Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus in South America: water, seafood and human infections

The bacterial species, Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus, are ubiquitous in estuaries and coastal waters throughout the world, but they also happen to be important human pathogens. They are concentrated by filter-feeding shellfish which are often consumed raw or undercooked, providing an important potential route of entry for an infective dose of these bacteria. Vibrio parahaemolyticus can cause abdominal cramping, nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, chills and fever. Vibrio vulnificus can cause similar gastrointestinal-related symptoms, but can also spread to the bloodstream, resulting in primary septicaemia, and it can also cause disease via wound infections. The objective of this article is to summarize, for the first time, the incidence and importance of V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus in South America, in environmental waters and seafood, especifically molluscan shellfish, as well as human infection cases and outbreaks. It appears that infections from V. parahaemolyticus have been more strongly related to shellfish ingestion and have been more frequently reported on the Pacific coast of South America. Conversely, V. vulnificus has been more frequently acquired by water contact with open wounds and its presence has been more heavily reported along the Atlantic coast of South America, and while documented to cause serious mortality, have been relatively few in number. The impacts of El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) have been observed to cause an increase in V. parahaemolyticus outbreaks on the Pacific coast of South America. The implementation of a regulated monitoring approach, along with the use of faster, more accurate and virulence-specific detection approaches, such as PCR confirmation, should be considered to detect the presence of pathogenic Vibrio strains in environmental and seafood samples for protection of public health. Furthermore, improved clinical surveillance with suspected cases should be implemented. This review highlights the need for more research and monitoring of vibrios in South America, in water, shellfish and clinical samples

Caracterização da população de ectoparasitos em cães de núcleos de expansão urbana de Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brasil Characterization of ectoparasites on dogs in the nucleus of urban expansion of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil

No presente trabalho caracterizou-se a população de ectoparasitos em cães de núcleo de expansão urbana de Juiz de Fora, MG. As coletas foram realizadas de julho a setembro de 2003, examinando-se 101 cães SRD (sem raça definida). Os ectoparasitos foram coletados através de inspeção visual e tátil dos animais e acondicionados em frascos com etanol 70°GL e identificados sob estereoscopia. Espécimes foram clarificados e montados para análise em microscopia fotônica. Dentre os sifonápteros, Ctenocephalides felis foi mais prevalente (64,35%) com intensidade média de 6,12 ± 5,37 sifonápteros/cão, seguido por Rhopalopsyllus lutzi (3,96%), híbrida C. felis X C. canis (1,98%), Tunga penetrans (1,98%). Aúnica espécie de fitiráptero encontrada foi Trichodectes canis (7,92%) com 1,3 ± 0,51 fitiráptero/cão. Dentre os ixodídeos, Rhipicephalus sanguineus foi a espécie mais prevalente (49,50%) com intensidade média de 6,44 ± 10,2 ixodídeos/ cão, seguido por Amblyomma cajennense (3,96%), Boophilus microplus (2,97%), A. ovale (1%) e A. aureolatum (1%). As ninfas de ixodídeos foram separadas em ninfas de Amblyomminae (58,41%) com 10,11 ± 10,09 ninfas/cão e ninfas Rhipicephalinae (24,75%) com 2,64 ± 3,25 ninfas/cão. Em 3,96 % dos cães foram encontradas larvas de ixodídeo.<br>The present work studied the characterization of ectoparasites on dogs in the nucleus of expansão urbana of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The collections were conducted from July to September 2003, examining 101 dogs of no defined breed. The ectoparasites were collected through visual and tactile inspection of the animals' bodies, and were then placed in bottles with 70° GL ethanol and identified under a stereomicroscope. Specimens were clarified and mounted on slides for analysis under a photonic microscope. Among the siphonaptera, Ctenocephalides felis was the most prevalent (64.35%), with mean intensity of 6.12 ± 5.37 siphonaptera/dog, followed by Rhopalopsyllus lutzi (3.96%), a hybrid of C. felis X C. canis (1.98%), and Tunga penetrans (1.98%). The only species of phthiraptera found was Trichodectes canis (7.92%), with 1.3 ± 0.51 phthiraptera/dog. Among the ixodidae, Rhipicephalus sanguineus was the most prevalent species (49.50%), with a mean intensity of 6.44 ± 10.2 ixodidae/dog, followed by Amblyomma cajennense (3.96%), Boophilus microplus (2.97%), A. ovale (1%) and A. aureolatum (1%). The ixodid nymphs were separated into aAmblyomminae nymphs (58.41%), with 10.11 ± 10.09 nymphs/dog, and Rhipicephalinae nymphs ¹(24.75%), with 2.64 ± 3.25 nymphs/dog. Ixodid larvae were found on 3.96 % of the dogs