ABSTRACT
Justificativa e Objetivos: os hospitais são locais propícios para a instalação e propagação de insetos, especialmente formigas. Essas, além da sua capacidade adaptativa, vivem em mutualismo com outros animais, como fungos e bactérias, o que confere risco elevado para infecções nosocomiais. O presente estudo teve como objetivo identificar a microbiota bacteriana associada com formigas intra-hospitalares na cidade de Anápolis, Goiás, e discutir o papel de tais agentes no desenvolvimento de infecções hospitalares e o consequente risco para indivíduos hospitalizados. Métodos: foram montadas armadilhas para formigas em dois hospitais da cidade de Anápolis a fim de capturá-las nos setores de enfermaria, unidade de terapia intensiva/semi-intensiva e nutrição. As armadilhas eram deixadas por um período pré-determinado nos respectivos setores e depois eram levadas ao Laboratório de Microbiologia da UniEvangélica para cultivo, semeadura e identificação bacteriana. Resultados: foram realizadas três coletas em cada um dos setores de cada instituição hospitalar. Foi possível isolar os seguintes microrganismos: Staphylococcus spp., bacilos Gram-positivos, Klebsiella ozaenae, K. rhinoscleromatis, Escherichia coli e Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Conclusão: pode-se concluir que as formigas podem atuar como veículos para microrganismos. Esse fato sugere que podem favorecer o processo de infecção em usuários de assistência hospitalar. Entretanto, permanece incerto a relação entre população de formigas e incidência de infecções nos hospitais, sendo necessário realizar estudos para associar tais variáveis.(AU)
Background and Objectives: hospitals are prone environments for the establishment and spread of insects, especially ants. In addition to their adaptive capacity, ants live in mutualism with other living beings such as fungi and bacteria, which increases the risk of nosocomial infections. This study aimed to identify the bacterial microbiota associated with intrahospital ants in the city of Anápolis, Goiás, and to discuss the role of such agents in the development of nosocomial infections and consequent risk for hospitalized individuals. Methods: ant traps were set up in two hospitals in Anápolis to capture them in the ward sectors as well as the intensive or semi-intensive care units and the nutrition sectors. The traps were left for a predetermined period in the respective locations and were then taken to the UniEvangélica Microbiology Laboratory for culture, sowing and bacterial identification. Results: three collections were performed in each of the hospital sectors of each hospital institution. The following microorganisms could be isolated: Staphylococcus spp., Gram-positive bacilli, Klebsiella ozaenae, K. rhinoscleromatis, Escherichia coli and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Conclusion: we can conclude that ants can act as vessels for microorganisms. This fact suggests that ants may favor infections in the hospitals. However, the relationship between ant population and incidence of infections in hospitals remains uncertain, and studies are necessary to associate these variables.(AU)
Justificación y Objetivos: los hospitales son ambientes propicios para la instalación y propagación de insectos, especialmente hormigas. Además de su capacidad de adaptación, estos animales viven en mutualismo con otros, como los hongos y las bacterias, lo que confiere un alto riesgo de infecciones nosocomiales en los humanos. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo identificar la microbiota bacteriana asociada con hormigas intrahospitalarias en la ciudad de Anápolis, Goiás, y analizar el papel de dichos agentes en el desarrollo de infecciones hospitalarias y el riesgo para las personas hospitalizadas. Métodos: se instalaron trampas para hormigas en dos hospitales de la ciudad de Anápolis para capturarlas en los sectores de enfermería, unidades de cuidados intensivos, de cuidados semiintensivos y nutrición. Las trampas se dejaron durante un período predeterminado en los sectores respectivos y después se las llevaron al Laboratorio de Microbiología UniEvangélica para su cultivo, siembra e identificación bacteriana. Resultados: se realizaron tres colectas en cada uno de los sectores hospitalarios de cada institución hospitalaria. Se pudieron aislar los siguientes microorganismos: Staphylococcus spp., bacilos Gram positivos, Klebsiella ozaenae, K. rhinoscleromatis, Escherichia coli y Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Conclusiones: se concluye que las hormigas pueden servir como vehículos de microorganismos. Esto sugiere que pueden favorecer el proceso de infección a los usuarios de atención hospitalaria. Sin embargo, la relación entre la población de hormigas y la incidencia de infecciones en los hospitales sigue siendo incierta, y se necesitan más estudios para asociar estas variables.(AU)
Subject(s)
Animals , Ants , Bacteria , Cross Infection , Infection Control , Disease Vectors , Insect Vectors , Public Health , Microbiota , HospitalsABSTRACT
South American rattlesnakes are represented in Brazil by a single species, Crotalus durissus, which has public health importance due to the severity of its envenomation and to its wide geographical distribution. The species is subdivided into several subspecies, but the current classification is controversial. In Brazil, the venoms of C. d. terrificus and C. d. collilineatus are used for hyperimmunization of horses for antivenom production, even though the distinction of these two subspecies are mostly by their geographical distribution. In this context, we described a comparative compositional and functional characterization of individual C. d. collilineatus and C. d. terrificus venoms from three Brazilian states. Methods: We compared the compositional patterns of C. d. terrificus and C. d. collilineatus individual venoms by 1-DE and RP-HPLC. For functional analyzes, the enzymatic activities of PLA2, LAAO, and coagulant activity were evaluated. Finally, the immunorecognition of venom toxins by the crotalic antivenom produced at Butantan Institute was evaluated using Western blotting. Results: The protein profile of individual venoms from C. d. collilineatus and C. d. terrificus showed a comparable overall composition, despite some intraspecific variation, especially regarding crotamine and LAAO. Interestingly, HPLC analysis showed a geographic pattern concerning PLA2. In addition, a remarkable intraspecific variation was also observed in PLA2, LAAO and coagulant activities. The immunorecognition pattern of individual venoms from C. d. collilineatus and C. d. terrificus by crotalic antivenom produced at Butantan Institute was similar. Conclusions: The results highlighted the individual variability among the venoms of C. durissus ssp. specimens. Importantly, our data point to a geographical variation of C. durissus ssp. venom profile, regardless of the subspecies, as evidenced by PLA2 isoforms complexity, which may explain the increase in venom neurotoxicity from Northeastern through Southern Brazil reported for the species.(AU)