Abdominoscrotal Hydrocele: An Uncommon Cause of Abdominoscrotal Cystic Swelling

Abdominoscrotal hydrocele (ASH) consists of fluid-filled intercommunicating inguinoscrotal and abdominal sac with a characteristic hourglass-like picture on CECT, which usually affects single testis and a rare cause of abdominoscrotal cystic swelling. The precise etiology of ASH is not known. Ultrasonography is the initial diagnostic modality of choice as it demonstrates the intercommunication between the two sacs and also identifies any abnormality of the testis and genitourinary tract. We are reporting a case of a 27-year-old patient presented in the General Surgery OPD of Acharya Vinoba Bhave Hospital in 2019 with bilateral scrotal and abdominal swelling. On examination, cross fluctuation was positive between left hydrocele and abdominal swelling, raising suspicion of ASH, which was confirmed on CECT. The patient underwent excision of sac through left inguinoscrotal approach and an uneventful postoperative course.

A new species of Loimopapillosum Hargis, 1955 (Monogenea: Monocotylidae) parasitizing Hypanus dipterurus (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae) off the Pacific coast of South America, and its phylogenetic relationships

A new species of Loimopapillosum Hargis, 1955 is described based on specimens collected from the gills of the diamond stingray, Hypanus dipterurus (Jordan & Gilbert, 1880) (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae) captured off Puerto Pizarro, Tumbes Region, northern Peru. Loimopapillosum pascuali n. sp. is distinguished mainly from the type and only species, Loimopapillosum dasyatis Hargis, 1955, by its funnel-shaped male copulatory organ, with an asymmetrical base; the superficial root of the anchor with distal knobs; the deep root of the anchor with a constriction at its base; a single testis; and the number of head organs. Available sequences for members of Monocotylidae in the GenBank as well as partial sequences for the gene 28S and 18S ribosomal DNA from L. pascuali n. sp. were included in phylogenetic analyses, suggesting that Loimoinae (represented in this study by L. pascuali n. sp. and Loimosina sp.) is nested within the Monocotylidae Taschenberg, 1879. Therefore, we confirm the rejection of Loimoidae Price, 1936 and its reincorporation as a subfamily of Monocotylidae, as previously suggested. Loimopapillosum pascuali n. sp. represents the first species of this genus in South America.

Three-Dimensional Analysis of Busulfan-Induced Spermatogenesis Disorder in Mice

We examined if the distribution of impaired or normal spermatogenesis differs along the length of seminiferous tubules in disorders of spermatogenesis. For this purpose, three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of seminiferous tubules was performed in mice with experimental spermatogenesis disorder induced by intraperitoneal injection of busulfan, and the areas of impaired and normal spermatogenesis were analyzed microscopically. The volume of the testis and length of seminiferous tubules decreased, and the proportion of tubule areas with impaired spermatogenesis increased depending on the dose of busulfan. With the highest dose of busulfan, although the proportion of impaired spermatogenesis was similar among individual seminiferous tubules, it was slightly but significantly higher in shorter tubules and in tubule areas near branching points. The tubule areas with impaired and normal spermatogenesis consisted of many segments of varying lengths. With increasing doses of busulfan, the markedly impaired segments increased in length without changing in number, whereas normal segments, although reduced in number and length, remained even with the highest dose of busulfan. Individual remaining normal segments consisted of several different stages, among which stage I and XII were found at higher frequencies, and stage VI at a lower frequency than expected in normal seminiferous tubules. We also examined if the distribution of impaired or normal spermatogenesis differs among different 3D positions in the testis without considering the course of seminiferous tubules. Although the proportions of impaired spermatogenesis with the minimum dose of busulfan and normal spermatogenesis with the highest dose of busulfan greatly varied by location within a single testis, there were no 3D positions with these specific proportions common to different testes, suggesting that the factors influencing the severity of busulfan-induced spermatogenesis disorder are not fixed in location among individual mice.

A rare case of polydactyly with multiple defects

Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS) is a very rare genetically heterogenous disorder. Here is a case of 27 yr. old obese male presented with acute gastroenteritis with shock in our department. He had polydactyly in both upper limb and left lower limb, blindness since childhood, with difficult in learning and delayed onset of milestones. Patient’s sibling (younger brother 20-year-old) also had same problems since childhood and one female baby died within few days of birth. He was having single testis. Patient was managed conservatively. The available literature on this syndrome was reviewed.

Isorchis cannonin. sp. (Digenea: Atractotrematidae) from Great Barrier Reef rabbitfishes and the molecular elucidation of its life cycle

We describeIsorchis cannonin. sp. from the rabbitfishesSiganus fuscescens(Houttuyn) andSiganus lineatus(Valenciennes) (Siganidae) collected off Heron Island, southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia and, using molecular data, demonstrate that ‘Cercariae queenslandaeII’ of Cannon (1978) from the gastropodClypeomorus batillariaeformisHabe & Kosuge (Cerithiidae) is the larval form of this new species. The cercariae ofI.cannonin. sp. develop in rediae, encyst in the environment after emergence, and are inferred to then be consumed by grazing rabbitfish. Additionally, we provide a new report ofIsorchis curraniAndres, Pulis & Overstreet, 2016 from the type host,Selenotoca multifasciata(Richardson) (Scatophagidae) collected in Moreton Bay, south-east Queensland, Australia, greatly expanding the known geographical range of this species. Molecular sequence data (ITS1, ITS2 and 28S rDNA) generated forI.cannonin. sp. and the new specimens ofI.currani, confirm the identification ofI.curraniand demonstrate a distinct genotype forI.cannonin. sp. relative to other species ofIsorchisDurio & Manter, 1969, for which molecular data are available.Isorchis cannonin. sp. is morphologically distinct from all other species in the genus, and is further distinguished by utilizing species of Siganidae as definitive hosts, rather than species of Chanidae or Scatophagidae. Because haploporid and atractotrematid cercariae have well-developed reproductive organs, we find cercariae of these closely related families morphologically distinguishable in the same way as adult trematodes: atractotrematids have two symmetrical testes and haploporids have a single testis or, rarely, two tandem or oblique testes.

Testudinema gilchristi n. gen., n. sp. (Nematoda: Monhysteridae) from the perianal folds of stinkpot turtles, Sternotherus odoratus (Testudines), USA

Examination of perianal folds of stinkpot turtles, Sternotherus odoratus, from Virginia, USA, revealed several monhysterid nematodes. The general morphological characteristics of this population, such as circular amphids, unstriated cuticle under light microscope, single outstretched ovary, single testis, caudal glands, terminal spinneret and the absence of an apophysis on the gubernaculum, with the exception of the position of the gonad in relation to the intestine, shows the affinity of this population to the Monhysteridae. Microscopic observations of the inner stoma show three (one dorsal and two ventro-sublateral) buccal wall extensions towards the lumen and numerous (ca 50) distinct denticles on its wall. Because this stoma structure is a morphological novelty within the Monhysterida and this is the first monhysterid group associated with perianal folds of turtles, we propose to establish Testudinema n. gen. within the Monhysteridae to accommodate this morphologically distinct population. We provide a detailed comparison with known monhysterid genera including those that possess a cup-shaped stoma, stoma with denticles or those genera reported to be commensals (Gammarinema, Monhystrium, Tripylium, Odontobius). Stinkpot turtles feed on benthic fauna and may acquire these commensals when the sediment is disturbed. The denticles and structure of the buccal cavity could be morphological adaptations for transition to ecto-parasitism.