vasorum antigens and parasite-specific antibodies by ELISA. In total, 1.05 % (n = 10; 95 % CI 0.40–1.69) of the samples were antigen-positive and 2.62 % (n = 25; 95 % CI 1.61–3.63) were antibody-positive. These results confirm the presence of A. vasorum in Colombia, although positive results in antigen and antibody reactions in the same dog were not detected. This study is the first large-scale survey on A. vasorum seroprevalences in dogs from Colombia

Overuse of medical care in paediatrics: A survey from five countries in the European Academy of Pediatrics.

Studies and initiatives such as the "Choosing wisely" (CW) campaign emphasise evidence-based investigations and treatment to avoid overdiagnosis and overtreatment. The perception of the extent of medical overactivity among professionals and drivers behind are not well studied in the paediatric field. Aim We aimed to investigate the physicians' opinion and clarify the main drivers regarding medical overactivity in member countries of the European Academy of Paediatrics (EAP). Methods In this study, paediatricians, paediatric residents, primary care paediatricians, and family doctors treating children were surveyed in Norway, Lithuania, Ukraine, Italy, and Switzerland. Over-investigation was defined as "diagnostic work-up or referral that is unlikely to provide information which is relevant for a patient" and overtreatment was defined as "treatment that does not benefit or can harm more than benefit the patient." The original questionnaire was developed in 2018 by a working group from the Norwegian Paediatric Association. Results Overall, 1,416 medical doctors participated in the survey, ranging from 144 in Lithuania to 337 in Switzerland. 83% stated that they experienced over-investigation/overtreatment, and 81% perceived this as a problem. The majority (83%) perceived expectations from family and patients as the most important driver for overtreatment in their country. Other drivers for overuse were use of national guidelines/recommendations, worry for reactions, and reduction of uncertainty. Conclusion This is the first study investigating knowledge and attitude toward medical overactivity in European countries. Despite different cultural and economic environments, the patterns and drivers of increased investigations and medicalisation are similar

Fifth European Dirofilaria and Angiostrongylus Days (FiEDAD) 2016

Peer reviewe

Vakuum-Reposition einer Pingpong-Fraktur beim Neugeborenen

Schädelimpressionen beim Neugeborenen können pränatal oder perinatal, dann meist im Rahmen einer instrumentell-assistierten Geburt, entstehen und sind insgesamt selten. Traditionell werden solche Frakturen operativ versorgt. Wir machen mit diesem Fall auf eine einfache und sichere Methode der geschlossenen Reposition aufmerksam

High-resolution integrated stratigraphy of the Hauterivian in Umbria-Marche (Central Italy)

Lower Cretaceous Hauterivian sediments are found in Central Italy as part of the Maiolica Fm. These sediments present strongly contrasting lithologies. From the original radiolarian calcareous ooze that constituted the bulk of the initial deposits, biogenic silica exclusively migrated in cherts, while calcium carbonate reprecipitated into the limestones. Moreover, thin black shale levels and stylolites are enriched in insoluble elements and minerals, which contrast with the nearly pure limestone and chert (> 90 % CaCO3 and SiO2 respectively, mainly negative magnetic susceptibility for both). In this context, as part of the CRASH (Checking the Reproducibility of Astrochronology in the Hauterivian) project, we are testing whether a Milankovitch imprint is preserved through these lithologies, despite the diagenetic processes implied by their contrasting nature. High-resolution sampling was performed for cyclo- and magnetostratigraphic purposes in order to avoid the accumulation of positioning uncertainty coming from compiling heterogeneous data sets. To deal with the data in a comprehensive way we developed the StratigrapheR package, available in the free software environment R (https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=StratigrapheR). It is designed to generate lithologs and to process stratigraphical information for cyclostratigraphy. For the investigated sections it allowed to create high-resolution logs that can be queried in the R environment. As the high-resolution lithologs show all the features observed in the field they can be used to reduce the positioning uncertainties for future field missions as much as possible. Additionally they can be used to compare overlapping parts of different sections. Our preliminary work allows to correlate bundles of thin black shale sequences between two sections spanning overlapping deposition intervals, using magnetostratigraphy as a stratigraphic reference. This is further confirmed by organic matter (OM) analyses, showing similar OM preservation trends between the sections. On the other hand chert layers patterns are more difficult to match between sections. Similarities can be found using the black shale levels as reference, but discrepancies are equally frequent. The ubiquity and regularity of chert layering make it generally difficult to identify any specific pattern. Furthermore we document the "Weissert" and Faraoni events in our sections. Both present a decrease of the natural remanent magnetisation intensity, which would imply an effect of these events on magnetite. Magnetite is indeed the main contributor for the primary component of magnetisation in the Maiolica Fm. (Channell et al., 1995). The Faraoni level also marks a decrease in the concentration of lithogenic elements and in magnetic susceptibility. References Channell J. E. T., Cecca F. & Erba E. 1995. Correlations of Hauterivian and Barremian (Early Cretaceous) Stage Boundaries to Polarity Chrons. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett, 134, 125–40

Progressive increase in organic-matter burial and preservation from the “Weissert” event to the Faraoni event in Umbria-Marche (central Italy)

The Cretaceous experienced several Oceanic Anoxic Events (or OAEs). Anoxia in these events is indicated by deposits of black shales, enriched in organic matter (OM) compared to the layers below and above, strong carbon isotope perturbations, often with a negative excursion at the onset of the OAEs followed by a positive excursion, and concentration of redox-sensitive trace-elements (RSTE) (Baudin & Riquier 2014). Considered to be the earliest Cretaceous OAE (Baudin & Riquier, 2014), the Faraoni level is a short event first defined in the late Hauterivian sections of the Umbria-Marche Apennines (Cecca et al. 1994). It presents black shales enriched in OM with high concentrations of RSTE but lacks an important positive δ13C excursion (Baudin & Riquier, 2014). This event follows the “Weissert” event, a ca. 2.3 million year carbon isotope perturbation event taking place during the late Valanginian-early Hauterivian (Sprovieri et al. 2006). This latter event is not considered to be an OAE, as anoxia indicators such as RSTE high concentrations or OM-rich layers are not observed at least in the western Tethys (Westermann et al. 2010). In order to link those two seemingly opposite events, sections of Late Valanginian to Early Barremian age were studied in the Umbria-Marche Apennines, Italy. Lesser magnitude black shales preceding the Faraoni level were identified. They were correlated in two sections using magnetostratigraphy (Fig. 1). Rock-Eval and palynofacies analyses reveal that they are part of a longer-term trend of increased organic matter preservation and burial. In the black shales this is hinted by a progressive increase of total organic carbon (TOC) content, of the hydrogen index (HI), and by increasingly better preserved amorphous organic matter (AOM) towards the Faraoni level (Fig.1). This increase starts in the upper part of the M5n magnetochron. This is coeval with an increase in mercury concentration interpreted to be due to volcanic activity that was measured among others in the Bosso section (Charbonnier et al., 2018). Palaeoenvironmental differences between the Bosso and Frontone sections are shown by differences in palynomorphs and in organic matter preservation, and by the presence of slumps found in Frontone only

Depressive symptoms, perceived social support, and prothrombotic measures in patients with venous thromboembolism

Psychosocial factors have been associated with both a prothrombotic state and an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). We examined the relation of depressive symptoms and social support with D-dimer, an integrative measure of enhanced coagulation activity, and several additional prothrombotic measures in patients with VTE

Nationwide Seroprevalence Survey of Angiostrongylus vasorum-Derived Antigens and Specific Antibodies in Dogs from Colombia

Angiostrongylus vasorum is a cardiopulmonary nematode, causing several clinical manifestations in dogs, e.g., severe respiratory signs, coagulopathy, and gastrointestinal or neurological signs. In the last decades, this parasite has been described to spread and emerge in Europe and North America. Scant studies on A. vasorum occurrence in South America exist. Recently, A. vasorum was detected in gastropod intermediate hosts in Colombia, where data on definitive host prevalence, e.g., dogs and wild canids, are still limited. Therefore, the sera of 955 dogs, varying in age and breed from seven different departments all over Colombia, were collected and analysed for A. vasorum antigens and parasite-specific antibodies by ELISA. In total, 1.05 % (n = 10; 95 % CI 0.40–1.69) of the samples were antigen-positive and 2.62 % (n = 25; 95 % CI 1.61–3.63) were antibody-positive. These results confirm the presence of A. vasorum in Colombia, although positive results in antigen and antibody reactions in the same dog were not detected. This study is the first large-scale survey on A. vasorum seroprevalences in dogs from Colombia

Immunoglobulin E and Eosinophil-Dependent Protective Immunity to Larval Onchocerca volvulus in Mice Immunized with Irradiated Larvae

Mice immunized with irradiated Onchocerca volvulus third-stage larvae developed protective immunity. Eosinophil levels were elevated in the parasite microenvironment at the time of larval killing, and measurements of total serum antibody levels revealed an increase in the immunoglobulin E (IgE) level in immunized mice. The goal of the present study was to identify the role of granulocytes and antibodies in the protective immune response to the larval stages of O. volvulus in mice immunized with irradiated larvae. Immunity did not develop in mice if granulocytes, including both neutrophils and eosinophils, were eliminated, nor did it develop if only eosinophils were eliminated. Moreover, larvae were killed in naïve interleukin-5 transgenic mice, and the killing coincided with an increase in the number of eosinophils and the eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) level in the animals. To determine if EPO was required for protective immunity, mice that were genetically deficient in EPO were immunized, and there were no differences in the rates of parasite recovery in EPO-deficient mice and wild-type mice. Two mouse strains were used to study B-cell function; μMT mice lacked all mature B cells, and Xid mice had deficiencies in the B-1 cell population. Immunity did not develop in the μMT mice but did develop in the Xid mice. Finally, protective immunity was abolished in mice treated to eliminate IgE from the blood. We therefore concluded that IgE and eosinophils are required for adaptive protective immunity to larval O. volvulus in mice

Integrated results of the new material from the 2002-2003 boreholes in Bernissart (Mons, Hainaut).

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