Parasites of pigeons (Columba livia) in urban areas of lages, Southern Brazil

The prevalence of ectoparasites and endoparasites was studied in 5 8 free-living pigeons (Columba livia) in urban areas of Lages, in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. The pigeons were visually inspected and fecal and blood samples were collected to determine the presence of ectoparasites. The serological diagnosis was established through the use of blood smears stained with Quick Panoptic and Giemsa methods. The fecal samples were analyzed using Sheather 's method. The Quick Panoptic andGiemsa methods detected 67.24 percent (39/58) and 46.55 percent (27/58) of Haemoproteussp, respectively. The prevalence rate amounted to 57 percent of 116 smears analyzed (P value=0.0387; odds ratio = 2.357 with a 95 percent confidence interval). The prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was 74.14 percent (43/58). Protozoa (100 percent for Eimeria sp.) were detected in 86.05 percent of the cases and nematodes (Ascaridia sp. and Capillaria sp.) in 32.56 percent, whereas 20.93 percent of the pigeons were infected by multiple parasites. The fly Pseudolynchia canariensis was found beneath the feathers of all pigeons. This is the first report of parasites in C. livia in the state of Santa Catarina.

A prevaléncia de ecto e endoparasitos de 58 pombos (Columba livia) de vida livre foi estudada em áreas urbanas de Lages, estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil. Os pombos foram submetidos ao exame visual para a coleta e identificação de ectoparasites, coletas de fezes e sangue. O diagnóstico hemoparasitológico foi através de esfregacos sanguíneos corados pelas técnicas de Panótico Rápido e Giemsa. As fezes foram processadas pelo método de Sheather. Entre os hemoparasitos destacou-se o Haemoproteus sp., com 67,24 por cento (39/58) para a técnica de Panótico Rápido e 46,55 por cento (27/58) para a técnica de Giemsa. Dos 116 esfregaços analisados, a prevalência foi de 57 por cento (P = 0,0387; Odds Ratio = 2,357 e Intervalo de Confiaça de 95 por cento). A prevalência de parásitos gastrintestinais foi de 74,14 por cento (43/58) com 86,05 por cento para protozoários (100 por cento para Eimeria sp.), 32,56 por cento para nematódeos (Ascaridia sp. e Capillaria sp.) e 20,93 por cento multiparasitados. A presença da mosca Pseudolynchia canarienses foi observada entre as penas de todas as aves. Este é o primeiro registro destes parásitos em C. livia no estado de Santa Catarina.

Cysticercosis: IgG-ELISA evaluations of peak1 antigen and <30 kDa antigen of delipidized extract of Taenia solium metacestodes.

The antigenicity of ether-delipidized Taenia solium metacestode extract (DLPAg) was investigated by IgG-ELISA. The antigen showed higher antigenicity than that of non-delipidized antigen (NDLPAg). Then the DLPAg was subjected to Sephacryl S-200 gel chromatography and a partially purified antigen (DLPP1Ag) was identified as the promised antigen by IgG-ELISA using 25 sera from cysticercosis cases, 177 cases of 24 heterologous infections, and healthy controls. Sensitivity was 52% and specificity was 91.8% at the cut-off value (X + 7SD), 0.399. Cross-reactivity occurred with 17 cases of eight diseases: cystic echinococcosis (7/11), taeniasis (1/16), gnathostomiasis (2/8), strongyloidiasis (1/12), angiostrongyliasis (1/12), paragonimiasis heterotremus (2/15), opisthorchiasis (1/9) and fascioliasis (2/7). When DLPP1Ag was fractionated through Ultra free centrifugal tube (retained 30 kDa) and Amicon (PM10), MWCOP1Ag (<30-10> kDa) was obtained; the antigen showed better results than DLPP1Ag with 88% sensitivity and 95.6% specificity at the cut-off value (X + 4SD), 0.264. Nine cases of six diseases cross-reacted with this antigen: cystic echinococcosis (2/11), gnathostomiasis (2/8), trichinellosis (2/12), toxocariasis (1/5), schistosomiasis (1/6), and fascioliasis (1/7). MWCOP1Ag gave higher sensitivity than that of DLPP1Ag but some cross-reactivity occurred.

Use of delipidized antigens of Taenia solium metacestodes in IgG-ELISA for detection of neurocysticercosis.

The development of IgG-ELISA for detecting neurocysticercosis is aimed at the routine laboratory, and requires a particular antigen preparation, an acceptable number of serum samples to be tested (both homologous and heterologous) and patients with a diversity of helminthic infections to rule out cross-reactions. This study characterizes IgG-antibodies from cases of neurocysticercosis by assaying the sera against ether-delipidized antigens (5 microg/ml) prepared from metacestodes of Taenia solium. The test had a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 83%. IgG-antibodies from heterologous serum samples elicited a number of false positives (25/147) from six different helminthic infections, ie paragonimiasis, echinococcosis, opisthorchiasis, ascariasis, taeniasis and fascioliasis. In additional tests to detect antibody levels to these stage-related antigens, one of three serum samples from T. solium-infected cases gave negative at OD value of 0.187 while the others yielded 0.472 and 0.576. Conversely, assays of all serum samples from neurocysticercosis cases reacted against antigens from Echinococcus granulosus cystic fluid, Paragonimus heterotremus and Opisthorchis viverrini adult worms. In comparison, the antigens from these three species yielded higher mean OD values when assayed against the corresponding infected serum samples. Furthermore, neurocysticercosis cases yielded OD values that are separate and distinct from those of paragonimiasis cases.

Practicable IFAT slide antigen preparations for detection of Gnathostoma spinigerum antibodies in rabbits.

This study was designed to determine which stage of Gnathostoma spinigerum and which method of the preparation of test antigens are the most suitable for the detection of antibodies in serum of rabbits infected with advanced third stage larvae (AL3) of G. spinigerum by the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Antigens from parasite ova and first stage larvae (L1) were obtained from freshly preserved specimens and affixed to glass slides with egg albumin. AL3 antigens consisted of paraffin sections, cryostat sections and pellets of crude worm soluble extract. Slides of adult male and female worms were prepared in cryostat sections. Pellets of crude worm soluble extract (AL3) smeared onto slides gave the best positive reaction followed by AL3 cryostat sections and L1.

Síntesis intratecal de inmunoglobulinas en meningoencefalitis producida por Angiostrongylus Cantonensis (Chen, 1935) / Intrathecal synthesis of immunoglobulins in meningoencephalitis caused by Angiostrongylus Cantonensis (Chen, 1935)

Se estudiaron 4 casos de meningoencefalitis eosinofílica producida por Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Se encontró en el estudio citoquímico del líquido cefalorraquídeo de estos pacientes, un predominio de eosinófilos con IgE aumentada. En el suero hubo un comportamiento variable de las inmunoglobulinas a excepción del aumento de la IgE total. Hubo síntesis de IgG e Iga en todos los pacientes y síntesis de IgM en uno de ellos. El tanto por ciento de síntesis intratecal fue variable y la síntesis de IgE se manifiesta en 2 tendencias con igual número de casos

Circumoval and larval microprecipitation reactions in experimental and human gnathostomiasis.

Mice, rats and cats were infected either orally or percutaneously with a number of early or advanced third-stage larvae (EL3 or AL3, respectively) of G. spinigerum. Sera obtained from these infected animals and 10 human gnathostomiasis cases were tested against various developmental stages of the parasite which were prepared and used while being alive (fresh) or dead (air-dried) for the circumoval and larval microprecipitation (COP and LMP) reactions. No precipitin reactions were observed in all sera tested against unembryonated eggs, embryonated eggs and first stage larvae neither air-dried nor fresh preparations. Sera were merely reactive giving various degrees of membranous or filamentous precipitates against the air-dried preparation of AL3.

Paniculitis migratoria con eosinofilia: primer caso de gnathostomiasis en Colombia / Migratory panniculitis with eosinophilia: first case of gnathostomiasis in Colombia

Se presenta el caso de un agricultor de Necocli (Antioquia) de 42 anos de edad con dos lesiones nodulares profundas migratorias, que aparecieron en el abdomen primero, luego en el torax y posteriormente sanaron con fibrosis. Los examenes de sangre mostraron eosinofilia, aumento de IgE y la biopsia fue informada como una paniculitis compuesta por linfocitos, plasmocitos, polimorfonucleares neutrofilos y eosinofilos. El paciente fue tratado con tiabendazol para una estrongiliodiasis intestinal y simultaneamente sanaron las lesiones de piel. La historia es muy sugestiva de una paniculitis parasitaria. Aunque el parasito no se encontro, lo cual es muy frecuente que suceda por la rapidez con que se mueve, la mas grande posibilidad diagnostica es Gnathostomiasis. Esta enfermedad es causada por un helminto del genero Gnathostoma.

ELISA for immunodiagnosis of human gnathostomiasis.

An ELISA for immunodiagnosis of human gnathostomiasis using a crude water extract of third-stage larvae of G. spinigerum as antigen, and alkaline phosphatase labelled goat antihuman IgG in the indicator system was developed and evaluated. At the titre of 1:400 and above positive results were observed in 100% of 4 parasitological confirmed and 10 eosinophilic meningo-encephalitis (EME) typical of gnathostomiasis cases, 56% of 160 cutaneous migratory swelling cases, 33% of 24 cases with EME typical of A. cantonensis infections, 23% of 92 cases with other parasitic infections and 1.5% of blood donors. The overall sensitivity was 59% and specificity 84%. The predictive value was 77%. The results indicated that ELISA is potentially useful for immunodiagnosis of gnathostomiasis but improvement of sensitivity and specificity is needed.