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Author |
Labruna, M.B.; Amaku, M. |
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Title |
Rhythm of engorgement and detachment of Anocentor nitens females feeding on horses |
Type |
Journal Article |
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Year |
2006 |
Publication |
Veterinary Parasitology |
Abbreviated Journal |
Vet Parasitol |
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Volume |
137 |
Issue |
3-4 |
Pages |
316-332 |
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Keywords |
Animals; Bites and Stings; Feeding Behavior; Female; Horses/*parasitology; Ixodidae/*physiology; Seasons; Tick Infestations/parasitology/*veterinary; Time Factors |
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Abstract |
The present study evaluated the engorgement and drop-off rhythms of Anocentor nitens females feeding on horses. Drop-off rhythm was evaluated at 6h-intervals (06:00, 12:00, 18:00, and 00:00 h) on horses held in stalls or in a pasture. A new method of marking feeding female ticks (the bowknot technique) was developed to evaluate ticks on horses in pasture that attached to different parts of the horse's body. This technique was highly successful, indicating no significant interference on tick engorgement rate or final tick weight, length and reproductive capability. Horses held in the pasture during the summer produced only 28.2% of the tick detachment during the daylight period from 06:00 to 18:00 h. In contrast, 53.4% of the ticks detached during this same 12 h-period during the winter. This difference was probably related to the longer scotoperiod during the winter. Different drop-off rhythms were observed for females attached to different anatomical parts of the horse's body. For example, ticks attached to the ears, perineum, and tail showed similar drop-off patterns, but were different from ticks attached to mane, rump and other body parts. The idiosoma length of the feeding female ticks was individually measured every 6 h until the engorged female detached naturally. The engorgement rate (increase in millimeters of the body length per hour) was evaluated during the last 96 h of parasitism. The highest engorgement rates were observed during the last 24 h of parasitism (approximately 0.16 mm/h), which were four-fold higher than the engorgement rates of the previous 3 days ( approximately 0.04 mm/h), demonstrating that these lower and higher values corresponded to the slow and rapid feeding phases reported elsewhere. Based on these data, the 6 mm idiosoma length was estimated as the minimal length that would correspond to the time point (i.e. 24 h before detachment) during which ticks would undergo the rapid feeding phase and detach as fully engorged females. When this 6 mm length was tested to estimate the number of engorged females detaching from horses in a period of 24 h, the estimated accuracy varied from 58.5 to 97.7% (mean: 73.3%). |
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Departamento de Medicina Veterinaria Preventiva e Saude Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinaria e Zootecnia, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitaria, Sao Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil. labruna@usp.br |
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0304-4017 |
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Notes  |
PMID:16481114 |
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no |
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Call Number |
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Serial |
1877 |
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Author |
Steinhoff, H.J.; Schrader, J.; Schlitter, J. |
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Title |
Temperature-jump studies and polarized absorption spectroscopy of methemoglobin-thiocyanate single crystals |
Type |
Journal Article |
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Year |
1992 |
Publication |
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta |
Abbreviated Journal |
Biochim Biophys Acta |
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Volume |
1121 |
Issue |
3 |
Pages |
269-278 |
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Keywords |
Animals; Crystallization; Horses; Kinetics; Methemoglobin/*chemistry; Solutions; Spectrum Analysis; Temperature; Thiocyanates/*chemistry |
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Abstract |
Association equilibria and association kinetics of the thiocyanate binding reaction to methemoglobin in single crystals and solution are studied using temperature-jump technique and polarized absorption spectroscopy. Different kinetic constants are found for the reaction in solution and crystal phase for the alpha- and beta-subunits of the methemoglobin tetramer. The reduction of the reactivity of the alpha- and beta-subunits in crystalline phase is 6-fold and 2.4-fold, respectively, compared to the values found in solution. The intramolecular binding reaction of the N epsilon of the distal histidine E7 which is observed in methemoglobin in solution cannot be detected in single crystals. Our results suggest that crystallization of hemoglobin has little influence on small-scale structural fluctuations which are necessary for ligands to get to the binding sites and large-scale structural motions are suppressed. |
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Institut fur Biophysik, Ruhr-Universitat Bochum, Germany |
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0006-3002 |
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Notes |
PMID:1627604 |
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no |
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Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
3800 |
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Author |
Romano, N.; Vitale, F.; Alesi, D.R.; Bonura, F.; La Licata, R.; Intonazzo, V.; Dardanoni, G.; Mammina, C. |
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Title |
The changing pattern of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection in intravenous drug users. Results of a six-year seroprevalence study in Palermo, Italy |
Type |
Journal Article |
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Year |
1992 |
Publication |
American Journal of Epidemiology |
Abbreviated Journal |
Am J Epidemiol |
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Volume |
135 |
Issue |
11 |
Pages |
1189-1196 |
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Keywords |
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*epidemiology; Adolescent; Adult; Chi-Square Distribution; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; HIV Antibodies/blood; HIV Infections/*epidemiology; HIV Seroprevalence/*trends; *Hiv-1; Hepatitis B Antibodies/blood; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood; Heroin; Humans; Incidence; Italy/epidemiology; Logistic Models; Male; Multivariate Analysis; Odds Ratio; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Substance Abuse, Intravenous/*epidemiology; Time Factors |
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Abstract |
A cross-sectional seroepidemiologic study was carried out between 1985 and 1990 in 1,567 heterosexual intravenous drug users who had been seen at the AIDS Regional Reference Center in Palermo, Italy, to evaluate the rate of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) seroprevalence in this group and its long-term trend. Sixty serum samples collected from drug users in 1980 and 1983, before the founding of the Center (1985), were tested as well. Some demographic and behavioral risk factors were studied in a subgroup of intravenous drug users enrolled in 1985, 1987, and 1990 for their possible association with HIV-1. These factors were also studied in relation to hepatitis B virus infection, since both viruses share the same modes of spread. These drug users had a higher prevalence of markers for hepatitis B virus than of HIV-1 antibodies, and the prevalence rates in sera collected declined over time for both infections. The presence of both antibodies to HIV-1 and markers for hepatitis B virus was independently associated with the age of the drug user, the duration of drug use, and the year of serum collection. Antibodies to HIV-1 were observed more frequently in females than in males. No relation was found between education or employment status and the presence of HIV-1 antibodies or hepatitis B virus markers. Although new HIV-1 infections still occur, the decline in seroprevalence observed at the end of the 1980s might be related to modifications in social behavior among newer drug users, partial exhaustion of the susceptible population, and increasing risk awareness in more experienced users. |
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Address |
Giuseppe D'Alessandro Department of Hygiene and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, Italy |
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ISSN |
0002-9262 |
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Notes |
PMID:1626537 |
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no |
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Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
5258 |
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Author |
Hebenbrock, M.; Due, M.; Holzhausen, H.; Sass, A.; Stadler, P.; Ellendorff, F. |
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Title |
A new tool to monitor training and performance of sport horses using global positioning system (GPS) with integrated GSM capabilities |
Type |
Journal Article |
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Year |
2005 |
Publication |
DTW. Deutsche Tierarztliche Wochenschrift |
Abbreviated Journal |
Dtsch Tierarztl Wochenschr |
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Volume |
112 |
Issue |
7 |
Pages |
262-265 |
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Keywords |
Animals; Heart Rate; Horses/*physiology; *Physical Conditioning, Animal; Population Surveillance; *Satellite Communications; Telemetry/methods/*veterinary |
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Abstract |
Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are considered suitable to monitor the position and velocity of horses during cross-country competition or in training. Furthermore, simultaneous recording of life data such as heart rate could be useful to assess the horse's condition during exercise. To test the suitability and reliability of a commercially available GPS system with integrated heart rate recording system and with built in GSM for data transmission, the Fidelak Equipilot Type EP-2003-15/G-2.11 (EP-15/G) was evaluated first for reliability of pulse recording from a pulse generator within the physiological range of horses; furthermore distance, velocity and heart rate recordings were carried out on a standard 1000 m field track with five repetitions. Agreement (% deviation from actually measured distance and from stopwatch-distance based velocity calculations) and variability (Coefficient of Variation for distance, velocity, heart rate) were calculated. From the results it was safe to assume that the heart rate sensor recorded horse heart rates at a high degree of accuracy. Overall distances and velocities are in high agreement with actually measured values. However, overall variability expressed in terms of relative variability (C.V.) is smaller for distance recording (C.V. 0.68%) when compared to velocity (C.V. 1.01%). The system tested is suitable and reliable for simultaneously recording of distance, velocity and heart rates for horses during cross country exercise. GPS-based monitoring of movement along with simultaneous recording of physiological data and the possibility to call upon data will not only be of benefit for training horses or for surveillance during competition, it may also be suitable for distant patient monitoring and in behavioural studies as well as in veterinary medicine in general. |
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Institute for Animal Breeding Mariensee, Federal Agricultural Research Centre (FAL), Neustadt, Germany |
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ISSN |
0341-6593 |
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Notes |
PMID:16124700 |
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no |
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Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
4035 |
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Author |
Traversa, D.; Otranto, D.; Iorio, R.; Giangaspero, A. |
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Title |
Molecular characterization of Thelazia lacrymalis (Nematoda, Spirurida) affecting equids: a tool for vector identification |
Type |
Journal Article |
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Year |
2005 |
Publication |
Molecular and Cellular Probes |
Abbreviated Journal |
Mol Cell Probes |
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Volume |
19 |
Issue |
4 |
Pages |
245-249 |
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Keywords |
Animals; Horse Diseases/parasitology; Horses/*parasitology; Insect Vectors/*parasitology; Muscidae/*parasitology; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; Spirurida Infections/parasitology/veterinary; Thelazioidea/chemistry/*genetics |
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Abstract |
Equine thelaziosis caused by the eyeworm Thelazia lacrymalis is a parasitic disease transmitted by muscid flies. Although equine thelaziosis is known to have worldwide distribution, information on the epidemiology and presence of the intermediate hosts of T. lacrymalis is lacking. In the present work, a PCR-RFLP based assay on the first and/or second internal transcribed spacer (ITS1 and ITS2) of ribosomal DNA was developed for the detection of T. lacrymalis DNA in its putative vector(s). The sensitivity of the technique was also assessed. The restriction patterns obtained readily differentiated T. lacrymalis from four species of Musca (Diptera, Muscidae) (i.e. Musca autumnalis, Musca domestica, Musca larvipara and Musca osiris), which are potential vectors of equine eyeworms. The molecular assay presented herein is a useful tool to identify the intermediate host(s) of T. lacrymalis in natural conditions and to study its/their ecology and epidemiology. |
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Address |
Department of Biomedical Comparative Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Piazza Aldo Moro 45, 64100 Teramo, Italy. dtraversa@unite.it |
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English |
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ISSN |
0890-8508 |
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Notes |
PMID:16038792 |
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no |
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Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
2626 |
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Author |
Chilton, N.B. |
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Title |
The use of nuclear ribosomal DNA markers for the identification of bursate nematodes (order Strongylida) and for the diagnosis of infections |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2004 |
Publication |
Animal Health Research Reviews / Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases |
Abbreviated Journal |
Anim Health Res Rev |
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Volume |
5 |
Issue |
2 |
Pages |
173-187 |
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Keywords |
Animals; Birds; Cats; DNA Primers; DNA, Helminth/*analysis; DNA, Ribosomal/*analysis; Dogs; Horses; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques/veterinary; Ruminants; Strongylida/*genetics; Strongylida Infections/diagnosis/*veterinary |
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Abstract |
Many bursate nematodes are of major importance to animal health. Animals are often parasitized by multiple species that differ in their prevalence, relative abundance and/or pathogenicity. Implementation of effective management strategies for these parasites requires reliable methods for their detection in hosts, identification to the species level and measurement of intensity of infection. One major problem is the difficulty of accurately identifying and distinguishing many species of bursate nematode because of the remarkable morphological similarity of their eggs and larvae. The inability to identify, with confidence, individual nematodes (irrespective of their life-cycle stage) to the species level by morphological methods has often led to a search for species-specific genetic markers. Studies over the past 15 years have shown that sequences of the internal transcribed spacers of ribosomal DNA provide useful genetic markers, providing the basis for the development of PCR-based diagnostic tools. Such molecular methods represent powerful tools for studying the systematics, epidemiology and ecology of bursate nematodes and, importantly, for the specific diagnosis of infections in animals and humans, thus contributing to improved control and prevention strategies for these parasites. |
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Address |
Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, Canada. neil.chilton@usask.ca |
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English |
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ISSN |
1466-2523 |
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Notes |
PMID:15984323 |
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no |
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Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
2628 |
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Author |
de Waal, F.B.M. |
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Title |
How animals do business |
Type |
Journal Article |
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Year |
2005 |
Publication |
Scientific American |
Abbreviated Journal |
Sci Am |
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Volume |
292 |
Issue |
4 |
Pages |
54-61 |
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Keywords |
Animals; Attitude; *Behavior, Animal; Cebus; Cooperative Behavior; *Economics; Emotions; Fishes; Food; Humans; Pan troglodytes; Papio; Social Behavior |
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Address |
Emory University, USA |
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English |
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ISSN |
0036-8733 |
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Notes |
PMID:15915815 |
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no |
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Call Number |
refbase @ user @ |
Serial |
166 |
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Author |
Nicol, C.J.; Adachi, M.; Akiyama, T.E.; Gonzalez, F.J. |
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Title |
PPARgamma in endothelial cells influences high fat diet-induced hypertension |
Type |
Journal Article |
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Year |
2005 |
Publication |
American journal of hypertension : journal of the American Society of Hypertension |
Abbreviated Journal |
Am J Hypertens |
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Volume |
18 |
Issue |
4 Pt 1 |
Pages |
549-556 |
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Keywords |
Administration, Oral; Animals; Antihypertensive Agents/pharmacology; Blood Pressure/drug effects; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/physiopathology; Dietary Fats/*administration & dosage/pharmacology; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Endothelial Cells/*metabolism; Female; Heart Rate/drug effects; Hypertension/*etiology; Ligands; Male; Mice; Mice, Knockout; PPAR gamma/*metabolism; Sodium Chloride/administration & dosage/pharmacology; Thiazolidinediones/pharmacology |
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Abstract |
BACKGROUND: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) ligands improve human hypertension. However, the mechanism and site of this effect remains unknown, confounded by PPARgamma expression in many cell types, including endothelial cells (ECs). METHODS: To evaluate the vascular role of PPARgamma we used a conditional null mouse model. Specific disruption of PPARgamma in ECs was created by crossing Tie2-Cre+ transgenic (T2T+) and PPARgamma-floxed (fl/fl) mice to generate PPARgamma (fl/fl)T2T+ (PPARgamma E-null) mice. Conscious 8- to 12-week-old congenic PPARgamma (fl/fl)Cre- (wild type) and PPARgamma E-null mice were examined for changes in systolic blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR), untreated, after 2 months of salt-loading (drinking water), and after treatment for 3 months with high fat (HF) diet alone or supplemented during the last 2 weeks with rosiglitazone (3 mg/kg/d). RESULTS: Untreated PPARgamma E-nulls were phenotypically indistinguishable from wild-type littermates. However, compared to similarly treated wild types, HF-treated PPARgamma E-nulls had significantly elevated systolic BP not seen after normal diet or salt-loading. Despite sex-dependent baseline differences, salt-loaded and HF-treated PPARgamma E-nulls of either sex had significantly elevated HR versus wild types. Interestingly, rosiglitazone improved serum insulin levels, but not HF diet-induced hypertension, in PPARgamma E-null mice. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that PPARgamma in ECs not only is an important regulator of hypertension and HR under stressed conditions mimicking those arising in type 2 diabetics, but also mediates the antihypertensive effects of rosiglitazone. These data add evidence supporting a beneficial role for PPARgamma-specific ligands in the treatment of hypertension, and suggest therapeutic strategies targeting ECs may prove useful. |
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Address |
Laboratory of Metabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA |
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English |
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ISSN |
0895-7061 |
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Notes |
PMID:15831367 |
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no |
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Call Number |
refbase @ user @ |
Serial |
69 |
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Author |
Lafferty, K.D. |
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Title |
Look what the cat dragged in: do parasites contribute to human cultural diversity? |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
2005 |
Publication |
Behavioural Processes |
Abbreviated Journal |
Behav. Process. |
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Volume |
68 |
Issue |
3 |
Pages |
279-282 |
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Keywords |
Adaptation, Physiological/physiology; Adaptation, Psychological/physiology; Animals; Behavior/physiology; *Behavior Control; Cats/*parasitology; Cultural Diversity; Host-Parasite Relations; Humans; Personality/*physiology; Toxoplasma/*physiology; Toxoplasmosis/parasitology/*psychology |
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Address |
Western Ecological Research Center, United States Geological Survey, c/o Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA. lafferty@lifesci.ucsb.edu |
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English |
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ISSN |
0376-6357 |
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Notes |
PMID:15792708 |
Approved |
no |
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Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
4148 |
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Author |
Traversa, D.; Giangaspero, A.; Iorio, R.; Otranto, D.; Paoletti, B.; Gasser, R.B. |
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Title |
Semi-nested PCR for the specific detection of Habronema microstoma or Habronema muscae DNA in horse faeces |
Type |
Journal Article |
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Year |
2004 |
Publication |
Parasitology |
Abbreviated Journal |
Parasitology |
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Volume |
129 |
Issue |
Pt 6 |
Pages |
733-739 |
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Keywords |
Animals; DNA, Helminth/*analysis; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/*chemistry; Feces/*chemistry; Female; Horse Diseases/*diagnosis/parasitology; Horses; Male; Polymerase Chain Reaction/*methods; Species Specificity; Spirurida Infections/diagnosis/*veterinary; Spiruroidea/*genetics |
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Abstract |
Habronema microstoma and Habronema muscae (Spirurida: Habronematidae) are parasitic nematodes which infect the stomach and/or skin of equids. The accurate diagnosis of gastric habronemosis is central to studying its epidemiology, but data on its distribution and prevalence are lacking, mainly due to the limitations of clinical and coprological diagnosis in live horses. To overcome this constraint, a two-step, semi-nested PCR-based assay was validated (utilizing genetic markers in the nuclear ribosomal DNA) for the specific amplification of H. microstoma or H. muscae DNA from the faeces from horses (n = 46) whose gastrointestinal parasite status had been determined at autopsy and whose faeces were examined previously using a conventional parasitological approach. Of these horses examined at autopsy, some harboured adults of either H. microstoma (n= 19) or H. muscae (n =4), and others (n = 7) harboured both species. Most of them were also infected with other parasites, including strongylid nematodes (subfamilies Cyathostominae and Strongylinae), bots and/or cestodes; there was no evidence of metazoan parasites in 2 horses. Larvated spirurid eggs were detected in the faeces of 1 of the 30 horses (3.3 %) shown to be infected with Habronema at autopsy. For this set of 46 samples, the PCR assay achieved a diagnostic specificity of 100 % and a sensitivity of approximately 97 % (being able to specifically detect as little as approximately 0.02 fg of Habronema DNA). The specificity of the assay was also tested using a panel of control DNA samples representing horse, the gastric spirurid Draschia megastoma and 26 other species of parasites from the alimentary tract of the horse. H. microstoma, H. muscae and D. megastoma could be readily differentiated from one another based on the sizes of their specific amplicons in the PCR. The results of this study showed that the performance of the PCR for the diagnosis of gastric habronemosis was similar to that of autopsy but substantially better than the traditional coprological examination procedure used. The ability to specifically diagnose gastric habronemosis in equids should have important implications for investigating the epidemiology and ecology of H. microstoma and H. muscae. |
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Department of Biomedical Comparative Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy. traversa@unite.it |
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English |
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0031-1820 |
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PMID:15648696 |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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2631 |
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