3 research outputs found
Seroprevalencia de la toxoplasmosis humana en Córdoba
Se realiza un estudio sobre seroprevalencia de la
toxoplasmosis humana en Córdoba, mediante inmunofluorescencia
indirecta y hemaglutinación indirecta.
La muestra encuestada se compone de 443 sueros, 356
personas supuestamente sanas (estudiantes fundamentalmente)
y 87, consideradas de “alto riesgo” (enfermos
del Hospital “Reina Sofía”).
La positividad obtenida para el total de la
muestra ha sido del 43,79 % con IFI y 53,50 % para
HAI. Con respecto al sexo, la prevalencia es superior
en mujeres con un 54,36 % y 70,47 % con IFI y HAI,
respectivamente, en varones el 38,43 % y 44,90 %
para las mismas pruebas. En relación con la
procedencia de la muestra, 31,lB % con IFI y 43,25
% para HAI sobre la población normal, en la de “alto
riesgo” para ambas pruebas el 95,40 %.
Entre ambas pruebas hay diferencias significativas
a títulos bajos, no así en diluciones altas,
Concluimos que la toxoplasmosis humana está
presente y difundida en las poblaciones estudiadasA seroprevalency study of human toxoplasmosis
was carried out in Córdoba, using indirect
immunofluorescence and indirect haemoglutination.
The sample of people interviewed was made up of
443 serums, 356 supposedly healthy people (mainly
students) and 87, considered “high risk” (pafients
from the “Reina Sofia” Hospital).
The positiveness obtained for the total of the
sample was 43,79 % with IFI and 53,59 % for HAI. As
regards sex of the person tested, prevalence is higher
in women, with 54,36 % and 70,47 % with IFI and HAI
respectively, in men the scores were 38,43 % and 44,90
% for the same tests. As far as the origin of the sample
was concerned, there were 31,lB % with IFI and 43,25
% for HAI of the nornal population, in the “high risk”
sample, for both tests it was 9540 %.
With both tests there are significative differences
in low amounts, but not in high dilutions.
We conclude that human toxoplasmosis is
present and widespread in the studied population
Fasciola hepatica induces eosinophil apoptosis in the migratory and biliary stages of infection in sheep
The aim of the present work was to evaluate the number of apoptotic eosinophils in the livers of sheep experimentally infected with Fasciola hepatica during the migratory and biliary stages of infection. Four groups (n = 5) of sheep were used; groups 1–3 were orally infected with 200 metacercariae (mc) and sacrificed at 8 and 28 days post-infection (dpi), and 17 weeks post-infection (wpi), respectively. Group 4 was used as an uninfected control. Apoptosis was detected using immunohistochemistry with a polyclonal antibody against anti-active caspase-3, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Eosinophils were identified using the Hansel stain in serial sections for caspase-3, and by ultrastructural features using TEM. At 8 and 28 dpi, numerous caspase-3+ eosinophils were mainly found at the periphery of acute hepatic necrotic foci. The percentage of caspase -3+ apoptotic eosinophils in the periphery of necrotic foci was high (46.1–53.9) at 8 and 28 dpi, respectively, and decreased in granulomas found at 28 dpi (6%). Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the presence of apoptotic eosinophils in hepatic lesions at 8 and 28 dpi. At 17 wpi, apoptotic eosinophils were detected in the infiltrate surrounding some enlarged bile ducts containing adult flukes. This is the first report of apoptosis induced by F. hepatica in sheep and the first study reporting apoptosis in eosinophils in hepatic inflammatory infiltrates in vivo. The high number of apoptotic eosinophils in acute necrotic tracts during the migratory and biliary stages of infection suggests that eosinophil apoptosis may play a role in F. hepatica survival during different stages of infection
Apoptosis of peritoneal leucocytes during early stages of Fasciola hepatica infections in sheep
Several immunomodulatory properties have been described in Fasciola hepatica infections. Apoptosis has been shown to be an effective mechanism to avoid the immune response in helminth infections. The aim of the present work was to study apoptosis in peritoneal leucocytes of sheep experimentally infected with F. hepatica during the early stages of infection. Five groups (n = 5) of sheep were used. Groups 2–5 were orally infected with 200 metacercariae (mc) and sacrificed at 1, 3, 9 and 18 days post-infection (dpi), respectively. Group 1 was used as the uninfected control (UC). Apoptosis was detected using three different methods 1) immunocytochemistry (ICC) with a polyclonal antibody anti-active caspase-3; 2) an annexin V flow cytometry assay using the Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide (PI); and 3) transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The differential leucocyte count revealed that the majority of peritoneal granulocytes were eosinophils, which increased significantly at 9 and 18 dpi with respect to the uninfected controls. The ICC study revealed that the percentage of caspase-3+ apoptotic peritoneal leucocytes increased significantly from 3 dpi onwards with respect to the uninfected controls. The flow cytometry annexin V assay detected a very significant (P < 0.001) increase of apoptotic peritoneal macrophages, lymphocytes and granulocytes, which remained higher than in the UC until 18 dpi. Transmission electron microscopy studies also confirmed the presence of apoptosis in peritoneal eosinophils at 18 dpi. This is the first report of apoptosis induced by F. hepatica in the peritoneal leucocytes of sheep in vivo. The results of this work suggest the importance of apoptosis induction for the survival of the juvenile parasites in the peritoneal migratory stages of infection