Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Wild Boars, Wild Rabbits, and Wild Chickens in Hubei Province, China

Toxoplasma gondii causes serious infection worldwide in humans and animals. In this study, the seroepidemiology of toxoplasmosis was investigated in wild boars (Sus scrofa) (n=377), wild rabbits (cape hare, Lapus capensis) (n=331), and wild chickens (red junglefwol, Gallus gallus) (n=571) in 4 forested and country sided area of Hubei province of China. For this, blood samples were collected and tested by indirect hemagglutination test (IHA). The seroprevalence was found to be 7.2%, 5.1%, and 12.6% in wild boars, rabbits, and chickens, respectively, with significant differences among these species. The prevalence of T. gondii infection in male and female wild boars was found to be 7.9% and 6.5% (P<0.01), in male and female rabbits was 5.6% and 4.9% (P<0.01), and in male and female chickens was 17.1% and 7.7% (P<0.01), respectively, with significant differences between 2 genders of chickens (P<0.01). The findings of this study may help in planning of the prevention measures against T. gondii infection in wild animals in this area.

Inhititory effect of proliferation and promotion effect of apoptosis of lactacystin combined with carboplatin on ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells / 吉林大学学报(医学版)

Objective:To study the influence of proteasome inhibitor lactacystin (LAC) and carboplatin in proliferation and apoptosis of the human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells in vitro ,and to clarify the mechanisms. Methods:The SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells were cultured in vitro ;0,2.5,5.0,10.0 and 20.0 μmol· L-1 LAC were used to intervent the SKOV3 cells for 48 h;5 μmol·L-1 LAC was used to intervent the SKOV3 cells for 0, 24,48,and 72 h;the SKOV3 cells were divided into control group (treated without medical intervention),LAC group (treated with 5 μmol · L-1 LAC), carboplatin group (treated with 10, 20, 40 and 80 μmol · L-1 carboplatin),LAC and carboplatin group (treated with 5 μmol· L-1 LAC and 10,20,40,and 80 μmol· L-1 carboplatin,respectively).MTT method and FCM were used to detect the inhibitory rates of proliferation and apoptotic rates of the SKOV3 cells in various groups.Results:The MTT test results showed that the proliferation of the SKOV3 cells were inhibited with the prolongation of time and increasing of LAC concentration;the half inhibitory concentration (IC50 )of LAC at 48 h was 5.36 μmol · L-1 ;compared with carboplatin group,the inhibitory rates of proliferation of SKOV3 cells in LAC and carboplatin groups were significantly increased (P <0.05).The IC50 of carboplatin was dropped from 58.08 μmol·L-1 to 18.37 μmol·L-1 .The FCM results showed that with the prolongation of treated time of LAC,the apoptotic rates of SKOV3 cells were increased;compared with carboplatin group and LAC group,the apoptotic rate of cells in LAC and carboplatin group was increased (P <0.05).Conclusion:LAC can inhibit the proliferation of the ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells and induce the apoptosis, and LAC can enhance the inhibitory effect of proliferation of carboplatin on the ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells.

Prevalence, Associated Risk Factors, and Phylogenetic Analysis of Toxocara vitulorum Infection in Yaks on the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau, China

Toxocara vitulorum has been rarely reported in yaks at high altitudes and remote areas of Sichuan Province of Tibetan Plateau of China. The current study was designed to investigate the prevalence, associated risk factors, and phylogenetic characteristics of T. vitulorum in yak calves on the Qinghai Tibetan plateau. Fecal samples were collected from 891 yak calves and were examined for the presence of T. vitulorum eggs by the McMaster technique. A multivariable logistic regression model was employed to explore variables potentially associated with exposure to T. vitulorum infection. T. vitulorum specimens were collected from the feces of yaks in Hongyuan of Sichuan Province, China. DNA was extracted from ascaris. After PCR amplification, the sequencing of ND1 gene was carried out and phylogenetic analyses was performed by MEGA 6.0 software. The results showed that 64 (20.1%; 95% CI 15.8–24.9%), 75 (17.2; 13.8–21.1), 29 (40.9; 29.3–53.2), and 5 (7.6; 2.5–16.8) yak calves were detected out to excrete T. vitulorum eggs in yak calve feces in Qinghai, Tibet, Sichuan, and Gansu, respectively. The present study revealed that high infection and mortality by T. vitulorum is wildly spread on the Qinghai Tibetan plateau, China by fecal examination. Geographical origin, ages, and fecal consistencies are the risk factors associated with T. vitulorum prevalence by logistic regression analysis. Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of ND1 gene of T. vitulorum indicated that T. vitulorum in the yak calves on the Qinghai Tibetan plateau are homologous to preveiously studies reported.