Presence of Toxocara spp. and hookworms in peridomiciliary areas of a fishing community in the Mid-west region of Brazil

O objetivo do estudo foi verificar a contaminação do solo de peridomicílios de uma comunidade pesqueira localizada no município de Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil, onde é frequente a ocorrência de casos de Larva migrans cutânea. Utilizando-se das técnicas de centrifugo-flutuação, Baermann-Moraes e centrifugo- sedimentação, amostras de solo e fezes de cães foram analisadas e os resultados evidenciaram altos índices de contaminação por ovos de Toxocara spp., Ancilostomídeos e larvas de nematoides. Estes achados podem estar associados aos casos de Larvas migrans cutânea e às elevadas taxas de eosinofilia em escolares daquela comunidade.The aim of this study was to investigate soil contamination in peridomiciliary areas from a fishing community in the municipality of Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil, where is often found the occurrence of cases of cutaneous larva migrans. Using the techniques of zinc sulphate centrifugal flotation, Baermann-Moraes and centrifugal sedimentation, soil samples and feces of dogs were analyzed and the results showed high levels of contamination by Toxocara spp., hookworm and larvae of nematodes. These findings may be associated with cases of cutaneous larva migrans and high rates of eosinophilia in school children of that community

ENTEROPARASITAS EM VEGETAIS COMERCIALIZADOS EM RIO BRANCO, ACRE, AMAZÔNIA OCIDENTAL BRASILEIRA

We analyzed the presence of human enteroparasites in vegetables marketed in Rio Branco, Acre state, in Brazil. We sampled 30 units of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and 30 units of arugula (Eruca sativa) from supermarkets and free markets in the city. The samples were analyzed by spontaneous sedimentation technique to search for parasitic forms. Helminth eggs were detected: superfamily Ancylostomatoidea, Trichuris trichiura and Taenia sp.; and nematode larvae, as well as protozoan cysts: Iodamoeba bütschlii, Endolimax nana, Entamoeba coli, Blastocystis hominis, Isospora spp., Giardia duodenalis and E. histolytica. These results indicate that the consumption of these vegetables in natura may pose a risk to the health population, and education regarding proper handling and hygiene is necessary.Keywords: intestinal parasites; Lactuca sativa; Eruca sativa; Amazonia.Analisamos a presença de enteroparasitos humanos em vegetais comercializados em Rio Branco, Estado do Acre, Brasil. Amostramos 30 unidades de alface (Lactuca sativa) e 30 unidades de rúcula (Eruca sativa) de supermercados e feiras livres da cidade. As amostras foram analisadas por técnica de sedimentação espontanea para pesquisa de formas parasitárias. Foram detectadas a presença de ovos de helmintos: superfamília Ancylostomatoidea, Trichuris trichiura e Taenia sp.; e larvas de nematóides, além de cistos de protozoários: Iodamoeba bütschlii, Endolimax nana, Entamoeba coli, Blastocystis hominis, Isospora spp, Giardia duodenalis e E. histolytica. Esses resultados indicam que o consumo desses vegetais in natura podem representar um risco para a saúde da população, sendo necessária educação sobre seu manuseio e higiene adequados.Palavras-chave: parasitos intestinais, Lactuca sativa; Eruca sativa, Amazônia

Efficiency of the fluorescent antibody and indirect hemagglutination (IHR) tests for the diagnosis of the canine visceral leishmaniasis

Dogs are the main reservoir of Leishmania donovani however, better standardization of serological tests for the diagnosis of canine Calaazar still has to be done. Thus, in this paper the fluorescent antibody (FA) and indirect hemagglutination (IHA) tests for this diagnostic purpose were standardized and evaluated in 42 sera from animals with clinical and parasitological diagnosis of Calaazar and 60 sera from healthy dogs. The stipulated cut-offs for FR and IHA tests were, respectively, 20 and 40. The indices of sensibility, specificity, efficiency, positive and negative predictive values for FA tests were as follow: 0.952, 1.000, 0.983, 1.000 and 0.968 and, for the IHA test: 0.857, 1.000, 0.941, 1.000 and 0.909. It was concluded that both FA and IHA tests are efficient for the diagnosis of canine leishmaniasis.A sorologia da leishmaniose visceral em cães não teve, ainda, um estudo de padronização, embora esta espécie animal constitua importante reservatório de Leishmania donovani. Este trabalho teve como objetivo verificar a eficiência das reações de. imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI) e de hemaglutinação passiva (RHP) para o diagnóstico do calazar canino. Assim, 42 soros de cães com calazar comprovado clinica e parasitologicamente e 60 soros de cães clinicamente sadios foram testados. Analisou-se a distribuição de títulos e a eficiência dos testes para os diferentes níveis de limiar de reatividade. Para a eficiência máxima dos testes, o limiar de reatividade foi de 20 e 40 respectivamente para RIFI e RHP. Desta forma, a sensibilidade, a especificidade, a concordância ou a eficiência diagnóstica, o valor preditivo positivo e o valor preditivo negativo foram de 0,952, 1,000, 0,983, 1,000 e 0,968 para RIFI e 0,857, 1,000, 0,941, 1,000 e 0,909 para RHP. Concluiu-se que tanto a RIFI quanto a RHP são eficientes para estabelecer o diagnóstico sorológico da leishmaniose canina

Intestinal parasitism among waste pickers in Mato Grosso do Sul, Midwest Brazil

The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of intestinal parasites in both cooperative-affiliated and independent waste pickers operating at the municipal sanitary landfill in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, and associate these findings with hemoglobin, eosinophils, vitamin A and C levels and interleukin 5 and 10 (IL-5 and IL-10) production. Biological samples were collected, in addition to clinical, epidemiological, and sociodemographic data. Stool analyzes were based on sedimentation by centrifugation and on spontaneous sedimentation. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to determine vitamin A and C levels. ELISA was employed to quantify interleukins. Intestinal parasites were found in 29 of the 66 subjects assessed (43.9%). Endolimax nana (22.7%), Entamoeba coli (21.1%), Giardia lamblia (6.1%), Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar (4.5%), and Ascaris lumbricoides (4.5%) were the most prevalent species. Pathogenic parasites were detected in 11 individuals (16.7%). Hypovitaminoses A and C were detected in 19.6% (13/66) and 98.4% (65/66) of subjects, respectively. IL-5 and IL-10 production was observed in 21 (31.8%) and 32 (48.4%) subjects, respectively. Infection with pathogenic intestinal parasites was not a cause of vitamin A and C deficiency or IL-5 and IL-10 production among these workers

The Genetic Structure of Leishmania infantum Populations in Brazil and Its Possible Association with the Transmission Cycle of Visceral Leishmaniasis

Leishmania infantum is the etiologic agent of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the Americas, Mediterranean basin and West and Central Asia. Although the geographic structure of L. infantum populations from the Old World have been described, few studies have addressed the population structure of this parasite in the Neotropical region. We employed 14 microsatellites to analyze the population structure of the L. infantum strains isolated from humans and dogs from most of the Brazilian states endemic for VL and from Paraguay. The results indicate a low genetic diversity, high inbreeding estimates and a depletion of heterozygotes, which together indicate a predominantly clonal breeding system, but signs of sexual events are also present. Three populations were identified from the clustering analysis, and they were well supported by F statistics inferences and partially corroborated by distance-based. POP1 (111 strains) was observed in all but one endemic area. POP2 (31 strains) is also well-dispersed, but it was the predominant population in Mato Grosso (MT). POP3 (31 strains) was less dispersed, and it was observed primarily in Mato Grosso do Sul (MS). Strains originated from an outbreak of canine VL in Southern Brazil were grouped in POP1 with those from Paraguay, which corroborates the hypothesis of dispersal from Northeastern Argentina and Paraguay. The distribution of VL in MS seems to follow the west-east construction of the Bolivia-Brazil pipeline from Corumbá municipality. This may have resulted in a strong association of POP3 and Lutzomyia cruzi, which is the main VL vector in Corumbá, and a dispersion of this population in this region that was shaped by human interference. This vector also occurs in MT and may influence the structure of POP2. This paper presents significant advances in the understanding of the population structure of L. infantum in Brazil and its association with eco-epidemiological aspects of VL