Salmonella infection in illegally imported spur-thighed tortoises (Testudo graeca).

The prevalence of Salmonella infection was determined in a group of spur-thighed tortoises (Testudo graeca) seized during two smuggling attempts and in a population of captive Hermann's tortoises (Testudo hermanni) sheltered in a wildlife rescue centre. Salmonella spp. was isolated in 81 of 220 (36.8%) and in 17 of 67 (25.4%) cloacal swabs collected from the T. graeca and T. hermanni tortoises respectively. Overall, a total of 21 different Salmonella serotypes were found. Some of these serotypes are common to terrestrial chelonians while others have never been reported. All cultured serotypes were non-typhoidal but nonetheless many of these have been previously reported as source of human outbreaks of reptile-related salmonellosis. Eighty-two per cent and 5.3% of the isolates were resistant to two and three anti-microbial agents respectively. However, the isolates were highly susceptible to the anti-microbials of choice for the treatment of salmonellosis such as cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones. Our findings confirm that tortoises can be considered a reservoir for Salmonella and that care should be employed when handling and breeding these animals. Tight surveillance should be enforced to avoid illegal importation and prevent the trading of live tortoises, carriers of zoonotic pathogens.

Neurofibroma in a striped mullet: histochemical and immunohistochemical study.

A case of neurofibroma is reported in a wild striped mullet Mugil cephalus. Macro- and microscopic features are described. The tumor arose on the head as a white-grayish, firm mass protruding outwards but covered by the epidermis. The neoplastic tissue showed well-defined borders and was encapsulated; it was predominantly composed of elongated cells with ellipsoid, hyperchromatic nuclei and pale cytoplasm. The cells were irregularly arranged; in the context of the neoplastic proliferation, these cells were usually densely packed, sometimes forming parallel arrays, but without distinctive nuclear palisades. The diagnosis of neurofibroma is also supported by the positive immunostaining for S-100 and vimentin as well as by the negative calretinin reaction.

The ductus epididymis of the alpaca: immunohistochemical and lectin histochemical study.

Our objective was to characterize epithelial cells lining the epididymal duct (caput, corpus, cauda) of the alpaca using AE1/AE3 cytokeratin antibodies and a battery of different lectins: Con-A, UEA-I, LTA WGA, GSA-II, GSA-IB4, SBA, PNA, ECA, DBA, MAL-II and SNA. Sialidase digestion and deglycosylation pre-treatments were also employed. The principal cells (PCs) along the epididymis showed differences in immunostaining patterns toward keratin antibodies. Lectin histochemistry demonstrated variations in the content and distribution of glycosidic residues of glycoconjugates in different epididymal regions. In particular, staining of the Golgi zone in the epithelial PCs was interpreted as evidence for synthesis and secretion of O- and N-linked oligosaccharides. In the caput, the apical mitochondria-rich cells contained mainly beta-GalNAc, subterminal alpha-GalNAc, alpha-Gal and Neu5Ac alpha2,3Gal residues. Conversely, in the corpus they were particularly rich in alpha-GalNac and beta-Gal-(1-3)-d-GalNAc linked to sialic acid moieties. Basal cells mainly expressed beta-GalNAc and alpha-Gal in the caput, alpha-Gal in the corpus and alpha-Fuc and beta-GalNAc in the cauda. The differences in immunostaining patterns and in lectin histochemistry in the alpaca epididymis reported in this investigation seem to be related to regional differences in function.

Importation of mycobacteriosis with ornamental fish: Medico-legal implications.

Mycobacterium fortuitum, as well as Mycobacterium marinum and Mycobacterium chelonae, are the etiological agents of fish Mycobacterioses. Mycobacteriosis has been reported to affect a wide range of freshwater and marine fish species, suggesting an ubiquitous distribution, and can cause zoonotic infections (known as "fish tank granuloma" or "swimming pool granuloma") in humans exposed to fish and contaminated water. Infection in human consists of nodular cutaneous lesions that can progress to tenosynovitis, arthritis, and osteomyelitis, depending on the immunological status. Authors describe some cases observed during routinary diagnostic activity in aquarium fish. Fish were sampled and histopathological, microbiological, and biomolecular exams were carried out. Histopathology showed systemic granulomatosis. Microbiological and biomolecular exams allowed us to identify the M. fortuitum as a main species. Finally, some considerations on the legal aspects of such disease are discussed.

Light and scanning electron microscopy observations on Gnathia vorax (Isopoda: Gnathiidae) larvae.

A large population of gnathid isopods (Crustacea) has been observed on sea water teleost fishes coming from the Civic Aquarium of Messina (Italy). Gnathiidae are parasite of fishes only at the stage of praniza, while adults are free living. Several teleosts, reared in captivity at the Civic Aquarium of Messina were sent for parasitological examination over a period of three years. Numerous parasites, identified as pranizae of Gnathiidae, were found on dorsum, on dorsal, pectoral and caudal fins, as well as in oro-pharyngeal cavity and gills of the affected fishes. The cranial part of an exuvie of adult male belonging to Gnathia sp. was also found on the floor of the tank. Because adult parasites are rarely detected in the sand bottom, the taxonomic identification is based on the morphological characteristics of larvae, even if it is very hard to show interspecific differences among gnathiids. For this reason, the morphological study was performed also by SEM to better show the surface details with taxonomic meaning. One to five mm long pranizae had a flattened body characterised by a head followed by 5 thoracic and 6 abdominal segments and a caudal plate with two biarticulated uropods. In the oral part of the head there was a ventrally oriented and smooth trapezoidal rostrum. Oral appendages, not clearly visible by light microscopy, were: a) two jaws with denticulate internal sides longer than the rostrum; b) a single ipostoma apically divided into two long appendixes; c) long and thin maxillae, with denticulate distal margins; d) two paired maxillipedes showing ciliate internal side that reaches the extremity of buccal cone; e) two big gnatopods with apical nail. Flagellum of antennulae had 7 articles. Telson was triangularly shaped, longer than large, with truncated apex having two apical bristles. Uropods were short with rounded internal angle and were provided by smooth and plumose setae; endopod was larger than exopod. The jaw of the adult gnathiid male, studied only by light microscopy, was solid, with oblique and denticulated blade; long and thin apex; rounded internal lobe; prominent external spur. Morphological characteristics of the jaw of the adult male and the shape of larvae permitted us to identify our specimens as Gnathia vorax (Lucas, 1850).

Properties of the evoked spatio-temporal electrical activity in neuronal assemblies.

Properties of neural computation were studied in two types of neuronal networks: isolated leech ganglia and neuronal cultures of dissociated cortical neurons from neonatal rats. With appropriate experimental set-ups it was possible to obtain a precise description of the spread of excitation induced by specific inputs. The evoked spatio-temporal electrical activity was characterized by large variability and the electrical activity of neurons activated by the same stimulation was found to be statistically independent to a high degree. The variability presumably originates from basic properties of synaptic transmission, which is stochastic in nature. As a consequence, the large variability of the evoked spatio-temporal electrical activity appears to be a general property of neural computation and a typical feature of neuronal assemblies. It is shown, however, that the observed statistical independence of co-activated neurons may be used to reduce the effects of variability by appropriately averaging or pooling the electrical activity.

Segmentation of the response of a neuronal network into clusters with similar activity.

An important question in the analysis of the electrical activity of a large population of neurons is the detection of families of neurons having a similar pattern of electrical activity, so that the original neuronal network can be decomposed into distinct clusters. This paper describes how it is possible to segment the activity of a neuronal network into clusters of sites with similar patterns of activity. Such a segmentation gives insight on how the network is organized, on how it functions and on its behavior as a dynamical system. Simulation and experiments on real data suggest that the correct approach to solve these problems must use multiresolution analysis. The method has been applied to both synthetic data and real data coming from a network of dissociated cortical neurons from neonatal rat brain.

New ultrasensitive assay development by using monoclonal antibodies for detecting prostate-specific antigen.

The Serono Maia Clone prostatic-specific antigen (PSA) kit incorporates an immunoradiometric assay for the measurement of PSA in the serum. The method can be used over a range of 0-100 ng/ml without dilution. Standard concentrations are 0, 0.4, 1, 5, 20, and 100 ng/ml. Up to date, 373 normal men, 89 normal women, 117 prostatic carcinoma, 98 other carcinoma, and 85 benign prostatic hypertrophy have been tested. The aim of this study is to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of a new immunoassay method for the determination of PSA, that could be able to evaluate low levels of PSA, resulted undetectable with other methods. This ability could be useful in patients treated with hormone-suppressive therapy or after radical prostatectomy. We have collected all low values present in samples examined. With the Serono Maia Clone PSA kit only 26.7% of these have been evaluated as 'out' values as opposed to 46.5% with the Hybritech kit.

Anal sphincter stretch: a technique to overcome detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia.

Intermittent catheterization has become a well-accepted method of management of the neurogenic bladder following spinal cord injury. Frequently, the presence of detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia interferes with the attainment of acceptable residual urine volumes in patients with upper-motor-neuron bladders. We have recently reported success in overcoming the problems of dyssynergia in some patients utilizing a technique called anal sphincter stretch in which relaxation of the external anal and urethral sphincters is produced by sustained distention of the anal sphincter. This has lessened the need for other measures that usually produce incontinence and has met with good patient acceptance. An update on the results of using this technique is presented. Although we have previously encountered quadriplegics who might have benefited from sphincter stretch, the lack of hand intrinsic muscle function required for the patient to perform it independently has precluded its use. We herein present a device that circumvents inadequate hand function, and which has enabled four C-7 quadriplegics to achieve satisfactory bladder emptying.

A finger device for obtaining satisfactory voiding in spinal cord-injured patients.

Anal sphincter stretch is a technique or procedure that recently has been found effective in overcoming the problem of ineffective voiding caused by detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia in some cases and for patients with upper motor neuron lesions. This technique was made available to quadriplegic patients when a fabricated device worn over the patient's finger was used. Four C7 quadriplegics have been able to achieve consistently acceptable amounts and residual volumes when voiding.