PERFORMANCE OF CONVENTIONAL PCRs BASED ON PRIMERS DIRECTED TO NUCLEAR AND MITOCHONDRIAL GENES FOR THE DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF Leishmania spp.

In visceral leishmaniasis, the detection of the agent is of paramount importance to identify reservoirs of infection. Here, we evaluated the diagnostic attributes of PCRs based on primers directed to cytochrome-B (cytB), cytochrome-oxidase-subunit II (coxII), cytochrome-C (cytC), and the minicircle-kDNA. Although PCRs directed to cytB, coxII, cytC were able to detect different species of Leishmania, and the nucleotide sequence of their amplicons allowed the unequivocal differentiation of species, the analytical and diagnostic sensitivity of these PCRs were much lower than the analytical and diagnostic sensitivity of the kDNA-PCR. Among the 73 seropositive animals, the asymptomatic dogs had spleen and bone marrow samples collected and tested; only two animals were positive by PCRs based on cytB, coxII, and cytC, whereas 18 were positive by the kDNA-PCR. Considering the kDNA-PCR results, six dogs had positive spleen and bone marrow samples, eight dogs had positive bone marrow results but negative results in spleen samples and, in four dogs, the reverse situation occurred. We concluded that PCRs based on cytB, coxII, and cytC can be useful tools to identify Leishmania species when used in combination with automated sequencing. The discordance between the results of the kDNA-PCR in bone marrow and spleen samples may indicate that conventional PCR lacks sensitivity for the detection of infected dogs. Thus, primers based on the kDNA should be preferred for the screening of infected dogs

Anti-malarial activity and toxicity assessment of Himatanthus articulatus, a plant used to treat malaria in the Brazilian Amazon

Background: Plasmodium falciparum has become resistant to some of the available drugs. Several plant species are used for the treatment of malaria, such as Himatanthus articulatus in parts of Brazil. The present paper reports the phyto-chemistry, the anti-plasmodial and anti-malarial activity, as well as the toxicity of H. articulatus. Methods: Ethanol and dichloromethane extracts were obtained from the powder of stem barks of H. articulates and later fractionated and analysed. The anti-plasmodial activity was assessed against a chloroquine resistant strain P. falciparum (W2) in vitro, whilst in vivo anti-malarial activity against Plasmodium berghei (ANKA strain) was tested in mice, evaluating the role of oxidative stress (total antioxidant capacity - TEAC; lipid peroxidation – TBARS, and nitrites and nitrates - NN). In addition, cytotoxicity was evaluated using the HepG2 A16 cell-line. The acute oral and sub-chronic toxicity of the ethanol extract were evaluated in both male and female mice. Results: Plumieride was isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of ethanol extract, Only the dichloromethane extract was active against clone W2. Nevertheless, both extracts reduced parasitaemia in P. berghei-infected mice. Besides, a significant reduction in pulmonary and cerebral levels of NN (nitrites and nitrates) was found, as well as in pulmonary TBARS, indicating a reduced oxidative damage to these organs. The ethanol extract showed low cytotoxicity to HepG2 A16 cells in the concentrations used. No significant changes were observed in the in vivo toxicity studies. Conclusions: The ethanol extract of H. articulatus proved to be promising as anti-malarial medicine and showed low toxicity

Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil: setting the baseline knowledge on the animal diversity in Brazil

The limited temporal completeness and taxonomic accuracy of species lists, made available in a traditional manner in scientific publications, has always represented a problem. These lists are invariably limited to a few taxonomic groups and do not represent up-to-date knowledge of all species and classifications. In this context, the Brazilian megadiverse fauna is no exception, and the Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil (CTFB) (http://fauna.jbrj.gov.br/), made public in 2015, represents a database on biodiversity anchored on a list of valid and expertly recognized scientific names of animals in Brazil. The CTFB is updated in near real time by a team of more than 800 specialists. By January 1, 2024, the CTFB compiled 133,691 nominal species, with 125,138 that were considered valid. Most of the valid species were arthropods (82.3%, with more than 102,000 species) and chordates (7.69%, with over 11,000 species). These taxa were followed by a cluster composed of Mollusca (3,567 species), Platyhelminthes (2,292 species), Annelida (1,833 species), and Nematoda (1,447 species). All remaining groups had less than 1,000 species reported in Brazil, with Cnidaria (831 species), Porifera (628 species), Rotifera (606 species), and Bryozoa (520 species) representing those with more than 500 species. Analysis of the CTFB database can facilitate and direct efforts towards the discovery of new species in Brazil, but it is also fundamental in providing the best available list of valid nominal species to users, including those in science, health, conservation efforts, and any initiative involving animals. The importance of the CTFB is evidenced by the elevated number of citations in the scientific literature in diverse areas of biology, law, anthropology, education, forensic science, and veterinary science, among others

HCV and HIV infection and co-infection: injecting drug use and sexual behavior, AjUDE-Brasil I Project Infecções e co-infecções pelos vírus HCV e HIV: uso de drogas injetáveis e comportamento sexual, Projeto AjUDE-Brasil I

This study aimed to characterize sexual and drug-use behaviors in injecting drug users (IDUs) in relation to single hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and HCV/HIV co-infection. The sample consisted of 272 IDUs enrolled in the AjUDE-Brasil I Project, a cross-sectional multi-center study conducted in five Brazilian cities in 1998. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire using self-reported risk behavior, and HCV and HIV serological status used ELISA on filter paper. IDUs were clustered in four distinct groups: HCV/HIV seronegative; HCV mono-infected; HIV mono-infected; and HCV/HIV co-infected. Active sharing of injecting equipment was associated with HCV infection (p = 0.001). Sexual behavior variables, especially male same-sex sexual relations, were consistently associated with HIV infection. HCV/HIV co-infection was associated with both sexual and drug use variables. It was possible to distinguish different behavioral indicators for HCV and HIV infection and co-infection in this population.<br>Este estudo objetivou analisar grupos de usuários de drogas injetáveis (UDIs) infectados e co-infectados pelos vírus da hepatite C (HCV) e da imunodeficiência adquirida (HIV), em relação ao comportamento sexual e uso de drogas. A população de estudo foi composta por 272 UDIs participantes do Projeto AjUDE-Brasil I, estudo transversal multicêntrico realizado em cinco cidades brasileiras, em 1998. Os dados analisados foram coletados através de entrevistas estruturadas e testes sorológicos, utilizando-se papel filtro e a técnica ELISA, para HIV e HCV. Os UDIs foram agrupados em quatro grupos sorológicos distintos, a saber: (1) soronegativos, (2) monoinfectados pelo HCV, (3) monoinfectados pelo HIV e (4) co-infectados. Relato de ter "dado seringa", na vida, apresentou-se significantemente associado à infecção pelo HCV (p = 0,001). Em relação à infecção pelo HIV, variáveis de comportamento sexual, em especial, o relato de relação homossexual (p < 0,001), mostraram-se consistentemente associadas à infecção. Para a co-infecção, tanto variáveis de comportamento sexual quanto de uso de drogas injetáveis mostraram-se associadas. Dessa forma, foi possível determinar indicadores distintos de comportamento para essas infecções, na população em estudo

Rendimento e teores de macronutrientes em alface americana em função de doses de nitrogênio e molibdênio Nitrogen and molybdenum rates on the yield and macronutrients content in crisphead lettuce

O trabalho foi conduzido no município de Três Pontas, sul de Minas Gerais, de abril a julho de 2003, com o objetivo de avaliar a influência de doses de nitrogênio e molibdênio no rendimento e teor de macronutrientes da alface americana. Utilizou-se o delineamento de blocos ao acaso em arranjo fatorial 4 x 5, compreendendo quatro doses de nitrogênio em cobertura (0, 60, 120 e 180 kg ha-1) e cinco doses de molibdênio via foliar (0,0; 35,1; 70,2; 105,3 e 140,4 g ha-1) e três repetições. A massa fresca evidenciou efeitos significativos para doses de nitrogênio e de molibdênio, assim como para sua interação, enquanto os teores de nitrogênio e magnésio agiram de forma independente. Os teores de potássio reduziram-se com o aumento das doses de nitrogênio e molibdênio, sendo que para a maior dose de molibdênio (140,4 kg ha-1), estabeleceu-se um efeito quadrático no qual a dose de 76,1 kg ha-1 de nitrogênio em cobertura propiciou o maior teor de potássio. Para os teores de fósforo, cálcio e enxofre verificaram-se efeito significativo da interação N x Mo, cujas concentrações na parte aérea aumentaram com as doses de nitrogênio e molibdênio.<br>The trial was carried out at Três Pontas, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, from April to July 2003, to evaluate the influence of nitrogen and molybdenum rates on yield and macronutrients uptake of crisphead lettuce. A randomized complete blocks design with three replications was used. The treatments consisted of a factorial combination of four top dressing nitrogen levels (0.0; 60.0; 120.0 and 180.0 kg ha-1) and five foliar molybdenum levels (0.0, 35.1; 70.2; 105.3 and 140.4 g ha-1). The marketable fresh mass showed significant effect for levels of nitrogen and of molybdenum, as well as for their interaction, while the content of nitrogen and magnesium acted independently. The levels of potassium were reduced with the increase of the doses of nitrogen and molybdenum, and for the highest level of molybdenum (140.4 g ha-1) occurred a quadratic effect in which the dose of 76.1 kg ha-1 of N in top dressing showed the highest level of potassium. For the content of P, Ca and S a significant effect from the interaction N x K was verified, which had their content increased in the plant tops with the levels of nitrogen and molybdenum