Detection of Leishmania infantum in the smegma of infected dogs / Detecção de Leishmania infantum no esmegma de cães infectados

Considering the venereal transmission of visceral leishmaniasis from dogs to bitches, the aim of this study was to verify if the penile surface and smegma from infected dogs can be the source of parasites in bitches. Twelve Leishmania infantum infected dogs had semen and smegma samples collected for submission to PCR identification of the DNA of the parasite. Semen (41.7 percent) and smegma (50.0 percent) have similar positive incidence (P>0.05; Fisher's exact test), with 58.3 percent of the dogs positive for semen and/or smegma samples. The proportion of positivity for both semen and smegma was 33.3 percent, but 8.3 percent was positive only for semen, and 16.7 percent only for smegma, revealing a moderate agreement between tests (K=0.5; Kappa index). It was concluded that Leishmania infantum is present in the smegma of contaminated dogs and it can be a source of parasites for the semen and the bitch...

Tendo em vista a transmissão venérea da leishmaniose visceral do cão para a cadela, o objetivo deste estudo foi verificar se a superfície peniana e o esmegma de cães infectados poderiam ser a fonte de parasitas para a fêmea. Amostras de sêmen e esmegma de 12 cães infectados com Leishmania infantum foram submetidas à identificação do DNA do parasita por PCR. As incidências de positividade no sêmen (41,7 por cento) e no esmegma (50,0 por cento) foram semelhantes (P>0,05; teste exato de Fisher), sendo 58,3 por cento dos cães positivos para sêmen e/ou esmegma. A positividade para sêmen e esmegma juntos ocorreu em 33,3 por cento, mas em 8,3 por cento dos casos apenas no sêmen, e em 16,7 por cento apenas no esmegma, o que revela uma concordância moderada entre os testes (K=0,5; índice Kappa). Conclui-se que a Leishmania infantum está presente no esmegma de cães contaminados, podendo ser a fonte de parasitas para o sêmen e a cadela...

Giant penoscrotal filariasis.

A 42 year old male individual having a hugely distended scrotum and barely perceptible penis, unable to maintain his livelihood on account of his handicap and socially withdrawn for the fear of humiliation, got admitted into the Surgery department of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital in August 5, 2007. The person had been carrying the so called curse for the last four years. On the basis of clinical, serological and haematological examinations, diagnosis was established as lymphatic filariasis causing elephantiasis of the scrotum. After assessment for operative feasibility, the patient underwent an operation in August 20, 2007 during which, ligation of both the spermatic cords, excision of the scrotum along with the testicles and reposition of the penile shaft into the anterior pelvic wall in the subcutaneous plane (Fleying procedure) was performed. The scrotum measured about 36 inches in diameter and weighed 40 kgs after excision. Histopathological examination of the scrotal skin confirmed the diagnosis. The patient was released without any complication, on the 11th post operative day after removal of stitches, with indwelling urethral catheter. He was prescribed Doxicycline for the next 8 weeks, a drug which has been found to be effective in treating filariasis in a number of studies, and acts by killing a symbiotic bacteria necessary for the survival of the worm. Follow up after 3 months was uneventful.

Urgent penectomy in a patient presenting with epidermoid carcinoma of the penis associated to myiasis

The objective of this study is to describe the case of a patient presenting advanced epidermoid carcinoma of the penis associated to myiasis. A 41-year-old patient presenting with a necrotic lesion of the distal third of the penis infested with myiasis was attended in the emergency room of our hospital and was submitted to an urgent penectomy. This is the first case of penile cancer associated to myiasis described in the literature. This case reinforces the need for educative campaigns to reduce the incidence of this disease in developing countries.

Intrahost distribution and trasmission of a new species of cyclopoid copepod endosymbiotic to a freshwater snail, Pomacea canaliculata (Caenogastropoda, Ampullariidae), from Argentina

A new species of cyclopoid copepod, Ozmana huarpium, is described as a symbiont to Pomacea canaliculata (Lamarck 1822) (Caenogastropoda, Ampullariidae). Rather large numbers (about one hundred copepods per snail)were found, althought there was no evidence of harm to the host. To our knowledge, O. haemophila (symbiont to P. maculata), and the currently described species, O. huarpium, are the only copepod species ever recorded as endosymbionts to freshwater invertebrates. While O. haemophila is restricted to the haemocoel of its host, O. harpium predominate in the penis sheath, the ctenidium and the mantle cavity, figuring in these pallial organs 63-65 por ciento of total mature forms. The sex ratio of the symbiont is skewed to the female side in these organs, specially in male hosts. The hypothesis that a special female tropism for the male host´s pallial organs might ensure interindividual transmission of the symbiont was tested, with indications that the symbiont is mainly transmitted during copulation.

Experimental transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi through the genitalia of albino mice

Trypanosoma cruzi is usually transmitted by contact with the excreta of infected Triatominae; among non-vectorial infections, direct transmission through coitus has been proposed. We investigated this possibility by instilling, through the external meatus of the vagina and the penis of previously anesthetized NMRI albino mice, blood of mice infected with strains isolated from Didelphis marsupialis (opossum, strain CO57), Rattus rattus (rat, strain CO22) and human (strain EP). Some animals were allowed to copulate the same day of the instillation. In other experiments, the strains were inoculated in the scrotum. To determine the effect of immunosuppression, some mice were treated with cyclophosphamide 30 days post-instillation. Controls were instilled orally and ocularly. Vaginal instillation with strain CO22 produced systemic infection with tropism to the heart, skeletal muscle, skin, duodenum, pancreas, ovary and sternum. Scrotal inoculation with strain EP likewise invaded liver, spleen, lung, lymph nodes and urogenital organs; while strain CO57 invaded skeletal and cardiac muscle, pancreas, testis, and vas deferens. Penile infection with strain CO22 was detected by xenodiagnosis. Immunosuppression did not increase parasitemia of vaginally infected mice or controls. Mating did not produce infection. Our results show that contact of blood trypomastigotes of T. cruzi with genital mucosa can produce blood and tissue infections. These results are discussed in relation to reports of frequent experimental tropism of T. cruzi toward urogenital organs

Amibiasis cutánea: presentación de dos casos / Cotaneous amebiasis: two cases report

La localización en la piel de la amiba no es tan frecuente como sus localizaciones intraintestinal o el abceso hepático amibiano. Es una enfermedad grave si el diagnóstico y el tratamiento no son realizados en forma oportuna. Se presentan dos casos de amibiasis cutánea con buena respuesta al tratamiento.