Din?mica de hem?citos circulantes de Pseudosuccinea columella infectados por Fasciola hepatica.

The lymnaeids are important in the epidemiology of Fasciola hepatica, a neglected and endemic zoonosis. The interaction between the internal defense system of Pseudosuccinea columella and F. hepatica has been little studied. In the present study the effect of infection by F. hepatica on P. columella circulating haemocytes was investigated. Changes in the average number of total circulating haemocytes have been observed at 30 minutes post-infection and 1, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28 and 50 days post-infection (dpi). Miracidia were observed head-foot and mantle at 30 minutes post-infection. Miracidia/Sporocysts in the mantle skirt 1 dpi, and fully formed sporocysts were observed in the head-foot at 7 dpi. Rediae became evident at 10 dpi and were located between the haemocoel and the muscles from 14 dpi; 50 dpi, the rediae in the digestive gland contained cercariae. The statistical analysis of the total haemocytes of P. columella infected by F. hepatica showed significant differences on the 30 minutes post-infection and 1, 14, 21, and 28 dpi in comparison to uninfected molluscs (0 dpi). Therefore, the interference observed on the internal defence system of P. columella may have direct association with the development of F. hepatica.Os limnaeideos s?o importantes na epidemiologia de Fasciola hepatica, uma zoonose negligenciada e end?mica. A intera??o entre o sistema interno de defesa de Pseudosuccinea columella e F. hepatica tem sido pouco estudada. No presente estudo, investigou-se o efeito da infec??o por F. hepatica nos hem?citos circulantes de P. columella. Altera??es no n?mero m?dio de hem?citos circulantes foram observadas aos 30 minutos e 1, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28 e 50 dias ap?s a infec??o (dpi). Mirac?dios foram observados na regi?o cefalopodal e manto aos 30 minutos ap?s a infec??o. Mirac?dio/esporocistos foram observados no colar do manto ao 1 dpi, e esporocistos totalmente formados na regi?o cefalopodal aos 7 dpi. R?dias tornam-se evidentes aos 10 dpi entre a hemocele e m?sculos a partir de 14 dpi; e r?dias com cerc?rias pr?ximas a gl?ndula digestiva aos 50 dpi. A an?lise estat?stica dos hem?citos totais de P. columella infectados por F. hepatica demonstrou diferen?as significativas nos 30 minutos p?s-infec??o e 1, 14, 21 e 28 dpi em compara??o aos moluscos n?o infectados (0 dpi). Portanto, a interfer?ncia observada no sistema de defesa interna de P. columella pode ter associa??o direta com o desenvolvimento de F. hepatica

Anti-helminthic activity of Momordica charantia L. against Fasciola hepatica eggs after twelve days of incubation in vitro.

Fasciolosis, a parasitic disease caused by the trematode Fasciola hepatica underreported is expanding both in human and animal population, throughout the world. The constant use of synthetic drugs to treat this condition has led to the natural selection of resistant strains of the parasite. Hence, there is a growing focus on the potential anti-helminthic properties of medicinal plants and phytopharmaceuticals. The current study assessed the potential anti-fasciolicide action of Momordica charantia leaf extracts and fractions on the eggs of F. hepatica parasites. The lyophilized crude extract (CE) of M. charantia leaves and its sub-fractions, obtained from liquid?liquid partitioning with organic solvents, were analysed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), suspended in 1% DMSO and used in in vitro tests. Quadruplicates of 50 F. hepatica eggs were incubated at 23 ?C with M. charantia leaf CE in different concentrations. After 12 days no larvae were formed in eggs incubated with CE concentrations above 12.5 mg/mL. Eggs incubated with CE sub-fractions at concentrations of 1000, 100, 10, 1, 0.1, 0.01 g/mL affected embryonic development, with n-butanol presenting the strongest inhibition of miracidia formation. In contrast, on the 12th day, 90% of the miracidia hatched in the control experiments using 0.03% DMSO whereas embryogenesis was completely abolished with any concentration of albendazole sulphoxide ABZ(SO). Chemical analysis of the CE and sub-fractions revealed a prominent presence of flavonoids. HPLC?MS confirmed Quercetin to be one of the main flavonoids present in the CE and the n-butanol subfraction. This is the first study to analyse the potential anti-fasciolicide action of M. charantia leaf CE and subfractions

Determinants of iron deficiency anemia in a cohort of children aged 6-71 months living in the northeast of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Iron deficiency anemia is one of the most common nutritional disorders worldwide. The aim was to identify the prevalence and incidence of anemia in children and to identify predictors of this condition, including intestinal parasites, social, nutritional and environmental factors, and comorbidities. A population-based cohort study was conducted in a sample of 414 children aged 6?71 months living in Novo Cruzeiro in the Minas Gerais State. Data were collected in 2008 and 2009 by interview and included socio-economic and demographic information about the children and their families. Blood samples were collected for testing of hemoglobin, ferritin and C-reactive protein. Anthropometric measurements and parasitological analyses of fecal samples were performed. To identify risk factors associated with anemia multivariate analyses were performed using the generalized estimating equations (GEE). In 2008 and 2009, respectively, the prevalence rates of anemia were 35.9% (95%CI 31.2?40.8) and 9.8% (95%CI 7.2?12.9), the prevalence rates of iron deficiency were 18.4% (95%CI 14.7?22.6) and 21.8%(95%CI 17.8?26.2), and the incidence rates of anemia and iron deficiency were 3.2% and 21.8%. The following risk factors associated with anemia were: iron deficiency (OR = 3.2; 95%CI 2.0-.5.3), parasitic infections (OR = 1.9; 95%CI 1.2? 2.8), being of risk of or being a low length/height-for-age (OR = 2.1; 95%CI 1.4?3.2), and lower retinol intake (OR = 1.7; 95%CI 1.1?2.7), adjusted over time. Nutritional factors, parasitic infections and chronic malnutrition were identified as risk factors for anemia. These factors can be verified in a chronic process and have been classically described as risk factors for these conditions