Profile of anti-Leishmania antibodies related to clinical picture in canine visceral leishmaniasis.

This research investigated the profile of anti-Leishmania antibodies in different clinical forms of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL). Naturally infected dogs were divided into two groups: subclinical dogs (SD, n = 10) and clinical dogs (CD, n = 68). Non-infected dogs (ND, n = 7) comprised the negative control group. The humoral response was evaluated by the profile of total IgG, IgG1, IgG2, IgM, IgA and IgE, determined by ELISA. Infected animals showed increased levels of total IgG, IgA and IgE in addition to IgG1 and IgG2 in groups SD and CD, when compared with group ND. Furthermore, it was observed that IgG2 and IgM were correlated with symptomatology, while total IgG, IgG1 and IgA were negatively correlated and IgE showed no correlation. It follows that serum levels of IgG2 anti-Leishmania are correlated with typical clinical signs of disease. Furthermore the determination of specific anti-Leishmania antibodies could be an important tool in monitoring CVL clinical picture

Clinical and laboratory alterations in dogs naturally infected by Leishmania chagasi

INTRODUCTION: Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is a zoonotic disease with different clinical manifestations. Parasitism often occurs in bone marrow, but changes have been observed in peripheral blood and serum biochemical parameters. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hematological and biochemical parameters in dogs naturally infected by Leishmania chagasi. METHODS: Eighty-five adult dogs of both sexes and various weights and ages from the Zoonosis Control Center of Fortaleza (CCZ) were used, selected by immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and considered positive with IFA titers greater than 1:40 and by visualizing amastigotes of Leishmania chagasi in smears obtained by bone marrow aspiration. The dogs (n = 85) were grouped according to clinical signs: negative (CN = 7), subclinical (CS = 10), and clinical (CC = 68). Blood samples were collected for determination of hematological and biochemical serum values. The experimental protocol was approved by the CEUA/UECE. RESULTS: The most frequent clinical signs were cachexia (77.9%), keratitis (61.8%), and lymphadenopathy (55.9%), and 86.8% of the animals showed more than one clinical sign characteristic of CVL. In CC were observed reductions in red blood cells (63%), hematocrit (72%), and hemoglobin (62%), as well as leukocytosis (33%), neutropenia (28%), thrombocytopenia (50%), uremia (45%), hyperproteinemia (53%, p<0.05), hypergammaglobulinemia (62%, p<0.01), and hypoalbuminemia (58%). CONCLUSIONS: Animals with the clinical form of the disease demonstrate hematological and biochemical changes consistent with anemia, uremia, hyperproteinemia, and hyperglobulinemia, which present themselves as strong clinical markers of visceral leishmaniasis associated with the signs previously reported

AVALIAÇÃO DAS CARACTERÍSTICAS DE QUALIDADE, COMPONENTES BIOATIVOS E QUALIDADE MICROBIOLÓGICA DE SALADA DE FRUTAS TROPICAIS

Um aumento no consumo de frutas minimamente processadas (na forma de saladas de fruta descascada, cortada e embalada) tem sido observado nos últimos anos. Este estudo teve como objetivo investigar as características de qualidade, a retenção de compostos antioxidantes e a qualidade microbiológica de saladas de frutas tropicais pronta para o consumo comercializadas na cidade de Fortaleza (Ceará-Brasil). Os resultados de pH, acidez titulável, sólidos solúveis, relação entre sólidos solúveis/ acidez total, açúcares totais e redutores, vitamina C, carotenóides, fenólicos totais, antocianinas totais e fl avonóides amarelos variaram de: 3,96-4,29; 0,23-0,50mg/100g; 12,00-19,77°Brix; 24,27-52,90; 4,67- 14,00mg/100g e 1,87-10,57mg/100g; 7,97-25,93mg/100g; 0,53-1,50mg/100g; 27,07-97,00mg/100mL; 0,24- 0,83mg/100g; 3,07-6,17mg/100g. Em relação às análises microbiológicas realizadas, não foi detectada a presença Salmonella sp. em nenhuma das amostras e os valores para contaminação por coliformes termotolerantes foi inferior ao preconizado pela legislação vigente. Conclui-se, então, que as saladas de frutas apresentaram resultados satisfatórios com relação às características físico-químicas, retenção dos compostos bioativos e qualidade microbiológica