Leishmania genomics: a brief account

Leishmaniasis, one of the neglected tropical diseases is serious health concern globally. The disease is caused by protozoan parasites belonging to genus Leishmania. The main forms of disease are Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL), Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis and Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL). VL or Kala-azar is the most severe form and 90% of global VL cases occur in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sudan, Ethiopia and Brazil, while most cases (70–75%) of CL occur in Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Ethiopia, Costa Rica and Peru etc. They are spread by the bites of female sand flies of the genus Phlebotomus in the Old World and of the genus Lutzomyia in the New World. It is essential to determine whether genetic variability of the parasites is associated with the different clinical manifestations and drug resistance of Leishmania sp. Various molecular biological methods have been standardized to study the genomes of the parasites in order to understand the parasites better. Most updated high-throughput approaches are whole genome sequencing, comparative genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics. The present review gives an overview of the advancement in the field of the Leishmania genome analysis which would help workers in the field to understand the problem of emergence of drug resistance, current epidemiological status, host parasite interaction and designing the drugs

Protective role of fish oil (Maxepa) on early events of rat mammary carcinogenesis by modulation of DNA-protein crosslinks, cell proliferation and p53 expression

BACKGROUND: Fish oil is known to protect from many types of cancers of the colon, liver, breast, prostate and lung [1-3]. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the role of fish oil [Maxepa, supplemented at a dose of 0.5 ml is equivalent to 90 mg eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 60 mg docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)] on cell proliferation, expression of p53 tumor suppressor protein and DNA protein crosslinks (DPCs) in a defined model of chemical rat mammary carcinogenesis. Mammary carcinogenesis was initiated by a single, intravenous (i.v.) tail vein injection of 7,12 dimethylbenz(α)anthracene (DMBA) at a dose of 5 mg DMBA/2 ml corn oil/kg body weight in female Sprague-Dawley rats at 7 weeks of age. Fish oil supplementation was started daily, 2 weeks prior to DMBA injection and continued for 24 (31 weeks of animal age) weeks and 35 (42 weeks of animal age) weeks of post DMBA injection, for histopathological and immunohistochemical and for morphological studies, respectively. RESULTS: Our results indicate the chemopreventive effect of fish oil (Maxepa) on DMBA-induced rat mammary carcinogenesis. Administration of fish oil further showed a prominent reduction of cell proliferation (24.34%, P = 0.001); DPCs (25%, P < 0.001) and an increased expression of p53 protein (4.636 ± 0.19, P < 0.001) in preneoplastic mammary tissue when compared to carcinogen control counterpart. Histopathological and morphological analyses were carried out as end-point biomarkers. CONCLUSION: Our study thus provides evidence for the anticarcinogenic effect of fish oil (Maxepa) in limiting mammary preneoplasia in Sprague-Dawley rats

Particle induced X-ray emission study of blood samples of Indian Kala-azar patients

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) or Kala-azar (KA) is a neglected tropical disease caused by protozoan parasite, Leishmania sp. and is fatal, if left untreated. In this study, we measured trace elements (K, Fe, Cu, Zn, Br, Cl, S, Ca, Mn, Cr, Ni, As, Se, Rb and Sr) in the blood of Indian VL patients (32) by particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) study. Blood was collected from 36 subjects including healthy controls from Rambagh Kala-azar Hospital, Muzaffarpur, Bihar, India. PIXE experiment was carried out at the Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar, India and data were analyzed by GUPIXWIN software. We observed first time the association of bromine with the disease. The results showed 48.47 % decrease in Br, 35.16 % decrease in Zn and 29.05 % decrease in Fe in untreated state of the KA patients. In the same group, Cu has been increased by 16.73 %. Cu/Zn ratio has been altered in diseased state. The association of bromine with the disease is reported for the first time and altered levels of trace elements (Br, Cu, Fe and Zn) may come back to normal after completion of the treatment regimen with Amphotericin B

Particle induced X-ray emission study of blood samples of Indian Kala-azar patients

Ivermectina é antiparasitário que pertence ao grupo das avermectinas, muito utilizado mundialmente e de elevada eficácia, porém, rotineiramente usado de forma inadequada na clínica de pequenos animais. Os felinos podem sofrer intoxicação pela via oral, parenteral e também pela aplicação tópica. O prognóstico depende da dose utilizada, idade do gato e sensibilidade individual. Este trabalho buscou realizar revisão bibliográfica sobre a ivermectina focando em suas propriedades e nas implicações clinicas da intoxicação por ivermectina. Adicionou-se a esta revisão, relato de caso clínico de gato intoxicado por via cutânea. Um felino de um ano e dois meses de idade recebeu uma aplicação tópica de ivermectina de uso injetável diretamente no coxim palmar. Os principais sinais clínicos observados foram alterações neurológicas, como ataxia, midríase e tremores. O paciente recebeu tratamento sintomático e de suporte, recuperando-se completamente e não ocorrendo sequelas identificáveis. É de fundamental importância reconhecer os sinais clínicos deste tipo de intoxicação e seus possíveis diagnósticos diferenciais para correta conduta terapêutica. Não existe antídoto, mas adequado tratamento sintomático, de suporte, e cuidados de enfermagem iniciados precocemente, possibilitam aumento das chances de sucesso terapêutico e a plena recuperação do paciente.Ivermectin is an antiparasitic agent belonging to the group of avermectins widely used with high efficacy, but routinely used inappropriately in small animals clinic. The cats are susceptible to poisoning by oral, parenteral and topical application. Prognosis depends on the dose, age and individual sensitivity. This study attempts to make a review on ivermectin focusing on its properties and clinical implications of ivermectin poisoning. A case report of an intoxicated cat by topical administration was added to this review. A 1.2 years old cat, received a topical application of ivermectin injectable use directly on the palm cushion. The main clinical signs were neurological disorders such as ataxia, mydriasis and tremors. The patient had symptomatic and supportive treatment, fully recovered with no identifiable sequels. It is vital to recognize the main clinical signs and possible differential diagnosis of this type of poisoning for a correct therapeutic approach. There is no antidote, but appropriate symptomatic and support treatment, with early nursing care allow increased chances of successful treatment and patient full recovery