Leishmaniose tegumentar americana

A leishmaniose tegumentar americana permanence endêmica em vastas áreas da América Latina. Os agentes causadores da doença são a L. (Viannia) braziliensis, L. (L. mexicana), L. (V.) panamensis, e outras espécies relacionadas. A apresentação clínica da doença varia dentro de um espectro amplo, incluindo úlceras cutâneas múltiplas ou única, leishmaniose cutânea difusa e lesões mucosas. Os principais reservatórios da L. (V.) braziliensis e da L. (Viannia) spp. são os pequenos roedores silvestres. A doença acomete mais freqüentemente os trabalhadores que invadem as florestas tropicais ou moram próximo a elas. O período de incubação varia de duas semanas a vários meses. As lesões cutâneas constituem úlceras rasas, circulares com bordas elevadas e bem definidas e com o assoalho da úlcera de aspecto granular. Nas infecções pela L. (V.) braziliensis a linfoadenopatia regional geralmente precede o surgimento das úlcerações por uma a doze semanas. O diagnóstico definitivo depende da identificação de amastigotas em tecido ou promastigotas em meios de cultura. Os anticorpos anti-leishmania podem ser identificados no soro utilizando-se as técnicas de ELISA, imunofluorescência e testes de aglutinação mas os títulos revelam-se baixos na maioria dos casos. A intradermorreação de Montenegro torna-se positiva durante a evolução da doença. Os antimoniais pentavalentes continuam sendo as drogas de escolha no tratamento da leishmaniose. A anfotericina B encontra indicação nos casos mais graves ou nos indivíduos que não respondem ao tratamento com os antimoniais. A imunoterapia e a imunoprofilaxia constituem alternativas promissoras no tratamento e profilaxia da leishmaniose tegumentar americana.

Forma tumoral da esquistossomose mansoni cerebelar: relato de caso e medida dos granulomas

Caso raro de forma tumoral da esquistossomose mansoni cerebelar diagnosticada pela biópsia, em um paciente de 15 anos, que apresentou sinais e sintomas neurológicos 60 dias antes da cirurgia. A tomografia computadorizada revelou lesão expansiva, hiperdensa, localizada no cerebelo, sugestiva de glioma. O exame histopatológico mostrou numerosos ovos de S. mansoni envolvidos por reação inflamatória granulomatosa na fase necrótico-exsudativa, confluentes, localizados principalmente na camada interna, granular, do cerebelo, formando pseudotumor no verme cerebelar e hemorragia recente na ponte. Foram medidas as áreas dos granulomas.

The effect of intravenous zoledronic acid on glucocorticoid-induced multiple vertebral fractures in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus

Glucocorticoids are widely used in the treatment of lupus patients, and adverse effects, which include osteoporosis and associated fractures, are frequent. Treatment of osteoporosis of young patients should be effective and not harmful to bone growth and remodeling. Bisphosphonates are drugs that decrease the incidence of bone fractures, but their use in juvenile patients is still controversial because of their possible side effects on the growing skeleton. However, recently published studies showed that linear growth continued normally after treatment with these drugs, and there was no excessive suppression of bone remodeling or mineralization defects. Zoledronic acid is a new intravenous bisphosphonate that has been approved by the US FDA for use with hypercalcemia of malignancies and might be an effective treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis. The authors report a case of a young girl with systemic lupus who developed multiple vertebral collapses due to glucocorticoid therapy, and zoledronic acid was used producing significant clinical and densitometric improvement.

Aspectos morfológicos e ultraestruturais do Espermatozóide de Curimata Inornata Vari, 1989 (Pisces, Teleostei) do Rio Amazonas

Estão descritos aspectos morfológicos e ultraestruturais do espermatozóide de Curimata inornata Vavi, 1989 (Pisces,Teleostei) observados com microsopia óptica e microscopia eletrônica de transmissão. O espermatozóide é constituído de cabeça, contendo um núcleo ovoide com cromatina granular densa, uma peça intermediária curta e uma cauda com a constituição axonêmica clássica de microtúbulos de 9p+2.

Histologia del sistema reproductor masculino de Helobdella hyalina (Hirudinea, Glossiphoniidae) en Argentina

A detailed preliminary histological analysis of Helobdella hyalina Ringuelet, 1942 male system from Los Talas, Buenos Aires, Argentina is described. Six pairs of testisacs, located between the crop caeca, form the male reproductive system. Each testisac is clothed by the mesotelium. Inside it, the germinal cells are connected to the citophore and develop functional unit called poliplast. The spermatozoa are released into testisacs after the reabsortion of the citophore. Five stages of spermatogenesis are described taking into account the successive maturation stages of germinal cells and the changes in the citophore size. Lining cells and gland cells were found in the seminal vesicle. Five different types of gland cells are placed inside the ejaculatory ducts, as well as two kinds of cells are found in its distal portion: type 1, which produces eosinophilic granular secretion, type 2, with amorphous and slightly eosinophilic. Three distinct gland cells are located in the proximal portion of the duct: type 3, which produces a strongly eosinophilic granular secretion; type 4, with a negative eosinophilic amorphous secretion and type 5, with a basophilic granular secretion. Type 5 gland cells are described for the ducts of this species only.

Acanthotylotra alvarengai (Porifera, Demospongiae) new genus and species of sponge from Tocantins river, Pará State, Brazil

Acanthotylotra a new monotypic genus of freshwater sponge is defined. Its sole species A. alvarengai sp. nov. is described based upon microscopic specimens recovered from the Tocantins river, Pará State, Brazil, when the deep rocky substrate was temporarily exposed downstream from the dam at the time it was closed for lake formation. A unique set of megascleres, allied to the paucity of spongin, the renieroid skeleton and the fact that gemmules or new specimens remain undetected, call for the proposition of a new monospecific genus to be retained as incertae sedis until new larger and probably gemmuliferous specimens come to be found.

Morfohistología testicular de Ceratophrys ornata (Bell) (Amphibia, Anura, Ceratophryidae)

En el presente trabajo se describen las características morfohistológicas del testículo de individuos adultos (n=5) de Ceratophrys ornata (Bell, 1843) provenientes de humedales del centro de Argentina. Los mismos se procesaron mediante técnicas histológicas de rutina, se cortaron a 8 µm y las láminas obtenidas se tiñeron con hematoxilina-eosina y tricrómico de Masson. Las gónadas son órganos pares, amarillentos, alargados y contorneados de 18,58 ± 0,23 mm de largo por 1,51 ± 0,13 mm de ancho. Histológicamente se observa una delgada túnica albugínea (6,29 ± 0,83 µm) rodeando a los testículos. En su interior se hallan lóculos seminíferos que miden 240,64 ± 38,52 µm de diámetro, en ellos se distinguen cistos con células espermatogénicas en distintas etapas de desarrollo. El tejido intersticial es escaso y en él se destacan las células de Leydig y vasos sanguíneos. Las espermatogonias I son las células más grandes de la serie germinal (20,03 ± 2,27 µm); poseen la cromatina granular y de aspecto multilobular, hallándose comúnmente una por cisto, estas originan a las espermatogonias II, más pequeñas (12,06 ± 1,14 µm). Los espermatocitos I presentan la cromatina levemente condensada y son un poco más chicos que sus precedentes (11,64 ± 0,36 µm). Los espermatocitos II miden 8,85 ± 0,54 µm. Las espermátidas I son esféricas, miden 5,95 ± 0,42 µm y se agrupan en cistos redondeados. Las espermátidas II, en cambio son alargadas y no se hallan dentro de cistos, pero siguen organizadas en paquetes asociadas a células de Sertoli. Los espermatozoides son células libres hacia el centro del lóculo, alargadas, flageladas y con una notable compactación nuclear. La morfohistología de los testículos analizados muestran características macroscópicas e histológicas similares a las observadas en otras especies de anfibios anuros neotropicales, presentando todas las células del linaje espermatogénico en un mismo lóculo, lo que indicaría que presentan ciclos espermatogénicos continuos.

Osteological alterations in the tucuxi Sotalia fluviatilis (cetacea, delphinidae)

We present a description of osteological alterations observed in the tucuxi, Sotalia fluviatilis (Gervais, 1853) from a sample of 43 specimens. Fractures were the most frequent alterations in the sample (16%), occurring in various regions of the skeleton such as the ribs, hyoid apparatus, transverse and neural processes of vertebrae and scapula. We observed three individuals with ankylosis between the cervical vertebrae and two individuals with morphological changes (cranio-caudally elongated hemal arch and flattened cranial margin of the scapula). The only observed pathology was a case of osteomyelitis in the left dentary, which caused the loss of teeth, deformation of the associated alveoli and the formation of a medial fistula (lingual) for drainage of purulent material. This represents the first record of osteomyelitis in S. fluviatilis.

Anfíbios Anuros da coleção Adolpho Lutz: III - Hyla claresignata Lutz & B. Lutz, 1939

Hyla claresignata Lutz & Lutz, 1939, is a large species apparently not closely allied to the other known Brazilian hylas. It is characterized by the very small tympanum; the head is short and the snout rounded; the legs are long, the hands and feet unusually large, the latter extensively webbbed. The specific name is derived from the insular, irregular, or roughly triangular, dark spots, with a light halo, found mostly in the dorso-lateral region and on the legs. It belongs to the rain-forest fauna of the Marítime Range. The adult is a bromeliad-dweller and the tadpole rhyacophilous. DESCRIPTION. Vomerine teeth in two separate, oblique, groups, behind the large choanae, parallel to the posterior half of their inner border. Tongue entire, short, very broad and hardly free behind. Snout short, rounded, with distinct canthus rostralis and gradually sloping loreal region. Eye very large and prominent, its horizontal diameter almost equal to the distance between its anterior corner and the tip of the snout. Tympanum very small, less than one third of the diameter of the eye, but distinct, partly covered by a short, heavy ridge. Lateral fingers less than one third webbed; fourth finger slightly longer than the second, just reaching the base of the disk of the third; subarticular tubercles well developed; an angular pollex rudiment, more noticeable in the males. Toes almost completely webbed, the edge of the web inserted at the base of the disk on the third and the fifth; an inner metatarsal tubercle. Skin smooth above, granular beneath, on the throat minutely so. No dermal appendage on the hell. Habit robust, head broader than long, body rather heavy, slightly narrowed in the postaxillary region. Legs long, the tibiotarsal articulation reaching beyond the tip of the snout when adpressed. Type (female): 61 mm. (Fig. 1.) DIAGNOSIS of TADPOLE (by G. Orton). "A large specialized, mountain-stream tadpole, with wide head an elongated, flattened snout, greatly enlarged lips and high tooth formula. Eyes dorsal. Spiracle sinistral, projecting, situated far back on side. Anus dextral. Tooth formula 8/12 to 9/14 in fully grown larvae. Tail with a prominent, vertical dark band across musculature and fins; a second concentration of dark pigment near tip of tail, may or may not form a similar but narrower band. Maximum known total length: 60mm.; head and body length 25mm. (Figs. 6 e 7). For further details see Lutz & Lutz, 1939 and Lutz B. & Orton G. 1946.

Alguns aspectos citológicos da Leptospira Icterohaemorrhagiae em microscópio eletrônico

Os autores estudando culturas de 11 e 12 meses de Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae, mantidas em meio de Schüffner modificado por Verwoort, observaram em microscópio eletrônico, corpos de leptospira com zonas de condensação do citoplasma assumindo aspecto granular Figs. 1, 3, 4, 9, 7, 12. Nas Figs. 6 e 7 vemos com nitidez um dêsses grânulos desmembrando-se do corpo da leptospira e cuja imagem é semelhante a outros grânulos esparsos. O número dessas formações é variável, parecendo depender de muitas causas. A deformação do corpo da leptospira parece depender da perda de consistência da membrana em virtude de alteração da sua permeabilidade, fenomenos que deve preceder á formação dos grânulos. Notamos também nas mesmas condições de experiência, como na Fig. 3, que os referidos grânulos tem dois aspectos diferentes: um é o que já referimos de forma irregular e opaco como se fôsse uma imagem de cromatina condensada e outro aspecto é também de forma irregular, porém, transparente como se houvesse esvaziado seu conteúdo primitivo, Figs. 5, 7 e 13. Na fig. 12, observamos o esvaziamento de uma forma destas o retraimento do seu conteúdo em outra, observação facilitada com auxílio de lente. A fig. 2 revela um aspecto frqüente encontrado em trabalhos desta natureza como no de CZEKALWSKI, J. W. e EAVES, G., isto é: formação de um grânulo com posterior segmentação do mesmo. Finalmente a Fig. 11 nos mostra grânulos com a mesma densidade que os fragmentos dos corpos da leptospira. Como dissemos acima, a cultura contendo material com êste aspecto foi inoculada em cobaias cuja hemocultura nos forneceu de novo o germe reisolado, o que faz admitir constituirem êsses grânulos uma fase no ciclo vital da leptospira ou então elemento capazer de manter condições e fatôres necessários à continuidade da espécie.

Glomerulonephritis in schistosomiasis with mesangial IgM deposits

Twenty one cases of hepatoesplenic schistosomiasis patients without clinical and laboratory evidence of renal disease, were studied by surgical biopsies using light microscopy and immunofluorescence. The cases were classified histologically as: normal pattern (6 cases); minimal changes (6 cases); and mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (9 cases). By the immunofluorescence microscopy using anti IgM, IgG, IgA and C3, the predominant finding in all biopsies, except the normal cases, was granular deposits of IgM in the mesangium along with C3. On the other hand, IgG was present in all cases including normal biopsies along the capillary walls. However IgG was also present in the mesangium only in cases with glomerular lesions. This finding may well be similar to that recently described as IgM mesangial nephropathy. According to our cases a mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis, characterized by segmental cell proliferation and deposition of IgM in the mesangium, is probably the entity found in the early stages of mansonic schistosomiasis.

Ultrastructural studies of the hemocytes of Panstrongylus megistus (Hemiptera: Reduvidae)

Ultrastructural analyses revealed the presence of six hemocyte types in the hemolymph of Panstrogylus megistus, partially confirming our previous results obtained through light microscopy. Prohemocytes: small, round hemocytes with a thin cytoplasm layer, espcieally rich in free ribosomes and poor in membranous systems. Plasmatocytes: polymorphic cells, whose cytoplasm contains many lysosomes and a well developed rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER).They are extremely phagocytic. Sometimes, they show a large vacuolation. Granulocytes: granular hemocytes whose granules show different degrees of electrondensity. Most of them, have an internal structuration. Coagulocytes: oval or elongated hemocytes, which show pronounced perinuclear cisternae as normally observed in coagulocytes. The cytoplasm is usually electrondense, poor in membranous systems and contains many labile granules. Oenocytoids: large and very stable hemocytes, whose homogeneous cytoplasme is rich in loose ribosomes and poor in membranous systems. Adipohemocytes: large cells, containing several characteristic lipid droplets. The cytoplasm is also rich in glycogen, RER and large mitochondria. The total and differential hemocyte count (THC and DHC) were also calculated for this reduviid. THC increases from 2,900 hemocytes/cubic millimeter of hemolymph in the 4th intar to 4,350 in the 5th and then, decreases to 1,950 in the adults. Plasmatocytes and coagulocytes are the predominant hemocyte types.

Aspects of classification of Hemiptera hemocytes from six triatomine species

The objective of this work was to characterize, and compare different morphological types of hemocytes of Rhodnius prolixus, Rhodnius, Rhodnius neglectus, Triatoma infestans, Panstrongylus megistus, and Dipetalogaster maximus. This information provides the basis for studying the cellular immune systems of these insects. Seven morphological hemocyte types wereidentified by phase-contrast microscopy: prohemocytes, plasmatocytes, granular cells, cytocytes, oenocytoids, adipohemocytes and giant cells. All seven types of hemocytes are not present in every species. For example, adipohemocytes and oenocytoids were not observed in P. megistus and P. infestans, and giant cells were rarely found in any of the species studied. The hemocytes of rhodnius and Dipetalogaster are more similar to each other than those from Triatoma and Panstrongylus which in turn closely resemble each other. Emphasis is placed on methodological problems arising in this work wicah are discussed in detail.

Structure of the salivary glands of the unfed female tick Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius) (Acarina: Ixodidae)

Acini in in the salivary glands of female tick specimens of Amblyomma ajennense unfed at both postnymphal and adult phases, were studied. The salivary glands are consisted by three acini, one agranular and two granular. The agranular acini are directly attached to the anterior portion of the main salivary duct, consisting of cells without valve. A relatively large, clear, central cell occupies most of the alveolar midsection. The central cell is in contact with the acini lumen. Granular acini consist of approximately seven to fourteen cells (type II acini) or seven to sixteen (type III acini). The type II acini have three types of granular cells ("a", "b" and "c") and valve; the type III acini have another three types of granular cells ("d", "e" and "f") also presenting a valve.

Morphological characterization of the hemocytes of the pulmonate snail Biomphalaria tenagophila

The blood cells of the pulmonate snail Biomphalaria tenagophila, an important transmiter of the trematode Schistosoma mansoni in Brazil, were examined by ligth and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Two hemocyte types were identified: hyalinocytes and granulocytes. Hyalinocytes are small young (immature), poorly spreading cells, which have a high nucleocytoplasmic ratio and are especially rich in free ribosomes. They do not appear to contain lysosome-like bodies and represent less than 10% of the circulating hemocytes. Granulocytes are larger hemocytes which readily spread on glass surface and which strongly react to the Gomori substrate, indicating the enzyme acid phosphatase usually found in lysosomes. Ultra-structurally, they contain a well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum, dictyosomes and some some lysosome-like dense bodies. Granulocytes do not exhibit a characteristic granular aspect and the few granules observed in the cytoplasm should correspond to a lysosome system. They were named granulocytes instead of amoebocytes to use the same terminology adopted for Biomphalaria glabrata in order to make easier comparative studies. This is a preface study for more specific investigations on the functional activities of the blood cells of B. tenagophila and their interactions with the trematode parasite.