A case of recurrent human Dirofilaria repens infection in Uzbekistan.

Dirofilaria repens is a zoonotic mosquito-borne filarioid that parasitizes in the subcutaneous tissues of carnivores, that has been incriminated in the great majority of human dirofilariasis cases reported throughout the Old World. From the Republic of Uzbekistan, recent data showed that this parasite is endemic in domestic and wild carnivores. In contrast, information regarding human infection is scarce and mostly outdated, with a single case report being published during the last decades. The present paper reports a case of recurrent autochthonous infection with D. repens in a patient living in the rural area of the Sirdaryo Region of Uzbekistan and having no international travel history. The first diagnosis was in 2019, when the patient presented with what was suspected to be a tumour of the left breast. Three years later, in 2022, she presented for a consultation after experiencing redness, occasional swelling and persistent itching in the umbilical region of the abdomen. The ultrasound indicated the presence of a living, motile nematode. Following anthelmintic therapy, the parasite was surgically removed and identified as a female D. repens. The present report highlights the possibility of human re-infection with D. repens and further underlines the necessity of raising public awareness and implementing of solid control strategies in carnivores.

[On the identification of the species Griphobilharzia amoena Platt, Blair, Purdie et Melville, 1991, a parasite of crocodiles in Australia].

The results of the study of typical specimens of the trematode G. amoena from blood vessels of the crocodile Crocodylus johnstoni in Australia are provided. The data obtained on the morphology of this parasite did not confirm the statement of Platt et al. (1991) that this species belongs to the family Schistosomatidae. Morphological data on G. amoena enable attributing it to the genus Vasotrema of the family Spirorchidae as a new species. In this connection, the monotypical genus Griphobilharzia (justified by Platt et al., 1991) becomes a synonym of the genus Vasotrema, while the subfamily Griphobilharziinae becomes a synonym of the subfamily Hapalotrematinae.

Morphology, biology and taxonomy of Dendritobilharzia loossi Skrjabin, 1924 (Trematoda: Bilharziellidae), a parasite of Pelecanus onocrotalus (Pelecanidae) and Anas plathyrinchos (Anatidae).

Life cycles of Dendritobilharzia loossi Skrjabin, 1924, a parasite of waterbirds, and its morphobiological traits are studied and described. Mollusks Anisus spirorbis, the infection rate of which in natural environments reaches 1.3-1.9%, were recorded as intermediate hosts under conditions of Uzbekistan. The development of this trematode in intermediate and definitive hosts lasts for 26 and 15 days, respectively. Diagnostic traits of the trematodes during all stages of their ontogeny are reviewed.

[The effect of the homogenates from different developmental stages of the nematode Protostrongylus rufescens (Leuckart, 1895) on mitochondrial and lipid bilayer membranes].

The effect of the homogenates from different developmental stages of the nematode Protostrongylus rufescens on mitochondrial and lipid bilayer membranes has been studied. The homogenate of P. rufescens affects efficiently the cell energy by the inhibition of the mitochondrial respiration in the metabolic state V3, uncouples oxidative phosphorylation and affects the functions of mitochondria at the level of cyclosporine A-sensitive pore by making it highly permeable. Moreover, the nematode homogenate at the concentration of 1 mkg/ml increases efficiently the integral permeability of lipid bilayer membranes. An increase in this permeability is connected apparently with the formation of single ion channels. The channels of lipid bilayer membranes induced by the nematode homogenate show cation selectivity.

[Helminths of amphibians of the Fergana valley of Uzbekistan]. / Gel'minty amfibii Ferganskoi doliny Uzbekistana.

Species diversity and some ecological peculiarities of helminthes parasitizing amphibians in the Fergana Valley of Uzbekistan have been investigated. In 652 examined specimens of amphibians (Bufo viridis--237, Rana ridibunda--415 specimens), have been found 32 helminth species belonging to 26 genera of 12 families.

Proteolytic enzyme activity and attenuation of virulence in Theileria annulata schizont-infected cells.

A field isolate of Theileria annulata (Uzbek strain) was obtained from calves infected by Hyalomma anatolicum ticks collected from an endemic region in Uzbekistan. Schizont-infected bovine cells that had been established and propagated in cell culture were examined for attenuation both in vivo, by inoculating cells from various passages into calves, and in vitro for metalloproteinase activity. During serial subcultivation a gradual reduction in virulence and in enzyme activity in cells infected with the Uzbek strain were observed. Complete attenuation of the Uzbek isolate was obtained at about passage 80, and only traces of proteolysis were detected in gelatin substrate gels. In contrast, there was no direct correlation between virulence and enzyme levels in an Israeli strain. While schizonts of the Israeli strain were completely attenuated at passage 80, proteolysis in the substrate gels was detected up to passage 197. Solid immunity was observed in calves immunized with attenuated T. annulata schizonts of the Uzbek strain upon challenge with the homologous H. excavatum sporozoites. For a strain to be used for vaccine production, it appears that animal inoculation still remains the most reliable method to assess the degree of attenuation and protection.

[Two new nematode species found in amphibians and reptiles from the north part of Fergana valley]. / Dva novykh vida nematod, obnaruzhennye u amfibii i reptilii v severnoi chasti Ferganskoi doliny.

Two new species of nematodes found, in the north of Fergana Plain (Uzbekistan): Raillietnema uzbekistanica sp. n. (Cosmocercidae) from the Horsfields Tortoise Testudo horstfieldi (Testudinidae), and Spironoura govacus sp. n. (Kathlaniidae) from the green toad Bufo viridis (Bufonidae). Data on infection of R. uzbekistanica sp. n. with predatory fungi in different seasons are given.

Apoptosis induction of human myeloid leukemic cells by ultrasound exposure.

Therapeutic ultrasound (ULS) and the resulting cavitation process has been shown to induce irreversible cell damage. In this study, we wanted to further investigate the mechanism of ULS-induced cell death and to determine whether apoptosis is involved. High intensity focused pulsed ULS sonication at a frequency of 750 KHz was delivered to HL-60, K562, U937, and M1/2 leukemia cell line cultures. ULS exposure used with induction of transient cavitation in the focal area was delivered with an intensity level of 103.7 W/cm2 and 54.6 W/cm2 spatial-peak temporal-average intensity. As a control, ULS of lower intensity was delivered at 22.4 W/cm2 spatial-peak temporal-average intensity, presumably without generation of cavitation. Our results indicated that DNA damage induced by ULS cavitation did not involve generation of free radicals in the culture media. Morphological alterations observed in cells after exposure to ULS included: cell shrinkage, membrane blebbing, chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation, and apoptotic body formation. Apoptotic cells were evaluated by fluorescence microscopy and detected using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling assay, which identifies DNA breaks, and by the leakage of phosphatidylserine from the inner to the outer side of the membrane layer of treated cells. Some bioeffects induced on sonicated HL-60 cells, such as inhibition of cell proliferation, DNA repair, and cell-dependent apoptosis, were found to be similar to those produced by gamma-irradiation. Thus, much of the cell damage induced by therapeutic ULS in leukemia cells surviving ULS exposure appears to occur through an apoptotic mechanism.

[The interrelation of the phospholipid composition of the lungs in sheep and of the nematode Dictyocaulus filaria]. / Vzaimosviaz' fosfolipidnogo sostava legkikh ovtsy i nematody Dictyocaulus filaria.

The effect of nematodes Dictyocaulus (D) filaria on phospholipid (PL) composition in the homogenate of sheep lungs has been demonstrated. The comparative analysis has shown no differences in the content and composition of PL in the lungs of healthy sheep and in nematodes. Infection of sheep by helminths was found to result in changes in the PL composition of sheep lungs. Thus, it is possible to conclude that D. filaria affecting structural and functional systems of the host causes changes in its PL content.

[The lipolytic enzyme activity of the mitochondrial membranes of the digestive organs in heat stress in rats]. / Aktivnost' lipoliticheskikh fermentov membran mitokhondrii pishchevaritel'nykh organov pri teplovykh stressakh krys.

An augmentation of catalytic activity of phospholipase A and lysophospholipase A occurred in the liver mitochondria membranes and small intestine mucosa in rats subjected to heat. The augmentation of the latter's activity was significantly lesser in overheated rats.

[The effect of lipid peroxidation on the lipid and phospholipid composition of mitochondrial membranes during thermal incubation]. / Vliianie perekisnogo okisleniia lipidov na lipidnyi i fosfolipidnyi sostav membran mitokhondrii pri teplovoi inkubatsii.

Alterations in the content of lipids and phospholipids were studied in rat liver mitochondrial membranes after long-term heating at 37 degrees, pH 7.4, using FeSO4-ascorbate as inductors of lipid peroxidation. Under these conditions, activation of lipid peroxidation in mitochondrial membranes led to a marked increase in the rate of hydrolysis of phosphatidylethanolamine and lysophosphatidylethanolamine, to elevated synthesis of phosphatidylserine, sphingomyelin, phosphatidic and lysophosphatidic acids, diglycerides and cholesterol esters as well as to inhibit hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine, cardiolipin and their lyso-derivatives.