Estudo clínico-epidemiológico da toxocaríase em população infantil / Clinical-epidemiological study of toxocariasis in a pediatric population

OBJETIVO: A diversidade de manifestações clínicas da toxocaríase e sua relação com asma motivaram este estudo, cujo objetivo foi estudar a soropositividade de T. canis nas crianças atendidas no serviço público de saúde e sua associação com variáveis clínicas, epidemiológicas e laboratoriais. MÉTODOS: Este estudo é de corte transversal e controlado. Foram realizadas sorologias em 208 crianças de 1 a 14 anos de idade, atendidas nos ambulatórios de Pediatria, Imunologia e Pneumologia Pediátrica da Universidade de Santo Amaro, no período de janeiro de 2000 a janeiro de 2001. Os anticorpos foram detectados por ELISA usando-se antígeno de excreção e secreção do T. canis.. Foi utilizado teste qui-quadrado para associações da soropositividade para T. canis (título > 1:320) com cães filhotes domiciliares, contato com terra, geofagia, onicofagia, escolaridade materna, asma, tosse crônica, pneumonias de repetição, manifestações cutâneas, rinite, hepatomegalia, esplenomegalia, dor abdominal, anemia, eosinofilia, imunoglobulinas, parasitoses e desnutrição, e método de análise de variância por postos de Kruskal-Wallis para comparação média dos soropositivos e soronegativos, sendo significante p < 0,05. RESULTADOS: A soroprevalência foi 54,8 por cento, com média etária de 6,5 anos; nos soronegativos, 5,8 anos (não significante), também não houve diferença quanto ao sexo. A soropositividade foi significante com: cães filhotes domiciliares, contato com terra, hepatomegalia, asma, eosinofilia, IgE aumentada e desnutrição pregressa. CONCLUSAO: A soroprevalência encontrada foi alta. A infecção pelo T. canis deve ser investigada em crianças com fatores de risco como presença de cães filhotes domiciliares e contato com terra, em portadores de hepatomegalia e/ou asma, com eosinofilia ou aumento de IgE.

The impact of repeated treatment with praziquantel of schistosomiasis in children under six years of age living in an endemic area for Schistosoma haematobium infection

Praziquantel was given every eight weeks for two years to children aged under six years of age, living in a Schistosoma haematobium endemic area. Infection with S. haematobium and haematuria were examined in urine and antibody profiles (IgA, IgE, IgM, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4) against S. haematobium adult worm and egg antigens were determined from sera collected before each treatment. Chemotherapy reduced infection prevalence and mean intensity from 51.8 percent and 110 eggs per 10 ml urine, respectively, before starting re-treatment programme to very low levels thereafter. Praziquantel is not accumulated after periodic administration in children. Immunoglobulin levels change during the course of treatment with a shift towards 'protective' mechanisms. The significant changes noted in some individuals were the drop in 'blocking' IgG2 and IgG4 whereas the 'protecting' IgA and IgG1 levels increased. The antibody profiles in the rest of the children remained generally unchanged throughout the study and no haematuria was observed after the second treatment. The removal of worms before production of large number of eggs, prevented the children from developing morbidity

Detection of the acute phase of abdominal angiostrongyliasis with a parasite-specific IgG enzyme linked immunosorbent assay

Angiostrongylus costaricensis may cause intestinal lesions of varied severity when it accidentally infects man in Central and South America. First-stage larvae have never been detected in stools. Therefore, a parasite-specific IgG ELISA was evaluated for the determination of the acute phase of infection. The specificity and the sensitivity of the immunoassay was shown to be 76.2 percent and 91.1 percent, respectively. Eight serum samples taken from patients with histopathological diagnosis, at different time points (3 to 15 months) after surgical treatment, showed a sharp and early decline in antibody reactivity. The titration of anti-A. costaricensis antibodies has proved to be a useful method for the diagnosis of acute abdominal angiostrongyliasis

Toxocara seroprevalence in children from a subtropical city in Argentina

Most studies from Argentina have focused on toxocariasis as an environmental problem of big cities, and there are no available data about children infection from small or middle-sized cities. In order to assess the prevalence of anti-Toxocara antibodies in infantile population, 206 children from Resistencia, of both sexes, aged 1-14 years old were studied by Elisa testing with E/S T. canis L2 antigens. Hematological parameters and immunoglobulin levels were determined; five days' stool samples were studied and epidemiological data were obtained by means of a questionnaire to parents. Results showed that 73 per cent of the children had one or more dogs living at home, 57 per cent reported geophagia and 37.9 per cent were positive for Toxocara serology, but there was no significant difference in prevalence neither for boys and girls, nor concerning age. An increased risk of infection was observed in age groups 5-6 and 7-8 for boys, and in age groups 3-4 and 5-6 for girls.

Búsqueda de anticuerpos contra trichinella spiralis en roedores de libre desplazamiento capturados en un zoológico de la Ciudad de México / Search for antibodies against trichinella spiralis in free roaming rodents caught in a zoological park from Mexico City

A serological survey to search for antibodies against T. spiralis was performed in free roaming rats (n=64) and mice (n=35) caught in zoological park from Mexico City. Serum samples were analyzed by ELISA and immunoelectrotransfer blot assay (EIBT). None serum show positive absorbance values in ELISA nor recognized T. spiralis specific antigenic fractions in EIBT. However, two rat samples recognized three antigens of 31,37 y 55 kDa, while one of them reacted with two additional antigens of 64 and 67 kDa. As it is known that the antigen epitope profiles varied among trichinella species, it could be possible that in rats, there is 3 percent of antibody prevalence agains trichinella sp.; however, due that other organisms could induce the production of cross-reacting antibodies, such conclusion can not be supported at all. These results suggest that T. spiralis was not part of helminthological fauna in these rodents

Epidemiology of human intestinal nematode infections in Wujiang and Pizhou counties, Jiangsu Province, China.

Intestinal nematode infections are considered highly endemic in the Chinese province of Jiangsu. In May 1997, the prevalence of intestinal nematodes infections was determined among all of the inhabitants aged 5 to 65 of the southern Jiangsu village of Yaojiakon (Wujiang County) and the northern Jiangsu village of Jianmiao (Pizhou County). It was determined that the prevalence of ascariasis, trichuriasis and hook worm infection was greatly reduced compared to when it was last measured in 1990. The reduction was noted to be particularly impressive in Yaojiakon village where the prevalence of ascariasis and trichiuriasis fell to 2% and 1.5% respectively. Much of this reduction was attributed to improvements in economic development which have occurred in southern Jiangsu Province at a rapid pace. In contrast, the reduction in nematode infections among villagers living in northern Jiangsu was more modest. The most striking reduction in both villages was in school-aged children who since 1988 have received yearly treatments with anthelminthic drugs. The intensity of nematode infections was investigated for hookworm where 70% of hookworm-infected Yaojiakon villagers were found to harbor light infections (< 400 eggs per gram) compared to 83% of hookworm-infected Jianmiao villagers. Necator americanus was the predominant hookworm in Yaojiakon village (South), whereas Ancylostoma duodenale predominated in Jianmiao village (North). The majority (76%) of hookworm-infected patients developed IgG antibodies against N. americanus antigen, although 20% of uninfected patients living in the village also had circulating antibodies. Intestinal nematode infections continue to be a significant public health problem in Jiangsu Province although their prevalence has decreased since 1990.

Implante histológico de trichinella spiralis experimental / Histologic experimental implant of trichinella spiralis

El presente estudio nos permitió conocer los 3 estadios del parásito y detección de anticuerpos desde la segunda semana con un peso molecular de 45 kDa. Perspectivas, los cortes histológicos serán estudiados por técnicas inmunohistoquímicas con anticuerpos específicos para determinar en qué estadio están presentes y su probable papel a la respuesta inmune en esta

Foco de hidatidosis humana en la provincia del Chaco (Argentina) / Human hydatidosis in the province of Chaco (Argentina)

En Argentina han sido descritas cinco áreas endémicas de hidatidosis, no estando la Provincia de Chaco incluida en ninguna de ellas. Habiéndose notificado un caso autóctono en esta región, se decidió realizar un estudio epidemiológico para reconocer si esta área es endémica a hidatidosis. Se estudiaron 52 personas (13 mujeres-39 varones) de entre 8 y 58 años de edad, elegidos al azar entre los residentes permanentes del pueblo de Samuhú. A todos se les confeccionó una ficha epidemiológica, y se tomó muestra de sangre. Para investigar anticuerpos anti E. granulosus se empleó la prueba de ELISA y los sueros que resultaron positivos se les practicó inmunoelectroforesis (IEF) empleando en ambos casos reactivos comerciales. Diez muestras (19,3 por ciento) resultaron positivas a ELISA y de éstas, 5 (9,6 por ciento) se confirmaron por IEF (2 mujeres y 3 varones). De acuerdo a los resultados obtenidos y a la información epidemiológica recogida, se puede concluir que en la provincia del Chaco existe una área geográfica endémica a hidatidosis

Freqüência de anticorpos anti-Cysticercus cellulosae em indivíduos de cinco municípios da regiäo norte do Estado do Paraná - Brasil / Frequency of anti-cysticercus cellulosae antibodies in individuals from five counties in the southern region of Brazil

Realizou-se inquérito sorológico e epidemiológico para cisticercose em indivíduos de cinco municípios da regiäo Norte do Estado do Paraná, Brasil. De 2.180 indivíduos investigados através da reaçäo de imunofluorescência indireta, 69 (3,2 por cento) apresentaram títulos significativos de anticorpos anti-Cysticercus cellulosae. Os percentuais de indivíduos com títulos significativos encontrados em Sarandi (6,6 por cento) e Marialva (4,7 por cento) näo diferem estatisticamente (Z=1.319, P=0,0936), mas diferem dos percentuais encontrados em Mandaguaçu, Paiçandu e Maringá (P<0,01). Destes indivíduos, 47,9 por cento estavam na faixa etária de 21 a 49 anos e 79,4 por cento eram do sexo feminino. Foi comum o relato de queixas como "dores de cabeça" (70,6 por cento), "tonturas" (57,4 por cento) e "convulsöes" (7,4 por cento), além de história de teníase (22,1 por cento) e hábitos de ingestäo de carne crua bovina (41,2 por cento) ou suína 27,9 por cento) e carne com "canjiquinha' (25,0 por cento)

The use of dot-immunogold-silver staining (dot-IGSS), dot-ELISA and dot-IGSS to detect serum antibodies from clonorchiasis patients: a comparative study.

We report the use of immunogold-silver staining (IGSS), dot-ELISA and dot-IGSS methods in the study of clonorchiasis in China. These methods were employed to detect the antibody in sera from 40 clonorchiasis patients. The positive rates were 100%, 90.0% and 95.0%, respectively. When the three methods were used to examine 40 normal sera, the negative rates were 100%, 97.5% and 97.5%, respectively. These results suggest that IGSS, dot-ELISA and dot-IGSS are highly specific and sensitive in detecting anti-Clonorchis antibody in patients.

Serosurvey of some major zoonotic infections in children and teenagers in Bali, Indonesia.

One hundred and ninety serum samples, mainly from children and teenagers, from northeast Bali were tested for the presence of antibodies against five zoonotic agents: Brucella abortus, Coxiella burnetii, Toxoplasma gondii, Toxocara canis and Trichinella spiralis. All children were negative for brucellosis and Q fever. A high prevalence rate was found for toxocariasis (63.2%) and trichinosis (19.5%). Antibody prevalence against T. gondii was found to be rather low (3.1%). To our knowledge, this is the first evidence of toxoplasmosis, toxocariasis and trichinosis infection in humans on Bali. Eating habits and poor hygiene may explain the frequency of parasitic infestations in the children and teenagers in Bali.

Estudo comparativo dos testes imunoenzimáticos ELISA-G e ELISA-M, imunofluorescência indireta e fixaçäo do complemento no diagnóstico da cisticercose humana / Comparative study of immunoenzyme tests ELISA-G and ELISA-M, indirect immunofluorescence and complement fixation in diagnosis of human cysticercosis

Foi feito estudo comparativo entre quatro testes imunológicos - imunoenzimático IgG (ELISA-g) e IgM (ELISA-M, imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI) e fixaçäo do complemento (RFC) - utilizados na detecçäo de anticorpos anti-Cysticercus, em soro e líquido cefalorraquidiano (LCR) de pacientes com suspeita clínica de cisticercose e seus familiares. Foram auxiliados 539 pacientes que apresentavam sintomas e/ou sinais sugestivos de cisticercose, 450 familiares destes doentes e 133 pessoas que constituíram o grupo controle. Foram colhidas 1122 amostras de soro e 120 de LCR que foram analisadas por ELISA-G e RIFI; em 83 soros e 60 LCR também foi processada a RFC e em 28 LCR também a ELISA-M. A ELISA-G e a RIFI mostraram-se reagentes em 5,2// dos soros, havendo discordância entre seus resultados em 3,5//. Em todos os soros do grupo controle ambos os testes foram näo-reagentes. Estas mesmas reaçöes, no LCR, foram reagentes em 16,7// e mostraram resultados discordantes em 7,5//. Houve concordância dos resultados da ELISA-G e da RIFI, efetuadas concomitantemente no soro e no LCR, em 89,6//) dos doentes, sendo 17,7// reagentes. Nos soros em que foram executadas ELISA-G, RIFI e RFC, 54,2// mostraram concordância de resultados nos três testes, sendo reagentes em 16,9//. Estas mesmas reaçöes no LCR tiveram resultados concordantes em 81,7//, sendo 11,7// reagentes. Nas amostras que apresentaram ELISA-G e RIFI näo reagentes, a RFC foi reagente no soro e LCR, respectivamente, em 41,0// 2 11,7//. Nos LCR em que se realizaram ELISA-G e ELISA-M, houve concordância de resultados em 78,6//; nas amostras com resultados discordantes, 10,7// tiveram ELISA-G reagente e ELISA-M näo reagente, ocorrendo o inverso nas outras 10,7// . É dada ênfase à necessidade da realizaçäo concomitantemente de vários testes imunológicos para detecçäo de anticorpos anti-Cysticercus, no soro e no LCR, garantidno maior segurança no diagnóstico e acompanhamento evolutivo da doença