First molecular identification and phylogenetic illustration of Sarcocystis species infection in Red Sea shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque, 1810)

BACKGROUND

members of the genus Sarcocystis are intracellular obligate protozoan parasites classified within the phylum Apicomplexa and have an obligate heteroxenous life cycle involving two hosts. A more comprehensive understanding of the prevalence and geographic range of different Sarcocystis species in marine ecosystems is needed globally and nationally. Hence, the objective of this study was to document the incidence of Sarcocystis infection in sharks within the aquarium ecosystem of Egypt and to identify the species through the characterization of the SSU rDNA gene.

METHODS

All organs of the mako shark specimen underwent macroscopic screening to detect the existence of a Sarcocystis cyst. Ten cysts were collected from the intestine and processed separately to extract the genomic DNA. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was accomplished by amplifying a specific 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene fragment. Subsequently, the resulting amplicons were subjected to purification and sequencing processes.

RESULTS

Macroscopic examination of the mako shark intestinal wall sample revealed the presence of Sarcocystis cysts of various sizes and shapes, and sequencing of the amplicons from Sarcocystis DNA revealed a 100% nucleotide identity with the sequence of Sarcocystis tenella recorded from sheep in Iran; The mako shark sequence has been deposited in the GeneBank with the accession number OQ721979. This study presents the first scientific evidence demonstrating the presence of the Sarcocystis parasite in sharks, thereby documenting this specific marine species as a novel intermediate host in the Sarcocystis life cycle.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first identification of Sarcocystis infection in sharks, and we anticipate it will be an essential study for future screenings and establishing effective management measures for this disease in aquatic ecosystems.

Molecular and genetic detection of infectious laryngeotrachitis disease virus in broiler farms after a disease outbreak in Egypt

Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) is a viral respiratory illness in poultry that causes massive financial losses. This research aimed to isolate and identify the ILT virus in suspected outbreaks of broiler flocks in Egypt during 2020-2021, besides investigating its genetic link with other circulating strains. Real-time-PCR was used to test 57 samples taken from unvaccinated broiler farms. Ten samples are positive for ILTV, and the virus is being isolated in SPF chicken embryos. The Sanger sequencing was used to conduct (partial) sequencing of the infected cell protein4 gene (ICP4) for eight isolates. Phylogenetic analysis conducted Maximum Likelihood, comparative sequencing analysis of ICP4 of strains under study with vaccination ILT reference strains reveled that all isolates were clustered into two major groups. The (OM291843and OM291846) clustered together with the chicken embryo origin vaccine strains (IV and V group). The remaining six strains belong to the TCO vaccine(I, II and III group). The total sequence similarity between the strains under study and the various Egyptian strains varied from (97 to 100%) while the similarity with TCO or chicken embryo origin -vaccine strains ranged from (95to 100%). There were no deletions detected in the 272-283-bp region of the ICP4 gene. Detection of arginine to methionine substitutions at position 180 (R180M) and change of Serine to Asparagine at position 227 (S227N) in the (OM291843 and OM291846) which were previously described in chicken embryo origin -vaccine strains. This reveals that field strains may have evolved from vaccine strains, notably identification of non-synonymous substitutions which might be linked to the virulence strains' attenuation. Finally, independent of geographical distribution, both chicken embryo origin-vaccine-like and TCO-Vaccine-like virus strains were circulating in Egyptian non-vaccinated broiler flocks in 2020 and 2021. Despite their genetic differences, both viruses caused significant illnesses in the field.

[Diagnostics and treatment of functional dizziness in accordance with the new ICD-11 criteria]

Persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) is a new diagnosis for functional chronic dizziness and included in the new International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11. The new criteria are positive, specific and make it easier to identify and study functional chronic dizziness. PPPD is a condition triggered by vestibular-, neurological- or psychological conditions. This review examines the symptoms, pathophysiology and treatment of PPPD.

Percepciones de los ganaderos hacia la producción de carne de cordero Ojinegro, una raza ovina autóctona

En las dos últimas décadas se ha producido en España un creciente interés por recuperar y mantener razas de ganado autóctonas, en parte por considerarse esenciales en la adaptación a condiciones socio-económicas y ambientales cambiantes. El objetivo del trabajo es analizar las percepciones de un grupo de productores hacia la carne de cordero de una raza autóctona, relacionándolas con diferentes objetivos de los ganaderos y con características de sus explotaciones. La información empleada en el estudio se obtuvo a partir de entrevistas personales dirigidas a una muestra de 34 productores de ovino de la raza autóctona originaria del noreste de España. El análisis estadístico consistió en análisis descriptivo, factorial y cluster. Los resultados indican que los ganaderos valoran mucho el efecto positivo de la explotación de la raza sobre el desarrollo rural y la generación de empleo en zonas desfavorecidas. La segmentación realizada muestra la existencia de dos grupos de productores con percepciones diferentes hacia la raza. Además las percepciones positivas de los ganaderos hacia la raza autóctona, están muy relacionadas con los objetivos perseguidos por los ganaderos en su explotación. Es por ello que cualquier medida tomada por organizaciones públicas ó privadas que pretenda la promoción y fomento de una raza, debería tener en cuenta la heterogeneidad de las explotaciones.

A Short Route to the Ester (±) HomoSarkomycin via Johnson-Claisen Rearrangement

Background:

α-Methylene cycloalkanones are considered of interest because of their biological activity. Herein, in this paper the synthesis of (±) HomoSarkomycine Esters was described and characterized.

Methods:

Using Bylis-Hillman adducts, triethlorthoacetate and propanoic acid, (±) HomoSarkomycine Esters could be synthesized by smoothly Johnson-Claisen rearrangement.

Results:

A small library of target compounds was prepared under optimized reaction conditions in moderate yields. The reaction mechanism and the DFT study have been investigated.

Conclusion:

This methodology provides ready access to 2-hydroxymethyl-2-cyclopentenone 1a which can be served as the raw materials of the synthesis of (±) HomoSarkomycine Ester.