Isolation and molecular characterization of Cordyceps sp. from Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and pathogenic to Glycaspis brimblecombei (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae).

The Brazilian forestry sector stands out for its technology, forestry management practices, social and environmental responsibility and, mainly, for its high productivity and exotic pests can reduce it. The red gum lerp psyllid Glycaspis brimblecombei (Moore, 1964) (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae) is an important pest in Eucalyptus plantations. The parasitoid Psyllaephagus bliteus (Riek, 1962) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), predatory bugs and entomopathogenic fungi such as Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae are the natural enemies and used in the biological control of the red gum lerp psyllid. The use of entomopathogenic fungi against exotic pests is increasing in the forestry sector and the prospecting and identification of fungus isolates is important for integrated pest management. The objective of this work was the isolation and molecular identification of Cordyceps spp. And to evaluate the pathogenicity of isolates, obtained from Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius, 1889) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) adults, against to the red gum lerp psyllid G. brimblecombei. The fungi were isolated from B. tabaci adults found in soybean and tomato crops and molecularly identified. The conidia obtained were suspended in solution with Tween 80 (0.1%) at a concentration of 1.0 × 108 conidia/mL and sprayed on ten G. brimblecombei nymphs per Eucalyptus leaf cut and placed on a hydroretentive gel inside per Petri dishes as a replication. The number of dead insects was quantified, daily, for seven days, and transferred to humid chambers. Cordyceps javanica (LCBPF 11) and C. fumosorosea (LCBPF 12 and LCBPF 63) were identified with a molecular analysis and all isolates were pathogenic to the insects and indicates that they could be used to manage G. brimblecombei and adds to reports that, normally, fungi cause greater mortality on insects of the same order as that from which they were isolated.

Cutaneous mast cell tumor with epitheliotropism in 3 dogs.

Epitheliotropism is an important diagnostic feature of cutaneous epitheliotropic lymphoma and canine cutaneous histiocytoma; however, although noted in certain feline mastocytic diseases, it has not been considered a feature of canine cutaneous mast cell tumor. In this study, 3 canine cutaneous mast cell tumors had epitheliotropic invasion of neoplastic mast cells into the epidermis and follicular epithelium. This unusual histologic finding was characterized by infiltrates of individual and clusters of neoplastic mast cells in the stratum basale and stratum spinosum. The mast cell origin of these cells was documented by demonstration of metachromasia with Giemsa stain and positive immunoreactivity to KIT protein. On the basis of these findings, mast cell tumors should be included in the differential diagnosis for canine cutaneous round cell neoplasms that infiltrate the epidermis.

Intracranial meningioma in a baboon (Papio spp.).

Meningioma is the most common intracranial non-glial tumour of cats, dogs and man. Few spontaneously arising brain tumours have been reported in non-human primates. This report describes a meningioma in a captive baboon. Clinical signs exhibited by the animal included head pressing, visual impairment and vestibular disease. The tumour arose from the ventral aspect of the cranial cavity and compressed the overlying left side of the cerebellum and brainstem. Microscopically, the mass was characterized by pleomorphic spindle-shaped to polygonal cells arranged in sheaths, vague whorls and occasional papillary structures on vascular cores. Nuclear cytoplasmic invagination, syncytial-like cells and areas of mineralization were also evident. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells expressed vimentin and S-100 protein, but not pancytokeratin, glial fibrillary acidic protein or epithelial membrane antigen. The features of this tumour are similar to those of meningiomas in other species.

[Comparative analysis of occupational therapy benefits in spastic patients with hands involvement before and after botulinum toxin infiltration]. / Analisis comparativo de los beneficios de la ergoterapia en pacientes espasticos con afectacion de las manos antes y despues de la infiltracion de toxina botulinica.

INTRODUCTION: Spasticity is the most difficult motor disorder to be treated after an encephalic vascular accident or stroke, which interferes in the patient's selective motor functioning. AIM: To compare the involvement type of the extrinsic muscles, the functionality degree of the hand and functional independence of patients with spastic hemiplegia due to stroke after botulinum toxin A (BTA) infiltration. They were divided into a group receiving occupational therapy treatment (group I), and other who has not received it (group II). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Longitudinal study with 20 spastic hemiplegic outpatients due to stroke, both sexes, with average age of 53.1 +/- 15.3 years-old who have been attending in the botulinum toxin service. They have received BTA infiltration in the muscles responsible for the hand functional movements, and they were evaluated before and after 3-months infiltration. To collect data, these instruments were used: anamnesis questionnaire of occupational therapy, the Classification of involvement types of extrinsic muscle, according to adapted Zancolli, the adapted Hausen's Functional Classification, the Functional Independence Measure Scale, the Rivermead's Scale of Activity of Daily Life and the Barthel Index. RESULTS: In the classification, according to adapted Zancolli, group I presented higher improvement of involvement than group II. Statistical significance (p < 0.05) was observed in group I according to the other evaluations, except in the Barthel Index. CONCLUSION: Both effectiveness and importance of occupational therapy were observed in the rehabilitation of patients with spastic hemiplegia due to stroke after infiltration of BTA providing them greater abilities and functional independence in their daily life activities.

Comparative analysis of six different antibodies against Her2 including the novel rabbit monoclonal antibody (SP3) and chromogenic in situ hybridisation in breast carcinomas.

AIMS: To compare the sensitivity and specificity of new rabbit monoclonal antibody SP3 with those of mouse monoclonal and rabbit polyclonal antibodies using HER2 amplification defined by chromogenic in situ hybridisation (CISH) as the gold standard. METHODS: Serial sections from tissue microarrays (TMAs) containing 84 breast carcinomas were submitted to CISH (Zymed HER2 Spot-Light kit) and immunohistochemistry, using NeoMarkers SP3 (rabbit monoclonal), DAKO A0485 and DAKO HercepTest (polyclonal), Novocastra NCL-CB11, Cell Marque CM-CB11, and Genentech 4D5 (mouse monoclonal). RESULTS: The best antibody concordance was between SP3 and HercepTest (kappa = 0.74). SP3, A0485 and HercepTest detected all HER2 amplified tumours, but were less specific than mouse monoclonal antibodies. 3/38 (7.9%) and 8/38 (21.0%) non-amplified tumours were scored as 3+ using SP3 and A0485, respectively. 3/46 (6.5%) amplified tumours were negative for NCL-CB11. SP3, HercepTest and A0485 showed no gene amplification on 55%, 62.5% and 92.3% of the 2+ scored tumours, but most of the 2+ scored tumours using monoclonal antibodies were amplified by CISH (80-92.3%). CONCLUSIONS: SP3 is more sensitive than mouse monoclonal antibodies for Her2 assessment. However, HercepTest, CB11 and 4D5 show higher specificity than SP3 for the identification of HER2 gene amplification. Mouse monoclonal antibodies show less Her2 2+ tumours; most are amplified by CISH.