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Hedgehogs have increased in popularity as pets in Spain but there are no data of infection rates of this exotic animal with dermatophytes in our country. During the period of 2008-2011 a total of 20 pet hedgehogs (19 African pygmy hedgehogs and 1 Egyptian long-eared hedgehog) suspected of having dermatophytoses were studied. This is the first survey of the occurrence of T. erinacei in household hedgehogs in Spain. The T. erinacei infection rate was 50% (9 out of 19 African pygmy hedgehogs, and the one Egyptian long-eared hedgehog surveyed). Morphological identification of the isolates was confirmed by molecular analysis. All the strains had the same ITS sequence and showed 100% sequence similarity to T. erinacei type strain CBS 511.73 (AB 105793). The Spanish isolates were confirmed as T. erinacei urease positive. On the basis of ITS sequences, T. erinacei is a species close to but separate from the taxa included in the A. benhamiae complex. Review of the current literature on DNA-based methods for identification of species included in this complex has highlighted the urgent need to reach a consensus in species circumscription and classification system accepted by all mycologists.

Chrysosporium guarroi sp. nov. represented by fi ve strains isolated from cases of dermatomycosis in pet green iguanas ( Iguana iguana ) in Spain, is described and illustrated. This taxon is characterized by its ability to grow at temperatures from 15 to 37°C and by the presence of arthroconidia and aleurioconidia. The latter are unicellular, smooth, pyriform or clavate, sessile or borne at the ends of narrow stalks. The analysis of the sequences of the D1/D2 and ITS regions confi rm the separation of this new species from others of the genus Chrysosporium .

This report describes the first isolation of a Chrysosporium species as the etiological agent of dermatomycosis in two green iguanas (Iguana iguana). The ITS-5.8S rRNA gene of the two strains was sequenced and a search on the GenBank database revealed that the closest match was Nannizziopsis vriesii. Treatment with oral ketoconazole, in combination with topical 2% chlorhexidine solution and terbinafine resulted in clinical cure.

In pig to human discordant xenotransplantation, PAF may contribute to the pathogenesis of hyperacute xenograft rejection (HXR). We examined the release of PAF and the effect of a PAF receptor antagonist (BN 52021) on HXR in a pig kidney–human blood xenoperfusion model. Pig kidneys were perfused with porcine blood (AUTO group, n = 5), human blood (HETER group, n = 6) or human blood plus BN 52021 (BN group, n = 4), respectively. In contrast to HETER kidneys that never produced urine and were rejected in 15–30 min, the administration of BN 52021 induced a partial recovery of glomerular filtration rate and allowed kidneys to function until the end of the study. The release of PAF and soluble P-selectin, as well as endothelial P-selectin expression and tissue myeloperoxidase (MPO), were much higher in the HETER than in the AUTO group. HETER and BN kidneys displayed similar natural xenoantibody titres, CH50, PAF, soluble P-selectin as well as renal immunoglobulin (IgM, IgG, IgA) and complement (C3, C1q) deposition. However, HETER kidneys displayed a full histologic picture of HXR (mainly interstitial haemorrhage and vascular microthrombi) and BN kidneys had only endothelial cell swelling. Also, BN 52021 administration attenuated glomerular and vascular P-selectin expression and renal tissue MPO activity. We conclude that in the pig kidney–human blood xenoperfusion model, PAF is produced in higher amounts than in the pig kidney–pig blood autologous combination. The administration of BN 52021 exerts a protective effect by means of attenuating the acute inflammatory response and blocking vascular microthrombi formation.

At present, it is well accepted that maternal recognition of paternally derived fetal antigens occurs during normal pregnancy and may be beneficial for implantation and maintenance of gestation. Thus, we have investigated the compatibility of human leukocyte antigens (HLA) in couples with successive failed in-vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. Study group 1 included 50 couples with prior primary infertility who had not achieved a pregnancy afteror = 3 (range 3-7, mean 3.7) IVF cycles where at least two embryos (mean 3.3, range 2-4) were transferred in each attempt. An infertile control group (group 2) included 50 infertile couples undergoing IVF with the same indications as couples in group 1, who achieved a viable pregnancy with their first IVF attempt. The results were compared with those found in a population sample including 100 men and 100 women from the local population (group 3). We found a statistically significant (P0.05) excess of HLA sharing (or = 2 antigens) between partners in group 1 as compared to groups 2. There was a trend toward increased HLA sharing in group 1 when groups 1 and 3 were compared. We conclude that some cases of implantation failure after IVF and embryo transfer might be caused by underlying close histocompatibility between partners.

To determine the effectiveness of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer for patients with unexplained habitual abortion, we carried out a prospective observational study using a historical comparison group. A total of 12 couples with three or more (mean 4. 91, range 3-10 miscarriages) first trimester spontaneous abortions of unknown aetiology were treated with IVF and embryo transfer (group 1). Patients underwent IVF after combined gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist/gonadotrophin treatment for ovarian stimulation, and three to four embryos were replaced into the uterus in all women. Eight of the 12 women (66.6%) in group 1 became pregnant (one patient after a frozen-thawed embryo transfer), and all of them had viable pregnancies. A patient with 10 previous abortions became pregnant and carried to term after IVF and embryo transfer, and subsequently miscarried two new spontaneous gestations. A historical comparison group (group 2) included the last eight women with unexplained recurrent abortion (mean 4, range 3-8 miscarriages) who underwent the same investigations for the condition and received identical early supportive care in their next spontaneous pregnancy as patients in group 1. Three of the eight pregnancies in group 2 ended in an abortion. Our results suggest that IVF and embryo transfer may be a new therapeutic approach for unexplained recurrent miscarriage.

CD45R monoclonal antibodies are able to distinguish two different subsets of the CD4 human T cells. This phenotypic split is accompanied by functional diversity. In this report we have analyzed the capabilities of CD45R subsets of CD4 human T cells to use interleukin 2 (IL-2) and IL-4 as growth factors. We have found that both cell subsets are able to proliferate after stimulation with Sepharose-CD3 in the presence of externally added IL-2 or IL-4. However, the response to IL-4 of CD4CD45RO cells was comparatively lower than the response of CD4CD45RA cells. Both cell subsets showed a good response to Sepharose-CD3 plus adherent cells (AC), but when IL-4 was present in the culture only the CD4CD45RA cells showed an enhancement in the Sepharose-CD3-induced proliferation, while proliferation of the CD4CD45RO T cell subset was inhibited. Similar effects were seen, however, in the response to CD4CD45RA or CD4CD45RO cells to Sepharose-CD3 plus IL-2. Although the precise mechanism of the inhibitory effect of IL-4 is not known, the results obtained suggest that IL-4 could interfere in some way with the signalling of IL-2 to the proliferation of the CD4CD45RO T cell subset.