ABSTRACT
Methods to mitigate the impacts of emerging infectious diseases affecting wildlife are urgently needed to combat loss of biodiversity. However, the successful mitigation of wildlife pathogens in situ has rarely occurred. Indeed, most strategies for combating wildlife diseases remain theoretical, despite the wealth of information available for combating infections in livestock and crops. Here, we report the outcome of a 5-year effort to eliminate infection with Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis affecting an island system with a single amphibian host. Our initial efforts to eliminate infection in the larval reservoir using a direct application of an antifungal were successful ex situ but infection returned to previous levels when tadpoles with cleared infections were returned to their natal sites. We subsequently combined antifungal treatment of tadpoles with environmental chemical disinfection. Infection at four of the five pools where infection had previously been recorded was eradicated, and remained so for 2 years post-application.
Subject(s)
Anura/microbiology , Chytridiomycota/drug effects , Mycoses/veterinary , Animals , Animals, Wild , Antifungal Agents/administration & dosage , Disinfectants , Islands , Itraconazole/administration & dosage , Larva/drug effects , Larva/microbiology , Mycoses/drug therapy , Peroxides , Ponds/microbiology , Spain , Sulfuric AcidsABSTRACT
AIM: To characterize clinicopathological and familial features of early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC) and compare features of tumors with and without microsatellite instability (MSI). METHODS: Forty-five patients with CRC aged 45 or younger were included in the study. Clinical information, a three-generation family history, and tumor samples were obtained. MSI status was analyzed and mismatch repair genes were examined in the MSI families. Tumors were included in a tissue microarray and an immunohistochemical study was carried out with a panel of selected antibodies. RESULTS: Early onset CRC is characterized by advanced stage at diagnosis, right colon location, low-grade of differentiation, mucin production, and presence of polyps. Hereditary forms represent at least 21% of cases. Eighty-one percent of patients who died during follow-up showed a lack of expression of cyclin E, which could be a marker of poor prognosis. beta-catenin expression was normal in a high percentage of tumors. CONCLUSION: Early-onset CRC has an important familial component, with a high proportion of tumors showing microsatellite stable. Cyclin E might be a poor prognosis factor.
