Assessing the diversity of the virulence potential of Escherichia coli isolated from bacteremia in São Paulo, Brazil

Most of the knowledge of the virulence determinants of extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) comes from studies with human strains causing urinary tract infections and neonatal meningitis and animal strains causing avian colibacillosis. In this research, we analyzed the phylogenetic background, the presence of 20 ExPEC virulence factors, and the intrinsic virulence potential of 74 E. coli strains isolated in São Paulo, Brazil, from 74 hospitalized patients (43 males and 31 females) with unknown-source bacteremia. Unlike other places in the world, the bacteremic strains originated equally from phylogroups B2 (35%) and D (30%). A great variability in the profiles of virulence factors was noted in this survey. Nevertheless, 61% of the strains were classified as ExPEC, meaning that they possessed intrinsic virulent potential. Accordingly, these strains presented high virulence factor scores (average of 8.7), and were positively associated with 12 of 17 virulence factors detected. On the contrary, the non-ExPEC strains, isolated from 39% of the patients, presented a generally low virulence capacity (medium virulence factor score of 3.1), and were positively associated with only the colicin cvaC gene. These results show the importance of discriminating E. coli isolates that possess characteristics of true pathogens from those that may be merely opportunistic in order to better understand the virulence mechanisms involved in extraintestinal E. coli infections. Such knowledge is essential for epidemiological purposes as well as for development of control measures aimed to minimize the incidence of these life-threatening and costly infections.

A remarkable leaf mine induced by Tachygonus sp.n. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Curculioninae: Rhamphini) on Erythroxylum subsessile (Erythroxylaceae) with a description of the new species / Mina foliar singular induzida por Tachygonus sp. n. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Tachygoninae) em Erythroxylum subsessile (Erythroxylaceae) com descrição da nova espécie

In this study, we describe and present original data on the bionomics and ecology of Tachygonus erythroxyli Hespenheide, New Species, on Erythroxylum subsessile (Mart.). Thirty individuals of E. subsessile were analysed every two months, from October, 2006 to October, 2007 at the National Park of Restinga de Jurubatiba (PNRJ) Carapebus, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Females of T. erythroxyli lay their eggs singly on the upper surface of the host's leaves. The mine of T. erythroxyli is expanded with three bubbles, each one representing one larval instar. These mines occur throughout the year in at least half of the host plants and are markedly more abundant in summer. We obtained three parasitoid species, making a total of 53% of the rate of parasitism. Cirrospilus sp. (Eulophidae) was the most prevalent and represented 88% of the parasitoids. The great abundance of Tachygonus mines, their high frequency in their host plant, and local monophagy of this leaf miner weevil suggest a close association between T. erythroxyli and Erythroxylum subsessile.

No presente estudo, foram descritos e apresentados os primeiros dados sobre bionomia e ecologia de Tachygonus erythroxyli Hespenheide, New Species, em Erythroxylum subsessile (Mart.). Trinta indivíduos de E. subsessile foram amostrados a cada dois meses, de outubro de 2006 a outubro de 2007, no Parque Nacional da Restinga de Jurubatiba (PNRJ), Carapebus-Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Fêmeas de T. erythroxyli colocam ovos isolados na face superior das folhas do seu hospedeiro. A mina de T. erythroxyli é do tipo expandida e apresenta um formato de três bolhas, sendo que cada bolha corresponde a um estádio da larva. Essas minas ocorrem ao longo de todo o ano em pelo menos metade das plantas hospedeiras, sendo marcadamente mais abundantes no verão. Foram obtidas três espécies de parasitoides que, juntas, demonstraram uma taxa de parasitismo de 53%. Cirrospilus sp. (Eulophidae) foi a mais abundante e representou 88% dos parasitoides. A grande abundância de minas de Tachygonus, a alta frequência em seu hospedeiro e a monofagia local desse besouro minador de folhas sugere uma forte associação entre T. erythroxyli e Erythroxylum subsessile.

Ocorrencia de Taenia sp. na populacao atendida no laboratorio central do Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Sao Paulo, SP, Brasil (1960/1989) / Occurrence of Taenia sp. in the population seen at the Central Laboratory of the Adolfo Lutz Institute, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil (1960/1989)

Foram examinados retrospectivamente os relatorios mensais e anuais da Secao de Enteroparasitoses do Laboratorio Central do Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Sao Paulo, SP, no periodo de 1960 a 1989, perfazendo uma serie historica de 30 anos, com 1.519.730 exames protoparasitologicos e 355 identificacoes de proglotes de Taenia. Pelo metodo da sedimentacao espontanea foram diagnosticados 7.663 (0,5 por cento) casos de presenca de ovos de Taenia sp. nas fezes. Das 355 proglotes enviadas para identificacao, 311 (87,60 por cento) estavam em condicoes de serem especificadas, e dessas, 273 (87,80 por cento) eram proglotes de Taenia saginata e 38 (12,22 por cento) de T. solium.