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Genital Mycoplasmas are implicated in adverse pregnancy outcomes and the development of infertility. However, the role of Mycoplasma fermentans in these outcomes has not been adequately studied; therefore, its participation in these sufferings requires further investigation. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of M. fermentans in pregnant and non-pregnant women. End-point PCR was used to analyze two hundred and twenty-eight endocervical samples for M. hominis, M. genitalium, M. fermentans, M. pirum, Ureaplasma urealyticum, and U. parvum diagnoses. The prevalence of Mycoplasma spp. was as follows: U. parvum was found in 83 samples (36.4%), U. urealyticum in 39 instances (17.1%), M. hominis in 36 (15.7%), M. fermentans in 32 (14%), M. genitalium in 15 (6.6%), and M. pirum in 0 samples. No association was found between the Mycoplasma spp. and some infertility conditions or adverse pregnancy. However, M. fermentans and M. hominis were found to be associated with bacterial vaginosis (RR = 3.4 CI 95% 1.85–6.3, p < 0.005). In conclusion, M. fermentans and M. hominis were isolated more often in women with bacterial vaginosis, which suggests that these bacteria could contribute to the development of this pathology.

Genital Mycoplasmas are implicated in adverse pregnancy outcomes and the development of infertility. However, the role of Mycoplasma fermentans in these outcomes has not been adequately studied; therefore, its participation in these sufferings requires further investigation. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of M. fermentans in pregnant and non-pregnant women. End-point PCR was used to analyze two hundred and twenty-eight endocervical samples for M. hominis, M. genitalium, M. fermentans, M. pirum, Ureaplasma urealyticum, and U. parvum diagnoses. The prevalence of Mycoplasma spp. was as follows: U. parvum was found in 83 samples (36.4%), U. urealyticum in 39 instances (17.1%), M. hominis in 36 (15.7%), M. fermentans in 32 (14%), M. genitalium in 15 (6.6%), and M. pirum in 0 samples. No association was found between the Mycoplasma spp. and some infertility conditions or adverse pregnancy. However, M. fermentans and M. hominis were found to be associated with bacterial vaginosis (RR = 3.4 CI 95% 1.85–6.3, p < 0.005). In conclusion, M. fermentans and M. hominis were isolated more often in women with bacterial vaginosis, which suggests that these bacteria could contribute to the development of this pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Banked serum samples of 60 dead captive Asian elephants were used to evaluate a dot ELISA for tuberculosis screening, of which 30 each were taken as cases and controls. The 30 samples that were recorded as positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis by culture and PCR besides being positive on the DPP® Vet-TB Elephant Assay (DPP) and based on lesions during post-mortem examinations were utlised as known positive controls for this study. The 30 controls were tested negative on DPP and were from elephants that had not shown post-mortem lesions. The dot ELISA was designed on a nitrocellulose membrane template, using Protein A-Horseradish peroxidase as the conjugate and diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride as the chromogen substrate. Standardisation of the assay was done using a purified M. tuberculosis antigen, ESAT6-CFP10. Pooled sera samples from live elephants tested recently on the DPP were taken as positive and negative controls. Test results of the dot ELISA were evaluated by comparing the results with the disease status of the cases and controls based on the ante-mortem DPP results and post-mortem lesions. Diagnostic sensitivity (66.67%), specificity (93.33%), positive (90.91%) and negative (73.68%) predictive values were then estimated for the dot ELISA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis in Asian elephants usually shows involvement of lungs and associated lymph nodes. Grossly, the affected lobes of lungs reveal circumscribed lesions of varying sizes with central areas of caseation and necrosis. This report documents histomorphological features of pulmonary tuberculosis in six Asian elephants. The important cell types present were lymphocytes, foamy macrophages, epithelioid macrophages and Langhan's type of giant cells. In addition, caseation necrosis, fibrotic capsule, and mineralisation (calcification) were also observed. Characteristic features of tuberculoid granulomas observed in the six cases showed similarities with other species. The six cases showed varying proportions of the seven defined features but all features were present together only in one case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumption of a high-carbohydrate diet has a critical role in the induction of weight gain and obesity-related pathologies. This study tested the hypothesis that a carbohydrate-rich diet induces weight gain, ectopic fat deposition, associated metabolic risks and development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which are partially reversible following carbohydrate reduction. Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were fed a carbohydrate-enriched cafeteria diet (CAF) or normal chow (NC) ad libitum for 16–18 weeks. In the reversible group (REV), the CAF was replaced with NC for a further 3 weeks (18–21 weeks). Animals fed the CAF diet showed significantly increased body weight compared to those fed NC, accompanied by abnormal changes in their systemic insulin and triglycerides, elevation of hepatic triglyceride and hepatic steatosis. In the REV group, when the CAF diet was stopped, a modest, non-significant weight loss was associated with improvement in systemic insulin and appearance of the liver, with lower gross fatty deposits and hepatic triglyceride. In conclusion, a carbohydrate-enriched diet led to many features of metabolic syndrome, including hyperinsulinemia, while a dietary reduction in this macronutrient, even for a short period, was able to restore normoinsulinemia, and reversed some of the obesity-related hepatic abnormalities, without significant weight loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]