Synergistic action of praziquantel and host specific immune response against Schistosoma mansoni at different phases of infection

The interaction between specific immune response to Schistosoma mansoni and praziquantel (PZQ) was studied in mice. In mice harboring concomitant immunity, 6-day-old parasites treated with PZQ were more effectively removed than 24h treated parasites despite both had a significant worm burden reduction when compared with respective treated controls. These results show that PZQ can be effective at the skin and lung stages of parasite's development mainly acting with a established specific immune response, and particularly at the lung phase.

Cardiologia Pré-Natal. Da Suspeita à Confirmação

The mortality rate is high and prognosis is worse among new-borns with prenatal diagnosis of heart malformation, mainly due to factors such as its association with other malformations, and a range of more severe diseases probably resulting from the predominance of the obstetric use of the four chamber view. In this study we retrospectively assessed the range of cardiopathies diagnosed by foetal echocardiography and their evolution, compared with previous years. From January 1994 to December 1995, 1173 foetal echocardiograms were performed at a gestation age of 24 weeks. Sixty-one foetuses (5.2%) had cardiac anomalies, structural in 56 and arrhythmia in 5. The risks and indications were maternal in 37%, foetal in 31%, familial in 17% and environmental in 15%. Three were false negatives (VSD:2; truncus arteriosus: 1). Five died in utero, and 18 were assessed after birth with a mean gestational age of 37 weeks and birth weight of 3 Kg, a caesarean section was performed in 9. All but one were born in central hospitals. Six children were operated on. Two children died, one after surgery. Compared with the four previous years of activity, indication due to foetal risk rose from 6 to 31%, the number of cases diagnosed with heart disease increased from 14 to 30 per year, and the mortality decreased from 59 to 11%. Despite this, we still observe that the vast majority of new-borns who are hospitalised due to a severe heart disease had no prenatal diagnosis, indicating the need to continue our educational policy in this field.

Melanoides tuberculatus (Gastropoda: Thiaridae) as intermediate host of Heterophyidae (Trematoda: Digenea) in Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area, Brazil

In the late 1960s, Melanoides tuberculatus snails were introduced in Brazil from North/East Africa and Southeast Asia. The first records of specimens infected with cercariae were registered in Rio de Janeiro State in 2001. The present study reports the occurrence of M. tuberculatus infected with larval trematodes in Rio de Janeiro City. Bottom sediment was collected with dip nets and sieved through 0.25 inch-mesh screening. Snails were transported to the laboratory in vials with stream water, then measured and individually isolated in glass vials with distilled water. They were exposed to artificial light and temperature to induce cercarial emergence. The most actively emerging cercariae were processed by differential staining and silver nitrate impregnation methods. Negative snails were subsequently dissected. Approximately 700 snails were collected. Snail total lengths ranged from 1.2 to 3.3 cm. The prevalence rate was 15.76% although 53.76% of the snails were found infected in one of the sites. Infected snails were infected with rediae and pleurolophocercous cercariae. Cercarial morphology and chaetotaxy were consistent with those of the family Heterophyidae mostly due to the presence of median dorsal and ventral fins on the tail and the absence of CI dorsal sensory receptors.

Diagnóstico Pré-Natal de Uropatia: Importância do Desenvolvimento Embriológico Renal

As uropatias malformativas constituem a principalcausa de anomalia neonatal nao letal. Estas anomalias do desenvolvimento devem ser interpretadas com base no conhecimento da morbilidade e, em alguns casos, a mortalidade associada a este tipo de patologia 1,2. As malformações congénitas devem ser pensadas com base no conhecimento da dinâmica do normal desenvolvimento embrionário e dos múltiplos factores reguladores intervenientes, so assim será possivel estabelecer estratégias eficazes de investigação e terapêutica.

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.

Melanoides tuberculata (Mollusca: Thiaridae) as an intermediate host of Centrocestus formosanus (Trematoda: Heterophyidae) in Brazil

Pleurolophocercous cercariae emerged from naturally infected Melanoides tuberculata from Minas Gerais State, Brazil, were used to perform experimental infection of laboratory-reared Poecilia reticulata. Mature metacercariae were obtained from the gills of fishes and force-fed to Mus musculus. The adult parasites which recovered from small intestines of mice were identified as Centrocestus formosanus. This is the first report of M. tuberculata as intermediate host of this heterophyid in Brazil.

Melanoides tuberculata as intermediate host of Philophthalmus gralli in Brazil

Melanoides tuberculata that naturally harbored trematode larvae were collected at the Pampulha dam, Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais, Brazil), during malacological surveys conducted from 2006 to 2010. From 7,164 specimens of M. tuberculata collected, 25 (0.35%) were infected by cercariae, which have been morphologically characterized as belonging to the Megalurous group, genus Philophthalmus. Excysted metacercariae were used for successful experimental infection of Gallus gallus domesticus, and adult parasites recovered from the nictitating membranes of chickens were identified as Philophthalmus gralli. This is the first report of P. gralli in M. tuberculata in Brazil.

A Ressonância Magnética no Diagnóstico Pré-Natal de Anomalias do SNC. A Propósito de 8 Casos Clínicos

A ressonância magnética nuclear (RMN) é um meio complementar de diagnóstico que só recentemente começou a ser utilizado na investigação de patologia fetal. São enormes as suas potencialidades sobretudo no esclarecimento de dificuldades de diagnóstico suscitadas pela ecografia e perante situações de risco acrescido de anomalias congénitas do sistema nervoso central. Os autores efectuaram uma avaliação retrospectiva de oito casos, em que foi realizada RMN cerebral fetal no Centro de Ressonância Magnética de Caselas, entre Março de 1999 e Agosto de 2001. Foi efectuado estudo anatomopatológico nas situações de interrupção da gravidez (5 casos). Os outros casos tiveram acompanhamento pós-natal em consulta de Neuropediatria. A RMN confirmou o diagnóstico ecográfico nas duas situações variantes do normal. Não foi concordante com a ecografia no caso de suspeita de teratoma encefálico – a RMN revelou tratar-se duma malformação artério-venosa do seio da dura-mater com trombose ao nível da tórcula. Nos restantes cinco casos confirmou e caracterizou melhor as lesões detectadas na ecografia. A RMN teve implicações na conduta obstétrica: tranquilizou os pais em 2 casos de suspeita ecográfica e permitiu um melhor aconselhamento, ao definir melhor a gravidade das lesões observadas na ecografia.

Host-induced changes in the cell surface N-linked glycoproteins, from Aspergillus fumigatus. Search for specific targets with potential for clinical therapy and/or diagnosis.

This dissertation is presented to obtain a Master degree in Structural and Functional Biochemistry

OVICIDAL EFFECT OF PIPERACEAE SPECIES ON Biomphalaria glabrata, Schistosoma mansoni HOST

SUMMARYSchistosomiasis is a neglected disease with public health importance in tropical and subtropical regions. An alternative to the disease control is the use of molluscicides to eliminate or reduce the intermediate host snail population causing a reduction of transmission in endemic regions. In this study nine extracts from eight Piperaceae species were evaluated against Biomphalaria glabrata embryos at blastula stage. The extracts were evaluated in concentrations ranging from 100 to 10 mg/L. Piper crassinervium and Piper tuberculatum extracts were the most active (100% of mortality at 20 mg/L and 30 mg/L respectively).

SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF LYMNAEIDAE (MOLLUSCA, BASOMMATOPHORA), INTERMEDIATE HOST OF Fasciola hepatica LINNAEUS, 1758 (TREMATODA, DIGENEA) IN BRAZIL

Snails of the family Lymnaeidae act as intermediate hosts in the biological cycle of Fasciola hepatica, which is a biological agent of fasciolosis, a parasitic disease of medical importance for humans and animals. The present work aimed to update and map the spatial distribution of the intermediate host snails of F. hepatica in Brazil. Data on the distribution of lymnaeids species were compiled from the Collection of Medical Malacology (Fiocruz-CMM, CPqRR), Collection of Malacology (MZUSP), “SpeciesLink” (CRIA) network and through systematic surveys in the literature. Our maps of the distribution of lymnaeids show that Pseudosuccinea columella is the most common species and it is widespread in the South and Southeast with few records in the Midwest, North and Northeast regions. The distribution of the Galba viatrix, G. cubensis and G. truncatula showed a few records in the South and Southeast regions, they were not reported for the Midwest, North and Northeast. In addition, in the South region there are a few records for G. viatrix and one occurrence of Lymnaea rupestris. Our findings resulted in the first map of the spatial distribution of Lymnaeidae species in Brazil which might be useful to better understand the fasciolosis distribution and delineate priority areas for control interventions.

MOLLUSCICIDAL AND LARVICIDAL ACTIVITIES OF Atriplex inflata AERIAL PARTS AGAINST THE MOLLUSK Galba truncatula, INTERMEDIATE HOST OF Fasciola hepatica

Fasciolosis is a widespread parasitosis of farm live-stock in many developing countries. For this reason, it is necessary to search for new substances against parasitic diseases caused by flukes. Indeed, a wide variety of terrestrial plants have been subjected to chemical and pharmacological screening in order to discover their potential for human medicinal use. The molluscicidal and larvicidal activities of Atriplex inflata were tested on Galba truncatula and Fasciola hepatica larval stages infecting this snail in Tunisia. Phytochemical tests were conducted on extracts in order to establish a meaningful relationship with molluscicidal and larvicidal activities. The molluscicidal activity was evaluated by subjecting snails to sample aqueous solutions. Accordingly, hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol and methanol-water (8:2, v-v) were used as extraction solvents. As a result, hexane and ethyl acetate extracts showed potent activity, according to the World Health Organization, giving LC50 = 7.59 mg/L and 6.69 mg/L for hexane extracts of leaves and fruits, respectively. Ethyl acetate extracts gave LC50 = 5.90 mg/L and 7.32 mg/L for leaves and fruits, successively. Molluscicidal activities of powders were less potent on snails, but active according to the World Health Organization. Hexane and ethyl acetate extracts from leaves and fruits gave potent larvicidal activities with a delay rate exceeding 45.50% (45.50- 98.92%). Phytochemical tests showed that these activities may be attributed to the presence of triterpenoids and/or sterols.

Diagnóstico Pré-Natal das Cardiopatias Congénitas. Realidade Actual no Sul do País

Com o objectivo de avaliar a realidade actual do diagnóstico pré-natal das cardiopatias congénitas realizou-se um estudo prospectivo da actividade do Sector de Cardiologia Fetal num período de 2 anos. Este estudo abrangeu uma população fetal constituída por um grupo de 948 fetos observados no Serviço, 348 no período de Janeiro a Junho de 1993 (Grupo 1) e 600 de Julho de 1993 a Dezembro de 1994 (Grupo II), assim como uma população de 185 recém-nascidos, 20 (Grupo 1) internados por cardiopatia grave durante o período de Janeiro a Junho de 1993 e 165 observados de Janeiro a Junho de 1994 (Grupo II). Registaram-se os dados relativos a gravidez e ecografia obstétrica, risco fetal para cardiopatia, idade no momento do diagnóstico e tipo de cardiopatia. As populações respectivas de cada um dos grupos foram comparadas entre si. Nos dois grupos da população fetal os principais motivos de referência para ecocardiograma foram os factores maternos (18%) e familiares (14%) sendo os factores fetais causas menos frequentes (7%), nomeadamente a suspeita obstétrica de cardiopatia (6%) e as arritmias fetais (7%). No entanto, a incidência de cardiopatia fetal no grupo 1 foi de 32% para a suspeita obstétrica de cardiopatia e de 13% para a arritmia fetal; no grupo II esta incidência foi respectivamente de 48% e de 36%. Nos dois grupos os factores maternos associaram-se a cardiopatia em 2° o dos casos; não houve associação com factores familiares. Apresentavam factor de risco 30% dos recém-nascidos do grupo 1. No grupo II este valor foi de 36% nos recém-nascidos internados e de 22% nos do ambulatório. O ecocardiograma fetal foi realizado em 3 recém-nascidos do grupo 1 e em 12 casos do grupo II sendo o diagnóstico pré-natal feito em 2 e 3 casos respectivamente. Conclui-se que, exceptuando o aumento do número de fetos referenciados e a melhoria na acuidade do diagnóstico obstétrico, no período de estudo não houve modificações significativas na identificação dos riscos, continuando a maioria dos recém-nascidos com cardiopatia a nascer sem diagnóstico pré-natal. Torna-se necessário continuar a política de divulgação desta área, em particular junto dos médicos que prestam cuidados primários de saúde.