Key to the species of Brazilian Procamallanus with general considerations (Nematoda, Camallanoidea)

In the present paper, the Peruvian Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) incarocai (Freitas & Ibañez 1970) is proposed as a junior synonym of P. (S.) hilarii Vaz & Pereira, 1934. The validity of the subgenera Procamallanus Baylis, 1923 and Spirocammallanus Olsen, 1952 is discussed. a check list and a key to the species of Procamallanus Baylis, 1923 occuring in Brazil are presented.

Procamallanus brasileiros - parte I (Nematoda, Camallanoidea)

Nessa primeira parte do trabalho referente ao estudo dos Procamallanus brasileiros, os autores propoêm que Spirocamallanus Olsen, 1952, seja aceito apenas como um bom subgênero, baseando-se exclusivamente no aspecto de cápsula bucal. Assi, Spirocamallanus identifica os camalanídeos de cápsula bucal com lâminas espiraladas ou outras estruturas semelhantes, enquanto que Procamallanus se aplicaria aos de cápsula bucal lisa. Quanto às demais subdivisões existentes para o gênero, apoiadas em aspecto e quantidade de espículos, são consideradas resultado de um critério bastante arbitrário para conservarem-se válidas, visto serem os espículos caracteres sujeitos a diversas interpretações por parte dos especialistas, devido à fragilidade que os toma tão sujeitos a modificações no grupo dos camalanídeos. Três espécies são aqui tratadas: Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) rarus Travassos, Artigas & Pereira, 1928, Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) pimelodus, e Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) intermedius. As duas últimas são propostas como novas. Procamallanus (S.) pimelodus é comparada a Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) olseni Campana-Rouget & Razahihelissoa, 1965, dela se distinguindo, principalmente, por apresentar o rebordo da asa caudal franjado e fortemente musculoso. Procamallanus (S.) intermedius aproxima-se unicamente de Procamallanus (S.) rarus, por apresentar o espículo maior com bifurcação distal e dela se afasta pelo maior número e menor espessura das lâminas espiraladas na cápsula bucal. Para Procamallanus (S.) rarus é apresentada a descrição da fêmea, a redescrição do macho, salientando-se pela primeira vez no gênero, o aspecto singular do espículo maior, aspecto esse também observado ao se lidar com Procamallanus (S.) intermedius, depois de se ter tido acesso ao exemplar tipo e único de Procamallanus (S.) rarus. Foram examinadas 31 amostras de material que faz parte da Coleção Helmintológica do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz.

Novas contribuicões ao conhecimento do gênero Procamallanus (Nematoda, Camallanoidea)

Os autores, continuando com o estudo dos Procamallanus brasileiros, propõem Procamallanus (S.) solaini como espécie nova para o gênero. Redescrevem Procamallanus (S.) iheringi Travassos, Artigas & Pereira, 1928, depois de terem tido acesso ao material tipo e elucidado dúvidas a respeito de sua morfologia. Para Procamallanus (S.) inopinatus Travassos, Artigas & Pereira, 1928, tiveram a descrição de Pinto & Noronha, 1972 adaptada. De Procamallanus (S.) amarali Vas & Pereira, 1934, tornam conhecida a fêmea da espécie e fazem uma breve redescrição do macho. Listam amostras de Procamallanus sp. que não conduziram a um diagnóstico preciso, devido ao seu precário estado de conservação. Foram examinadas amostras de helmintos que fazem parte da Coleção Helmintológica do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz.

Novas considerações morfológicas e sistemáticas sobre os Procamallanus brasileiros (Nematoda, Camallanoidea)

Mais uma vez os autores apresentam os resultados obtidos, após examinarem 62 amostras de Procamallanus brasileiros parasitas de peixes dulcícolas. Duas novas espécies são propostas: Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) pexatus e Procamallanus (Procamallanus) peraccuratus, esta representando a primeira ocorrência do subgênero no Brasil. Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) probus pinto & fernandes, 1972, é considerada sinônimo de Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) inopinatus Travassos, Artigas & Pereira, 1928. Um lote não identificado, por insuficiência de dados, é incluído como Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) sp.

Procamallanus brasileiros (Nematoda, Camallanoidea): considerações finais, com chave para determinação das espécies

Encerrando uma série de observações em nematódeos do gênero Procamallanus Baylis, 1923, que ocorrem no Brasil, reunimos no presente trabalho a descrição de uma nova espécie: Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) paraensis, a redescrição de Procamallanus (S.) hilarii vaz & Pereira, 1934 e as descrições originais de Procamallanus (S.) barroslimai Pereira, 1935 e Procamallanus (S.) macaensis vicente & Santos, 1972, modificadas e adaptadas. Quanto a barroslimai, colocamos em dúvida sua validade e somente não a tomamos sinônima a Procamallanus (S.) inopinatus Travassos, Artigas & Pereira, 1928, devido à falta absoluta de material, impossibilidade de acesso ao tipo e dados concretos que justificassem tal procedimento, no que somos apoiados por Kloss (1966). Relacionamos amostras de material parcialmente danificado que não nos permitiu uma diagnose específica. Referências são feitas a Procamallanus (S.) iheringi Travassos, Artigas & Pereira, 1928. Para Procamallanus (S.) inopinatus é assinalado um novo hospedador. Como a maioria do material observado provinha de necrópsias realizadas em peixes dulcícolas caracídeos, fizemos um estudo comparativo entre os Procamallanus anteriormente referidos nesses hospedadores a fim de estabelecermos possíveis afinidades entre os caracteres morfológicos considerados distintivos quando da proposição das diversas espécies. Desta forma, pudemos ratificar as afirmações de Kloss (1966), com relação aos Procamallanus, quando do estudo dos parasitos de espécies simpátricas de Astyanax. Finalmente, incluímos uma chave para a determinação dos Procamallanus brasileiros.

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.

Helminth parasites of fishes from the hydroeletric power station of eletrosul (Brazil). I: Procamallanus petterae n. sp. and Spirocamallanus pintoi n. sp. (Nematoda, Camallanidae) from the reservoir of Salto Osório

Procamallanus petterae n. sp. from Plecostomus albopunctarus and Spirocamallanus pintoi n. sp. from Corydoras paleatus are described. procamallanus petterae n. sp. differs from all other species of the genus by having a buccal capsule without spiral bands, with five teeth-like structures on its base and four plate-like structures near the anterior margin; length ratio of oesophagus muscular/glandular 1:1.4; spicules short, 21µ m and 16µ m long and tails ending abruptly in a sharp point, in both sexes. Spirocamallanus pintoi n. sp. is characterized by having 6 to 8 spiral thickenings in the buccal capsule of male and 9 to 10 in female, occupying 2/3 of the length of the capsule; length of glandular oesophagus more than twice the muscular; spicules short, the right 94µ m and the left 82µ m long.

Studies on Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) pereirai Annereaux, 1946 (Nematoda: Camallanidae), with new host records and new morphological data on the larval stages

Larval stages and adults of Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) pereirai Annereaux, 1946 are described from naturally infected Paralonchurus brasiliensis (Steindachner) (Sciaenidae) from the coast of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The translucent first-stage larvae have a denticulate process at the anterior end, no buccal capsule or esophagus undifferentiated into anterior muscular and posterior glandular parts and an elongate tail; third-stage larvae have a tail with three terminal projections, a buccal capsule divided into an anterior portion with 12-20 ridges running to the left and a posterior smooth portion, and an esophagus with muscular and glandular regions. Fourth-stage larvae exhibit a buccal capsule lacking a distinct basal ring with ridges running to the right and a tail with two terminal processes, as in adults. New host records are reported and their role in its life-cycle are discussed.

Biodiversidade de parasitas de peixes da família Loricariidae (Teleostei: Siluriformes) procedentes do rio Sapucaí-Mirim, Brasil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Identification Of Corynebacterium Spp. Isolated From Bovine Intramammary Infections By Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-time Of Flight Mass Spectrometry.

Corynebacterium species (spp.) are among the most frequently isolated pathogens associated with subclinical mastitis in dairy cows. However, simple, fast, and reliable methods for the identification of species of the genus Corynebacterium are not currently available. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization/mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for identifying Corynebacterium spp. isolated from the mammary glands of dairy cows. Corynebacterium spp. were isolated from milk samples via microbiological culture (n=180) and were analyzed by MALDI-TOF MS and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Using MALDI-TOF MS methodology, 161 Corynebacterium spp. isolates (89.4%) were correctly identified at the species level, whereas 12 isolates (6.7%) were identified at the genus level. Most isolates that were identified at the species level with 16 S rRNA gene sequencing were identified as Corynebacterium bovis (n=156; 86.7%) were also identified as C. bovis with MALDI-TOF MS. Five Corynebacterium spp. isolates (2.8%) were not correctly identified at the species level with MALDI-TOF MS and 2 isolates (1.1%) were considered unidentified because despite having MALDI-TOF MS scores >2, only the genus level was correctly identified. Therefore, MALDI-TOF MS could serve as an alternative method for species-level diagnoses of bovine intramammary infections caused by Corynebacterium spp.

Behavioral Changes Caused By Austrodiplostomum Spp. In Hoplias Malabaricus From The São Francisco River, Brazil.

Traira (Hoplias malabaricus) is a neotropical fish that is widely distributed in freshwater environments in South America. In the present study, we documented the occurrence of metacercariae of Austrodiplostomum spp. (Diplostomidae) in the eyes and cranial cavity of H. malabaricus and described parasite-induced behavioral changes in the host. The fish were collected from the upper São Francisco River, in the Serra da Canastra mountain range, Minas Gerais, transported alive to the laboratory, observed for 2 weeks, and subsequently examined for parasites. Of the 35 fish examined, 28 (80 %) had free metacercariae in the vitreous humor (mean intensity=95.4; mean abundance=76.3), and 24 (68.57 %) had free metacercariae in the cranial cavity, mainly concentrated below the floor of the brain, at the height of the ophthalmic lobe (mean intensity=12.91; mean abundance=8.85). Specimens of H. malabaricus with a high intensity of infection in the brain displayed changes in swimming behavior.

Molecular Genetic Variability Of Commercial And Wild Accessions Of Passion Fruit (passiflora Spp.) Targeting Ex Situ Conservation And Breeding.

Passiflora species are distributed throughout Latin America, and Brazil and Colombia serve as the centers of diversity for this genus. We performed cross-species amplification to evaluate 109 microsatellite loci in 14 Passiflora species and estimated the diversity and genetic structure of Passiflora cincinnata, Passiflora setaceae and Passiflora edulis. A total of 127 accessions, including 85 accessions of P. edulis, a commercial species, and 42 accessions of 13 wild species, were examined. The cross-species amplification was effective for obtaining microsatellite loci (average cross-amplification of 70%). The average number of alleles per locus (five) was relatively low, and the average diversity ranged from 0.52 in P. cincinnata to 0.32 in P. setacea. The Bayesian analyses indicated that the P. cincinnata and P. setacea accessions were distributed into two groups, and the P. edulis accessions were distributed into five groups. Private alleles were identified, and suggestions for core collections are presented. Further collections are necessary, and the information generated may be useful for breeding and conservation.

Bartonella Spp. Bacteremia In Blood Donors From Campinas, Brazil.

Bartonella species are blood-borne, re-emerging organisms, capable of causing prolonged infection with diverse disease manifestations, from asymptomatic bacteremia to chronic debilitating disease and death. This pathogen can survive for over a month in stored blood. However, its prevalence among blood donors is unknown, and screening of blood supplies for this pathogen is not routinely performed. We investigated Bartonella spp. prevalence in 500 blood donors from Campinas, Brazil, based on a cross-sectional design. Blood samples were inoculated into an enrichment liquid growth medium and sub-inoculated onto blood agar. Liquid culture samples and Gram-negative isolates were tested using a genus specific ITS PCR with amplicons sequenced for species identification. Bartonella henselae and Bartonella quintana antibodies were assayed by indirect immunofluorescence. B. henselae was isolated from six donors (1.2%). Sixteen donors (3.2%) were Bartonella-PCR positive after culture in liquid or on solid media, with 15 donors infected with B. henselae and one donor infected with Bartonella clarridgeiae. Antibodies against B. henselae or B. quintana were found in 16% and 32% of 500 blood donors, respectively. Serology was not associated with infection, with only three of 16 Bartonella-infected subjects seropositive for B. henselae or B. quintana. Bartonella DNA was present in the bloodstream of approximately one out of 30 donors from a major blood bank in South America. Negative serology does not rule out Bartonella spp. infection in healthy subjects. Using a combination of liquid and solid cultures, PCR, and DNA sequencing, this study documents for the first time that Bartonella spp. bacteremia occurs in asymptomatic blood donors. Our findings support further evaluation of Bartonella spp. transmission which can occur through blood transfusions.

Prevalence Of Treponema Spp. In Endodontic Retreatment-resistant Periapical Lesions.

This study investigated the presence of the Treponema species in longstanding endodontic retreatment-resistant lesions of teeth with apical periodontitis, the association of this species with clinical/radiographic features, and the association among the different target species. Microbial samples of apical lesions were collected from twenty-five adult patients referred to endodontic surgery after unsuccessful root canal retreatment. Nested-PCR and conventional PCR were used for Treponema detection. Twenty-three periradicular tissue samples showed detectable levels of bacterial DNA. Treponema species were detected in 28% (7/25) of the cases. The most frequently detected species were T. socranskii (6/25), followed by T. maltophilum (3/25), T. amylovorum (3/25), T. lecithinolyticum (3/25), T. denticola (3/25), T. pectinovorum (2/25) and T. medium (2/25). T. vicentii was not detected in any sample. Positive statistical association was found between T. socranskii and T. denticola, and between T. maltophilum and T. lecithinolyticum . No association was detected between the presence of any target microorganism and the clinical or radiographic features. Treponema spp. are present, in a low percentage, in longstanding apical lesions from teeth with endodontic retreatment failure.