The leader peptide of a recombinant manganese superoxide dismutase (rMnSOD‐Lp) acts as a molecular carrier. Clonogenic tests on normal (MRC‐5) and endometrial adenocarcinoma cells (HTB‐112) were carried out in the presence of rMnSOD‐Lp, cisplatin alone (CC) or cisplatin conjugated to the rMnSOD‐Lp (rMnSOD‐Lp‐CC). The platinum delivered into the cells was measured by atomic spectrophotometric absorbance. The treatments on tumor and normal cells were finally evaluated by LM and TM microscopy. Tumor cell death in the case of 0.5 μm cisplatin on its own was minimal, while in the presence of 0.5 μm rMnSOD‐Lp‐CC, no tumor cells survived. Atomic absorbance analysis showed that rMnSOD‐Lp‐CC delivered approximately four times more cisplatin into HTB‐112 cells than the amount delivered using cisplatin alone. By LM observation, the cells treated with rMnSOD‐Lp‐CC showed signs of nuclear and cytoplasmic fragmentation, that is, apoptosis induced by the treatment. The therapeutic effect of rMnSOD‐Lp‐CC on endometrial cancer cells was significant, while on the normal cells it showed only a minimal toxicity. We believe that rMnSOD‐Lp deserves to be considered as a molecular carrier to deliver cisplatin directly into tumor cells, thus transforming its antireplicative activity into a specific and selective antitumor agent.

Theileria is a small Apicomplexan parasite considered as the scourge of the cattle industry, here detected for the first time in the blood cells of Caretta caretta from the Mediterranean Sea. In the early stage of infection by Theileria, rounded forms, defined schizonts, occur in lymphocytes and heterophils. After lysis of these leukocytes, the schizonts shift into plasmatic rounded free forms named merozoites. The latter enter the erythrocytes producing two, three, or four bacilliform daughter cells and curved forms similar to trophozoites and sometimes larger crescent-shaped forms similar to gametocytes. The differential recognition of Babesia, which is also a member of the Theileriidae versus Theileria is based on observing the early stages of Theileria in leukocytes, which Babesia is not parasitic. Infestations of Theileria are first recognized in loggerheads by their presence in leukocytes.

In order to establish baseline hematological and biochemical values in loggerhead turtles from the Mediterranean Sea, 84 specimens were sampled, comprising 24 wild turtles in good health at the time of capture and 60 turtles tested after indoor rehabilitation at the Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre of the Zoological Station Anton Dohrn in Naples, Italy. The following parameters were evaluated: red cell counts (RBC, 488–575 × 103/μL), white cell counts (WBC, 17–24 × 103/μL) and thrombocyte counts (TBC, 19–49 × 102/μL), hemoglobin (Hb, 8–14 g/dL), hematocrit (Ht, 23–34%), mean corpuscular volume (MCV, 487–723 fL), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH, 170–261 pg), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC, 34–42%), white and red blood cell differential counts, and a panel of hematochemical tests, composed of glucose (97–164 mg/dL), cholesterol (74–144 mg/dL), blood urea nitrogen (35–200 mg/dL), uric acid (1–2.7 mg/dL), total bilirubin (0.20–0.40 mg/dL), GOT (44–184 IU/L) and GPT (6 IU/L) transaminases, calcium (6.7–8.7 mg/dL), and magnesium (3.6–5.4 mEq/L). Comparisons of the statistically analyzed data from the turtles which were divided into groups on the basis of age and/or lifestyle (wild or captive) revealed that erythroid parameters attained higher values in captive turtles. This suggested a positive influence of the rich and complete diet fed in captivity upon the hemopoietic process of the turtle. On the other hand, data suggest a more intense and active hemopoiesis in young turtles, compared to adult specimens.

The aim of this study was to clarify the role of the erythrocyte inclusions found during the hematological screening of loggerhead population of the Mediterranean Sea. We studied the erythrocyte inclusions in blood specimens collected from six juvenile and nine adult specimens of the loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta, from the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian Seas. Our study indicates that the percentage of mature erythrocytes containing inclusions ranged from 3 to 82%. Each erythrocyte contained only one round inclusion body. Inclusion bodies stained with May Grünwald-Giemsa show that their cytochemical and ultrastructure characteristics are identical to those of human Heinz bodies. Because Heinz bodies originate from the precipitation of unstable hemoglobin (Hb) and cause globular osmotic resistance to increase, we analyzed loggerhead Hb using electrophoresis and high-performance liquid chromatography to detect and quantitate Hb fractions. We also tested the resistance of Hb to alkaline pH, heat, isopropanol denaturation, and globular osmosis. Our hemogram results excluded the occurrence of any infection, which could be associated with an inclusion body, in all the specimens. Negative Feulgen staining indicated that the inclusion bodies are not derived from DNA fragmentation. We hypothesize that amino acid substitutions could explain why loggerhead Hb precipitates under normal physiologic conditions, forming Heinz bodies. The identification of inclusion bodies in loggerhead erythrocytes allow us to better understand the haematological characteristics and the physiology of these ancient reptiles, thus aiding efforts to conserve such an endangered species.