Hepatite de Lábrea: estudo de revisão em viscerotomias hepáticas dos anos de 1934 a 1940

Para verificar a possibilidade de uma anterior existência e diversificada distribuição da Hepatite de Lábrea, histopatologicamente descrita na década de 60, foram revistas amostras de viscerotomias hepáticas provenientes da Amazônia, acumuladas entre os anos de 1934 e 1940 e originalmente rotuladas como Atrofias Hepáticas. De 28 amostras estudadas, 11 apresentaram as características microscópicas hoje atribuídas à Hepatite de Lábrea; 5 outras exibiram algumas, mas não todas as características desta hepatite; 5 amostras corresponderam e permaneceram como de hepatite por Tetracloreto de Carbono; e as 7 amostras restantes apresentaram os achados habituais das necroses maciças ou submaciças mais frequentemente devidas aos vírus das Hepatites A e B. Nesta pequena amostragem, foram identificados um caso de 1935, 3 de 1936, um de 1937, 5 de 1938 e um de 1940, não somente de áreas brasileiras, como também da Colômbia e do Perú. É de se concluir, portanto, que há mais longo tempo e em mais ampla abrangência, a Hepatite de Lábrea compromete as populações amazônicas. Estudos recentes indicam, nesta forma de hepatite, uma constante participação do antígeno de superfície do vírus da Hepatite B, bem como a associação deste ao antígeno Delta, pelo que se acredita à tal associação a gravidade e a alta letalidade da Hepatite de Lábrea, além de se pressupor uma longínqua presença dos dois antígenos na Amazônia.

Comparison of feeding and defecation patterns between fifth-instar nymphs of Triatoma patagonica (Del Ponte, 1929) and Triatoma infestans (Klug, 1934) under laboratory conditions

Among the vectors of Chagas disease, Triatoma patagonica is a species in the process of adaptation to the human environment. However, its vector competence is not well known. This study had the aim of evaluating and comparing feeding and defecation patterns among fifth-instar nymphs of Triatoma patagonica and Triatoma infestans that were fed ad libitum. The results showed that nymphs of Triatoma patagonica had a feeding pattern similar to that of Triatoma infestans. Sixty nine percent and 58% of nymphs of Triatoma patagonica and Triatoma infestans, respectively, produced their first defecation within five minutes after being fed. Triatoma patagonica defecated during feeding, with an average time until first defecation that was shorter than that of Triatoma infestans (3.4 and 6.2 min, respectively). The nymphs of Triatoma patagonica were capable of defecating during or immediately after feeding.

Analysis of sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Barra do Garças, State of Mato Grosso, Brazil, and the influence of environmental variables on the vector density of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva, 1912)

INTRODUCTION: Leishmaniasis is an infectious and parasitic zoonotic, non-contagious, vector-borne disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania. In Brazil, the major vector of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum chagasi (Cunha & Chagas, 1934) is Lutzomyia longipalpis. Barra do Garças, State of Mato Grosso, was designated as a priority area by the Brazilian Ministry of Health for american visceral leishmaniasis, and it is important to identify the vector species present in this municipality. Our objective was to raise sandflies and study the influence of environmental variables on the vector density of Lutzomyia longipalpis. METHODS: We performed entomological monitoring in 3 districts using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) light traps and recorded human cases of american visceral leishmaniasis in the city. We calculated the relative frequency and richness of sandflies and applied a transfer function model to the vector density correlate with relative humidity. RESULTS: The sandfly population was composed of 2 genera and 27 species, totaling 8,097 individuals. Monitoring identified Lutzomyia longipalpis (44%), followed by Lutzomyia lenti (18.9%), Lutzomyia whitmani (13.9%), Lutzomyia carmelinoi (9.1%), Lutzomyia evandroi (5.1%), Lutzomyia termitophila (3.3%), Lutzomyia sordellii (1.9%), and 20 other species (<4%). The male:female ratio was 3.5:1. We observed high species diversity (Dα = 6.65). Lutzomyia longipalpis showed occurrence peaks during the rainy season; there was a temporal correlation with humidity, but not with frequency or temperature. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of Lutzomyia longipalpis in the urban area of Barra do Garças underscores the changing disease profile, which was previously restricted to the wild environment.

Simuliidae (Diptera, Culicomorpha) no Brasil - XII sobre o gênero Thyrsopelma Enderlein, 1934: descrição de T. jeteri Sp.N., considerações sobre o cibário e chave para as pupas

É acrescentado um novo caráter pupal para a espécie T. hirtipupa (Lutz,1910). É evidenciada a existência de dentes no cibário da fêmea de T. guianense (Wise,1911), principal espécie envolvida na transmissão da filaria Onchocerca volvulus (Leuckart,1893) no foco da região amazônica. É proposta uma nova relação para os artículos antenais da larva de T. guianense. É descrita uma nova espécie para o gênero Thyrsopelma Enderlein,1934, T. jeteri sp.n., proveniente da bacia hidrográfica do rio Uruguai, no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. São apresentados os parâmetros físico-químicos do criadouro de onde provem o material tipo. É apresentada uma chave para diferenciação das pupas das espécies constantes neste gênero.

Redescription of Nomimoscolex piraeeba Woodland, 1934 (Cestoda, Proteocephalidea), from the Amazon catfishes, Brachyplatystoma spp. with proposal of synonyms and invalidation of Endorchiinae and Endorchis

The proteocephalid species Nomimoscolex piraeeba Woodland, 1934, N. dorad (Woodland, 1935) and Endorchis piraeeba Woodland, 1934, from Brachyplatystoma spp., South American silurid fishes, are critically revised. It is concluded that they concern to one species, N. piraeeba. The Endorchiinae, a subfamily of Monticelliidae, and genus Endorchis are invalidated herein. The valid species of Endorchiinae, belonging to genus Muzophorus, M. admonticellia Woodland, 1934, M. pirarara Woodland, 1934 and M. woodlandi Rego, 1984, are transferred provisionally to Zygobothriinae.

Uma nova espécie de Arachnidomyia Townsend, 1934 (Diptera, Sarcophagidae)

A new species of the genus Arachnidomyia Townsend, 1934 is described and illustrated, based on male specimen from Chile.

Experimental Infection of Swine by Isospora suis Biester 1934 for Species Confirmation

A survey of Isospora suis performed in 177 faecal samples from 30 swine farms detected thin wall type I. suis oocysts in seven samples. This type of oocyst measuring 23.9 by 20.7 mm had a retracted thin wall similar to that of the genus Sarcocystis. This type of oocysts, isolated from four different faecal samples, was inoculated in four-five-days-old piglets free of contamination in order to verify the life cycle and pathogenicity of the species. The pigs were kept in individual metal cages and fed with cow milk. Daily faecal collections and examinations were performed until the 21st day after infection. MacMaster and Sheather' s methods were used for oocyst counting and identification. Infected piglets produced yellowish-pasty diarrhoea with slight dehydration. The prepatent and patent periods were respectively from 6 to 9 and 3 to 10 days after infection. Oocyst elimination was interrupted on the 10th and 11th days after infection with biphasic cycles. Thin and thick wall oocysts were detected in the same faecal samples. Thin walls were not observed in unsporulated oocysts. The observations suggest that this type of oocysts could appear in specific strains which occur in the later stages of their development. These oocysts seem to be responsible for clinical and pathogenic signs of neonatal isosporosis in pigs.

Comparison of some behavioral and physiological feeding parameters of Triatoma infestans klug, 1834 and Mepraia spinolai porter, 1934, vectors of chagas disease in Chile

There are two vectors of Chagas disease in Chile: Triatoma infestans and Mepraia spinolai. We studied the feeding behavior of these species, looking for differences which could possibly explain the low impact of the latter species on Chagas disease. Both species used thermal cues to locate their feeding source and consumed a similar volume of blood which was inversely related to the body weight before the meal and directly related to the time between meals. The average time between bites were 6.24 and 10.74 days. The average bite of M. spinolai lasted 9.68 min, significantly shorter than the 19.46 min for T. infestans. Furthermore, while T. infestans always defecated on the host, this behavior was observed in M. spinolai in only one case of 27 (3.7%). The delay between the bites and defecation was very long in M. spinolai and short in T. infestans. These differences may affect the reduced efficiency of transmission of Chagas infection by M. spinolai.

Pathology and first occurrence of the kidney trematode Paratanaisia bragai (Santos, 1934) Freitas, 1959 (Digenea: Eucotylidae) in Phasianus colchicus L., 1758, from Brazil

The kidney trematode Paratanaisia bragai is reported for the first time parasitizing the ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus L., 1758) and the pathological alterations associated to the parasitism are referred on the basis of 50 specimens of this bird from backyard flocks in 11 counties of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil after clinical examination, necropsies, and histopathological analysis. The counting of the kidney flukes was based on worms recovered from one of the kidneys, since the other was fixed in 10% formalin and then routinely processed for histopathological procedures. The prevalence of P. bragai was of 22%, with a mean intensity of 44.3, mean abundance of 9.7, and range of infection of 3-153. Parasitized birds did not present with clinical signs and kidney gross lesions. Microscopic lesions were mild and characterized by dilatation of the renal medullary collecting ducts, occasional flattening of the lining epithelium of the ducts and inflammatory reaction of variable intensity with granulocytes around the ureter branches and medullary collecting ducts. The severity and pattern of the microscopic lesions seem not to be associated to the size of the worm burden and could be related to the mechanic action of the parasites, without traumatism, in despite of the presence of the tegumentar spines in specimens of P. bragai.

WOMAN IN CHEMISTRY. JANE MARCET, A RELEVANT FIGURE IN CHEMISTRY EDUCATION

A historiographical study of Jane Marcet’s role in spreading chemistry knowledge to a wider audience in the 19th century is presented here. Her efforts to spread scientific knowledge were crucial to sharing the most important theories of chemistry among different audiences, particularly women and young people. Through her book, “Conversations on Chemistry,” which was published in several editions from 1806 to 1853, she contributed significantly to chemistry education. Despite controversy over the large number of editions, this text is a strong witness to the active participation of women in science. Her scientific rigor and contribution to narrative strategies in chemistry pedagogy have given Jane Marcet consideration not only as an important woman in the scientific community of England during the first half of the 19th century but also as a central figure in the early development of chemistry diffusion and education.