Sarcocistys -associated menigoencephalitis is virtually an unrecognized cause of neurological disease in chickens. An undescribed species of Sarcocystis cause fatal infection in two backyard chickens in the Midwest of Brazil. Infected chickens presented anorexia, weight loss, incoordination, ataxia and opisthotonos. Yellow necrotic foci in the gray and white matter of the telencephalon were the main gross lesion. Microscopically, necrotizing granulomatous and heterophilic meningoencephalitis with intralesional Sarcocystis -like schizonts and mezoites were observed in the central nervous system. Molecular analysis of frozen brain samples of the two chickens was identical and the protozoan was named Sarcocystis sp. Chicken-2016-DF-BR. Complete nested PCR- sequence of Sarcocystis sp. Chicken-2016-DF-BR was equally similar to Sarcocystis anasi (EU553477) and Sarcocystis albifronsi (EU502868). This is the first report of Sarcocistys -associated meningoencephalitis with molecular characterization in backyard chickens. Miamiensis avidus causes scuticociliatosis in cultured olive flounders (Paralichthys olivaceus), leading to economic losses in aquaculture in Korea. Quantitative evaluation of the viability of M. avidus is important to develop an effective vaccine or chemotherapeutic agent against it. We used a colorimetric assay based on the reduction of 2-(4-Iodophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-(2,4-disulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (WST-1) to quantify the viability of M. avidus. Using this method, we investigated the effect of protease inhibitors on the viability of M. avidus. The assay showed a clear difference in the optical density (OD) of over 104 ciliates, and the metalloprotease inhibitors 1, 10-phenanthroline and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) reduced the viability of M. avidus by more than 90% when used at concentration of 5 mM and 100 μM, respectively. However, different morphological changes in the parasite were observed when exposed to these two inhibitors. These results indicate that the WST-1 assay is a simple and reliable method to quantify the viability of M. avidus, and metalloproteases are excellent targets for the development of agents and vaccines to control M. avidus infection. BACKGROUND Regulatory T-cells (Tregs) are increased in patients with HTLV-1/Strongyloides stercoralis co-infection, and they may modify otherwise protective antigen-specific cytokine production. We hypothesized that effective anti-helminthic treatment would decrease Tregs and restore antigen-specific cytokine responses. METHODS/RESULTS We enrolled 19 patients with Strongyloides larvae in their stool by Baerman's test. Six were positive and 13 negative for antibody to HTLV-1 by ELISA, with positive tests confirmed by immunoblot. Before treatment, co-infected subjects had higher Tregs percentages and lower antigen-stimulated IL-5 levels compared to subjects with Strongyloides without HTLV-1. All patients were treated with ivermectin. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/pf-04620110.html After effective treatment, Tregs percentages decreased in patients with HTLV-1; however, antigen-specific IL-5 production remained blunted in co-infected subjects. CONCLUSION These results suggest that treating strongyloidiasis infection decreases circulating Tregs, but antigen-specific cytokine remains altered. This may reflect blunting of sensitization by Tregs. BACKGROUND The clinical integration of chromosomal microarray testing promises improvements in diagnostic yields in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). While the impact on clinical management is promising for some families, the utility perceived by families, including the majority for whom results are negative, is unclear. With next generation genomic sequencing technologies poised for integration, along with promising ASD biomarkers being developed, there is a need to understand the extent to which genomic and other biological testing would have utility for the target recipients of these tests and their families. The purpose of the present cross-sectional study was to examine the predictors of perceived utility of biological testing among parents of a child with ASD. METHODS The Perceived Utility of Biotesting (PUB) Questionnaire was developed based on literature review and integrating family review. Following their child's diagnosis, families participating in an ongoing prospective study completed the PUB questconvergent validity is still needed. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that the utility of biological testing perceived by families whose child is undergoing genetic testing around ASD diagnosis depends on their unique child and family characteristics. This signifies that engaging families in biomarker discovery for improving the impact of research and care requires systematic input from a representative sample of families. Increased levels of burnout have been demonstrated for providers serving individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Given higher levels of burnout are linked with a number of negative physical and psychological outcomes, it is important to understand predictors of burnout to inform prevention and intervention strategies. Leiter and Maslach (1999) provide a framework for conceptualizing burnout within an organizational context according to six areas of work-life. The present study examines the relation between the six areas of work-life and burnout in staff providing direct care services to individuals with ASD. A total of 149 providers completed an online survey consisting of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI; Maslach, Jackson, & Leiter, 1997), the Areas of Work-life Survey (AWS; Leiter & Maslach, 1999), and additional questions about training and supervision. The areas of workload, reward, fairness, and values emerged as the best predictors of burnout. While workload, fairness, and values predicted emotional exhaustion, values and reward predicted personal accomplishment, and values alone predicted depersonalization. Lower levels of training satisfaction and frequency of supervision were related to burnout. Findings provide direction regarding which aspects of the workplace may be most relevant for this workforce and how these areas may be targeted for change.