The relationship between urinary excretion of porphyrins, porphyrin precursors and total oestrogens in normal pregnancy was investigated. Significant increases in total oestrogen, delta-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) and coproporphyrin (COPRO) excretion were noted. However, no close correlation was found between total oestrogen excretion and urinary output of ALA and COPRO. The results suggest that...

Rotavirus is the major cause of severe, dehydrating infantile gastroenteritis. Infection is limited to the gut, but the relative roles of serum and secretory copro-immunoglobulin A (IgA) in protection are unclear. Specific copro-IgA is predictive of duodenal antirotaviral IgA and correlates with virus-neutralizing coproantibody. Copro-IgA conversion is a more sensitive marker of rotavirus reinf...

BACKGROUND The diagnosis of canine echinococcosis can be a challenge in surveillance studies because there is no perfect gold standard that can be used routinely. However, unknown test specificities and sensitivities can be overcome using latent-class analysis with appropriate data. METHODOLOGY We utilised a set of faecal and purge samples used previously to explore the epidemiology of canine...

Changes in urinary porphyrin excretion may be the result of hereditary causes and/or from environmental or occupational exposure. The objective of this study was to measure the amount of some porphyrins in spot urine samples obtained from volunteers randomly selected from a healthy adult population of São Paulo with a sensitive HPLC method and to estimate normal ranges for a non-exposed populat...

Abstract BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of Echinococcus granulosus in the definitive host particularly in dog is the significant complication in the endemic area. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is serological detection of E. granulosus in the infected dogs. METHODS: Dot-ELISA based on the copro-antigen and recombinant EPC1 antigen (rEPC1) for antibody detection was performed. Blood and fecal samples ...

BACKGROUND Emergence of human fascioliasis prompted a worldwide control initiative including a pilot study in a few countries. Two hyperendemic areas were chosen: Huacullani, Northern Altiplano, Bolivia, representing the Altiplanic transmission pattern with high prevalences and intensities; Cajamarca valley, Peru, representing the valley pattern with high prevalences but low intensities. Coprol...

BACKGROUND Taenia solium taeniosis/cysticercosis is a parasitic infection occurring in many developing countries. Data on the status of human infections in Zambia is largely lacking. We conducted a community-based study in Eastern Zambia to determine the prevalence of human taeniosis and cysticercosis in a rural community. METHODS AND FINDINGS Stool and serum samples were collected from willi...

BACKGROUND Cystic echinococcosis is highly prevalent in northwest China. A cost-effective, easy to operate diagnostic tool with high sensitivity and specificity would greatly facilitate the monitoring of Echinococcus infections in canine definitive hosts. METHODS The primers used in the LAMP assay were based on the mitochondrial nad5 gene of E. granulosus sensu stricto (E. granulosus s.s., or...

Calves born to multiparous Holstein cows fed during the last 30 d of pregnancy 2 different cobalt sources [cobalt glucoheptonate (CoPro) or pectin (CoPectin)], folic acid (FOA), and rumen-protected methionine (RPM) were used study neonatal immune responses after ex vivo lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Groups (n = 12 calves/group) CoPro, FOA+CoPro, FOA+CoPectin, FOA+CoPectin+RPM. weighed at ...

Toxoplasmosis is a major zoonotic disease of warm-blooded animals caused by Toxoplasma gondii. Cats are the only definitive host and they excrete environmentally resistant T. gondii oocysts in their faeces. Coproscopy was used to detect oocysts of enteric coccidians and then Copro-PCR was employed to test specifically for T. gondii in 470 cat samples. The prevalence of T. gondii oocysts was 2.3...