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Background: Dentists, as prominent prescribers, are key stakeholders in addressing the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis. Dental students' perceptions about the topic have been underexplored in the Asia-Pacific region, a key location for the development and spread of AMR. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the awareness and confidence to prescribe antimicrobials amongst dental students studying in the region., Methods: Students from 15 dental schools in 4 countries were invited to participate in a cross-sectional online survey during 2022-2023. A previously validated and standardised 14-item instrument was utilised., Results: In all, 1413 responses were collected from Australia (n = 165), Sri Lanka (n = 112), Japan (n = 173), and Vietnam (n = 963). Of those, 201 were from final-year students (14.2%). On a scale from 1 to 10, awareness on AMR was placed at a mean (SEM) priority of 8.09 (0.05). With regards to target areas to address for mitigation of the AMR crisis, participants placed general public awareness at the top (mean [SEM] 8.53 [0.05]). Final-year students presented a mean (SEM) level of confidence to prescribe antibiotics of 6.01 (0.14) on a scale from 1 to 10, whilst 59.7% and 56.8% indicated feeling pressured to prescribe by patients or when lacking time, respectively. Final-year students participating in research activities assigned a higher priority to AMR compared to their peers not involved in research (mean [SEM] 8.6 [0.19] vs 7.81 [0.16]; P = .01)., Conclusions: This study highlights a need for increased awareness and confidence to prescribe amongst dental students in the Asia-Pacific region, an understudied population thus far. To mitigate this issue, the implementation (followed by assessment) of local educational and antibiotic stewardship initiatives is warranted., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest None disclosed., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The present study evaluated the viability of Toxoplasma gondii tissue cysts in dry-aged pork loins (m. longissimus) after 14, 21 and 28 days under controlled temperature (0 °C ± 1 °C). The pigs (n = 9) were orally inoculated with 3,000 T. gondii oocysts. The right loin of each pig was aged for a predetermined period, and the left loin was kept unprocessed as a control. Two experiments were performed. In Experiment 1, the loins of three pigs were aged for 14 days and then bioassayed in both cats and mice. In Experiment 2, the loins of six pigs were bioassayed only in mice, and the ageing periods were 14, 21, and 28 days. Toxoplasma gondii tissue cysts remained viable in loins aged up to 14 days, as confirmed by bioassays in cats and mice. Viable T. gondii was not recovered by bioassays in mice from loins that were aged for 21 or 28 days. These results demonstrate that T. gondii remained viable in vacuum-packed dry-aged pork loins for 14 days at controlled temperature but not for 21 days or longer., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii can infect virtually all warm-blooded animals worldwide but little is known of its infection in the endangered giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla). The present study found antibodies to T. gondii in 13 of 23 free-living M. tridactyla from the northwest region of São Paulo state, Brazil, by the Modified Agglutination Test (MAT, cut-off titer 1:25). Unfrozen tissues of seven M. tridactyla were bioassayed in mice and viable T. gondii (strain designated TgMytrBrSP1) isolated from one seropositive giant anteater. To our knowledge, this is a new host record for T. gondii. Genotyping using PCR-RFLP revealed the Brazilian clonal Type BrIII genotype, and a unique non-archetypal genotype was revealed by microsatellite analysis., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Due to the global decrease in jaguar population, conservation strategies are essential and the development of effective semen cryopreservation protocols would contribute to the formation of germplasm banks. Therefore, the objectives were to (1) evaluate the use of TRIS and ACP-117c extenders for jaguar semen freezing, (2) describe the ultrastructural changes in sperm after cryopreservation, and (3) evaluate the binding capacity of the thawed sperm. Eight ejaculates from five mature individuals were collected by electroejaculation, extended in TRIS or a coconut based-extender (ACP-117c), and frozen in liquid nitrogen. Samples were evaluated for sperm motility, vigor, membrane functionality, mitochondrial activity, morphology (using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy - SEM and transmission electron microscopy - TEM), sperm kinetic parameters (by computerized analysis - CASA), and sperm binding capability using an egg yolk perivitelline membrane assay. Samples preserved in TRIS presented better post-thaw motility (46.0 ± 7.7%) and membrane functionality (60.5 ± 4.2%) and higher mitochondrial activity (21.5 ± 3.7%) than those preserved in ACP-117c (20.9 ± 5.4% motile sperm; 47.1 ± 2.5% functional membrane; 11.8 ± 1.7% mitochondrial activity). Regarding ultrastructural evaluations, SEM showed that both extenders were able to preserve the superficial membrane of the sperm, but TEM revealed the occurrence of nuclear electron lucent points, especially in samples extended in ACP-117c. Additionally, TRIS also provided a higher number of sperm bound to the perivitelline membrane (29.5 ± 3.3%) in comparison to samples diluted in ACP-117c (18.6 ± 1.5%). Overall, we suggest the use of a TRIS-based extender for cryopreservation of jaguar semen., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have stated that there are no competing interests. None of the authors has financial or personal relationships that may influence or distort the content of the article., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Cryopreservation of cats epididymal spermatozoa allows the conservation of the genetic material and the study of the cryogenic effect applied to the gametes of other felines. However, this biotechnique still presents variable results, being necessary the investigation of alternative extenders. Powdered coconut water (ACP-117c) has been efficient in the sperm freezing of several species and in the cat sperm refrigeration. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effect of the freezing stages and the quality of the cats' epididymal spermatozoa after thawing, using ACP-117c. Epididymides (n = 36) from 18 cats were processed using TRIS (n = 18) or ACP-117c (n = 18) for sperm recovery. The sperm were immediately evaluated. Then, this was cooled, glycerolized, frozen and thawed, and re-evaluated at each stage for sperm kinetics by Computer Assisted Semen Analysis, viability, functionality (HOST), mitochondrial activity (DAB) and morphology. There was a reduction in total motility and progressive motility after thawing in both groups, and TRIS was superior to ACP-117c. The curvilinear velocity reduced after thawing with ACP-117c. Viability decreased after glycerolization in TRIS. Although it also reduced after thawing in both groups, it was higher in TRIS. There was no change on HOST. Mitochondrial activity decreased during the cryopreservation steps for both extenders. Nevertheless, TRIS presented a higher percentage of spermatozoa from DAB class I and II after thawing. Morphology did not differ between extenders. Therefore, ACP-117c is an alternative for the recovery of cat epididymal spermatozoa; however, it is not efficient for freezing. Glycerolization and thawing are the most critical stages, regardless of the extender., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have stated that there are no competing interests. None of the authors has financial or personal relationships that may influence or distort the content of the article., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Chickens are a host that is very resistant to the development of clinical toxoplasmosis. Free-range chickens have been used to indirectly track environmental contamination with Toxoplasma gondii oocysts because they feed on the ground. This study evaluated the genetic diversity of T. gondii isolates from free-range chickens from Florianópolis island in Santa Catarina state, southern Brazil. Sera from 21 chickens were tested for IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies using the modified agglutination test (MAT). Tissue homogenates from the 11 seropositive birds (MAT titres ≥5) were bioassayed in mice. The four obtained isolates (TgCkBrSC1-4) were genotyped using 11 PCR-RFLP markers and 15 microsatellite markers (MS). Four genotypes were identified, three of which are typical Brazilian genotypes (ToxoDB-RFLP #26 and #53 were previously reported and #278 is new), and the other is the rare clonal type I genotype. This type I isolate was considered a variant according to MS analysis, with two atypical alleles, which emphasizes the genetic diversity of the parasite in Brazil. The genetic variability of T. gondii in South America may be related to the high occurrence of severe ocular and congenital toxoplasmosis in humans in this region. High human seroprevalence and frequency of ocular toxoplasmosis are reported in southern Brazil, but there is limited information on the T. gondii strains that are circulating in this region, so more studies should be conducted to identify the strains in different hosts and in human toxoplasmosis cases., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The consumption of raw or undercooked pig meat containing Toxoplasma gondii cysts is an important transmission route of this protozoon to animals and humans. This study aimed to serologically diagnose, isolate and genotype T. gondii from pigs slaughtered for human consumption in the state of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. Blood and tissue samples (heart, tongue and brain) were collected from 120 pigs at slaughterhouses in the state of Paraíba. Serological examinations were performed with an indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) with a cut-off point of 1:64. Tissues from positive animals were subjected to bioassays in mice to isolate the parasite. A total of 12.5% (15/120) of the animals were positive according to the IFAT, with titres ranging from 64 to 2048. Viable parasites were isolated in 80% (12/15) of the bioassays. The twelve T. gondii isolates obtained in this study and an additional 13 previously described isolates were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) using 11 genetic markers. Additionally, microsatellite (MS) analysis was performed using 15 markers. Nineteen of the 25 isolates completely genotyped using PCR-RFLP had 12 different genotypes, six of which were newly identified. One isolate had a mixed infection. The same 18 non-mixed isolates had 16 different genotypes based on the MS analysis. Genotype #13 (Caribbean 1), which is commonly encountered in northeastern Brazil and is probably a clonal lineage circulating in this region, was the most frequent genotype detected through both the PCR-RFLP and MS analyses. These results demonstrate that T. gondii is widespread among pigs slaughtered in the state of Paraíba. The results also confirm that this parasite has high genetic diversity in this region and that non-archetypal genotypes commonly circulate between different hosts and across different regions of Brazil., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Parasitic agents determine some of the most common skin disorders. Although well known, they could present different manifestations or be modified by individual or external factors that make their diagnosis or treatment difficult. This review will discuss some of the most prevalent parasitic infections, scabies, and pediculosis and also mention reactions determined by contact with certain insects that, although rarely found, could induce important skin reactions.