Anaplasmataceae em gatos (Felis catus) no município de Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro / Anaplasmataceae in cats (Felis catus) in the city of Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro

No Brasil, até o ano 2000, os agentes riquetsiais em felinos domésticos eram poucos conhecidos, existindo somente relatos esporádicos de Ehrlichia sp. As recentes pesquisas envolvendo biologia molecular e agentes riquetsiais confirmam a ideia de que estes agentes estão presentes nesses animais e, por este motivo, demonstram a necessidade de estudos mais detalhados no Brasil. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi a caracterização dos agentes da família Anaplasmataceae que acometem os felinos domésticos e esclarecer a importância dos felinos na cadeia epidemiológica das doenças riquetsiais por métodos moleculares e sorológicos associando a presença das doenças aos parâmetros clínicos e laboratoriais. Foram obtidas amostras sanguíneas de 60 felinos domésticos, independentes de sanidade, provenientes de atendimentos clínicos. Destas amostras foram realizados hemograma e bioquímica sérica, e os dados foram utilizados para preenchimento da ficha laboratorial. As amostras foram processadas para obtenção de concentração de células e soro, para realização da reação em cadeia pela polimerase (PCR) e reação por imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI), respectivamente, para identificação de agentes da família Anaplasmataceae. Os dados foram utilizados para análise descritiva para formação de frequências epidemiológicas e para realização de testes não-paramétricos pelo Qui-quadrado de Pearson (p≤5%) associando as alterações laboratoriais às infecções por Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys e Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Os resultados obtidos revelaram a presença de 33,33% de agentes Anaplamastaceae na amostra populacional, sendo 8,33% para E. canis, 20% para A. platys e 10% para A. phagocytophilum. Foram realizadas as sorologias das amostras, pela imunofluorescência indireta, para verificação de amostras reagentes para A. phagocytophilum, sendo 8,33% amostras reagentes na amostra populacional. As alterações clínicas e laboratoriais mais frequentes em pacientes positivos por agentes Anaplasmataceae foram letargia, linfadenomegalia, mucosas pálidas, desidratação, trombocitopenia, hiperglobulinemia e hipoalbuminemia. Destes dados foram realizadas as correlações não paramétricas e não foram verificadas dependências das alterações laboratoriais com a presença de animais positivos para agentes Anaplasmataceae. A identificação dos agentes E. canis e A. platys visa esclarecer a doença na região, sendo instrumento de orientação da doença pelo médico veterinário ao proprietário para que tenha medidas adequadas de tratamento e prevenção. A presença de agentes A. phagocytophilum é considerada, sem dúvidas, uma notificação importante devido ao potencial zoonótico.(AU)

In Brazil, by the year 2000, rickettsioses in domestic cats were little known and there were only sporadic reports of Ehrlichia sp. Recent research involving molecular biology and rickettsioses confirm the notion of the presence of theses agents in cats and show the need for more studies in Brazil. The objective of this paper was to characterize agents belonging to the Anaplasmataceae family that affect domestic cats and to clarify the importance of cats in the epidemiology of rickettsioses by molecular and serological methods associating the presence of disease with clinical and laboratory parameters. Blood samples were obtained from 60 healthy domestic cats. Blood count and serum biochemical tests were performed, and the data were registered. The samples were processed to obtain cell concentration and serum to perform the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) respectively, in order to identify agents of the Anaplasmataceae family. The data were used for descriptive analysis to obtain frequencies and to perform non-parametric tests with the chi-square test (p≤5%), besides the laboratory findings of infection by Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Anaplasma platys. The results revealed that 33.33% of the agents belonged to the Anaplasmataceae family, 8.33% for E. canis, 20% for A. platys, and 10% for A. phagocytophilum. Serology samples were examined by indirect immunofluorescence to check samples reacting to A. phagocytophilum, with positive reaction of 8.33%. The most frequent clinical and laboratory findings in patients positive for Anaplasmataceae agents were lethargy, enlargement of lymph nodes, pale mucous membranes, dehydration, thrombocytopenia, hyperglobulinemia and hypoalbuminemia. These data had non-parametric correlation and the laboratory changes and presence of positive cats was not interdependent. Identification of E. canis and A. platys revealed the disease in the region of Campos dos Goytacazes/RJ. The presence of A. phagocytophilum is considered an important finding due to its zoonotic potential.(AU)

The Study on the Hospital - Based Relative Frequency , and Clinical and Laboratory Findings of Atopic Dermatitis / 대한피부과학회지

Background : Atopic dermatitis(AD) is a common disease, and population-based studies indicate that the frequency of AD has increased substantially during recent decades. However, there have been few studies on the hospital based relative frequency, and clinical and laborat,ory findings of AD in Korea. OBJECTIVE: The presenl study was aimed to elucidate the relative frequency of AD on the outpatient base, and to investigate the clinical manifestations and immunological laboratory findings. METHODS: Our study was designed by analysing outpatients with AD via physical examination, questionnaires and immunological investigations such as skin prick tests, Multi test CMI, and measurernent of eosinophil counts, total IgE, Derrnatophagoides pteronyssinus-specific IgE and eosinophil cationic protein(ECP). RESULTS: The results were as follows : 1. The relat,ive frequen:y of AD on the hospital base in 1995-1996 was 8.6%. 2. The mean age of onset was 3.36 years. 57.3% of the patients had their onset of eczema by the age of 1 year, 65.5% by 2 years and 83% by 5 years. The most common site at the onset was the face followed by antecubital area, popliteal area, neck, and trunk. 3. The predilection site on physical examination were the face, neck, antecubit,al area, popliteal area and trunk in decreesing order. 4. Concomitant allergic rhinitis, keratoconjunctivitis and asthma were present in 2~3.4%, 14.1%, and 9.5% of patients with AD, respect.ively, whereas pure AD was present in 34.1%. 5. Family history of atopy was observed in 60.5% of AD patient.s. 6. The most frequent ninor fea~ture of AD was xerosis followed by perifollicular accentuation, allergic shiner, cheilitis, imitation allergy, palrnar hyperlinearity and molluscum cantagiosum. 7. Seasonal aggravation was found in 86.8% of patients with AD, especially in summer and winter, The rnost significant aggravating factors were wools followed by sweating, heating, dryness, excessive bat.hing and emotional stress. 8. Abnormal levels of .osinophils, total IgE and ECP were seen in 44.8%, 78.9% and 31.7% Of patients with AD, respec.ively. 9. Cell mediated immunty was decreased in 68.2% of patients with AD. 10. Positive reactivity( at least rnore than one allergen) in the skin prick t,est was noted in 76% of pat,ients with AD and the most popular 8 allergens were D. pteronyssinus, D. farinae, cat fur, M4 mixed threshing dust., dog hair, mugwort pollen, H3 tree pollen and birch pollen. 11. The specific IgE aritibodies to D. pteronyssinus(>+1) were found in 72.3% of AD patients and correlated with the r esults of the skin prick test in 76%. CONCLUSION: The hospi al-based relative frequency of AD investigated in our study tends to be increased. As the clinica features and laboratory findings of AD might be influenced by genetic, environrnental and psychological factors, the systernic evaluation of patients with AD will be needed.