Giardia lamblia and respiratory allergies: a study of children from an urban area with a high incidence of protozoan infections

OBJECTIVES: There is a high incidence of intestinal parasite infection in urban areas in the Northeast of Brazil. Giardia lamblia infections have been associated with increased prevalence of cutaneous allergies and gastrointestinal disorders. However, little is known about the relationship between giardiasis and allergic diseases of the airways. The present study aimed to investigate the possible association between respiratory allergic diseases and infections by G. lamblia in children from urban areas. METHODS: This study recruited 110 patients of both sexes aged 5-15 years. Patients were administered a questionnaire evaluating clinical symptoms and were given skin tests, parasite tests and serum tests. RESULTS: A high incidence of G. lamblia was observed (45%, 50/110). Infections by this protozoan were not associated with increased risk of respiratory allergy (p = 0.075), high total IgE levels (p = 0.701), positive specific IgE tests (p = 0.250), or positive skin tests for a range of environmental allergens (p = 0.239). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that symptoms of asthma, skin allergy and serum markers were not associated with G. lamblia infections in this sample of children from urban areas.OBJETIVO: Uma elevada incidência de enteroparasitoses é encontrada em regiões urbanas do nordeste brasileiro. As infecções por Giardia lamblia têm sido relacionadas com aumento da prevalência de alergias cutâneas e gastrointestinais. Contudo, ainda existe pouca informação sobre a associação entre a giardíase e doenças alérgicas das vias aéreas. Diante disso, o presente estudo se propôs a verificar a relação entre a infecção por G. lamblia em crianças de área urbana e reatividade alérgica respiratória. MÉTODOS: O estudo incluiu 110 pacientes, de ambos os sexos e idades, entre 5 e 15 anos. Os pacientes foram submetidos a questionários de avaliação dos sintomas clínicos, testes cutâneos de leitura imediata e exames coproparasitológicos e sorológicos. RESULTADOS: Foi verificada uma frequência elevada de crianças infectadas por G. lamblia (45%, 50/110). A infecção pelo protozoário não foi associada com maior risco de alergias respiratórias (p = 0,075), elevação de IgE total (p = 0,701), IgE específica (p = 0,250) ou teste cutâneo positivo para diferentes alérgenos ambientais (p = 0,239). CONCLUSÃO: O estudo demonstrou que a presença dos sintomas de asma, atopia cutânea e marcadores sorológicos não foram associados com a presença de infecção pela G. lamblia nessa amostra de crianças.Ministério da Saúde (Governo Federal do Brasil)Ministério da Ciência e e Tecnologia (Governo Federal do Brasil)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Universidade Federal de Pernambuco Laboratório de Imunopatologia Keizo AsamiUFPE Laboratório de Imunopatologia Keizo AsamiUFPE Hospital das Cínicas ImunologiaUFPE Hospital das Clínicas ImunologiaUFPE Hospital das ClínicasUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Pediatria e Ciências AplicadasUNIFESP Imunologia Clínica e Reumatologia Pediatria e Ciências Aplicadas PediatriaUFPEUFPE Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências da SaúdeUNIFESP, Pediatria e Ciências AplicadasUNIFESP, Imunologia Clínica e Reumatologia Pediatria e Ciências Aplicadas PediatriaCNPq: 402666/2005-4SciEL

Diagnosis of paratuberculosis in cattle: microbiological culture, serology and PCR

The aim of this study was to confirm clinical diagnosis of paratuberculosis in two cows showing suggestive clinical signs of the disease. Based on clinical signs, in culture and in IS900 PCR results from the individual milk samples it was possible to diagnose paratuberculosis in the cows studied

Influence of HTLV-1 on the clinical, microbiologic and immunologic presentation of tuberculosis

Abstract Background HTLV-1 is associated with increased susceptibility to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and severity of tuberculosis. Although previous studies have shown that HTLV-1 infected individuals have a low frequency of positive tuberculin skin test (TST) and decreasing in lymphoproliferative responses compared to HTLV-1 uninfected persons, these studies were not performed in individuals with history of tuberculosis or evidence of M. tuberculosis infection. Therefore the reasons why HTLV-1 infection increases susceptibility to infection and severity of tuberculosis are not understood.The aim of this study was to evaluate how HTLV-1 may influence the clinical, bacteriologic and immunologic presentation of tuberculosis. Methods The study prospectively enrolled and followed 13 new cases of tuberculosis associated with HTLV-1 (cases) and 25 patients with tuberculosis without HTLV-1 infection (controls). Clinical findings, bacterial load in the sputum, x-rays, immunological response and death were compared in the two groups. Results There were no differences in the demographic, clinical and TST response between the two study groups. IFN-γ and TNF-α production was higher in unstimulated cultures of mononuclear cells of case than in control patients (p  Conclusion While the increased susceptibility for tuberculosis infection in HTLV-1 infected subjects may be related to impairment in TNF-α production, the severity of tuberculosis in co-infected patients may be due to the enhancement of the Th1 inflammatory response, rather than in their decreased ability to control bacterial growth.</p

Influence of HTLV-1 on the clinical, microbiologic and immunologic presentation of tuberculosis

AbstractBackgroundHTLV-1 is associated with increased susceptibility to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and severity of tuberculosis. Although previous studies have shown that HTLV-1 infected individuals have a low frequency of positive tuberculin skin test (TST) and decreasing in lymphoproliferative responses compared to HTLV-1 uninfected persons, these studies were not performed in individuals with history of tuberculosis or evidence of M. tuberculosis infection. Therefore the reasons why HTLV-1 infection increases susceptibility to infection and severity of tuberculosis are not understood.The aim of this study was to evaluate how HTLV-1 may influence the clinical, bacteriologic and immunologic presentation of tuberculosis.MethodsThe study prospectively enrolled and followed 13 new cases of tuberculosis associated with HTLV-1 (cases) and 25 patients with tuberculosis without HTLV-1 infection (controls). Clinical findings, bacterial load in the sputum, x-rays, immunological response and death were compared in the two groups.ResultsThere were no differences in the demographic, clinical and TST response between the two study groups. IFN-γ and TNF-α production was higher in unstimulated cultures of mononuclear cells of case than in control patients (p &lt; 0.01). While there was no difference in IFN-γ production in PPD stimulated cultures, TNF-α levels were lower in cases than in controls (p = 0.01). There was no difference in the bacterial load among the groups but sputum smear microscopy results became negative faster in cases than in controls. Death only occurred in two co-infected patients.ConclusionWhile the increased susceptibility for tuberculosis infection in HTLV-1 infected subjects may be related to impairment in TNF-α production, the severity of tuberculosis in co-infected patients may be due to the enhancement of the Th1 inflammatory response, rather than in their decreased ability to control bacterial growth

The use of antifreeze protein type III for vitrification of in vitro matured bovine oocytes

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of antifreeze protein type III (AFP III) into vitrification medium on meiotic spindle morphology of in vitro matured bovine oocytes as well as the fertilization and blastocyst rates. Mature cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) were distributed in four groups: control (untreated), vitrified without supplementation (AFP0) or supplemented with 500 (AFP500) or 1000 ng/mL (AFP1000) into vitrification solutions. Samples from each group were used to analyze the organization of meiotic spindle by confocal microscopy and the remaining COC were submitted to in vitro fertilization and culture for eight days. Control group exhibited only 15% of abnormal spindle. However, the spindle morphology was affected in all vitrified groups regardless to AFP concentration: 75.8%, 76.1% and 69.2% (P &gt; 0.05) for AFP0, AFP500 and AFP1000, respectively. Similar cleavage rate was obtained among the vitrified groups (AFP0 = 17.9%, AFP500 = 16.9% and AFP1000 = 17.8%), but lower (P &lt; 0.05) compared with control group (68.7%). At Day 5 of culture, embryo production rate of AFP500 (30.8%) and AFP1000 (25.0%) were similar to control group (49.4%). However, at Day 8 of culture, AFP0, AFP500 and AFP1000 groups exhibited lower (P &lt; 0.05) blastocyst rates (10.0%, 3.8% and 9.4%, respectively) when compared to control (41.1%). In conclusion, AFP III did not preserve meiotic spindle organization against the cryoinjuries. However, the use of AFP III improved embryo development at Day 5 of culture, although this effect was not maintained up to the blastocyst formation

Effect of crotamine, a cell-penetrating peptide, on blastocyst production and gene expression of in vitro fertilized bovine embryos

The present study investigated the effects of crotamine, a cell-penetrating peptide from rattlesnake venom, at different exposure times and concentrations, on both developmental competence and gene expression (ATP1A1, AQP3, GLUT1 and GLUT3) of in vitro fertilized (IVF) bovine embryos. In Experiment 1, presumptive zygotes were exposed to 0.1 μM crotamine for 6, 12 or 24 h and control groups (vehicle and IVF) were included. In Experiment 2, presumptive zygotes were exposed to 0 (vehicle), 0.1, 1 and 10 μM crotamine for 24 h. Additionally, to visualize crotamine uptake, embryos were exposed to rhodamine B-labelled crotamine and subjected to confocal microscopy. In Experiment 1, no difference (P > 0.05) was observed among different exposure times and control groups for cleavage and blastocyst rates and total cells number per blastocyst. Within each exposure time, mRNA levels were similar (P > 0.05) in embryos cultured with or without crotamine. In Experiment 2, concentrations as high as 10 μM crotamine did not affect (P > 0.05) the blastocyst rate. Crotamine at 0.1 and 10 μM did not alter mRNA levels when compared with the control (P > 0.05). Remarkably, only 1 μM crotamine decreased both ATP1A1 and AQP3 expression levels relative to the control group (P < 0.05). Also, it was possible to visualize the intracellular localization of crotamine. These results indicate that crotamine can translocate intact IVF bovine embryos and its application in the culture medium is possible at concentrations from 0.1–10 μM for 6–24 h.Fil: Campello, Iana S.. Universidade Estadual Do Ceara; BrasilFil: Pereira, Alexsandra F.. Universidade Estadual Do Ceara; BrasilFil: Alcântara Neto, Agostinho S.. Universidade Estadual Do Ceara; BrasilFil: Canel, Natalia G.. Universidad de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Souza Fabjan, Joanna M. G.. Universidade Estadual Do Ceara; BrasilFil: Teixeira, Dárcio I. A.. Universidade Estadual Do Ceara; BrasilFil: Camargo, Luiz S. A.. Ministerio da Agricultura Pecuaria e Abastecimento de Brasil. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuaria; BrasilFil: Melo, Luciana M.. Universidade Estadual Do Ceara; BrasilFil: Rádis Baptista, Gandhi. Universidade Federal do Ceará; BrasilFil: Salamone, Daniel Felipe. Universidad de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Freitas, Vicente J. F.. Universidade Estadual Do Ceara; Brasi