13 research outputs found
Improving the serodiagnosis of canine Leishmania infantum infection in geographical areas of Brazil with different disease prevalence
Full text linkSerodiagnosis of Leishmania infantum infection in dogs relies on the detection of antibodies against leishmanial crude extracts or parasitic defined antigens. The expansion of canine leishmaniasis from geographical areas of Brazil in which the infection is endemic to regions in which the disease is emerging is occurring. This fact makes necessary the analysis of the serodiagnostic capabilities of different leishmanial preparations in distinct geographical locations. In this article sera from dogs infected with Leishmania and showing the clinical form of the disease, were collected in three distinct Brazilian States and were tested against soluble leishmanial antigens or seven parasite individual antigens produced as recombinant proteins. We show that the recognition of soluble leishmanial antigens by sera from these animals was influenced by the geographical location of the infected dogs. Efficacy of the diagnosis based on this crude parasite preparation was higher in newly endemic regions when compared with areas of high disease endemicity. We also show that the use of three of the recombinant proteins, namely parasite surface kinetoplastid membrane protein of 11 kDa (KMP-11), and two members of the P protein family (P2a and P0), can improve the degree of sensitivity without adversely affecting the specificity of the diagnostic assays for canine leishmaniasis, independently of the geographical area of residence. In addition, sera from dogs clinically healthy but infected were also assayed with some of the antigen preparations. We demonstrate that the use of these proteins can help to the serodiagnosis of Leishmania infected animals with subclinical infections. Finally, we propose a diagnostic protocol using a combination of KMP-11, P2a y P0, together with total leishmanial extractsThis work was supported by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (Brazil) within the call“CNPq/MS/SCTIE/DECIT N° 32/2014 - Pesquisas sobre Leishmanioses”grant number reference 467389/2014-4. Institutional grants from the Fundación Ramón Areces and Banco de Santander to the CBMSO are also acknowledged. TC received scholarship from Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Santa Catarina–FAPES
Rotavirus antigen detection in serum samples from children with acute gastroenteritis in Belém, Pará State, Brazil
No full textMinistério da Ciência, Tecnologia, Inovações e
Comunicações – MCTIC, Conselho Nacional de
Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico – CNPq,
o qual contribuiu com recursos de financiamento
da pesquisa por meio da Chamada Universal –
MCTI/CNPq Nº 14/2013 (Processo: 483140/2013-9).Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências da Saúde. Belém, PA, Brasil.Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências da Saúde. Belém, PA, Brasil.Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências da Saúde. Belém, PA, Brasil.Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências da Saúde. Belém, PA, Brasil.Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências da Saúde. Belém, PA, Brasil.Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências da Saúde. Belém, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Rotaviruses (RV) are the main causative agents of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) during childhood and are responsible
for thousands of deaths due to diarrhea worldwide, especially in developing countries. Recent studies have indicated
the presence of RV antigens in the serum (antigenemia) and feces of animals and humans, which may be related to
extraintestinal clinical manifestations and increased disease severity. This study was conducted in a children's clinic
located in Belém, Pará State, Brazil, and aimed to detect antigenemia caused by RV in children hospitalized for
AGE. The study population was composed of 566 children, from whom 452 paired fecal and serum samples were
collected for RV antigen detection using immunoassays (ELISA). Positive results were found in 24% (109/452) of
fecal samples; antigenemia was detected in 37.5% (41/109) of children. Disease severity was analyzed using Ruuska
and Vesikari's scoring system and no statistically significant difference was observed between patients with or without
antigenemia (p = 0.120); however, a greater number of vomiting episodes and longer duration of vomiting were
observed in patients with antigenemia than those without antigenemia (p = 0.015 and p = 0.002, respectively).
Antigenemia is frequently identified in children hospitalized for AGE caused by RV, and is associated with a greater
number of vomiting episodes and longer duration of vomiting in Belém, Brazil. The results enabled a better
understanding of the pathogenesis of RV infections, especially in vaccinated children. However, a comprehensive
analysis is necessary, including molecular tests for the genotypes involved for completing the achieved results.Os rotavírus (RV) são os principais agentes virais causadores de gastroenterite (GE) aguda na infância, sendo
responsáveis por milhares de óbitos em crianças com diarreia, em âmbito global, especialmente nos países em
desenvolvimento. Estudos recentes demonstraram a presença de antígenos de RV no soro (antigenemia) e nas
fezes de animais e seres humanos, podendo esse achado estar relacionado a manifestações clínicas extraintestinais
e maior gravidade da doença. Este estudo foi realizado em uma clínica infantil em Belém, Estado do Pará,
Brasil, com o objetivo de detectar antigenemia causada por RV entre crianças hospitalizadas com GE aguda.
De 566 crianças, foram coletadas 452 amostras pareadas de fezes e soro para análise por meio do método
imunoenzimático (ELISA). A pesquisa de RV nas fezes revelou-se positiva em 24% (109/452) das amostras, sendo
detectada antigenemia em 37,5% (41/109) desses pacientes. A gravidade da doença foi analisada utilizando-se
o escore universal de Ruuska e Vesikari, não sendo observada diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os
pacientes com e sem antigenemia (p = 0,120); entretanto, observou-se maior número de episódios e duração dos
vômitos nos pacientes com antigenemia (p = 0,015 e p = 0,002, respectivamente). A antigenemia é frequente
em crianças hospitalizadas com GE aguda causada por RV, em Belém, e está associada a um maior número de
episódios e duração dos vômitos. Os resultados permitiram um melhor entendimento acerca da patogenia das
rotaviroses, especialmente em crianças vacinadas. Entretanto, faz-se necessária uma análise mais abrangente
envolvendo testes moleculares para complementação dos resultados alcançados no que tange aos genótipos
envolvidos
Rotavirus antigenemia as a common event among children hospitalised for severe, acute gastroenteritis in Belém, northern Brazil
No full textThis study received financial support from the Evandro Chagas Institute (IEC),
Health Surveillance Secretariat, which supported the study team to perform
sample collection, analysis, interpretation of the data obtained and writing
the manuscript. The National Council for Scientific and Technological
Development (CNPq) provided financial support to purchase laboratory kits
for use in the analysis.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Federal University of Pará State. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará State. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará State. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará State. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará State. Belém, PA, Brazil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Background: Rotavirus antigenemia and RNAemia (the presence of rotavirus RNA in serum) have been commonly
identified among paediatric patients with acute gastroenteritis. In this study we examined the association between
rotavirus antigenemia and clinical features, and sought to determine the genotypes of rotaviruses detected in
paired stool and serum samples.
Methods: Paired stool and serum samples were obtained from children hospitalised for acute gastroenteritis in Belém,
Brazil, between June 2012 and June 2015. The 20-point Vesikari scoring system was used to assess the disease severity
upon a retrospective medical record review. Stool and serum samples were primarily screened for the presence of
rotavirus antigen using a commercial ELISA assay. The rotavirus isolates from stool and serum samples were genotyped
by using the classical reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and/or through nucleotide sequencing
of VP4 and VP7 genes. Viral load was estimated using real-time RT-PCR.
Results: In total rotavirus antigen was detected in 109 (24.2%) stool samples from 451 children, whereas antigenemia
occurred in 38.5% (42/109) of these patients. We demonstrated that patients positive for rotavirus RNA in paired stool
and serum samples were more likely to have a higher frequency of vomiting episodes in a 24-h period (p = 0.0035).
Our findings also suggested that children not vaccinated against rotavirus are more likely to develop antigenemia, as
compared to those given at least one vaccine dose (p = 0.0151). G12P [8] and G2P [4] genotypes were predominant
throughout the study period, accounting for 52.3% (57/109) and 27.5% (30/109) of the typed isolates, respectively. Ten
stool-serum pairs could be typed for VP4 and VP7 genes. Seven of these pairs showed concordant results with G2P [4]
genotype being detected in stool and serum samples, whereas discrepancies between genotypes (G2P [4]/G2P[NT]
and G12P [8]/G2P[NT]) were seen in three pairs.
Conclusions: Rotavirus antigenemia and RNAemia occur in a significant number of children hospitalised for acute
gastroenteritis in Belém, Brazil, and may contribute to a greater disease severity, particularly translated into a greater
number of vomiting episodes. This study documented a high concordance of genotypes detected in a subgroup of
paired stool and serum sample
NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics
No full textXenarthrans—anteaters, sloths, and armadillos—have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n = 962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n = 12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using these data
