Ecological drivers of helminth infection patterns in the Virunga Massif mountain gorilla population

The Virunga Massif mountain gorilla population has been periodically monitored since the early 1970s, with gradually increasing effort. The population declined drastically in the 1970s, but the numbers stabilized in the 1980s. Since then, the population has been steadily increasing within their limited habitat fragment that is surrounded by a dense human population. We examined fecal samples collected during the Virunga 2015-2016 surveys in monitored and unmonitored gorilla groups and quantified strongylid and tapeworm infections using egg counts per gram to determine environmental and host factors that shape these helminth infections. We showed that higher strongylid infections were present in gorilla groups with smaller size of the 500-m buffered minimum-convex polygon (MCP) of detected nest sites per gorilla group, but in higher gorilla densities and inhabiting vegetation types occurring at higher elevations with higher precipitation and lower temperatures. On the contrary, the impact of monitoring (habituation) was minor, detected in tapeworms and only when in the interaction with environmental variables and MCP area. Our results suggest that the Virunga mountain gorilla population may be partially regulated by strongylid nematodes at higher gorilla densities. New health challenges are probably emerging among mountain gorillas because of the success of conservation efforts, as manifested by significant increases in gorilla numbers in recent decades, but few possibilities for the population expansion due to limited amounts of habitat.

Antibody formation against beta-tubulin class III in response to brain trauma

Brain trauma typically leads to neuronal damage and loss. Assuming a transient autoimmune response to debris of the damaged neurones, we have monitored serum titres of IgG and IgM antibodies to beta-tubulin class III (betaTcIII), which is almost exclusively found in neuronal cytoskeletons. In 15 out of 18 patients, the peak of the IgG or IgM antibody titre appeared in the serum within 3 weeks of a brain trauma.

[Nitric oxide in the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome]

BACKGROUND

Nitric oxide (NO) is a selective pulmonary vasodilator effective in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension and hypoxemic respiratory failure. Reports in the Czech literature on the results of its therapeutic use are still scarce.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Effects of inhaled NO on the changes of PaO2/FiO2 were assessed in the retrospective study. Records of artificially ventilated patients suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) were reviewed. Daily highest NO dose, the highest PaO2/FiO2 ratio, duration of NO administration and death or survival of the patient was noted. Survivors and nonsurvivors, as well as responders (rise of PaO2/FiO2 by at least 20%) and non-responders were compared using Mann-Whitney and ANOVA test, alpha = 0.05. 16 patients were entered into the study, 13 (81%) responded positively to NO administration, the mortality was 56%. Comparing the age, NO dose, duration of its administration and APACHE II score in survivors and non-survivors, in respondents and non-respondents no differences were found. After NO administration the PaO2/FiO2 rose both in survivors and non-survivors (p < 0.0005). In survivors the response of oxygenation was more pronounced, although the difference did not reach the statistical significance (p = 0.07). On the days 1-3 the PaO2/FiO2 ratio was higher in survivors (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the transient increase in oxygenation after NO administration, mortality of patients with ARDS remained high. NO administration could not be considered the standard method of treatment of patients with ARDS in intensive care.