Molecular and morphological detection of Plasmodium species in wild macaques in Selangor, Malaysia

Malaria is a serious global health problem, and rapid, accurate diagnosis is required to control the disease. A number of methods have been developed in recent years for diagnosing this disease, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based technique that detect specific nucleic acid sequences, and microscopic examination of thin blood films that remains the most widely and commonly used method. In this study, blood samples were collected from 125 wild macaques consisting of 18 Macaca nemestrina and 107 M. fasicularis from various areas of Selangor. Giemsa-stained thin blood films (TBF) were prepared, and PCR using Plasmodium genus-specific primers for initial amplification and nested species-specific primers for Plasmodium knowlesi was conducted on all the blood samples. The prevalence of Plasmodium by TBF was 1.9% in M. fasicularis and 27.8% in M. nemestrina. The molecular prevalence of Plasmodium was 64.5% in M. fasicularis and 100% in M. nemestrina. When P. knowlesi-specific PCR was carried out, the prevalence in M. nemestrina was 5.6%, whereas in M. fasicularis it was 23.3%. These results indicate that the local wild macaques harbor a high rate of infection of Plasmodium. In addition, the prevalence of P. knowlesi, the zoonotic malaria parasite is higher than previously assumed. This warrants further investigation as these macaques may be potential reservoirs of human malaria in Malaysia

Coprological diagnosis of gastrointestinal parasites in captive primates in Peninsular Malaysia.

The present study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in captive primate populations in three Zoos in Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 52 faecal samples were collected from the enclosures of five species of local primates comprising Orang Utans (Pongo pygmaeus), White-Handed Gibbons (Hylobates lar), Siamangs (Symphalangus syndactylus), Stump-tail Macaques (Macaca arctoides) and Slow Loris (Nycticebus coucang). The samples were subjected to Formal-Ether sedimentation, Ziehl-Neelsen and Giemsa staining for microscopy detection of helminth ova and protozoan cysts. PCR with species-specific primers were used to detect Cryptosporidium. A total of 46 (88%) faecal samples were positive for various parasites by microscopy. The most common parasite harboured by the captive primates was Entamoeba (65.4%), followed by Strongyles (40.4%), Strongyloides (15.4%) and Cryptosporidium (9.6%). Balantidium and Trichuris showed relatively low infection rates (1.9%). PCR assay had a higher sensitivity (15.4%) for the detection of Cryptosporidium compared to conventional microscopy and Ziehl-Neelsen staining (9.6%). The high rate of infection with Entamoeba and Cryptosporidium, and the presence of Balantidium in the captive primates are of concern as they pose a potential zoonotic risk to animal handlers, keepers and the public

Cross-species amplification study of Tor douronensis and Tor tambroides using microsatellites from other cyprinids

This study examined twenty six microsatellite primers developed from three cyprinid fishes (Cyprinus carpio, Barbus barbus and Barbonymus gonionotus) in two indigenous mahseer, Tor douronensis and T. tambroides. A total of 10 (38%) and 12 (46%) primers were successfully amplified producing four and five polymorphic loci in T. douronensis and T. tambroides, respectively. The number of alleles per locus ranging from 2 to 5 and 2 to 7 in T. douronensis and T. tambroides, respectively. A significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) was observed at three loci (Barb37, Barb59 and Barb62) in one or more populations in T. tambroides while two loci (Barb37 and Barb62) were deviated in T. douronensis population of Batang Ai. Bayesian cluster analysis performed with STRUCTURE showed that the most likely K value identified was K = 2 with no evidence of population substructuring, similar to those identified by the UPGMA dendrogram. The low genetic distances among populations were also supported by low interpopulation genetic differences (FST) among pairwise populations in both mahseer. Overall, the identified microsatellite loci exhibit promise for use in fine scale population structure analysis of T. douronensis and T. tambroides natural populations

APOE Promoter Polymorphism-219T/G is an Effect Modifier of the Influence of APOE ε4 on Alzheimer's Disease Risk in a Multiracial Sample

Variants in the APOE gene region may explain ethnic differences in the association of Alzheimer's disease (AD) with ε4. Ethnic differences in allele frequencies for three APOE region SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) were identified and tested for association in 19,398 East Asians (EastA), including Koreans and Japanese, 15,836 European ancestry (EuroA) individuals, and 4985 African Americans, and with brain imaging measures of cortical atrophy in sub-samples of Koreans and EuroAs. Among ε4/ε4 individuals, AD risk increased substantially in a dose-dependent manner with the number of APOE promoter SNP rs405509 T alleles in EastAs (TT: OR (odds ratio) = 27.02, p = 8.80 × 10-94; GT: OR = 15.87, p = 2.62 × 10-9) and EuroAs (TT: OR = 18.13, p = 2.69 × 10-108; GT: OR = 12.63, p = 3.44 × 10-64), and rs405509-T homozygotes had a younger onset and more severe cortical atrophy than those with G-allele. Functional experiments using APOE promoter fragments demonstrated that TT lowered APOE expression in human brain and serum. The modifying effect of rs405509 genotype explained much of the ethnic variability in the AD/ε4 association, and increasing APOE expression might lower AD risk among ε4 homozygotes

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

Personalised Dosing Using the CURATE.AI Algorithm: Protocol for a Feasibility Study in Patients with Hypertension and Type II Diabetes Mellitus

10.3390/ijerph19158979INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH191

Chapter of Gastroenterologists professional guidance for management of patients with liver disease in Singapore during the COVID-19 pandemic

10.11622/smedj.2020069SINGAPORE MEDICAL JOURNAL6112619-62