The ciliated protozoan parasite Cryptocaryon irritans infecting marine fishes in Taiwan is described. Developmental characteristics and sequences of the ribosomal DNA regions such as part of 18 S, the entire first internal transcribed spacer, and part of 5.8 S of various Taiwan isolates of C. irritans were investigated. A total of 5 isolates was obtained from different fish-host species and localities, the majority from cultured fish species. C. irritans from Taiwan is able to shift its developmental characteristics, i.e. from non-adherent to adherent tomonts, from individualistic to aggregate-forming tomonts, from infection of the gills only to infection of the gills and body. Thus, it is not possible to classify strains of C. irritans on the basis of these parameters. Premature tomonts that developed from dead fishes were able to produce theronts that could infect fish host. Isolates from Pingtung and the USA had identical nucleotide sequences while an isolate from Malaysia was identical to an Israel isolate. Percentage variation among pairs of Taiwan isolates showed a higher degree of variation than isolate sequences listed in GenBank. Sequence analysis revealed highly aberrant isolates in Taiwan, and a phylogenetic tree distinguished a marine and a low-salinity variant. C. irritans from marine fishes in Taiwan, therefore, display some characteristics not previously reported. Since manipulation of salinity in brackishwater ponds and marine cage sites is not feasible, there is a need to develop new strategies for the control and prevention of cryptocaryoniasis.
The aim of this systematic review (SR) was to determine the association between temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and pubertal development. Due to the inadequacy of the conventional PICO (Population, Interventions, Comparisons and Outcome) format used for intervention-based SRs, the Joanna Briggs Institute's guidelines for synthesising evidence related to associations with a focus on aetiology were adopted. A search of the PubMed and LIVIVO databases covering the period from January 1980 to May 2018 yielded four publications, which fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Analysis of articles based on the Pubertal Development Scale showed that TMD prevalence increases with pubertal development. Although no sex difference in TMD prevalence and diagnosis was observed, more females reported TMD anamnestic variables, including accounts of temporomandibular pain during pubertal maturity. The higher prevalence of depression and somatisation during pubertal development may contribute to more TMD symptom reporting in females. More prospective studies incorporating standardised methods for diagnosing TMDs and detecting comorbid psychosocial and somatic problems are desired to further elucidate the relationship between TMDs and pubertal development.