Applicability of papain solutions in immunohematology / Aplicabilidade de soluções de papaína em imuno-hematologia

ABSTRACT Objective: To compare the enzyme activity of different presentations of papain solution to validate in-house preparations. Methods: Two papain solutions were prepared, and the third presentation was a commercial solution. Tests were carried out with samples of red cells typed as weak RhD. Results: In-house prepared papain solutions showed similar enzyme reactivity, and statistically no differences compared to the enzyme activity of the commercial solution. Conclusion: Evaluating the cost-benefit ratio, the in-house prepared papain solutions present more economic advantages, and can be incorporated into immunohematological routines as a way to cope with periods of financial crisis and cost-containment policies.

RESUMO Objetivo: Comparar a atividade enzimática de diferentes apresentações de solução de papaína para validação de preparados in-house. Métodos: Foram preparadas duas soluções de papaína, e a terceira apresentação tratou-se de uma solução comercial. Os testes comparativos das reações enzimáticas foram realizados com amostras de hemácias tipadas como RhD fraco. Resultados: As soluções de papaína preparadas in-house apresentaram reatividade enzimática semelhante e estatisticamente sem diferenças em comparação com a atividade enzimática da solução comercial. Conclusão: Avaliando-se a relação entre custo e benefício, as soluções de papaína preparadas in-house são economicamente vantajosas, podendo ser incorporadas às rotinas imuno-hematológicas como forma de enfrentamento em períodos de crise financeira e em políticas de retenção de gastos.

Negative serosurvey of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in Golden-headed Lion Tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysomelas) from Niterói/RJ, Brazil / Pesquisa sorológica de anticorpos anti-Toxoplasma gondii em Mico-leão-da-cara-dourada (Leontopithecus chrysomelas) de Niterói/RJ, Brasil

Abstract New World Nonhuman Primates are highly susceptible to clinical toxoplasmosis. Serum samples from 126 recently captured Leontopithecus chrysomelas, from an exotic and invasive population, were tested for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies by the modified agglutination test (MAT, cut-off 1:25); all were seronegative. The MAT is highly specific and is not species-specific. This is the first report of T. gondii survey in this tamarin in the wild. This result is consistent with prior reports that showed the high susceptibility of the species to infection by T. gondii usually with high mortality rates.

Resumo Primatas não humanos são extremamente susceptíveis a toxoplasmose. No presente estudo, 126 Leontopithecus chrysomelas foram capturados de uma população de vida livre, exótica e invasora, e amostras de soros foram testadas para a presença de anticorpos anti- Toxoplasma gondii pelo Teste de Aglutinação Modificado (MAT, ponto de corte 1:25). Todos os animais testados foram negativos. O MAT é um teste altamente específico e não é espécie-específico. Esse é o primeiro estudo de pesquisa por anticorpos anti- T. gondii nessa espécie em vida livre. O resultado corrobora com o conhecimento prévio sobre a susceptibilidade dessa espécie a infecção pelo parasite T. gondii.

Study of implementation and direct cost estimates for diagnostic tests for human visceral leishmaniasis in an urban area in Brazil / Estudo da implantação e estimativas de custo direto de testes diagnósticos para leishmaniose visceral humana em uma área urbana no Brasil / Estudio de la implementación y el costo directo estimado de pruebas de diagnóstico de la leishmaniasis visceral humana en una zona urbana en Brasil

Abstract This work reports the process and costs of comprehensively implementing two tests to decentralize the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in an endemic city in Brazil: a rapid test (IT LEISH) and a direct agglutination test (DAT-LPC). The implementation began by training health professionals to perform the tests. Estimation of the training costs considered the proportional remuneration of all professionals involved and the direct costs of the tests used for training. The study was conducted between November 2011 and November 2013. During that time, 17 training sessions were held, and 175 professionals were trained. The training cost for each professional was US$ 7.13 for the IT LEISH and US$ 9.93 for the DAT-LPC. The direct costs of the IT LEISH and DAT-LPC were estimated to be US$ 6.62 and US$ 5.44, respectively. This first evaluation of the implementation of these diagnostic tests indicates the feasibility of decentralizing both methods to extend access to VL diagnosis in Brazil.

Resumo Este trabalho relata o processo e os custos da implantação de dois testes para descentralizar o diagnóstico da leishmaniose visceral (LV) em um município endêmico no Brasil: um teste rápido (IT LEISH) e um teste de aglutinação direta (DAT-LPC). A implantação iniciou com o treinamento dos profissionais de saúde do município na realização dos testes diagnósticos. Os itens incluídos nas estimativas de custo das capacitações foram a remuneração proporcional de todos os profissionais envolvidos e os custos diretos dos testes usados. O estudo foi conduzido entre novembro de 2011 e novembro de 2013. Durante esse período, 17 capacitações foram realizadas e 175 profissionais treinados. O custo relacionado a cada profissional de saúde capacitado na realização do IT LEISH foi de US$ 7,13 e na realização do DAT-LPC, de US$ 9,93. O custo direto do IT LEISH e do DAT-LPC foi estimado em US$ 6,62 e US$ 5,44, respectivamente. Esta primeira avaliação da implantação desses dois testes aponta para a viabilidade da descentralização de ambos os métodos, que aumentam o acesso ao diagnóstico da LV no Brasil.

Resumen Este trabajo relata la puesta en funcionamiento y los costos de pruebas de diagnóstico de VL en un municipio endémico en Brasil: el test rápido (IT LEISH) y la prueba de aglutinación directa (DAT-LPC). Esta puesta en marcha comenzó por capacitar al personal sanitario del municipio para la realización de las pruebas. Para estimar los costos de la capacitación, se consideró la remuneración proporcional de todo el personal involucrado y los costos directos derivados de la aplicación de las pruebas. El estudio fue realizado entre noviembre de 2011 y noviembre de 2013. En ese periodo se realizaron 17 capacitaciones y se formaron 175 profesionales. Se calcula que el costo derivado de capacitar cada profesional para realizar el IT LEISH fue de 7.13 US$ y 9.93 US$ para el DAT-LPC. Los costos directos del IT LEISH y del DAT-LPC se estimaron en 6,62 US$ y 5,44 US$ respectivamente. La primera evaluación de la puesta en funcionamiento de las dos pruebas en este municipio señala que es viable descentralizar su realización, lo que amplía el acceso al diagnóstico de la VL en Brasil.

Rickettsial diseases in children.

In a tropical country like India, fevers are caused by different etiological agents. Rickettsial infections, which have a global distribution is one of the differential diagnosis in such cases and are reported from almost all parts of India. Rickettsial diseases widely vary in severity from self-limited mild illnesses to fulminating life-threatening infections. They are obligate intracellular gramnegative coccobacillary forms that multiply within eukaryotic cells which makes it difficult to culture them on artificial culture medium. With globalization there is rapid spread of disease across the continents and therefore, skills for diagnosis and management of the disease attains global importance. Rickettsial diseases can be clinically classified as Spotted Fever group, typhus group, distinctive clinical rickettsiae and emerging rickettsiae. The clinical course will have incubation period, stage non-specific clinical signs and symptoms followed by typical/classical features depending on the type of rickettsiae infecting a person. However the clinical manifestation varies from one geographical area to another area for same species. The rickettsial diseases once thought to have been eradicated from India are re-emerging in many parts of our country. Their presence has recently been documented in at least eleven states of our country. Greater clinical awareness, a higher index of suspicion, better use of available diagnostic tools would increase the frequency with which rickettsial diseases are diagnosed.

Comparison of recombinant A2-ELISA with rKE16 dipstick and direct agglutination tests for diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in dogs in Northwestern Iran

INTRODUCTION: Various methods are used for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), such as microscopic examination, culture and inoculation of laboratory animals; however, serological assays are commonly used for the detection of antibodies in serum samples with a wide range of specificity and sensitivity. METHODS: The purpose of this study was to compare three serological methods, including rA2-ELISA, the recombinant KE16 (rKE16) dipstick test and the direct agglutination test (DAT), for the detection of antibodies against VL antigens. The assays utilized 350 statistically based random serum samples from domestic dogs with clinical symptoms as well as samples from asymptomatic and healthy dogs from rural and urban areas of the Meshkinshahr district, northwestern Iran. RESULTS: Samples were assessed, and the following positive rates were obtained: 11.5% by rKE16, 26.9% by DAT and 49.8% by ELISA. The sensitivity among symptomatic dogs was 32.4% with rKE16, 100% with DAT and 52.9% with ELISA. Conversely, rA2-ELISA was less specific for asymptomatic dogs, at 46.5%, compared with DAT, at 88.9%. CONCLUSIONS : This study recommends rA2-ELISA as a parallel assay combined with DAT to detect VL infection among dogs. Further evaluations should be performed to develop an inexpensive and reliable serologic test for the detection of Leishmania infantum among infected dogs. .

Obtención de sobrenadante de cultivo aglutinador de hematíes portadores del antígeno de grupo sanguíneo B / Obtention of cell culture supernatant for erythrocyte agglutination of blood group B antigen

Introducción: la obtención de anticuerpos monoclonales en líquido ascítico ha ido decayendo paulatinamente por la aparición de alternativas de producción in Vitro, que permiten alcanzar mayores volúmenes y un control más riguroso del proceso productivo, lo que incrementa la reproducibilidad de procesos y la calidad de los productos. Objetivo: evaluar dos métodos de producción de sobrenadante de cultivo rico en una inmunoglobulina de ratón del tipo IgG2b, aglutinadora de hematíes humanos portadores del antígeno del grupo sanguíneo B, según el sistema ABO; la cual es secretada por el hibridoma C6G4. Métodos: se evaluaron dos métodos de producción del anticuerpo con el empleo de un biorreactor CELLine, útil como modelo para la obtención de anticuerpos monoclonales en cultivos de alta densidad celular. Los métodos se diferenciaron esencialmente en la densidad celular de siembra en el biorreactor y en la duración del periodo de fermentación entre la siembra y la cosecha del caldo de cultivo rico en anticuerpos. Para cada método se determinó la concentración específica de anticuerpos y la potencia de aglutinación del sobrenadante, así como la densidad y la viabilidad celular del cultivo alcanzadas en el momento de la cosecha. Resultados: se observó que ambos métodos generaron sobrenadantes de cultivo con una potencia de aglutinación similar, a pesar de que se encontraron diferencias en el resto de las variables medidas. Si bien uno de los métodos produjo una mayor concentración de anticuerpos en el sobrenadante, no se observaron diferencias en la potencia de aglutinación de los sobrenadantes obtenidos por ambas alternativas. Conclusiones: los dos métodos estudiados permitieron obtener volúmenes semejantes de sobrenadante anti-B con diferentes concentraciones de anticuerpos, pero con una potencia de aglutinación similar. La principal diferencia residió en que uno de los métodos permitió obtener el mismo volumen del producto en un tiempo sensiblemente menor...

Introduction : the obtention of monoclonal antibodies in ascite fluid has been declining gradually due to the appearance of alternative in vitro production that achieve higher volumes and a more precise monitoring of the production process, which increases the reproducibility of processes and the quality of products. Objective : to evaluate two methods to make cell culture supernatant rich in murine monoclonal IgG2b type, with agglutinating activity against human red cell of blood group antigen B (ABO system), which is secreted by murine hybridoma C6G4. Methods : two methods were evaluated for antibody production in cell culture supernatant using as model a CELLine bioreactor for the production of monoclonal antibodies in high cell density culture. Both methods essentially differed in the seeding cell density in the bioreactor and the fermentation period between seeding and harvesting of the culture broth rich in antibodies. The specific antibody concentration and potency of agglutination was determined in the obtained supernatant and also the cell density and cell viability of the culture reached at the time of harvest. Results : both methods generated culture supernatants with similar agglutination strength despite differences found in the rest of the variables measured. Even when one of the methods produced a higher antibody concentration in the supernatants, no differences in potency of the supernatants agglutination obtained by both alternatives were observed. Conclusions : both methods generated supernatant anti-B with different concentrations of antibodies but similar potency of agglutination. The main difference was that with one of the methods the same volume of the product was obtained in a considerably minor time...

A Prevalence Study of Typhoid Fever in Taiz and Al-Hodiedah cities in Yemen.

Aims: Typhoid fever is an acute illness associated with fever that is most often caused by the Salmonella typhi bacteria. This study was carried out to determine the prevalenece of typhoid fever and distribution among different groups in Al-hodiedah and Taiz hospitals, and to determine the relation between the two governorates. Study Design: Seroprevalence survey. Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in Taiz hospitals and Al- Hodiedah hospitals in Yemen for about 1500 cases during September to December 2012. Methodology: A total of 1500 cases were randomly collected and examined by Widal test and blood samples for WBC to detect the typhoid fever. Also, the questionnaire data was used for determine the correlation between typhoid fever and other factors such as age, sex, and clinical symptoms, then the data analyzed by spss program. Results: This study found that 151 cases of typhoid fever are positive for widal test from total 1500 specimens was collected from Al-hodiedah hospitals and Taiz hospitals. Also found from 151 positive cases 57 cases for male and 94 cases for female. There were 55 cases the main complain was fever follow by diarrhea 42 cases then abdominal pain 31 cases. Conclusion: The results of the study indicate that there is no significant different in the prevalence of typhoid fever between cases collected from Taizhospitals and Al-Hodeida hospitals. Also, no significant different between sex or age and the positive cases. The positive cases were come with different manifestations such as fever, abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Avaliação de diferentes abordagens para o diagnóstico da leishmaniose visceral humana

A leishmaniose visceral (LV) é uma doença parasitária grave que afeta anualmente 500.000pessoas em 65 países. No Brasil, mais de 15.000 casos de LV foram registrados entre os anosde 2007 e 2010, com 880 mortes. Esta elevada taxa de letalidade está, em parte, relacionada àineficiência dos serviços de saúde em diagnosticar e tratar precocemente os pacientes. Odiagnóstico da LV exige suspeição clínica e confirmação laboratorial eficientes. Assim, umareestruturação do algoritmo e do arsenal de métodos diagnósticos disponíveis nos serviços desaúde pode ajudar a melhorar este cenário, aumentando o acesso e a disponibilização de testesnos municípios. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o desempenho de diferentes abordagenspara o diagnóstico da LV humana no Brasil, através da avaliação do desempenho do teste deaglutinação direta (DAT) e do teste rápido IT-LEISH; do desenvolvimento e validação demodelos preditivos clínico-laboratoriais e da avaliação de métodos diagnósticos pela análisede classes latentes (ACL)

O grupo de estudo compreendeu 404 pacientes, residentes no Piauí,Maranhão, Bahia e Minas Gerais, com suspeita de LV, submetidos ao exame do aspirado demedula óssea e à coleta de sangue para a realização dos testes sorológicos. Para a avaliação dodesempenho do DAT e do IT-LEISH® foi utilizada a análise de validação clássica (AVC)utilizando como padrão de referência o exame do aspirado de medula óssea. Para odesenvolvimento e a validação dos modelos preditivos foram utilizados dadosepidemiológicos, clínicos e laboratoriais dos pacientes avaliados. Os modelos preditivosutilizando regressão logística múltipla (RLM) foram desenvolvidos no software STATA® eaqueles utilizando árvore de classificação e regressão (CART) foram desenvolvidos nosoftware SPLUS®. Para a avaliação da aplicabilidade da ACL foram utilizados dados doestudo de validação do IT-LEISH® e do DAT e a análise foi realizada no software R. O DATe o IT-LEISH apresentaram, pela AVC, sensibilidades e especificidades de 90 e 93%; 93 e97%, respectivamente. O modelo preditivo composto pelas variáveis clínicas e laboratoriaisassociadas ao teste rápido foi o que apresentou melhor desempenho, tanto pela RLM, quantopor CART (sensibilidade de 90,1% e especificidade de 97,2-97,4%). A ACL mostrou-se útilna validação de testes diagnósticos para LV no Brasil, estimando para o DAT e o IT-LEISHsensibilidades de 88,5 e 94% e especificidades de 95,4 e 100%, respectivamente. Diante doelevado desempenho apresentado, o DAT e o teste rápido IT-LEISH estão indicados para odiagnóstico da LV humana no Brasil. Os modelos preditivos desenvolvidos são úteis epoderiam ser utilizados em centros de referência para a doença no país. A ACL está indicadapara validação de testes diagnósticos no país e quando possível deve ser utilizada

Avaliação de diferentes abordagens para o diagnóstico da leishmaniose visceral humana / Evaluation of different approaches to the diagnosis of human visceral leishmaniasis

A leishmaniose visceral (LV) é uma doença parasitária grave que afeta anualmente 500.000pessoas em 65 países. No Brasil, mais de 15.000 casos de LV foram registrados entre os anosde 2007 e 2010, com 880 mortes. Esta elevada taxa de letalidade está, em parte, relacionada àineficiência dos serviços de saúde em diagnosticar e tratar precocemente os pacientes. Odiagnóstico da LV exige suspeição clínica e confirmação laboratorial eficientes. Assim, umareestruturação do algoritmo e do arsenal de métodos diagnósticos disponíveis nos serviços desaúde pode ajudar a melhorar este cenário, aumentando o acesso e a disponibilização de testesnos municípios. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o desempenho de diferentes abordagenspara o diagnóstico da LV humana no Brasil, através da avaliação do desempenho do teste deaglutinação direta (DAT) e do teste rápido IT-LEISH; do desenvolvimento e validação demodelos preditivos clínico-laboratoriais e da avaliação de métodos diagnósticos pela análisede classes latentes (ACL). O grupo de estudo compreendeu 404 pacientes, residentes no Piauí,Maranhão, Bahia e Minas Gerais, com suspeita de LV, submetidos ao exame do aspirado demedula óssea e à coleta de sangue para a realização dos testes sorológicos. Para a avaliação dodesempenho do DAT e do IT-LEISH® foi utilizada a análise de validação clássica (AVC)utilizando como padrão de referência o exame do aspirado de medula óssea. Para odesenvolvimento e a validação dos modelos preditivos foram utilizados dadosepidemiológicos, clínicos e laboratoriais dos pacientes avaliados. Os modelos preditivosutilizando regressão logística múltipla (RLM) foram desenvolvidos no software STATA® eaqueles utilizando árvore de classificação e regressão (CART) foram desenvolvidos nosoftware SPLUS®. Para a avaliação da aplicabilidade da ACL foram utilizados dados doestudo de validação do IT-LEISH® e do DAT e a análise foi realizada no software R. O DATe o IT-LEISH apresentaram, pela AVC, sensibilidades e especificidades de 90 e 93%; 93 e97%, respectivamente. O modelo preditivo composto pelas variáveis clínicas e laboratoriaisassociadas ao teste rápido foi o que apresentou melhor desempenho, tanto pela RLM, quantopor CART (sensibilidade de 90,1% e especificidade de 97,2-97,4%). A ACL mostrou-se útilna validação de testes diagnósticos para LV no Brasil, estimando para o DAT e o IT-LEISHsensibilidades de 88,5 e 94% e especificidades de 95,4 e 100%, respectivamente. Diante doelevado desempenho apresentado, o DAT e o teste rápido IT-LEISH estão indicados para odiagnóstico da LV humana no Brasil. Os modelos preditivos desenvolvidos são úteis epoderiam ser utilizados em centros de referência para a doença no país. A ACL está indicadapara validação de testes diagnósticos no país e quando possível deve ser utilizada.

Sero-diagnostic efficacy of antigens prepared from B. abortus and B.melitensis used for agglutination tests and IELISA

In this study, 120 bovine and ovine serum samples were collected and tested for brucellosis with Rose Bengal test [RBT], modified Rose Bengal test [mRBT], buffered acidified plate test [BAPT] using conventional Rose Bengal antigen [RBA] and buffered acidified plate antigen [BAPA] and antigens prepared from B. melitensis [the main cause of brucellosis in Egypt] strain 16-M. Indirect ELISA was used for testing the same serum samples using 4 different coating antigens which were S-LPS and OMP antigens prepared from 16-M strain and S-LPS and OMP prepared from S19 strain. There were some differences between the results of conventional Rose Bengal and BAPA antigens prepared from B. melitensis 16-M strain. In the same time, there were no characteristic differences in results of Indirect ELISA

Titers of ABO antibodies in group O blood donors

BACKGROUND: Plasma components of group O blood donations are rarely submitted to ABO antibody titrations even though it is well known that passively acquired antibodies may destroy the recipient's own red cells and tissue grafts. OBJECTIVE: Thus, group O donations stratified by gender and age were randomly titrated to identify the best source of products for apheresis and exsanguinous transfusion. METHODS: Samples from 603 blood donors were tested by ABO antibody titration using the conventional tube technique at room temperature. ABO antibody levels higher than 64 were considered high. After correction for gender, statistical analyses were performed using the Fisher exact and Kruskal-Wallis tests. RESULTS: Most donors in the blood bank were male (65.7 percent). ABO antibody titers ranged from 1 to 2048. The estimations of prevalence for the titers were: anti-A,B < 128 = 86.9 percent and > 128 = 2.16 percent; Anti-A > 128 = 9.29 percent and anti-B > 128 = 4.81 percent. Low mean titers for both anti-A and anti-B antibodies were found in over 50-year-old men (p-value = 0.040). High anti-B antibody levels were found in young women (p-value = 0.002). CONCLUSION: This study confirms that over 50-year-old O group men should be selected as blood donors in non-identical ABO transfusion situations. Also, titration of ABO antibodies in blood banks will increase safety in non-identical ABO transfusions.

Toxoplasma gondii: diagnosis of experimental and natural infection in pigeons (Columba livia) by serological, biological and molecular techniques / Toxoplasma gondii: diagnóstico da infecção experimental e natural em pombos (Columba livia) por métodos sorológicos, biológicos e moleculares

This study aimed to diagnose experimental and natural Toxoplasma gondii infection in pigeons (Columba livia) by serological, biological and molecular techniques. Twelve pigeons, free of infection, were inoculated with 50 sporulated oocysts of T. gondii (VEG sample) and four remained uninfected controls. Four birds (three infected and one control) were euthanized at 15, 30, 45 and 60 days post-infection (dpi), and their tissues were used to perform a bioassay in mice and nested-PCR using B1 gene as target. Blood was obtained weekly and it was tested for the presence of anti-T. gondii antibodies by the indirect Fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and modified agglutination test (MAT). Seven (58.3%) out of 12 inoculated pigeons were positive by serological techniques and titers ranged between 1:40 and 1:5120 by MAT and between 1:512 and 1:4096 by IFAT. Complete agreement was seen between the results obtained by serological techniques and nested-PCR in seven positive birds. In the bioassay in mice, ive (41.7%) out of 12 pigeons inoculated were positive to T. gondii. Only one pigeon died at 23 dpi due to toxoplasmosis. A second study with free-living pigeons was performed for detection of anti-T. gondii antibodies. Birds were captured in the municipalities of São Paulo, Ibiúna and Sorocaba, São Paulo State, Southeastern Brazil. All 126 free-living birds were negative to anti-T. gondii antibodies by MAT (titer < 1:5). Bioassays were performed in mice with tissues from all captured birds and T. gondii was not isolated in any pigeon.

O presente estudo teve por objetivo diagnosticar a infecção experimental e natural pelo Toxoplasma gondii em pombos (Columba livia) por técnicas sorológicas, biológicas e moleculares. Doze pombos, livres de infecção, foram inoculados com 50 oocistos esporulados de T. gondii (amostra VEG), e quatro permaneceram como controles não infectados. Aos 15, 30, 45 e 60 dias pós-infecção (dpi), quatro aves (três infectadas e uma controle) foram sacrificadas e com seus tecidos realizou-se bioensaio em camundongos e nested-PCR, utilizando-se B1 como gene alvo. Sangue, para a pesquisa de anticorpos anti-T. gondii, foi obtido semanalmente, e a presença de anticorpos foi determinada pela reação de imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI) e pela técnica de aglutinação modificada (MAT). Dos 12 pombos inoculados, sete (58,3%) foram positivos pelas técnicas sorológicas, apresentando títulos que variaram de 40 a 5.120 no MAT e de 512 a 4.096 na RIFI. Concordância total foi observada entre os resultados obtidos pelas técnicas sorológicas e pela nested-PCR com sete animais positivos. No bioensaio em camundongos, dos 12 pombos inoculados, cinco (41,7%) foram positivos ao T. gondii. Apenas um pombo veio a óbito no 23° dpi, devido à toxoplasmose. Um segundo estudo, com pombos de vida livre, foi realizado para a pesquisa de anticorpos anti-T. gondii. As aves foram capturadas nos municípios de São Paulo, Ibiúna e Sorocaba, Estado de São Paulo. Todos os 126 pombos de vida livre foram negativos a anticorpos anti-T. gondii, testados pelo MAT (título < 5). Foram realizados bioensaios em camundongos com tecidos de todas as aves capturadas e também, por esta técnica, T. gondii não foi isolado em nenhuma ave.

Diagnosis of brucellosis in low titred buffaloes

A total of 452 serum samples collected from non-vaccinated buffaloes were subjected to serological tests by using Rose Bengal Plate Agglutination Test [RBPT], Slow Tube Agglutination Test [SAT] and indirect ELISA [iELISA] detected 12.83%, 11.28% and 19.25% positive samples for brucellosis respectively. The relative sensitivity of RBPT and SAT was found 62.07% and 55.17%, respectively, considering iELISA as a gold standard test while the specificity was found 98.90% in RBPT and 99.18% in SAT; the overall agreement of RBPT and SAT with iELISA was 91.81% and 90.71%, respectively. Twenty one isolates out of 61 B.melitensis biovar 3 were isolated from buffaloes serologically positive to iELISA but negative to SAT of low titre ranged from 1:10 to 1:40. Therefore, iELISA was found to be a better serological test as compared with RBPT and SAT and it could be advocated for screening of brucellosis among buffaloes as will as the suspicious and /or the latent infectious cases

Development of a universal plate-agglutination test for detecting Haemophilus parasuis

Due to the serovar diversity in Haemophilus (H.) parasuis, it is difficult to develop a universal serological method for detection of this pathogen. Here, we report a universal plate-agglutination test for detecting H. parasuis. Diagnostic antisera were prepared by mixing antisera of serovars 4, 5, 12, 13 and 14 in the optimized ratio. The results of the plate-agglutination test showed that the diagnostic antisera could agglutinate with all 15 reference strains of H. parasuis and 74/75 clinical isolates. Further, the specificity of the method was validated with 22 bacterial strains from 12 related species.

Fatores de risco para a leptospirose em fêmeas bovinas em idade reprodutiva no Estado de São Paulo / Risk factors to leptospirosis in cows in São Paulo state, Brazil

Risk factors associated to leptospirosis were identified in cows from São Paulo State. The State was divided into seven productive circuits from which 8,216 cows older than 24 months of age from 1,021 herds were sampled. For serological diagnosis of Leptospira spp. infection, the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was carried out. Of the investigated herds, 718 (71.3%; 95% CI = 68.5% - 74.0%) presented at least one reactant animal at MAT to any serovar. Serovar Hardjo was the most prevalent, with 55.2% (95% CI = 51.4% - 58.9%) of the positive herds. Herd size, animal purchase, share pasture, presence of ovine and swine, and utilization of artificial insemination were identified as risk factors. Utilization of maternity pens was a protective factor against leptospirosis.

Títulos de anticorpos aglutinantes induzidos por vacinas comerciais contra leptospirose bovina / Agglutinating antibody titers induced by commercial vaccines against bovine leptospirosis

No presente estudo, 100 fêmeas bovinas foram divididas em cinco grupos de 20 animais cada. Os grupos experimentais receberam quatro diferentes vacinas comerciais (B, C, D e E), e um grupo permaneceu como controle. Amostras foram colhidas no dia da aplicação da primeira dose e nos dias 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63, 70, 77, 84, 91, 120, 150 e 180 pós-vacinação (PV). A triagem dos animais foi feita pela análise sorológica com 6 antígenos de leptospiras, escolhendo-se os animais não reagentes. Os títulos de anticorpos foram monitorados pela soroaglutinação microscópica (SAM) com os sorovares Canicola, Grippotyphosa, Hardjo, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Pomona e Wolffi. Todas as vacinas induziram, aos 3 dias PV, títulos de anticorpos aglutinantes para os sorovares Hardjo e Wolffi, que persistiram até o 150º dia PV. Os sorovares Hardjo e Wolffi induziram os maiores títulos de anticorpos aglutinantes. A vacina D, apesar de não possuir o sorovar Wolffi em sua composição foi capaz de induzir anticorpos aglutinantes contra este sorovar. Somente foram detectados anticorpos contra o sorovar Canicola nos animais vacinados com a bacterina D. A vacina que induziu os maiores títulos médios de anticorpos, considerando todos os sorovares testados foi a D.

In the investigation 100 heifers were used, divided into 5 groups of 20 animals each. The four experimental groups were vaccinated using distinct commercial polyvalent bacterines: B, C, D and E, and A group was the control. Samples were collected at days 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63, 70, 77, 84, 91, 120, 150 and 180 from the first injection of the vaccine. The selection of the animals for the experimental groups was done based on a serological screening with 6 antigens of Leptospira sp. constituted by non-reagent animals. The vaccine titers were monitored using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) for Canicola, Grippotyphosa, Hardjo, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Pomona and Wolffi serovars. All vaccines used were capable to product agglutinins for the Hardjo and Wolffi serovars observed at 3 days after vaccination, remaining until the 150th day; those serovars induced the highest titres of agglutinins. Vaccine D, in spite of not containing the Wolffi serovar, induced the production of agglutinins to this serovar. Agglutinins to the Canicola serovar were only observed in the animals vaccinated with the D bacterine. Vaccine D induced the highest average titers of antibodies to all tested serovars.

Prevalence of staphylococcus aureus and it's toxins in street marketing milk and some milk products

In this study, the bacteriological examination of 130 street marketing milk samples and 251 milk product samples revealed that 47 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus were recovered from 130 milk samples with a percentage of 36% and 31 isolates of S.aureus were recovered from 251 milk product samples with a percentage of 12.4%. The pathogenic activity of the isolated S.aureus from milk and milk products were studied including Heamolytic activity, DNase activity and coagulase activity. The results proved that 70 isolates out of 78 tested isolates were Heamolytic and 72 isolates have DNase activity and 60 isolates have coagulase activity. By using latex slide agglutination Test was used for detection of Protein A in isolated S.aureus from milk samples. The results proved that 46 out of 47 isolates contained protein A. Concerning the ice cream samples 11 out of 13 tested isolates contained protein A. and 16 out of 18 tested isolates from Kariesh cheese contained protein A. The results showed that, out of 78 tested isolates 20 isolates were proved to be enterotoxin A producer, 2 isolates were enterotoxin B producer and 5 isolates were enterotoxin C producer by using ELISA

Antisperm antibodies in women with unexplained infertility

Unexplained infertility occurs in many couples of childbearing age, immune mechanisms have been postulated in this disorder for the last few decades. Circulating antibodies against spermatozoa present in serum and seminal plasma have been especially implicated. This autoimmunity against spermatozoa has been investigated in males, while the isoimmunity [in the females] has got low attention. Fifty women with unexplained infertility and twenty fertile women were involved in this case-control study. ELISA test was used to detect antisperm antibody [ASA] from cervical mucus [CM] and serum specimens of both groups of women. CM was collected at mid-cycle period and dissolved mechanically [not by bromeline]. Thirty percent of infertile women have IgG-ASA in their serum and 20% have IgA-ASA in the CM, while 22% of fertile women have IgG-ASA in their serum and no fertile women have any titer of IgA-ASA in their CM specimens. Only CM-IgA-ASA of infertile women showed significant statistical correlation with cellular property of CM, which was scored according to Insler score. It is concluded that ELISA test is more sensitive and specific than microagglutination tests for detection of serum and secreted ASA. Also, secretory IgA-ASA are more indicative amid have potential role in immunological infertility as iso- immunity than IgG-ASA. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that immunological infertility should be considered as an important cause of infertility and have to gain a special interest by clinicians