The opossum, didelphis marsupialis (Marsupialia: Didelphidae), as a reservoir host of leishmania braziliensis guyanensis in the amazon basin of brazil

A total of 52 opossums (six species) were examined for evidence of infection with Leishmania in three different areas of forest near Manaus, Amazonas State, Brazil. No infections were detected in 27 opossums from a region of relatively undisturbed forest, including specimens of Didelphis marsupialis (18); Metachirus nudicaudatus (four); Monodelphis brevicaudata (one); Marmosa cinerea (two); M. murina (one) and M. parvidens (one). Of 15 D. marsupialis captured from a biological reserve, much disturbed by man, three were infected with L. braziliensis guyanensis: isolations were made from the skin of two of the animals, and from the viscera of the third. The isolates were biologically and biochemically indistinguishable from one isolate of L. b. guyanensis made from man and two from the sandfly vector Lutzomyia umbratilis from the same area. Two of eight D. marsupialis and both of two M. cinerea from another area of virgin forest used for army manoeuvres were infected with Leishmania mexicana amazonensis: the parasite was in all four cases isolated from normal skin. Five of nine specimens of Proechimys guyannensis, from the vicinity of Manaus, were also infected with L. m. amazonensis. A further 13 mammals (eight species) were negative for Leishmania. The importance of opossums as a reservoir of L. b. guyanensis is discussed. Although they may play only a minor role in virgin forest which is undisturbed by man, opossums (D. marsupialis) may become a significant reservoir of infection where man’s activities have eliminated the major reservoir—which has yet to be incriminated. © 1981 The University of Chicago Press

Leishmanla (viannia) Lindenbergin . sp. Responsable de leishmaniose cutanée chez des soldats de Bélem, au Brésil. Une nouvelle leishmanie parasite de l'homme en région amazonienne

Ministério da Saúde. Fundação Nacional de Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Fundação Nacional de Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Fundação Nacional de Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Fundação Nacional de Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil.Eight cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis are recorded among soldiers of the Brazilian Forest Infantry stationed in Belém, State of Pará, north of Brazil. The infections, all acquired during manoeuvres in nearby degraded primary forest, are attributed to a new member of the subgenus Viannia, Leishmania (V.) lindenbergi n. sp. A further infection by this parasite was encountered in a woman, who lived very close to the same piece of forest. The new parasite has been characterised and differentiated from other known species of the subgenus Viannia following the combined use of enzyme electrophoresis and monoclonal antibodies techniques. The eco-epidemiology of L. (V.) lindenbergi is discussed: by far the most abundant anthropophilic sandfly in the type locality was identified as Lutzomyia (Nyssomyia) antunesi (Coutinho), and this remains high on the list of possible vectors.Huit cas de leishmaniose cutanée ont été observés chez des militaires stationnés à Bélem, dans lÆ+tat de Pará, au nord du Brésil. Les infections, contractées durant des man£uvre dans la forêt primaire degradée sont attribuées à un nouveau membre du sous-genre Viannia, Leishmania (V.) Ilndenbergi n. sp. Une autre infection par ce parasite a été óbseevée chez une femme vivant dans la même région forestiÞre. Ce noveau parasite a été différencié des autres espÞces connues du sous-genre Viannia par les techniques dÆélectrophorÞse enzymatiques et dÆanticorps monoclonaux. LÆeco-epidemiologie de L (V.) lindenbergi est discutée : Lutzomyia (Nyssomyia) antunesi {Coutinho}, trÞs abondant dans cette région, apparat en premier sur la liste des possibles vecteurs

Anion-exchange separation for neotropical trypanosomes: a preliminary trial and a description of Trypanosoma devei from the tamarinSaguinus midas niger

Ministry of Overseas Development of H.M. Government, the Wellcome Trust and Fundação SESP and UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases.London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Department of Medical Protozoology. London, England.London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Department of Medical Protozoology. London, England / Ministério da Saúde. Fundação Serviços de Saúde Pública. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Fundação Serviços de Saúde Pública. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Fundação Serviços de Saúde Pública. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil.Anion-exchange separation trials using DEAE-cellulose columns were performed with blood from two single species of marsupial and edentate, three species of rodent and single species of carnivore, primate, cayman and lizard.Trypanosoma cruzi was isolated fromDidelphis marsupialis, Dasypus novemcinctus andCoendou sp.T. (Megatrypanum) devei was isolated from the tamarinSaguinus midas niger and the mensural characters of the organism were redescribed. Anion-exchange separation was considered to be a valuable procedure for the taxonomist searching for new or little-known trypanosomes

Further enzymic characeters of Trypanosoma cruzi and their evaluation for strain identification

Ministério da Saúde. Fundação Serviços de Saúde Pública. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil / London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Departament of Medical Protozoology. Keppel Street, London.London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Departament of Medical Protozoology. Keppel Street, London.Ministério da Saúde. Fundação Serviços de Saúde Pública. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, BrasilMinistério da Saúde. Fundação Serviços de Saúde Pública. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, BrasilStarch-gel electrophoresis of 38 enzymes was attempted with extracts of Trypanosoma cruzi culture forms. 18 of the enzymes that gave discrete electrophoretic bands were selected for routine characterization of T. cruzi stocks; the enzymes were: aspartate aminotransferase (E.C.2.6.1.1, ASAT); alanine aminotransferase (E.C.2.6.1.2, ALAT); phosphoglucomutase (E.C.2.7.5.1, PGM); glucosephosphate isomerase (E.C.5.3.1.9, GPI); malate dehydrogenase (oxaloacetate decarboxylating) (NADP+) (E.C.l.l.l.40, ME); glucose 6- phosphate dehydrogenase (E.C.l.l.l.49, G6PD); malate dehydrogenase (E.C.l.l.l.37, MDH); aconitate hydratase (E.C.4.2.1.3, ACON); isocitrate dehydrogenase (NADP+) (E.C.l.l.l.42, ICD); alcohol dehydrogenase (NADP+) (E.C.l.l.l.2, ADH); lactate dehydrogenase (E.C.l.l.l.27,LDH); aminopeptidase (cytosol) (E.C.3.4.11.1, PEP); pyruvate kinase (E.C.2.7.1.40, PK); phosphoglycerate kinase (E.C.2.7.2.3, PGK); enolase (E.C.4.2.1.11, ENO); hexokinase (E.C.2.7.1.1, HK); mannosephosphate isomerase (E.C.5.3.1.8, MPI); and glutamate dehydrogenase (E.C.l.4.1.2, GD). ADH (NADP+) in the genus Trypanosoma, and PGK, MPI and ENO, in T. cruzi, were apparently demonstrated for the first time. Between six and 18 enzymes were used to characterize more than 250 T. cruzi stocks, newly isolated from a wide range of sources in northern and central Brazil. Ali stocks were identified as belonging to T. cruzi zymodemes 1, 2 or 3, as originally defined-that is, by combination of electrophoretic patterns of ASAT, ALAT, PGM, GPI, ME and G6PD. The composite range of results with ali enzymes confirmed the presence of three principal T. cruzi zymodemes, but some enzymic characters overlapped between zymodemes and others suggested subgroups within individual zymodemes. Seven (MDH, ACON, LDH, PK, PGK, ENO, HK) of the 18 enzymes did not distinguish the three zymodemes; tive (ASA T, PGM, GPI, ICD, PEP) distinguished ali three zymodemes; 10 (ASAT, ALAT, PGM, GPI, ME, G6PD, ICD, ADH, PEP, GD) distinguished zymodemes 1 and 2, of which seven plus MPI and eight plus MPI separated zymodemes 1 from 3 and 2 from 3 respectively. T. cruzi stocks were taken from a smali area of the natural species distribution; the fuli range of enzymic characters within the species T. cruzi is expected to be far more complex. The epidemiological distribution of the zymodemes continued to accord with local transmission cycles and supported the hypothesis that distinct T. cruzi strains might be responsible for the enigmatic distribution of chronic Chagas's disease. Some of the difficulties in the empirical selection of new electrophoretic methods and the interpretation of results were presented, and the present and prospective significance of T. cruzi enzymic characters was discussed. Until the stability and genetic basis of T. cruzi enzymic characters are better understood it is recommended that isoenzymic profiles be confirmed routinely, botIl before and after stocks are used experimentally, as representative of a given zymodeme. A multiple biochemical approach to T. cruzi strain identification is recommended, using characters suitable for a numerical taxonomy.Electroforese em gel de amido de 38 enzimas foi tentada com extratos de formas de cultura de T. cruzi. Dezoito das enzimas, as quais deram discretas manchas electroforéticas, foram selecionadas para carcaterização de rotina dos stocks de T. cruzi; as enzimas foram asparato aminotransferase (E.C. 2.6.1.1, ASAT); alanina aminotransferase (E.C. 2.6.1.2, ALAT); fosfoglucomutase (E.C.2.7.5.1, PGM); glicosefosfato isomerase (E.C.5.3.1.9, GPI); malato dehidrogenase (oxaloacetato descarboxilando (NADP+) (E.C.l.l.l.40, ME); glicose 6-fosfato dehidrogenase (E.C.l.l.l.49, G6PD); malate dehidrogenase (E.C.l.l.l.37, MDH); aconitato hidratase (E.C.4.2.1.3, ACON); isocitrato dehidrogenase (NADP+) (E.C.l.l.l.42, ICD); alcool dehidrogenase (NADP+) (E.C.l.l.l.2, ADH); lactato dehidrogenase (E.C.l.l.l.27, LDH); aminopeptidase (citosol) (E.C.3.4.11.1, PEP); piruvato quinase (E.C.2.7.1.40, PK); fosfoglicerato quinase (E.C.2.7.2.3, PGK); enolase (E.C.4.2.1.11, ENO); hexoquinase (E.C.2.7.1.1, HK); manosefosfato isomerase (E.C.5.3.1.8, MPI); e glutamato dehidrogenase (E.C.I.4.1.2, GD). ADH (NADP+), no genero Trypanosoma e MPI, PGK e ENO, em T. cruzi, foram demonstradas pela primeira vez. Entre 6 e 18 enzimas foram usadas para caracterizar mais de 250 stocks de T. cruzi, recentemente isoladas de varias origens nas partes norte e central do Brasil. Todos os stocks foram identificados como pertencentes aos zymodemes de T. cruzi I, 2 ou 3, como originalmente definidosisto é, pela combinação de padrões electroforéticos de ASAT, ALAT, PGM, GPI, ME e G6PD. A variabilidade de resultados combinados com todas as enzimas confumaram a presença de 3 zymodemes principais de T. cruzi mas alguns caracteres enzimaticos sobrepostos entre os zymodemes, e outros sugeriram subgrupos dentro de zymodemes individuais. Sete (MDH, ACON, LDH, PK, PGK, ENO, HK) das 18 enzimas não distinguiram os 3 zymodemes; 5 (ASAT, PGM, GPI, ICD, PEP) distinguiram todos os 3 zymodemes; 10 (ASA T , ALAT, PGM, GPI, ME, G6PD, ICD, ADH, PEP, GD) distinguiram zymodemes 1 e 2; dos quais 7 mais MPI e 8 mais MPI separaram zymodemes 1 de 3 e 2 de 3 respectivamente. Stocks de T. cruzi foram trazidos de uma pequena área de distribuição natural da espécie; é considerado que a total variedade dos caracteres enzimáticos dentro das espécies de T. cruzi sera muito mais complexa. A distribuição epidemiol6gica dos zymodemes continuou em acordo com os ciclos de transmissão local e reforçou a hipotese que amostras distintas de T. cruzi poderiam ser responsaveis pela distribuição enigmática de Doença de Chagas crônica. Algumas dificuldades na seleção empirica de novos métodos eletroforéticos e a interpretação dos resultados foram descritos, e o valor, presente e prospectivo, de caracteres enzimáticos de T. cruzi foi discutido. A stabilidade e base genética de caracteres enzimáticos de T. cruzi não são completemente entendidos então é recomendade que perfis isoenzimaticos sejam confirmados rotineiramente, ambos antes e depois dos stocks serem usados experimentalmente, como representativo de um dado zymodeme. Uma multipla proximidade bioquimica para identificação de amostras de T. cruzi é recomendada, usando caracteres apropriados para uma taxonomia numérica

Doença de Chagas na Amazônia: I. Registro de oito casos autóctones em Macapá

Incentivos financeiros do Wellcome Trust, London, da Fundação SESP.- Instituto Evandro Chagas, Belém-P A e da Indústria e Comércio de Minérios (ICOMI), Macapá-AP.Ministério da Saúde. Fundação Serviços de Saúde Pública. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Fundação Serviços de Saúde Pública. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil.Hospital da Indústria e Comércio de Minérios. Porto Santana, AP, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Fundação Serviços de Saúde Pública. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil.Os autores descrevem 8 casos autóctones de doença de Chagas ocorridos em Macapá. Os pacientes pertencem a duas famílias, residindo em bairros distantes. Apresentaram sintomatologia comum como febre, cefaléia, mal-estar geral. A sorologia resultou positiva com títulos de IgM mais elevados que de IgG em 75 por cento dos casos apresentados. Outros exames específicos para a doença foram realizados. Os xenodiagnósticos foram positovos em 25 por cento dos casos quando foi isolada a cepa de Trypanosoma cruzi. Os autores demonstram ainda que uma das formas infectadas do T. cruzi pertence ao zimodema 3 e sugerem a possibiliddade de transmissão "per os".The present paper describes 8 autochthonous cases of Chagas' disease in Macapa City, Federal Territory of Amapa, Brazil. The patients belonged to two different families and lived in different areas of lhe city. All lhe patients had general symptoms such as headache, fever and malaise. The serology was positive for T. cruzi The titres of IgM were higher than IgG in 6 of lhe cases. Other specific tests for Chagas' disease were carried auto Xenodiagnosis was positive in 2 of the cases and the T. cruz i strains were isolated in this instance. The authors had also demonstrated that one ofthe isolares of T. cruzi was zymodeme 3 and suggest that transmission 'per os" most likely accounted for concomitant acute cases within lhe same family

Caderno informativo sobre as Leishmaniose no estado do Pará

Ministério da Saúde. Fundação Nacional de Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Fundação Nacional de Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Fundação Nacional de Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Fundação Nacional de Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil

Some methods for the enzymic characterization of Latin-American Leishmania with particular reference to Leishmania mexicana amazonensis and subspecies of Leishmania hertigi

Ministério da Saúde. Fundação Serviços de Saúde Pública. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Fundação Serviços de Saúde Pública. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Fundação Serviços de Saúde Pública. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Fundação Serviços de Saúde Pública. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Fundação Serviços de Saúde Pública. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil.30 Brazilian stocks of Leishmania mexicana amazonensis and 13 stocks of subspecies of Leishmania hertigi were characterized by starch-gel electrophoresis, using 18 enzymes selected from a total of 36 investigated. L. m. amazonensis was separable from subspecies of L. hertigi by enzymic profiles of 11 enzymes. The L. m. amazonensis stocks, which were from a wide range of hosts in a large geographical area, were enzymically extremely homogeneous, and could only be subdivided on two enzymes; sub-groups did not relate to each other or to any differences in epidemiological characters, including the clinical form of the human disease. 12 stocks regarded as L. hertigi deanei, that were isolated from Coendou prehensilis prehensilis and Coendou sp. in Pará State, Brazil, were separable into two sub-groups by three enzymes. A single stock of L. hertigi hertigi from Panama was separable from both enzymic sub-groups of L. h. deanei, in each case by three enzymes. The significance of these and other characters of diversity is discussed, together with the use of enzymes for the identification of the leishmaniae.Trinta stocks de Leishmania mexicana amazonensis e 13 stocks de sub-espécies de Leishmania hertigi foram caracterizados por amido-gel eletroforese, usando 18 enzimas selecionadas de um total de 36 investigadas. L. m. amazonensis foi separadad as sub-espécies de L. hertigi pelos perfis enzimaticos de 11 enzimas. Os stocks L. m. amazonensis de uma larga variedade de hospedeiros numa grande área geográfica, foram enzimaticamente extremamente homogêneos, e puderam ser subdividos somente por 2 enzimas; subgrupos não tiveram relações uns com os outros ou com qualquer diferença nos caracteres epidemiológicos, incluindo a forma clínica da doença humana. Doze stocks considerados como L. h. deanei que foram isolados de Coendou prehensilis prehensilis e Coendou sp. no Estado do Pará, Brazil, foram separados em 2 subgrupos por 3 enzimas. Um único stock de L. h. hertigi do Panamá foi separado de ambos subgrupos enzimáticos de L. h. deanei, em cada caso por 3 enzimas. A significancia destes e de outros caracteres de diversidade é discutido, junto com o uso de enzimas para a identificação de leishmaniae

Phenotypic characterization of Leishmania spp. causing cutaneous leishmaniasis in the lower Amazon region, western Pará state, Brazil, reveals a putative hybrid parasite, Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis × Leishmania (Viannia) shawi shawi

We phenotypically characterized 43 leishmanial parasites from cutaneous leishmaniasis by isoenzyme electrophoresis and the indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (23 McAbs). Identifications revealed 11 (25.6%) strains of Leishmania (V.) braziliensis, 4 (9.3%) of L. (V.) shawi shawi, 7 (16.3%) of L. (V.) shawi santarensis, 6 (13.9%) of L. (V.) guyanensis and L. (V.) lainsoni, 2 (4.7%) of L. (L.) amazonensis, and 7 (16.3%) of a putative hybrid parasite, L. (V.) guyanensis/L. (V.) shawi shawi. McAbs detected three different serodemes of L. (V.) braziliensis: I-7, II-1, and III-3 strains. Among the strains of L. (V.) shawi we identified two populations: one (7 strains) expressing the B19 epitope that was previously considered to be species-specific for L. (V.) guyanensis. We have given this population sub-specific rank, naming it L. (V.) s. santarensis. The other one (4 strains) did not express the B19 epitope like the L. (V.) shawi reference strain, which we now designate as L. (V.) s. shawi. For the first time in the eastern Brazilian Amazon we register a putative hybrid parasite (7 strains), L. (V.) guyanensis/L. (V.) s. shawi, characterized by a new 6PGDH three-band profile at the level of L. (V.) guyanensis. Its PGM profile, however, was very similar to that of L. (V.) s. shawi. These results suggest that the lower Amazon region – western Pará state, Brazil, represents a biome where L. (V.) guyanensis and L. (V.) s. shawi exchange genetic information

Phenotypic characterization of

We phenotypically characterized 43 leishmanial parasites from cutaneous leishmaniasis by isoenzyme electrophoresis and the indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (23 McAbs). Identifications revealed 11 (25.6%) strains of Leishmania (V.) braziliensis, 4 (9.3%) of L. (V.) shawi shawi, 7 (16.3%) of L. (V.) shawi santarensis, 6 (13.9%) of L. (V.) guyanensis and L. (V.) lainsoni, 2 (4.7%) of L. (L.) amazonensis, and 7 (16.3%) of a putative hybrid parasite, L. (V.) guyanensis/L. (V.) shawi shawi. McAbs detected three different serodemes of L. (V.) braziliensis: I-7, II-1, and III-3 strains. Among the strains of L. (V.) shawi we identified two populations: one (7 strains) expressing the B19 epitope that was previously considered to be species-specific for L. (V.) guyanensis. We have given this population sub-specific rank, naming it L. (V.) s. santarensis. The other one (4 strains) did not express the B19 epitope like the L. (V.) shawi reference strain, which we now designate as L. (V.) s. shawi. For the first time in the eastern Brazilian Amazon we register a putative hybrid parasite (7 strains), L. (V.) guyanensis/L. (V.) s. shawi, characterized by a new 6PGDH three-band profile at the level of L. (V.) guyanensis. Its PGM profile, however, was very similar to that of L. (V.) s. shawi. These results suggest that the lower Amazon region – western Pará state, Brazil, represents a biome where L. (V.) guyanensis and L. (V.) s. shawi exchange genetic information

A comparison of electrophoretic methods for isoenzyme characterization of trypanosomatids. In Standard stocks of Trypanosoma cruzi zymodemes from northeast Brazil

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Departament of Medical Protozoology. London, UK.London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Departament of Medical Protozoology. London, UK.Ministério da Saúde. Fundação Serviços de Saúde Pública. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Fundação Serviços de Saúde Pública. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Fundação Serviços de Saúde Pública. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil.An investigation of the relative merits of cellulose acetate electophoresis (CAE) and starch-gel electrophoresis (SGE) was made for 18 enzymes of T. cruzi using standard stocks of zymodemes ZI, Z2 and Z3. The 18 enzymes were those shown previously to be the most suited to routine screening of T. cruzi on starch-gel, namely, aspartate aminotransferase (E.C.2.6.1.1. ASAT); alanine aminotransferase (E.C.2.6.1.2. ALAT); phosphoglucomutase (E.C.- 2.7.5.1. PGM); glucosephosphate isomerase (E.C.- 5.3.1.9. GPI); malate dehydrogenase (oxaloacetate decarboxylating) (NADP+) (E.C.l.l.l.40. ME); glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (E.C.l.l.l.49 G6PD); malate dehydrogenase (E.C.l.l.l.37. MDH); aconitate hydratase (E.C.4.2.1.3. ACON); isocitrate dehydrogenase (NADP+) (E.C.l.l.1.42. ICD); alcohol dehydrogenase (NADP+) (E.C.- 1.1.1.2. ADH); lactate dehydrogenase (E.C.l.l.l.27. LDH); aminopeptidase (cytosol) (E.C.3.4.11.1. PEP);pyruvate kinase (E.C.2. 7.1.40. PK);phosphoglycerate kinase (E.C.2.7.2.3. PGK); enolase (E.C.4.2.1.11. ENO); hexokinase (E.C.2.7.1.1. HK); mannose phosphate isomerase (E.C.5.3.1.8. MPI); and glutamate dehydrogenase (E.C.l.4.1.2. GD). Of these MDH and PEP failed to give satisfactory pattems on CAE. The cellulose acetate zymograms of the other 16 enzymes were as good as, and in some cases better than, those of starch. Increased CAE resolution for ME and G6PD enabled all three zymodemes to be distinguished. Single CAE bands replaced double SGE bands in some cases, and vice versa, without affecting the zymodeme classification. It was concluded that CAE and SGE were both suitable for isoenzyme characterization and were complementary to each other. CAE characterization of T. cruzi was recommended for use in field work and simple laboratories because of its simplicity, transportability, low maintenance requirements and low capital expenditure. Isoelectric focusing (IEF) of ASA T, ALA T , GPI and PGM on Ampholine P AG plates gave poor results, in our hands, and was considered impracticable for routine characterization of T. cruzi