Rapid detection of Van genes in rectal swabs by real time PCR in Southern Brazil

INTRODUCTION: Laboratory-based surveillance is an important component in the control of vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE). METHODS: The study aimed to evaluate real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) (genes vanA-vanB) for VRE detection on 115 swabs from patients included in a surveillance program. RESULTS: Sensitivity of RT-PCR was similar to primary culture (75% and 79.5%, respectively) when compared to broth enriched culture, whereas specificity was 83.1%. CONCLUSIONS: RT-PCR provides same day results, however it showed low sensitivity for VRE detection.

Ocorrência de dois citotipos em Serrasalmus spilopleura Kner, 1858 (characiformes, serrasalmidae) da região de confluência dos Rios Negro e Solimões, Amazonas, Brasil

Descreve-se pela primeira vez o cariótipo de exemplares de S. spilopleura da Amazônia Central. Todos os indivíduos analisados apresentaram número diplóide igual a 60 cromossomos, em conformidade com os dados da espécie obtidos em indivíduos da bacia do Paraná-Paraguai. No entanto, dois citótipos foram encontrados em simpatria na região de confluência dos rios Negro e Solimões, os quais não estão relacionados a heteromorfismo sexual. Além disso, os dois citótipos da Amazônia diferem dos três anteriormente descritos em exemplares do Paraná-Paraguai. A presença de distintos citótipos encontrados em simpatria e alopatria para S. spilopleura nos leva a sugerir que, ou essa espécie apresenta uma ampla heterogeneidade cariotípica ou existe um complexo de espécies cuja morfologia é muito semelhante.

The morphology of the foregut of larvae and postlarva of Sesarma curacaoense De Man, 1892: a species with facultative lecithotrophy during larval development

Previous study on the resistance of larvae of Sesarma curacaoense submitted to starvation has revealed a facultative lecithotrophy during zoeal stages, but megalopa and first juvenile stages are exclusively feeding stages. In the present study, the gross morphology and fine structure of the foregut of S. curacaoense were investigated during larval, megalopa and first juvenile stages. The foregut of the zoea I show specific setae and a filter press apparently functional. The foregut undergoes changes in the zoea II (last larval stage) with increment of setae number, mainly on the cardiopyloric valve and complexity of the filter press. After metamorphosis to megalopa stage the foregut become rather complex, with a gastric mill supporting a medial and two lateral teeth well-developed. The foregut of the first juvenile is more specialized compared to the previous stage, showing similar characteristics of the decapod adults. These results provide further evidence of facultative lecithotrophic development in the larvae of S. curacaoense.

Essential oils of the Sextonia rubra (Mez ) van der Werff (Lauraceae)

The essential oils of the leaves and branches of Sextonia rubra were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. In the leaves were identified as the major constituents α-pinene (21.7%), β-pinene (15.4%), α-copaene (12.5%) and germacrene D (12.1%). In the branches essential oil, α-copaene (22.9%), β-selinene (7.9%) and β-elemene (7.2%) were identified as the most abundant constituents. This paper describes for the first time the composition of these essential oils.

Contribuição para. o conhecimento da "saúva de vidro" Atta laevigata Fred. Smith, 1858

In 1961, field investigations on "saúva de vidro" (parasol ant, Atta laevigata (Fred. Smith, 1858) were carried out at Piracicaba and other regions of the State of São Paulo (Brazil). This species was found to be a serious pest of cultivated plants, specially Eucalyptus and cotton. The ant makes its colony in any kind of soil, but it prefers to live in the poor ones.

Estudos sobre nematodeos filarideos: Dipetalonema caudispina (Molin 1858)

The A. studies critically the literature on D. caudispina (Molin, 1858) and concludes that it is a good species, differing from D. gracilis (Rudolphi, 1809), principally, by the longer spicule. This conclusion is confirmed by the study of material collected by d'Almeida in the abdominal cavity of one specimen of Ateles paniscus (L.), of the State of Pará, Brazil. In contradiction to Stiles & Hassall's opinion the A. indicates this monkey for host-type of the Molin's species. A synonymic list and a redescription of D. caudispina are given.

Atividade antibacteriana do Aspergillus niger van Tieghem, 1867; pesquisas em 14 amostras da National Collection of Type Cultures (M. R. C.)

1. Pesquisamos a atividade antibacteriana em 14 amostras de Aspergillus niger da National Collection of Type Cultures. 2. Em meio de Raulin e Mosseray, sete amostras apresentaram atividade total, nunca superior a 1:10, contra Staphylococcus aureus nº 553, sendo que as amostras 1.161 e 2.390 permaneceram ativas por mais de 40 dias. 3. A utilização do meio de Czapek-Dox com 5% de "corn-steep" não melhorou os resultados obtidos com o meio de Raulin e Mosseray. 4. No meio de levedo peptonado, todas as amostras apresentaram-se inativas.

Filariopsis barretoi (Travassos, 1921) comb. n. parasito de "Mico-estrela", ocorrência e patogenia (Nematoda, Metastrongylidae)

O autor reestuda a espécie Filariopsis barretoi (Travassos, 1921) parasita de pulmões de Callithrix jacchus (mico-estrela). Trata-se da segunda observação destes parasitas. É feito um resumo histórico destes metastrongilídeos de pulmão de macacos. O autor complementa ainda a descrição original de Travassos e faz observações sobre a patogenia determinada pelos vermes no pulmão do macaco. É proposta uma nova combinação: a espécie é transferida do gênero Filaroides Van Beneden, 1858 para o gênero Filariopsis Van Thiel, 1926, em vista de apresentar três lábios na face oral; estes vermes passam a chamar-se Filariopsis barretoi (Travassos, 1921) Rego, 1974.

First report of Ascarophis Van Beneden, 1871: A. Brasiliensis n.sp. (Nematoda, Ascarophidinae) and Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) Pereira/Annereaux, 1946 (Nematoda, Procamallaninae) in South America

Ascarophis brasiliensis recovered from the stomach of Trachinotus carolinus (L. 1766), is proposed as a new species and Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) pereirai Annereaux, 1946 is redescribed from a new host: Paralonchurus brasiliensis (Steind., 1875). A. brasiliensis is more closely related to A. crassicolis Dollfus & Campana-Rouget, 1956, from which it differs mainly by the absence of cervical cuticular expansion and size of the eggs. The new species is also compared to A. cooperi johnston & Mawson, 1945 and A. girellae (Yamaguti, 1935) Campana-rouget, 1955. The validity of the proposed species is discussed.

Otodistomum cestoides (Van Beneden, 1871) from two species of skates taken in chilean waters

Otodistomum cestoides (van Beneden, 1871) (Azygiidae: Digenea) is reported for the first time from Psammobatis scobina and Raja flavirostris. The skates were caught off the coast of San Antonio, Chile.