Toxoplasma gondii infection in European mouflons (Ovis musimon) and captive wild felines from Puebla, México.

The presence of Toxoplasma gondii in zoos is cause of alert because many susceptible species kept in captivity die of clinical toxoplasmosis. Moreover, excretion of T. gondii oocysts by infected captive wild felines into the facilities could pose a risk to workers. Herbivores in wild collections can serve as sentinels of local transmission, since they get infected by the consumption of oocysts present in ground or water. Both herbivores and felids may reveal the parasite variants which are circulating in the region. We determined the seroprevalence of T. gondii in European mouflons (n = 55) and wild felines (n = 15) from a private zoological collection located in the Eastern region of México, as well as the incidence in 41 of the mouflons using ELISA. The prevalence of T. gondii in mouflons was 14.5% (n = 55) and 17.1% (n = 41) in 2011 and 19.5% in 2012. The estimated incidence was 9.8%-12.2%. In wild felines the frequency was 80%. Four sero-positive animals (two mouflons and the two oldest African lions) were euthanized. Histopathology, conventional PCR (for B1 and SeqRep529 loci) and molecular characterization were carried out. All euthanized animals were positive to T. gondii by PCR. We identified a triple infection (I + II + III) in the brain of a mouflon. In conclusion, a high infective pressure of T. gondii in the collection was found, supported by changes in its prevalence in European mouflons. A high prevalence of infection in wild felines was determined. At least four genotypes of T. gondii are present in herbivores and carnivores, and one mouflon had a mixed infection.

Orosomucoid-1 Expression in Ameloblastoma Variants.

Odontogenic tumors constitute a group of heterogeneous lesions of benign and malignant neoplasms with variable aggressiveness. Ameloblastomas are a group of benign but locally invasive neoplasms that occur in the jaws and are derived from epithelial elements of the tooth-forming apparatus. We previously described orosomucoid-1 protein expression in odontogenic myxomas. However, whether orosomucoid-1 is expressed in other odontogenic tumors remains unknown. Since orosomucoid-1 belongs to a group of acute-phase proteins and has many functions in health and disease, we identified and analyzed orosomucoid-1 expression in ameloblastoma variants and ameloblastic carcinoma using western blot and immunohistochemical techniques. Thirty cases of ameloblastoma were analyzed for orsomucoid-1; five specimens were fresh for western blot study (four benign ameloblastomas and one ameloblastic carcinoma), and 25 cases of benign ameloblastoma for immunohistochemical assays. Orosomucoid-1 was widely expressed in each tumor variant analyzed in this study, and differential orosomucoid-1 expression was observed between benign and malignant tumor. Orosomucoid-1 may play an important role in the behavior of ameloblastomas and influence the biology and development of the variants of this tumor.

Apoptosis and apoptotic pathway in actinic prurigo by immunohistochemistry

BACKGROUND: Actinic prurigo (AP) is an idiopathic photodermatosis, this entity requires exposure to UV-B and -A to develop lesions. Apoptosis is a physiological death program that can be initiated by a permanently active mechanism (extrinsic pathway) or irreparable damage (intrinsic pathway). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Descriptive study, the sample size comprised 64 paraffin blocks of tissue with a diagnosis of AP. In H&E-stained slides, the diagnosis of AP was corroborated, and 1-mim-thick sections were processed for immunohistochemistry (IHC). A database was constructed with SPSS version 20, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA, and descriptive statistics were analyzed by X2 test and comparison of means. RESULTS: A total of 64 cases were processed, of which 40 (62.5%) were cheilitis AP and 24 (37.5%) were AP in the skin. Of the 40 cheilitis samples, 27 were positive for Bcl-2 and caspase 3 (67.5%), p53 was expressed in 30 (75%). Of the skin lesions, p53 and caspase 3 were expressed in 18 of 24 cases (75%), and 13 were positive for Bcl-2 (54%). CONCLUSIONS: We propose that apoptosis is the last step in the type IV subtype a-b hypersensitivity responseactivation of the intrinsic pathway indicates that external factors, such as UV-A and -B are the trigger

Apoptosis and apoptotic pathway in actinic prurigo by immunohistochemistry.

BACKGROUND: Actinic prurigo (AP) is an idiopathic photodermatosis, this entity requires exposure to UV-B and -A to develop lesions. Apoptosis is a physiological death program that can be initiated by a permanently active mechanism (extrinsic pathway) or irreparable damage (intrinsic pathway). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Descriptive study, the sample size comprised 64 paraffin blocks of tissue with a diagnosis of AP. In H&E-stained slides, the diagnosis of AP was corroborated, and 1-µm-thick sections were processed for immunohistochemistry (IHC). A database was constructed with SPSS version 20, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA, and descriptive statistics were analyzed by X2 test and comparison of means. RESULTS: A total of 64 cases were processed, of which 40 (62.5%) were cheilitis AP and 24 (37.5%) were AP in the skin. Of the 40 cheilitis samples, 27 were positive for Bcl-2 and caspase 3 (67.5%), p53 was expressed in 30 (75%). Of the skin lesions, p53 and caspase 3 were expressed in 18 of 24 cases (75%), and 13 were positive for Bcl-2 (54%). CONCLUSIONS: We propose that apoptosis is the last step in the type IV subtype a-b hypersensitivity response-activation of the intrinsic pathway indicates that external factors, such as UV-A and -B are the trigger.

Increased NHC Cells in the Peritoneal Cavity of Plasmacytoma Susceptible BALB/c Mouse.

BALB/c strain mice are unique in that they develop murine plasmacytoma (MPC) as a consequence of the inflammation induced by pristane oil injection in the peritoneal cavity. In this work the Treg, Th17, B1, B2, and NHC lymphocyte populations from the peritoneal environment of BALB/c, the susceptible strain, and C57BL/6 mice, which do not develop MPC after oil treatment, were studied. Both oil-treated strains showed decreased levels of Th17 lymphocytes, no significant variation in Treg lymphocytes, and a drastic decrease of all B lymphocyte populations. However, only oil-induced BALB/c showed increased levels of natural helper cells (NHC) which could be important in the myeloma induction.

Intraosseous myofibroma of the mandible: a case report / Miofibroma intraoseo mandibular: reporte de caso

The myofibroma is defined as a benign neoplasm formed by myoid contractile cells localized around the wall of thin blood vessels, it is a tumor that presents itself mostly in infancy although it may occur at any age and it is most common in head and neck; it is uncommon to be localized in the oral cavity and even less common if it is intraosseous. It may also be associated to miofibromatosis or present itself as a solitary lesion. The differential diagnosis depends on the localization and the radiographic characteristics; it would be very difficult to include, at first hand, myofibroma as an intraosseous lesion. Histopathologically, a neoplasm with a biphasic pattern formed by spindle cells in fascicles and bundles, spindle nucleus with eosinophilic cytoplasm inside a hyalinized stroma was found. In lesions of neoplasms of spindle cells histological studies should be supported by an immunohistochemical panel and show positive results to antibodies Actin, smooth muscle Actin and Vimentin.

El miofibroma es una neoplasia benigna compuesta por células mioides contráctiles localizadas alrededor de la pared de vasos sanguíneos delgados, es un tumor que se presenta sobre todo en la infancia aunque puede ocurrir a cualquier edad, tiene predilección en cabeza y cuello, sin embargo en cavidad oral es raro y aún más si es intraóseo, puede estar asociado a miofibromatosis o bien presentarse de manera solitaria. Los diagnósticos diferenciales dependen de la localización y de las características radiográficas y de primera instancia es muy difícil incluir al miofibroma entre las lesiones intraóseas. Histológicamente presenta patrón bifásico conformado por células fusiformes dispuestas en fascículos y haces así como núcleos fusiformes con citoplasma eosinófilo dentro de un estroma hialinizado. Es necesario recurrir al panel de inmunohistoquímica en neoplasias de células fusiformes, positivo a Acs Actina, Actina músculo liso y Vimentina. Reportamos el caso de una mujer de 45 años con un miofibroma en la mandíbula.