Soropositividade e fatores de risco para leptospirose, toxoplasmose e neosporose na população canina do Estado da Paraíba / Seropositivity and risk factors for leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis and neosporosis in the canine population of Paraiba state, northeastern Brazil

Objetivou-se com este trabalho determinar a frequência de animais soropositivos para Leptospira spp., Toxoplasma gondii e Neospora caninum em cães do Estado da Paraíba, Nordeste do Brasil, bem como identificar fatores de risco. Foram amostrados 1.043 soros de cães procedentes de cinco centros urbanos considerados polos regionais: João Pessoa, Campina Grande, Patos, Sousa e Cajazeiras. Para o diagnóstico sorológico da infecção por Leptospira spp. foi utilizada a soroaglutinação microscópica (SAM) enquanto que para detecção de anticorpos anti-T. gondii e N. caninum empregou-se a reação de imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI). Noventa e sete cães apresentaram aglutininas anti-Leptospiraspp., resultando em frequência de 9,3% (IC 95% = 7,5-11,1%). Os sorovares de maior frequência foram Icterohaemorragiae (47,4%), Copenhageni (16,5%), Bratislava (11,3%), Canicola (10,3%) e Pomona (6,2%). Observou-se soropositividade de 22,1% (231/1.043; IC 95% = 19,6-24,7%) e 7,7% (80/1.043; IC 95% = 6,1-9,3%) para T. gondii e N. caninum, respectivamente. Idade >48 meses (OR=2,92), raça não definida (OR=1,94) e criação com acesso à rua (OR=1,57) foram apontados como fatores de risco para infecção por Leptospira spp. Para toxoplasmose, as categorias idade >48 meses (OR=1,74), alimentação com comida caseira (OR=2,24), alimentação com ração e comida caseira (OR=2,34) e contato com gatos (OR=1,57) foram consideradas fatores de risco, enquanto que a criação com acesso à rua (OR=2,62) foi fator de risco para N. caninum. Conclui-se que cães de cinco centros urbanos do Estado da Paraíba estão expostos às infecções por Leptospiraspp., T. gondii e N. caninum, evidenciadas pela detecção de anticorpos, bem como sugere-se melhor manejo alimentar, controle no acesso a ambientes externos e destino adequado das fezes de gatos.(AU)

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of seropositive animals for Leptospiraspp., Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in dogs from Paraiba state, northeastern Brazil, and to identify risk factors. A total of 1,043 sera were sampled from dogs from five urban centers considered as regional poles: João Pessoa, Campina Grande, Patos, Sousa and Cajazeiras. For the serological diagnosis of Leptospira spp. infection the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was used, and for detecting anti-T. gondii and N. caninum antibodies the indirect fluorescent antiboy test (IFAT) was carried out. Ninety-seven dogs showed anti-Leptospira spp. agglutinins, resulting in a frequency of 9.3% (95% CI=7.5; 11.1%). The most frequente serovars were Icterohaemorragiae (47.4%), Copenhageni (16.5%), Bratislava (11.3%), Canicola (10.3%) and Pomona (6.2%). The seropositivities for T. gondii and N. caninum were 22.1% (231/1043; 95% CI=19.6; 24.7%) and 7.7% (80/1043; 95% CI=6.1; 9.3%) respectively. Age >48 months (OR=2.92), mixed breed (OR=1.94) and access to street (OR=1.57) were identified as risk factors for Leptospira spp. infection. For toxoplasmosis, the categories age >48 months (OR=1.74), homemade food (OR=2.24), comercial and homemade food (OR=2.34) and contact with cats (OR=1.57) were considered risk factors, while access to street (OR=2.62) was risk fator for N. caninum. We conclude that dogs from five urban centers in Paraiba state are exposed to Leptospira spp., T. gondii and N. caninum infections, evidenced by antibody detection, as well as it is suggested a better feed management, control of outside home environment access and proper disposal of cat feces.(AU)

Aedes aegypti disregard humidity-related conditions with adequate nutrition

Weather variations have clear associations with the epidemiology of dengue fever and populations of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Data on humidity associations, however, lags with respect to its effect on host-biting, nectar-seeking and survival. This experimental study on Ae. aegypti, sourced from the arid tropics, investigated the effect of low and high relative humidity and diet in relation to host-biting, temporal variations in feeding frequency, and mosquito mortality. In each environmental setting, 10 replicates, containing one male and five female mosquitoes, were challenged with different nutritional sources every six hours over 12 days. Results showed that host-biting did not diminish in low humidity and was six times higher than expected. Sucrose feeding was observed to significantly moderate hostbiting and water alone was inadequate for survival. The high host-biting rates help to explain the intensity of dengue epidemics, while the ability of the mosquito to disregard adverse humidity-related conditions helps to explain how dengue epidemics in arid tropical regions can be just as devastating as those in the wet tropics.

Chronic meningitis by histoplasmosis: report of a child with acute myeloid leukemia

Meningitis is a common evolution in progressive disseminated histoplasmosis in children, and is asymptomatic in many cases. In leukemia, the impaired of the T cells function can predispose to the disseminated form. The attributed mortality rate in this case is 20 percent-40 percent and the relapse rate is as high as 50 percent; therefore, prolonged treatment may be emphasized. We have described a child with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), that developed skin lesions and asymptomatic chronic meningitis, with a good evolution after prolonged treatment with amphotericin B deoxycholate followed by fluconazole.

Comparative study of human exposure to mercury in riverside communities in the Amazon region

Four populations in the Amazon area were selected for a comparative study of mercury-exposed and non-exposed populations: São Luiz do Tapajós, Barreiras, Panacauera, and Pindobal Grande. The highest mercury levels in human hair samples were found in São Luiz do Tapajós and Barreiras, greatly exceeding the limits established by the World Health Organization. Panacauera showed an intermediate level below 9 µg/g. This was the first comparative and simultaneous evaluation of mercury exposure in the Amazon area. Also, thanks to this type of monitoring, we were able to eliminate the uncertainties about the reference dose. On the basis of these data, we can conclude that the mercury levels detected in exposed populations of the Tapajós River basin may be dangerous not only because they are above the World Health Organization limits, but also because the simultaneous mercury detection in non-exposed populations with similar characteristics provided a valid control and revealed lower mercury levels. Our results support the importance of continuous monitoring in both exposed and non-exposed populations.

Cuerno cutaneo peneano: presentación de un caso: revición de la literatura / Cutaneous horn of the penis: case report: review of the literature

El cuerno cutáneo del pene es una lesión rarísimo con menos de 100 casos publicados en la literatura mundial. La importancia clínica de estas lesiones radica en la patología subyacente que conduce a los cambios hiperqueratósicos de la piel. En la mayoría de los pacientes la lesión es benigna, pero en un tercio de ellos representan la rxpresión clínica de uina patología maligna. El tratamiento de elección es la escisión completa de la lesión

La place de la sequestrectomie osseuse dans les osteomyelites chroniques de l'enfant: experience de 10 ans a l'Hopital Pediatrique d'Owendo de Libreville (Gabon)

Sur une serie de 36 cas d'osteomyelites chroniques de l'enfant; 69;4 per cent etaient drepanocytaires; 30;6 per cent non drepanocytaires. Tous presentaient des sequestres osseux. A leur propos; une analyse des donnees epidemiologiques; topographiques; enfin une reflexion sur la conduite du traitement est proposee pour eviter de creer les conditions d'une pseudathrose. La radiographie standard nous est apparue suffisante pour decider du moment de la sequestrectomie; le plus tard possible

Valoracion electrocardiografica de la cardiotoxicidad del antimoniato de N-metil glucamina (R glucantime). / Electrocardiografic value of cardiotoxicity of N-methyl-glucamine antimoniate (R glucantime)

Se estudio el efecto toxico del antimonial pentavalente antimoniato de N-Metil Glucamina (R glucantime), sobre el corazon, mediante el registro electrocardiografico previo y de control de 16 pacientes portadores de leishmaniasis cutanea, en el periodo agudo de la enfermedad, referidos del area endemica de la problacion de Tovar, Departamento Tovar, Estado Merida en Venezuela y de sus alredores.Se pudo determinar que la dosis de 25 a 50 mgm/kgp/dia, administrada en dos o tres series de tratamiento, ademas de conseguir una curacion de la lesion ulcerosa, no provoca alteraciones con signos de toxicidad miocardica