Caracterização e correlação do fenômeno pró-zona com títulos de sororeatividade do VDRL e reação de imuno- fluorescência indireta em soros de pacientes com sífilis

AZEVEDO, Luciana Karla Araújo de, et al. Caracterização e correlação do fenômeno pró-zona com títulos de sororeatividade do VDRL e reação de imuno-fluorescência indireta em soros de pacientes com sífilis. Revista Brasileira de Análises Clínicas, Rio de Janeiro, v. 38, n. 2, p. 183-187, 2006.Introdução: Treponema pallidun é o agente etiológico da sífilis uma doença sexualmente transmissível. No imunodiag-nóstico dessa doença utilizam-se dois diferentes tipos de testes sorológicos. Inicialmente, as amostras são triadas qualitativamente e quantitativamente por um teste não treponêmico como o veneral disease research laboratory (VDRL) e, em seguida, os soros reagentes são testados para a detecção de anticorpos específicos para o Treponema pallidum, como a reação de munofluorescência indireta através do fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption assay (FTA-ABS). Objetivos e Metodologia: Avaliar através do VDRL quantitativo e qualitativo a sororeatividade de 40 pacientes com sífilis e comparar com a presença do fenômeno pro-zona e resultados obtidos pelo FTA-ABS. Resultados e Discussão: Os níveis de reatividade das amostras testadas pelo VDRL variaram de 1:2 a 1:256. O fenômeno pró-zona foi observado em 8/40 soros (20%) se correlacionando com altos títulos de reatividade na maioria dos casos. O FTA- ABS foi reagente em 39/40 amostras (97,5%) apresentando forte e moderada reatividade independente dos títulos obtidos pelo VDRL e a presença ou ausência do fenômeno pró-zona na maioria dos casos, demonstrando uma maior sensibilidade desse exame quando comparado com o VDRL. Conclusão: Nossos resultados mostraram a importância da realização do VDRL quantitativo e qualitativo na investigação seguida pelo FTA-ABS na investigação sorológica da sífilis. ABSTRACT: Introduction: Treponema pallidum is the aetiological agent of syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease and the serology is essential for screening and diagnosis. In the immunediagnosis of this disease, two different sorts of serological tests are used. First the sera are screened in a quantitative and qualitative manner by a nontreponemal test such as the veneral disease research labora- tory test (VDRL), then the reactive sera are tested for specific treponemal antibodies using the fluorescent treponemal antidody ab- sorption assay (FTA-ABS). Objecitves and Methodology: To evaluate, using quantitative and qualitative VDRL, the sera reactivity of 40 patients bearing syphilis and compare these results to presence of prozone phenomenon and FTA-ABS. Results and discussion: The levels of sera reactivity in the VDRL test ranged from 1:2 to 1:256. The prozone phenomenon was observed in 8/40 amples (20%) and was correlated with high levels of VDRL in most of the cases. The FTA-ABS test was reactive in 39/40 cases (97,5%) with strong and moderate fluorescence intensity in most of the samples and it was independent of the VDRL reactivity levels and the presence or ab- sence of prozone phenomenon in mos of the cases, demonstrating a higher sensibility of this method when compared to the VDRL test. Conclusion: Our results showed the importance of qualitative and quantitative VDRL assay in the serological investigation of syphilis

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans—anteaters, sloths, and armadillos—have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n = 962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n = 12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using these data