In vitro biological control of infective larvae of Ancylostoma ceylanicum / Controle biológico in vitro de larvas infectantes de Ancylostoma ceylanicum

The aim of this study was to evaluate the predatory activity of the fungus Duddingtonia flagrans (AC001) on infective larvae of Ancylostoma ceylanicum after gastrointestinal transit in hamsters. Twenty animals were used in the experiment, divided into two groups: a treated group (10 animals) and a control group (10 animals). In the group treated with D. flagrans, each animal received mycelium from the AC001 isolate, at an oral dose of 5 mg/25 g of live weight. To evaluate the predatory activity of the fungus, fecal samples were collected from the animals in both groups, at the times of 6, 8, 12, 24 and 36 hours after the treatment. Then, subsamples of 2 g of feces were placed in Petri dishes containing 2% water-agar (2% WA) culture medium and 1000 L3 of A. ceylanicum. Over the study period, the following percentage reductions were observed: 43.2% (6 hours), 30.8% (8 hours), 25.8% (12 hours), 30% (24 hours) and 11% (36 hours). The fungus D. flagrans presented predatory activity on the L3 of A. ceylanicum, after passing through the hamsters' gastrointestinal tract. It was therefore concluded that the fungus D. flagrans may be an alternative for biological control of the L3 of A. ceylanicum.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a atividade predatória do fungo Duddingtonia flagrans (AC001) sobre larvas infectantes de Ancylostoma ceylanicum após o trânsito gastrintestinal em hamsters. Foram utilizados vinte animais no experimento, divididos em dois grupos: um grupo tratado (10 animais) e um grupo controle (10 animais). No grupo tratado com D. flagrans, cada animal recebeu 5mg/25g de peso vivo de micélio do isolado AC001, por via oral. Para avaliar a atividade predatória do fungo, amostras fecais foram coletadas de ambos os grupos de animais nos horários de: 6, 8, 12, 24 e 36 após o tratamento. A seguir, 2g de fezes foram colocadas em placas de Petri contendo o meio de cultura ágar-água 2% (AA2%) e 1000 L3 de A. ceylanicum. Ao longo dos horários estudados os seguintes percentuais de redução foram observados: 43,2% (6 horas); 30,8% (8 horas); 25,8% (12 horas); 30% (24 horas) e 11% (36 horas). O fungo D. flagrans (AC001) apresentou atividade predatória sobre as L3 de A. ceylanicum após o trânsito pelo trato gastrintestinal de hamsters. Além disso, foi observada uma diferença significativa nos percentuais obtidos de cada horário em relação ao numero de L3 recuperadas (P < 0,01). Conclui-se, portanto, que o fungo D. flagrans pode ser uma alternativa de controle biológico das L3 de A. ceylanicum.

Assessment of sand fly (Diptera, Psychodidae) control using cypermethrin in an endemic area for visceral leishmaniasis, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais State, Brazil / Avaliação do controle de flebotomíneos (Diptera, Psychodidae) usando cipermetrina em área endêmica para leishmaniose visceral, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brasil

Montes Claros in Minas Gerais State, Brazil, was considered an intense transmission area for visceral leishmaniasis. This study evaluated sand fly fauna after insecticide application. Captures were performed in 10 districts from September 2005 to August 2006 with CDC light traps inside and outside each residence. Cypermethrin was sprayed in two cycles during November/2005 and May/2006. The 636 specimens collected, belonging to 10 species, were predominantly Lutzomyia longipalpis (79 percent), and most frequently males (70 percent). The highest percentage of specimens were captured in areas surrounding domiciles (85.8 percent). The main species were observed to be sensitive to treatment with the insecticide. The results showed a reduction in the number of sand flies collected after use of cypermethrin in homes and annexes, and with residual effect lasting from two to four months.

Montes Claros foi considerada área de transmissão intensa para leishmaniose visceral no Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Este trabalho avaliou a fauna de flebotomíneos após a aplicação do inseticida. Entre setembro de 2005 e agosto de 2006, foram realizadas capturas com 20 armadilhas luminosas CDC em 10 bairros do município, no intra e no peridomicílio de cada residência. Dois ciclos de borrifação com cipermetrina foram realizados nos meses de novembro/2005 e maio/2006. Coletou-se 636 exemplares pertencentes a 10 espécies, com predominância de Lutzomyia longipalpis (79 por cento). Machos foram coletados com maior frequência (70 por cento). O peridomicílio apresentou a maior porcentagem dos espécimens capturados (85,8 por cento). Observou-se que as principais espécies foram sensíveis ao tratamento com o inseticida. Os resultados mostraram uma redução do número de flebotomíneos coletados devido ao uso de cipermetrina nos domicílios e seus anexos, mas com efeito residual atuante entre dois e quatro meses.

Identification of candidate antigens from adult stages of Toxocara canis for the serodiagnosis of human toxocariasis

In the present work, we identified adult Toxocara canis antigens through sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for potential use in human toxocariasis immunodiagnosis. The sensitivity and specificity of several semi-purified antigens, as well as their cross-reactivity with other parasitic infections, were assessed by IgM and IgG-enzime linked immunosorbent assay. Whilst we found that the crude extract of the parasite presented limited sensitivity, specificity and high cross-reactivity against other parasites, we identified 42, 58, 68 and 97-kDa semi-purified antigens as the most promising candidates for immunodiagnosis. Moreover, the 58 and 68-kDa antigens presented the lowest IgM cross-reactivity. When tested as a combination, a mixture of the 58 and 68-kDa antigens presented 100 percent sensitivity and specificity, as well as minor cross-reactivity. Although the combination of the 42, 58, 68 and 97-kDa antigens presented 100 percent sensitivity at a dilution of 1:40, the low specificity and high cross-reactivity observed suggested a limited use for diagnostic purposes. Our data suggested that the 58 and 68-kDa antigens might be most suitable for the immunodiagnosis of human toxocariasis.

Estudo comparativo da pressão arterial sistêmica aferida por três métodos distintos não-invasivos / Comparative study of arterial blood pressure using threedifferent non-invasive methods

Introdução: a hipertensão arterial sistêmica apresenta alta prevalência em praticamente todos os países do mundo, sendo considerada dos principais fatores de risco paramorbimortalidade cardiovascular. A aferição precisa da pressão arterial é procedimento fundamental na avaliação semiológica do sistema cardiovascular, permitindo estabelecer condutas terapêuticas individualizadas. A reprodutibilidade dos valores de pressão arterial aferidos por diferentes métodos, entretanto, permanece controversa. Objetivo: verificar a confiabilidade e reprodutibilidade de três métodos distintos de aferiçãoo da pressão arterial empregados na rotina clínica habitual e compará-los entresi. Métodos: trata-se de estudo comparativo das medidas de pressão arterial sistêmica de 115 pessoas residentes em Belo Horizonte. Foram realizadas múltiplas aferições da pressão arterial sistêmica por meio de aparelhos distintos: digital (Omron 705-CP), esfigmomanômetro aneroide (Welch-Allyn) e esfigmomanômetro de coluna de mercúrio. Resultados: as médias da pressão arterial sistólica e diastólica medidas pelo esfigmomanômetro de coluna de mercúrio foram significativamente mais altas que as obtidas pelos aparelhos aneroide e digital (p<0,05). Os três aparelhos apresentaram correlação positiva aceitável, sendo a maior semelhança obtida entre as medidas obtidas pelos aparelhos digital e aneroide e entre os esfigmomanômetros de coluna de mercúrio e aneroide. Conclusões: ambos os métodos, auscultatório e oscilométrico, apresentamconcordância satisfatória entre si. Observam-se, entretanto, diferenças significativas nos valores de pressão arterial aferidos pelos diferentes métodos. Dessa maneira, essesequipamentos podem levar a diagnósticos distintos de hipertensão arterial sistêmica,culminando em diferentes condutas. Sugere-se, então, que os pacientes tenham suapressão arterial sistêmica aferida sempre com o mesmo aparelho/método, visando à redução dessa variabilidade.

Introduction: systemic blood arterial hypertension presents high prevalence in practically all over the world and is considered one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular morbi-mortality. The blood pressure precise measurement is a basic procedure in the cardiovascular system semiologic evaluation, allowing setting individual therapeutic conducts. The reproducibility of the arterial pressure values measured through different methods, however, remains controversial. Objective: to verify the reliability and reproducibility of three different methods applied in the clinic routine and compare them to each other. Methods: the comparative study of the systemic arterial blood pressure measurements of 115 individuals living in Belo Horizonte.Multiple measurements of the systemic arterial blood pressure were carried out by different devices: digital (Omron 705-CP), aneroid sphygmomanometer(Welch-Allyn) and mercury column sphygmomanometer. Results: the medians of systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressure measured by the mercury column sphygmomanometer were significantly higher than those obtained by the aneroid and digital devices (p<0,05). The three devices presented positive acceptable co-relation, with the highest similarity obtained between the measures by the digital and aneroid devices and between the mercury and aneroid sphygmomanometers.Conclusion: both methods, auscultatory and oscillometric, are satisfactorily concordant to each other. However, it was noted significant differences in the arterial pressure values measured by different behaviors. Thus, it is suggested that the patients have their systemic arterial pressure measured always with the same device/method, aiming at the reduction in this variability.

Identification and purification of immunogenic proteins from nonliving promastigote polyvalent Leishmania vaccine (Leishvacin®)

Immunogenic proteins from nonliving promastigote polyvalent Leishmania vaccine against American tegumentary leishmaniasis (Leishvacin®), produced by Biobrás (Biochemistry of Brazil ), Montes Claros, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, were identified and purified by polyacrylamide electrophoresis gel and electroelution. C57BL/10 mice were vaccinated with proteins with estimated molecular weights of 42, 46, 63, 66, 73, 87, 97, and 160kDa in three doses of 30æg of each protein at 15-day intervals combined with 250æg of Corynebacterium parvum followed by a challenge infection with 10(5) infective promastigotes from Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. The ability of these proteins to induce immune response and protection was analyzed. No statistical difference was observed in the level of IFN-g induced by proteins in vaccinated groups in comparison with control groups. Six months after challenge infection, protection levels of 28.57; 42.86; 57.14; 42.86; 42.86, 57.14; 42.86 and 57.14 percent were demonstrated for each purified protein