New Records of Neobenedenia Girellae (Hargis, 1955) (Monogenea: Capsalidae) In Marine Ornamental Fish Imported To Yucatan, Mexico

We detected N. girellae infections in 40 species belonging to 12 families of imported marine ornamental fish from a public aquarium in the Mexican state of Yucatan in January 2018 to December 2020 and carried out their identification to the species level using morphological and molecular analyses. Monogeneans were corroborated morphologically and molecularly using a partial sequence of 28S (region D1–D3) ribosomal DNA and analyzed in a molecular phylogenetic context in combination with data derived from other species of N. girellae available in GenBank. The phylogenetic tree revealed that the specimen found consistently belonged to the N. girellae clade. High infection parameters were detected of N. girellae in the hosts. This identification is relevant to aquarists and aquaculturists in the Gulf of Mexico because N. girellae is considered highly pathogenic in confined fish. Clearly, this work demonstrates that the importation of ornamental fish, coupled with deficient sanitary measures (lack of quarantine areas in distribution centres) contributes to the introduction of parasites and their establishment and dispersal within Mexico.

Chlamydia pecorum Ovine Abortion: Associations between Maternal Infection and Perinatal Mortality

Chlamydia pecorum is a common gastrointestinal inhabitant of livestock but infections can manifest in a broad array of clinical presentations and in a range of host species. While C. pecorum is a known cause of ovine abortion, clinical cases have only recently been described in detail. Here, the prevalence and sequence types (STs) of C. pecorum in ewes from a property experiencing high levels of perinatal mortality (PNM) in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, were investigated using serological and molecular methods. Ewes that were PNM+ were statistically more likely to test seropositive compared to PNM− ewes and displayed higher antibody titres; however, an increase in chlamydial shedding from either the rectum, vagina or conjunctiva of PNM+ ewes was not observed. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) indicated that C. pecorum ST23 was the major ST shed by ewes in the flock, was the only ST identified from the vaginal site, and was the same ST detected within aborted foetal tissues. Whole genome sequencing of C. pecorum isolated from one abortion case revealed that the C. pecorum plasmid (pCpec) contained a unique deletion in coding sequence 1 (CDS1) that was also present in C. pecorum ST23 shed from the ewes. A further unique deletion was noted in a polymorphic membrane protein gene (pmpG) of the C. pecorum chromosome, which warrants further investigation given the role of PmpG in host cell adherence and tissue tropism.This study describes novel infection parameters in a sheep flock experiencing C. pecorum-associated perinatal mortality, provides the first genomic data from an abortigenic C. pecorum strain, and raises questions about possible links between unique genetic features of this strain and C. pecorum abortion.

Demodex crocidurae, a New Demodecid Mite (Acariformes: Prostigmata) Parasitizing the Lesser White-Toothed Shrew and a Redescription of Demodex talpae from European Mole with Data on Parasitism in Soricomorpha

Only six parasitic species of Demodecidae mite have thus far been described from the Soricomorpha, these being associated with the common shrew Sorex araneus Linnaeus, 1758, and the Mediterranean water shrew Neomys anomalus Cabrera, 1907 (two species from each host), and with the lesser white-toothed shrew Crocidura suaveolens (Pallas, 1811) and the European mole Talpa europaea Linnaeus, 1758 (one from each host species). Presently, Demodex crocidurae, a new species, has been described from the territory of Poland for C. suaveolens; in order to confirm its validity, it was necessary to redescribe D. talpae Hirst, 1921, from T. europaea, a demodecid species first described by Hirst in 1921 from England and then noted only in Poland. Both species colonized the hairy skin of the body in their hosts, where no disease symptoms of infestation were observed. However, D. crocidurae showed higher infection parameters (prevalence 100%, mean intensity 11.7, intensity range 3–26 individuals) than those of D. talpae (30.0%, 4.7, 2.0–8.0), possibly due to different host biology.

539 Post-Covid-19 Smell Clinic - Management of Patients With ‘Long Covid’

Introduction Olfactory dysfunction following COVID-19 infection is a prevalent issue in the post-viral phase of illness. Around 50% of patient’s self-report loss of sense of smell with COVID-19. Approximately 10% of these patients report no recovery in sense of smell at 4-6 weeks after onset. Patients with olfactory dysfunction often describe life as living in 2D, with lasting effects on eating habits and relationships. The aim of this project was to establish a novel ‘Post-Covid-19 smell clinic’ for patients, which monitored any changes relating to olfactory dysfunction and to provide advice on management of the condition for these patients with “Long-Covid”. Method The ‘smell clinic’ was set up based on BRS guidelines. Patients were asked to carry out the ‘UPSIT’ smell test and eODQ questionnaire. Patients were then advised to carry out ‘smell retraining’ for 4 months and pointed to appropriate resources. We analysed patients’ presentations to identify patterns that may identify patients who are likely to suffer long term olfactory dysfunction following Covid-19 infection. Parameters including prevalence of parosmia, cacosmia, dysgeusia, demographics were collected. Results Initial data, from 20 patients, showed 40% experienced parosmia and 40% had associated rhinological symptoms such as rhinorrhoea. The range UPSIT score: 22-34, eODQ score: 42-151. Conclusions Our initial analysis of the clinic identified symptoms range from anosmia, parosmia and loss of flavour. Parosmia patients experienced this in relation to smells such as excrement and coffee. Future implications involve analysing the possible benefits of ‘smell retraining’ after repeating UPSIT and the eODQ score

Mucosal eosinophilic infiltration may be a characteristic of human intestinal spirochetosis

Background Human intestinal spirochetosis (HIS) is an infectious disease of large intestines caused by Brachyspira species, and most HIS cases are asymptomatic or exhibit mild intestinal symptoms. The host reaction to HIS remains unclear, and we examined HIS-related mucosal inflammatory features histologically. Methods From the archival HIS cases in a single medical center, 24 endoscopically taken specimens from 14 HIS cases (male:female = 10:4; 28–73 yrs) were selected as not containing polypoid or neoplastic lesions. Stromal neutrophils, eosinophils, and mast cells, and intraepithelial neutrophils and eosinophils, (sNeu, sEo, sMast, iNeu, and iEo, respectively) were counted, and the presence or absence of lymphoid follicles/aggregates (LFs) was also examined. Association of the above inflammation parameters and spirochetal infection parameters (such as degrees of characteristic fringe distribution, of spirochetal cryptal invasion, and of spirochetal intraepithelial invasion) were also analysed. Results iNeu was observed in 29.2%, iEo in 58.3%, and LFs in 50.0% of the specimens. Maximal counts of sNeu, sEo, sMast, iNeu, and iEo averaged 8.4, 21.5, 6.0, 0.5 and 1.5, respectively. Strong correlation between the maximum counts of iNeu and iEo (p < 0.001, r = 0.81), and correlations between those of iEo and sNeu (p = 0.0012, r = 0.62) and between those of iEo and sEo (p = 0.026, r = 0.45) were observed. iNeu was influenced by fringe formation (p < 0.05) and spirochetal crypt involvement (p < 0.05). Conclusions HIS was accompanied by inflammatory reactions, and among these, mucosal eosinophilic infiltration may be a central indicator and host reaction of HIS.

Solution of SIR Infection Equation Using Data Assimilation

The new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is rampant. The most troublesome part of this infection is the time between infection and onset and the infectiveness for several days even in the not-onset state. Therefore, a considerable number of infected persons with infectivity are left unchecked. Therefore, even if the infection status is simulated by the SIR equation or the like, the true values of the infection parameters and the true number of infected persons cannot be grasped. However, it is possible to observe the infection status, and the daily number of infected people and the cumulative number of infected people are announced. These numbers are not true values, but they reflect true values. It is impossible to grasp the true value only by the SIR equation, but it will be possible to estimate the true value by combining it with the observation equation. In short, the data assimilation framework is considered to be effective. We report this effectiveness because we were able to confirm this effectiveness from the numerical results.

Evaluation of Some Molecular Resistance Markers of the Wheat Cultivars for Control of Head Blight Disease Caused by Fusarium graminearum in Salah Aldin Province, Iraq

Twelve fungal isolates of the genus Fusarium were isolated from bread wheat grains infected with Fusarium head blight; 4 isolates of F. culmorum, 3 isolates of F. graminearium, 2 isolates of F. equiseti and F. moniliforme, and one isolate of F. avenaceum. The results obtained showed that all of these isolates caused head blight disease in wheat (Tamoz 2 cultivar). The isolates F. graminearium 2, F. graminearium 3 and F. culmorum 3 showed the highest Fusarium infection index (FII), which was 51.45, 50.37, and 50.03, respectively, whereas the lowest values were 24.61 and 32.04 for the isolates of F. culmorum and F.avenaceum, respectively. The identification of the most pathogenic isolates of F. graminearium 2 was confirmed by molecular diagnosis based on the matching of the nucleotide sequence of the 5.8S rRNA gene of this fungus with the nucleotide sequences of the fungal strains contained in the World Genbank database (listed on the NCBI website) and this isolate was recorded in Global Genbank under the accession number MT998864.1. The results obtained also showed that 12 of the studied wheat cultivars (Sham 6, Abu Ghraib, Babil, Milan, Sally, Hadbaa, Rabia, Bohoth 206, Sham 4, Iba 99, Dor 29 and Al Ezz) had the lowest infection levels compared to other cultivars. The FII values obtained suggested a significant superiority of the cultivars Sham 6, Abu Ghraib, Milan and Babel (which did not differ significantly among each other) with lowest values of 16.84, 16.86, 17.44 and 17.84, respectively. The effect of infection with FHB was reflected in the percentage of Fusarium damaged kernels (FDK), with lowest values of 38.43, 39.23, 41.58, 41.82 and 42.03% for the cultivars Sham 6, Abu Ghraib, Milan, Babel and Hadba, respectively. The electrophoresis of PCR products of Xgwm389, 6B NOR and Xgwm 126 markers associated with the resistance genes Fhb1, Fhb2 and Fhb3, respectively, carried out on twenty eight wheat cultivars showed that four cultivars (Sham 6, Abu Ghraib, Babel and Milan) produced bands of 140 bp in size for the marker of Fhb1 gene (Xgwm389), which is considered one of the indicators for resistance to FHB disease of wheat. The test also showed the presence of a single band of 220 bp in the wheat cultivar Sally for the gene marker Fbh2 (6B NOR), which indicates resistance to FHB disease. Whereas, the electrophoresis product for the gene marker Fhb2 (Xgwm 126) produced a band of 2100 bp in size, reflecting the presence of resistance characteristic in this cultivar. The results of this study indicated the presence of a relationship between the decrease in the infection parameters with the presence resistance genetic markers in the cultivars Sham 6, Abu Ghraib, Babel, Milan, Sally and Hadbaa, whereas the cultivars Rabia, Bohoth 206, Sham 4, Iba 99, Dor 29 and Al Ezz showed a decrease in infection parameters to a lesser degree than the remaining cultivars, but without the presence of the genetic markers investigated. Keywords: Fusarium head blight disease, molecular markers, resistance genes, wheat cultivars, Fusarium sp