A Presentation of Babesiosis in the Setting of Low-Grade Follicular B-cell Lymphoma.

Babesiosis is a tick-borne parasitic infection seen in the Northeast and upper Midwest regions of the United States. Clinically, this intra-erythrocytic parasitic infection can present in a variety of ways, including fever, fatigue, malaise, or myalgia. Of note, these presenting symptoms are very similar to symptoms that can also be seen in patients with low-grade lymphoma. Thus, differentiating between babesiosis infection and active, symptomatic low-grade lymphoma can be difficult. We present a patient with concurrent severe babesiosis infection and follicular lymphoma. This case report provides a unique overlap of Hematology/Oncology and Infectious Disease and the ensuing diagnostic challenges when both tick-borne illnesses and low-grade lymphoma present together. We suggest including babesiosis screening in the pretreatment evaluation for the use of rituximab in patients with the above symptomatology and geography. This will help rule out alternate confounding diagnoses of babesiosis infection before initiating immunosuppressive treatment for active, symptomatic low-grade lymphoma. Using immunosuppressive agents such as rituximab to treat suspected low-grade lymphoma, before ruling out tick-borne illnesses, can be harmful. Our goal is to reduce such instances.

Genome-wide association study of mammary gland tumors in Maltese dogs.

Background: A genome-wide association study (GWAS) is a valuable tool for investigating genetic and phenotypic variation in many diseases. Objective: The objective of this study was to identify variations in the genomes of Maltese dogs that are associated with the mammary gland tumor (MGT) phenotype and to assess the association between each biological condition and MGT phenotype in Maltese dogs. Methods: DNA was extracted from 22 tumor samples and 11 whole blood samples from dogs with MGTs. Genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping was performed, and the top 20 SNPs associated with various conditions and genetic variations were mapped to their corresponding gene locations. Results: The genotyping process successfully identified 173,662 loci, with an overall genotype completion rate of 99.92%. Through the quality control analysis, 46,912 of these SNPs were excluded. Allelic tests were conducted to generate Manhattan plots, which showed several significant SNPs associated with MGT phenotype in intergenic region. The most prominent SNP, located within a region associated with transcription and linked to the malignancy grade of MGT, was identified on chromosome 5 (p = 0.00001) though there may be lack of statistical significance. Other SNPs were also found in several genes associated with oncogenesis, including TNFSF18, WDR3, ASIC5, STAR, and IL1RAP. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first GWAS to analyze the genetic predisposition to MGT in Maltese dogs. Despite the limited number of cases, these analyzed data could provide the basis for further research on the genetic predisposition to MGTs in Maltese dogs.

Correlation between the Leaflet-Annulus Index and Echocardiographic Indices in Maltese Dogs with Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease.

Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is the most common chronic heart valve disease, leading to left-sided cardiomegaly in dogs. The leaflet-annulus index (LAI) was originally used in humans as a predictor of mitral regurgitation (MR) after mitral valve repair surgery. This index represents the quantity and severity of MR since it is affected by annular dilation. Recently, LAI was adapted to veterinary medicine, and its usefulness as an indicator of annular dilation on 2D transthoracic echocardiography in MMVD dogs was suggested. For this study, 135 Maltese dogs were selected and divided into groups of control, B1, and B2, according to the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine consensus statement. The following data were collected: radiographic indices including the vertebral heart score and vertebral left atrial size, echocardiographic indices including the left-atrium-to-aortic-root ratio (LA:Ao), left ventricular internal diameter at diastole, normalized for body weight, and anteroposterior length and LAI measured on right parasternal long-axis view. The results showed a significant difference in LAI between each group, becoming smaller as the disease progressed. Also, there was a significant correlation between LAI and each index, showing the strongest correlation with LA:Ao. LAI could be helpful as a new indicator used for the determination of severity and prognosis in Maltese dogs with MMVD.

Comparison of Serum Bile Acid Concentrations Between Maltese and Other Breeds of Dogs With Portosystemic Shunt.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Congenital portosystemic shunt (PSS) is a vascular anomaly forming a direct communication between portal and central venous systems, thus bypassing the liver. This condition is related to various clinical symptoms including those manifesting in the central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, and urinary tract. Treatment of PSS includes medical management and surgery. When evaluating prognosis of dogs with PSS, serum biochemistry profiles including serum bile acid (SBA) and ammonia concentrations are routinely used as screening tests. However, the use of SBA concentration in Maltese is controversial because it can be measured above the reference range even in normal dogs of this breed. In addition, utilizing SBA levels to assess surgical prognosis of PSS is not widely understood in this breed. Thus, the present study evaluated whether SBA could be used as a screening test for PSS in Maltese dogs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of dogs in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital from 2018 to 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 23 dogs with PSS and 30 Maltese dogs without PSS were analyzed. Although preoperative SBA levels were significantly higher in Maltese dogs (192 µmol/l) than in other dog breeds (137 µmol/l) with portocaval shunt, its concentrations were significantly decreased after surgery in both Maltese and other breeds of dogs. No significant difference was observed in postoperative SBA levels between Maltese and other dog breeds. The mean SBA levels for Maltese dogs without PSS (8 µmol/l) were within the reference interval (0-25 IU/l). CONCLUSION: Measuring pre- and post-operative SBA levels to evaluate prognosis of PSS might also be available for Maltese.

Enhanced detoxification via Cyt-P450 governs cross-tolerance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides in weed species of Centaurea.

Centaurea is a genus of winter weeds with a similar life cycle and competitive traits, which occurs in small-grains production fields in the central-southern of the Iberian Peninsula. However, most of herbicides recommended for weed management in wheat show poor control of Centaurea species. This study summarizes the biology, herbicide tolerance to acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors, and recommended chemical alternatives for the control of Centaurea species. Four species (C. cyanus L., C. diluta Aiton, C. melitensis L. and C. pullata L. subsp. baetica Talavera), taxonomically characterized, were found as the main important broadleaf weeds in small-grains production fields of the Iberian Peninsula. These species showed innate tolerance to tribenuron-methyl (TM), showing LD50 values (mortality of 50% of a population) higher than the field dose of TM (20 g ai ha-1). The order of tolerance was C. diluta (LD50 = 702 g ha-1) ≫ C. pullata (LD50 = 180 g ha-1) ≫ C. cyanus (LD50 = 65 g ha-1) > C. melitensis (LD50 = 32 g ha-1). Centaurea cyanus and C. melitensis presented higher foliar retention (150-180 µL herbicide solution), absorption (14-28%) and subsequent translocation (7-12%) of TM with respect to the other two species. Centaurea spp. plants were able to metabolize 14C-TM into non-toxic forms (hydroxylated OH-metsulfuron-methyl and conjugated-metsulfuron-methyl), with cytochrome P450 (Cyt-P450) monooxygenases being responsible for herbicide detoxification. Centaurea cyanus and C. mellitensis metabolized up to 25% of TM, while C. diluta and C. pullata metabolized more than 50% of the herbicide. Centaurea species showed 80-100% survival when treated with of florasulam, imazamox and/or metsulfuron-methyl, i.e., these weeds present cross-tolerance to ALS inhibitors. In contrast, auxin mimics herbicides (2,4-D, clopyralid, dicamba, fluroxypir and MCPA) efficiently controlled the four Centaurea species. In addition, the mixture of ALS-inhibitors and auxin mimics also proved to be an interesting alternative for the control of Centaurea. These results show that plants of the genus Centaurea found in the winter cereal fields of the Iberian Peninsula have an innate tolerance to TM and cross-resistance to other ALS-inhibiting herbicides, governed by reduced absorption and translocation, but mainly by the metabolization of the herbicide via Cyt-P450.

Genetic landscape of ALS in Malta based on a quinquennial analysis.

Genetic risk for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is highly elevated in genetic isolates, like the island population of Malta in the south of Europe, providing a unique opportunity to investigate the genetics of this disease. Here we characterize the clinical phenotype and genetic profile of the largest series of Maltese ALS patients to date identified throughout a 5-year window. Cases and controls underwent neuromuscular assessment and analysis of rare variants in ALS causative or risk genes following whole-genome sequencing. Potentially damaging variants or repeat expansions were identified in more than 45% of all patients. The most commonly affected genes were ALS2, DAO, SETX and SPG11, an infrequent cause of ALS in Europeans. We also confirmed a significant association between ATXN1 intermediate repeats and increased disease risk. Damaging variants in major ALS genes C9orf72, SOD1, TARDBP and FUS were however either absent or rare in Maltese ALS patients. Overall, our study underscores a population that is an outlier within Europe and one that represents a high percentage of genetically explained cases.

Babesiosis. Reporte de caso clínico en Venezuela. Revisión de literatura

Introducción: La babesiosis es una enfermedad causada por protozoos intraeritrocíticos con características clínicas que son similares a las de la malaria, se transmite a los seres humanos a través de la picadura de una garrapata infectada, ocasionalmente por transfusión. A nivel global la prevalencia de la enfermedad es desestimada; se desconoce esa proporción en Latinoamérica y Venezuela. Caso clínico: Paciente masculino de 29 años con fiebre de 15 días, ictericia, dolor abdominal, en quien se sospechó malaria por epidemiología y síntomas, se descartaron otras entidades como endocarditis, leptospirosis, tuvo serología positiva para ehrlichiosis, sin embargo, persistió clínica a pesar del tratamiento con cloroquina, clindamicina y doxiciclina; por tanto, se realizaron estudios complementarios con hallazgo de inclusiones intraeritrocíticas compatibles con babesiosis e inició terapia con clindamicina y quinina por 7 días con evolución satisfactoria. Discusión: El caso reportado requirió de un ejercicio clínico y apoyo interdisciplinario para un desenlace adecuado. Entre los diagnósticos diferenciales de enfermedades intraeritrocitarias se encuentra la babesiosis cuyos síntomas son inespecíficos, pero orienta su diagnóstico al indagar en el antecedente epidemiológico. El tratamiento incluye Atovacuona con Azitromicina o alternativas como Clindamicina con Quinina. Conclusiones: El presente caso fue bastante complejo dado su forma de presentación y al ser una enfermedad con una baja prevalencia en nuestro país, sin embargo, predominó el juicio clínico logrando el mejor resultado posible.

Introduction: Babesiosis is a disease caused by intraerythrocyte protozoa with clinical characteristics that are similar to those of malaria, it is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected tick, occasionally by transfusion. Globally, the prevalence of the disease is underestimated; this proportion is unknown in Latin America and Venezuela. Clinical case: A 29-year-old male patient with a 15-day fever, jaundice, abdominal pain, in whom malaria was suspected based on epidemiology and symptoms, other entities such as endocarditis, leptospirosis were ruled out, he had positive serology for ehrlichiosis, however, it clinical symptoms persisted despite treatment with chloroquine, clindamycin and doxycycline; therefore, complementary studies were conducted with findings of intraerythrocyte inclusions compatible with Babesiosis and started treatment with clindamycin and quinine for 7 days and presented satisfactory evolution. Discussion: The reported case required a clinical exercise and interdisciplinary support for an adequate outcome. Among the differential diagnoses of intraerythrocyte diseases is babesiosis whose symptoms are non-specific, but guides its diagnosis by inquiring into the epidemiological history. Treatment includes atovaquone with azithromycin or alternatives such as clindamycin with quinine. Conclusions: The present case was quite complex given its form of presentation and being a disease with a low prevalence in our country, however, clinical judgment predominated, achieving the best possible result.

Validation of the Maltese Adaptive Auditory Speech Test (AAST).

The Adaptive Auditory Speech Test (AAST) was developed to record the Speech Recognition Threshold (SRT) in children in quiet or with background noise. AAST is an interlingually valid and reliable standardised tool with speech material developed in several languages. The Maltese version of the Adaptive Auditory Speech Test (AAST) was developed to examine the speech recognition skills of 208 children and 40 Maltese-speaking adults in quiet, noise and high frequency. The aims were to determine the norms in these three settings in adults and children aged 4 years and older. The Maltese version of AAST confirms an age dependent norm threshold with a significant improvement in threshold being observed as children grow older, similar to other AAST versions. This was evident across the three test settings. An approximate difference of 10 dB was also noted between 4-year-old and 10-year-old children in AAST in quiet. Thresholds of 10-year-olds and adults were similar in both the quiet and high frequency versions. Implications for post Universal Newborn Hearing Screening using these tools are addressed.

Dacryops with dacryolithiasis in a dog.

BACKGROUND: A 10-year-old castrated male Maltese dog was presented with chronic swelling that had been present for at least 5 years in the medial canthus of the right eye (OD). OBJECTIVES: To describe the treatment outcome of dacryops with dacryolithiasis. METHODS: Bilateral patency of the nasolacrimal system was confirmed by flushing of both upper and lower puncta. Ocular ultrasonography revealed a well-defined, oval-shaped, heterogeneous mass with several hyperechoic foci. Dacryocystorhinography revealed no connection between the mass and lacrimal canaliculus. Gentle blunt dissection of the fibrous connective tissue around the cystic mass was performed. The mass was removed, which intraluminally contained multiple calculi. RESULTS: Histopathologically, the cystic structure was lined by simple cuboidal epithelium and surrounded by smooth muscle actin positive myoepithelial cells consistent with dacryops derived from the lacrimal glandular ductal system. In addition, several spherical basophilic minerals were observed in the lumen, which were identified as dacryoliths. CONCLUSION: Surgical removal of this dacryops with dacryolithiasis was curative without recurrence after four months.

Validation of the LittlEARS® Questionnaire in Hearing Maltese-Speaking Children.

OBJECTIVES: To adapt the LittlEARS® Auditory Questionnaire into the Maltese language and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Maltese version of the questionnaire for hearing children. METHODS: The English version of LittlEARS® Auditory Questionnaire was adapted into Maltese using a translation/back translation procedure. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 398 parents of normal hearing children aged between 5 days and 36 months completed the Maltese version of LittlEARS®. Psychometric validation was performed through scale analysis, item analysis, and analysis of reliability and validity. A non-linear regression model was derived to obtain normative data for expected and minimum values of total scores from the questionnaire according to age. RESULTS: Predictive accuracy (Guttman's lambda) was 0.921, the Cronbach's alpha coefficient value was 0.921, and the split-half reliability coefficient was 0.949. The Pearson correlation coefficient between scores and age was 0.903. The regression analysis showed that 82% of the variance in the total scores can be explained by age. Norm curves were comparable to the original German data. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that the Maltese version of LittlEARS® is a valid and reliable tool to evaluate auditory development in children less than two years of age.

Dissolution of waxy maize pyrodextrin granules in mixtures of glycerol and water, separating loss of crystallinity from loss of birefringence.

Pyrodextrins were prepared by heating waxy maize starch for 4 h at pH 3 & 150 °C, pH 3 & 170 °C, and pH 2 & 150 °C. Those pyrodextrins were soluble in water at 25 °C, but insoluble in glycerol. The objectives of this study were to investigate dissolution of the pyrodextrins in glycerol/water mixtures, and to determine how crystallinity and birefringence of the pyrodextrins were affected by swelling. Pyrodextrins prepared at pH 3 & 170 °C and pH 2 & 150 °C either dissolved or swelled little in glycerol/water mixtures at 25 °C. In contrast, the pyrodextrin prepared at pH 3 & 150 °C, which showed the least depolymerization, swelled in 40% glycerol to increase granule diameter ~80%. Despite that significant swelling, those swollen granules still displayed a Maltese cross pattern but were amorphous, demonstrating the separation of loss of crystallinity from loss of birefringence.

Marangoni Flow Manipulated Concentric Assembly of Cellulose Nanocrystals.

Tunable assembly of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) is important for a variety of emerging applications in optics, sensing, and security. Most exploited assembly and optical property of CNCs are cholesteric assembly and corresponding circular dichroism. However, it still remains challenge to obtain homogenous and high-resolution cholesteric assembly. Distinct assembly and optical property of CNCs are highly demanded for advanced photonic materials with novel functions. Herein, a facile and programmable approach for assembling CNCs into a novel concentric alignment using capillary flow and Marangoni effect, which is in strike contrast to conventional cholesteric assembly, is demonstrated. The concentric assembly, as quantitatively evidenced by polarized synchrotron radiation Fourier transform infrared imaging, demonstrates Maltese cross optical pattern with good uniformity and high resolution. Furthermore, this Maltese cross can be readily regulated to "on/off" states by temperature. By combining with 3D inkjet technology, a functional binary system composed of "on"/"off" CNCs optical patterns with high spatial resolution, fast printing speed, good repeatability, and precisely controllable optical property is established for information encryption and decryption. This concentric assembly of CNCs and corresponding tunable optical property emerge as a promising candidate for information security, anticounterfeiting technology, and advanced optics.

First Report of CC5-MRSA-IV-SCCfus "Maltese Clone" in Bat Guano.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a widespread pathogen that could cause different illnesses in both human and animals. Presence of MRSA in animals raises concerns of their capacity to act as reservoirs, particularly in wild animals. This study aimed to characterize the resistance and virulence patterns of S. aureus strains isolated from bat guano in Algeria. From March to May 2016, 98 bat guano samples from Aokas's cave (Bejaia, Algeria) were collected. Swabs were taken for microbiological studies. Isolates were identified by Vitek® MS system, and antibiotic susceptibility was determined by disk diffusion method. The clonal origin, virulence and antibiotic resistance profiles of S. aureus isolates were characterized by whole genome sequencing. Eleven S. aureus strains were obtained from the 98 guano samples. Seven isolates were sensitive to all antibiotics tested and four (36.3%) were resistant to penicillin G, cefoxitin and fusidic acid. The four MRSA isolates were assigned to the sequence type ST149 and related to spa type t010. These isolates harbored a SCCmecIV element and the fusidic acid resistance element Q6GD50 (fusC). They carried different virulence genes including several enterotoxins (sea, egc enterotoxin locus, sec, sel), and the toxic shock syndrome toxin (tst). Our results highlight that bat guano may constitute an important reservoir of MRSA strains.

Sequential micro-Maltese cross array in the ground beetle Carabus insulicola.

The exoskeleton of the ground beetle Carabus insulicola was observed using polarizing optical microscopy (POM) with simultaneous transmitted and reflected light. The surface showed iridescence owing to the periodic microstructure. A Maltese cross array of the inner layer of the elytra was observed. The matrix of the middle layer of the elytra is composed of protein with the arrangement of a cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC)-like helical structure. The scanning electron microscopy observations revealed the layers structure of the exoskeleton of the ground beetle. Synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurement evaluated crystallinity of the exoskeleton.　Morphology of the Maltese cross array of the beetle has similarity with synthetic chiral-CLC.

Echocardiographic parameters and indices in 23 healthy Maltese dogs.

BACKGROUND: Echocardiography is a primary tool used by veterinarians to evaluate heart diseases. In recent years, various studies have targeted standard echocardiographic values for different breeds. Reference data are currently lacking in Maltese dogs and it is important to fill this gap as this breed is predisposed to myxomatous mitral valve disease, which is a volume overload disease. OBJECTIVES: To establish the normal echocardiographic parameters for Maltese dogs. METHODS: In total, 23 healthy Maltese dogs were involved in this study. Blood pressure measurements, thoracic radiography, and complete transthoracic echocardiography were performed. The effects of body weight, age and sex were evaluated, and the correlations between weight and linear and volumetric dimensions were calculated by regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean vertebral heart size was 9.1 ± 0.4. Aside from the ejection fraction, fractional shortening, and the left atrial to aorta root ratio, all the other echocardiographic parameters were significantly correlated with weight. CONCLUSION: This study describes normal echocardiographic parameters that may be useful in the echocardiographic evaluation of Maltese dogs.

Adjustable positive and negative hygrothermal expansion metamaterial inspired by the Maltese cross.

A metamaterial that can manifest both positive and negative coefficients of moisture and thermal expansion is presented herein, based on inspiration from the Maltese cross. Each unit of the metamaterial consists of a pair of equal-armed crosses pin-joined at their junctions to permit rotation, but elastically restrained by a bimaterial spiral spring, and four pairs of hinge rods to translate the relative rotational motion of the pair of equal-armed crosses into translational motion of the connecting rods. The effective coefficients of moisture and thermal expansion models were developed for small and large changes in the hygrothermal conditions using infinitesimal (approximate) and finite (exact) motion analyses, respectively, with the former giving constant effective coefficients with respect to environmental changes. Results indicate that the approximate method underestimates the magnitude of both the effective expansion coefficients under cooling and drying but overestimates magnitudes of both coefficients during heating and moistening, and that the change in both expansion coefficients is more drastic during cooling and drying than during heating and moistening. In addition to providing another micro-lattice geometry for effecting expansion coefficients of either signs, this metamaterial exhibits auxetic property.

Comparison of radiographic and computed tomographic acetabular index in small-breed dogs: a preliminary study using Maltese and Shih Tzu.

BACKGROUND: The morphometry of the acetabulum is one source of information that assists in the clinical diagnosis of the hip and influences the proper selection of a prosthesis, reducing post-operative complications such as those seen in total hip replacement (THR). However, acetabular parameters in small-breed dogs are rarely reported. OBJECTIVES: To investigate acetabular parameters using radiography and computed tomography (CT) in small-breed dogs with Maltese and Shih Tzu dogs used as model breeds. METHODS: Standard calibrated, extended hip radiographs and CT images were obtained. Subsequently, acetabular width (AW) in various directions was measured using radiography and CT, whereas acetabular depth (AD) was obtained by CT. Acetabular index (AI) is a ratio calculated from AD and AW. RESULTS: The values of AW and AD were much higher in Shih Tzu than in Maltese dogs. Male Shih Tzus showed higher values of these parameters than females, while sex-based differences in most of the parameters could not be detected in Maltese. Body weight, but not age, influenced AWs and ADs. While AWs and ADs were influenced by several factors, AI was comparable among the assessed factors and between Maltese and Shih Tzu dogs (p = 0.172; 31.42 ± 1.35 and 32.60 ± 1.80, respectively). Also, AI did not vary with breed, sex, or body size. CONCLUSIONS: The obtained radiographic and CT acetabular parameters could be useful as guidelines for evaluating the acetabulum of small-breed dogs in clinical practice.

Occupation and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis risk: a case-control study in the isolated island population of Malta.

Objective: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a mostly sporadic neurodegenerative disease. The role of environmental factors has been extensively investigated but associations remain controversial. Considering that a substantial proportion of adult life is spent at work, identifying occupations and work-related exposures is considered an effective way to detect factors that increase ALS risk. This process may be further facilitated in population isolates due to environmental and genetic homogeneity. Our study investigated occupations and occupational exposures potentially associated with ALS risk in the isolated island population of Malta, using a case-control study design. Methods: Patients with ALS and randomly identified matched controls (1:1) were recruited throughout a four-year window, from 2017 through 2020. Data on educational level, residence, main occupation, smoking, and alcohol history were collected. Results: We found that compared to controls (44.4%), a higher percentage (73.7%) of ALS patients reported a blue-collar job as their main occupation (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.2-3.72; p = 0.0072). Through regression analysis, craft and related trades occupations such as carpentry and construction (ISCO-08 major group 7), were found to be positively associated with ALS, with patients in this occupational category found to be more prone to develop bulbar-onset ALS (p = 0.0297). Overall, patients with ALS reported a significantly higher exposure to work-related strenuous physical activity (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.53-3.59; p = 0.0002). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that manual workers particularly those working in the carpentry and construction industries have an increased ALS risk, possibly due to a history of intense or sustained physical activity.

Influence of arabinoxylan on the drying of cellulose nanocrystals suspension: From coffee ring to Maltese cross pattern and application to enzymatic detection.

Evaporation of sessile droplet containing suspension of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) results on birefringent coffee ring pattern (CR), due to the concentration increase and self-assembly of CNC carried by the flow at the edge of evaporating droplet. In this work, we studied the apparition of Maltese cross pattern, (MC) after addition of an hydrosoluble biopolymer belonging to the hemicellulose family, i.e. arabinoxylan (AX). To investigate the mechanisms that control MC pattern apparition, distribution of the two components inside the dried droplet was investigated using FTIR. CNC and AX were found to be homogenously deposited and CNC self-assembly induces nanoparticles orientation in the CR deposit. We demonstrate that the increase of concentration during drying induces gelation of CNC/AX mixture leading to MC pattern apparition. We take advantage of the apparition of MC pattern to develop a novel catalytic activity detection assay based on the variation of viscosity. Indeed, addition of Endo-1,4-ß-Xylanase (Xyl) addition to a suspension containing CNC/AX complex leads to hydrolysis of AX that decrease in droplet viscosity leading to MC disappearance. The enzymatic detection assay is thus simple, easy to handle, fast, sensitive and do not require complex analytical devices.