Risk of hepatitis B virus reactivation in hepatitis B virus + hepatitis C virus-co-infected patients with compensated liver cirrhosis treated with ombitasvir, paritaprevir/r + dasabuvir + ribavirin

Hepatitis B virus may reactivate in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with direct-acting antivirals. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation in HBV + hepatitis C virus (HCV)-co-infected patients with compensated liver cirrhosis treated with paritaprevir/ombitasvir/ritonavir, dasabuvir with ribavirin. We reviewed prospectively gathered data from a national cohort of 2070 hepatitis C virus patients with compensated liver cirrhosis who received reimbursed paritaprevir/ombitasvir/r, dasabuvir with ribavirin for 12 weeks from the Romanian National Health Agency during 2015-2016. Twenty-five patients in this cohort were HBs antigen positive (1.2%); 15 untreated with nucleotide analogues agreed to enter the study. These patients were followed up: ALT monthly, serology for HBV and DNA viral load at baseline, EOT and SVR at 12 weeks. Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-co-infected patients were all genotype 1b and 52% females, with a median age of 60 years (51 ÷ 74); 76% were pretreated with peginterferon + ribavirin; 72% were with severe necroinflammatory activity on FibroMax assessment; 40% presented comorbidities; and all were HBe antigen negative. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) SVR response rate was 100%. Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA viral load was undetectable in 7/15 (47%) before therapy, and for the other 8 patients, it varied between below 20 and 867 IU/mL. Five patients (33%) presented virological reactivation (>2 log increase in HBV-DNA levels) during therapy. One patient presented with hepatitis associated with HBV reactivation, and two started anti-HBV therapy with entecavir. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) virological reactivation was present in 33% in our patients. Generally, HBV-DNA elevations were mild (<20 000 IU/mL); however, we report one case of hepatitis associated with HBV reactivation.

Plasmodium vivax malaria in a Romanian traveller returning from Greece, August 2011

In August 2011, a Plasmodium vivax malaria infection was diagnosed in a Romanian traveller returning from Greece. This case together with several reports over the past decade of autochthonous cases in Greece highlight that malaria should be considered as differential diagnosis in symptomatic travellers returning from this country. Travellers may serve as sentinels of emerging vector-borne diseases.

Plasmodium vivax malaria in a Romanian traveller returning from Greece, August 2011

In August 2011, a Plasmodium vivax malaria infection was diagnosed in a Romanian traveller returning from Greece. This case together with several reports over the past decade of autochthonous cases in Greece highlight that malaria should be considered as differential diagnosis in symptomatic travellers returning from this country. Travellers may serve as sentinels of emerging vector-borne diseases.

A 4/21 tandem fusion in cattle

A tandem fusion involving chromosome 4 and chromosome 21 of the bovine karyotype, is described in a newborn Holstein-Friesian heifer which was also a blood chimera exhibiting female cells of normal bovine karyotype and male cells with a 59, XY + tan (4:21). The rearranged chromosome was a dicentric and the longest acrocentric in the male cells. Apart from the features characteristic of the freemartin condition, no other phenotypic abnormalities were detected in the heifer calf. Since the heifer and other calves of the herd were not eartagged at birth, 20 newborn bull calves of the same age in the herd were analyzed in an attempt to identify the male born co-twin to the heifer. However, this effort proved unsuccessful, probably because the co-twin had died in utero or was erroneously included among the calves sent to the slaughter house.

Standard G-, Q-, and R-banded ideograms of the domestic sheep (Ovis aries): homology with cattle (Bos taurus). Report of the committee for the standardization of the sheep karyotype

Revised G-, Q- and R-banded karyotypes and ideograms for sheep chromosomes at the 420-band level of resolution are presented. The positions of landmark bands on the sheep chromosomes are defined by their distance relative to the centromere to facilitate comparison with equivalent cattle chromosomes. Chromosome-specific (reference) molecular markers that have been mapped to sheep chromosomes and their equivalent cattle chromosomes are proposed. Reference markers will facilitate genome comparisons between sheep and cattle and minimise confusion due to chromosome nomenclature. Numbering of the Robertsonian translocation chromosomes remains as previously reported.

Standard G-, Q-, and R-banded ideograms of the domestic sheep (Ovis aries): homology with cattle (Bos taurus). Report of the committee for the standardization of the sheep karyotype

Revised G-, Q- and R-banded karyotypes and ideograms for sheep chromosomes at the 420-band level of resolution are presented. The positions of landmark bands on the sheep chromosomes are defined by their distance relative to the centromere to facilitate comparison with equivalent cattle chromosomes. Chromosome-specific (reference) molecular markers that have been mapped to sheep chromosomes and their equivalent cattle chromosomes are proposed. Reference markers will facilitate genome comparisons between sheep and cattle and minimise confusion due to chromosome nomenclature. Numbering of the Robertsonian translocation chromosomes remains as previously reported.

Standardization of cattle karyotype nomenclature: report of the committee for the standardization of the cattle karyotype

The purpose of this paper is to publish a table which correlates the previous nomenclature with marker genes mapped on cattle chromosomes. This table also presents the human correspondences and the chromosome measurements expressed as relative lengths.

Chromosomal localization of the BLV receptor candidate gene in cattle, sheep, and goat

The BLV receptor candidate gene has been localized precisely on cattle, goat, and sheep chromosomes using nonradioactive in situ hybridization and simultaneous fluorescent R-banding. The probe, a whole plasmid containing a 2.3-kb bovine cDNA fragment encoding part of this gene, was nick-translated in the presence of biotin-11-dUTP. It hybridized on band q15 of cattle chromosome 7, goat chromosome 7, and sheep chromosome 5, thus confirming the homoeology based on banding patterns among the chromosomes of these three species.

Clarification of chromosome nomenclature in the sheep (Ovis aries). Report of the committee for the standardization of the sheep karyotype

In gene mapping, it is obviously essential that gene assignment errors are minimized. Recently, confusion has arisen in sheep gene mapping, as a result of contradictions in chromosome nomenclature. The purpose of this brief communication, prepared by the International Sheep Karyotype Standardization Committee, is to minimize any further confusion that may arise, while new sheep standard Q, G and R karyotypes and ideograms are being prepared. This paper reviews the history of previous sheep karyotype standards, explains the errors that have been detected and presents a correlation table so that, whichever nomenclature is used, the exact chromosome can be identified.

Identification and cytogenetic analysis of an abnormal pig chromosome for flow cytometry and sorting

For cytogenetics of pig (Sus scrofa domestica) and the influence of chromosome aberrations on pig production, high interest exists in flow sorted chromosomes for gene mapping, to establish DNA-libraries, or to produce DNA-probes. Flow karyotyping and sorting as well as slit scan flow analysis of metaphase chromosomes of an abnormal cell type carrying a translocation marker chromosome 6/15 are described. Flow sorting of the largest chromosomes of these cells was performed. After sorting the chromosomes still had a well preserved morphology and were identified microscopically by G-banding. The quality of the band pattern of the sorted chromosomes was compatible to that of isolated chromosomes not subjected to flow cytometry. The sorted fraction showed an enrichment of chromosome 6/15 and chromosome 1 which have quantitatively about the same integrated fluorescence intensity. Slit scan flow analysis was performed to discriminate these two chromosomes. Metacentric and submetacentric chromosomes were analyzed according to their bimodal slit scan profiles. Profiles of the largest chromosomes were distinguished by their different centromeric indices. Two groups were interpreted as the normal chromosome 1 and the translocation chromosome 6/15.

Analysis of synaptonemal complexes in two fertile heterozygous boars, both carriers of a reciprocal translocation involving an acrocentric chromosome

An electron microscopic study of synaptonemal complexes in two heterozygous fertile boars, one a carrier of a 4;14 reciprocal translocation and the second a carrier of this translocation associated with a 3;7 reciprocal translocation, is reported. The results showed heterologous pairing in almost all quadrivalents, as well as a lack of XY-quadrivalent association. This seemed to be a common feature of translocations in pigs, even if at least one acrocentric chromosome is involved, and may represent a significant meiotic mechanism that prevents spermatocyte loss, while the production of genetically unbalanced gametes leads to loss of progeny through abortion.

Heterosynapsis in a heterozygous fertile boar carrier of a 3;7 translocation

Silver-stained synaptonemal complexes (SCs) in surface-spread pachytene nuclei from a boar, heterozygous for a reciprocal translocation, were analysed by electron microscopy. In such heterozygotes, cross-shaped quadrivalent configurations are expected to form in order to maximize homologous pairing. Contrary to the classical, expected cross-shaped configuration, heterosynapsis was often observed, with asymmetrical association in the lateral elements of the non-homologous partners of the quadrivalents. This heterosynapsis is assumed to be a mechanism preventing spermatocyte loss, but inducing a secondary segregational type of impairment of fertility due to foetal wastage leading to reduced prolificacy.

A new case of Robertsonian translocation in cattle

A new Robertsonian translocation was found in several animals of the Blonde d'Aquitaine breed. The fused chromosome analyzed by G- and R-banding results from the fusion of chromosomes 21 and 27. C-banding suggests that the fused chromosome is dicentric.

Reciprocal translocations in pigs

In France, the national computerized program for sow herd management regularly delivers a listing of hypoprolific boars for which a cytogenetic evaluation is required, and participates in the differential diagnosis of the other causes of reduced prolificacy. Two reciprocal translocations, 4/14 and 7/15, reducing the prolificacy by about 45 percent have been discovered since 1979. A third one, leading to a prolificacy reduction of about 28 percent, is described in the present paper. The effects of translocation 4/14 were studied in an experimental herd, in which the ovulation rate did not seem to be modified and the early embryonic mortality accounted for the decrease in litter size. The growth rate at day 35 was higher in piglets carrying the chromosomal abnormality than in their normal littermates, i.e., 215 vs. 182 g per day (P less than 0.10). The economic consequences of using a boar carrying a translocation on a group of 21 sows were estimated by means of a simulation model "Porsim." When prolificacy decreased by five piglets per litter, the losses represented 157 piglets, i.e., about $4000. If, in addition to this, the percentage of non-returns into heat decreased by 35 percent, the losses then represented 248 piglets, i.e., $6000. Because of this important economic risk, it is suggested that measures be taken to detect defective animals and to prevent their use.

Collagen substrates for cytogenetic studies of domestic animal embryos

A technique of cell culture on collagen substrate is proposed for cytogenetic studies on domestic animal embryos. The embryonic cells sampled by biopsy or micromanipulation grow on collagen coated cover slips in Leighton tubes with Ham's F12 medium, supplemented with 20 percent fetal calf serum. This method may be used to study the embryonic karyotype induced by a structural abnormality, as well as the karyotype of domestic animal embryos before transfer.

Cytogenetics of preimplantation embryos produced by pigs heterozygous for the reciprocal translocation (4q+;14q-)

The karyotype of embryos and newborns produced by pigs heterozygous for the reciprocal translocation rep(4q+;14q-) were studied. Forty-seven 9- to 10-day-old embryos were recovered. Only 27 (57.3%) could be karyotyped. Of these, 16 (59.3%) had normal or balanced heterozygous karyotypes, and 11 (40.7%) had unbalanced ones. Six different types of unbalanced karyotypes were identified. No unbalanced karyotypes was found in 38 newborn piglets produced by five heterozygous animals. It was concluded that unbalanced karyotypes are lethal at the embryonic stage.