A Simple and Fast Method for the Production and Characterization of Methylic and Ethylic Biodiesels from Tucum Oil via an Alkaline Route

A simple, fast, and complete route for the production of methylic and ethylic biodiesel from tucum oil is described. Aliquots of the oil obtained directly from pressed tucum (pulp and almonds) were treated with potassium methoxide or ethoxide at 40 degrees C for 40 min. The biodiesel form was removed from the reactor and washed with 0.1 M HCl aqueous solution. A simple distillation at 100 degrees C was carried out in order to remove water and alcohol species from the biodiesel. The oxidative stability index was obtained for the tucum oil as well as the methylic and ethylic biodiesel at 6.13, 2.90, and 2.80 h, for storage times higher than 8 days. Quality control of the original oil and of the methylic and ethylic biodiesels, such as the amount of glycerin produced during the transesterification process, was accomplished by the TLC, GC-MS, and FT-IR techniques. The results obtained in this study indicate a potential biofuel production by simple treatment of tucum, an important Amazonian fruit.

The frequency of CD127(low) expressing CD4(+)CD25(high) T regulatory cells is inversely correlated with human T lymphotrophic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) proviral load in HTLV-1-infection and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis

Background: CD4(+)CD25(high) regulatory T (T(Reg)) cells modulate antigen-specific T cell responses, and can suppress anti-viral immunity. In HTLV-1 infection, a selective decrease in the function of T(Reg) cell mediated HTLV-1-tax inhibition of FOXP3 expression has been described. The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency and phenotype of T(Reg) cells in HTLV-1 asymptomatic carriers and in HTLV-1-associated neurological disease (HAM/TSP) patients, and to correlate with measures of T cell activation. Results: We were able to confirm that HTLV-1 drives activation, spontaneous IFN gamma production, and proliferation of CD4+ T cells. We also observed a significantly lower proportion of CTLA-4(+) T(Reg) cells (CD4(+)CD25(high) T cells) in subjects with HAM/TSP patients compared to healthy controls. Ki-67 expression was negatively correlated to the frequency of CTLA-4(+) T(Reg) cells in HAM/TSP only, although Ki-67 expression was inversely correlated with the percentage of CD127(low) T(Reg) cells in healthy control subjects. Finally, the proportion of CD127(low) T(Reg) cells correlated inversely with HTLV-1 proviral load. Conclusion: Taken together, the results suggest that T(Reg) cells may be subverted in HAM/TSP patients, which could explain the marked cellular activation, spontaneous cytokine production, and proliferation of CD4(+) T cells, in particular those expressing the CD25(high)CD127(low) phenotype. T(Reg) cells represent a potential target for therapeutic intervention for patients with HTLV-1-related neurological diseases.

Size at birth and lipoprotein concentrations in adulthood: two prospective studies in Latin American cities

Background The relationship between birth weight and plasma lipoproteins is inconsistent. Aims To assess the association between birth weight and (1) body mass index (BMI) at birth and (2) lipoproteins in young adults, and also to explore the possible effect of current obesity as a possible effect modifier. Methods Two prospective studies based on representative samples of subjects born in the 1970s were carried out in Ribeirao Preto, Brazil (n = 2063) and Limache, Chile (n = 999). The surveys were carried out between 2001 and 2004. Results Mean birth weights were 3267 g and 3177 g and mean adult BMIs were 24.3 kg/m(2) and 25.8 kg/m(2) in the Brazilian and Chilean samples, respectively. Total adult cholesterol was 4.57 mmol/l in Chileans, 0.26 mmol/l higher than in Brazilians (p < 0.001). The main finding was an interaction between adult obesity (BMI 30 or over) and birth weight and also BMI at birth and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol. A birth-weight increment of 1 kg was associated with a decrease in total cholesterol (-0.374 mmol/l, 95% CI -0.567 to -0.181) and LDL (-0.304 mmol/l (-0.479 to -0.129) in obese participants only. These associations persisted after allowing for gestational age in a smaller sample. This finding was consistent in separate analyses in the Brazilian and Chilean samples. No associations were found in relation to high-density lipoprotein and triglyceride concentrations. Conclusion The results suggest that those who were of low birth weight and are obese are more likely to have high cholesterol and LDL concentrations. Thus preventing obesity may be especially rewarding in subjects with a low birth weight.

Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies in Wild White-Lipped Peccary (Tayassu pecari) From Peru

In the Peruvian Amazon, the white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecan) is a desirable game species and is important for the local rural economy. Blood samples from 101 white-lipped peccaries from Peru were collected from 3 different conservation areas located in the municipalities of Manu and Tambopata, southeastern region of the Peruvian Amazon. Antibodies were assayed using the modified agglutination test (MAT, cut of value of 25). Antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii were found in 89.1% (90 of 101) of animals, with titers of 1:25 in 9, 1:50 in 25, 1:100 in 20, 1:200 in 14, 1:400 in 12, 1:800 in 9, and 1:3,200 in 1; 87.7% and 89.2% of males and females, respectively, tested positively, and no association (P >= 0.05) with gender and occurrence of antibodies was observed.

PREVALENCE OF ANTIBODIES TO TRYPANOSOMA CRUZI, LEISHMANIA INFANTUM, ENCEPHALITOZOON CUNICULI, SARCOCYSTIS NEURONA, AND NEOSPORA CANINUM IN CAPYBARA, HYDROCHOERUS HYDROCHAERIS, FROM SAO PAULO STATE, BRAZIL

Little is known about the importance of capybara. Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, as reservoirs for parasites of zoonotic or veterinary importance. Sera from 63 capybaras, from 6 counties in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, were examined for antibodies to Trypanosoma cruel, Leishmania infantum, Encephalitozoon cuniculi. Sarcacystis neurona, and Neospora caninum using an indirect immunofluorescent antibody test. Five (8%) of the 63 capybaras had antibodies to T cruzi epimastigotes. None of the samples from capybara reacted positively with L. infantum promastigotes or with spores of E. cuniculi. Two (3%) of the serum samples were positive for antibodies to S. neurona merozoites, and 2 (3%) of the serum samples were positive for antibodies to N. caninum tachyzoites. A serum sample from 1 capybara was positive for antibodies to both T cruzi and N. caninum. None of the remaining 62 samples reacted with more than 1 parasite.

Notes on Population Dynamics of Amblyomma Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in Brazil

Previous population dynamics data, generated for Amblyomma parvum Aragao and Aniblyomma cajennense (Fabricius) in Argentina and southeastern Brazil, have indicated that these ticks complete I generation per year, with larvae predominating in autumn, nymphs in winter, and mostly adults during spring and summer. The present study reports population dynamics data for free-living Amblyomma spp. ticks in northern Brazil (Amazon forest, latitude 10 degrees S, 63 degrees W), and for Amblyomma spp. ticks collected oil birds in Southeastern Brazil (latitude 23 degrees S, 45 degrees W). In northern Brazil, adult ticks predominated from mid-spring to mid-autumn, larvae predominated in early winter, and nymphs from mid-winter to mid-spring. Seven Amblyomma spp. were identified, although A. cajannense predominated in I of the 2 sites sampled. In southeastern Brazil, larval infestations on birds peaked in autumn, followed by a nymphal infestation peak in late winter. At least 32% and 75% of these larvae and nymphs, respectively, were identified as Amblyomma longirostre (Koch). Similar to previous work, the present study showed that Amblyomma spp. larvae and nymphs predominated during autumn-winter months, and mostly adults during spring-summer months, a pattern compatible with 1 genration/yr, even at latitude 10 degrees S in northern Brazil.

Serological Survey for Antibodies to Encephalitozoon cuniculi in Ownerless Dogs From Urban Areas of Brazil and Colombia

There are 3 strains of Encephalitozoon cuniculi that occur in mammals. Strain III is associated with clinical disease in dogs, although some can be asymptomatic carriers and excrete spores in their urine. Several cases of human E. cuniculi infection caused by strain III have been observed in immunocompromised patients, indicating that E. cuniculi should be considered a zoonotic agent. Encephalitozoon cuniculi can cause fatal disease in maternally-infected or young dogs. Clinical signs in these animals included blindness, encephalitis, retarded growth rate, and nephritis. Encephalitozoon cuniculi has also been associated with primary renal failure in adult dogs. The present study used the direct agglutination test (DAT, cut-off 1:50) and the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT, cut-off 1:10) to examine the prevalence of antibodies to E. cuniculi in dogs from Brazil and Colombia. Using the DAG, 31 (27.4%) of 113 dogs from Brazil and 47 (18.5%) of 254 dogs from Colombia were seropositive. Nine (14.3%) of 63 dogs from Brazil and IS (35.3%) of the 51 dogs from Colombia were seropositive by indirect immunofluorescent antibody test. These results indicate that dogs from Brazil and Colombia are exposed to E. cuniculi.

ISOLATION OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII FROM GOATS FROM BRAZIL

Goats are economically important in many countries, and little is known of caprine toxoplasmosis in Brazil. Anti-bodies to toxoplasma gondii were assayed in the sera of 143 goats from 3 Brazilian states, using modified agglutination test (MAT titer >= 1:25); 46 (32.2%) tested positive. Samples of brain, heart, diaphragm, and masseter of seropositive animals were pooled, digested in pepsin, and bioassayed in mice. Viable T. gondii specimens were isolated from tissue homogenates of 12 goats; the isolates were designated TgGtBr1-12. Ten of the 12 isolates killed 100% of infected mice, indicating that goats can harbor mouse-virulent T. gondii and, hence, can serve as a source of infection for humans.

Toxoplasma gondii Isolates From Free-Range Chickens From the Northeast Region of Brazil

The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in free-ranging chickens is a good indicator of the prevalence of 7: gondii oocysts in the soil because chickens feed from the ground. The prevalence of T. gonulii in 152 free-range chickens (Gallus domesticus) from 22 municipalities in 7 northeastern states (Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Norte, Maranh5o, Bahia, Ceara, Sergipe, and Alagoas) of Brazil was determined. Antibodies to T. gondii were assayed by the modified agglutination test (MAT); 81 (53.3 %) chickens had titers of 1:5 in 26, 1:10 in 9, 1:20 in 4, 1:40 in 1, 1:80 in 6, 1:160 in 6, 1:320 in 13, 1:640 in 6, 1:1,280 in 3, 1:2,560 in 6, and 1:5,120 or higher in I. Hearts and brains of 81 seropositive chickens were bioassayed individually in mice. Toxoplasma gondii was isolated from 23 chickens with MAT titers of 1:5 or higher; the isolates were designated TgCKBr165-187. Five isolates killed all infected mice. Results indicate widespread contamination of rural environment in Brazil with T. gondii oocysts.

SEROPREVALENCE AND ISOLATION OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII FROM SHEEP FROM SAO PAULO STATE, BRAZIL

Sheep are important in the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection, but little is known of ovine toxoplasmosis in Brazil. Antibodies to T. gondii were assayed in sera of 495 sheep from 36 countries of Sao Paulo state. Brazil, using the modified agglutination test (MAT titer >= 1:25); 120 (24.2%) sheep tested positive. Samples of brain, heart, and diaphragm of 85 seropositive sheep were pooled, digested in pepsin, and bioassayed in mice. Toxoplasma gondii was isolated from tissue homogenated of 16 sheep, and the isolated were designated TgShBr 1-16. Six of the 16 T. gondii isolated killed 100% of infected mice. Results indicate that asymptomatic sheep can harbour mouse-virulent T. gondii; hence, they can serve as a source of infection for humans.

New reports of Antricola guglielmonei and Antricola delacruzi in Brazil, and a description of a new argasid species (Acari)

Adults of 3 tick species (Acari: Argasidae) identified as Antricola guglielmonei, Antricola delacruzi, and Carios rondoniensis n. sp. were collected oil bill guano in a cave in the state of Rondonia, western Amazon. Brazil. Adults of C. rondoniensis Possess a unique combination of characters that distinguish them front all described adults in the Argasidae. i.e.. a large spiracular plate densely filled with small goblets, a well-developed flap covering the female genital opening, and palpi containing several tufts of long setae oil articles 2 and 3. Unlike Ornithodoros or other Carios species. adults of C rondoniensis have a scooplike hypostome devoid of denticles, as in Antricola spp. Conversely, the presence of a pair of long posthypostomal setae, and a slitlike transverse fissure at the Capsule opening of the Haller's organ, are characters of C. rondonensis that are also found ill species of Carios and Ornithodoros, but not in Antricola species. Molecular analyses inferred from a portion of the 16S rRNA mitochondrial gene indicate that C. rondoniensis is phylogenetically closest to species of Carios. followed by species of Antricola. and then Ornithodoros. Because the highest bootstrap value linking C. rondoniensis to Carios spp. was 62%, further phylogenetic studies are needed to better evaluate the taxonomic Status of the former species.

Observations on Antricola ticks: Small nymphs feed on mammalian hosts and have a salivary gland structure similar to ixodid ticks

Ticks use bloodmeals as a Source of nutrients and energy to molt and survive until the next meal and to oviposit, in the case of females. However, only the larvae of some tick species are known to feed upon bats females are obligatorily autogenous, and nymphal stages are believed to not feed. We investigated the presence of blood ill a natural population of nymphal Antricola delacruzi ticks collected from bat guano; their ability to feed upon laboratory hosts: and the microscopic structure of both salivary glands and gut. DNA amplification of gut contents of freshly collected material was positive for a mammal in 4 of 11 first instar nymphs, but we were unsuccesful in the amplification of host bloodmeal DNA from late instar nymphs. All early nymphal stages (n = 10) fed oil rabbits. and host DNA was detected and sequenced from gut contents. However, all the large nymphs (n = 10) rejected feeding, and host DNA remained undetected in these ticks. All stages of A. delacruzi have salivary glands similar in morphology to the ixodid agranular Type I salivary gland acini and to granular Type II or Type B acini. All stages of A. delacruzi had a similar gut structure. consisting of digestive cells in the basal portion that contained hematin granules. Neither regenerative nor secretory cell traces were observed in the sections Of gut.

Occurrence of Neospora caninum antibodies in capybaras (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) from Sao Paulo State, Brazil

Capybara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) is a large rodent distributed throughout tropical America. Antibodies to Neospora caninum in 213 feral capybaras from 11 counties of the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. were assessed using the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (titer >= 1:25) and found in 20 (9.4%), with titers of 1:25 in 4, 1:50 in 7, and 1:100 in 9 animals. This is the first report of occurrence of N. caninum antibodies in capybaras.

DESCRIPTION OF ADULTS AND NYMPH, AND REDESCRIPTION OF THE LARVA, OF ORNITHODOROS MARINKELLEI (ACARI: ARGASIDAE), WITH DATA ON ITS PHYLOGENETIC POSITION

The argasid tick Ornithodoros marinkellei Kohls, Clifford, and Jones, 1969 was described 4 decades ago based on larval specimens collected from bats (Pteronotus spp.) in Colombia and Panama. Thereafter, larval O. marinkellei parasitizing bats were reported from Venezuela, Guyana, and Brazil. Herein, we describe the adults and nymph, and redescribe the larva of O. marinkellei based on specimens recently collected in the western Brazilian Amazon region. In contrast to all other known adult argasids, the idiosoma of both males and females of O. marinkellei is covered with sclerotized plaques. The idiosoma of the nymph of O. marinkellei is entirely micromamillated, and differs from the adults by the absence of plaques. The larva of O. marinkellei is morphologically similar to the larvae of the 2 other species belonging to the subgenus Subparmatus, i.e., Ornithodoros viguerasi Cooley and Kohls, 1941 and Ornithodoros mormoops Kohls, Clifford, and Jones, 1969. Because of the long and narrow dorsal plate, the larva of O. marinkellei is readily distinguished from O. viguerasi and O. mormoops. Comparison of our larvae from Brazil with O. marinkellei paratype specimens from Colombia confirmed their taxonomic identification. However, a few morphological differences, particularly in the size of the gnathosoma, were observed. Further studies are necessary to clarify whether O. marinkellei is a complex of different species, or a single species represented by morphologically polymorphic, and geographically distinct populations. Partial mitochondrial 16S rDNA gene sequences were generated for O. marinkellei specimens from Brazil, and compared with available homologous sequences in GenBank. Phylogenetic analyses revealed O. marinkellei to be distinct from the remaining argasid species available in GenBank, including other bat-associated tick species that are found in sympatry with O. marinkellei in the Neotropical region.

VIABILITY OF SPORULATED OOCYSTS OF NEOSPORA CANINUM AFTER EXPOSURE TO DIFFERENT PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL TREATMENTS

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the viability of Neospora caninum sporulated oocysts after various chemical and physical treatments. Bioassays in gerbils and molecular techniques (PCR-RFLP) were used for identification of the oocysts shed by experimentally infected dogs. Sporulated oocysts were purified and divided into 11 treatment groups as follows: absolute ethanol for 1 hr; 20 C for 6 hr; 4 C for 6 hr; 60 C for 1 min; 100 C for 1 min; 10% formaldehyde for 1 hr; 10% ammonia for 1 hr; 2% iodine for 1 hr; 10% sodium hypochlorite for I hr; 70% ethanol for I hr; and one group was left untreated and kept as a positive control. All chemical treatments were performed at room temperature (37 C). A total of 33 gerbils, or 3 gerbils per treatment, were used for bioassays. After treatment, the oocysts were divided into aliquots of 1,000 oocysts and orally administered to gerbils. After 63 days, the gerbils were anesthetized and killed with 0.2 ml of T61; blood and tissue samples were collected for serological (IFAT and western blotting), molecular (real-time PCR), histopathology, and immunohistochemical tests. Treatments were considered effective only if all 5 detection techniques tested negative. High temperatures at 100 C for 1 min and 10% sodium hypochlorite for 1 hr were the only treatments that met this condition, effectively inactivating all oocysts.