What Is Your Diagnosis?

In collaboration with the American College of Veterinary Radiology.

[Mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial corpus callosum lesion (MERS)]. / Encefalitis/encefalopatía leve con lesión reversible del esplenio del cuerpo calloso (MERS).

INTRODUCTION: Mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible isolated splenial corpus callosum lesion (MERS) is a clinical-radiological syndrome characterized by a lesion in the center of the splenium identified by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the imaging test of choice. CASE REPORT: A 31-year-old man is admitted with fever, intense hemicranial headache, disorientation, dysarthria and paresthesia in the lips and both upper extremities is presented; and that he is admitted for a suspected diagnosis of viral encephalitis. The cerebrospinal fluid analysis shows an elevation of proteins and the electroencephalogram shows generalized slowing, predominantly on the left. MRI shows a well-defined ovoid lesion, isolated in the splenium of the corpus callosum, homogeneous and hyperintense on T2 and FLAIR, with restriction to fluid diffusion and without uptake after gadolinium administration. The patient received empirical treatment with acyclovir and corticosteroids, with good subsequent evolution and disappearance of the lesion described in the control MRI at 3 weeks. CONCLUSION: MERS is a benign, infrequent entity of unknown pathogenesis, which must be differentiated from other pathologies that present with lesions of the corpus callosum, but with an unfavorable prognosis.

TITLE: Encefalitis/encefalopatía leve con lesión reversible del esplenio del cuerpo calloso (MERS).Introducción. La encefalitis/encefalopatía leve con lesión reversible aislada del esplenio del cuerpo calloso (MERS) es un síndrome clinicorradiológico caracterizado por una lesión en el centro del esplenio identificada por resonancia magnética, prueba de imagen de elección. Caso clínico. Se presenta el caso de un varón de 31 años con cuadro de fiebre, cefalea intensa hemicraneal, desorientación, disartria y parestesias en los labios y en ambas extremidades superiores, y que ingresa por sospecha diagnóstica de encefalitis vírica. El análisis del líquido cefalorraquídeo muestra una elevación de proteínas y el electroencefalograma manifiesta una lentificación generalizada de predominio izquierdo. La resonancia magnética evidencia una lesión ovoidea, bien delimitada, aislada en el esplenio del cuerpo calloso, homogénea e hiperintensa en T2 y FLAIR, con restricción a la difusión hídrica y sin captación tras la administración de gadolinio. El paciente recibe tratamiento de forma empírica con aciclovir y corticoesteroides, con buena evolución posterior y desaparición de la lesión descrita en la resonancia magnética de control a las tres semanas. Conclusión. La MERS es una entidad benigna, infrecuente y de patogenia desconocida, que debe diferenciarse de otras patologías que cursan con lesiones del cuerpo calloso en las que el pronóstico es desfavorable.

Encefalitis/encefalopatía leve con lesión reversible del esplenio del cuerpo calloso (MERS) / Mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial corpus callosum lesion (MERS)

Introducción: La encefalitis/encefalopatía leve con lesión reversible aislada del esplenio del cuerpo calloso (MERS) es un síndrome clinicorradiológico caracterizado por una lesión en el centro del esplenio identificada por resonancia magnética, prueba de imagen de elección. Caso clínico: Se presenta el caso de un varón de 31 años con cuadro de fiebre, cefalea intensa hemicraneal, desorientación, disartria y parestesias en los labios y en ambas extremidades superiores, y que ingresa por sospecha diagnóstica de encefalitis vírica. El análisis del líquido cefalorraquídeo muestra una elevación de proteínas y el electroencefalograma manifiesta una lentificación generalizada de predominio izquierdo. La resonancia magnética evidencia una lesión ovoidea, bien delimitada, aislada en el esplenio del cuerpo calloso, homogénea e hiperintensa en T2 y FLAIR, con restricción a la difusión hídrica y sin captación tras la administración de gadolinio. El paciente recibe tratamiento de forma empírica con aciclovir y corticoesteroides, con buena evolución posterior y desaparición de la lesión descrita en la resonancia magnética de control a las tres semanas. Conclusión: La MERS es una entidad benigna, infrecuente y de patogenia desconocida, que debe diferenciarse de otras patologías que cursan con lesiones del cuerpo calloso en las que el pronóstico es desfavorable.(AU)

Introduction: Mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible isolated splenial corpus callosum lesion (MERS) is a clinical-radiological syndrome characterized by a lesion in the center of the splenium identified by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the imaging test of choice. Case report: A 31-year-old man is admitted with fever, intense hemicranial headache, disorientation, dysarthria and paresthesia in the lips and both upper extremities is presented; and that he is admitted for a suspected diagnosis of viral encephalitis. The cerebrospinal fluid analysis shows an elevation of proteins and the electroencephalogram shows generalized slowing, predominantly on the left. MRI shows a well-defined ovoid lesion, isolated in the splenium of the corpus callosum, homogeneous and hyperintense on T2 and FLAIR, with restriction to fluid diffusion and without uptake after gadolinium administration. The patient received empirical treatment with acyclovir and corticosteroids, with good subsequent evolution and disappearance of the lesion described in the control MRI at 3 weeks. Conclusion: MERS is a benign, infrequent entity of unknown pathogenesis, which must be differentiated from other pathologies that present with lesions of the corpus callosum, but with an unfavorable prognosis.(AU)

Occurrence of mycotoxins in talkan: a cereal-based food traditional for Turkic population.

The consumption of cereal contaminated with mycotoxins poses a serious health risk for humans and animals. The present work aims to evaluate the presence of mycotoxins in talkan, a cereal-based food commonly consumed by the Turkic population. The presence of mycotoxins was investigated in a total of 50 samples obtained from Kazakhstan. After a preliminary screening using various ELISA kits, mycotoxins were confirmed and quantified by HPLC-MS/MS method. More than 28% of the samples were positive for at least one mycotoxin. The calculated probably daily intake for adults and children was 20% above the tolerable daily intake for aflatoxin B1 and deoxynivalenol, while it was above 100% for zearalenone, indicating a high risk for the Kazakh population. A total of 12 samples exhibited concentrations above the European maximum level for ochratoxin A, zearalenone and deoxynivalenol, however, these values were within the limits established by the Russia-Kazakhstan-Belarus Customs Union (TR CU 015/2011).

Phytanic acid consumption and human health, risks, benefits and future trends: A review.

Phytanic acid is a methyl-branched fatty acid present in the human diet, derived from the enzymatic degradation of phytol and subsequently oxidized by the rumenal microbiota and certain marine organisms. Consequently, phytanic acid is carried into the human body by means of food ingestion, mostly via red meat, dairy products and fatty marine foods. This fatty acid accumulates in people with some peroxisomal disorders and is traditionally related to neurological damage. However, some benefits derived from phytanic acid intake have also been described, such as the prevention of metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes. The aim of this work was to conduct an overview of the literature on the phytanic acid content of foods, management of the phytanic content during food production and biochemical mechanisms of phytanic acid metabolism, as well as to assess the evidence for the health benefits and risks of phytanic acid consumption in human health.

Assessment of food safety using a new real-time PCR assay for detection and quantification of virulence factors of enterococci in food samples.

AIMS: Development of Taqman MGB real-time PCR (q-PCR) assays for the quantitative detection of virulence factor genes in pure culture and food samples with regard to food safety assessment. METHODS AND RESULTS: New Taqman primers and probes were designed for the ace, esp and gelE genes based on the determinants of virulence profiles of enterococcal strains from GenBank. The high specificity and accuracy of the Taqman probe assay was confirmed. The limit of detection for the different virulence genes was 102  CFU ml-1 or CFU g-1 for pure culture and meat samples, and 103  CFU g-1 for cheese samples. CONCLUSION: This method provides the specific and rapid detection and quantification of ace, esp and gelE genes compared to conventional PCR assays, thus allowing the rapid and direct safety assessment of Enterococcus genus in food samples. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study presents efficient methods that can be used directly on food products for the rapid quantification and tracing of virulence genes, regarding food safety assessment. Moreover, this is the first study to quantify these virulence factors using a specific Taqman q-PCR assay in food samples.

Biofilm formation, phenotypic production of cellulose and gene expression in Salmonella enterica decrease under anaerobic conditions.

Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica is one of the main food-borne pathogens. This microorganism combines an aerobic life outside the host with an anaerobic life within the host. One of the main concerns related to S. enterica is biofilm formation and cellulose production. In this study, biofilm formation, morphotype, cellulose production and transcription of biofilm and quorum sensing-related genes of 11 S. enterica strains were tested under three different conditions: aerobiosis, microaerobiosis, and anaerobiosis. The results showed an influence of oxygen levels on biofilm production. Biofilm formation was significantly higher (P<0.05) in aerobiosis than in microaerobiosis and anaerobiosis. Cellulose production and RDAR (red, dry, and rough) were expressed only in aerobiosis. In microaerobiosis, the strains expressed the SAW (smooth and white) morphotype, while in anaerobiosis the colonies appeared small and red. The expression of genes involved in cellulose synthesis (csgD and adrA) and quorum sensing (sdiA and luxS) was reduced in microaerobiosis and anaerobiosis in all S. enterica strains tested. This gene expression levels were less reduced in S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis compared to the tested serotypes. There was a relationship between the expression of biofilm and quorum sensing-related genes. Thus, the results from this study indicate that biofilm formation and cellulose production are highly influenced by atmospheric conditions. This must be taken into account as contamination with these bacteria can occur during food processing under vacuum or modified atmospheres.

Development of a real-time PCR assay for direct detection and quantification of Bacillus sporothermodurans in ultra-high temperature milk.

In our study, a new and highly sensitive real-time PCR Taqman assay was developed for the direct and specific detection of Bacillus sporothermodurans in UHT milk. The target region was selected based on the 16S rRNA gene profiles of 11 B. sporothermodurans from GenBank. A standard curve was created using a reference strain of B. sporothermodurans, DSM 10599. A low limit of detection for B. sporothermodurans in UHT milk (10 cfu/mL) was obtained. Furthermore, a total of 110 UHT milk samples from several supermarkets were directly assessed to detect and quantify B. sporothermodurans using the real-time PCR Taqman developed. The B. sporothermodurans counts obtained were highly correlated with the microbial plate counts in the UHT milk samples. This is the first time that B. sporothermodurans has been quantified directly from UHT milk. This technique could be applicable as a routine tool for preventing the growth of these bacteria by allowing for the rapid screening of raw milk samples in dairy plants. As expected, the probability of bacterial growth in UHT milk packages increased with the B. sporothermodurans counts in the raw milk.

Biofilm Formation and Morphotypes of Salmonella enterica subsp.arizonae Differs from Those of Other Salmonella enterica Subspecies in Isolates from Poultry Houses.

Salmonella serovars are responsible for foodborne diseases around the world. The ability to form biofilms allows microorganisms to survive in the environment. In this study, 73 Salmonella strains, belonging to four different subspecies, were isolated from poultry houses and foodstuffs and tested. Biofilm formation was measured at four different temperatures and two nutrient concentrations. Morphotypes and cellulose production were evaluated at three different temperatures. The presence of several genes related to biofilm production was also examined. All strains and subspecies of Salmonella had the ability to form biofilms, and 46.57% of strains produced biofilms under all conditions tested. Biofilm formation was strain dependent and varied according to the conditions. This is the first study to analyze biofilm formation in a wide number of Salmonella enterica subsp. arizonae strains, and no direct relationship between the high prevalence of Salmonella enterica subsp. arizonae strains and their ability to form biofilm was established. Morphotypes and cellulose production varied as the temperature changed, with 20°C being the optimum temperature for expression of the red, dry, and rough morphotype and cellulose. Salmonella enterica subsp. arizonae, whose morphotype is poorly studied, only showed a smooth and white morphotype and lacked the csgD and gcpA genes that are implicated in biofilm production. Thus, Salmonella biofilm formation under different environmental conditions is a public health problem because it can survive and advance through the food chain to reach the consumer.

Prevalence, molecular characterization and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella serovars isolated from northwestern Spanish broiler flocks (2011-2015).

The present study investigated the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance to twenty antibiotics, and class 1 integron and virulence genes of Salmonella isolated from poultry houses of broilers in northwestern Spain between 2011 and 2015. Strains were classified to the serotype level using the Kauffman-White typing scheme and subtyping with enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus PCR. The prevalence of Salmonella spp. was 1.02%. Sixteen different serotypes were found, with S. typhimurium and S. arizonae 48:z4, z23:- being the most prevalent. A total of 59.70% of strains were resistant to at least one, and 19.70% were resistant to multiple drugs. All Salmonella spp. were susceptible to cefotaxime, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, kanamycin, levofloxacin, neomycin, and trimethoprim. The highest level of resistance was to sulfamethoxazole (40.29%), doxycycline (17.91%), and nalidixic acid (17.91%). None of the isolates carried class 1 integron and only isolates of S. enterica subspecies enterica were positive for all virulence factors tested, whereas S. arizonae lacked genes related to replication and invasion in nonphagocytic cells. This study demonstrates that the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella spp. in poultry houses of broilers of northwestern Spain is low compared with those found in other studies and in other steps of the food chain.

Structural characterization of complexes prepared with glycerol monoestearate and maize starches with different amylose contents.

Morphology and different structural features of V-amylose complexes prepared with different concentrations (1%, 2%, 3%) of glycerol monostearate (GMS) and normal maize (NMS), waxy maize (WMS), and high amylose maize (HAMS) starches were evaluated using X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and transmission electronic microscopy (TEM). There was inclusion complex formation between all starches and GMS regardless of emulsifier concentration, with exception of WMS-2%GMS and WMS-3%GMS samples. All of the inclusion complexes displayed a V-type crystalline pattern and endothermic dissociation peaks between 115 and 120°C. They also displayed faceted crystalline structures with a tendency of the crystals to aggregate and form agglomerates of various sizes. TEM images of the complexes showed an aggregated strand structure interwoven with the GMS. Emulsifier and amylose quantities directly influenced complex formation. At high GMS concentrations, there was higher tendency of emulsifier to self-associate rather than form complexes with amylose.

A study on toxic and essential elements in rice from the Republic of Kazakhstan: comparing the level of contamination in rice from the European Community.

Selected toxic elements (total As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb, Sr, U and V) and essential elements (Co, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn) were analyzed using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in unpolished and milled rice collected from Kazakhstan and milled rice from Spain and Portugal to evaluate the potential health risk to the population. Arsenic species (arsenite, arsenate, arsenobetaine, dimethylarsinate and monomethilarsonate) were analyzed using HPLC-IC-MS. From 146 samples analyzed, none of them exceeded the maximum limit set by the European Legislation for Cd or Pb or values recommended by the Codex Alimentarius. Concentrations of Sr, U and V were below LOD and those of Hg, Pb, Co and Cr between

POEMS syndrome as an uncommon cause of papilledema.

BACKGROUND: Polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy, and skin changes (POEMS) syndrome is an uncommon condition related to a paraneoplastic syndrome secondary to an underlying plasma cell disorder. Among the myriad of manifestations of the disease, ocular signs and symptoms are relatively prevalent, affecting about half of all patients with the disease. OBJECTIVE: To report the ocular manifestations of POEMS syndrome. CASE: A 47-year-old lady diagnosed to have POEMS syndrome presented with painless progressive visual diminution. Her color vision was impaired. There was bilateral papilloedema. CONCLUSION: POEMS syndrome should be considered among the differential diagnoses of all patients with a bilateral papilledema in which no other cause can be readily elucidated.

Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) starch: Basic physico-chemical characteristics and use as thermoplastic material.

Starch isolated from non-edible Aesculus hippocastanum seeds was characterized and used for preparing starch-based materials. The apparent amylose content of the isolated starch was 33.1%. The size of starch granules ranged from 0.7 to 35 µm, and correlated with the shape of granules (spherical, oval and irregular). The chain length distribution profile of amylopectin showed two peaks, at polymerization degree (DP) of 12 and 41-43. Around 53% of branch unit chains had DP in the range of 11-20. A. hippocastanum starch displayed a typical C-type pattern and the maximum decomposition temperature was 317 °C. Thermoplastic starch (TPS) prepared from A. hippocastanum with glycerol and processed by melt blending exhibited adequate mechanical and thermal properties. In contrast, plasticized TPS with glycerol:malic acid (1:1) showed lower thermal stability and a pasty and sticky behavior, indicating that malic acid accelerates degradation of starch during processing.

Daytime sleepiness in Parkinson's disease: perception, influence of drugs, and mood disorder.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with sleep complaints as excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and several factors have been implicated in the genesis of these complaints. Objective. To correlate the subjective perception of EDS with variables as the severity of the motor symptoms, medications, and the presence of depressive symptoms. Materials and Methods. A cross-sectional study, using specific scales as Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), Beck depression inventory (iBeck) and Hoehn and Yahr (HY), in 42 patients with PD. Results. The patients had a mean age of 61.2 ± 11.3 years and mean disease duration of 4.96 ± 3.3 years. The mean ESS was 7.5 ± 4.7 and 28.6% of patients reached a score of abnormally high value (>10). There was no association with gender, disease duration, and dopamine agonists. Patients with EDS used larger amounts of levodopa (366.7 ± 228.0 versus 460.4 ± 332.25 mg, P = 0.038), but those who had an iBeck >20 reached lower values of ESS than the others (5.9 ± 4.1 versus 9.3 ± 4.8, P = 0.03). Conclusions. EDS was common in PD patients, being related to levodopa intake. Presence of depressed mood may influence the final results of self-assessment scales for sleep disorders.

Effect of a Thermoascus aurantiacus thermostable enzyme cocktail on wheat bread qualitiy.

Thermophilic fungus Thermoascus aurantiacus (CBMAI 756) on solid-state fermentation using corncob as a nutrient source produces an enzyme pool with the potential to be used in bread making. In this paper, the use of this enzyme cocktail as a wheat bread improver was reported. Both products released by flour arabinoxylan degradation and bread quality were investigated. The main product released through enzyme activity after prolonged incubation was xylose indicating the presence of xylanase; however, a small amount of xylobiose and arabinose also confirmed the presence of xylosidase and α-l-arabinofuranosidase, respectively. Enzyme mixture "in vitro" mainly attacked water-unextractable arabinoxylan contributing to beneficial effect in bread making. The use of an optimal enzyme concentration (35U xylanase/100g of flour) increased specific volume (22%), reduced crumb firmness (25%), and reduced amylopectin retrogradation (17%) during bread storage. In conclusion, the enzyme cocktail produced by T. aurantiacus CBMAI 756 can improve wheat bread quality.

Obstructive sleep apnea severity correlates with cellular and plasma oxidative stress parameters and affective symptoms.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is considered a sleep-related respiratory disorder, characterized by repetitive episodes of complete (apnea) or partial (hypopnea) obstruction of airflow in the upper airway (UA) during sleep. The pathophysiology of upper airway obstruction in OSAS is multifactorial, leading to a chronic recurrent state of intermittent hypoxemia and reoxygenation during sleep, maintaining a state of oxidative stress, which seems to be the key to the pathophysiological manifestations of OSAS, and is associated with the development of a number of high morbidity-mortality systematic complications, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular and neuropsychological diseases. This study is an open, cross-sectional, and comparative clinical trial, whose general objective was to assess the correlation between OSAS severity, oxidative stress markers, and the presence of affective symptoms (depressive and anxious) in OSAS patients. We studied 38 adult males, who had been diagnosed with OSAS by overnight polysomnography, between 18 and 60 years of age, divided into three groups: group 1-10 individuals with mild OSAS (AHI between 5 and 14.9/h), group 2-13 individuals with moderate OSAS (AHI between 15 and 30/h), and group 3-15 individuals with severe OSAS (AHI >30/h). All individuals were evaluated for level of subjective sleepiness using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, for depressive and anxiety symptoms by the Hamilton Depression (HAM-D) and Anxiety (HAM-A) Scales, and for parameters of the oxidative stress state, measuring superoxide radical and serum nitrates and nitrites levels. There was a progressive and significant increase in the state of oxidative stress (p < 0.05), in the total score of depressive symptoms (p = 0.001) and in the overall score of anxiety symptoms (p = 0.004) directly proportional to the severity of apnea when comparing the mild group to the severe group. Positive correlations were identified between superoxide production and the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) (r = 0.48), Epworth sleepiness score (r = 0.36), and Hamilton depression score (HAM-D) (r = 0.40); between serum nitrates and nitrites levels and SO(2) min (r = 0.44); and between the AHI and the HAM-D (r = 0.51) score and HAM-A (r = 0.40) score. Negative correlations were observed between the AHI and serum nitrates and nitrites levels (r = -0.42), between superoxide production and SO(2) min (r = -0.31), between serum nitrates and nitrites levels and HAM-D (r = -0.50) and HAM-A (-0.42) scores, and between SO(2) min and HAM-D (r = -0.48) and HAM-A (r = -0.40) scores. According to the results of this study, we can conclude that (1) individuals with OSAS show an increase in the production of superoxide radical and a decrease in serum nitrates and nitrites levels, which are objective signs of a state of oxidative stress. (2) The more severe the OSAS, the more fragmented the sleep and the greater the nocturnal hypoxemia, the more severe is the oxidative stress state and the greater is the incidence of daytime symptoms, especially sleepiness and depressive and anxiety symptoms. Future studies might explore the investigation of oxidative stress parameters as an alternative approach to anticipate symptoms, measure prognosis, and monitor OSAS progression or treatment response.

Real-time polymerase chain reaction for the quantitative detection of tetA and tetB bacterial tetracycline resistance genes in food.

A new, rapid, sensitive and specific method was developed to directly detect and quantify tetA and tetB in food. Both tet genes are two of the most frequently present tetracycline resistance genes in gram-negative bacteria. A set of primers and Taqman probes was designed for each gene. The standard curves were performed using Escherichia coli BM13 (C600 RifR)/RP4 and E. coli NCTC 50365, which carry tetA and tetB, respectively. Meat and fish samples inoculated with these reference strains were used as a matrix to construct the standard curves for the analysis of 20 samples of chicken meat and 10 samples of hake (Merlucius merlucius). The limits of detection in pure culture were 5 cfu/mL (0.7 log cfu/mL) in the case of tetA, 50 cfu/mL (1.7log cfu/mL) for tetB and 5×10(2)cfu/g (2.7 log cfu/g) for both genes in food samples. The results obtained by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) were compared to counts of tetracycline-resistant bacteria obtained by plating extracts of poultry and hake samples in culture media supplemented with 16 mg/L of tetracycline. Counts of tetracycline-resistant bacteria obtained by qPCR showed a positive correlation, especially interesting when compared with microbiological counts of tetracycline-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in poultry meat (r=0.5509) and with tetracycline-resistant mesophilic aerobic bacteria in hake samples (r=0.7146). The obtained results demonstrate that this method could be a useful tool for the direct quantification of the amount of bacterial strains that carry tetA and/or tetB genes in food samples.

Plasmodium carmelinoi n. sp. (Haemosporida: Plasmodiidae) of the lizard Ameiva ameiva (Squamata: Teiidae) in Amazonian Brazil.

Plasmodium carmelinoi n. sp. is described in the teiid lizard Ameiva ameiva from north Brazil. Following entry of the merozoites into the erythrocyte, the young, uninucleated trophozoites are at first tear-shaped and already possess a large vacuole: with growth, they may assume an irregular shape, but eventually become spherical or broadly ovoid. The vacuole reduces the cytoplasm of the parasite to a narrow peripheral band in which nuclear division produces a schizont with 8-12 nuclei. At first the dark, brownish-black pigment granules are restricted to this rim of cytoplasm but latterly become conspicuously concentrated within the vacuole. The mature schizonts are spherical to ovoid and predominantly polar in their position in the erythrocyte. They average 5.4 x 4,9 microm (4.4 x 4.4 - 6.6 x 5,9 microm), shape index 1.1, n = 50: 8-12 merozoites are produced and measure approximately 2.0 x 1,0 microm. Mature gametocytes are also polar in position, and spherical to subspherical. The macrogametocytes measure 5.7 x 5,2 microm (4.4 x 4.0- 5.9 x 5,1 microm), shape index 1.1, n = 50 and, following staining by Giemsa's method, possess a compact, pink-staining nucleus and a clear blue, faintly stained cytoplasm. Microgametocytes are slightly larger, 6.0 x 5,0 microm (5.2 x 4.4 - 6.2 x 5,2 microm), shape index 1.2, n = 45. They stain an over-all pink colour due to the dispersed nuclear chromatin. The vacuoles in both the macro- and microgametocytes are considerably smaller than those of the schizonts and of ovoid or spindle shape: they contain most of the pigment granules. The sex ratio, as seen in an inicial intense infection, was 1 male to 2.2 females. Prevalence of infection was low (5%) but, due to the very low parasitaemia which may result in a failure to detect parasites, it is probably higher than this.

Differentiation of farmed and wild turbot (Psetta maxima): proximate chemical composition, fatty acid profile, trace minerals and antimicrobial resistance of contaminant bacteria.

The proximate, cholesterol, fatty acid and trace mineral compositions in the flesh of farmed and wild turbot (Psetta maxima) were evaluated. Additionally, the potential influence of the use of antimicrobial agents in the bacteria carried by farmed turbot was investigated. For this purpose, a total of 144 Pseudomonas spp. and 127 Aeromonas spp. were isolated and tested for their susceptibility to 12 antimicrobials by a disk diffusion method. Farmed turbot contained higher fat, cholesterol and calories as well as lower moisture content than its wild counterpart. The fatty acid profile of farmed turbot included higher levels of myristic, pentadecanoic, palmitoleic, gadoleic, cetoleic, linoleic, linolenic, stearidonic, eicosadienoic and eicosapentaenoic acids, and lower levels of stearic, arachidonic, docosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids than its wild counterpart. The proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids and n-3/n-6 ratios were higher in wild turbot than in farmed turbot. With respect to trace minerals, no toxic levels were found, and higher amounts of Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn, as well as lower amounts of Cr, were found in farmed turbot relative to wild turbot. The antimicrobial resistance of Pseudomonas spp. and Aeromonas spp. were quite similar, with only the trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole resistance of Aeromonas spp. isolated from farmed turbot being higher than those isolated from wild turbot. In the case of ampicillin, Pseudomonas spp. isolated from wild turbot showed higher resistance levels than those of their counterparts isolated from farmed turbot. In conclusion, the nutritional parameters of wild turbot are more adequate with respect to nutritional recommendations, while no differences were observed in food safety derived from trace mineral concentrations or the antimicrobial resistance of bacteria isolated from wild and farmed turbot.