B-cell infiltration and frequency of cytokine producing cells differ between localized and disseminated human cutaneous leishmaniases

Biopsies from human localized cutaneous lesions (LCL n = 7) or disseminated lesions (DL n = 8) cases were characterized according to cellular infiltration,frequency of cytokine (IFN-g, TNF-alpha) or iNOS enzyme producing cells. LCL, the most usual form of the disease with usually one or two lesions, exhibits extensive tissue damage. DL is a rare form with widespread lesions throughout the body; exhibiting poor parasite containment but less tissue damage. We demonstrated that LCL lesions exhibit higher frequency of B lymphocytes and a higher intensity of IFN-gamma expression. In both forms of the disease CD8+ were found in higher frequency than CD4+ T cells. Frequency of TNF-alpha and iNOS producing cells, as well as the frequency of CD68+ macrophages, did not differ between LCL and DL. Our findings reinforce the link between an efficient control of parasite and tissue damage, implicating higher frequency of IFN-gamma producing cells, as well as its possible counteraction by infiltrated B cells and hence possible humoral immune response in situ

Hepatic capillariasis in rats: a new model for testing antifibrotic drugs

Rats infected with the helminth Capillaria hepatica regularly develop septal hepatic fibrosis that may progress to cirrhosis in a relatively short time. Because of such characteristics, this experimental model was selected for testing drugs exhibiting antifibrosis potential, such as pentoxifylline, gadolinium chloride and vitamin A. Hepatic fibrosis was qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated in liver samples obtained by partial hepatectomy and at autopsy. The material was submitted to histological, biochemical and morphometric methods. A statistically significant reduction of fibrosis was obtained with pentoxifylline when administered intraperitoneally rather than intravenously. Gadolinium chloride showed moderate activity when administered prophylactically (before fibrosis had started), but showed a poor effect when fibrosis was well advanced. No modification of fibrosis was seen after vitamin A administration. Hydroxyproline content was correlated with morphometric measurements. The model appears to be adequate, since few animals die of the infection, fibrosis develops regularly in all animals, and the effects of different antifibrotic drugs and administration protocols can be easily detected

Identificacao do Trypanosoma cruzi nos tecidos extracardiacos de portadores de miocardite cronica chagasica. / Identification of Trypanosoma cruzi in extra cardiac tissues in patients with chronic Chagas' myocarditis

Em autopsias realizadas durante 20 anos em portadores de miocardite cronica chagasica parasitologicamente comprovados, foi realizada uma pesquisa exaustiva das formas tissulares do Trypanosoma cruzi nas seccoes histologicas de varios orgaos. Os parasitos intracelulares foram encontrados nos tecidos extracardiacos em 11 casos (55%), a saber: tubo digestivo (10 vezes), adrenal (6 vezes) e em varios outros orgaos (1 vez cada). A presenca dos parasitos se associava com discreta infiltracao mononuclear focal, mas, o mais das vezes, nao havia qualquer alteracao. O estudo mostra que as formas de multiplicacao do T. cruzi tendem a se distribuir amplamente na infeccao cronica, mas como sao escassos, o seu encontro depende de pesquisa minuciosa. Um fato interessante e que somente no miocardio os parasitos aparecem associados com inflamacao cronica, difusa, progressiva e fibrosante

Pentastomiase em roedor no estado da Bahia. Nota sobre o encontro de Armillifer moniliformis (Diesing, 1835) Sambon, 1922. / Pentastomiasis in rodents in the State of Bahia. Report of the finding of Armillifer moniliformis (Diesing, 1835) Sambon, 1922)

Foi identificado em um roedor silvestre Zigodontomys pixuna Moojen, 1943), capturado no interior do Estado da Bahia, eyemplar de Armillifer moniliformis (Diesing, 1835) Sambon, 1922, um agente etiologico da pentastomiase humana na Asia. Este encontro se faz pela primeira vez na America

Hepatite de Labrea em Salvador, BA? (Apresentacao de um possivel caso). / Labrea hepatitis in Salvador, BA? (Report of a possible case)

Um menino de quatro anos de idade, natural e residente em Salvador, Bahia, apresentou uma doenca febril, de curso rapido com febre, ictericia, dores abdominais, agitacao psicomotora, coma e morte no 7o. dia do internamento. Histologicamente o figado exibiu extensa necrose litica e de coagulacao dos hepatocitos, alem de degeneracao gordurosa aguda ("celulas em morula"), infiltracao mononuclear e colestase, um quadro considerado tipico da hepatite de Labrea. A existencia de tal caso levanta o problema da ocorrencia de hepatite de Labrea fora da Regiao Amazonica ou aquele de falta de especificidade do quadro histopatologico considerado como tipico da referida condicao