Ecological Data of Travassosnema travassosi travassosi (Dracunculoidea: Guyanemidae) from the Humour of the Eyes of Acestrorhynchus lacustris from Tibagi River, Paraná, Brazil

Data obtained between 1990 and 1995 provide, for the first time, ecological information of the parasitic nematode Travassosnema travassosi travassosi Costa, Moreira & Oliveira, 1991 from Acestrorhynchus lacustris (Characiformes: Acestrorhynchidae) collected in the Tibagi River, Sertanópolis, Paraná, Brazil. These nematode occurred with low prevalences (7.7% to 28.6%) and intensities (1 to 3) during almost the whole year. The observation of mature females throughout the year indicate that liberation of larvae can occur during all the year around. This is the first report on the occurrence of T. travassosi travassosi inside the eyes. These nematodes were mostly located in humour of the eyes (87% of cases), being less frequently detected in tissues behind the eyes (13% of cases).

Shigella in Brazilian children with acute diarrhoea: prevalence, antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes

Diarrhoeal disease is still considered a major cause of morbidity and mortality among children. Among diarrhoeagenic agents, Shigella should be highlighted due to its prevalence and the severity of the associated disease. Here, we assessed Shigella prevalence, drug susceptibility and virulence factors. Faeces from 157 children with diarrhoea who sought treatment at the Children's Hospital João Paulo II, a reference children´s hospital in Belo Horizonte, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, were cultured and drug susceptibility of the Shigella isolates was determined by the disk diffusion technique. Shigella virulence markers were identified by polymerase chain reaction. The bacterium was recovered from 10.8% of the children (88.2% Shigella sonnei). The ipaH, iuc, sen and ial genes were detected in strains isolated from all shigellosis patients; set1A was only detected in Shigella flexneri. Additionally, patients were infected by Shigella strains of different ial, sat, sen and set1A genotypes. Compared to previous studies, we observed a marked shift in the distribution of species from S. flexneri to S. sonnei and high rates of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole resistance.

Formaldeído em escolas: uma revisão

Formaldehyde has been classified as a probable human carcinogen. Indoor air quality measurements carried out worldwide in schools indicate that levels may be of concern. This paper provides an overview of emission sources, properties and methods for quantification of formaldehyde. Quantitative information from studies performed in school environments was compiled and a comprehensive picture of the causal relationships between pollutant exposures and children's health given. Mitigation actions to reduce formaldehyde levels and its adverse impacts in school buildings are recommended.