Enterobactérias associadas a adultos de Musca domestica (Linnaeus, 1758) (Diptera: Muscidae) e Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1754) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) no Jardim Zoológico, Rio de Janeiro Enterobacteria associated to adults of Musca domestica (Linnaeus, 1758) (Diptera: Muscidae) and Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1754) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) at the Zoo of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Enterobactérias foram identificadas em adultos de Musca domestica (Linnaeus, 1758) (Diptera: Muscidae) e Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1754) (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Ambas as espécies foram capturadas no Jardim Zoológico da cidade do Rio de Janeiro e tiveram a superfície externa do corpo lavada e o sistema digestivo dissecado, para análise bacteriológica. Identificaram-se Escherichia coli, Citrobacter sp., Proteus mirabilis, Morganella sp., Klebsiella sp., Pseudomonas sp., Enterobacter sp. e Salmonella Agona. P. mirabilis foi o isolado bacteriano mais freqüente. Em duas amostragens (8%) de C. megacephala, isolou-se Salmonella Agona. As amostras de E. coli não foram enteropatogênicas. M. domestica e C. megacephala são potenciais veiculadoras de bactérias causadoras de enterites em humanos e animais.<br>Enterobacteria were identified in adults of Musca domestica (Linnaeus, 1758) (Diptera: Muscidae) and Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1754) (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Both species were captured in the Zoo of Rio de Janeiro. They had their external body surface washed and their digestive system dissected for bacteriological analysis. Escherichia coli, Citrobacter sp., Proteus mirabilis, Morganella sp., Klebsiella sp., Pseudomonas sp., Enterobacter sp. and Salmonella serovar Agona were isolated in the samples. P. mirabilis was the species most frequent isolated. Strains of Salmonella Agona were isolated from two samples (8%) of C. megacephala. Enteropathogenic E. coli was not isolated. M. domestica and C. megacephala showed themselves as potential vectors of agents related to enteric diseases in humans and other animals

Estimation of air quality degradation due to Saharan dust at Nouakchott, Mauritania, from horizontal visibility data

It is now irrefutable that air pollution caused by large amounts of Total Suspended Particulates (TSP) and respiratory particulates or Particulate Matter less than 10 mu m in aerodynamic diameter (PM10) has numerous undesired consequences on human health. Air quality degradation far from the African continent, in the US and in Europe, caused by high concentrations of African dust, is seen as a major threat even though most of these countries are very distant from the Sahara. Surprisingly, no estimates of TSP or PM10 levels near the Saharan dust source are available. Based on horizontal visibility observations which are reduced by the presence of dust in the atmosphere, TSP and PM10 levels are estimated throughout the year 2000 at Nouakchott-Airport, Mauritania, using relations found in the literature. It appears that concentrations of particles are significant both in terms magnitude and frequency, as the 24-hour PM10 thresholds established by the US EPA National Ambient Air Quality Standards and the EU Limits Values for Air Quality were exceeded 86 and 137 times, respectively. The average annual concentration is far above air quality standards and estimated at 159 mu g m(-3) for TSP and 108 mu g m(-3) for PM10. These very high particulate levels are likely to represent an important public health hazard and should be considered as a major environmental risk

Alveolus-capillary permeability on both normal and HIV seroreactive individuals

The aim of this study was to evaluate the alveolus-capillary permeability by the lung clearance rate of 99mTc-DTPA(Technetium99m-diethylene triamine penta-acetate), (LCR-DTPA), both in normal and in asymptomatic HIV seroreactive patients. Thirty individuals were studied, 21 seronegative normal volunteers and 9 HIV seroreactive patients presenting normal chest radiography and no respiratory infection symptoms. LCR-DTPA was determined by inhaling 99mTc-DTPA and obtaining images in a gamma camera. The 99mTc-DTPA clearance rate in normal individuals was 0.99&plusmn;0.15%.min-1 and in patients 2.31&plusmn;1.25%.min-1. There was a significant statistical difference between the two groups (p< 0.05). Two patients who presented LCR-DTPA higher than 4.3 %.min-1 presented pneumocystis pneumonia one month later. Seroreactive AIDS patients, previously asymptomatic that presented pneumonia later showed higher LCR-DTPA than the seroreactive who did not develop the illness. These results suggested that LCR-DTPA could be a predictive method for the clinical development of pneumocystis pneumonia in asymptomatic HIV seroreactive patients.<br>A integridade funcional da barreira alvéolo-capilar pode ser alterada por diversas condições patológicas e por outros fatores como a irritação do epitélio alveolar, provocada pelo fumo etc, levando a um aumento da permeabilidade alvéolo-capilar. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a permeabilidade do epitélio pulmonar através da determinação da taxa de depuração pulmonar do aerossol de 99mTc-DTPA (LCR-DTPA) em indivíduos normais e em pacientes assintomáticos HIV sororreativos. Foram estudados 30 indivíduos, sendo 21 voluntários normais e 9 HIV sororreativos sem sintomas de infecção oportunista, com radiografias de tórax normais ou sem sinais sugestivos de infecção pulmonar. A LCR-DTPA foi determinada após inalação de 99mTc-DTPA sob a forma de aerossóis e contagem externa da radiação, em função do tempo, em gama câmara. A LCR-DTPA dos controles foi de 0.99&plusmn;0.15 %.min-1 e nos pacientes sororreativos,de 2.31&plusmn;1.15%.min-1 houve diferença significativa entre os dois grupos (p< 0.05). Dois pacientes tiveram LCR-DTPA acima de 4,3%.min-1, estes desenvolveram um mês após o exame. Observou-se que os pacientes sororreativos por Imunodeficiência Adquirida (SIDA), sem sintomas específicos para pneumocistose que posteriormente desenvolveram a doença, a LCR-DTPA foi significativamente maior que a dos outros HIV pneumocistose clínica sororreativos que não desenvolveram a doença (p<0.01). Estes resultados sugerem que a LCR-DTPA pode ser um método preditivo do desenvolvimento clínico da pneumocistose, não invasivo, de fácil realização e cômodo, para o paciente HIV sororreativo assintomático