Diagnosis of Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi infection in dogs and the relationship with environmental and sanitary aspects in the municipality of Palmas, state of Tocantins, Brazil

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the present study was to identify the presence of Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi infection in dogs in the City of Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil, using the PCR technique to list the hot spots of infected dogs in the city and associate their occurrence to significant environmental changes at capture sites. METHODS: DNA was extracted from blood of dogs, and the PCR were performed with primers RV1/RV2. After screening the population studied, the regions of the city that had the highest occurrence of canine infection were detected. These sites were visited, and ecological parameters denoting anthropogenic disturbance were evaluated. RESULTS: Some important features were listed in the regions visited, such as low urbanization, lack of public collection of sewage, limited garbage collection, vacant lots with tall vegetation, decaying organic matter, and, most importantly, the occurrence of stray dogs and poultry in homes. CONCLUSIONS: The methodology for screening the population was very efficient, especially in evaluating a large number of individuals in a short time, with a high degree of automation. The results indicate an association between the observed parameters and the occurrence of infection in dogs. The model presented in the city is ideal for studies of disease progression and expansion and for the evaluation of control measures adopted for canine VL

Avaliação da atividade antagonista in vitro de fungos endofíticos associados ao camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia)

Fungos endofíticos são aqueles que habitam o interior dos tecidos de seus hospedeiros, desempenhando variadas e estreitas relações ecológicas sem demonstrar sintomas visíveis. Estima-se que a maioria das espécies vegetais possuam micro-organismos endofíticos ainda não classificados e com propriedades pouco conhecidas, mas potencialmente aptos para alguma aplicação biotecnológica. O camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) apresenta grande potencial econômico, pelas características nutricionais do seu fruto, como a alta produção de vitamina C. Foram isolados e cultivados 307 fungos endofíticos associados às folhas e caules de M. dubia, a fim de verificar a atividade antagonista, quanto à produção de substâncias difusíveis e voláteis contra os seguintes fitopatógenos: Monilinia fructicola, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides e Aspergillus parasiticus. Verificou-se que 22 isolados inibiram o crescimento de pelo menos um dos fitopatógenos alvos, apresentando potencial de inibição (PI) entre 25,62% a 93,84%, sendo que cinco endofíticos se destacaram, com porcentual de inibição acima de 50%, através da produção de substâncias difusíveis e voláteis. As interações competitivas foram analisadas segundo a escala de Badalyan, e observou-se maior frequência entre os fungos, da interação do tipo A (“deadlock” com contato micelial). Conclui-se que fungos endofíticos isolados de folhas e caules de Myrciaria dubia, possuem potencial biotecnológico promissor no biocontrole dos fitopatógenos (A.parasiticus, M. fructicola e C. gloeosporioides)

Evaluation of the antiplasmodial and leishmanicidal potential of Myrciaria dubia (Myrtaceae) extract.

Submitted by EMERSON LEAL ([email protected]) on 2018-07-11T19:38:45Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Evaluation of the antiplasmodial and leishmanicidal potential of Myrciaria dubia (Myrtaceae) extract.pdf: 996496 bytes, checksum: 4bcc9cc35d9578a715bb34fc9a9ec634 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by EMERSON LEAL ([email protected]) on 2018-07-11T20:02:26Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Evaluation of the antiplasmodial and leishmanicidal potential of Myrciaria dubia (Myrtaceae) extract.pdf: 996496 bytes, checksum: 4bcc9cc35d9578a715bb34fc9a9ec634 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-11T20:02:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Evaluation of the antiplasmodial and leishmanicidal potential of Myrciaria dubia (Myrtaceae) extract.pdf: 996496 bytes, checksum: 4bcc9cc35d9578a715bb34fc9a9ec634 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016Universidade Federal do Tocantins. Laboratório de Microbiologia Geral e Aplicada. Palmas, TO, Brasil. / Universidade Federal do Tocantins. Laboratório de Biotecnologia. Palmas, TO, Brasil.Universidade Federal do Tocantins. Laboratório de Biotecnologia. Palmas, TO, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório da Plataforma de Bioensaios de Malária e Leishmaniose. Porto Velho, RO, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório da Plataforma de Bioensaios de Malária e Leishmaniose. Porto Velho, RO, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório da Plataforma de Bioensaios de Malária e Leishmaniose. Porto Velho, RO, Brasil.Universidade Federal do Tocantins. Laboratório de Biotecnologia. Palmas, TO, Brasil.Universidade Federal do Tocantins. Laboratório de Microbiologia Geral e Aplicada. Palmas, TO, Brasil.Introduction: Malaria and leishmaniasis are prevalent in tropical regions, which have environmental characteristics that are highly favorable to protozoa and vectors of these diseases; the transmission of these infections in sub-tropical regions, although recognized, represents only a small fraction of cases. Plants are constantly being used in the search for and acquisition of new drugs, and many compounds derived from them have been used to combat various diseases. In this study, we evaluated the action of the dichloromethanolic extract of Myrciaria dubia leaves against the protozoa Plasmodium falciparum, Leishmania amazonensis, Leishmania braziliensis, and Leishmania chagasi through bioassays. Methods: The extract from M. dubia was tested for its anti-P. falciparum activity in an anti-histidine-rich protein II immunosorbent assay. The antileishmanial assays were performed using the resazurin method, while cytotoxicity against human hepatoma (HepG2) strain was determined using the colorimetric MTT [3-(4, 5-dimethyl-2- thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2H tetrazolium bromide] method. Results: The M. dubia extract presented a half-maximal inhibitory concentration equal to 2.35 (1.05)μg/mL for P. falciparum, 190.73 (6.41) μg/mL for L. amazonensis, and greater than equal to 200μg/mL for L. chagasi and L. braziliensis strains. The cytotoxic concentration for 50% of the cells was above 500μg/mL for HepG2, indicating no toxicity and greater selectivity against parasites. Conclusions: The results obtained indicate the presence of antiplasmodial and leishmanicidal bioactive compounds in the dichloromethanolic extracts of M. dubia leaves, and point towards future studies to elucidate the mechanism of action for each physiological effect

Evaluation of the antiplasmodial and leishmanicidal potential of Myrciaria dubia (Myrtaceae) extract

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Malaria and leishmaniasis are prevalent in tropical regions, which have environmental characteristics that are highly favorable to protozoa and vectors of these diseases; the transmission of these infections in sub-tropical regions, although recognized, represents only a small fraction of cases. Plants are constantly being used in the search for and acquisition of new drugs, and many compounds derived from them have been used to combat various diseases. In this study, we evaluated the action of the dichloromethanolic extract of Myrciaria dubia leaves against the protozoa Plasmodium falciparum, Leishmania amazonensis, Leishmania braziliensis, and Leishmania chagasi through bioassays. METHODS The extract from M. dubia was tested for its anti-P. falciparum activity in an anti-histidine-rich protein II immunosorbent assay. The antileishmanial assays were performed using the resazurin method, while cytotoxicity against human hepatoma (HepG2) strain was determined using the colorimetric MTT [3-(4, 5-dimethyl-2- thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2H tetrazolium bromide] method. RESULTS The M. dubia extract presented a half-maximal inhibitory concentration equal to 2.35 (1.05)μg/mL for P. falciparum, 190.73 (6.41) μg/mL for L. amazonensis, and greater than equal to 200µg/mL for L. chagasi and L. braziliensis strains. The cytotoxic concentration for 50% of the cells was above 500μg/mL for HepG2, indicating no toxicity and greater selectivity against parasites. CONCLUSIONS The results obtained indicate the presence of antiplasmodial and leishmanicidal bioactive compounds in the dichloromethanolic extracts of M. dubia leaves, and point towards future studies to elucidate the mechanism of action for each physiological effect

Population Genetic Structure of the Threatened Amazon River Turtle, Podocnemis sextuberculata (Testudines, Podocnemididae)

Podocnemis sextuberculata (Pleurodira: Podocnemididae) is widely distributed throughout the Amazon drainage basin in Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. Telemetry and previous molecular data suggest that P. sextuberculata lacks population structure in the central Amazon basin of Brazil. Generalization of these results, however, requires much-broader sampling across a range of habitats of this broadly distributed species. For this reason, we tested the hypothesis of panmixia in P. sextuberculata, analyzing a total of 319 specimens sequenced for the mitochondrial control region. Our sampling included localities from 16 areas in the Amazon basin from rivers characteristic of the Amazon basin (whitewater), clearwater rivers of the Guiana shield (Branco, Trombetas, and Nhamundá rivers), and the Brazilian shield (Xingu River). The hypothesis of panmixia was rejected because the results of analysis of molecular variance, pairwise ST, and Bayesian analysis of population structure indicated population structure in the group of individuals from the locality of Xingu which was not correlated to a pattern of isolation by distance. We suggest that the populations of P. sextuberculata of the Brazilian Amazon basin are composed of 2 management units, one represented by populations restricted to the Xingu River and the other represented by all other populations. The population of the Xingu should be viewed with attention and concern, especially considering the direct and indirect impacts of damming the Xingu River. © 2017 Chelonian Research Foundation