Fatal pulmonary parafilaroidiasis in a free-ranging subantarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus tropicalis) coinfected with two gammaherpesviruses and Sarcocystis sp / Parafilaroidose pulmonar fatal em um lobo-marinho-subantártico (Arctocephalus tropicalis) de vida livre coinfectado com dois gammaherpesvírus e Sarcocystis sp

Abstract A juvenile subantarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus tropicalis) found dead in Santa Catarina state, southern Brazil, presented with disseminated verminous pneumonia due to Parafilaroides sp. A concomitant infection with two different gammaherpesviruses was identified by PCR in different tissues; one of them possibly a novel species (tentatively named Otariid herpesvirus 7). Sarcocystis sp. DNA was identified molecularly in skeletal muscle samples with intrasarcoplasmic bradyzoites and no apparent tissue response. All analyzed samples (mandibular, laryngeal, tracheal, and mesenteric lymph nodes, and lung) were PCR-negative for Brucella spp. The most likely cause of death was severe pulmonary parafilaroidiasis. The pathogenic role of the gammaherpesviruses in several of the tissues was not evident. This study describes the pathogenicity of Parafilaroides sp. in a subantarctic fur seal, widens the host range of herpesvirus in pinnipeds, and reports the first molecular identification of Sarcocystis sp. in this species.

Resumo Um lobo-marinho-subantártico (Arctocephalus tropicalis) juvenil foi achado morto no Estado de Santa Catarina, sul do Brasil, apresentando pneumonia parasitária disseminada por Parafilaroides sp. Infecção concomitante por dois gammaherpesvírus diferentes foi identificada pela PCR em diversos tecidos, um desses herpesvírus possivelmente uma nova espécie (denominada provisoriamente Otariid herpesvirus 7). DNA de Sarcocystis sp. foi identificado molecularmente em amostras de músculo esquelético que apresentavam bradizoítos intra-sarcoplasmáticos sem aparente resposta tecidual. Todas as amostras analisadas (linfonodo mandibular, laríngeo, traqueal e mesentérico, e pulmão) pela PCR para Brucella spp. foram negativas. A causa mais provável da morte do animal foi parafilaroidose pulmonar severa. O papel patogénico dos gammaherpesvírus em vários tecidos não foi evidente. Este estudo descreve a patogenicidade de Parafilaroides sp. em um lobo-marinho-subantártico, amplia a variedade de hospedeiros de herpesvírus em pinípedes e reporta a primeira identificação molecular de Sarcocystis sp. para essa espécie.

Hallazgo de Lophomonas sp. en secreciones del tracto respiratorio de niños hospitalizados con enfermedad pulmonar grave / Lophomonas sp. in respiratory tract secretions in hospitalized children with severe lung disease

Lophomonas sp. es un parásito habitual del tracto intestinal de las cucarachas y que no es reconocido como patógeno humano. Sin embargo, en la literatura mundial existen escasos reportes de Lophomonas sp. en secreciones del tracto respiratorio en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar grave, principalmente en adultos. Presentamos evidencias de Lophomonas sp. en el tracto respiratorio inferior de niños atendidos en el centro de referencia nacional de enfermedades pediátricas de Lima, Perú, en el periodo 2009-2010. Se encontró seis casos, 4/23 provenientes de muestras de lavado broncoalveolar y 2/794 muestras de aspirado traqueal de niños. Cinco de ellos tuvieron neumonía y uno atelectasia, cuatro estuvieron en la unidad de cuidados intensivos. Es necesario conocer más sobre la presencia de este organismo en infecciones respiratorias así como su rol patogénico real.

Lophomonas sp. is a habitual parasite of the intestinal tract of the cockroaches and that is not recognized as pathogenic human being. Nevertheless, in the world literature are few reports of Lophomonas sp. in respiratory tract secretions in patients with severe pulmonary disease, mostly in adults. We present evidences of Lophomonas sp. in the respiratory low tract of children attended in the national reference center of paediatric diseases of Lima, Peru, in the period 2009- 2010. We found six cases, 4/23 from broncoalveolar lavage and 2/794 from tracheal aspirate samples of children. Five of them had pneumonia and one atelectasis, four were hospitalized in the intensive care unit. Increase knowledge about the presence of this organism in respiratory infections is needed, as its real pathogenic role.

Disseminated Microfilaremia Associated with Lung Cyst and Empyema: An Autopsy Report

Clinical manifestations of extralymphatic disease caused by filariasis are varied and range from symptoms due to tropical pulmonary eosinophilia to hematuria, proteinuria, splenomegaly, and rarely arthritis. Disseminated microfilaremia in association with loculated lung cyst and empyema is of rare occurrence and to the best of our knowledge has not been documented in the literature so far. We report here a case of disseminated microfilaremia due to Wuchereria bancrofti infection accompanied by a lung cyst and empyema in a 21-year-old Indian man.