Induction of cell migration and activation in mice by the freshwater sponge Drulia uruguayensis Bonetto & Ezcurra de Drago, 1968 (Porifera: Metaniidae)

Freshwater sponges are abundant in the Amazon region and they have been known to cause dermatitis (acute inflammation) since the beginning of the 20th century. To determine whether additional constituents, besides their body spicules, cause dermatological reactions in humans, an experimental study was developed and carried out using mice and Drulia uruguayensis prepared in three different forms: intact sponges (IS), macerated sponges (MS) or isolated spicules - megascleres (ISM). The cells most commonly involved in inflammatory reactions (mast cells, eosinophils and neutrophils), as well as intraepithelial lymphocytes and degranulated mast cells, were counted so that they could be used as parameters to determine which of the sponge preparations induced the greatest reaction. The effects of the sponge on the skin were then determined by histological analysis. The results obtained showed that IS caused the greatest inflammatory reaction (p = 0.000005), activating mainly mast cells (p = 0.0018). The histopathological analysis revealed a slight loss of continuity of the epidermis when ISM or IS were applied. These findings allow us to conclude that a structurally intact sponge can cause a greater inflammatory reaction in the first contact because of its ability to perforate the skin and allow inflammatory agents to enter. Other proteins present in dried sponge bodies could induce allergic but not toxic responses (in contact with the entire sponge, a large number of pharmacologically inert proteins may be introduced, with a potential allergen).

Transmissäo congênita de Babesia bovis: relato de um caso autóctone em Minas Gerais - Brasil / Prenatal infection of calf with Babesia bovis: first autoctonous case in Brazil

It is discussed first autoctonous prenatal case of Babesia bovis in Brazil. After a normal birth a male Brown Swiss calf, had not sucked colostrum and died at three days after birth. Clinical and laboratory examinations revealed petechial hemorrhages in oral and conjuntival mucosas, red urine and parasitemia due to B. bovis as shown in blood smears Giemsa stained. Post-mortem examination revealed hepato-splenomegaly, congestion and edema in lungs, brain and kidneys. Optical and eletronic microscopies showed severe congestion, edema, red cells aglutination, and most of the erythrocites in the brain capillaries contained Babesia organisms, which were also detected outside the cells. In the kidneys interlobular interstitial nephritis, glomerulonephritis mesangioproliferative diffuse and rare parasites in the capillaries were observed. 1.8 per cent of the erythrocites in peripheral circulation were parasitized in the brain capillaries more than 90 per cent of those cells had Babesia organisms

Preliminary report on the application of the coaggutination test for rapid diagnosis of cholera in the upper Solimöes river area in the Brazilian Amazon region

The conventional diagnosis of cholera depends on complex bacteriological procedures. Coagglutination is a simnple, rapid, inexpensive and efficient technique for the presumptive diagnosis of cholera. Of 840 fecal samples from suspected cases of cholera examined at Tabatinga (State of Amazonas, Brazil) 31 (3.6%) were confirmed by culture and 29 of then were also positive by the coagglutination test performed directly on the fecal enrichment broth (alkaline peptone water). About 90% of the positive coagglutination results were obtained after-5-h incubation at 37 grade C and the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the method were 93.5%, 99% and 98.8%, respectively. relative to the culture results, coagglutination yielded two false-negative and eight false-positive results. The coagglutination test for cholera can provide a rapid and reliable tool for epidemiological studies and for the planning of more effective measures against cholera