Leishmaniose visceral entre índios no Estado de Roraima, Brasil: aspectos clínicoepidemiológicos de casos observados no período de 1989 a 1993 / Visceral leishmaniasis among Indians of the State of Roraima, Brazil: clinical and epidemiologic aspects of the cases observed from 1989 to 1993

Descreve-se o perfil epidemiológico da leishmaniose visceral entre índios no estado de Roraima, Brasil, baseado na ocorrência de casos humanos observados e nos inquéritos caninos e entomológicos realizados no período de 1989 a 1993. Foram registrados 82 casos humanos de leishmaniose visceral em seis dos oito municípios então existentes no estado; houve predomínio de 69,5 por cento para o sexo masculino entre os casos observados. A maioria (52,4 por cento) dos casos foi entre crianças de zero a dez anos de idade. Registrou-se o índice de 10,3 por cento de infecção canina natural, entre 3.773 cães examinados em 74 localidades pesquisadas. A Lutzomyia longipalpis foi encontrada nas áreas de maior prevalência da doença, em 31 localidades diferentes. Os casos humanos, caninos e vetores estão concentrados em regiões onde predominam serras e lavrados, áreas características de ocorrência da leishmaniose visceral americana. A introdução e intensificação das atividades garimpeiras na região podem ter contribuído para a introdução da doença.

Inoculação experimental de Equus asinus com Leishmania chagasi Cunha & Chagas, 1937 / Experimental infection of Equus asinus with Leishmania chagasi Cunha & Chagas, 1937

Quatro Equus asinus foram inoculados com promastigotas de Leishmania chagasi Cunha & Chagas, 1937 e acompanhados durante 12 meses através de: pesquisa de amastigotas em esfregaços e culturas de sangue periférico em fragmentos de tecido do lábio inferior, medula óssea, baço e fígado e de testes de ELISA e TRALd. Estes foram positivos nos 8º, 10º e 12º meses após a inoculação. O exame histopatológico pós necropsia, demonstrou discreto número de amastigotas no fígado de dois dos eqüídeos inoculados. Apesar de desafiados com elevado número de promastigotas, os animais não desenvolveram infecções patentes e não infectaram experimentalmente a vetora Lutzomya longipalpis. Os resultados induzem a acreditar que os eqüídeos são desprovidos de importância como reservatórios na cadeia de transmissão da leishmaniose visceral, embora sirvam como boa fonte de alimentação sangüínea e proliferação da vetora Lutzomyia longipalpis.

Horizontal stratification of the sand fly fauna (Diptera: Psychodidae) in a transitional vegetation between caatinga and tropical rain forest, state of Bahia, Brazil

A study about the horizontal stratification of the sand fly fauna in two distinct ecosystems, caatinga area, endemic for visceral leishmaniasis, and the tropical rain forest area, endemic for cutaneous leishmaniasis, was performed in the state of Bahia, Brazil. Lutzomyia longipalpis was predominant in the caatinga, and following it came the species L. capixaba and L. oswaldoi. In the tropical rain forest other species were found, such as L. intermedia, L. migonei, L. whitmani, L. yuilli, L.fischeri, L. damascenoi, L. evandroi, L. monticola, and L. lenti. It was found that the geographical limits of the vector species of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis are clearly defined by the biological and phytogeographic characteristics

Flebotomíneos (Díptera: Psychodidae) de uma Floresta Primária de Terra Firme da Estação Experimental de Silvicultura Tropical, Estado do Amazonas, Brasil

Studies about sand flies fauna were carried out in a non-flooded primary forest at the Experimental Station of Tropical Forest - National Institute of Amazon Research, between October 1998 and March 1999. CDC light traps were placed at 1m, 10m and 20 meters above ground level. 7.409 phlebotomines were collected, belonging to the genera, Lutzomyia (99,98%) and Brumptomyia (0,02%), represented by 39 species. In the genus Lutzomyia, the more frequent subgenus was Nyssomyia, with 39,43%, followed by Psychodopygus with 22,68%. The number of sandflies collected was increased, from the beginning of the rainy station.

Estudos sobre o levantamento da fauna de flebótomos foram realizados numa floresta primária de terra firme da Estação Experimental de Silvicultura Tropical (EEST) do Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), durante os meses de outubro de 1998 a março de 1999. Utilizando-se de armadilhas luminosas CDC colocadas a 1m, 10m e 20 metros de altura do solo, foram coletados 7.409 flebótomos, pertencentes a dois gêneros, Lutzomyia (99,98 %) e Brumptomyia (0,02%), abrangendo 39 espécies. Dentro do gênero Lutzomyia, os subgêneros mais representados foram Nyssomyia, com 39,43%, e Psychodopygus com 22,68%. O número de flebotomíneos coletados foi crescente, a partir do início da estação chuvosa.

Maria e Leônidas Deane / Maria and Leônidas Deane

Conferência proferida por Italo A. Sherlock, na XVIII Reuniäo Anual de Pesquisa Aplicada em Doença de Chagas e VI Reuniäo Anual de Pesquisa Aplicada em Leishmanioses, Uberaba 20 de Outubro de 2002, abordando aspectos relativos aos professores Maria e Leônidas Deane, além de relatos biográficos obtidos da literatura publicada, assim como do acervo da Casa de Oswaldo Cruz.

Estratificação vertical da fauna de flebótomos (Diptera, Psychodidae) numa floresta primária de terra firme da Amazônia Central, Estado do Amazonas, Brasil / Vertical stratification of phlebotomine sandfly fauna (Diptera, Psychodidae) in a primary non-flooded forest of the Central Amazon, Amazonas State, Brazil

Studies on the vertical stratification of phlebotomine sandfly fauna were conducted in a non-flooded primary forest at a Tropical Forest Experimental Station of the National Institute of Amazonian Research from October 1998 to March 1999. CDC light traps were placed at one, 10, and 20 meters above ground. A total of 2,859 sandflies were captured, belonging to the Lutzomyia (99.93) and Brumtomyia (0.07) genera, represented by 38 species. In the Lutzomyia gender, the most frequent sub-gender was Nyssomyia (43.4), followed by Psychodopygus (22.8). Lutzomyia umbratilis, L. anduzei, L. rorotaensis, L. trichopyga, and L. olmeca nociva predominated at one meter above ground, while L. davisi, L. infraspinosa, L. umbratilis, L. trichopyga, and L. anduzei predominated at 10 meters. L. anduzei, L. tuberculata, L. dendrophyla, and L. dreisbachi were the most abundant species at 20 meters. L. umbratilis, which appeared at all three levels of vertical stratification, has great epidemic significance as a vector of Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis.

Trapping Triatominae in silvatic habitats

Large-scale trials of a trapping system designed to collect silvatic Triatominae are reported. Live-baited adhesive traps were tested in various ecosystems and different triatomine habitats (arboreal and terrestrial). The trials were always successful, with a rate of positive habitats generally over 20 percent and reaching 48.4 percent for palm trees of the Amazon basin. Eleven species of Triatominae belonging to the three genera of public health importance (Triatoma, Rhodnius and Panstrongylus) were captured. This trapping system provides an effective way to detect the presence of triatomines in terrestrial and arboreal silvatic habitats and represents a promising tool for ecological studies. Various lines of research are contemplated to improve the performance of this trapping system

Dissociation between vasodilation and Leishmania infection-enhancing effects of sand fly saliva and maxadilan

In this study, the ability of maxadilan and Lutzomyia longipalpis salivary gland lysate to enhance the infection of CBA mice by Leishmania major and of BALB/c mice by L. braziliensis was tested. No difference was observed between sizes of lesion in CBA mice infected with L. major and treated or not with salivary gland lysate or maxadilan, although they were injected in concentrations that induced cutaneous vasodilation. Although parasites were more frequently observed in foot pads and spleens of animals treated with maxadilan than in the animals treated with salivary gland lysate or saline, the differences were small and not statistically significant. The lesions in BALB/c mice infected with L. braziliensis and treated with maxadilan were slightly larger than in animals that received Leishmania alone. Such differences disappeared 14 weeks after infection, and were statistically significant only in one of two experiments

Sylvatic vectors invading houses and the risk of emergence of cases of Chagas disease in Salvador, State of Bahia, Northeast Brazil

During the last twenty years, several adults of Triatoma tibiamaculata infected with Trypanosoma cruzi have been spontaneously caught by inhabitants, inside their houses in the new habitational district of Pituaçu of Salvador, Bahia. In this communication the authors call attention to the necessity of studies about the possibility of occurrence of new human cases of Chagas disease, to clarify the obscure origin of some positive blood donors in Salvador.

Consideraçöes sobre pulga (Siphonaptera) da raposa Cerdocyon thous (Canidae) da área endêmica de leishmanioe visceral de Jacobina, Bahia, Brasil / Notes on fleas (Siphonaptera) of the fox Cerdocyon thous (Canidae) from the visceral leishmaniasis endemic area of Jacobina, Bahia, Brazil

No período de julho a setembro de 1998 foram coletadas 152 pulgas em 18 exemplares da raposa Cerdocyon thous capturados na área endêmica de leishmaniose visceral de Jacobina, Estado da Bahia. As pulgas foram identificadas como: 136 Rhopalopsyllus lutzi lutzi, 11 Pulex irritans, 2 Ctenocephalides canis, 1 Ctenocephalides felis felis e 2 Xenopsylla

Histórico do Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz da Fundaçäo Oswaldo Cruz: 1957/1997 / The history of the Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz of the Fundaçäo Oswaldo Cruz

Como uma homenagem aos 40 anos de existência do Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, registra o histórico deste Centro, com base em fatos do conhecimento do autor e em documentos pesquisados. Enfase é dada ao período de 1963 a 1980.

Histórico do Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz da Fundaçäo Oswaldo Cruz - 1957/1997 / Historical report of the Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz of the Fundaçäo Oswaldo Cruz- 1957/1997

Registro do histórico do Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, como uma homenagem ao transcurso dos 40 anos de sua existência, com base em fatos do conhecimento de Italo A. Sherlock, que chefiou o Centro de 1963 a 1980, e em documentos a que teve acesso.(MAM)

Interações ecológicas da leishmaniose visceral no estado da Bahia, Brasil / Ecological interactions of visceral leishmaniasis in the State of Bahia, Brazil

Os dados sumariados neste trabalho sobre a ecologia da leishmaniose visceral no Estado da Bahia, Brasil, são baseados em observações de campo e de laboratório feitas pelo autor durante os últimos 35 anos, em alguns focos do Estado, assim como em notificações de casos e registros da literatura. Essa doença é endêmica, com surtos epidêmicos ocorrendo a cada dez anos, e sua distribuição geográfica tem se expandido rapidamente nos últimos anos. A Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi Cunha & Chagas, 1937 é o principal agente etiológico da leishmaniose visceral na Bahia, mas a Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis senso lato Lainson & Shaw, 1972, foi a única leishmânia isolada por outros autores de alguns casos de leishmaniose visceral humana nesse Estado. A Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) (com uma ou duas manchas nos tergitos III e IV e populações com indivíduos de dois tamanhos diferentes) foi incriminada como a principal vetora com base em evidências epidemiológicas. Foi encontrada naturalmente infectada com promastigotas no foco endêmico de Jacobina e foi experimentalmente infectada com quatro espécies de leishmânias. Embora a transmissão experimental de L. amazonensis pela picada de Lu. longipalpis para o hamster tenha sido realizada pelo autor, este não conseguiu transmitir L. chagasi da mesma maneira. O cão (Canis familiaris) foi considerado a mais importante fonte doméstica para a infecção do veto r, contudo, esse animal não é um reservatório natural primário do parasito. O marsupial Didelphis albiventris Lund, 1841 foi encontrado naturalmente infectado com a L. chagasi mas seu papel como reservatório ainda permanece obscuro. A raposa (Lycalopex vetulus Lund, 1842) e os roedores não foram encontrados infectados com a leishmânia na Bahia.

Ecological interactions of visceral leishmaniasis in the State of Bahia, Brazil

The laboratory and field observations summarized in this paper on visceral leishmaniasis ecology in the State of Bahia, Brazil are based on the author's observations over the past 35 years in a number of state's foci, public health records and literature citations. The disease is endemic with epidemic outbreaks occuring every ten years and its geographical distribution is expanding rapidly in the last years. Leishmania chagasi is the main ethiologic agent of the visceral leishmaniasis but Le. amazonensis s. lato was the only leishmania isolated by other authors from some visceral leishmaniasis human cases in the state. Lutzomyia longipalpis (with one or two spots on tergites III and IV and two sized different populations) was epidemiologically incriminated as the main vector. It was found naturally infected with promastigotes, and it was infected with four species of leishmanias in the laboratory. Although the experimental transmission of Le. amazonensis by the bite of Lu. longipalpis to hamsters was performed, the author was not successful in transmitting Le. chagasi in the same way. The dog is the most important domestic source for infection of the vector, however it is not a primary reservoir. The opossum Deldelphis albiventris was found naturally infected with Le. chagasi but its role as reservoir is unknown. Foxes and rodents were nor found infected with leishmanias in Bahia .

Resultados preliminares de um projeto sobre a ecologia dos flebotomíneos vetores de leishmaniose tegumenar no estado da Bahia / Preliminary results of a project on the ecology of the cutaneous leishmaniasis vectors phlebotominae in the State of Bahia

Preliminary data of a project about the ecology of the Phlebotominae (sandflies) in a tegumentary leishmaniasis area of coconut plantation in the south of the State of Bahia, Brazil are presented. There are 60 dwellings far of one another, where existed 31 dogs and 229 inhabitants. Among them 41.5 per cent were Montenegro positive; 37.5 per cent from these had scars of healed ulcers and 8.8 per cent had active ulcers. 53 per cent of the house had dogs from which 22 per cent were seropositive; from the 7 dogs with ulcers only 3 were seropositive. 14 per cent of the inspected house harboured sandflies inside them. During two years of observations 72 sentinels hamsters were maintened at houses of patients with leishmaniasis ulcers, but they did not get the infection. During two years of observation, monthly collectings of sandflies were made inside house, chicken pen, curral, tree trunks and open field around a house with a patient with leishmaniasis. The following results were already obtained about the vectors: 5,614 specimens were identified as belonging to fourteen different species of sandflies. Among them Lutzomyia whitmani (92 per cent) and Lutzomyia intermedia (4.8 per cent) were the most abundant species. They are very anthropophilic and can be found inside houses and at peridomestic sites. Probably they are the principal vectors of the disease at domestic places. The other twelve species were less frequent and more found at sylvatic places in inspite they also bite the man. Generally the biting activity of most of the species of the area begins at 5 p.m. in the dusk and reaches its peak at 0 hour a.m., when begins declining until disapear at 7 a.m. L. whitmani was similarly collected with the same density in all lunar phases while L. intermedia was more abundant during the new moon phase. Most of the hundreds sandflies collected during the second year of observations, remains preserved in liquid nitrogen, watching for the adjustment of PCR molecular techniques to be processed for determination of the vector natural infection rates with leishmanias. Final results on all the project will be published as soon as the examination of such material has been processed.

Trypanosoma cruzi strains: behavior after passage into authoctonous or foreign species of treatomine (biological and biochemical patterns)

Foi estudada a influencia da passagem de cepas do T. cruzi de Sao Felipe - BA (19 SF, 21 SF e 22 SF), Tipo II, Zimodema 2, no vetor autoctone (P. megistus) e em vetores nao autoctones (T. infestans e R. prolixus). Para cada cepa, camundongos suicos de 10 a 12 g foram inoculados com I - formas sanguicolas (controles); II - metaciclicos do P. megistus; III - metaciclicos de T. infestans; IV - metaciclicos do R. prolixus. O inoculo para cada grupo foi de 10 a quarta potencia tripomastigotas. A obtencao dos metaciclicos foi feita 60 a 120 dias apos infeccao dos triatomineos...

Development of Eosinophilia in dogs intradermically inoculated with sand fly saliva and Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi stationary-phase promastigotes

Salivary glad lysates of the sand fly Lutzomia longipalpis have been shown to enhance the infectivity of Leishmania in mice. As shown herein, the simultaneous inoculation of Leishmania chagasi stationary-phase promastigotes and L. longipalpis salivary gland by the intradermal route in a group of mongrel dogs induced a statistically significant eosinophilia, in relation to dogs inoculated with Leishmania or with salivary gland lysate only. These dogs had no evidence of infection, in spite of the infectivity of the promastigotes when inoculated by the intravenous route