Selecting optimal R6TX2 intermetallics (R = Gd, Tb, Dy; T = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni; X = Sb, Te) for magnetic refrigeration.

A complete experimental study of the physical properties playing a relevant role in the magnetic refrigeration application (structural, magnetic, magnetocaloric and thermal) has been performed over nine selected Fe2P-type R6TX2 (R = Gd, Tb, Dy; T = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni; X = Sb, Te) intermetallic compounds, to work close to room temperature. Two magnetic phase transitions are observed for these materials: a paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition in the range of 182-282 K and a spin reorientation transition in the range of 26-76 K. As a consequence, two peaks related to a direct magnetocaloric effect (DMCE) appear with the magnetic entropy change, generating a wide table-like plateau region in between both peaks, which is required to improve the efficiency of refrigerators following an Ericsson cycle. The highest magnetic entropy peak value for µ0ΔH = 5 T is found for Tb2Dy4FeSb2, with 7.72 J kg-1 K-1 around 182 K. For the same applied field the other compounds show moderate values around room temperature (2.88-4.53 J kg-1 K-1). However, the superposition of the two peaks results in huge refrigerant capacity values, up to RCFWHM(5 T) = 1103.04 J kg-1 in the case of Tb2Dy4FeSb2. The thermal diffusivity, thermal effusivity, thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity have been measured at room temperature, and the temperature dependence of the former has been obtained around the relevant magnetic phase transition region, with values in the range of 1.3-2.3 mm2 s-1, which are good for magnetic refrigerators at high working frequencies. The study is completed with a rigorous critical behavior analysis of the second order PM-FM transition. The critical exponent γ points to long range order interactions, in general, while ß values are in the range of 0.59-0.90, indicating a deviation from theoretical models as a reflection of the magnetic complexity in these compounds. The critical exponents have been used to confirm the scaling relations of magnetocaloric properties, and the scaling of refrigerant capacity (RC) values in materials exhibiting two magnetic phase transitions is addressed, concluding that for a correct scaling of RC the magnetic entropy change peak must be considered symmetric. The role of each atom in the properties of the compounds is discussed.

White blood cell count: a valuable tool for suspecting Cushing's syndrome.

PURPOSE: Simple screening tests to determine whether Cushing's syndrome (CS) should be ruled out are lacking. Tools that enable early diagnosis could reduce morbidity and associated sequelae. The potential of glucocorticoid-induced changes in the white blood cell (WBC) count for raising suspicion of CS is assessed. METHODS: This was a retrospective case‒control study. The WBC counts of 73 cases with CS and 146 matched controls were compared. The number of leukocytes (Leu), the number and percentage of neutrophils (N, Np), the number and percentage of lymphocytes (L, Lp), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte differences in the number and percentage (N-L, Np-Lp), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in the number and percentage (NLR, NLRp), and leukocyte-to-lymphocyte differences (Leu-L) were evaluated. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was calculated for each of these parameters. Reference values were estimated that could help disclose occult CS. RESULTS: All ten parameters showed significant differences between cases and controls. The AUC was greater than 0.7 for all ten parameters, and was the best for the NLRp and Lp (AUC: 0.89). An Lp of 23.9% showed a diagnostic accuracy of 84.9% for the diagnosis of CS. The concordance of an Lp below 24% and more than 8000 leucocytes had a PPV of 78.2% for CS, while the pairing of an Lp over 24% and a Leu below 8000 cells had an NPV of 97.3% for CS. CONCLUSION: WBC count assessment can be an effective tool to raise suspicion of CS, prompting diagnostic testing. This simple and universally available test may allow earlier diagnosis of CS before highly evolved phenotypes develop.

Results of a nationwide survey on multidisciplinary teams on thyroid cancer in Spain.

AIM: There is an important lack of knowledge as to the functioning of multidisciplinary teams on thyroid cancer in current clinical practice. We aimed to retrieve data on the composition, structure, and procedures developed by the multidisciplinary units of thyroid cancer in Spain. METHODS: A nationwide survey consisting of questions about composition, structure, and functioning of multidisciplinary teams was designed. It was available online from November 15, 2017 to February 15, 2018. RESULTS: Seventy-two multidisciplinary units responded to our survey. Of these, 15 (20.8%) focused only in thyroid cancer, while 57 (79.2%) included other endocrine disorders or non-endocrine tumors. The median (interquartile range) of members of the teams was 11 (9-14). The most frequent medical specialties in the units were endocrinology (100%), surgery (94.4%), pathology (80.6%), radiology (75.0%), nuclear medicine (73.6%), and medical oncology (55.6%). The annual number of patients reviewed by the teams was 40 (20-74). 56.9% of the multidisciplinary teams have elaborated clinical protocols for local use. Apart from clinical case discussions in the meetings, 45.8% of the units included educational activities and 36.1% research subjects. Quality indicators were developed by 22% of the teams. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that there are some hopeful signs that international recommendations of having multidisciplinary approach to patients with thyroid cancer are being followed in Spain. This gives us the opportunity to proceed with further studies to analyze the real impact of this high standard of care on patient outcomes.

Acaricidal activity of fluralaner against Ornithodoros moubata and Ornithodoros erraticus argasid ticks evaluated through in vitro feeding.

Ornithodoros erraticus and Ornithodoros moubata are argasid tick vectors that transmit severe diseases such as African swine fever and human relapsing fever. Elimination of the synanthropic populations of these vectors would facilitate the control of these diseases. Fluralaner is a novel isoxazoline that selectively blocks the GABA- and glutamate-gated channels, providing potent insecticidal and acaricidal activity. The aim of the current study was to provide quantitative data on the susceptibility of males, females and third nymphal instar of O. erraticus and O. moubata to fluralaner through in vitro feeding exposure. Fluralaner activity against these developmental stages and species was assessed by feeding the ticks on ovine blood medicated with decreasing fluralaner concentrations between 1 and 10-8µg/mL. Tick mortality was measured at 4, 24 and 48h and 1, 2 and 3 weeks post-feeding. Tests included solvent-treated and untreated blood controls. Fluralaner was extremely active against O. erraticus, with mean lethal concentrations 50 (LC50) and 95 (LC95) of 2.0×10-8 and 5.4×10-8µg/mL, respectively. Fluralaner was also highly active against O. moubata, showing a mean LC50 of 1.5×10-6µg/mL and a mean LC95 of 1.8×10-3µg/mL. In the latter species, the most susceptible life stages were the females (LC95 1.4×10-4µg/mL). Fluralaner demonstrated potent acaricidal activity against all developmental stages of O. erraticus and O. moubata tested, in the first 48h after in vitro feeding. Therefore, fluralaner has the potential to provide very high acaricidal efficacy to multiple argasid tick species via feeding exposure and could be included as an acaricidal agent in integrated programmes for the control of argasid tick vectors and argasid tick-borne diseases.

Serological Surveillance and Direct Field Searching Reaffirm the Absence of Ornithodoros Erraticus Ticks Role in African Swine Fever Cycle in Sardinia.

African swine fever (ASF), one of the most important diseases of swine, has been endemic in the Italian island of Sardinia for more than 35 years. During these decades, several strategies and eradication efforts have been implemented in the island with limited success. Strong climatic and ecological similarities exist between Sardinia and one area of the Iberian Peninsula where Ornithodoros erraticus ticks were involved in the persistence of ASF from 1960 to 1995. This fact leads to the hypothesis that, potentially, Ornithodoros ticks could be also involved in the ASF cycle in Sardinia, thus accounting for some of the reoccurring ASF outbreaks in this island. Initial efforts aimed at detection of Ornithodoros ticks in Sardinia were performed during the 1970s/1980s with no positive results. Accordingly, the absence of Ornithodoros ticks in Sardinia has been generally accepted. However, since a new and reinforced ASF eradication programme has been recently launched in Sardinia, it is essential to clarify the presence and role of these soft ticks in the epizootiology of ASF in this island. For that purpose, 1767 porcine serum samples collected from all around the island (1261 from domestic and 506 from wild boar) were analysed by ELISA for antibodies to salivary antigens of Ornithodoros erraticus. In addition, Ornithodoros ticks were directly searched in a number of pig premises that have suitable habitats for these ticks and were located in areas repeatedly affected by ASF. Only one serum sample resulted positive in the serological assay, and no Ornithodoros ticks were collected in none of the premises. These results indicate that these soft tick species are not involved in the epizootic cycle of ASF in Sardinia and highlight the importance of controlling other risk factors still present in the island for effectively eradicate the disease.

Short-term safety, tolerability and efficacy of a very low-calorie-ketogenic diet interventional weight loss program versus hypocaloric diet in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

UNLABELLED: Brackground:The safety and tolerability of very low-calorie-ketogenic (VLCK) diets are a current concern in the treatment of obese type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. OBJECTIVE: Evaluating the short-term safety and tolerability of a VLCK diet (<50 g of carbohydrate daily) in an interventional weight loss program including lifestyle and behavioral modification support (Diaprokal Method) in subjects with T2DM. METHODS: Eighty-nine men and women, aged between 30 and 65 years, with T2DM and body mass index between 30 and 35 kg m(-)(2) participated in this prospective, open-label, multi-centric randomized clinical trial with a duration of 4 months. Forty-five subjects were randomly assigned to the interventional weight loss (VLCK diet), and 44 to the standard low-calorie diet. RESULTS: No significant differences in the laboratory safety parameters were found between the two study groups. Changes in the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio in VLCK diet were not significant and were comparable to control group. Creatinine and blood urea nitrogen did not change significantly relative to baseline nor between groups. Weight loss and reduction in waist circumference in the VLCK diet group were significantly larger than in control subjects (both P<0.001). The decline in HbA1c and glycemic control was larger in the VLCK diet group (P<0.05). No serious adverse events were reported and mild AE in the VLCK diet group declined at last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The interventional weight loss program based on a VLCK diet is most effective in reducing body weight and improvement of glycemic control than a standard hypocaloric diet with safety and good tolerance for T2DM patients.

TSGP4 from Ornithodoros moubata: molecular cloning, phylogenetic analysis and vaccine efficacy of a new member of the lipocalin clade of cysteinyl leukotriene scavengers.

Recently obtained evidence indicated that an orthologue of the O. savignyi TSGP4 salivary lipocalin was present in the saliva of O. moubata. TSGP4 is known to act as a cysteinyl leukotrienes scavenger helping in the prevention of inflammation and oedema at the tick bite site. Since this function seems to be crucial for successful tick feeding, the novel O. moubata TSGP4 turned into a potential vaccine target. The purposes of the current work were: (i) to clone and characterize the O. moubata TSGP4 and, (ii) to produce it as recombinant to evaluate its protective efficacy as vaccine antigen. The results of these experiments indicated that the O. moubata TSGP4 shows high sequence and structural identity with the O. savignyi orthologue suggesting identical function in the physiology of the tick-host relationship. The mature native TSGP4 is not immunogenic when it is inoculated to host with tick saliva during feeding, but host vaccination with the recombinant protein TSGP4 in Freund's adjuvants induced strong humoral immune responses that recognized both the recombinant and native TSGP4 and protected the host with a 14.1% efficacy. So, the O. moubata TSGP4 can be considered a silent salivary antigen; however, in the light of the current results, its inclusion in the current repertory of protective antigens to be targeted by anti-tick vaccines could be controversial.

Concomitance and interactions of pathogens in the Iberian wolf (Canis lupus).

With the aim of improving our understanding of their epidemiological features, exposure to or presence of Canine Parvovirus (CPV), Canine Distemper Virus (CDV), Leishmania infantum and Sarcoptes scabiei were studied in 88 wild wolves from Asturias (Northern Spain) by means of long-term (2004-2010) serological and molecular data. Individual and population factors and the possible interactions between them were also statistically analyzed for better understanding the contact/presence of studied pathogens. The overall seroprevalence values were 19%, 61%, 20% and 0% for CDV, CPV, S. scabiei and Leishmania, respectively, while a 46% of studied wolves showed Leishmania genetic material presence. Sarcoptic mange, CDV and CPV showed higher seroprevalence values in the areas with higher wolf densities, and a positive association between CDV and S. scabiei antibody responses was detected. Reported data highlight the need of considering concomitant pathogens and their possible interactions for a better understanding of diseases and their management in wildlife.

3D-XY critical behavior of CsMnF3 from static and dynamic thermal properties.

Static and dynamic critical behavior of the easy-plane antiferromagnet CsMnF3 have been studied by means of a high-resolution ac photopyroelectric calorimeter. Thermal diffusivity, thermal conductivity and specific heat have been carefully measured in the near vicinity of the antiferromagnetic to paramagnetic transition (51.1 K). Specific heat and thermal diffusivity show singularities at the Néel temperature while thermal conductivity does not. Both the static and dynamic critical parameters agree with the standard 3D-XY universality class (α = -0.014, A⁺/A⁻ = 1.06): for specific heat α = -0.016, A⁺/A⁻ = 1.09 and for thermal diffusivity b = -0.010, U⁺/U⁻ = 1.09. As the dynamic critical behavior of thermal diffusivity has not yet been theoretically established for the 3D-XY universality class, an approximate equation relating static and dynamic critical parameters has been obtained for it, leading to b ≈ α and A⁺/A⁻ ≈ U⁺/U⁻ by studying the asymptotic behavior of the functions. This equation has also been experimentally verified for another XY antiferromagnet (SmMnO3). As an easy-plane antiferromagnet with a hexagonal structure, CsMnF3 could have been expected to comply with the 3D-XY chiral class (α = +0.34, A⁺/A⁻ = 0.36) (as is the case of CsMnBr3), but the experimental results rule out that possibility. This is attributed to the presence of a small in-plane anisotropy of the spins in CsMnF3, which breaks the chiral degeneracy of the 120° spin structure.

Comparative proteomic analysis of Fasciola hepatica juveniles and Schistosoma bovis schistosomula.

Protein interactions between host and parasites can influence the infection success and severity. The aim of this investigation was to identify the proteins from two trematodes potentially localized at the host-parasite interface. We performed the proteomic profiles from in vivo obtained immature lung stage Schistosoma bovis schistosomula and in vitro excysted juveniles from Fasciola hepatica, parasites of ruminants and man usually giving rise to chronic infections. Proteomes from those parasites were obtained after digestion with trypsin and the peptides generated were identified by mass spectrometry, both before and after parasites' treatment with 70% methanol. The comparison of the two proteome sets from each parasite and between them, the analysis of their relative abundance and of their potential exposure to the host from living parasites, together with the specific immunolocalization of two of the identified molecules, show that this approach could assist in the identification of parasite exposed proteins and in the definition of molecules common for the two parasites with potential interaction with the host. Further characterization of these molecules could guide to define new common anti-parasitic targets and potential vaccine candidates.

Critical behavior near the Lifshitz point in Sn(2)P(2)(S(1 - x)Se(x))(6) ferroelectric semiconductors from thermal diffusivity measurements.

The thermal diffusivity of the ferroelectric family Sn(2)P(2)(Se(x)S(1 - x))(6) (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) has been measured by a high-resolution ac photopyroelectric technique, using single crystals, with the aim of studying the evolution of the ferroelectric transition with Se doping. Its change from second order character to first order while passing the Lifshitz point (x approximately 0.28) has been evaluated, as well as the splitting of the transition at high Se concentrations. The critical behavior of the ferroelectric transition in terms of the different universality classes and their underlying physical dominant effects (tricriticality, long-range dipole interactions, Lifshitz point) has been discussed using thermal diffusivity measurements in the very close vicinity of the critical temperature. This study reveals that for Se concentrations around the Lifshitz point, long-range dipole interactions do not play a significant role and that the critical parameters are close to those predicted for the Lifshitz universality class.

Lack of evidence of paratuberculosis in wild canids from Southwestern Europe.

Wild carnivores are at the top of the trophic chain. They are predators and carrion consumers, and thus, prone to come in contact with disease agents contaminating the environment or infecting live or dead animals. We hypothesized that wild canids could be used as sentinels for the detection of regions with higher Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP) prevalence in wild and domestic animals. To test this hypothesis, we set up an ELISA to test 262 wolf (Canis lupus) and fox (Vulpes vulpes) sera for MAP-specific antibodies and processed a subset of samples for culture (n = 61), MAP-specific PCR (15) and histopathology (14). In wolves, the optical density (OD) values in the ELISA were continuously distributed. Ten fox sera (4%) had OD readings of over twice the mean, suggesting contact with mycobacteria. However, all samples tested by PCR were negative for both IS900 and ISMAP02 sequences, and samples cultured for MAP yielded no growth. No visible paratuberculosis or tuberculosis-compatible lesions were recorded. On histopathological examination, no lesions compatible with mycobacterial diseases were observed. These results suggest that wild canids show little or no evidence of paratuberculosis and are unlikely to be useful sentinels for the detection of MAP in Southwestern Europe.

Proteomic analysis of in vitro newly excysted juveniles from Fasciola hepatica.

Fasciolosis is a world-wide distributed zoonotic disease affecting several herbivores, and represents an important factor of economic loss in animal meat producing industries. In addition, specific risk factors and geographic areas for Fasciola hepatica human infection have been heavily reported recently. Several aspects related with this disease, e.g., drug resistance and prevention through vaccination, have yet to be solved. After ingestion, the infective stage for the vertebrate host-metacercariae - hatch in duodenum and the newly excysted juveniles (NEJ) penetrate the intestinal wall. The identification of proteins expressed by NEJ and specifically those found in the host-parasite interface could help understanding the first steps of animal and human infection by F. hepatica. Here we use a proteomic approach to identify a set of proteins enriched at the host-parasite interface from in vitro NEJ by applying liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis. Using this approach, we identified numerous proteins related with several biological processes of the parasite. In addition, we characterize one of the identified molecules, the 14-3-3z protein, and demonstrate its association with the outer structures of NEJ and its presence in both somatic and secretory components from the parasite. The NEJ proteins described here, together with those previously described by others, could provide new insights into the biology of the parasite and its relationship with the vertebrate host at the beginning of the infection.

Proteomic study of activated Taenia solium oncospheres.

Taenia solium cysticerci are a major cause of human seizures and epilepsy in the world. In the gastrointestinal tract of infected individuals, taeniid eggs release the oncospheres, which are then activated by intestinal stimuli, getting ready to penetrate the gut wall and reach distant locations where they transform in cysticerci. Information about oncospheral molecules is scarce, and elucidation of the oncosphere proteome could help understanding the host-parasite relationship during the first steps of infection. In this study, using liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis, we could identify a set of oncospheral proteins involved in adhesion, protein folding, detoxification and proteolysis, among others. In addition, we have characterized one of the identified molecules, the parasite 14-3-3, by immunoblot and immunolocalization. The identification of these oncospheral proteins represents the first step to elucidate their specific roles in the biology of the host-parasite relationship.

Characterization of widespread canine leishmaniasis among wild carnivores from Spain.

Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is an emerging zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Leishmania infantum in Mediterranean countries, with sand flies (Phlebotomus spp.) as vectors and dogs as the main domestic reservoir. The role of wild carnivores in the epidemiology of leishmaniasis is still controversial. In order to determine the prevalence of natural infection with L. infantum in wild carnivores from Spain, we analyzed 217 samples by PCR and western blotting and used restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) to compare the patterns present in wild carnivores with those of domestic dogs from the same areas. DNA of the parasite was detected in spleen or blood samples from 35 (16.12%) analyzed wild carnivores, including 8 of 39 (20.5%) wolves (Canis lupus), 23 of 162 (14.1%) foxes (Vulpes vulpes), 2 of 7 (28.6%) Egyptian mongooses (Herpestes ichneumon), 1 of 4 genets (Geneta geneta), and 1 of 4 Iberian lynxes (Lynx pardinus). No significant sex or age differences in prevalence were observed in wolves and foxes (P>0.05), but there was a significant difference among regions in foxes (P<0.05). A total of 12 PCR-RFLP patterns were found in foxes, 6 in wolves, 4 in dogs, 2 in Egyptian mongooses and 1 in lynx and genet. RFLP patterns differed between dogs and foxes in the two areas where they could be compared. This is the first study of canine leishmaniasis in wild canids and other carnivores from different regions of Spain by PCR. The prevalence of infection indicates the existence of natural infection in apparently healthy wild carnivore populations, and our results are suggestive of a sylvatic cycle independent of dogs.

Sarcoptic mange in red deer from Spain: improved surveillance or disease emergence?

Concern about emerging diseases has risen in recent years, and multihost situations have become increasingly relevant for wildlife management and conservation. We present data on Asturias, northern Spain, where 80 mangy red deer (Cervus elaphus) have been found since the beginning of the epizootic in chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica parva) in 1993. We combine field and necropsy data with the results of a serosurvey using an in-house ELISA test to evaluate if deer mange due to Sarcoptes scabiei is an emerging disease in this area. The mean number of deer mange cases per year was 5, with a maximum of 16. No significant relationship was detected between monthly temperatures, rainfall or number of days with snow cover and the annual number of sarcoptic mange cases in red deer. Only 4 mangy red deer (5%) were detected outside the limits of scabietic chamois distribution during the same year, and all were less than 2500 m away from that limit. The longest distance reported between two consecutive mangy deer locations was 18 km. Mange cases were significantly more frequent in stags than in hinds and in adults than in juvenile deer. The time of the first mange detection in chamois in each sector, year with minimum number of chamois recorded, year with maximum chamois population decline rate and chamois density offered no significant correlation with red deer mange cases appearance moment and frequency. In the mange affected area, ELISA testing of 327 blood samples from hunter-harvested deer without obvious mange-compatible lesions revealed only 4 seropositive animals. All 83 sera from hunting preserves without clinical cases yielded negative ELISA results. According to these epidemiological data mange does not seem to threaten red deer populations in Asturias. However, continued monitoring of deer health and ELISA testing for sarcoptic mange is advisable.

Vaccination of mice and sheep with Fh12 FABP from Fasciola hepatica using the new adjuvant/immunomodulator system ADAD.

We evaluate the ability of a Fasciola hepatica FABP native antigen (Fh12) with a new vaccination system called ADAD to protect mice and sheep against an experimental F. hepatica infection. The vaccination protocol consists of a set of two injections. The first injection contains a micelle in which two components are included, saponin from Quillaja saponaria (Qs) and/or Anapsos (A) a Polypodium leucotomos hydroalcoholic extract, both emulsified in a non-mineral oil (Montanide) in a water/oil emulsion (30/70). This is subcutaneously injected to achieve the "adaptation" of the immune system to subsequent stimuli. The second injection contains in addition the Fh12 antigen. Two different experiments were carried out using two mouse strains (BALB/c and CD-1). Mice vaccinated with Qs+A+Fh12 presented a survival rate of 40%, when compared with control groups. Furthermore, we evaluated the efficiency of the vaccination in sheep against an experimental F. hepatica challenge. The vaccinated sheep presented lower fluke recovery (24.5%), number of eggs in bile fluid (58.1%) and faeces (40.3%) than control groups. The recovered flukes were shorter (32.7%), immature (34.0%) and with lower body mass (31.6%) than non-complete vaccinated sheep. Thus, the new ADAD system could be a good alternative for future vaccination experiments against fasciolosis.

Immunoprophylaxis against Fasciola hepatica in rabbits using a recombinant Fh15 fatty acid-binding protein.

Previous studies of ours have demonstrated that a recombinant protein (Fh15) related to fatty acid-binding proteins did not induce significant protection in rabbits challenged 2 or 4 wk postimmunization over nonimmunized controls. In the current study, rabbits were immunized with Fh15 and challenged with Fasciola hepatica metacercariae 12 and 20 wk later. In the current study in which longer lag periods for challenge infection after the second immunization were used, worm burden reductions compared to adjuvant controls were a significant 43% and 76%, respectively. Importantly, rabbits immunized with Fh15 had significant numbers of immature flukes, 66% in the 12-wk period and 84% in the 20-wk lag period as compared to controls. In addition, liver lesions were clearly diminished in the vaccinated rabbits. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay absorbance values showed that immunized rabbits developed high antibody levels to Fh15 from 8 wk after the first immunization and did not increase after challenge. These results suggest that a recombinant F. hepatica molecule related to fatty acid-binding proteins induces protective (worm burden reductions), anti-fecundity (immature flukes), and anti-pathology (less liver lesions) effects in rabbits and may serve as a model for the immunoprophylaxis of fascioliasis.

Vaccination of sheep against Fasciola hepatica with homologous fatty acid binding proteins.

The current study was designed to test the immunoprophylactic properties of native (nFh12) and recombinant (rFh15) antigens from Fasciola hepatica in sheep subsequently infected with the fluke. Thirty lambs were divided into six groups according to various patterns of immunisation and times of infection and necropsy. The antigens were emulsified in Freund's adjuvant. Levels of specific anti-nFh12 and anti-rFh15 antibodies rose rapidly by 2 weeks after the first immunisation and were always significantly higher in immunised-infected sheep than in control-infected sheep. On completion of the trial there was no difference in fluke burden between groups vaccinated with either of the antigens and non-immunised controls. However, worm size and faecal egg counts were significantly diminished in the sheep vaccinated with either of the antigens, suggesting an anti-fecundity effect. This is the first report of experimental vaccination of sheep against F. hepatica with purified native and recombinant antigens related to fatty acid binding proteins.