Antileishmanial activity of lapachol analogues

The antileishmanial activity of lapachol, isolapachol, and dihydrolapachol, along with soluble derivatives (potassium salt) and acetate was obtained. All the compounds were assayed against metacyclic promastigotes of two different species of Leishmania associated to tegumentar leishmaniasis: L. amazonensis and L. braziliensis. All compounds presented significant activity, being isolapachol acetate the most active against promastigotes, with IC50/24h = 1.6 ± 0.0 µg/ml and 3.4 ± 0.5 µg/ml for, respectively, L. amazonensis and L. braziliensis. This compound was also assayed in vivo against L. amazonensis and showed to be active. Its toxicity in vitro was also established, and at concentration similar to the IC50, no toxicity was evidenced. In all experiments, pentamidine isethionate was used as a reference drug. The present results reinforce the potential use of substituted hydroxyquinones and derivatives as promising antileishmanial drugs and suggest a continuing study within this class of compounds

Percepção sobre o conhecimento e profilaxia das zoonoses e posse responsável em pais de alunos do pré-escolar de escolas situadas na comunidade localizada no bairro de Dois Irmãos na cidade do Recife (PE) Perception of the zoonosis and responsible pet care by the parents from public schools kindergarten located at metropolitan region of Recife, northeast of Brazil

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar a percepção sobre zoonoses e posse responsável de pais de alunos, observando o nível de conhecimento e a conscientização dos entrevistados acerca do tema.Uma amostra de conveniência de 64 pais de alunos do pré-escolar de duas escolas situadas na Região Metropolitana do Recife (PE), foi analisada, utilizando um questionário para análise da percepção. Entre os entrevistados, 71,8 % não sabiam reconhecer o significado do termo zoonoses, porém 16% souberam reconhecer pelo menos um tipo de zoonose. Doenças transmitidas de animais a humanos foram associadas a suas formas de transmissão, como contato físico entre animais e o homem, mordeduras, contaminação fecal de água e alimentos com cistos e ovos de nematódeos, penetração de larvas de nematódeos na pele e através de insetos vetores. Os principais cuidados com animais de estimação relatados foram vacinação antirrábica (92,2%), administração de anti-helmínticos (76,6%) e consultas ao médico veterinário (82,8%). Contudo, 23,4% dos pais tinham conhecimento que algumas parasitoses transmitidas por fezes de cães e gatos são zoonoses. A conscientização dos pais não apenas sobre doenças transmitidas por animais, mas sobre posse responsável, constitui-se um instrumento importante para reduzir os riscos de transmissão de zoonoses.<br>The goal of this research was to examine parents' perception of the zoonosis and responsible pet care, observing their level of knowledge and awareness about the theme. A convenience sample of 64 parents from two kindergarten schools located at Metropolitan Region of Recife, Pernambuco State, was surveyed using a perception questionnaire. Findings indicate that 71.8 % didn't know the meaning of the term zoonosis, but 16% recognize at least one type of the disease. Diseases transmitted from animals to humans were associated to the way of transmission, as physical contact between animal and man, bite wound disease, fecal contamination of water, food with cysts or eggs of nematodes, skin penetration of nematodes, and also the arthropod borne disease. The major pet health care reported was rabies vaccine (92.2%), anthelmintic therapy (76.6%), and pet care provide by a veterinarian (82.8%). However, 23.4% of the parents had some knowledge about the zoonotic infections transmitted by dogs and cats feces. The parent's awareness not only about the risks about the diseases transmitted from animals to humans but also the responsible pet care, constitute a important tool to reduce risk of zoonosis transmission