Erratic Migration Research Articles

Ascaridia galli: Um relatório de migração errática em ovos para consumo humano em Bucaramanga, Colômbia - relato de caso

ABSTRACT This case report describes how an erratic specimen of Ascaridia galli in the adult phase was recovered in an unusual way from a hen’s egg intended for human consumption. Although the literature on similar events is limited, this appears to be the first case reported in Bucaramanga, Colombia. The parasite was identified directly under a light microscope as an adult female A. galli, 6.5-cm long with 3 trilobed lips. In addition, the remaining eggs of the same group were examined to determine if there were more cases of erratic migration in that same batch. This nematode can cause various pathological conditions, including enteritis, hemorrhage, diarrhea, anemia, weakness, and emaciation, that can lead to huge economic and production losses in the poultry industry.

Erratic and blood vessel-guided migration of astrocyte progenitors in the cerebral cortex

Astrocytes are one of the most abundant cell types in the mammalian brain. They play essential roles in synapse formation, maturation, and elimination. However, how astrocytes migrate into the gray matter to accomplish these processes is poorly understood. Here, we show that, by combinational analyses of in vitro and in vivo time-lapse observations and lineage traces, astrocyte progenitors move rapidly and irregularly within the developing cortex, which we call erratic migration. Astrocyte progenitors also adopt blood vessel-guided migration. These highly motile progenitors are generated in the restricted prenatal stages and differentiate into protoplasmic astrocytes in the gray matter, whereas postnatally generated progenitors do not move extensively and differentiate into fibrous astrocytes in the white matter. We found Cxcr4/7, and integrin β1 regulate the blood vessel-guided migration, and their functional blocking disrupts their positioning. This study provides insight into astrocyte development and may contribute to understanding the pathogenesis caused by their defects.

Helminth Infections in Children.

Helminth Infections in Children.

Migração errática de Ascaridia hermaphrodita (Nematoda: Ascaridida) em papagaio-verdadeiro (Amazona aestiva) oriundo do comércio ilegal: relato de caso

ABSTRACT Ascaridiasis by Ascaridia hermaphrodita is a common parasitic disease in blue-fronted Amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva) and the contamination occurs by ingestion of eggs. Illegal trade of wild birds can increase the frequency of visceral erratic migration by this parasite. Hence, this report describes the erratic migration of A. hermaphrodita and associated lesions in a blue-fronted Amazon parrot. This is a retrospective study, which originated from several apprehension of illegal birds in the state of Paraíba, Brazil. Necropsy revealed intense intestinal ascarid infestation. Hepatic lesions were also observed associated with the parasite migration. Stereoscopy allowed the identification of the morphology of the parasites. Summarizing, this condition in wild birds is not fully understood and may be associated with illegal trade.

Thalamic Melanosis in Goats

Background: Melanosis is a blackened pigmentation resulting from the accumulation of melanocytes in tissues that are not normally pigmented. This change in the color of the organs occurs due to the agglomeration of melanocytes originating from abnormal migration during embryogenesis and does not cause dysfunction to the affected organ. Although melanosis frequently occurs in several species and affects several organs such as the brain and spinal cord leptomeninges, involvement in the thalamus region is unusual. The objective of this work was to report two cases of thalamic melanosis in goats, determining the pathological and histochemical aspects that assist in the diagnosis of this condition.Cases: Two cases of thalamic melanosis in goats were diagnosed. In both cases, the animals had no nervous history disease and clinical signs. The cause of death in cases 1 and 2 was established based on anatomopathological findings and clinical signs being diagnosed with mycoplasmosis and asphyxia, respectively. After fixing and making cross-sections of the brain, a focal lengthy blackened area was observed on the thalamus surface in both cases. Microscopically, lesions in the brain were similar in both cases and exclusively affected the thalamus. These cells had abundant cytoplasm, well delimited with brownish granular pigment. The nuclei were difficult to visualize and in some cells, it was rounded, well-defined, morphologically compatible with melanocytes. Melanocytes were mainly distributed around neurons and often distended the perivascular space of multiple blood vessels. In Fontana Masson staining, the granules in the cytoplasm of these cells stained strongly black. The Prussian Blue, Periodic Acid- Schiff's, Von Kossa, and Giemsa stains were negative, and the pigment remained brown. In the unstained slides, assembled after the deparaffinization and clarification process, it was observed the permanence of cells with blackish-brown pigment in the cytoplasm. In immunohistochemistry, strong immunostaining of pigmented cells with the Anti-MelanA antibodies was observed in both cases.Discussion: The diagnosis of thalamic melanosis in goats was carried out based on the characteristic pathological findings, in which melanin pigments were demonstrated and identified through HE, Fontana-Masson staining, and unstained slides and confirmed by the IHC. The use of complementary histochemical techniques was fundamental for the classification of the pigment as melanin, demonstrating to be an accessible and reliable tool for the diagnosis of pathological processes that lead to the accumulation of pigments and or material in the tissues. The occurrence of melanin in the thalamus may be associated with a failure in the migration of melanoblasts, which would go to the optical pathways or to the thalamus. This erratic migration of melanoblasts can be explained by the fact that the forebrain is the embryogenic origin of the optic and diencephalon pathways. Macroscopically, thalamic melanosis must be differentiated mainly from neoplastic processes such as melanoma and hemangiosarcoma, pigmented fungus infections, Phalaris angusta poisoning, listeriosis, neurocutaneous melanosis, and neuromelanin. It was concluded that thalamic melanosis is an uncommon alteration in goats and although it has been diagnosed as an incidental necropsy finding, should be included in the differential diagnosis of diseases that affect the central nervous system, especially those that have a color change associated with the deposition of pigments in the tissues. Keywords: melanin, necropsy findings, pigment, thalamus.Descritores: melanina, achados de necropsia, pigmento, tálamo.Título: Melanose talâmica em caprinos.

Subconjunctival nodule due to Setaria equina erratic migration in a horse: First case report

An 18-month-old Arabian-English filly resident in southwest France was referred for evaluation of a conjunctival mass in the right eye (OD). A pink, solid, and mobile nodular formation, measuring approximately 1.2×0.8cm was found under the superior nasal bulbar conjunctiva during an ophthalmic examination that was otherwise normal. The mass was surgically removed using a standing procedure. Cytological examination of fine-needle aspirates from the mass revealed a mixed eosinophilic-lymphocytic inflammation. Histological examination confirmed the dense and diffuse eosinophilic-lymphocytic infiltrate of the mass, and it revealed several cross sections of a parasitic nematode. The morphometric diagnosis identified an immature form of a filarial worm, and molecular analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxydase subunit 1 (cox1) and 12S rRNA gene sequences led to further identification of the specimen as Setaria equina. Microfilaremia was not observed on fresh blood smears. There have been no signs of local recurrence after 18months, nor any evidence of intraocular involvement. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first documented case of subconjunctival setariasis due to Sequina in a horse.

Successional trajectories and rates of change in sub-tropical Quercus forests in west-central Mexico: evidences from a permanent plot network

Forest succession was studied in sub-tropical high-altitude, Quercus-dominated forest in west-central Mexico in order to address the following research questions: (1) How do successional trajectories progress in three contrasting floristic zones? (2) Which is the magnitude of successional rate of change at different time-scales? (3) What are the major environmental drivers contributing to the observed patterns of forest succession? Data was derived from 86 non-managed permanent plots, 500 m2 each, established along a 10 km floristic gradient, ranging from xeric to mesic sites. In portraying successional trajectories over time and to measure the magnitude of rate of change in three floristic zones, Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) was developed. In order to represent the most significant environmental drivers on patterns of successional trajectories and successional rate of change, we used generalized linear models with gaussian error. Results showed that successional trajectories were not deterministic in each of the floristic zones over the different time-scales analysed; instead we observed four successional trajectories i) plots with an outstanding displacement between time periods, accompanied by an erratic migration over the DCA diagram; ii) plots with a moderate rate of change and uniform movement across the ordination space; iii) a small number of plots with slight change and; iv) few plots with no changes. Soil related variables such as pH, P, N, Mg and Mn, together with slope and catena, were predicted as important contributing factors related to successional processes.

Ascaris in an intercostal drainage tube

Ascaris or roundworms are the most common intestinal nematode infecting man with high disease prevalence in developing countries. Besides migrating to respiratory systems of the body as an integral part of its life cycle, adult Ascaris has been associated with occasional case reports of erratic migration from abnormal sites. In this case report, we present the isolation of this worm from the proximal portion of the intercostal drainage tube in a traumatised young male patient. Such cases remind us about the ubiquity of the worm and persistence in unfavourable host conditions.

Paraparesis secondary to erratic migration of Dioctophyma renale in a dog

ABSTRACT: A 4 years old mongrel stray bitch, weighing 16kg was submitted to physical examination to demonstrated inability of locomotion with the pelvic limbs. Extradural spinal cord compression was observed in myelotomography of the thoracolumbar segment. The patient was submitted to exploratory hemilaminectomy of T13-L1 and L1-L2, in an attempt to decompress the medullar segments. During the surgery was observed one adult parasite, identified as Dioctophyma renale , located in the extradural space and causing spinal cord compression. The patient was submitted to postoperative physical therapy, presenting clinical improvement 15 days after surgery, remaining on prone position and able to move the pelvic limbs, but not yet able to walk unassisted. It started walking naturally 60 days after the surgery. With the present clinical report, the erratic migration of the parasite Dioctophyma renale should be added to the list of differential diagnoses for patients with paraparesis and extramedullary lesion pattern, especially in endemic areas.

Pathological Alterations in Dogs Resulting from Parasitism by Spirocerca Lupi

Background: Spirocercosis is considered to be an emerging pathological condition within veterinary medicine. The disease has worldwide distribution, although the greatest prevalence has been described in tropical and subtropical regions. The infection rate is affected by the interrelationships between the density of the dog population and intermediate hosts. The aim of this study was report the morphological and histopathological characteristics of natural infection by Spirocerca lupi in dogs from Distrito Federal, Brazil.Cases: Records were obtained from 10 dogs diagnosed with spirocercosis at the Pathology Sector, School of Veterinary Medicine, Uniao Pioneira de Integracao Social (UPIS), in Brasilia, Federal District. For six animals, the diagnosis was confirmed through necropsy. Two dogs presented aortic rupture, thus resulting in hemothorax and consequent hypovolemic shock. Another animal presented gastric nodules, erratic migration to the lungs and renal and splenic infarction due to aortic thromboembolism. One dog presented neoplastic transformation of the esophageal granuloma to osteosarcoma. The age of the dogs ranged from one to eight years and the weight ranged from 15 to 40 kg. The clinical histories were similar: regurgitation (10/10), emesis (5/10), dysphagia (7/10), weight loss (10/10), weakness (3/10) and dyspnea (4/10). Esophageal nodules measured 1 to 5 cm in diameter were observed in all the dogs and contained a large number of Spirocerca lupi specimens. Histologically, parasites were detected in adventitial and medial areas, surrounded by zones of necrosis and mixed inflammatory infiltrate. The stroma of the intimal tissue presented considerable fibrocellular proliferation (atherosclerosis), with areas of mineralization and ossification in the intimal and medial layers. An interesting finding of this study was atypical migration to the stomach and osteosarcoma case associated with parasitism by Spirocerca lupi.Discussion: Infection by Spirocerca lupi is very important in Brazil, however, there are few studies showing epidemiological, morphological and histopathological aspects of the parasite infection. In the Distrito Federal a large number of animals has died due to rupture of nodules located in the thoracic aorta, however, necropsy was not performed and these animals do not present confirmed diagnosis. Our results showed a major group of animals of large breed (6/10) follow by medium (3/10) and small (1/10) breeds. The incidence of spirocercosis is greater in medium to large-sized dogs because these animals remain outside of the domestic area for longer times than do small-sized animals. In this study, there was greater prevalence in mongrels. Nonetheless, breeds such as Cocker Spaniel, Borzoi, German Shepherd and Great Dane have also been affected by this condition. In general, the majority of free-living dogs are mongrels and the parasitosis rate is high among dogs of this type in enzootic areas. The great prevalence of adult dogs is related to the characteristics of the parasite’s life cycle, along with difficulty in making the diagnosis in animals under six months of age. We did not found young dogs showing infection by Spirocerca lupi. The age range between four and twelve years is most affected. Although the number of dogs diagnosed with spirocercosis has been increasing continuously in the Distrito Federal, it is commonly only identified through necroscopic examinations. Therefore, measures need to be taken towards making early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, in order to reduce the death rate. Due to the scarcity of data in the Brazilian literature about this condition, the present study and future studies and data-gathering are of prime importance.Keywords: aneurysms, dogs, necropsy, Spirocerca lupi.

Dioctophyma renale em 28 cães: aspectos clinicopatológicos e ultrassonográficos

RESUMO A infecção em cães por Dioctophyma renale, relatada em diversas partes do mundo, é considerada incomum, na maioria das vezes. No entanto, em algumas regiões são descritos números crescentes da infecção e muitos dados da epidemiologia e do ciclo biológico do parasito ainda são obscuros. Dessa forma, o trabalho tem como objetivo descrever os aspectos epidemiológicos, clinicopatológicos e ultrassonográficos de casos de infecção por Dioctophyma renale em cães na região da Fronteira Oeste do Rio Grande do Sul. Foram estudados 28 casos de dioctofimose em cães necropsiados ou clinicamente avaliados, submetidos à ultrassonografia e cirurgia para retirada dos parasitos. Os cães errantes foram os mais acometidos e todos com possível acesso às margens do Rio Uruguai. As lesões renais e extrarrenais foram caracterizadas predominantemente por atrofia do parênquima renal com glomerulonefrite esclerosante e peritonite granulomatosa associada a parasitos adultos livres na cavidade abdominal e ovos, bem como migrações erráticas para o tecido subcutâneo. Por fim, os achados ultrassonográficos corresponderam, especialmente, a imagens transversais circulares de até 0,6 cm de diâmetro, com margem hiperecoica e centro hipoecoico. Esses achados foram patognomônicos para infecção por Dioctophyma renale, e o exame ultrassonográfico se mostrou indispensável para o diagnóstico definitivo durante a avaliação clínica. Os achados observados nesse estudo demonstram a importância dessa parasitose na região. Além disso, alertam para a importância do diagnóstico, que vem sendo subestimado, além de apontar a necessidade de mais dados acerca da epidemiologia da doença para que se chegue a métodos efetivos de controle.

Neuroimaging findings in a woman with brainstem paragonimiasis: a case report and review of the literature

IntroductionThe most serious erratic migration of paragonimiasis is a cerebral paragonimiasis. Infection in the temporal and occipital lobes of the brain has been previously reported in cerebral paragonimiasis. Here, we report a case of chronic brainstem paragonimiasis.Case presentationA 29-year-old Chinese woman presented to our hospital complaining of a sudden onset, three days previously, of double vision and dizziness. A computed tomography scan and diffusion-weighted images looked like an ischemic stroke. However, conglomerates of multiple ring-like enhancements on contrast magnetic resonance imaging, and the characteristic appearance of the ‘tunnel sign’, were found on further examination. Our patient was treated with praziquantel to prevent the spread of the paragonimiasis. She was followed up three months later and showed good recovery.ConclusionsConglomerates of multiple ring-like enhancements on contrast magnetic resonance imaging and the characteristic appearance of the ‘tunnel sign’ were important for the diagnosis of chronic brainstem paragonimiasis.

Episodic and non-uniform shifts of thermal habitats in a warming ocean

Ocean temperatures have warmed in most regions over the last century and are expected to warm at a faster rate in the future. Consistent with the view that marine species are thermally constrained, there is growing evidence that many marine species have already undergone poleward range shifts in line with warming trends. This study uses historical observations of ocean temperature and climate model projections to examine the movement of isotherms that mark the boundaries for species′ thermal habitats. In particular, we compare the rates of isotherm movement between different ocean regions and at different time scales and examine to what extent the implied movement is uniform or sporadic. Widespread long-term warming implies poleward shifts of isotherms in almost all regions. However, as the speed of isotherm movement is inversely related to local meridional SST gradients and the pattern of ocean warming is heterogeneous, speeds vary considerably between regions, season and over time. At present on decadal and longer timescales, changes due to low frequency natural SST variability can dominate over human-induced changes. As such, there are multidecadal periods in certain regions when we would expect to see range shifts that are much faster or in the opposite direction to that implied by a monotonic warming. Based on central estimates from the latest suite of climate model projections, median isotherm speeds will be about seven times faster in the 21st century compared to the 20th century under business as usual emissions. Moreover, SST warming is projected to be greater in summer than in winter in most oceanic regions, contrary to what is projected to occur over land. As such net poleward isotherm speeds, particularly in the northern hemisphere summer, are projected to be considerably faster than in winter. Finally we show that isotherms can exhibit erratic migration rates over time, even under uniform warming. Isotherm movement tends to stall at thermal fronts for extended periods of time and then rapidly shift to a new position, marked by more poleward fronts. This implies that species ranges would also be expected to undergo sudden rapid shifts rather than exhibiting a gradual monotonic poleward march.

A Possible Port of Entry into the Eye of Dog during Erratic Canine Heartworm (<i>Dirofilaria immitis</i>) Parasitism

A dog was suspected of suffering from ectopic Dirofilaria immitis infection, because a large white nematode worm was detected in the anterior chamber of the left eye. A cylinder-shaped fibrin sac in the anterior chamber was found in the eye of the dog by slit lamp microscopy. After successful surgical removal of the worm, the corneal wound produced by the keratotomy healed in a short period. The worm was estimated to be extremely young, 5th-stage-immature male D. immitis, equivalent to a 90-120-day-old worm postinfection, by close morphological measurement and an experimental infection study. Thus, an immature worm can exhibit erratic parasitism in a host's eye. The fibrin sac was considered to be a trace of the invasion route, and the cornea may have been the port of entry into the anterior chamber of the eye in the erratic migration of D. immitis.

Ectopic dirofilariosis in two dogs from Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil

Report of two canine dirofilariosis cases of ectopic location in the state of Rio de Janeiro. This is the first report of erratic migration for this parasitosis in dogs in the state, calling attention to the short period of time between the two cases. The fact that the area is endemic for this parasite, its zoonotic potential and the report of human cases in the state, demonstrates that authorities should be alerted to the control programs of dirofilariosis along with the pathogenic profile of the infections.

Abdominal angiostrongyliasis: report of two cases with different clinical presentations

Abdominal angiostrongyliasis is a sporadic infectious disease caused by the nematode Angiostrongylus costaricensis. It usually presents as acute abdomen, secondary to mesenteric ischemia, and pronounced eosinophilia. In some cases its course is insidious and transient, and the diagnosis is suspicious. The disease is confirmed by the detection of A. costaricensis elements in surgical specimen. The treatment is supportive, with avoidance of antihelminthic administration due to a possible erratic migration followed by worsening of the disease. We report two cases, both with intense eosinophilia and serum IgG-ELISA positive to A. costaricensis. The first case presented ileal perforation and was surgically treated. The second one showed hepatic nodules at ultrasound and was only symptomatically treated, evolving to an apparent protracted resolution. These two cases exemplify different clinical forms of the disease, one of them with liver involvement.

A simple and inexpensive in vitro method for retrieving fertilized Toxocara canis eggs

The erratic migration of nematode larvae is potentially deleterious for humans, especially those produced by Toxocara roundworms. Diagnosis of human toxocariosis: visceral larva migrans depends on antibody detection against excretions-secretions (E/S) from Toxocara larvae by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In the present work, we wish to propose a simple and cheap culture procedure for keeping T. canis female worms alive. We removed living worms from the small intestine of euthanized puppies at the Canine Control Centre "Culhuacan" in the Southern part of Mexico City. To ascertain the utility of the method, we compared the population size of fertilized eggs from both female worms kept in culture (FCM) and those obtained using uterus excision method (UEM). Operationally, a fertilized egg develops a larva after 1 month. Our results show that the culture method was superior at a ratio of 3:1 over UEM. FCM had advantages over UEM, such as (1) low probability of contamination with foreign antigens, (2) greater safety for infective egg manipulation, and (3) gave rise to a higher percentage of fertile eggs.

Ascaridia galli: a report of erratic migration

This paper describes a case of an unusual recovery of adult Ascaridia galli in hen’s egg. Several data are available on this occurrence but it appears to be the first case described in Italy. The worm was identified as an adult female, 6.8 cm in length, with three trilobed lips, cervical narrow alae, oesophagus club-shaped without posterior bulb, vulva near the middle of body, with gravid uteri containing a large number of eggs. The presence of Ascaridia galli in hen’s eggs cannot be considered as hazard for public health but may be cause of a potential consumer complaint. Moreover it is a sign of presence of ascaridiosis, parasitosis that still produces economic losses in modern poultry production system.

Molineus torulosus (Nematoda, Trichostrongylina, Molineoidea) a parasite of Neotropical primates: new morphological and histological data.

Molineus torulosus (Molin, 1861) parasite of Cebus spp. from South America is redescribed in Cebus apella and C. olivecaeus (new host) from French Guyana with emphasis on the synlophe. During the maturation process, the larvae dwelt in the cysts carved alongside the external part of the small intestine. The turn-out of the mature worms and the laid eggs depended on the tissular organisation of cyst walls as the inflammatory process waned and fibrosis progressed to seal the cystic lumen. Adult worms entwine themselves in the cysts, live there permanently as their presence has never been evidenced in the intestinal lumen. They copulated, laid eggs, degenerated and died once entrapped by the fibrotic process. Laid eggs released in the intestinal lumen through a narrow channel ensured the continuation of the developmental cycle. However, erratic migration was possible via the vascular channels surrounding the cysts.

The anthelmintic effects of flubendazole on Trichuris trichiura and Ascaris iumbricoides

Flubendazole is an effective anthelmintic against both Trichuris trichiura and Ascaris lumbricoides. Single doses of 200 mg, 500 mg and 600 mg flubendazole, or two doses of 300 mg flubendazole on two consecutive days, effectively reduced egg output of both helminths by over 90%. Cure rates of 90 · 0 to 97 · 0% were obtained in Ascaris infections but only 17 · 3 to 65 · 1% of Trichuris infections were completely cured with the various single-dose or two-dose regimes. Flubendazole did not cause erratic migration of Ascaris in mixed infections at any of the dosages used.