Enterococcus gallinarum meningitis in an immunocompetent host: a case report

We describe a rare case of a 53-year-old man with a long history of alcohol abuse, with Enterococcus gallinarum meningitis, an organism that rarely causes human infection and is primarily found in the gastrointestinal tract of poultry. The patient improved with high-dose ampicillin and gentamicin therapy. To our knowledge, this is the first Brazilian reported case of E. gallinarum meningitis and probably the first case described in an immunocompetent host.

PREHISTORICAL Pediculus humanus capitis INFESTATION: QUANTITATIVE DATA AND LOW VACUUM SCANNING MICROSCOPY

A pre-Columbian Peruvian scalp was examined decades ago by a researcher from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation. Professor Olympio da Fonseca Filho described nits and adult lice attached to hair shafts and commented about the origin of head lice infestations on mankind. This same scalp was sent to our laboratory and is the subject of the present paper. Analysis showed a massive infestation with nine eggs/cm2 and an impressive number of very well preserved adult lice. The infestation age was roughly estimated as nine months before death based on the distance of nits from the hair root and the medium rate of hair growth. A small traditional textile was associated with the scalp, possibly part of the funerary belongings. Other morphological aspects visualized by low-vacuum scanning electron microscopy are also presented here for adults and nits.

ANTIMICROBIAL DRUG RESISTANCE IN STRAINS OF Escherichia coli ISOLATED FROM FOOD SOURCES

A variety of foods and environmental sources harbor bacteria that are resistant to one or more antimicrobial drugs used in medicine and agriculture. Antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli is of particular concern because it is the most common Gram-negative pathogen in humans. Hence this study was conducted to determine the antibiotic sensitivity pattern of E. coli isolated from different types of food items collected randomly from twelve localities of Hyderabad, India. A total of 150 samples comprising; vegetable salad, raw egg-surface, raw chicken, unpasteurized milk, and raw meat were processed microbiologically to isolate E. coli and to study their antibiotic susceptibility pattern by the Kirby-Bauer method. The highest percentages of drug resistance in isolates of E. coli were detected from raw chicken (23.3%) followed by vegetable salad (20%), raw meat (13.3%), raw egg-surface (10%) and unpasteurized milk (6.7%). The overall incidence of drug resistant E. coli was 14.7%. A total of six (4%) Extended Spectrum β-Lactamase (ESBL) producers were detected, two each from vegetable salads and raw chicken, and one each from raw egg-surface and raw meat. Multidrug resistant strains of E. coli are a matter of concern as resistance genes are easily transferable to other strains. Pathogen cycling through food is very common and might pose a potential health risk to the consumer. Therefore, in order to avoid this, good hygienic practices are necessary in the abattoirs to prevent contamination of cattle and poultry products with intestinal content as well as forbidding the use of untreated sewage in irrigating vegetables.

PREVALENCE OF DRUG RESISTANCE AND VIRULENCE FEATURES IN Salmonella spp. ISOLATED FROM FOODS ASSOCIATED OR NOT WITH SALMONELLOSIS IN BRAZIL

Salmonella is the most common etiological agent of cases and outbreaks of foodborne diarrheal illnesses. The emergence and spread of Salmonella spp., which has become multi-drug resistant and potentially more pathogenic, have increased the concern with this pathogen. In this study, 237 Salmonella spp., associated or not with foodborne salmonellosis in Brazil, belonging mainly to serotype Enteritidis, were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility and the presence of the virulence genes spvC, invA, sefA and pefA. Of the isolates, 46.8% were sensitive to all antimicrobials and 51.9% were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent. Resistance to more than one antimicrobial agent was observed in 10.5% of the strains. The highest rates of resistance were observed for streptomycin (35.9%) and nalidixic acid (16.9%). No strain was resistant to cefoxitin, cephalothin, cefotaxime, amikacin, ciprofloxacin and imipenem. The invA gene was detected in all strains. Genes spvC and pefA were found in 48.1% and 44.3% of strains, respectively. The gene sefA was detected in 31.6% of the strains and only among S. Enteritidis. Resistance and virulence determinants were detected in Salmonella strains belonging to several serotypes. The high rates of antibiotic-resistance in strains isolated from poultry products demonstrate the potential risk associated with the consumption of these products and the need to ensure good food hygiene practices from farm to table to reduce the spread of pathogens relevant to public health.

Biochemical behavior of Trypanosoma cruzi strains isolated from mice submitted to specific chemotherapy

To investigate the influence of chemotherapy on the biochemical beha vior of Trypanosoma cruzi strains, three groups of mice were infected with one of three strains of T. cruzi of different biological and isoenzymic patterns (Peruvian, 21 SF and Colombian strains). Each group was subdivided into subgroups: 1 - treated with nifurtimox; 2 - treated with benznidazole and 3 - untreated infected controls. At the end of treatment, that lasted for 90 days, xenodiagnosis, sub inoculation of blood into new born mice and haemoculture were performed as tests of cure. From the positive tests, 22 samples of T. cruzi were isolated from all subgroups. Electrophoretic analysis of the isoenzymes PGM, GP1, ALAT and AS AT failed to show any difference between parasite strains isolated from treated and untreated mice, which indicates that no detectable clonal selection or parasite genetic markers alterations concerning the isoenzymes analysed have been determined by treatment with drugs of recognized antiparasitic effect, suggesting stability of the phenotypic characteristics of the three biological types of T. cruzi strains.

Seroprevalence and risk factors for canine visceral leishmaniasis in the endemic area of Dias D'Ávila, State of Bahia, Brazil

INTRODUCTION: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is an important zoonosis in relation to public health systems. Dogs are the main domestic reservoir. This study aimed to investigate occurrences of canine VL in Dias D'Ávila, State of Bahia, Brazil. METHODS: The prevalence was evaluated by means of clinical and laboratory tests on a population of 312 domestic dogs from 23 localities in this municipality, using indirect immunofluorescence and immunoenzymatic assays. RESULTS: Among the animals examined, 3.2% and 6.7% showed signs of VL, confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence and immunoenzymatic assays, respectively, with a distribution of 29.9% (24 dogs) in the rural zone and 4.9% (288 dogs) in the urban zone (p = 0.001). The clinical evaluation on seropositive dogs showed both asymptomatic animals (2.4%) and symptomatic animals (47.6%), along with other abnormalities (e.g. normocytic and normochromic anemia, with leukocytosis and thrombocytopenia). Observations relating to phenotypic characteristics (e.g. sex, age, breed and hair) did not present statistical significance, although high seropositivity among male, short-haired and mixed-breed dogs was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The findings showed that VL was a predominantly rural zoonosis and that close contact between poultry and domestic dogs significantly increased the risk of canine infection in this region.

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.

Characterization of a foodborne outbreak caused by Salmonella Enteritidis in Aracaju, State of Sergipe, Brazil

INTRODUCTION: In December 2001, an outbreak of foodborne gastroenteritis infected 114 of 161 people who ate at a restaurant in Aracaju, State of Sergipe, Brazil. METHODS: The epidemiological and microbiological aspects of the outbreak were characterized. RESULTS: Potato salad made with homemade mayonnaise and stored at unsuitable temperatures was associated with increased risk of foodborne infection. Salmonella Enteritidis was isolated from the diarrheal stools of the hospitalized patients, and genotyping of the fecal samples generated identical randomly amplified polymorphic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) profiles. CONCLUSIONS : To the best of our knowledge, this is the first and the only record of a gastrointestinal outbreak in Sergipe.

COMPARACION FLORISTICA DE DOCE PARCELAS EN BOSQUE DE TIERRA FIRME EN LA AMAZONIA PERUANA

Floristic composition of twelve plots, 25 m by 25 m, was studied in the Peruvian Amazonia in order to investigate if it were possible to use a part of the flora as an indicator of the changes observed in other components of the flora. Floristic similarities among the plots were calculated using six different taxonomic or physiognomic groups: ferns, the families Melastomataceae and Myristicaceae, trees thicker than 2.5 cm diameter at breast hight (DBH), trees between 2.5 cm and 5 cm DBH, and trees thicker than 5 cm DBH. The similarities were used for agglomerati ve classifications of the plots and for analyzing the correlations among the different groups of plants with Mantel's test. The results indicate that floristic changes were similar in all of the groups and therefore every group can potentially be used as an indicator.

PALEOENVIRONMENTAL MODEL FOR THE LATE CENOZOIC OF SOUTHWESTERN AMAZONIA: PALEONTOLOGY AND GEOLOGY

Our study provides paleontological and geological data substantiating a paleoenvironmental model for the upper Miocene-Pliocene of Southwestern Amazonia. The extensive Late Tertiary sediments of The Solimões Formation, outcropping in Southwestern Amazonia, were deposited by a complex megafan system, originating in the high Peruvian Andes. The megafan system was the sedimentological response to the Andean Quechua tectonic phase of Tertiary age, producing sediments that fdled the foreland basin of Southwestern Amazonia. Occurrences of varied vertebrate fossil assemblages of the Huayquerian-Montehermosan Mammal age collected in these sediments support this interpretation. The fauna includes several genera and species of fishes, reptiles, birds, mammals and appears to be one that could have lived in or near a riverine habitat. In the Late Pliocene, the megafan system became inactive as a result of the influence of the Diaguita Tectonical Phase.

Updated List and identification key of 219 tree species of white sand forests of the Allpahuayo Mishana National Reserve, Loreto, Peru

White sand forests, although low in nutrients, are characterized not only by several endemic species of plants but also by several monodominant species. In general, plants in this forest have noticeably thin stems. The aim of this work was to elaborate a parallel dichotomous key for the identification of Angiosperm tree species occurring on white sand forests at the Allpahuayo Mishana National Reserve, Loreto, Peru. We compiled a list of species from several publications in order to have the most comprehensive list of species that occur on white sand forest. We found 219 species of Angiosperm, the more abundant species were Pachira brevipes (26.27%), Caraipa utilis (17.90%), Dicymbe uaiparuensis (13.27%), Dendropanax umbellatus (3.28%), Sloanea spathulata (2.52%), Ternstroemia klugiana (2.30%), Haploclathra cordata (2.28%), Parkia igneiflora (1.20%), Emmotum floribundum (1.06%), Ravenia biramosa (1.04%) among others. Most species of white sand forests can be distinguished using characteristics of stems, branches and leaves. This key is very useful for the development of floristic inventories and related projects on white sand forests from Allpahuayo Mishana National Reserve.

Comparação de Proteínas: alimentação das aves I

Beginning an experiment on protein comparisons, at the Poultry and Rabbitry Departament of the Esc. Sup. de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", University of S. Paulo, four groups of growing chicks were submitted during 40 days to the following rations: basal part - 50 corn meal and 30 wheat bran, variable part - R1 - 10 tankage and 10 peanut meal, R2 - 10 tankage and 10 cottonseed meal, R3 - 7 peanut meal, 7 cocoanut meal and 7 cottonseed meal, R4 - 5 tankage, 5 peanut, 5 cocoanut and 5 cottenseed meal, R2 and R3 gave results which may be considered as equal and inferior than those obtained with the others, R4 being the best one. The statistical analises showed no significant differences.

Raça de galinhas "piracicaba" I: hereditariedade dos caracteres pescoço pelado e plumagem preta

The characters naked neck and black plumage proved to be due to single genes in a group of chicks growing at the Poultry Department of "Luiz de Queiroz" School of Agriculture, Piracicaba, Brasil. The two characters segregate independently and the animals with known genetical constitution will be used in the formation of a local breed.

Comparação das raças Rhode Island Red, Light Sussex e seu mestiço: ovos, pintos e frangos

The breeds Light Sussex, Rhode Island Red and the hibrid Light Sussex x Rhode Island Red, from the Poultry Department of "Luiz de Queiroz" School of Agriculture, at Piracicaba, S. Paulo, were studied in this paper, Tre authors, analysing eggs, pullets and chick growing arrived to the following conclusion: a) eggs of the Light Sussex breed were haevier; b) the Light Sussex breed was early maturing; c) the cross studied did not show hibrid vigor.

A influência da alimentação verde na postura

A test was conducted at Poultry Department of "Luiz de Queiroz" School of Agriculture to prove the effect of green feed on egg production. One hundred Rhode Island Red hens at plain laying period were divided in ten pens. The lot A was constituted of pens 1 to 5 and the lot B of pens 6 to 10. During 16 days the pens 1 to 5 did not receive green feed and the pens 6 to 10 received it with abundance. After and for a period of 30 days the situation was inverted. The analysis were made considering, a) the production of all chickens and b) discarding the chickens with irregular laying. In both cases the results were statistically insignificant, proving that green feed did not improve egg production.