Plasmodium was first identified in a goat in Angola in 1923, and only recently characterized by DNA isolation from a goat blood sample in Zambia. Goats were first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent approximately 10,000 years ago, and are now globally distributed. It is not known if the Plasmodium identified in African goats originated from parasites circulating in the local ungulates, or if it co-evolved in the goat before its domestication. To address this question, we performed PCR-based surveillance using a total of 1,299 goat blood samples collected from Sudan and Kenya in Africa, Iran in west Asia, and Myanmar and Thailand in southeast Asia. Plasmodium DNA was detected from all locations, suggesting that the parasite is not limited to Africa, but widely distributed. Whole mitochondrial DNA sequences revealed that there was only one nucleotide substitution between Zambian/Kenyan samples and others, supporting the existence of a goat-specific Plasmodium species, presumably Plasmodium caprae, rather than infection of goats by local ungulate malaria parasites. We also present the first photographic images of P. caprae, from one Kenyan goat sample.

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Acne is a common problem in dermatologic clinics. The pathogenesis of acne involves various factors, such as increased sebum production and alteration of the quality of sebum lipids caused by increased androgen activity, abnormal keratinization of the infundibular epithelium, colonization of Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) within the follicles, and the inflammation process. 1 P. acnes may stimulate sebaceous glands via the toll-like receptors (TLRs), mainly TLR2.Keratinocytes and monocytes in acne lesions also express TLR2 on the surface. The TLR2-dependent pathway activation leads to a triggering of the nuclear transcription factor and then produces multiple cytokines and chemokines such as IL-1, IL-8, IL-12, and TNFα. 2 Furthermore, P. acnes can release various exogenous proteases by activating the protease-activated receptor-2 or PAR-2 on the keratinocyte surface. These proteases can enhance the transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokines, for instance IL-1a, IL-8, TNFα, and a variety of matrix metalloproteinases. 1 Currently, numerous treatment options are available, but acne remains a chronic inflammatory disease. Concerning adverse effects of conventional medicines, alternative medications with antiinflammatory effects have increased in popularity. 3