Effects of schistosoma mansoni worms and eggs on circulating cholesterol and liver lipids in mice

It has previously been shown that experimental infections of the parasitic trematode Schistosoma mansoni, the adult worms of which reside in the blood stream of the mammalian host, significantly reduced atherogenesis in apolipoprotein E gene knockout (apoE(-/-)) mice. These effects occurred in tandem with a lowering of serum total cholesterol levels in both apoE(-/-) and random-bred laboratory mice and a beneficial increase in the proportion of HDL to LDL cholesterol. To better understand how the parasitic infections induce these effects we have here investigated the involvement of adult worms and their eggs on lipids in the host. Our results indicate that the serum cholesterol-lowering effect is mediated by factors released from S. mansoni eggs, while the presence of adult worms seemed to have had little or no effect. It was also observed that high levels of lipids, particularly triacylglycerols and cholesteryl esters, present in the uninfected livers of both random-bred and apoE(-/-) mice fed a high-fat diet were not present in livers of the schistosome-infected mice. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Detection of Salmonella enteritidis in eggs by the polymerase chain reaction

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the specific detection of the gene sequence, sefA, encoded by all isolates of Salmonella enteritidis, was developed. The PCR could detect as few as four S enteritidis washed bacterial cells but egg contents inhibited the PCR. Eggs spiked with 50 S enteritidis bacterial cells were homogenised, inoculated into buffered peptone water and grown at 37 degrees C for 16 hours, when the PCR was successful. A positive internal control was developed to differentiate between true and false negative PCR results for the detection of S enteritidis. In a limited trial of the egg handling procedures and the PCR, one of 250 chickens' eggs from retail outlets was found to be contaminated with S enteritidis.

Analysis of wave phenomena in a morphogenetic mechanochemical model and an application to post-fertilization waves on eggs

Wave solutions to a mechanochemical model for cytoskeletal activity are studied and the results applied to the waves of chemical and mechanical activity that sweep over an egg shortly after fertilization. The model takes into account the calcium-controlled presence of actively contractile units in the cytoplasm, and consists of a viscoelastic force equilibrium equation and a conservation equation for calcium. Using piecewise linear caricatures, we obtain analytic solutions for travelling waves on a strip and demonstrate uiat the full nonlinear system behaves as predicted by the analytic solutions. The equations are solved on a sphere and the numerical results are similar to the analytic solutions. We indicate how the speed of the waves can be used as a diagnostic tool with which the chemical reactivity of the egg surface can be measured.

Increase of Cholesterol Oxidation and Decrease of PUFA as a Result of Thermal Processing and Storage in Eggs Enriched with n-3 Fatty Acids

In this work, cholesterol oxide formation and alteration of fatty acid composition were analyzed in n-3 enriched eggs under different storage periods and two temperatures. The eggs enriched with n-3 fatty acids were stored at 5 or 25 degrees C for 45 days and subsequently boiled or fried. For each treatment, 12 yolks were analyzed every 15 days including time zero. The concentrations of the cholesterol oxides 7-ketocholesterol, 7 beta-hydroxycholesterol, and 7 alpha-hydroxycholesterol increased during the storage period and were higher in fried eggs. Only the 7-ketocholesterol was affected by the storage temperature, and its concentration was highest in eggs stored at 25 degrees C. There was no significant difference in the contents of cholesterol and vitamin E at the different storage periods; however, the concentration of vitamin E decreased with thermal treatment. In addition, the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially 18:3, 20:5, and 22:6, were reduced throughout the storage at 5 and 25 degrees C.

Comparative study between the effects of hyaluronic acid and acid galactan purified from eggs of the mollusk Pomacea sp in wound healing

To compare the effect of hyaluronic acid (HA) and of AG on the healing of intestine wounds. Methods: The semi-purified extract of the eggs of the mollusc was obtained by fractionation with ammonium sulfate and purification for ion-exchange chromatography. The obtained galactans were eluted in water (neutral galactan) and in 0.1 and 0.2M NaCl (acidic galactans). The in vivo study was performed with 45 “Wistar” rats, separated in three groups (n=15). Solutions containing HA 1%, GA 1% or saline solution 0,9%, was placed topically on the sutures of wounds in the small intestine of the rats. After 05, 10 and 21 days the animals were sacrificed and biopsy of the healing tissue was done. Results: The hystologic grading was more significant for HA and AG groups when compared to the group C. AG stimulated the appearance of macrophages, giant cells and increase in the concentration of collagen in the area of the wound when compared to HA. Conclusion: The topical use of GA in intestinal wounds promoted the anticipation of events that are important in the wound healing

Morphology of the eggs and larvae of Cyphomyrmex transversus Emery (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Attini) and a note on the relationship with its symbiotic fungus

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Preferential infection sites of Cysticercus bovis in cattle experimentally infected with Taenia saginata eggs

The preferential sites of infection of Cysticercus bovis were evaluated in the skeletal muscle and entrails of 25 cattle that were experimentally infected with Taenia saginata (2 x 10(4) eggs). Two other animals were not inoculated (control). Ninety days after inoculation, all the cattle were euthanized. The carcasses were deboned and dissected into 26 anatomical sections (masseter muscles, brain, tongue, esophagus, heart, diaphragm, lungs, liver, kidneys, spleen, top sirloin butt, bottom sirloin butt, outside round, top (inside) round, transversus abdominus, top sirloin cap, strip loin, full tenderloin, eye of round, knuckle, shoulder clod, foreshank, shank, chuck, back ribs, and tail muscles). The dissected tissues were sliced into 5 mm sections. From the 25 cattle, 9258 C. bovis (cysticerci) were recovered; 75.02% (6946) of these were recovered from skeletal muscles and 24.98% (2312) from the entrails. A high parasitism level was found in the shoulder clod (12.55%), heart (11.02%), liver (9.48%), masseter muscles (8.51%), chuck (8.25%), strip loin and full tenderloin (7.26%), knuckle (6.63%), and back ribs (5.53%), totaling 69.23% (5738) of all of the detected cysticerci. on the other hand, there was a low C. bovis parasitism level in the brain, spleen, tail muscles, kidneys, esophagus, and diaphragm, representing just 3.9% of the total number of cysticerci. Given these results, we conclude that specific skeletal musculature regions, such as the shoulder blade, chuck, strip loin and full tenderloin, knuckle, back ribs and top round, which are not officially examined in many countries, are effective sites to efficiently screen C. bovis infection. To date, these regions have not been considered as preferential sites of C. bovis infection. Based on our work, however, these regions deserve greater attention from health inspectors because they contained a greater number of Cysticercus than the other regions of carcasses that are parasitized by T. saginata larvae. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fertility life table of Trichogramma pretiosum and Trichogramma acacioi (Hymenoptera : Trichogrammatidae) on Sitotroga cerealella (Lepidoptera : Gelechiidae) eggs at different constant temperatures

Fertility life tables were developed for both Trichogramma pretiosum and Trichogramma acacioi reared on Sitotroga cerealella eggs as an alternative host at five different temperatures. The egg parasitoids were first collected from Nipteria panacea eggs, a lepidopterous pest of avocado. Egg parasitoid females were individualized in small glass vials along with 40 eggs of the host during 24 h for parasitization. For evaluation of the parasitism capacity, a similar procedure was adopted, but cardboards with eggs were replaced every day. The net reproductive rate (Ro), intrinsic rate of increase (rm), finite rate of increase (lambda), and mean generation time (T) were estimated. Temperature affected all parameters for both Trichogramma species. The highest fecundity for both species was observed at 25degreesC. Extreme temperatures such as 15degreesC or 35degreesC negatively affect the development rate of both species.

Effect of the insecticides abamectin and lufenuron on eggs and larvae of Chrysoperla externa under laboratory conditions

The side effects of two insecticides/acaricides, abamectin and lufenuron, on the eggs and larvae of Chrysoperla externa (Hagen) were studied in the laboratory (25 +/- 2degreesC, 62 +/- 10% RH and 12-h photophase). The analytical methods used were those proposed by the International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC)-Working Group for 'Pesticides and Beneficial Organisms'. Chrysoperla externa egg viability was not affected by abamectin. Neonate larvae from abamectin sprayed eggs as well as first, second and third instar larvae that were directly treated, developed normally and yielded normal adults. Lufenuron presented no adverse effects on egg survival. However, lufenuron induced high mortality in neonate larvae from treated eggs. These neonates, as well as lufenuron treated first and second instar larvae could not molt. In the third instar, high pupal mortality occurred. The results showed that abamectin is innocuous and that lufenurom is toxic to Chrysoperla externa eggs and larvae.

Biology and thermal requirements of Telenomus remus reared on fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda eggs

Este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a biologia de Telenomus remus Nixon criado em ovos de Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) em diferentes temperaturas. Com base no desenvolvimento do ciclo (ovo-adulto), foram determinados as exigências térmicas e o número de gerações dos parasitóides em temperaturas constantes. Inicialmente, ovos de S. frugiperda, com 24 horas de idade, foram submetidos ao parasitismo por T. remus, durante cinco horas, sendo então transferidos para câmaras climatizadas reguladas para as temperaturas de 15, 20, 25, 28, 31 e 35°C. A duração do ciclo (ovo-adulto) foi influenciada pela temperatura variando de 8,3±0,01 a 47,2±0,01 dias para fêmeas e 8,1±0,01 a 46,8±0,01 dias para machos de T. remus nas temperaturas de 31 e 15°C, respectivamente. A porcentagem de emergência (viabilidade) de T. remus em ovos de S. frugiperda também foi influenciada pela variação da temperatura, apresentando redução significativa apenas nas temperaturas extremas. Foi observada redução na viabilidade a 15°C e não houve desenvolvimento biológico do parasitóide a 35°C. A razão sexual de T. remus não sofreu influência da temperatura. em relação às exigências térmicas, a constante térmica (K) e temperatura base (Tb) foram maiores para as fêmeas de T. remus (158,88 graus dias e 12,52°C) quando comparadas aos machos (154,12 graus dias e 12,59°C). A estimativa do número de gerações anuais para T. remus para machos e fêmeas em condições de laboratório foi respectivamente 5,6 e 5,6; 16,9 e 17,3; 28,3 e 29,0; 35,1 e 36,0; 39,6 e 40,7 nas temperaturas de 15, 20, 25, 28 e 31°C.

Functional response of Telenomus remus Nixon(Hymenoptera, Scelionidae) to Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) eggs: effect of female age

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Cholesterol levels and nutritional composition of commercial layers eggs fed diets with different vegetable oils

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Ultramorphological characteristics of Chrysomya megacephala (Diptera, Calliphoridae) eggs and its eclosion

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)