Molecular diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis in an endemic area of Acre State in the Amazonian Region of Brazil

Abstract INTRODUCTION This study proposes to identify the Leishmania species found in the skin lesions of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) patients from Brasiléia municipality (Acre). METHODS Skin biopsy imprints or biopsy fragments were assayed via kDNA-PCR/RFLP and FRET-real-time PCR. RESULTS Of individuals with suspected CL, 18 were positive for Leishmania kDNA. Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis (61.1%) and Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis (5.5%) were identified in the positive samples. CONCLUSIONS These results are congruent with the previous reports in Acre and Bolivia, revealing L. braziliensis as the most prevalent species. L. guyanensis identification also corroborates with the epidemiology of the disease in the Amazon Basin.

First reported case of infective endocarditis caused by community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus not associated with healthcare contact in Brazil

We report here the first case of endocarditis due to CA-MRSA not associated with healthcare contact in Brazil in Brazil. A previously healthy patient presented with history of endocarditis following a traumatic wound infection. Patient had multiple positive blood cultures within 72 h of admission and met modified Duke's criterion for infective endocarditis. The isolate was typed as Staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC) mec type IV and was positive for presence of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL). Increased incidence of CA-MRSA endocarditis is a challenge for the internist to choose the best empirical therapy. Several authors have suggested an empirical therapy with both a beta-lactam and an anti-MRSA agent for serious S. aureus infections. Our patient was treated with Vancomycin and made complete recovery in 3 months.

Toxoplasmose: diagnóstico e tratamento / Toxoplasmosis: diagnosis and treatment

Os autores fazem uma revisao da apresentaçao clínica da toxoplasmose nas suas diversas formas: adquirida, ocular, na gravidez, congênita e na Aids, sendo enfatizados os métodos diagnósticos e indicaçoes terapêuticas.

Toxoplasmose ocular; estudo prospectivo de 34 casos no Hospital Evandro Chagas / Ocular toxoplasmosis; a prospective study based on 34 cases at Hospital Evandro Chagas

A toxoplasmose ocular é a causa mais frequente de uveíte em nosso meio. Realizamos estudo de caráter prospectivo no Hospital Evandro Chagas, Fundaçäo Oswaldo Cruz, e avaliamos 83 pacientes com diagnóstico de uveíte posterior, dos quais 34 (40,97 por cento) apresentaram quadro clínico, laboratorial e resposta terapêutica compatíveis com toxoplasmose ocular. Verificamos uma predominância de pacientes na faixa etária de 10 a 39 anos, com total de 27 (85,29 por cento) e do sexo feminino, com 21 (61,77 por cento). A lesäo se localizou na regiäo periférica da retina em 23 (67,65 por cento), na regiäo periférica e macular em 8 (23,53 por cento) e na regiäo macular em 3 (8,82 por cento) e apresentou contiguidade com lesäo cicatrizada em 18 (52,95 por cento) dos pacientes. Em 31 pacientes com toxoplasmose ocular, a imunofluorescência indireta apresentou resultados positivos para IgG em títulos compatíveis com infecçäo crônica. Em três, observamos toxoplasmose aguda, associada à lesäo ocular apresentando títulos de IgG e IgM positivos. Cinco pacientes apresentaram recorrência da lesäo no período de 3 anos de observaçäo