Presencia de Histoplasma capsulatum en Heces de Palomas Mensajeras y de Castilla en la Ciudad de Lima, Perú

The fungus Histoplasma capsulatum is the causative agent of histoplasmosis, disease of public health importance. The aim of this study was to determine its presence in faeces of domestic pigeons (Columba livia) in the city of Lima, Peru. Faecal samples (n=245) were collected, processed and cultivated in Sabouraud agar at 37 and 28 °C for 2 to 4 weeks approximately. The colonies were identified by macroscopic and microscopic characteristics. Only 0.41% (1/245) of samples were positive to H. capsulatum, while the beta-pert (@Risk) stochastic simulation showed a minimum prevalence of 0.369% and a maximum prevalence of 0.451%.El hongo Histoplasma capsulatum es el agente causal de la histoplasmosis, enfermedad de importancia en salud pública. El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar su presencia en las heces de palomas domésticas (Columba livia) en la ciudad de Lima, Perú. Se recolectaron muestras de excretas de 245 palomas de Castilla y palomas mensajeras. Las muestras fueron sembradas en agar Sabouraud e incubadas a 37 y a 28 °C durante 2 a 4 semanas aproximadamente, y las colonias fueron identificadas por sus características macroscópicas y microscópicas. El 0.41% (1/245) de las muestras fueron positivas a H. capsulatum, en tanto que el programa de simulación estocástica beta-pert (@Risk) determinó una prevalencia mínima de 0.369% y máxima de 0.451%

In Vitro Neurotoxicity of Flumethrin Pyrethroid on SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells: Apoptosis Associated with Oxidative Stress

Pyrethroids are neurotoxicants for animals, showing a pattern of toxic action on the nervous system. Flumethrin, a synthetic pyrethroid, is used against ectoparasites in domestic animals, plants, and for public health. This compound has been shown to be highly toxic to bees, while its effects on other animals have been less investigated. However, in vitro studies to evaluate cytotoxicity are scarce, and the mechanisms associated with this effect at the molecular level are still unknown. This study aimed to investigate the oxidative stress and cell death induction in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells in response to flumethrin exposure (1–1000 µM). Flumethrin induced a significant cytotoxic effect, as evaluated by MTT and LDH leakage assays, and produced an increase in the biomarkers of oxidative stress as reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide (ROS and NO) generation, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, and caspase-3 activity. In addition, flumethrin significantly increased apoptosis-related gene expressions (Bax, Casp-3, BNIP3, APAF1, and AKT1) and oxidative stress and antioxidative (NFκB and SOD2) mediators. The results demonstrated, by biochemical and gene expression assays, that flumethrin induces oxidative stress and apoptosis, which could cause DNA damage. Detailed knowledge obtained about these molecular changes could provide the basis for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of flumethrin-induced neurotoxicity