State of the Art and Future Directions of <em>Cryptosporidium</em> spp.

Cryptosporidium species are protozoan parasites that infect epithelium surfaces in gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts of humans and a range of animals worldwide. Cryptosporidiosis has been associated with considerable morbidity and, under certain circumstances, mortality. Humans can acquire it by consuming food and drink containing oocysts, which have been recognised as a major cause for diarrhoeal disease. The ubiquitousness of the infective oocyst, its resilience to environmental pressures, and the low dose of oocyst exposure needed for infection amplify to outbreaks of Cryptosporidium traced to drinking and recreational water. Unlike in developing countries where lack of sustained access to safe water creates tremendous burdens of Cryptosporidium diarrhoea, this scenario is aggravated due to limited diagnosis and therapeutics. However, over the past few decades, growing information on Cryptosporidium genomes have allowed novel insight into the host-parasite relationship. Future field research on potential tools will focus on biology-derived parasite products applicable to drugs and diagnosis. This chapter reviews available data on biology, transmission, life cycle, diagnosis, genome, and a few but important progresses in the field of cryptosporidiosis

O ciclo da burocracia em O capitão de Köpenick

Este trabalho é uma leitura da peça O capitão de Köpenick como crítica ao culto da obediência e adoração ao Estado militarizado, tal qual a Alemanha no período entre as duas guerras mundiais. O autor Carl Zuckmayer propõe uma reavaliação da crença de que a presença do Exército como organizador social garante ordem e justiça, pela contraposição da subjetividade humana com a objetividade militar. A personagem Wilhelm Voigt encarna o indivíduo destituído de sua condição de pertencente a um espaço e, assim, destituído de sua identidade. A farda militar é outra personagem, com autoridade e que pode falar por si. Na comédia, Voigt consegue sair do ciclo no qual está inserido por usar a burocracia a seu favor

DIAGNÓSTICO LABORATORIAL DA AMEBÍASE:Detecção e Diferenciação Simultânea da Entamoeba histolytica e Entamoeba dispar por Ensaio Imunoenzimático(ELISA) e Multiplex-PCR

Amebiasis is defined as an infection caused by Entamoeba histolytica. However, precise differentiation between E. histolytica and Entamoeba dispar, which are morphologically identical species, is essential for treatment decision, prevention of the invasive disease and public health. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate a Multiplex-PCR for detection and differentiation of E. histolytica from E. dispar. Microscopic examination of stools using the coprotest kit, detection of stool antigen using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit and a home made Multiplex-PCR, were compared for the diagnosis of amebiasis infection. The Multiplex-PCR was standardized using stool samples with parasites obtained from standard cultures. Afterwards, 127 stool samples obtained from individuals living in two villages of the state of Rio de Janeiro were tested and the results were compared. Analysis of the 127 stools samples by microscopy examination demonstrated that only 27 (21%) samples were positive for E. histolytica /E. dispar complex. Among these stool samples, 12 were positive by Multiplex-PCR, with nine presenting the diagnostic fragment characteristic of E. dispar (96 bp) and three presenting diagnostic fragment of E. histolytica (132 bp). Among the negative samples detected by microscopic examination, three were positive for E. dispar and one was positive for E. histolytica by Multiplex-PCR. This denotes that Multiplex-PCR was more efficient than microscopic examination when single stool samples were analyzed. The results obtained by detection of E. histolytica antigen were in agreement with those obtained by the multiplex-PCR. Statistical analyses comparing coproantigen ELISA with Multiplex-PCR results were not done because of the low number of E. histolytica cases. The overall results indicate the need to use more sensitive methods for the diagnosis of amebiasis infection and the importance of using specific techniques for the differentiation between E. histolytica and E. dispar.A amebíase é uma infecção causada pela Entamoeba histolytica. Entretanto, a diferenciação entre a E. histolytica e a Entamoeba dispar, espécies morfologicamente semelhantes, é fundamental para a conduta terapêutica, prevenção da doença invasiva e para a saúde pública. O propósito desde trabalho foi avaliar a Multiplex-PCR na detecção e diferenciação entre a E. histolytica e a E. dispar. Foi feita uma comparação entre os métodos de exame microscópico das fezes usando o conjunto diagnóstico Coprotest, a detecção de antígenos nas fezes usando um ensaio imunoenzimático comercial e o Multiplex-PCR padronizado no laboratório, para o diagnóstico da amebíase. A Multiplex-PCR foi padronizada usando amostras com parasitos obtidos de culturas padrões. Posteriormente, 127 amostras de fezes provenientes de duas comunidades do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, foram testadas e os resultados comparados. A análise de 127 amostras de fezes pelo exame parasitológico de fezes demonstrou que 27 (21%) amostras foram positivas para o complexo E. histolytica/E. dispar. Dessas amostras, 12 foram positivas pelo Multiplex-PCR, sendo que nove apresentaram o padrão de E. dispar (96 bp) e três o padrão E. histolytica (132 bp). Entre as amostras negativas detectadas pelo exame microscópico, três foram positivas para E. dispar e uma foi positiva para E. histolytica pelo Multiplex-PCR. Esse fato mostrou que a PCR foi mais eficiente do que o exame parasitológico realizado com uma amostra de fezes. Os resultados obtidos pelo ensaio de detecção de antígeno de E. histolytica foram concordantes com o do Multiplex-PCR. A análise estatística comparando os resultados do ELISA coproantígeno com o Multiplex-PCR, não pode ser feita devido ao baixo número de casos de E. histolytica. Os resultados acima indicam a necessidade do uso de métodos mais sensíveis para o diagnóstico da amebíase e a importância de se usar técnicas específicas na diferenciação entre E. histolytica e E. dispar

Blastocystis sp. in splenic cysts: causative agent or accidental association? A unique case report

This work was financed by PAPES-VI/FIOCRUZ. The funders had no participation in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-14T12:38:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license.txt: 1914 bytes, checksum: 7d48279ffeed55da8dfe2f8e81f3b81f (MD5) sattamini_anaetal_IOC_2014.pdf: 9178458 bytes, checksum: 4ce1e679c31a9ef76f14b3610de46b7b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Avaliação e Promoção da Saúde Ambiental. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Universidade Federal Fluminense. Departamento de Patologia. Niterói, RJ, Brasil.Universidade Federal Fluminense. Departamento de Patologia. Niterói, RJ, Brasil.Background: Blastocystis sp. is one of the most prevalent parasites found in human stool and has been recently considered an opportunistic emerging pathogen in immunocompromised individuals. However, cases of invasive intestinal infections and skin rashes have been attributed to infection by Blastocystis sp in immunocompetent individuals, suggesting that it is an emerging parasite with pathogenic potential. Findings: We present a case of a 22 year old female patient who complained of pain in the left hypochondrium. Ultrasonography and abdominal computed tomography scans showed two splenic cysts. The cyst fluid analysis demonstrated numerous Blastocystis sp.; PCR and DNA sequencing analyses confirmed the presence of Blastocystis subtype 3. Conclusions: This is, to our knowledge, the first case report of the presence of Blastocystis subtype 3 in extra-intestinal organs and is strong evidence that Blastocystis sp. is potentially pathogenic and invasive. However, further studies are required to determine the pathogenicity of the parasite

Morphological and molecular diagnosis of anisakid nematode larvae from cutlassfish (Trichiurus lepturus) off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Submitted by Sandra Infurna ([email protected]) on 2016-09-13T16:45:12Z No. of bitstreams: 1 luizfelipe_cunha_etal_IOC_2012.pdf: 1411336 bytes, checksum: 540887704c1393ac7d93054eb573b850 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Sandra Infurna ([email protected]) on 2016-09-13T16:55:13Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 luizfelipe_cunha_etal_IOC_2012.pdf: 1411336 bytes, checksum: 540887704c1393ac7d93054eb573b850 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-13T16:55:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 luizfelipe_cunha_etal_IOC_2012.pdf: 1411336 bytes, checksum: 540887704c1393ac7d93054eb573b850 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Avaliação e Promoção e Saúde Ambiental. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil / Universidade Federal Fluminense. Laboratório de Biologia do Nécton e Ecologia Pesqueira, Biologia Marinha. Niterói, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Avaliação e Promoção e Saúde Ambiental. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Avaliação e Promoção e Saúde Ambiental. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Universidade Federal Fluminense. Laboratório de Biologia do Nécton e Ecologia Pesqueira, Biologia Marinha. Niterói, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Avaliação e Promoção e Saúde Ambiental. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Anisakid nematode larvae from Trichiurus lepturus off coast of Rio de Janeiro were studied using light, laser confocal and scanning electron microscopy, in addition to a molecular approach. Mitochondrial cytochrome c-oxidase subunit 2 (mtDNA cox-2), partial 28S (LSU) and internal transcribed spacers (ITS-1, 5.8S, ITS-2) of ribosomal DNA were amplified using the polymerase chain reaction and sequenced to evaluate the phylogenetic relationships between the nematode taxa. The morphological and genetic profiles confirmed that, of the 1,030 larvae collected from the 64 fish examined, 398 were analysed, of which 361 were Hysterothylacium sp. and 37 were Anisakis typica. Larvae of Hysterothylacium sp. were not identified to the species level due to the absence of similar sequences for adult parasites; however, the ITS sequence clustered in the phylogenetic tree with sequences of H. deardorffoverstreetorum, whereas an mtDNA cox-2 and LSU concatenated phylogenetic analysis demonstrated the presence of two clades, both of them under the same name as the larval H. deardorffoverstreetorum. Data on the occurrence of parasites during the winter and summer months were compared using the t-test. The greatest prevalence and intensity of infection were recorded for larval Hysterothylacium, with a prevalence of 51.56% and an intensity of up to 55 parasites per fish. The larval Anisakis exhibit a higher abundance and intensity of infection in the winter months, and those of Hysterothylacium during the summer. However, the t-test indicated no significant differences between the abundance and intensity of infection recorded during the months of collection for either of these larval nematodes. All sequences generated in this study were deposited in GenBank

Frequency of amoebiasis and other intestinal parasitoses in a settlement in Ilhéus City, State of Bahia, Brazil

Introduction: This study evaluated the frequency of intestinal parasites, emphasizing the identification and differentiation of Entamoeba spp. Methods: Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), coproantigen tests and morphometric analysis were performed for Entamoeba spp. differentiation. Results: The overall frequency of intestinal parasites was 65%. Entamoeba histolytica was detected by the coproantigen test, and the PCR showed that Entamoeba dispar predominated in the population. In contrast, morphometric analysis was important for identifying Entamoeba hartmanni. Conclusions: It is possible to identify the causative agent of amoebiasis and to differentiate this agent from other species by combining techniques