Lagochilascaris minor: Susceptibility and Resistance to Experimental Infection in Mice Is Independent of H-2a Haplotype and Correlates with the Immune Response in Immunized Animals

Recently, we demonstrated that C57BL/6 mice are more susceptible to experimental lagochilascariosis than BALB/c mice. To investigate the pattern of infection and the role of the genetic background on susceptibility to infection, we studied experimental lagochilascariosis in H-2a identical B10.A and A/J mice. Infected B10.A mice had a lower survival ratio and more severe lesions in the lungs than did A/J mice. Splenocytes of A/J mice immunized with the crude extract of the parasite showed increased proliferation and produced a higher level of interleukin 10 and interferon-γ in the presence of CE or concanavalin A when compared to B10.A mice. This suggests that resistance of A/J mice may be due to less severe lesions in lungs and other organs and a better immune response to parasite antigens. This paper provides evidence that major histocompatibility complex haplotype does not influence the survival to experimental infection with L. minor

First record on Loxosceles laeta (Nicolet, 1849) (Araneae, Sicariidae) in the West Zone of São Paulo City, São Paulo, Brazil, and considerations regarding its geographic distribution

Loxosceles laeta spiders were captured in the West zone of São Paulo City, this being the first record of the specie in this area. Since loxoscelism is an important public health problem in the South region of Brazil, it is necessary to investigate the presence of this spider in São Paulo City

COMPARISON OF THE FERTILITY BETWEEN LOXOSCELES INTERMEDIA AND LOXOSCELES LAETA SPIDERS (ARANEAE, SICARIIDAE)

Volume: 28Start Page: 245End Page: 24

Presença de Loxosceles similis Moenkhaus, 1898 (Araneae, Sicariidae) na Serra da Bodoquena, Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil Presence of Loxosceles similis Moenkhaus, 1898 (Araneae, Sicariidae) in Bodoquena Range, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

O veneno das aranhas do gênero Loxosceles causa lesão dermonecrótica e induz hemólise intravascular dependente de complemento, configurando um quadro clínico de intensa gravidade. No Brasil, as espécies L. gaucho L. intermedia e L. laeta, presentes no ambiente antrópico, têm sido apontadas como principais agentes do loxoscelismo. Além destas, existem outras espécies, que por predominarem no ambiente natural, não têm sido avaliadas quanto ao risco à saúde do homem, como é o caso de Loxosceles similis. O desenvolvimento de projeto de pesquisa, na Serra da Bodoquena, para observações ecológicas e identificação de insetos de interesse médico, possibilitou a captura de espécimens de Loxosceles similis na Serra da Bodoquena, Município de Bonito, Estado do Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil, nas grutas Pitangueiras e do Lago Azul. Os parâmetros para identificação, características ambientais do habitat da espécie, bem como atualização de sua distribuição geográfica são objetos deste trabalho.The venom of Loxosceles spiders causes dermonecrotic lesion and induces complement-dependent intravascular haemolysis that characterizes a severe systemic effect. In Brazil, L. gaucho, L. intermedia and L. laeta, present in the anthropic environment, have been pointed out as the most important agents of the loxoscelism. Besides these species there are others that, by predominating in the natural environment, have not been evaluated regarding human health risk, as in the case of Loxosceles similis. The development of a research project in Bodoquena Range, for ecological observation and identification of insects of medical interest, enabled the capture of Loxosceles similis specimens in the "Pitangueiras" cave and "Lago Azul" cave, in Bodoquena Range, municipality of Bonito, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The objectives of this study were to define the parameters for identification, environmental features of the habitat of this species, as well as an update of its geographical distribution

Head co-ossification, phragmosis and defence in the casque-headed tree frog Corythomantis greeningi

Some anurans have a peculiar casqued head with the skin co-ossified with the underlying bones. This type of skull usually is associated with phragmosis, a protective behaviour in which the animal enters a hole and closes it with the head. Although co-ossification of the head in lissamphibians frequently has been associated with water economy, recent studies of Corythomantis greeningi, a casque-headed tree frog from semi-arid areas in north-eastern Brazil. suggest that cranial co-ossification contributes little to conservation of water in the frog. Instead. during phragmatic behaviour. the co-ossified head protects the animal against predators and indirectly enhances water balance. Thus, the primary role of co-ossification is defence, a hypothesis that is the focus of this study which describes die morphology of the head of C. greeningi with all emphasis on the co-ossification and the venom glands. We report on behavioural features and on the toxicity of the cutaneous secretion produced by the abundant venom glands that are associated with large spicules oil the skull.Inst Butantan, Lab Biol Celular, BR-05503900 São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Inst Biociencias, Dept Fisiol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Morfol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Ctr Microscopia Eletron, São Paulo, BrazilInst Butantan, Lab Imunoquim, BR-05503900 São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Inst Biociencias, Dept Zool, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Morfol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Ctr Microscopia Eletron, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Autoimmune uveitis: study of treatment therapies

Experimental autoimmune uveitis is an organ-specific T-cell mediated autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation and consequent destruction of the neural retina and adjacent tissues. Inflammation in experimental autoimmune uveitis may be induced in rodents by immunization with retinal antigens, such as interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein. We present a review of experimental studies that correlate primary immunobiological functions with this chronic disease and the possible use of molecules for the treatment of autoimmune uveitis