Dimethoate effects on thyroid function in suckling rats

The aim of our work is to study dimethoate effects on thyroid function given in drinking water (40 mg/kg body weight, equivalent to 0.2 g/L) to mothers from day zero until the 10th day after delivery. Pups and their mothers were sacrificed on day ten after parturition. Compared to a control group, dimethoate-treated pups showed a 48% decrease in body weight which could be attributed to a defect in thyroid hormones. Indeed, after treatment by dimethoate, plasma rates of free T4 and T3 decreased by 56% and 40% in the young and by 27% and 15% in dams respectively. We can attribute the reduction in plasma thyroxine and triiodothyronine rates to a decrease in thyroid iodine levels (-75%) in the young and (-24%) in their mothers. The decrease in production of thyroid hormones after dimethoate treatment affect thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. In fact, plasma TSH levels were multiplied in dimethoate-treated group by factors of 2.31 in dams and 1.96 in their offspring. These biochemical modifications confirmed the histological thyroid aspects of pups and dams. In fact, in dimethoate-treated rats, some thyroid follicles of pups presented vesicular cavities without colloid; others contained colloid. However in dams, thyroid follicles presented cubical epithelial cells which surrounded empty vesicular cavities.

Some larval morphological characteristics of Camelostrongylus mentulatus and Nematodirus spathiger

Monitoring of gastrointestinal nematode parasites in ruminants (domestic and wild) is often based on fecal examination techniques, looking for excreted eggs and larval forms using morphological keys. These, are more available in domestic ruminants, in which helminths are widely studied, than in wild ruminants.  This study tried to provide certain morphological elements that will help to recognize the L3 larvae of Camelostrongylus mentulatus and Nematodirus spathiger that could parasite either domestic or wild ruminants. For that, we resorted first to the culture of L3 larvae from fecal samples taken from African antelopes, and second by the microscopic characterization of each isolated larval morphological pattern previously identified by sequencing of its internal transcribed spacer (ITS-2) regions of the ribosomal DNA. The results of different microscopic captured images showed that Camelostrongylus mentulatus larva is 16 intestinal cells that measuring approximately 820 µm length, ‎≈ 25 µm wide, and ‎≈ 47 µm for its sheath tail extension and by this be closer to Teladorsagia circumcincta characteristics.  For Nematodirus spathiger, it possesses 8 gut cells and measuring about 1020 µm long, ‎≈ 25 µm wide, and‎ ≈ 143 µm for its sheath tail extension with specific tail appendages. Have done this, we were able to get some clarifications on the morphology of the studied larvae, and we believe thus that this study will contribute to the establishment of morphological identification keys especially for parasitic nematodes of wild ruminants.

Coprological Survey of Protostrongylid Infections in Antelopes from Souss-Massa National Park (Morocco)

Protostrongylids, small nematode lungworms, are an integral part of the wild ruminant helminth community, which can damage animals' health when they are held in captivity or semi-captive conditions. The Sahelo-Saharan antelope species dorcas gazelle (Gazella dorcas), the scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah), and the addax (Addax nasomacculatus), reintroduced to Souss-Massa National Park in Morocco, could be host to many species of Protostrongylids. This study was conducted from January to July 2015 to identify infecting parasite species, and determine their prevalence and abundance in all three antelope species. A total of 180 individual fecal samples were collected, morphologically examined by the Baermann technique, and molecularly identified by PCR amplification and sequencing of the second internal transcribed spacer region of the rDNA (ITS-2). Two parasite species were found in the three antelope populations: Muellerius capillaris and Neostrongylus linearis. The prevalence scores recorded for M. capillaris were 98.40 % in the addax, 96.70 % in dorcas gazelle, and 28.40 % in the oryx. The prevalence rates of N. linearis were 60 % in the addax, 23.40 % in dorcas gazelle, and 90 % in the oryx. Excreted larvae were quantified by LPG (larvae per gram) counting: for M. capillaris, the LPG mean values were 92.94 in the addax, 133.09 in dorcas gazelle, and 1.48 in the oryx; and for N. linearis, the LPG mean values were 6.02 in the addax, 1.37 in dorcas gazelle, and 32.81 in the oryx. These findings indicate that the three species of antelopes are infected with Muellerius capillaris and Neostrongylus linearis to varying degrees in intensity and prevalence.

Influence of surface cell structures on physicochemical properties of Escherichia coli

The partition of cells in a polyethylene glycol-dextran two phase system was used to compare the relative hydrophobicity of E. coli strains expressing different surface structures. The role of fimbriae and surface antigens on the behavior partition was investigated. The strains expressing PAP fimbriae and/or O-antigen showed a higher surface hydrophobicity than strains which express only type 1 fimbriae and/or R-antigen. No relation was found between K and H antigen and hydrophobicity measurements. The influence of surface structures on electrophoretic mobility has been evaluated. The polysaccharide capsules of AL 213 and AL 499 strains generated a high EPM. For non capsulated E. coli the EPM of rough strains (AL 46, 382) is higher than smooth strain (AL52).

Occurrence and removal of intestinal parasites in two wastewater treatment plants in the south of Morocco

BACKGROUND

Agadir city plans to reuse treated wastewater on a large scale to irrigate these green spaces. This study aims to evaluate the risk of intestinal parasites, to which human and animal populations are exposed during the reuse of treated wastewaters.

METHODS

Over 21 months, wastewater samples were collected in Bensergao and Mzar wastewater treatment plants, in Agadir city, southern Morocco. The occurrences and removal of intestinal parasites were inspected using the modified Bailenger method.

RESULTS

The biodiversity of helminths is higher than protozoa, while the protozoa cysts are more abundant and more prevalent. Generally, the highest parasitic loads were recorded during the hot season. For raw waters, the average concentration of protozoa cysts was 173.33 ± 70.81 cysts per L for Bensergao plant and 179.33 ± 129.22 cysts per L for Mzar plant. However, the helminths average concentration was 48.70 ± 39.91 eggs/larvae per L for Bensergao plant and 51.10 ± 31.76 eggs/larvae per L for Mzar plant. The purified water of the Mzar plant does not contain parasites, unlike the Bensergao plant where a small numbers of parasites were detected, included 2.33 ± 1.53 cysts per L for protozoa and 0.45 ± 0.58 eggs/larvae per L for helminths.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering parasitological risks, the purified waters of Bensergao plant cannot be used without risks to the public health and environment. In contrast, the purified waters and the purified waters disinfected by ultraviolet radiation from the Mzar plant can be used safely to water the green spaces of Agadir city.

A phantom study investigating effective strategies for reducing fetal dose in pregnant patients with head and neck cancer

PURPOSE

To measure the out-of-field doses for various treatment planning techniques and assess the impact on fetal dose with and without the use of custom shielding.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of six treatment plans were generated with different treatment techniques such as 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT), intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT), utilizing both 6 MV flattened beams and flattening filter-free (FFF) beams. The measurements were carried out both out-of-field at the surface and at depth to assess the dose reduction achieved by removing the flattening filter and incorporating shielding.

RESULTS

The custom-made frame shielding can effectively reduce the surface dose with a maximum reduction of 15.2% observed in VMAT plans and achieve a maximum reduction of 100% for cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging. Out-of-field dose measurements conducted at depth, positioned 58 cm inferior to the target isocenter, reveal that the shielding effectiveness consistently remains the greatest for 3DCRT technique. A maximum reduction of 21% is observed when utilizing a flattening filter-free beam.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study indicate that the 3DCRT technique exhibits the least amount of scatter radiation both near and far from the treatment isocenter, which is the most suitable approach for radiation therapy of pregnant patients. In cases where meeting dose constraints for critical organs becomes challenging, VMAT technique emerges as the most suitable treatment technique for reducing out-of-field doses. Additionally, a flattening filter-free beam significantly reduces out-of-field doses due to lower contributions from head scatter.