Vectors of Trypanosomatids (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) in Tabatinga, Amazonas, Brazil

The sand flies transmit diseases to humans and animals, such as arboviruses and bartonellosis, besides the leishmaniasis. The objective of this research was identified potential vectors of this disease in the municipality of Tabatinga. Sand flies were captured with Miniature Light Trap and manual collection by aspiration at the bases of trees. In the months of August 2010 and 2011, were captured 4,542 sand flies (♂: 71.9% and ♀: 28.1%) vectors or suspected of trypanosomatids transmission, belonging to 13 species. The most abundant species was Lutzomyia umbratilis with 78.7%. A total of 576 (74,0%) sand flies of the genus Lutzomyia were dissected and natural infection by trypanosomatids was observed in 44 females. Blood in decomposition was detected at the digestive tract in 86.3% insects; being 59,0% of the ovaries in developing. The isoenzymatic analysis of ten isolates showed similar profiles to Leishmania colombiensis and Endotrypanum sp., however, the profile of the locus Malate Dehydrogenase (MDH) showed major similarity to the genus Endotrypanum. This is the first investigation of the fauna entomology and attempt of trypanosomatids isolation in the municipality of Tabatinga, area of triple border with Brazil

The Role of Inflammatory, Anti-Inflammatory, and Regulatory Cytokines in Patients Infected with Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Amazonas State, Brazil

The authors discuss in this paper the role of inflammatory, anti-inflammatory, and regulatory cytokines in patients infected with different species of Leishmania in Amazonas State, Brazil. A comparative analysis was made of serum concentrations of these cytokines in the peripheral blood of 33 patients infected with cutaneous leishmaniasis. The isolates were identified as Leishmania guyanensis, L. naiffi, and L. amazonensis. Most (64%) of the patients were male ranging in age from 18 to 58 years. Protein expression profiles of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-17 cytokines were shown to vary significantly between infected and noninfected (control group) individuals and according to the Leishmania species. Infection caused by L. guyanensis accounted for 73% of the cases and patients with this parasite also showed higher concentrations of IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-17 when compared to infection by L. amazonensis. Patients with infection caused by L. naiffi showed higher concentration of the cytokines analyzed when compared to uninfected patients; however, there was no statistically significant difference with the other species analyzed

The Role of Inflammatory, Anti-Inflammatory, and Regulatory Cytokines in Patients Infected with Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Amazonas State, Brazil

The authors discuss in this paper the role of inflammatory, anti-inflammatory, and regulatory cytokines in patients infected with different species of Leishmania in Amazonas State, Brazil. A comparative analysis was made of serum concentrations of these cytokines in the peripheral blood of 33 patients infected with cutaneous leishmaniasis. The isolates were identified as Leishmania guyanensis, L. naiffi, and L. amazonensis. Most (64%) of the patients were male ranging in age from 18 to 58 years. Protein expression profiles of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-17 cytokines were shown to vary significantly between infected and noninfected (control group) individuals and according to the Leishmania species. Infection caused by L. guyanensis accounted for 73% of the cases and patients with this parasite also showed higher concentrations of IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-17 when compared to infection by L. amazonensis. Patients with infection caused by L. naiffi showed higher concentration of the cytokines analyzed when compared to uninfected patients; however, there was no statistically significant difference with the other species analyzed. © 2014 Thaís Tibery Espir et al

The Role of Inflammatory, Anti-Inflammatory, and Regulatory Cytokines in Patients Infected with Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Amazonas State, Brazil

The authors discuss in this paper the role of inflammatory, anti-inflammatory, and regulatory cytokines in patients infected with different species of Leishmania in Amazonas State, Brazil. A comparative analysis was made of serum concentrations of these cytokines in the peripheral blood of 33 patients infected with cutaneous leishmaniasis. The isolates were identified as Leishmania guyanensis, L. naiffi, and L. amazonensis. Most (64%) of the patients were male ranging in age from 18 to 58 years. Protein expression profiles of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-, TNF-, and IL-17 cytokines were shown to vary significantly between infected and noninfected (control group) individuals and according to the Leishmania species. Infection caused by L. guyanensis accounted for 73% of the cases and patients with this parasite also showed higher concentrations of IL-2, IFN-, IL-4, and IL-17 when compared to infection by L. amazonensis. Patients with infection caused by L. naiffi showed higher concentration of the cytokines analyzed when compared to uninfected patients; however, there was no statistically significant difference with the other species analyzed

Evaluation of different diagnostic methods of American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in the Brazilian Amazon

Epidemiological studies have been conducted to better understand the dynamics of American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ACL) in the Amazon region where distinct species of Leishmania circulate. In endemic areas, the optimal diagnosis must be made in the earlier clinical presentation to avoid the complications of chronic disease. The scarcity of financial support, laboratory infrastructure and trained persons are the major obstacles in this reality. This paper describes the result of performing different diagnostic methods for ACL in Amazonas State between the years 2010 and 2011. The tests used were the intradermal skin test (Montenegro's skin test), ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay), direct examination, culture isolation and identification of Leishmania species. A total of 38 suspected human cases of ACL were diagnosed by different methods, of which 71.0% (n = 27) were positive by direct examination, 75.6% (n = 28) had positivity in the culture isolates and, of these, 54.0% (n = 19) had infection with Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis. The positivity of the intradermal skin test with the leishmanin solution was observed in 77.0% of cases analyzed and the serology with detection of IgG and IgM showed the presence of antibodies in 100% of exams realized results, showing variation in the titles of antibodies. The success of Leishmaniasis treatment depends on an effective and early diagnosis. Parasitological diagnosis is highly specific, but sensitivity is subject to variation because the tissue distribution of parasites generally is not homogeneous and depends on the specie of parasite. Moreover, parasitological tests require invasive procedures and depend on restrictive conditions for the collection of biological sample, which limit their use in large-scale for epidemiological studies. ELISA has been the most widely used serological method for the diagnosis of Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) as it is easy to perform and has a low cost. However, flaws in specificity are observed in the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Actually the diagnosis needs to be done as an associated methods depending on the question to be solved. © 2016 Elsevier Inc

Caracterização isoenzimática de isolados humanos de Leishmania sp (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) dos municípios de Rio Preto da Eva e Manaus, Estado do Amazonas

Twenty-three isolates of Leishmania sp from patients in the municipalities of Rio Preto da Eva and Manaus were characterized and identified by means of isoenzyme electrophoresis and the degree of similarity between the organisms was analyzed. The results indicated that Leishmania guyanensis and Leishmania naiffi were present in these two environments and that the Leishmania naiffi samples were heterogenous

New human case reports of cutaneous leishmaniasis by Leishmania (Viannia) naiffi in the Amazon region, Brazil

ABSTRACT Few cases of human cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) caused by Leishmania naiffi were described in the medical literature. The aim of this study was to report and analyze new cases of L. naiffi in the period between the years 1992 to 2011. The strains were characterized by isoenzyme analysis. All patients assisted had small lesions; ranging from 1.0x1.0 mm and 13.5x11.5 mm. The lesions observed were widely distributed: 55.5% on the lower limb, 5.5% in the abdominal area, 16.6% on upper limb and 22.2% in upper limb and back. Seventy-two percent of patients had ulcerated lesions. Clinical course of the disease varied from 1 to 10 months. According to gender, most infected individuals were men (83.3%). The patients came from Amazonas (10), Par