The detection of Cryptosporidium serpentis in snake fecal samples by real-time PCR

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Kinetics of rabies antibodies as a strategy for canine active immunization

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Lepromatous leprosy and perianal tuberculosis: a case report and literature review

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, a microorganism that usually affects skin and nerves. Although it is usually well-controlled by multidrug therapy (MDT), the disease may be aggravated by acute inflammatory reaction episodes that cause permanent tissue damage particularly to peripheral nerves. Tuberculosis is predominantly a disease of the lungs; however, it may spread to other organs and cause an extrapulmonary infection. Both mycobacterial infections are endemic in developing countries including Brazil, and cases of coinfection have been reported in the last decade. Nevertheless, simultaneous occurrence of perianal cutaneous tuberculosis and erythema nodosum leprosum is very rare, even in countries where both mycobacterial infections are endemic.

Infiltrated plaques resulting from an injury caused by the common octopus (Octopus vulgaris): a case report

Several species of octopus are considered venomous due to toxins present in the glands connected to their "beak", which may be associated with hunt and kill of prey. Herein, we report an accident involving a common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) that injured an instructor during a practical biology lesson and provoked an inflamed infiltrated plaque on the hand of the victim. The lesion was present for about three weeks and was treated with cold compresses and anti-inflammatory drugs. It was healed ten days after leaving a hyperchromic macule at the bite site. The probable cause of the severe inflammation was the digestive enzymes of the glands and not the neurotoxins of the venom.

EFFECT OF BIOMETRIC VARIABLES ON TWO-DIMENSIONAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC MEASUREMENTS IN THE RED-TAILED BOA (BOA CONSTRICTOR CONSTRICTOR)

The effects of body biometrics on cardiac measurements and description of cardiac anatomy were performed in red-tailed boas (Boa constrictor constrictor) (n = 29) using real-time B-mode ultrasonography. Statistical comparison of measured cardiac metrics according to sex and body measurements demonstrated no significant difference between sexes but a highly significant linear increase between body length and mass and all cardiac metrics.

Congenital bone malformation in a rainbow boa Epicrates cenchria crassus - case report

Bone malformation in snakes stems from inbreeding or temperature variations during gestation or incubation. Differential diagnosis are osteoarthropathy due to nutritional, metabolic and infectious diseases. For an accurate diagnosis of these changes, a radiographic exam is essential because it provides a general view of the skeleton and detects morphological abnormalities. This study aimed to report the clinical care of a rainbow boa (Epicrates cenchria crassus) with congenital kyphosis and changes in scales, from a snake pit with controlled temperature and humidity since its gestation. Multiple dorsal deviations of the column without the presence of osteoarthrosis were seen upon radiographic examination. Studies aiming to understand the cases of congenital malformation in snakes should be performed to prevent the birth of animals with this type of change.

Estudos estruturais por difração de raios X de fosfolipases A2 em presença de íons com importância funcional

Snakes from Bothrops genus are responsible for more than 90% of the ophidian accidents in Brazil. One of the main complications from this kind of accident is muscular necrosis, which is related to the action of phospholipases A2 and metalloproteases, two groups of enzymes found in the venom of these animals. Although this complication cannot be solved by serum therapy administration, a great number of studies have been performed with the attempt to know the pharmacological sites of these toxins aiming, in the future, the development of complementary treatments to serum therapy. This work proposes structural studies of bothropic phospholipases A2 (PLA2s) in the presence of ions relevant to their activity, using the X-ray crystallography technique. Recently, it was demonstrated ions, as manganese, calcium and others, interfere in the biological activity of the PLA2s. Particularly, Lys49-PLA2s in the presence of manganese ions have miotoxicity reduced. Asp49-PLA2s show catalytic activity dependent of calcium, although structural studies with a miotoxic Asp49-PLA2, BthTX-II, suggest a possible catalytic mechanism independent of calcium. Therefore, co-crystallization of BthTX-II in the presence of calcium ions and of PrTX-I in the presence of manganese ions were performed. Comparative structural studies among obtained results and others already published in the literature were performed aiming a better understanding of the structure-function relationship of these toxins. The BthTX-II with the presence of calcium do not show this ion in the loop of coordination of calcium, presence necessary to develop the catalyses. After comparison of this model with the native one, only one distortion was found, but no apparent relationship with the residues responsible for its activity. In the PrTX-I structure, regions candidates of manganese ions were also found... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Levantamento das espécies de serpentes de Botucatu

Throughout the analysis of the collections JJ, CEVAP, IBSP, ZUEC and UEL, a study on the ophiofauna of Botucatu was made. We present a preliminary list of the species of snakes here found, with small comments on their natural history. The number of specimens studied was 943. We registered, for Botucatu, 51 species of snakes, distributed in 31 genera and 6 families. The families here found were Anomalepididae (1 spp.), Boidae (1 spp.), Colubridae (7 spp.), Dipsadidae (32 spp.), Elapidae (3 spp.) and Viperidae (7 spp.). The analysis of the relative abundance shows that Dipsadidae was the most abundant family, with n=425 (44,83%), followed by Viperidae, with n=388 (40,93%), Boidae, n=62 (6,54%), Colubridae, n=57 (6,01%), Elapidae, n=15 (1,6%) and, at last, Anomalepididae, with n=1 (0,1%). The five more representative species were Crotalus durissus (n=135, 14,31%), Oxyrhopus guibei (n=123, 12,8%) Bothropoides jararaca (N=121, 12,6%), Bothropoides neuwiedi (N=95, 9,88%) and Sibynomorphus mikani (N=65, 6,76%). A higher number of individuals collected was registered for the months of january to april that, together, sum up to almost 50% of the total. The months of june to september registered a lower number of individuals. The spacial distribution analysis shows that a higher number of snakes was found on the country areas of Botucatu (n=270, 41,54%), specially on pastures. Due to the lack of studies of Botucatu’s ophiofauna, this list is probably underestimated. It is mandatory that future studies approaching this group and its ecological components on this region are made, using appropriate sampling methodologies, in order to form an accurate list of the species of snakes of Botucatu

Análise de agrupamentos para o reconhecimento de padrões de infestação de aracnídeos em zonas urbanas

Pós-graduação em Biociências - FCLAS

Seroepidemiological analysis of toxoplasmosis in college students

Background Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis caused by an obligate intracellular parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, which affects warm-blooded animals including humans. Its prevalence rates usually vary in different regions of the planet. Methods In this study, an analysis of the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among Brazilian students was proposed by means of IgG specific antibodies detection. The presence of anti-Toxoplasma gondiiantibodies by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was also evaluated in order to compare it with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and to assess the use of 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and o-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride chromogens. Results The IFAT method showed a seroprevalence of 22.3%. These results were similar to those obtained by ELISA (24.1%). The seroprevalence was directly estimated from the IgG avidity, which showed that in a sample of 112 students, three of them had acute infection, an incidence of 1.6% in the studied population. Conclusion In this study, the use of different chromogenic substrates in immunoenzymatic ELISA assays did not display different sensitivity in the detection of T. gondii-reagent serum. The extrapolation of results to this population must be carefully considered, since the investigation was conducted on a reduced sample. However, it allows us to emphasize the importance of careful and well prepared studies to identify risk factors for toxoplasmosis, to adopt preventive measures and to offer guidance to at-risk populations about the disease.

Biogeografia histórica das jararacas do grupo Bothrops alternatus (Serpentes, Viperidae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Evolução do hábito alimentar e utilização do substrato pelo gênero Philodryas Wagler, 1830

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Manejo de serpentes em cativeiro: análise da infraesrutura, saúde animal e enfermidades virais e parasitárias

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Report of 15 injuries caused by lionfish (pterois volitans) in aquarists in Brazil: a critical assessment of the severity of envenomations

Lionfish are venomous fish that belong to the Scorpaenidae family. Individuals of this family and those of the Synanceiidae family comprise most of the existing venomous fish in the world. Lionfish are originally found in the Indo-Pacific, but they have received special attention in the last years for their dissemination in the Atlantic Ocean, with the emergence of large populations in the USA, Caribbean and South America. Because of its beauty, this fish has always been present in private and commercial aquariums around the world. Herein, we describe 15 envenomations in aquarists registered in a period of eighteen years (1997-2014). The stings caused excruciating pain and marked inflammation, with local erythema, edema, heat, paleness and cyanosis. In one case, it was possible to observe vesicles and blisters. There were no skin necroses or marked systemic manifestations. We discuss the possible coming of the fish to South America and the circumstances and clinical impact of the envenomations.