BackgroundWildlife can be important sources and reservoirs for pathogens. Trypanosome infections are common in many mammalian species, and are pathogenic in some. Molecular detection tools were used to measure trypanosome prevalence in a well-studied population of wild European badgers (Meles meles).FindingsA nested ITS-PCR system, that targeted the ribosomal RNA gene locus, has been widely used to detect pathogenic human and animal trypanosomes in domestic animals in Africa and some wildlife hosts. Samples from a long-term DEFRA funded capture-mark-recapture study of wild badgers at Woodchester Park (Gloucestershire, SW England) were investigated for trypanosome prevalence. A total of 82 badger blood samples were examined by nested ITS-PCR. Twenty-nine of the samples were found to be positive for trypanosomes giving a prevalence of 35.4 % (25.9 % - 46.2 %; 95 % CI). Infection was not found to be linked to badger condition, sex or age. Analysis of DNA sequence data showed the badgers to be infected with Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) pestanai and phylogenetic analysis showed the Woodchester badger trypanosomes and T. pestanai to cluster in the Megatrypanum clade.ConclusionsThe results show that the ITS Nested PCR is an effective tool for diagnosing trypanosome infection in badgers and suggests that it could be widely used in wildlife species with unknown trypanosomes or mixed infections. The relatively high prevalence observed in these badgers raises the possibility that a significant proportion of UK badgers are naturally infected with trypanosomes.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-015-1088-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

AngII infusion caused two-fold increase in ROS production of WT hearts (p<0.05) (but not p47 phox KO mice), which was inhibited significantly by diphenyleneiodonium (DPI, a flavoprotein inhibitor) or superoxide dismutase, significantly but slightly by NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor), but not by rotenone (mitochondrial respiratory chain inhibitor) or oxypurinol (xanthine oxidase inhibitor). Increased ROS production in WT AngII-infused hearts was accompanied by significant phosphorylation of ERK1/2. In conclusion, p47 phox and p47 phox signalling through ERK1/2 play an important role in AngII-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Introduction Hyperglycemia-induced ROS generation within mitochondria plays a major role in the development of diabetic complications. Mitochondria are one of the most important cell organelles in diabetes research because of its crucial role as a regulator of energy balance. The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect galangin, a flavonoid, on oxidative mitochondrial damage in in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Materials and methods Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal administration of low dose of STZ (40 mg/kg body weight (BW)) into male albino Wistar rats. Galangin (8 mg/kg BW) or glibenclamide (600 mg/kg BW) was given orally daily once for 45 days to normal and STZ-induced diabetic rats. Results Diabetic rats showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in kidney and heart mitochondrial oxidant (Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance) levels and a significant decrease in enzymatic (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase) and nonenzymatic (reduced glutathione) antioxidants levels as compared to control rats. The activities of mitochondrial enzymes such as isocitrate dehydrogenase, alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, and malate dehydrogenase and mitochondrial respiratory chain enzymes such as NADH dehydrogenase and Cytochrome c-oxidase were decreased significantly (p<0.05) in diabetic rats as compared to control rats. Administration of galangin to diabetic rats resulted in the following findings as compared to diabetic control rats: the oxidant levels decreased significantly (p<0.05); the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants levels increased significantly (p<0.05); and the function of mitochondrial enzymes and the mitochondrial respiratory chain enzymes increased significantly (p<0.05).Conclusion From the results, we conclude that galangin could maintain kidney and heart mitochondrial function in diabetic rats.

The Toll-like receptor (TLR) genes are a conserved family of genes central to the innate immune response to pathogen infection. They encode receptor proteins, recognise pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and trigger initial immune responses. In some host-pathogen systems, it is reported that genetic differences, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), associate with disease resistance or susceptibility. Little is known about TLR gene diversity in the European badger (Meles meles). We collected DNA from UK badgers, carried out PCR amplification of the badger TLR2 gene and exon 3 of TLR4 and determined DNA sequences for individual badgers for TLR2 (n = 61) and TLR4 exon 3 (n = 59). No polymorphism was observed in TLR4. Three TLR2 amino acid haplotype variants were found. Ninety five percent of badgers were homozygous for one common haplotype (H1), the remaining three badgers had genotypes H1/H3, H1/H2 and H2/H2. By broad comparison with other species, diversity in TLR genes in badgers seems low. This could be due to a relatively localised sampling or inherent low genetic diversity. Further studies are required to assess the generality of the low observed diversity and the relevance to the immunological status of badgers.