Histological observations on Montenegro's reaction in man

The Montenegro skin test is widely used as a diagnostic method for American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) but little is known about the histological changes that occur in the skin after administration of the antigen. This report is based on histological studies of biopsied material obtained, from inoculation sites, 48 hours after individuals had been given intradermal injections with a standardized Montenegro antigen. The material examined was obtained from four distinctly different test groups: naturally infected patients with parasitologically proved ACL and with positive Montenegro's reaction; individuals without previous history of ACL and not previously tested with Montenegro antigen; participants in anti-ACL vaccine trials who developed positive reactions to Montenegro antigen after vaccination; other participants in vaccine trials who had negative Montenegro responses after vaccination or had served as controls in the trials. The histological pictures of each group are described and discussed. Histologically, the reactions of vaccinated individuals were indistinguishable from those with naturally acquired infections.Foi realizado o estudo histológico do material obtido nas biópsias do local de inoculação do antígeno para teste de Montenegro (T.M.) nos seguintes grupos de indivíduos: I) Seis pacientes com leishmaniose cutânea comprovados parasitologicamente, com Montenegro positivo; II) Cinco indivíduos normais, não residentes em zona endêmica, com Montenegro negativo; III) Nove soldados participantes de ensaios clínicos com vacina anti-LTA - MAYRINK e cols. 1979 e que tiveram o TM positivo 35 dias após vacinação. IV) Um último grupo constituído de quatro soldados, também participantes de ensaio clínico com a mesma vacina acima, dois vacinados que não mostraram TM positivo 35 dias após vacinação e dois que receberam placebo. As biópsias foram realizadas 48 hs após a inoculação do antígeno. O material foi fixado em formol à 10% (pH 7.2). Histologicamente, excetivando o grupo II (controle negativo), os grupos I-I1I-IV mostraram diferenças quantitativas no infiltrado mononuclear. Os quadros histológicos de cada grupo são descritos e discutidos

Histological and immunohistochemical characterization of the inflammatory and glial cells in the central nervous system of goat fetuses and adult male goats naturally infected with Neospora caninum

Abstract\ud \ud Background\ud \ud Neospora caninum is an apicomplexan protozoan that is considered one of the main agents responsible for abortion in ruminants. The lesions found in the central nervous system (CNS) of aborted fetuses show multifocal necrosis, gliosis, and perivascular cuffs of mononuclear cells, but the inflammatory and glial cells have not been immunophenotypically characterized. The lesions in the CNS of infected adult animals have rarely been described. Therefore, in this study, we characterized the lesions, the immunophenotypes of the inflammatory and glial cells and the expression of MHC-II and PCNA in the CNS of goats infected with N. caninum. The CNS of eight aborted fetuses and six adult male goats naturally infected with N. caninum were analyzed with lectin histochemistry (RCA1) and immunohistochemistry (with anti-CD3, −CD79α, −GFAP, −MHC-II, and -PCNA antibodies). All animals were the offspring of dams naturally infected with N. caninum.\ud \ud \ud \ud Results\ud The microscopic lesions in the CNS of the aborted fetuses consisted of perivascular cuffs composed mainly of macrophages (RCA1+), rare T lymphocytes (CD3+), and rare B lymphocytes (CD79α+). Multifocal necrosis surrounded by astrocytes (GFAP+), gliosis composed predominantly of monocytic-lineage cells (macrophages and microglia, RCA1+), and the cysts of N. caninum, related (or not) to the lesions were present. Similar lesions were found in four of the six male goats, and multinucleate giant cells related to focal gliosis were also found in three adult goats. Anti-GFAP immunostaining showed astrocytes characterizing areas of glial scarring. Cysts of N. caninum were found in three adult male goats. The presence of N. caninum was evaluated with histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and PCR. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated anti-PCNA labeling of macrophages and microglia in the perivascular cuffs and the expression of MHC-II by microglia and endothelial cells in the CNS of the aborted fetuses and adult male goats.\ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud Macrophages and microglia were the predominant inflammatory cells in the CNS of aborted fetuses and healthy adult male goats infected with N. caninum. Activated astrocytes were mainly associated with inflamed areas, suggesting that astrocytes were involved in the resolution of the lesions.FAPEMIGCAPESCNP

Triagem neonatal: o panorama atual no estado do Amapá

Newborn screening comprises a set of tests that aim to detect pathologies in newborns and should be performed preferably between the 3rd and 7th month of life. The scree-ning detects six congenital anomalies: phenylketonuria, congenital hypothyroidism, sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, biotinidase deficiency, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia. According to the Ministry of Health, in 2007 the state of Amapá had the lowest population coverage for the screening tests in Brazil. Through a qualitative methodology, institu-tional data were collected in the reference laboratory of the State at the Institute of Hematology and Hemotherapy of Amapá (Hemoap), and a questionnaire was applied to the mothers or guardians of neonates at the moment of the test. Only 5 of the 16 muni-cipalities investigated carried out the newborn screening, providing a coverage of 31.2%. Regarding the questionnaires, the majority of the individuals did not have knowledge about the importance of the screening test; in contrast, 100.0% of the interviewed people said they had an interest in getting the results. Nevertheless, the study raised neglected data from 2013 to 2015, showing that there is a great disinterest by mothers or guardians and that the National Newborn Screening Program in Amapá is far from having a complete coverage and that databases are scarce regarding the information about this state.A triagem neonatal conhecida como teste do pezinho é um conjunto de exames que tem como finalidade detectar patologias em recém-nascidos e que deve ser realizado preferencialmente entre o 3º e o 7º mês de vida do neonato. O teste detecta seis anomalias congênitas: fenilcetonúria, hipotireoidismo congênito, anemia falciforme, fibrose cística, deficiência de biotinidase e hiperplasia adrenal congênita. Para o Ministério da Saúde, em 2007, a menor cobertura populacional de teste do pezinho no Brasil ocorreu no Amapá. Através de uma metodologia qualitativa, foram coletados dados institucionais no laboratório de referência do estado, Instituto de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amapá (Hemoap), usando também como instrumento de pesquisa um questionário dirigido às mães e/ou responsáveis dos neonatos no momento de realização do exame. Dos resultados obtidos somente cinco municípios dos 16 realizam a coleta do teste do pezinho, dando uma cobertura de 31,2%. Quanto aos questionários, mostrou-se majoritário o número de indivíduos que não têm conhecimentos sobre a importância do exame. Em contrapartida, 100,0% dos entrevistados responderam que tinham interesse em retornar para buscar o resultado do exame, contudo o estudo levantou dados negligenciados dos anos de 2013 a 2015, demonstrando ser grande o desinteresse das mães e/ou responsáveis que levam o neonato para realizar o teste. Tais dados mostram que o Programa Nacional de Triagem Neonatal no Amapá está longe de obter uma cobertura completa e que os bancos de dados são escassos quanto a informações sobre o estado

Cellulolytic and proteolytic ability of bacteria isolated from gastrointestinal tract and composting of a hippopotamus

The bioprospection for cellulase and protease producers is a promise strategy for the discovery of potential biocatalysts for use in hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials as well as proteic residues. These enzymes can increment and turn viable the production of second generation ethanol from different and alternative sources. In this context, the goal of this study was the investigation of cellulolytic and proteolytic abilities of bacteria isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of a hippopotamus as well as from its composting process. It is important to highlight that hippopotamus gastrointestinal samples were a non-typical sources of efficient hydrolytic bacteria with potential for application in biotechnological industries, like biofuel production. Looking for this, a total of 159 bacteria were isolated, which were submitted to qualitative and quantitative enzymatic assays. Proteolytic analyzes were conducted through the evaluation of fluorescent probes. Qualitative assays for cellulolytic abilities revealed 70 positive hits. After quantitative analyzes, 44 % of these positive hits were selected, but five (5) strains showed cellulolytic activity up to 11,8 FPU/mL. Regarding to proteolytic activities, six (6) strains showed activity above 10 %, which overpassed results described in the literature. Molecular analyzes based on the identification of 16S rDNA, revealed that all the selected bacterial isolates were affiliated to Bacillus genus. In summary, these results strongly indicate that the isolated bacteria from a hippopotamus can be a potential source of interesting biocatalysts with cellulolytic and proteolytic activities, with relevance for industrial applications.Brazilian research agency (FAPESP)Brazilian research agency (CAPES)Brazilian research agency (CNPq)Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biol Sci, Rua Sao Nicolau 210, BR-09913030 Sao Paulo, BrazilSao Paulo Zoo Pk Fdn, Av Miguel Estefano 4241, BR-04301905 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biophys, Rua 3 Maio,100, BR-04044020 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilFed Univ Latin Amer Integrat, Latin Amer Inst Life Sci & Nat, Av Tarquinio Joslin Santos 1000, BR-85870901 Foz Do Iguacu, Parana, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biol Sci, Rua Sao Nicolau 210, BR-09913030 Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biophys, Rua 3 Maio,100, BR-04044020 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilFAPESP: 2010/51992-5CNPq: 475166/2013-2Web of Scienc

Estudo, ao microscópio óptico e eletrônico, do rim de caes natural e experimentalmente infectados com Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi

Two naturally infected dogs (male and fema lei from Teófilo Otoni (MG Brazili were maintained for 18 months in our laboratory. Two other dogs, two months old males were infected with 1 x 10(6) promastigotes of MHO BR 70 BH46 Leishinania (Leishmanial chagasi strain, endo venous route, and autopsied after 10 months and two years. The main findings concerning the kidney were: (1) focal or diffuse mesangial glomerulo nephritis with proliferative and enlargement of mesangial cells; (2) increase in thickness of basement membrane with electron dense deposits: (3) chronic interstitial nephritis with intense exudation of plasmocytes: (4) cloud swelling of renal tubules. The authors discuss the probable pathogenetic mechanisms.Os autores estudam os rins de 4 cães infectados com Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi. Dois animais (um macho e uma fêmea) naturalmente infectados foram sacrificados 18 meses após sua permanência no laboratório. Dois machos foram inoculados por via endovenosa, com lxlO6 promastigotas da cepa MHO/BR/70/BH46 e sacrificados após 18 meses e 2 anos, respectivamente. Em todos os animais os rins estavam lesados. As alterações encontradas foram: (1) glomerulonefrite mesangioproliferativa focal ou difusa, com pronunciada hipertrofia e hiperplasia das células mesangiais e com alargamento da matriz; (2) espessamento da membrana basal com depósitos eletrondensos; (3) nefrite intersticial intertubular crônica com exsudação plasmocitária intensa. (4) degeneração albuminosa dos túbulos renais. Baseados nos achados os autores discutem os prováveis mecanismos patogenéticos