Blood parasite infections in a wild population of ravens (Corvus corax) in Bulgaria

BACKGROUND

Blood parasites have been studied intensely in many families of avian hosts, but corvids, a particularly cosmopolitan family, remain underexplored. Haemosporidian parasites of the common raven (Corvus corax) have not been studied, although it is the largest, most adaptable, and widespread corvid. Genetic sequence data from parasites of ravens can enhance the understanding of speciation patterns and specificity of haemosporidian parasites in corvids, and shed light how these hosts cope with parasite pressure.

METHODS

A baited cage trap was used to catch 86 ravens and a nested PCR protocol was used to amplify a 479 bp fragment of the haemosporidian cytochrome b gene from the samples. The obtained sequences were compared with the MalAvi database of all published haemosporidian lineages and a phylogenetic tree including all detected raven parasites was constructed. An examination of blood smears was performed for assessment of infection intensity.

RESULTS

Twenty blood parasite lineages were recovered from ravens caught in a wild population in Bulgaria. The prevalence of generalist Plasmodium lineages was 49%, and the prevalence of Leucocytozoon lineages was 31%. Out of 13 detected Leucocytozoon lineages six were known from different corvids, while seven others seem to be specific to ravens. A phylogenetic reconstruction suggests that Leucocytozoon lineages of ravens and other corvids are not monophyletic, with some groups appearing closely related to parasites of other host families.

CONCLUSIONS

Several different, morphologically cryptic groups of Leucocytozoon parasites appear to infect corvids. Ravens harbour both generalist corvid Leucocytozoon as well as apparently species-specific lineages. The extraordinary breeding ecology and scavenging lifestyle possibly allow ravens to evade vectors and have relatively low blood parasite prevalence compared to other corvids.

[10 Years of Experience in Living Donation for Liver Transplantation in Pediatric Patients - A Single Centre Study]

Living donor liver transplantation poses new issues related to the performance of a major surgery on a healthy person - the living donor. Thus, it requires precise logistics to ensure positive outcome for both the donor and the recipient, outweighing the risks associated with donation and transplantation. For this purpose, we developed an original three phase protocol for evaluation of candidate donors with set of mandatory assays. This paper aims to analyze the outcomes of this protocol. 89 candidates have been examined for the performance of 23 living donor liver transplantations. The procedure was successfully completed by 25 candidates (28.1%), including two cases of procedure suspension due to occurrence of a suitable deceased donor. The majority of exclusions occurred in the third phase, generally due to anatomical variations: arterial (17%), portal (9.68%), venous (18.15%) and biliary (18.15%), and for several reasons simultaneously (6.7%). NO exclusions occurred due to inadequate potential graft or residual volume. All living donors underwent left lateral resection and the measured volumes were enough for both the recipients and the donors. No significant complications occurred in the donors (Clavien 1: 21%, Clavien II: 4%), with no need of transfusion, reoperation or re-hospitalization. The laboratory parameters were restored to normal values within the 10th postoperative day as the average hospital stay was 14.7 days. All donors were discharged with normal laboratory, instrumental and physical parameters. No abnormalities were observed at long-term follow-up. No primary graft dysfunction was observed. The large proportion of declined candidates requires strict adherence to the precise sequence of the evaluation protocol. The main reasons for decline are anatomical variation. Los level of complicatons was registered, with short postoperative stay, normal laboratory results at discharge and normal physiological parameters at long-term follow-up. The concept of donor advocate was introduced for the first time in Bulgaria. His task is to defend the interests of the candidate donor and to provide assistance in making an informed decision.

[Minimum invasive coronary operations: indications, technique, contra-indications]

On the basis of the experience with the contemporary coronary chirurgery with classical bypass technology under the conditions of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) are specified the complications that occurred in the patient. These complications, generalized as 'postperfusion syndrome' are filled out with common brain complications like embolism, insultus and these in neurokognitive sphere of the brain activity. For decrease the complications by the coronary operations from 1975 are developed new technologies for coronary revascularization under the conditions of 'beating heart' without CPB (off-pump technologies). From 1980 Benetti F. and Buffalo (1981) in Latin America widely use the coronary revascularization of 'beating heart' without CPB (off-pump coronary artery bypass = OPCAB). For the realization of these operations are developed miniinvasive operative technologies through different operative admissions: small anterolateral thoracotomy, dorsolateral thoracotomy, xiphoid transdiaphragmatic, transabdominal etc. A considerable facilitation by OPCAB is achieved with using vacuum or mechanical stabilizers of the cardiac activity. In the course of last decade OPCAB operations are taken with endoscope technics Mack and coll. (1997), Wolf (1998) etc. The technology for decreasing of the operative technology is developed by adopting robot assistance by the coronary bypass operations (RAVECAB) from Boyd and coll. (2001), Kiaii and coll. (2000), Mohr, Falk and Diegeler (1999) etc. The miniinvasive coronary revascularization can be applied by exact draft patients and help for decreasing the postoperative complications and the lethality.