Transmission of Leishmania infantum from cats to dogs / Transmissão de Leishmania infantum de gatos para cães

Abstract Leishmania infantum infection in cats has been reported in several countries, including Brazil. However, the transmission of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) from cats to another host has not been proven yet. Therefore, the aim of this study was to verify the possibility of L. infantum transmission from cats to dogs. In order to verify the possibility of VL transmission from the cat to the dog, xenodiagnosis was carried out in a VL-positive cat, using 55 female Lutzomyia longipalpis. Five days later, 40 insects were dissected to verify Leishmania infection. The remaining 15 females were fed in a healthy dog. The potential infection of the dog was verified through clinical, serological, parasitological examinations, and PCR, at three, six, and twelve months post-infection. All 55 L. longipalpis females became visibly engorged. Leishmania promastigotes were detected in 27.5% of the dissected insects. Leishmania infection in the dog was confirmed upon first evaluation. DNA sequencing of the parasite isolated from the cat confirmed L. infantum infection and showed 99% similarity with the L. infantum DNA sequences from the dogs. Through this study, it was possible to confirm the L. infantum experimental transmission from a domestic cat to a domestic dog through its biological vector L. longipalpis.

Resumo A infecção por Leishmania infantum em gatos tem sido relatada em vários países, incluindo o Brasil. No entanto, a transmissão da leishmaniose visceral (LV) de gatos para outro hospedeiro ainda não foi comprovada. Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a possibilidade de transmissão de L. infantum de gatos para cães. Para verificar a possibilidade de transmissão da LV do gato para o cão, foi realizado xenodiagnóstico em um gato com LV, utilizando-se 55 fêmeas de Lutzomyia longipalpis. Cinco dias depois, 40 insetos foram dissecados para verificar a infecção por Leishmania. As 15 fêmeas restantes foram alimentadas em um cão saudável. A possível infecção no cão foi verificada por meio de exames clínicos, sorológicos, parasitológicos e PCR, três, seis e doze meses após a infecção. Todas as 55 fêmeas de L. longipalpis ficaram visivelmente ingurgitadas. Promastigotas de Leishmania foram detectadas em 27,5% dos insetos dissecados. A infecção por Leishmania no cão foi confirmada na primeira avaliação. O sequenciamento do DNA do parasito isolado do gato confirmou a infecção por L. infantum e apresentou 99% de similaridade com sequências de DNA de L. infantum de cães. Através deste estudo, foi possível confirmar a transmissão experimental de L. infantum de um gato doméstico para um cão doméstico através do seu vetor biológico L. longipalpis.

Hoplias aff. malabaricus Bloch, 1794 (Characiformes: Erythrinidae) parasites / Parasitos de Hoplias aff. malabaricus Bloch, 1794 (Characiformes: Erythrinidae)

Aquatic organisms are a subject of great interest because of their nutritional value and their high availability as human food. As a result, an increasing number of studies are being conducted on potentially harmful aquatic organisms such as aquatic parasites that compromise host health, as well as affect public health by zoonosis. A balance between the characteristics of healthy and diseased states in fish infected by parasitic fauna is dependent on parasite-host-environment interactions. Here, we have compiled a bibliographical review of the general aspects and epidemiology of the parasites of Hoplias aff. malabaricus Bloch, 1794, a widely distributed and consumed fish species in Brazil.(AU)

Os organismos aquáticos têm sido alvo de constante interesse por conta de suas características nutricionais e da crescente disponibilização na alimentação humana. Sendo assim, estudos relacionados a organismos nocivos presentes nos ecossistemas aquáticos têm se intensificado, como, por exemplo, acerca dos parasitos, que podem interessar à saúde pública como zoonose ou comprometer a higidez dos hospedeiros. Os peixes apresentam sua fauna parasitária característica em que o equilíbrio do estado saúde-doença é dependente da interação da tríade parasito-hospedeiro-ambiente. Com isso, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi fazer uma revisão bibliográfica de aspectos gerais e da epidemiologia dos parasitos de Hoplias aff. malabaricus Bloch, 1794, amplamente distribuído e consumido no Brasil.(AU)

Physicochemical properties and antioxidant capacity of propolis of stingless bees (Meliponinae) and Apisfrom two regions of Tocantins, Brazil / Propriedades físico-químicas e capacidade antioxidante de própolis de abelhas sem ferrão (Meliponinae) e Apis de duas regiões do Tocantins, Brasil

The composition of propolis depends on time, vegetation and the location of the collection area. The objective of this study was to determine the physicochemical characteristics, the concentration of phenol compounds and the antioxidant capacity of propolis of native stingless bees (Meliponinae) and Apis from the State of Tocantins. Extraction with 80% ethanol (v/v) was performed in order to obtain the extracts. Parameters examined were: propolis mass loss by desiccation at 105 ºC, ashes, wax concentration and pH. Furthermore, the propolis antioxidant activity was measured, as well as the total concentration of phenol compounds. The extracts were also analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. The total concentration of phenol compounds varied between 121.78 and 631.29 (mg GAE g-1). The antioxidant activity expressed by the value of CE50 varied between 29.81 and 845.38 µg mL-1. High performance liquid chromatography analysis allowed us to infer the existence of phenol compounds. The results indicated that the studied propolis samples constitute good sources of natural antioxidants. The variety of phenol compounds identified in this study, and the diverse biological functions reported in literature for these compounds indicated that this stingless bee propolis (Meliponinae) and Apis has a high pharmacological potential.

A composição da própolis depende do tempo, da vegetação e a localização da área de coleta. Este estudo teve como objetivo determinar as características físicas e químicas, o teor de compostos fenólicos e capacidade antioxidante da própolis de abelhas nativas sem ferrão (Meliponinae) e Apis do Estado do Tocantins. Para a obtenção dos extratos empregou-se extração com etanol 80% (v/v). Os parâmetros analisados foram: perda de peso por dessecação a 105 °C, cinzas, Teor de cera e pH. Além dessas foi mensurada a atividade antioxidante e o teor de compostos fenólicos totais. Adicionalmente os extratos de própolis foram também analisados por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência. O teor de compostos fenólicos totais variou entre 121,78 e 631,29 (mg GAE g-1). A atividade antioxidante expressa pelo valor de CE50 variou entre 29,81 e 845,38 µg mL-1. As análises por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência permitiram inferir a existência de compostos fenólicos. Os resultados indicaram que as amostras de própolis estudadas constituem boas fontes de antioxidantes naturais. A variedade de compostos fenólicos identificada neste estudo, e as diversas funções biológicas relatadas na literatura para estes compostos, indicaram que a própolis de abelhas sem ferrão (Meliponinae) e Apis tem um grande potencial farmacológico.

Neurocysticercosis: clinical manifestation, neuroimaging, serology and molecular confirmation of histopathologic specimens.

Diagnosis of neurocysticercosis (NCC) is usually based on neuroimaging and/or immunological analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and/or serum samples for detection of specific antibodies against T. solium antigens. Additional confirmative diagnosis may be possible by morphological and molecular confirmation of resected histopathologic specimens. The majority of NCC cases do not always show typical neuroimaging figures with invaginated scolex. So, serology using highly specific antigens of T. solium, either semi-purified native or recombinant antigens, is essential for confirming NCC cases. There is some debate about the usefulness of CSF and serum for immunodiagnosis. When NCC cases with a solitary cyst or with calcified lesions are examined, serology is not always sensitive to differentiating such cases. Malignant brain tumor is most commonly suspected in Japan and is often treated surgically as an urgent task, if the clinicians have no experience of NCC cases. Only histopathological specimens are expected to show direct evidence of T. solium cysticercosis. Morphology is not always sufficient for identification of the Taenia species, even if the majority of cysticerci in the human brain are expected to be T. solium. Crucial confirmation is based on molecular identification. In this review, these four issues are briefly summarized.

Towards the international collaboration for detection, surveillance and control of taeniasis/ cysticercosis and echinococcosis in Asia and the Pacific.

Both cysticercosis and echinococcosis are potentially among the most serious helminth zoonoses threatening human health worldwide. However, due to the lack of reliable tools for confirmation or identification of patients or infected animals, epidemiological data are expected to be underestimated. Conversely, sometimes, such data are over estimated due to the lack of specificity. The most important issue for doing field surveys is that they use evidence based science. In this communication, advanced immunological and molecular tools for detection of individuals infected with either metacestodes or adult tapeworms are briefly overviewed, and the applications of such tools for epidemiological surveys in Indonesia, China and other countries are introduced. As immunological tools are based on antigen-antibody responses, there may exist some cross-reactions. Therefore, immunodiagnostic tools are expected to be useful for primary screening, and should be combined with confirmation of direct parasitological evidence (morphology or DNA), and imaging techniques for cysts. As a risk factor for human cysticercosis is the presence of tapeworm carriers, detection of taeniasis cases and differentiation of the three human Taenia species (Taenia solium, T. saginata and T. asiatica) in Asia and the Pacific requires consideration. Similarly, in northwest China, Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis are coendemic and differentiation of these species is required in humans and definitive hosts. It is stressed that combination of several tools for identification of the parasite and for confirmation of diseases is important for obtaining highly reliable data before consideration of control of these zoonoses. Recent projects coordinated by Asahikawa Medical College have concentrated on immunological and molecular diagnostic techniques transferable to colleagues from endemic regions of Asia and the Pacific, and on organization of two international symposia to establish a platform for further collaboration in the future.

Echinococcosis and cysticercosis in Asia: evaluation of the modern technology for epidemiological study.

The recent emergence of zoonotic parasitic diseases of public health importance represents a growing global concern. Among zoonotic helminthic diseases, both echinococcosis and cysticercosis are the most serious diseases threatening human life. Neurocysticercosis (NCC) caused by ingestion of eggs of the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium, is spreading worldwide and not rare even in Muslim or Jewish communities. Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) caused by the proliferation of metacestodes of the fox tapeworm, Echinococcus multilocularis, is the most potentially lethal parasitic infection of the non-tropical northern hemisphere, whereas cystic echinococcosis (CE) caused by the proliferation of metacestodes of the dog tapeworm, E. granulosus, has rather a cosmopolitan distribution. As the life cycles of T. solium, E. multilocularis and E. granulosus are completed through predator-prey interactions, including humans, it is crucial to interrupt the cycle for control of these zoonotic cestodiases. Both NCC and CE are expected to be eradicable, since the principal life cycles of T. solium and E. granulosus are maintained between humans and pigs and between dogs and herbivorous domestic animals, respectively. In contrast, AE is perhaps not eradicable, since the life cycle of E. multilocularis is maintained between wild foxes and rodents. Modern technologies, including imaging, immunology and molecular biology, have been applied for epidemiological surveys. In the present review, we introduce such technologies applied in Japan, China and Indonesia, and point out the problems that need to be solved for control of these three zoonotic cestodiases.