Avaliação da reação de mitsuda em pacientes virchovianos inativos antes e após imunoterapia

Neste estudo investigou-se o potencial imunomodulador do levamisole e da mistura BCG/Mycobacterium leprae em pacientes virchovianos inativos, utilizando como parâmetro a reação de Mitsuda. Vinte pacientes, classificados como Mitsuda histologicamente negativos há 10 anos, foram divididos em três grupos: cinco pacientes que foram somente reavaliados frente a mitsudina: oito pacientes que receberam levamisole e, sete que receberam a mistura de BCG vivo mais M. leprae morto. Os resultados mostraram que: 1) o levamisole não alterou a reatividade à mitsudina em nenhum dos casos estudados; 2) as modificações da reatividade verificadas com o uso da mistura (tres casos) ou aquelas que ocorreram espontaneamente (tres casos) foram sempre de pequena amplitude e refletiram variações próprias de pacientes com algum grau de resistência ao Mycobacterium leprae.

Identification and differentiation of Candida species from pediatric patients by random amplified polymorphic DNA

Thirty-four Candida isolates were analyzed by random amplified polymorphic DNA using the primer OPG-10:24 Candida albicans; 4 Candida tropicalis; 2 Candida parapsilosis; 2 Candida dubliniensis; 1 Candida glabrata and 1 Candida krusei. The UPGMA-Pearson correlation coefficient was used to calculate the genetic distance between the different Candida groupings. Samples were classified as identical (correlation of 100%); highly related samples (90%); moderately related samples (80%) and unrelated samples (< 70%). The results showed that the RAPD proposed was capable of classifying the isolates coherently (such that same species were in the same dendrogram), except for two isolates of Candida parapsilosis and the positive control (Netherlands, 1973), probably because they are now recognized as three different species. Concerning the only fluconazole-resistant Candida tropicalis isolate with a genotype that was different to the others, the data were insufficient to affirm that the only difference was the sensitivity to fluconazole. We concluded that the Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA proposed might be used to confirm Candida species identified by microbiological methods.

The influence of carbohydrates in the interaction of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis with CCL-6 cells in vitro

INTRODUCTION: Little is known about the early events in the interaction between Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and its host. To understand the effect of carbohydrates in the interaction between the fungus and epithelial cell in culture, we analyzed the influence of different carbohydrate solutions on the adhesion of P. brasiliensis yeast cells to CCL-6 cells in culture. METHODS: Fungal cells were cultivated with the epithelial cell line, and different concentrations of D-fucose, N-acetyl-glucosamine, D-mannose, D-glucosamine, D-galactosamine, sorbitol and fructose were added at the beginning of the experiment. Six hours after the treatment, the cells were fixed and observed by light microscopy. The number of P. brasiliensis cells that were adhered to the CCL-6 monolayer was estimated. RESULTS: The number of adhesion events was diminished following treatments with D-fucose, N-acetyl-glucosamine, D-mannose, D-glucosamine and D-galactosamine as compared to the untreated controls. Sorbitol and fructose-treated cells had the same adhesion behavior as the observed in the control. P. brasiliensis propagules were treated with fluorescent lectins. The FITC-labeled lectins WGA and Con-A bound to P. brasiliensis yeast cells, while SBA and PNA did not. CONCLUSIONS: The perceptual of adhesion between P. brasiliensis and CCL-6 cells decreased with the use of D-mannose, N-acetyl-glucosamine and D-glucosamine. The assay using FITC-labeled lectins suggests the presence of N-acetyl-glucosamine, α-mannose and α-glucose on the P. brasiliensis cell surface. An enhanced knowledge of the mediators of adhesion on P. brasiliensis could be useful in the future for the development of more efficient and less harmful methods for disease treatment and control.

Post-splenectomy infections in chronic schistosomiasis as a consequence of bacterial translocation

INTRODUCTION : Bacterial translocation is the invasion of indigenous intestinal bacteria through the gut mucosa to normally sterile tissues and internal organs. Schistosomiasis may cause alterations in the immune system and damage to the intestines, portal system and mesenteric lymph nodes. This study investigated bacterial translocation and alterations in the intestinal microbiota and mucosa in schistosomiasis and splenectomized mice. METHODS : Forty female 35-day-old Swiss Webster mice were divided into the following four groups with 10 animals each: schistosomotic (ESF), splenectomized schistosomotic (ESEF), splenectomized (EF) and control (CF). Infection was achieved by introduction of 50 Schistosoma mansoni (SLM) cercariae through the skin. At 125 days after birth, half of the parasitized and unparasitized mice were subjected to splenectomy. Body weights were recorded for one week after splenectomy; then, the mice were euthanized to study bacterial translocation, microbiota composition and intestinal morphometry. RESULTS : We observed significant reductions in the weight increases in the EF, ESF and ESEF groups. There were increases of at least 1,000 CFU of intestinal microbiota bacteria in these groups compared with the CF. The EF, ESF and ESEF mice showed decreases in the heights and areas of villi and the total villus areas (perimeter). We observed frequent co-infections with various bacterial genera. CONCLUSIONS : The ESEF mice showed a higher degree of sepsis. This finding may be associated with a reduction in the immune response associated with the absence of the spleen and a reduction in nutritional absorption strengthened by both of these factors (Schistosoma infection and splenectomy).

Chagas disease in the State of Amazonas: history, epidemiological evolution, risks of endemicity and future perspectives

Chagas disease (CD) is a parasitic infection that originated in the Americas and is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. In the last few years, the disease has spread to countries in North America, Asia and Europe due to the migration of Latin Americans. In the Brazilian Amazon, CD has an endemic transmission, especially in the Rio Negro region, where an occupational hazard was described for piaçaveiros (piassaba gatherers). In the State of Amazonas, the first chagasic infection was reported in 1977, and the first acute CD case was recorded in 1980. After initiatives to integrate acute CD diagnostics with the malaria laboratories network, reports of acute CD cases have increased. Most of these cases are associated with oral transmission by the consumption of contaminated food. Chronic cases have also been diagnosed, mostly in the indeterminate form. These cases were detected by serological surveys in cardiologic outpatient clinics and during blood donor screening. Considering that the control mechanisms adopted in Brazil's classic transmission areas are not fully applicable in the Amazon, it is important to understand the disease behavior in this region, both in the acute and chronic cases. Therefore, the pursuit of control measures for the Amazon region should be a priority given that CD represents a challenge to preserving the way of life of the Amazon's inhabitants.

Temporal distribution of tuberculosis in the State of Amazonas, Brazil

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the infectious diseases that contributes most to the morbidity and mortality of millions of people worldwide. Brazil is one of 22 countries that accounts for 80% of the tuberculosis global burden. The highest incidence rates in Brazil occur in the States of Amazonas and Rio de Janeiro. The aim of this study was to describe the temporal distribution of TB in the State of Amazonas. Between 2001 and 2011, 28,198 cases of tuberculosis were reported in Amazonas, distributed among 62 municipalities, with the capital Manaus reporting the highest (68.7%) concentration of cases. Tuberculosis was more prevalent among males (59.3%) aged 15 to 34 years old (45.5%), whose race/color was predominantly pardo (64.7%) and who had pulmonary TB (84.3%). During this period, 81 cases of multidrug-resistant TB were registered, of which the highest concentration was reported from 2008 onward (p = 0.002). The municipalities with the largest numbers of indigenous individuals affected were São Gabriel da Cachoeira (93%), Itamarati (78.1%), and Santa Isabel do Rio Negro (70.1%). The future outlook for this region includes strengthening the TB control at the primary care level, by expanding diagnostic capabilities, access to treatment, research projects developed in collaboration with the Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado Tropical Medicine Foundation .;Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado (FMT-HVD).; and financing institutions, such as the project for the expansion of the Clinical Research Center and the creation of a hospital ward for individuals with transmissible respiratory diseases, including TB.

Ocorrência de Cistos de CLINOSTOMUM MARGINATUM Rudolphi, 1819 "Yellow Spot Disease" em Filé de Jaraqui (SEMAPROCHILODUS INSIGNIS Schomburgk, 1814)

The parasitic inspection of 745 jaraqui fillets (Semaprochilodus insignis Schomburgk, 1814) from the rio Negro, Manaus (AM) - Brazil, show a low prevalence of metacercaria cysts of Clinostomum marginatum Rudolphi, 1819. From the collected samples since 1981 to 1983, only showed the cysts.

The larval development of palaemonid shrimps from the amazon region reared in the laboratory. V. The abbreviated development of Pseudopalaemon chryseus Kensley & Walker, 1982 (CRUSTACEA : DECAPODA: PALAEMONIDAE)

Larval development of the freshwater palaemonid shrip Pseudopalaemon chryseus Kensley & Walker, 1982 was studied in the laboratory from the offspring oof females collected in a lake of the lower Negro River system. Females carry few (14 to 43), large (1.86 + 0.13 x 1.29 + 0.06 mm), yolk-rich eggs. The species goes throught three larval stages without feeding and the main feature of its larval development is the presence of functional walking legs on hatching. Descriptions and illustrations of the three larval and first juvenile stages are presented.

A hidroquímica do Rio Solimões - Amazonas

Neste trabalho apresentamos os resultados dos estudos físicos-químicos do rio Solimões-Amazonas, em onze (11) locais e em trinta e um (31) afluentes e subafluentes, desde a fronteira do Brasil-Peru-Colômbia, em Tabatinga, até a amostragem, de frente a cidade de Santarém, no Estado do Pará, com uma distância de 2457 km. Os afluentes e subafluentes do rio Solimões-Amazonas ficam reduzidos a pequenos córregos nos seus altos cursos; apenas os rios Juruá, Purus, Negro e Madeira em alguns locais ficam com uma lâmina d'água de dois (2) metros, na região navegável, isto dependendo da estiagem. Todos os rios de água barrenta formam várzeas, que são ricas em nutrientes minerais, várzeas essas que possuem em toda a sua extensão lagos, paranás, igapós, forma-se grande abundância de capim flutuante que, em parte entre em decomposição, produzindo gases tóxicos, como H2S, CH4, CO2, etc. Os lagos e a várzea funcionam como se fossem uma esponja do rio, absolvendo sedimentos suspensos, nutrientes minerais e orgânicos, e liberando uma parte, no período de esvaziamento (seca). Os rios de água preta não formam várzeas e sim praias, e igapós no período da cheia, por possuírem pouco sedimentos; a cor escura é devida a substancias coloridas, como material húmico, que limitam a produção de fitoplancton. Os rios de água clara, também não formam várzeas e sim praias com poucos igapós; eles apresentam uma coloração verde azulada dada a grande formações de algas do tipo Cyanophyta. Os rios de água barrenta que apresentam maiores concentrações de sedimentos nos meses de novembro e abril tem como abastecedora a mobilização, com resuspensão, dos sedimentos, devidos ao aumento da vazão e, em parte, ao fenômeno das terras caldas. É possível que o rio Solimões-Amazonas receba suprimentos minerais e orgânicos dos rios de água barrenta, de pequenos rios que são represados na sua foz, de rios com pequenos afloramentos de calcáreo e de rios com elevados teores de substancias coloridas. As menores temperaturas no rio Solimões-Amazonas ocorrem no período de enchimento do Canal principal e as maiores no verão; quanto ao oxigênio as menores concentrações aparecem nos meses de abril a julho, são de vidas as águas oxidadas provenientes das várzeas e lagos.

Transpiration rates for several woody successional species and for a pasture in the upper Amazon basin in Venezuela

Evapotranspiration rates for a eight month old tropical pasture were estimated using the Penman-Monteith equation. Transpiration rates for several woody secondary successional species and stump sprous in the pasture and conucos (farm sites) were measured using the tritiated water technique.The stuty area was located near the village of San Carlos de Rio Negro (1° 56' N, 67° 03' W) in southern Venezuela, near the confluence of the Casiquiare and the Rio Guania wich forms the Rio Negro. The terrain was gently rolling with the areas between the small ridges supporting Amazon caatina forests on spodosols, and higher never flooded areas (tierra firma) supporting a mixed species forest.Results indicated that for a one month period, ET loss (0.46 cm/day) from the pasture, including soil and root mat evaporation, was about 0.43 cm/day less than estimated from the adjacent undisturbed forest (0.89 cm/day). Pan A evaporation for the same time period was 0.64 cm/day. Transpiration rates for seed established species were significantly less (0.38 cm/day) than for stump sprouts (1.09 cm/day) of the primary forest in the pasture.

DIVERSIDADE Ε CONSERVAÇÃO DE LIANAS DO GÊNERO Bauhinia NA AMAZÔNIA BRASILEIRA

Relaciona-se áreas de interesse biológico na Amazônia visando planejamento em Conservação, a saber: 1. Pará-leste, 2. Ilha Mexiana, 3. Amapá-sul, 4. Monte Tipac, 5. Óbidos/ Alenquer/Santarém, 6. Parintins, 7. Serra de Tepequem, 8. Amazonas-central, 9. Alto Rio Negro, 10. Solimões-oeste, 11. Acre/Amazonas, 12. Rondônia/Amazonas. Estas áreas foram selecionadas com base na variação taxonômica e na distribuição geográfica de 33 espécies de lianas do género Bauhinia(secções Schnellae Caulotretus)ocorrentes no Brasil. Após consulta a coleções herborizadas, as localidades de ocorrência de cada espécie foram mapeadas e analizadas, revelando-se os seguintes padrões de distribuição: extra-amazônico (9 espécies), ampla distribuição intra e extra-amazônica (3 espécies), e exclusivamente intra-amazônico (21 espécies). As ocorrências intra-amazônicas foram analizadas em detalhe, apontando-se endemismos e disjunções importantes. Em seguida é dada a ocorrência das 24 espécies da Amazónia por setor fitogeográfico. São apresentados mapas de distribuição de 23 espécies da seção Caulotretus.Apresenta-se um mapa com as 12 áreas de interesse biológico apontando-se justificativas para cada área indicada.

CONTRIBUIÇÃO AO CONHECIMENTO DA DIATOMOFLÓRULA DO CONTEÚDO ESTOMACAL DE ALGUMAS ESPÉCIES DE PEIXES DA AMAZÔNIA. I - MYLEUS SP. (PACU) DO LAGO DO PRATO, AM., BRASIL.

Um estudo taxonômico da flora de diatomáceas (Bacillariophyceae) no conteúdo estomacal de Myleus sp. (Pacú), do lago do Prato, no Arquipélago de Anavilhanas - Rio Negro -Amazônia (60° 45'W 2o 43'S) é apresentado. Foram identificados 32 táxons específicos e infraespecíficos, distribuídos em 10 gêneros e 5 famílias. Eunotia foi o gênero melhor representado.

Duas novas ocorrências de Orchidaceae para a flora Brasileira

Duas espécies de Orchidaceae, Myoxanthus parvilabius (C. Schweinf.) Luer e Trichosalpinx intricata (Lind) Luer, foram registradas pela primeira vez para a flora brasileira, ambas encontradas no município de Santa Izabel do Rio Negro, Amazonas, Brasil.

Wood density of trees in black water floodplains of Rio Jaú National Park, Amazonia, Brazil

The Jaú National Park is the largest protected forested area in the world. The Vitória Amazônica Foundation is working towards understanding its ecosystem, to which this paper contributes. Wood density was analysed in 27 common tree species growing in the blackwater flood-plains of the Rio Jaú, an affluent of the Rio Negro (Amazonia, Brazil). Wood was sampled with an increment borer. Mean wood density of the analysed species ranged from 0.35 to 0.87 g cm-3. The mean of all sampled species was 0.67 g cm-3 (st. dev. 0.13). Lowest density was found for Hevea spruceana with 0.32 g cm-3 and highest for Crudia amazonica with 0.9 g cm-3.

The systematic and biogeographical status of Fredius reflexifrons (Ortmann, 1897) and Fredius fittkaui (Bott, 1967) (Crustacea: Brachyura: Pseudothelphusidae) from the Amazon and Atlantic Guianas River basins

There is considerable confusion in the literature regarding the systematic position and distribution of two pseudothelphusid crabs originally described as Potamocarcinus reflexifrons Ortmann, 1897 and Potamocarcinus reflexifrons fittkaui Bott, 1967, and now included in the genus Fredius Pretzman, 1965, as F. reflexifrons and F. fittkaui. Study of numerous specimens from recent collections, together with a critical analysis of the data published in the literature, shows that both taxa could be easily separated by gonopodal characters. The two species occupy discrete areas of distribution along the main axis of the Amazon River and in the upper Rio Negro Basin, respectively, with an overlap in the Atlantic Guianas. It is postulated that they originated from a common ancestor, through a process of vicariance, in the two areas observed at present. Permeability of barriers allowed their further occupancy of the Atlantic Guianas after the marine regressions in this area.