Fungal microbiota of the hair coat of laboratory animals / Microbiota fúngica da pelagem de animais de laboratório

With the refining of handling techniques for laboratory animals kept in animal rooms in which different work rules are followed,it is fundamental to evaluate the microbiota of the raising environment, as well as of the animals in this environment. It isknown that several saprobe fungi are isolated from hair and skin of experimental animals, being potentially pathogenic inspecific situations. The aim of this research was to determine the fungal microbiota on the coats of laboratory animals fromthe Central Animal Room of the University of Ceará. Samples of hair and skin of 355 healthy animals (150 rats, 150 mice, 40guinea pigs and 15 hamsters) were analyzed. Samples were collected by vigorously brushing the back of the animals andthen cultured on Sabourauds dextrose and Mycosel agar. Species identification was based on the analysis of the macroscopicappearance of colonies and microscopy features of the fungi. Development of fungi was observed in 63.95% of the animals.The most frequent fungi were: Scopulariopsis brevicaulis (34.7%), Aspergillus sp. (30%) and Penicillium sp. (16.7%). Inconclusion, fungal microbiota on coat of these animals is diversified, and saprobe fungi occurs in a great number of experimentalanimals

Com o afinamento das técnicas de manejo de animais de laboratório mantidos em biotérios que seguem diferentes normas de trabalho, é fundamental que se avalie a microbiota dos ambientes de criação, bem como dos animais que deles fazem parte. É sabido que várias espécies fúngicas sapróbias são isoladas da pele e pelos de animais experimentais, podendo em situações específicas ser potencialmente patogênicas. A presente pesquisa objetivou conhecer a microbiota fúngica da pelagem de animais de laboratório do Biotério Central da UECE. Para tanto, foram analisadas amostras de pele e pelos de 355 animais clinicamente saudáveis (150 ratos, 150 camundongos, 40 cobaias e 15 hamsters). As amostras foram coletadas mediante escovação vigorosa do dorso desses animais e semeadas em ágar Sabouraud dextrose e ágar Mycosel, sendo a identificação das espécies baseada na análise das características macro e microscópicas das colônias fúngicas. Houve o desenvolvimento de fungos em 63,95% dos animais. Os fungos mais incidentes foram: Scopulariopsis brevicaulis (34,7%), Aspergillus sp. (30%) e Penicillium sp. (16,7%). Frente aos resultados obtidos, conclui-se que a microbiota fúngica da pelagem desses animais é bem diversificada, ficando evidente a ocorrência de fungos sapróbios em grande número de animais experimentais

Anomalías morfológicas y estructurales en fetos de ratones con infección aguda experimental por Trypanosoma cruzi / Morphological and structural anomalies in fetuses of mice with acute experimental infection by Trypanosoma cruzi

El presente estudio muestra el desarrollo de fetos de ratones hembras NMRI inoculadas con la cepa M/HOM/BRA/53/Y de trypanosoma cruzi y preñadas durante la fase aguda de la infección. Altos niveles de parasitemias fueron observados en las ratones con 30 días post-infección y 20 días de gestación, en comparación con las detectadas en los ratones vírgenes e infectadas con T. cruzi. En 3 de los fetos (15%) provenientes de dos madres infectadas/gestantes con altas parasitemias, se observaron signos de anomalías congénitas morfológicas y estructurales músculo-esqueléticas. Presentándose en uno de los fetos la formación de dos protuberancias, una sobre el lado dorsal del cuerpo y la otra en la base de la pata inferior izquierda, en otro de los fetos, la pata derecha se desarrolló sobre el lado derecho de la cara y en un tercer feto se formó una protuberancia en la pata anterior izquierda a nivel de la región subescapular. El estudio histopatológico con hematoxilina y eosina de los tejidos muscular esquelético y cardíaco, mostró en el 10% (2/20) de los tejidos fetales, intenso infiltrado celular mononuclear con predominio de linfocitos, macrófagos o histiocitos y monocitos entre las fibras musculares y cardíacas, con discreta miositis y miocarditis. Con la técnica de peroxidada anti peroxidada se observaron abundantes depósitos antigénicos, tanto en placenta como en músculo esquelético de los fetos con alteraciones morfológicas. En los ratones infectadas/gestantes los fetos presentaron reducción del peso corporal y retardo en el crecimiento fetal, así como reducción en el número de fetos de 10 en comparación con 14 fetos de mayor tamaño y aspecto normal desarrollados en las ratonas sanas preñadas.

The present study shows the development of the fetuses from pregnant female mice NMRI inoculated with M/HOM/BRA/53/Y Trypanosoma cruzi strain. The infection revealed the highest levels of patent parasitemia in mice with 30 days postinfection and 20 days of pregnancy in comparison with infected unmated mice. Three fetuses (15%) from two infected mice with high levels of parasitemia, showed morphological and structural muscularskeletal congenital anomalies. Two protuberances were observed, one on the dorsal side of the body, and the other on the left footpad base. In another fetus his right footpad came out from the right part of his face and in the 3rd one it was observed a lump in the left leg, above the level subscapular region. The histophatological study with hematoxilin-eosin staining of skeletal muscle and cardiac tissue, showed in 10% (2/20) of the mice, inflammatory infiltrate with lymphocytes, macrophages and monocytes into muscular and cardiac fibers, with discrete myositis and myocarditis. Peroxidase anti-peroxidase staining showed T. cruzi antigens in placenta and skeletal muscle of the fetuses with morphological alterations. In the pregnant mice, fetuses also showed both, loss of weight and growth retardation, as well as reduction of the number of fetuses to 10 in comparison with 14 fetuses in normal and healthy pregnant mice.

GABA metabolism in venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus infection: preliminary communication / Metabolismo de GABA en la infección producida por el virus de la encefalitis equina venezolana

Mice infected with venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus showed a significant decrease in GABA content of cerebral hemispheres. Activity of the enzyme which synthesizes GABA, glutamic acid decarboxylase, is also reduced in whole cerebral hemispheres, caudate nucleus, and frontal cortex of infected animals, as compared to values obtained from the same regions of control mice