A potential link among antioxidant enzymes, histopathology, and trace elements in canine visceral leishmaniasis.

Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is a severe and fatal systemic chronic inflammatory disease. We investigated the alterations in, and potential associations among, antioxidant enzymes, trace elements and histopathology in CVL. Blood and tissue levels of Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were measured in mixed-breed dogs naturally infected with Leishmania infantum chagasi, symptomatic (n = 19) and asymptomatic (n = 11). Serum levels of copper, iron, zinc, selenium and nitric oxide, and plasma lipid peroxidation were measured. Histological and morphometric analyses were conducted of lesions in liver, spleen and lymph nodes. We found lower blood catalase and glutathione peroxidase activity to be correlated with lower iron and selenium respectively. However, higher activity of Cu- Zn superoxide dismutase was not correlated with the increase in copper and decreased in zinc observed in infected animals compared to controls. Organ tissue was characterized by lower enzyme activity in infected dogs than in controls, but this was not correlated with trace elements. Lipid peroxidation was higher in symptomatic than in asymptomatic and control dogs and was associated with lesions such as chronic inflammatory reaction, congestion, haemosiderin and fibrosis. Systemic iron deposition was observed primarily in the symptomatic dogs showing a higher tissue parasite load. Dogs with symptomatic CVL displayed enhanced LPO and Fe tissue deposition associated with decreased levels of antioxidant enzymes. These results showed new points in the pathology of CVL and might open new treatment perspectives associated with antioxidants and the role of iron in the pathogenesis of CVL

Influência da expressão e educação físico motora no desenvolvimento da criança do 1º ciclo do ensino básico : contextos, perspetivas e participantes

A formação global da criança, na qual se integra a formação motora, deve ocupar um lugar de relevância na escola atual. Neste espaço, os alunos constroem o seu próprio conhecimento, e ao vivenciarem as aprendizagens de forma lúdica, potenciam o desenvolvimento de outras competências. O presente Relatório Final de Estágio encontra-se dividido em duas partes distintas: as reflexões críticas das práticas em contexto e o trabalho de investigação. Na primeira parte é apresentada uma apreciação crítica das práticas em contexto prático, nomeadamente na educação pré-escolar e do ensino do 1.º CEB. Na segunda parte damos a conhecer o trabalho de investigação, baseado num estudo de natureza quantitativa realizado no contexto de 1.º CEB de um Agrupamento de Escolas de Aveiro e de um Agrupamento de Escolas de Viseu que visa compreender a influência da Expressão e Educação Físico-Motora no desenvolvimento global da criança. Para o efeito, recorremos a autores de referência e à legislação em vigor, assim como, em termos empíricos, as respostas aos questionários dirigidos aos professoras do 1.º CEB. Os resultados encontrados apontam para o seguinte conjunto de principais conclusões: 1.º os professores atribuem muita importância às práticas motoras, constituindo-se como um fator fundamental para o desenvolvimento integral e harmonioso da criança; 2.º a Expressão e Educação Físico-Motora não têm sido uma realidade nas escolas do estudo, os professores apresentam como principais causas: a falta de condições de materiais, espaciais e de equipamentos como também a necessidade de formação, quer a nível da formação inicial quer a nível da formação contínua; 3.º os agrupamentos, as escolas e os professores devem estar implicados nos diferentes contextos nos quais circula a criança e que são promotores de formação e desenvolvimento, tanto ao nível dos quadros letivos e curriculares como também nos de enriquecimento curricular e nos projetos mais lúdicos e de recreação; 4.º a Expressão e Educação Físico-Motora deve assumir claramente o seu carácter formativo, onde a iniciativa e responsabilidade na organização deve ir ao encontro das aspirações das crianças e de toda a comunidade educativa.The overall formation of the child, in which the motor formation is integrated, must occupy a place of relevance in the present school. In this space, students construct their own knowledge, and when they experience learning in a playful way, they foster the development of other skills. This Final Internship Report is divided into two distinct parts: the critical reflections of the practices and the research work. The first part presents a critical appraisal of practices in a practical context, namely in pre-school education and 1st cycle education (1st CEB). In the second part it is presented the research work, based on a quantitative study carried out in the context of 1st CEB in two schools from Aveiro and Viseu Portuguese Grouping of Schools that aims to understand the influence of physical-motor expression in the overall development of the child. To this end, authors of reference and legislation in force, as well as, in empirical terms, the answers to the questionnaires addressed to the teachers of the 1st CEB were used as methodology to reach the desirable goal. The results lead to the following set of main conclusions: 1) teachers attach great importance to motor practices, constituting as a fundamental factor for the integral and harmonious development of the child; 2) physical-motor expression have not been a reality in the schools of the study, the main causes of teachers are: the lack of material, space and equipment conditions as well as the need for training, both in training Initial or continuing training; 3) groups, schools and teachers must be involved in the different contexts in which the child circulates and are promoters of training and development, both in terms of school and curricular frameworks as well as curriculum enrichment and more playful projects and recreation; 4) expression and physical-motor education must clearly assume its formative character, where the initiative and responsibility in the organization must meet the aspirations of the children and the entire educational community

Vaccination against canine Leishmaniasis in Brazil : a position paper

Prevention of canine Leishmania infantum infection is critical to management of visceral leishmaniasis in people living in endemic areas of Brazil. A bill (PL 1738/11), currently under consideration, proposes to establish a national vaccination policy against canine leishmaniasis in Brazil. However, there is no solid scientific evidence supporting the idea that this could reduce transmission from infected vaccinated dogs to sand flies to a level that would significantly reduce the risk of L. infantum infection or visceral leishmaniasis in humans. Thus, we advocate that insecticide-impregnated collars should the first line protective measure for public health purposes and that vaccines are applied on a case-by-case, optional basis for individual dog protection

A vaccine therapy for canine visceral leishmaniasis promoted significant improvement of clinical and immune status with reduction in parasite burden.

Herein, we evaluated the treatment strategy employing a therapeutic heterologous vaccine composed of antigens of Leishmania braziliensis associated with MPL adjuvant (LBMPL vaccine) for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in symptomatic dogs naturally infected by Leishmania infantum. Sixteen dogs received immunotherapy with MPL adjuvant (n = 6) or with a vaccine composed of antigens of L. braziliensis associated with MPL (LBMPL vaccine therapy, n = 10). Dogs were submitted to an immunotherapeutic scheme consisting of 3 series composed of 10 subcutaneous doses with 10-day interval between each series. The animals were evaluated before (T0) and 90 days after treatment (T90) for their biochemical/hematological, immunological, clinical, and parasitological variables. Our major results showed that the vaccine therapy with LBMPL was able to restore and normalize main biochemical (urea, AST, ALP, and bilirubin) and hematological (erythrocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets) parameters. In addition, in an ex vivo analysis using flow cytometry, dogs treated with LBMPL vaccine showed increased CD3+ T lymphocytes and their subpopulations (TCD4+ and TCD8+), reduction of CD21+ B lymphocytes, increased NK cells (CD5?CD16+) and CD14+ monocytes. Under in vitro conditions, the animals developed a strong antigen- specific lymphoproliferation mainly by TCD4+ and TCD8+ cells; increasing in both TCD4+IFN-?+ and TCD8+IFN-?+ as well as reduction of TCD4+IL-4+ and TCD8+IL-4+ lymphocytes with an increased production of TNF-? and reduced levels of IL-10. Concerning the clinical signs of canine visceral leishmaniasis, the animals showed an important reduction in the number and intensity of the disease signs; increase body weight as well as reduction of splenomegaly. In addition, the LBMPL immunotherapy also promoted a reduction in parasite burden assessed by real-time PCR. In the bone marrow, we observed seven times less parasites in LBMPL animals compared with MPL group. The skin tissue showed a reduction in parasite burden in LBMPL dogs 127.5 times higher than MPL. As expected, with skin parasite reduction promoted by immunotherapy, we observed a blocking transmission to sand flies in LBMPL dogs with only three positive dogs after xenodiagnosis. The results obtained in this study highlighted the strong potential for the use of this heterologous vaccine therapy as an important strategy for VL treatment

A vaccine therapy for canine visceral leishmaniasis promoted significant improvement of clinical and immune status with reduction in parasite burden.

Herein, we evaluated the treatment strategy employing a therapeutic heterologous vaccine composed of antigens of Leishmania braziliensis associated with MPL adjuvant (LBMPL vaccine) for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in symptomatic dogs naturally infected by Leishmania infantum. Sixteen dogs received immunotherapy with MPL adjuvant (n = 6) or with a vaccine composed of antigens of L. braziliensis associated with MPL (LBMPL vaccine therapy, n = 10). Dogs were submitted to an immunotherapeutic scheme consisting of 3 series composed of 10 subcutaneous doses with 10-day interval between each series. The animals were evaluated before (T0) and 90 days after treatment (T90) for their biochemical/hematological, immunological, clinical, and parasitological variables. Our major results showed that the vaccine therapy with LBMPL was able to restore and normalize main biochemical (urea, AST, ALP, and bilirubin) and hematological (erythrocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets) parameters. In addition, in an ex vivo analysis using flow cytometry, dogs treated with LBMPL vaccine showed increased CD3+ T lymphocytes and their subpopulations (TCD4+ and TCD8+), reduction of CD21+ B lymphocytes, increased NK cells (CD5?CD16+) and CD14+ monocytes. Under in vitro conditions, the animals developed a strong antigen- specific lymphoproliferation mainly by TCD4+ and TCD8+ cells; increasing in both TCD4+IFN-?+ and TCD8+IFN-?+ as well as reduction of TCD4+IL-4+ and TCD8+IL-4+ lymphocytes with an increased production of TNF-? and reduced levels of IL-10. Concerning the clinical signs of canine visceral leishmaniasis, the animals showed an important reduction in the number and intensity of the disease signs; increase body weight as well as reduction of splenomegaly. In addition, the LBMPL immunotherapy also promoted a reduction in parasite burden assessed by real-time PCR. In the bone marrow, we observed seven times less parasites in LBMPL animals compared with MPL group. The skin tissue showed a reduction in parasite burden in LBMPL dogs 127.5 times higher than MPL. As expected, with skin parasite reduction promoted by immunotherapy, we observed a blocking transmission to sand flies in LBMPL dogs with only three positive dogs after xenodiagnosis. The results obtained in this study highlighted the strong potential for the use of this heterologous vaccine therapy as an important strategy for VL treatment

Canine Leishmaniasis: An Overview of the Current Status and Strategies for Control

Canine leishmaniasis (CanL) is a vector-borne disease caused by Leishmania infantum and is transmitted by female phlebotomine sand flies primarily between animals and secondarily to humans. The course of infection may be different from one individual dog to another, ranging from spontaneous cure to acute evolution that leads to death, if proper management and therapy are not adopted. A parasitological cure is rarely achieved and clinical recurrences in CanL are frequent. Vaccination associated with the use of topical insecticides is undoubtedly the most effective form of prevention and control of the disease. In order to integrate the most important scientific knowledge of the literature in one objective publication, this review proposes a short overview of the main points of CanL

Relationship between clinical and pathological signs and severity of canine leishmaniasis

Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is a zoonotic disease that presents variable clinical and laboratory aspects. The aims of this study were to identify the main biochemical/hematological status of dogs naturally infected with Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum and to associate theses parameters with clinical forms of CVL. Blood samples were analyzed from 51 dogs, 15 uninfected (control group) and 36 infected, which were classified clinically in three groups: asymptomatic (n=12), oligosymptomatic (n=12) and symptomatic (n=12). All the infected dogs showed lower albumin/globulin ratios (A-G ratio) than the limit of reference. The mean values of total protein, urea, α-globulin 2, globulin and A-G ratio of infected dogs were outside the reference interval and differed significantly from those of the controls. Anemia was detected only in groups that showed clinical signs of the disease, and a statistical analysis indicated a significantly higher frequency of lower eritrogram in these groups than in the asymptomatic group. In addition, a significant association was observed between anemia and the presence of the symptoms, with dogs displaying higher erythrogram values showing better clinical conditions. These results provide additional evidence that the clinical forms of CVL may reflect on the erythrogram status

Complexes with Benzoic Acid Derivatives: Structural Characterization, in Vitro Antileishmanial and Antibacterial Activities and Cytotoxicity against Macrophages

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Control of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil: recommendations from Brasileish

<p>Abstract</p> <p>On 26 October 2012, veterinary medicine clinicians and researchers, members of Brasileish - Study Group about Animal Leishmaniasis - met at the Regional Council of Veterinary Medicine of Minas Gerais, in the city Belo Horizonte, in order to discuss many aspects of the situation of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) in Brazil. In the face of recent national and international scientific evidence, we, the members of Brasileish, have elaborated some recommendations for the management and control of CVL in Brazil.</p