Phlebotomines in an area endemic for American cutaneous leishmaniasis in northeastern coast of Brazil / Flebotomíneos em uma área endêmica para Leishmaniose Tegumentar Americana no litoral do Nordeste do Brasil

Abstract Phlebotomines have worldwide distribution with many species present in Brazil, including the northeastern region, where the fauna is very diverse. The aim of this study was to identify the sandfly fauna in an area endemic for American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) in the state of Pernambuco. Sandflies were caught on three consecutive nights every month from October 2015 to September 2016, from 5 pm to 5 am, using seven light traps of Centers for Disease Control (CDC) type. Females were identified and used for molecular Leishmania detection. A total of 2,174 specimens belonging to ten species were collected: Lutzomyia choti (88.2%; 1,917/2,174) was the most abundant species, followed by Lutzomyia whitmani (8.1%; 176/2,174) and Lutzomyia sordellii (1.5%; 33/2,174). The majority of the specimens were collected in peridomestic areas (64.1%; 1,394/2,174) and during the rainy period. All the samples examined were negative for Leishmania spp. The presence of Lutzomyia whitmani indoors and in peridomestic areas indicates that the inhabitants of this area are exposed to the risk of infection by the parasites responsible for ACL.

Resumo Os flebotomíneos apresentam uma ampla distribuição mundial com muitas espécies presentes no Brasil, inclusive na região Nordeste, onde a fauna é bastante rica. O objetivo desse estudo foi identificar a fauna de flebotomíneos em uma área endêmica para Leishmaniose Tegumentar Americana (LTA), no estado de Pernambuco. As capturas foram realizadas mensalmente, durante três noites consecutivas das 17h às 5h, utilizando sete armadilhas luminosas tipo CDC, no período de outubro de 2015 a setembro de 2016. As fêmeas identificadas foram utilizadas para análise molecular para detecção de Leishmania. Um total de 2.174 espécimes pertencentes a dez espécies foram coletadas: Lutzomyia choti (88,2%; 1.917/2.174) a espécie mais abundante, seguida por Lutzomyia whitmani (8,1%; 176/2.174) e Lutzomyia sordellii (1,5%; 33/2.174). A maioria dos espécimes foi coletada no peridomicílio (64,1%; 1.394/2.174) e no período chuvoso. Todas as amostras avaliadas foram negativas para Leishmania spp. A presença de Lutzomyia whitmani no intradomicílio e peridomicílio indica que a população residente nesta área está exposta ao risco de infecção por parasitos causadores de LTA.

Frequency of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in bovines in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil / Frequência de anticorpos anti-Toxoplasma gondii em bovinos do estado de Pernambuco, Brasil

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii that affects homeothermic animals, including humans. Felines are considered the definitive host of this parasite, while other animals act as intermediate hosts. The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies in bovines in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. Serum samples (n = 427) from animals in 13 municipalities of the coastal forest/plantation region of the state were analyzed using the immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). The overall results revealed a prevalence rate of 16.63% (27/427). High percentages of positivity were found among animals aged 25 to 36 months (28.57%; 30/42) and in males (22.22%; 2/9). The present findings suggest that bovine toxoplasmosis is endemic in the area under study.

Toxoplasmose é uma doença parasitária que infecta todos os animais homeotérmicos, incluindo o homem. Na epidemiologia da infecção, os felinos são os hospedeiros definitivos, e outros animais são os hospedeiros intermediários do Toxoplasma gondii. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a frequência de anticorpos IgG anti-Toxoplasma gondii em bovinos do Estado de Pernambuco. Para tanto, foram coletadas 427 amostras de soro sanguíneo de bovinos provenientes de 13 municípios localizados na Zona da Mata do Estado de Pernambuco. Tais amostras foram analisadas pela técnica de Imunofluorescência Indireta para pesquisa de anticorpos anti-Toxoplasma gondii. A frequência observada foi de 16,63% (27/427). Anticorpos anti-Toxoplasma gondii foram mais frequentes (28,57%) em animais com idade entre 25-36 meses de idade. Considerando-se por sexo, observou-se uma maior positividade entre os machos que apresentaram 22,22% (2/9). Os resultados demonstram que a toxoplasmose é endêmica nessa região.

Epidemiological aspects of an infection by Brucella abortus in risk occupational groups in the microregion of Araguaína, Tocantins

The aim of this paper was to study some epidemiological aspects of the infection by Brucella abortus in risk occupational groups in the microregion of Araguaína, Tocantins. For antibody research, 645 serum samples were analyzed by the complement fixation test (CF). A 4.0 percent frequency was found (26/645) in patients' serum and among those 4.1 percent (23/551) were slaughterhouses employees and 8.1 percent (3/37) rural workers. Of the total positive samples, three (2.0 percent) were women and 23 (4.7 percent) men; ten (2.9 percent) were between the ages of 18 and 30, six (3.4 percent) between 31 and 40, and nine (8.0 percent) were above 41 years of age. Risk factors for brucellosis in the study groups were age, background (OR = 2.45; CI 95 percent = 0.98 to 6.10) and previous work conducted with production animals (OR 2.36; CI 95 percent = 0.95 to 6.02). It was concluded that the infection by Brucella abortus is found in some risk occupational groups in the microregion of Araguaína, Tocantins, and control and prophylactic measures must be implemented emphasizing risk factors identified in the study.