Economic impact of gastrointestinal nematodes in Morada Nova sheep in Brazil / Impacto econômico de nematódeos gastrintestinais em ovinos Morada Nova no Brasil

Abstract This study evaluated the economic impact of gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infection in Morada Nova lambs under different parasite chemical control conditions. For this, 246 lambs, in the rainy and dry season, were randomized into groups according to their anthelmintic treatment with levamisole: control (CT: no treatment); routine treatment (RT: treated every 42 days); and targeted selective treatment (TST: treated according to the average daily weight gain, DWG). From 63 days of age (D63) to D210, the lambs were weighed and monitored for GIN infection parameters. Spending on anthelmintics in the production system was 1.3% of the total economic result. The economic result per animal (R$ 5.00 = US$ 1.00) was higher in the RT group, amounting to US$ 6.60 in the rainy and US$ 5.69 in the dry season, due to higher DWG. Thus, RT presented economic results 14.4% and 10.9% higher than CT, and 7.2% and 1.9% higher than TST, in the rainy and dry season, respectively. However, fast development of resistance made RT unfeasible. Here, the economic impact of GIN infection on a national scale is discussed, demonstrating its importance and the impossibility of profitable and sustainable sheep production without adequate control.

Resumo Este estudo avaliou o impacto econômico da infecção por nematoides gastrintestinais (NGI), em cordeiros Morada Nova, sob diferentes condições de controle químico dos parasitas. Para isso, 246 cordeiros, na estação chuvosa e seca, foram randomizados em grupos de acordo com o tratamento com levamisol: controle (TC: sem tratamento); tratamento rotineiro (TR: tratado a cada 42 dias); e tratamento seletivo direcionado (TST: tratado de acordo com o ganho de peso médio diário, GMD). Dos 63 dias de idade (D63) ao D210, os cordeiros foram pesados ​​e monitorados quanto aos parâmetros de infecção por NGI. O gasto com anti-helmínticos no sistema produtivo foi de 1,3% do resultado econômico total. O resultado econômico por animal (R$ 5,00 = US$ 1,00) foi maior no grupo RT, totalizando US$ 6,60 na estação chuvosa e US$ 5,69 na seca, devido ao maior GMD. Assim, o RT apresentou resultados econômicos 14,4% e 10,9% superiores ao TC, e 7,2% e 1,9% superiores ao TST, no período chuvoso e seco, respectivamente. Entretanto o rápido desenvolvimento de resistência inviabiliza o TR. O impacto econômico da infecção por NGI em escala nacional são aqui discutidos, demonstrando sua importância e a impossibilidade de uma ovinocultura lucrativa e sustentável sem o controle adequado.

High concentration of levamisole in the diet of Colossoma macropomum (Pisces: Serrasalmidae) is effective for controlling monogenean parasites / Alta concentração de levamisol na dieta de Colossoma macropomum (Pisces: Serrasalmidae) é efetiva para controlar parasitos monogenea

Abstract This study investigated the effects of diets supplemented with levamisole on monogeneans on the gills of Colossoma macropomum. Fish were fed with diets containing levamisole at concentrations of 0, 300, 600, 900 and 1200 mg kg-1 for 24, 96 and 240 h and the infection by Anacanthorus spatulatus, Notozothecium janauachensis and Mymarothecium boegeri were evaluated. None of the levamisole concentrations caused either mortality or behavioral alterations in fishes during 240 h of feeding. After 24 h of feeding with 1200 mg kg-1 of levamisole, the abundance of N. janauachensis decreased in comparison with treatments of 0, 300, 600 and 900 mg kg-1, as did the abundance of M. boegeri after 240 h of feeding with 1200 mg kg-1 of levamisole. The efficacy of 900 mg kg-1 of levamisole was only 55.7% after 96 h of feeding, but it was 84.6% after 240 h of feeding with 1200 mg kg-1. Our results show that 1200 mg kg-1 of levamisole for 10 days has good anthelmintic efficacy against monogeneans of C. macropomum. Since monogeneans elicit some of the worst problems in C. macropomum, this study has provided evidence of an effective control method that may be used in fish farms.

Resumo Este estudo investigou os efeitos de dietas suplementadas com levamisol na infecção por monogeneas nas brânquias de Colossoma macropomum. Os peixes foram alimentados com dietas contendo 0, 300, 600, 900 e 1200 mg kg-1 de levamisol por 24, 96 e 240 h e os níveis de infecção por Anacanthorus spatulatus, Notozothecium janauachensis e Mymarothecium boegeri, foram avaliados. Nenhuma das concentrações de levamisol causou mortalidade ou alterações comportamentais nos peixes durante 240 h de alimentação. Após 24 h de alimentação com 1.200 mg kg-1 de levamisol, a abundância de N. janauachensis diminuiu quando comparada aos tratamentos com 0, 300, 600 e 900 mg kg-1, bem como a abundância de M. boegeri após 240 h de alimentação com 1200 mg kg-1 de levamisol. A eficácia de 900 mg kg-1 de levamisol foi somente de 55,7% após 96 h de alimentação, mas foi de 84,6% após 240 h de alimentação com 1200 mg kg-1. Os resultados mostram que 1200 mg kg-1 de levamisol durante 10 dias, tem uma boa eficácia antihelmíntica contra monogeneas de C. macropomum. Como monogeneas provocam alguns dos piores problemas em C. macropomum, este estudo forneceu evidências de um método de controle eficaz que pode ser usado em pisciculturas.

Proposed method for agglutinating antibody titer analysis and its use as indicator of acquired immunity in pacu, Piaractus mesopotamicus / Aglutinante de anticorpos como indicador de imunidade adquirida de pacu Piaractus mesopotamicus

Antibody can be assessed by agglutinating antibody titer which is a quantitative measure of circulating antibodies in serum from fish previously immunized. The antibody evaluation has been performed with different fish species, and is considered a reliable method that can be applied to confirm several hypothesis regarding acquired immunity, even in conjunction with precise methods to describe immune mechanisms. In order to provide appropriate analytical methods for future studies on the specific immune system of native fish, the present study standardized on assay to measure the serum agglutinating antibody titer produced after immunization with inactivated A. hydrophila and levamisole administration in pacu. It was possible to determine the agglutinating antibodies titer in a satisfactorily way in pacu immunized with inactive A. hydrophila, and the highest titers were observed on fish fed with levamisole.

Os anticorpos podem ser avaliados pelo título aglutinante de anticorpos, que é uma medida quantitativa de anticorpos no soro de peixe previamente imunizados. A determinação do título de anticorpos foi realizada com diversas espécies de peixes e é considerado um método confiável que pode ser aplicado para confirmar diversas hipóteses que envolvam o sistema adquirido de defesa, mesmo em conjunto com métodos precisos, para descrever mecanismos imunes. A fim de prover métodos analíticos adequados para futuros estudos sobre o sistema imune específico de peixes nativos, o presente estudo aperfeiçoou o ensaio para avaliar o título aglutinante de anticorpos em soro de pacu imunizados com A. hydrophila e alimentados com levamisol. Foi possível determinar o título aglutinante de anticorpos de forma satisfatória, em pacus imunizados com A. hydrophila inativa, e os maiores títulos foram observados em peixes alimentados com levamisol.

Comparative Efficacy of Ivermectin and Levamisole for Reduction of Migrating and Encapsulated Larvae of Baylisascaris transfuga in Mice

The comparative efficacy of 2 anthelmintics (ivermectin and levamisole) against Baylisascaris transfuga migrating and encapsulated larvae was studied in mice. A total of 60 BALB/c mice inoculated each with about 1,000 embryonated B. transfuga eggs were equally divided into 6 groups (A-F) randomly. Mice of groups A and B were treated with ivermectin and levamisole, respectively, on day 3 post-infection (PI). Mice of groups A-C were killed on day 13 PI. Similarly, groups D and E were treated with ivermectin and levamisole, respectively, on day 14 PI, and all mice of groups D-F were treated on day 24 PI. The groups C and F were controls. Microexamination was conducted to count the larvae recovering from each mouse. The percentages of reduction in the number of migrating larvae recovered from group A (ivermectin) and B (levamisole) were 88.3% and 81.1%, respectively. In addition, the reduction in encapsulated larvae counts achieved by ivermectin (group D) and levamisole (group E) was 75.0% and 49.2%, respectively. The results suggested that, to a certain extent, both anthelmintics appeared to be more effective against migrating larvae than encapsulated larvae. However, in the incipient stage of infection, ivermectin may be more competent than levamisole as a larvicidal drug for B. transfuga.

Prophylactic effect of levamisole on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) against Yersinia ruckeri

Alteration in the relative percentage of survival (RPS) rate of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) exposed to 5, 10 and 25�g ml-1 levamisole for 2 h against Yersinia ruckeri was investigated. The average weight of the 120 fish used in this study was 6.3g. Upon challenge with a virulent strain, the relative survival percentage of respectively 83.3 percent, 86.7 percent and 76.6 percent was recorded. The results suggest that the application of levamisole in fish farms could increase resistance to infection of fish and offer economic benefits.

Levamisole in steroid dependent and frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome

To determine the efficacy of levamisole in steroid dependent [S.D] and frequently relapsing [F.R] nephrotic, from syndrome [N.S]. Quasi-experimental study. Department of Nephrology at The Children's Hospital, Lahore, over a period of 5 years from January 2000 to December 2004. S.D.N.S and F.R.N.S patients between the ages of 1-15 years, were given levamisole on alternate day in a dose of 2.5mg/kg, if either the dosage of steroids to maintain remission was >1mg/kg/every other day [EOD], or Z with CARON 0.5mg/kg/EOD with signs of steroid toxicity. The agent was continued for a period of one year and the steroids were gradually tapered off by 2.5-5mg every four weeks to less than 0.5mg/kg/EOD. The patients were monitored for maintenance of remission and side effects of drug. Seventy patients with a mean age of 5.50 +/- 2.97 years, with male to female ratio of 4:1 were studied. Nineteen [27.14%] patients did not relapse on therapy, while it was ineffective in 11[15.7%]. Rest of 40 [57.14%] patients, though, relapsed during therapy, their duration of remission was prolonged from six months to one year, and dose of corticosteroids could be significantly reduced [0.1-0.3mg/kg/EOD]. It was also observed that levamisole is more effective in older children [>5 years versus <5 years] [P-value 0.03]. The only side effects were transient rash and occasional vomiting. Levamisole is a safe and effective steroid sparing drug, in steroid dependent and frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome, for the prolongation of remission, especially in older children

Reação farmacodérmica decorrente do uso do levamisol: relato de caso / Pharmacodermic adverse reaction due to levamisole: a case report

Relata-se a ocorrência de um caso de farmacodérmica pelo levamisol e discute-se sobre a manifestação clínica e o estabelecimento do diagnóstico dessa reação cutânea adversa. O animal desenvolveu lesões exsudativas na face, com resolução espontânea após a suspensão do fármaco.

First report of a family with Lynch syndrome type II in Puerto Rico

Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence in Puerto Rico has increased prodigiously since incidence figures were first recorded in 1950. Implications for hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) in concert with this increased CRC incidence are discussed. A family with the Amsterdam-positive criteria of the Lynch syndrome II variant, identified in the eastern area of Puerto Rico, is described. As far as we can determine, this is the first such report of this disorder in Puerto Rico

Nuevos aportes clínico-patológicos y terapéuticos en leishmaniasis / New development on the clinical, pathological and therapeutics aspects of leishmaniasis

La leshmaniasis es producida por un protozoo, trasmitida por muchos mosquitos hematófagos (Lutzomia brasiliensis), artrópodos (Rhipicephalus turanicus) y probablemente triatomideos (Triatoma infestans, Pansterongilus infestans). En Bolivia existen tres formas de leishmaniasis: cutánea, mucocutánea y visceral, producidas por el mismo agente etiológico, con tres diferentes fases evolutivas relacionadas con mecanismos inmunológicos dependientes de muchos factores. Las tres responden a diversas drogas, a veces inespecíficas, que son empleadas para otras enfermedades (plasmodios, trichomonas, giardias, hongos y bacilos de Koch). Las sales antimoniales pentavalentes son las más comúnmente usadas, con resultados variables, a veces adversos, por su toxicidad, ineficacia ineficiencia y, sobre todo, resistencia y difícil manejo. Se ha demostrado que la L. cutánea tratada con glucantime, anfotericina B y otros presenta posteriormente lesiones mucocutáneas. Por otro lado, leishmaniosos que curaron espontáneamente han mostrado lesiones secundarias en forma ocasional. Lo que demuestra que en esta enfermedad existe una falla inmunológica, razón por la que usamos un inmunomodulador (DECARIS-clorhidrato de levamisol-, que es un antiparasitario), con buenos resultados (95 por ciento de éxito), sobre todo por su bajo costo, uso cómodo y efectos colaterales mínimos. Finalmente concluimos que en el momento actual no existe un leishmanicida eficaz para el tratamiento de esta enfermedad. El tratamiento inmunológico parece ser muy prometedor

A randomized trial comparing cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil with or without levamisole in operable gastric cancer

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effectiveness and toxicity when levamisole was added to the adjuvant combination chemotherapy in patients with operable gastric cancer. METHODS: After en bloc resection of gastric cancer without gross or microscopic evidence of residual disease from April 1991 to December 1992, 100 patients were randomized to 6 months of 5-fluorouracil 1,000 mg/m2/day administered as continuous infusion for 5 days, cisplatin 60 mg/m2/day as intravenous infusion for 1 day with or without levamisole (50 mg every eight hours P.O for a period of three days every 2 weeks for 6 months). This chemotherapy treatment was begun within 2 to 4 weeks after the surgery. The chemotherapy consisted of discrete 5-day courses administered at 4-weeks intervals. All 100 patients are assessable. RESULTS: The fifty patients were assigned to each treatment group. There was no statistical difference and no bias in the distribution of characteristics of the 100 evaluable patients between the two groups. A total of 274 courses of treatment were given in the levamisole group and 260 courses of treatment in non-levamisole group. Eleven patients in each group did not finish planned 6 courses of treatment mainly due to non-compliance. At median follow up of 39 months, 32 patients relapsed 19 in the levamisole group and 13 in the non-levamisole group (p = 0.284). Twenty five patients died of relapsed diseases, 15 in the levamisole group and 10 in the non-levamisole group. The levamisole group tended to show more risk of overall death rate and recurrence than the non-levamisole group. However, this result was not statistically significant at 3 years. The treatment was well tolerated in both treatment groups. The grade 2-3 toxicities were nausea/ vomiting (levamisole, non-levamisole group; 31.7%, 29.3% of treatment courses respectively), diarrhea (7.6%, 8.4%), mucositis (11.6%, 12.3%), and leukopenia (9.8%, 9.6%). CONCLUSION: Levamisole had negative effects on disease-free survival and overall survival when added to adjuvant combination chemotherapy of cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil in patients with operable gastric cancer. Both treatment arms were generally well tolerated and the toxicity profile was similar with or without levamisole.

Modulation of host response during infection with trichinella pseudospiralis using immuno-stimulant drug

Infection of the mouse with Trichinella pseudospiralis is accompanied by pronounced suppression of host inflammatory response. This study examines the effect of infection with this parasite on one major component of cell mediated immunity, delayed type hypersensitivity [DTH] reaction and the effect of administration of immunostimulant drug [levamisole] on host response to T. pseudospiralis infection. Serum cortisol levels and the response of skin test to phytohemagglutinin were used to construct the time table of drug regimen. Three groups were studied; group I [infected mice], group II [received Levamisole on day 6 pi], and group II [received Levamisole on day 14 pi]. Early administration of levamisole restored DTH response to normal and histopathological examination of infected muscles revealed evident collagen deposition around the muscle larvae

Efeito da administraçäo de oxfendazol, ivermectina e levamisol sobre os exames coproparasitológicos de ovinos / Survey of anthelmintic treatment with oxfendazole, ivermectin and levamisole in sheep flocks

O trabalho foi realizado em nove propriedades do estado de Säo Paulo, com o objetivo de verificar o efeito da administraçäo de oxfendazol, ivermectina e levamisol sobre os exames coproparasitológicos de ovinos. Em cada propriedade foram formados aleatóriamente quatro grupos de ovinos: o primeiro foi medicado com oxfendazol, na dose de 4,5 mg/kg, o segundo com levamisol, na dose de 7,5 mg/kg, o terceiro com ivermectina, na dose de 0,2 mg/kg e o quarto grupo foi o controle, näo medicado. Colheitas de fezes foram realizadas no dia da vermifugaçäo e novamente sete dias depois para a realizaçäo de exames coproparasitológicos. Após a administraçäo de oxfendazol, levamisol e ivermectina, foi verificada reduçäo estatística significativa nas contagens de ovos por grama de fezes (OPG) em duas, quatro e cinco propriedades, respectivamente, sendo Haemonchus e Trichostrongylus os parasitas com maior ocorrência no experimento. Os resultados sugerem, na maioria das propriedades, a presença de parasitas com resistência múltipla aos anti-helmínticos testados

Ensayos terapéuticos en la estomatitis aftosa recurrente / Therapeutical assays in the recurrent aphthous stomatitis

Un total de 82 pacientes con estomatitis aftosa recurrente (EAR) en los que se detectó un parasitismo producido por Giardia lamblia fueron distribuídos en 3 grupos de tratamiento. Recibió trinidazol sólo el primer grupo, tinidazol más levamisol el segundo y tinidazol más tratamiento local en peridontone el tercero. Se siguieron durante 6 meses después del tratamiento para valorar la recurrencia de sus lesiones. Se apreció una mejoría en el 72% del total de casos sin diferencias significativas entre los 3 grupos, aunque el periodontone produjo una mejoría rápida sintomática. En el 63% de los casos que recidivaron antes del sexto mes, existió una reinfección en el parasitismo producido por Giardia lamblia, por lo que debe procederse al diagnóstico del mismo en todo paciente con EAR.

Eficacia de tres antihelminticos de amplio espectro en bovinos naturalmente parasitados / Efficacy of three broad spectrum anthelmintics parasited under natural conditions

Eficacia de tres antihelmínticos de amplio espectro en bovinos naturalmente parasitados. La eficacia antihelmíntica del Albendazole; Albendazole + Sulfato de Cobalto y del Levamisole fue evaluada en bovinos de ceba naturalmente parasitados, mediante la prueba de la reducción en el número de huevos por gramo de heces y la ganancia de peso de los animales tratados. Se encontró una eficacia del 94,21 por ciento para el Abendazole; 95,02 por ciento para el Levamisole y del 100 por ciento para el Albendazole al 25 por ciento + Sulfato de Cobalto; pero no se evidenciaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en las ganancias de peso de los animales antes y después del tratamiento

Lactante inmunodeprimido con ectyma gangrenoso / Immunodepresive infant with ectyme gangrenosum

Se comunica un caso de ectyma gangrenosos provocado por una cepa de P. aeruginosa resistente a la Gentamicina en un lactante con una severa alteración de la inmunidad celular. El paciente recibió tratamiento con antibióticos adecuados, inmunoglobulina normal e.v. y Levamisol. Con este tratamiento se observó esterilización de los cultivos y mejoría de las condiciones clínicas en un plazo de 2 semanas. Controles a distancia de uno y dos años del proceso mostraron total normalización de los parámetros de inmunidad celular