OCCURRENCE OF Blastocystis spp. IN UBERABA, MINAS GERAIS, BRAZIL

Parasitos intestinais são um problema de saúde pública no mundo e a infecção por Blastocystis, protozoário de patogenicidade controversa, é uma das mais frequentes. Nesse estudo foi investigada a ocorrência de parasitos intestinais em pacientes atendidos na Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, em Uberaba (MG), com ênfase em Blastocystis, pelos métodos parasitológicos direto e de Ritchie. Foram examinadas fezes de 1.323 pacientes de abril/2011 a maio/2012. Em 28,7% deles foi identificado um parasito intestinal, sendo Blastocystis spp. (17,8%) e Giardia intestinalis (7,4%) os mais frequentes. A ocorrência de parasitismo foi maior em crianças de 6-10 anos e a infecção por Blastocystis spp. foi maior acima de seis anos (p < 0,001). Presença exclusiva de G. intestinalis e de Blastocystis spp. foi observada em 5,4% e 12,2% dos pacientes, respectivamente, sendo que dos pacientes com fezes diarreicas, 8% apresentavam parasitismo exclusivo por Blastocystis spp. Outros parasitos intestinais observados em crianças foram Ascaris lumbricoides (0,3%) e Entamoeba histolytica/dispar/moshkovskii (1,4%). O método de Ritchie foi mais sensível (92,8%) que o direto (89,8%), com alta concordância entre eles (97,7%, kappa = 0,92). Em conclusão, a ocorrência de Blastocystis spp. em Uberaba é elevada e foi observada a presença de fezes diarreicas com parasitismo exclusivo por Blastocystis spp.Intestinal parasites are a problem for public health all over the world. The infection with Blastocystis, a protozoan of controversial pathogenicity, is one of the most common among them all. In this study, the occurrence of intestinal parasites, with emphasis on Blastocystis, in patients at the Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro was investigated in Uberaba (MG) through microscopy of direct smears and fecal concentrates using Ritchie’s method. Feces of 1,323 patients were examined from April 2011 to May 2012. In 28.7% of them at least one intestinal parasite was identified, and the most frequent organisms were Blastocystis spp. (17.8%) and Giardia intestinalis (7.4%). The occurrence of parasitism was higher in children aged 6 -10 years old, and the infection with Blastocystis spp. was higher above the age of six (p < 0.001). The exclusive presence of G. intestinalis and of Blastocystis spp. was observed in 5.4% and 12.2% of the patients, respectively. Regarding patients with diarrheic feces, 8% revealed unique parasitism of Blastocystis spp. Other intestinal parasites observed in children were Ascaris lumbricoides (0.3%) and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar/moshkovskii (1.4%). The Ritchie’s method was more sensitive (92.8%) when compared to direct microscopy (89.8%), with high agreement between them (97.7%, kappa = 0.92). In conclusion, the occurrence of Blastocystis spp. in Uberaba is high and the presence of diarrheic feces with exclusive presence of the parasite of Blastocystis spp. was observed

Occurrence of Blastocystis spp. in domestic animals in Triângulo Mineiro area of Brazil

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Currently, there are few studies regarding Blastocystis epidemiology. This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of Blastocystis in animals in Uberaba, Brazil. METHODS: Fecal samples were examined by parasitological methods and screened for Blastocystis by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Blastocystis spp. were observed in pigs, sheep, cattle, and dogs. Blastocystis polymerase chain reaction was positive in 14/22 samples positive by parasitological methods. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of Blastocystis in animals is high, with a predominance of subtype 1 in the region. This is the first study conducted in Brazil showing the genetic profile of Blastocystis isolated from animals

CLINICAL, HEMATOLOGICAL, AND SEMINAL ALTERATIONS AND PARASITEMIA OF MALE GOATS EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED WITH Toxoplasma gondii

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease that affects reproductive performance in small ruminants. Although the Toxoplasma gondii life cycle is well understood since 1960s, several aspects related to its infection remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the effects of T. gondii experimental infection, and the influence on clinical, hematological, parasitemia and seminal parameters in male goats. Nine animals were selected and distributed in three groups: GI (n=3) – control group (placebo) orally inoculated with saline solution; GII (n=3) – subcutaneously inoculated with 1 x 106 tachyzoites of T. gondii; and GIII (n=3) – orally inoculated with 2 x 105 oocysts of T. gondii. After that, clinical exams, serological tests, hemograms, parasitemia determination and semen evaluation were performed. Reciprocal serological titers had highest values of 4096 in both groups of goats infected with T. gondii, confirming the experimental infections. However, we could not observe clinical changes (except for mild hyperthermia on the 5th DAI in one of the animals - GIII) or in hematimetric parameters. Although there were some statistically significant changes (P <0.05) on the percentages of pathology and sperm concentrations in some of the dates between the infected and control animals, these changes were not associated with toxoplasmic infection. Infection was associated with animal handling methods and environmental factors

Occurrence of Blastocystis spp. in domestic animals in Triângulo Mineiro area of Brazil

<div><p>Abstract INTRODUCTION: Currently, there are few studies regarding Blastocystis epidemiology. This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of Blastocystis in animals in Uberaba, Brazil. METHODS: Fecal samples were examined by parasitological methods and screened for Blastocystis by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Blastocystis spp. were observed in pigs, sheep, cattle, and dogs. Blastocystis polymerase chain reaction was positive in 14/22 samples positive by parasitological methods. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of Blastocystis in animals is high, with a predominance of subtype 1 in the region. This is the first study conducted in Brazil showing the genetic profile of Blastocystis isolated from animals.</p></div

Antileishmania Immunological Tests for Asymptomatic Subjects Living in a Visceral Leishmaniasis-Endemic Area in Brazil

The objective of this study was to evaluate the behavior of different tests used for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in asymptomatic subjects living in an endemic area. No gold standard is available for the diagnosis of asymptomatic infection with Leishmania. In continuation of a previous study, 1,017 subjects living in a VL-endemic area were clinically reevaluated. Of these, 576 had at least one positive serological test in a first assessment. About 3 years after the first evaluation, none of the subjects had progressed to clinical VL. Among this group, 246 subjects were selected, and five serological tests (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay p [ELISAp], ELISArK39, ELISArK26, indirect immunofluorescence test [IIFT] using L. amazonensis promastigote antigen, and an immunochromatographic test using rK39 antigen [TRALd]) and the Montenegro skin test (MST) were repeated. There was a significant increase in the number of subjects who tested positive in the MST, IIFT, ELISAp, and ELISArK39 in the second evaluation. For all tests, there were subjects who tested positive in the first evaluation and negative in the second evaluation. A positive result in the serological tests and MST in subjects from the endemic area studied did not indicate a risk of progression to VL and may only be temporary