Chronic Aerobic Training at Different Volumes in the Modulation of Macrophage Function and in vivo Infection of BALB/c Mice by Leishmania major.

Physical inactivity is one of the main causes of chronic diseases; however, strenuous exercise can induce immunosuppression. Several studies suggest that moderate amounts of exercise lead to a Th1 response, favoring the resolution of infections caused by intracellular microorganisms, while high volumes of exercise tend to direct the response to Th2, favoring infection by them. Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease promoted by parasites of the Leishmania genus, with clinical manifestations that vary according to the species of the parasite and the immune response of the host. The experimental Leishmania major-BALB/C mouse model provides a good model for the resistance (Th1 response) or susceptibility (Th2 response) that determines the progression of this infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of aerobic training at different volumes on modulation of in vitro macrophage infection by L. major, as well as to assess the effect of high volume (HV) aerobic training on the development of L. major in vivo in BALB/c mice. Uninfected animals were submitted to various exercise volumes: none (SED), light (LV), moderate (MV), high (HV), very high (VHV), and tapering (TAP). The macrophages of these animals were infected by L. major and the LV and MV groups showed a decrease in the infection factor, while the VHV showed an increase in the infection factor, when treated with LPS. The cytokine concentration pattern measured in the supernatants of these macrophages suggested a predominant Th1 response profile in the LV and MV groups, while the Th2 profile predominated in the VHV and TAP groups. Groups of BALB/C mice infected with L. major were subjected to high volume (iHV) or non-periodized high volume (iNPHV) exercise or kept sedentary (iSED). The exercised animals suffered a significant increase in injuries caused by the parasites. The animals in the group submitted to high volume exercise (iHV) showed visceralization of the infection. These data strongly suggest that a very high volume of aerobic training increased the susceptibility of BALB/C mice to L. major infection, while moderate distribution of training loads promoted immunological balance, better controlling the infection by this parasite.

Multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli isolated from a dog with a history of urolithiasis: case report / Escherichia coli multirresistente isolada de cão com histórico de urolitíase: relato de caso

Bacterial resistance is a reality in both human and veterinary health, it limits the therapeutic arsenal and raises the costs of the patient's treatment. A dog with signs of cystitis received treatment with 5mg/kg enrofloxacin at three consecutive times, with low effectiveness. The presence of urethral uroliths was identified and urohydropulsion was done. The animal presented a new obstruction, for which a cystotomy was performed, but continued with signs of infection. Uroculture and antimicrobial susceptibility test were then performed. Escherichia coli was identified, which was resistant to 13 antibiotics, being sensitive only to piperacillin-tazobactam and amikacin. In the screening test for ß-lactamase, the production of ESßL was detected. The qPCR indicated the presence of the bla CTXm, bla DHA, bla OXA, bla IMP, bla TEM, bla GIM, bla SIM, bla SPM and bla SME genes, which may lead to a phenotypic resistance profile for ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, aztreonam, cefepime cefoxitin, cefuroxime, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, imipenem, and piperacillin-tazobactam. This case reaffirms the value that laboratory analysis adds to the diagnosis and treatment of cystitis and urolithiasis, which can define the direction of evolution of the prognosis and the speed at which the patient's health will be restored.(AU)

A resistência bacteriana aos antibióticos é uma realidade, tanto na saúde humana quanto veterinária, limita o arsenal terapêutico e eleva os custos relacionados ao tratamento do paciente. Um cão, com sinais de cistite, recebeu tratamento com enrofloxacina, na dose de 5mg/kg, em três momentos seguidos, com baixa efetividade. Identificou-se presença de urólitos uretrais e foi feita uro-hidropropulsão. O animal apresentou nova obstrução, para a qual foi realizada uma cistotomia, mas continuou com sinais de infecção. Realizou-se, então, urocultura e teste de antibiograma. Foi identificada Escherichia coli, que se mostrou resistente a 13 antibióticos, sendo sensível somente à piperacilina-tazobactam e amicacina. No teste de triagem para ß-lactamase, detectou-se a produção de ESßL. A qPCR indicou presença dos genes blaCTXm, blaDHA, blaOXA, blaIMP, blaTEM, blaGIM, blaSIM, blaSPM e blaSME, que podem conduzir um perfil fenotípico de resistência para ampicilina, amoxicilina-ácido clavulânico, aztreonam, cefepima, cefoxitina, cefuroxima, ceftazidima, ceftriaxona, imipenem, piperacilina-tazobactam. Este caso reafirma o valor que a análise laboratorial agrega ao diagnóstico e tratamento da cistite e da urolitíase, podendo definir o sentido de evolução do prognóstico e a velocidade em que a saúde do paciente será restabelecia.(AU)

Multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli isolated from a dog with a history of urolithiasis: case report / Escherichia coli multirresistente isolada de cão com histórico de urolitíase: relato de caso

Bacterial resistance is a reality in both human and veterinary health, it limits the therapeutic arsenal and raises the costs of the patient's treatment. A dog with signs of cystitis received treatment with 5mg/kg enrofloxacin at three consecutive times, with low effectiveness. The presence of urethral uroliths was identified and urohydropulsion was done. The animal presented a new obstruction, for which a cystotomy was performed, but continued with signs of infection. Uroculture and antimicrobial susceptibility test were then performed. Escherichia coli was identified, which was resistant to 13 antibiotics, being sensitive only to piperacillin-tazobactam and amikacin. In the screening test for ß-lactamase, the production of ESßL was detected. The qPCR indicated the presence of the bla CTXm, bla DHA, bla OXA, bla IMP, bla TEM, bla GIM, bla SIM, bla SPM and bla SME genes, which may lead to a phenotypic resistance profile for ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, aztreonam, cefepime cefoxitin, cefuroxime, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, imipenem, and piperacillin-tazobactam. This case reaffirms the value that laboratory analysis adds to the diagnosis and treatment of cystitis and urolithiasis, which can define the direction of evolution of the prognosis and the speed at which the patient's health will be restored.(AU)

A resistência bacteriana aos antibióticos é uma realidade, tanto na saúde humana quanto veterinária, limita o arsenal terapêutico e eleva os custos relacionados ao tratamento do paciente. Um cão, com sinais de cistite, recebeu tratamento com enrofloxacina, na dose de 5mg/kg, em três momentos seguidos, com baixa efetividade. Identificou-se presença de urólitos uretrais e foi feita uro-hidropropulsão. O animal apresentou nova obstrução, para a qual foi realizada uma cistotomia, mas continuou com sinais de infecção. Realizou-se, então, urocultura e teste de antibiograma. Foi identificada Escherichia coli, que se mostrou resistente a 13 antibióticos, sendo sensível somente à piperacilina-tazobactam e amicacina. No teste de triagem para ß-lactamase, detectou-se a produção de ESßL. A qPCR indicou presença dos genes blaCTXm, blaDHA, blaOXA, blaIMP, blaTEM, blaGIM, blaSIM, blaSPM e blaSME, que podem conduzir um perfil fenotípico de resistência para ampicilina, amoxicilina-ácido clavulânico, aztreonam, cefepima, cefoxitina, cefuroxima, ceftazidima, ceftriaxona, imipenem, piperacilina-tazobactam. Este caso reafirma o valor que a análise laboratorial agrega ao diagnóstico e tratamento da cistite e da urolitíase, podendo definir o sentido de evolução do prognóstico e a velocidade em que a saúde do paciente será restabelecia.(AU)

Phenotypic diversity of starch granules in cassava germplasm.

Demand for the development of cassava varieties with different native starches has guided the search for these characteristics in the germplasm of Manihot esculenta Crantz. Therefore, the objective of this study was to estimate the genetic diversity of cassava accessions for root and starch granule characteristics to guide the future industrial application of this species. Starches from 56 accessions were evaluated for the number of granules in 1 g of starch (NTG), area (AG, µm2), length (LG, µm), width (WG, µm), starch granule roundness (Round), dry matter content in the roots (DMC, %), pulp color (PulCo), and cyanogenic compounds (HCN). Images captured by light microscopy were used to determine the average phenotypic values, and these were further analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) considering mixed data (quantitative and qualitative). Significant differences between the cassava accessions for all traits measured revealed wide variability in starch granule characteristics. Four diversity groups with better fitness for the classification of cassava accessions based on PulCo were identified, in comparison with HCN. Accessions with differential starch characteristics were identified, and crossings for the generation of segregating populations in order to obtain table and industry varieties have been proposed.

Polymorphism of starch pathway genes in cassava.

The distribution and frequency of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can help to understand changes associated with characteristics of interest. We aimed to evaluate nucleotide diversity in six genes involved in starch biosynthesis in cassava using a panel of 96 unrelated accessions. The genes were sequenced, aligned, and used to obtain values for nucleotide diversity (π), segregating sites (θ), Tajima's D test, and neighbor-joining (NJ) clustering. On average, one SNP per 147 and 171 bp was identified in exon and intron regions, respectively. Thirteen heterozygous loci were found. Three of seven SNPs in the exon region resulted in non-synonymous replacement or four synonymous substitutions. However, no associations were noted between SNPs and root dry-matter content. The parameter π ranged from 0.0001 (granule bound starch synthase I) to 0.0033 (α-amylase), averaging 0.0011, while θ ranged from 0.00014 (starch branching enzyme) to 0.00584 (starch synthase I), averaging 0.002353. The θ diversity value was typically double that of the π. Results of the D test did not suggest any evidence of deviance of neutrality in these genes. Among the evaluated accession, 82/96 were clustered using the NJ method but without a clear separation of the root dry-matter content, root pulp coloration, and classification of the cyanogenic compound content. High variation in genes of the starch biosynthetic pathway can be used to identify associations with the functional properties of starch for the use of polymorphisms for selection purposes.

Propriedades do pólen e do estigma de Ocimum basilicum L. (cultivar Maria Bonita) para aumentar a eficiência de cruzamentos em programas de melhoramento / Ocimum basilicum L. (cultivar Maria Bonita) pollen and stigma properties to improve the efficiency of crossings in plant breeding programs

Ocimum basilicum, cv. Maria Bonita (Lamiaceae), conhecido como manjericão, é espécie que apresenta propriedades aromáticas, condimentares e medicinais, por ser rico emóleos essenciais. É muito usado nas indústrias farmacêuticas e de alimentos em geral. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar as propriedades do pólen e estigma do manjericão (cultivar Maria Bonita) identificando procedimentos simples que possam contribuir para programas de melhoramento. Para análise da disponibilidade, viabilidade do pólen e receptividade de estigma, botões florais foram coletados de hora em hora ao longo do dia, e lâminas eram montadas e coradas, para observação em microscópio óptico. Foi verificado que o manjericão apresenta antese diurna, assincrônica e com a maioria das flores se abrindo entre 10:00 e 11:00 horas. Quanto ao estudo do pólen foi verificado que a viabilidade manteve-se elevada ao longo do dia e a conservação por até 90 dias demonstrou bons níveis de viabilidade. O estigma apresentou receptividade desde a pré-antese até a pós-antese. Estas informações são relevantes para os melhoristas que desejam fazer seleção de genótipos ou hibridações em programas de melhoramento, contribuindo para aumentar o potencial da espécie que já se destaca como produtora de óleos essenciais.

Known as basil, Ocimum basilicum cv. Maria Bonita (Lamiaceae) is a species that presents aromatic, condimental and medicinal properties, since it is rich in essential oils. This species is largely used in pharmaceutical and food industries. The aim of this work was to study basil (cultivar Maria Bonita) pollen and stigma properties, identifying simple procedures that can contribute to plant breeding programs. To analyze pollen availability and viability, besides stigma receptivity, flower buds were collected at every hour throughout the day, and slides were mounted, stained and observed under an optical microscope. Basil presented diurnal asynchronous anthesis and most flowers opened between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. As regards pollen analysis, viability was high throughout the day and its conservation until 90 days was good. Stigma presented receptivity from pre- to post-anthesis. These data are relevant to breeders who wish to select genotypes or hybridizations in plant breeding programs, contributing to improve the potential of this species, which already represents a producer of essential oils.

Decrease in oxidative stress and histological changes induced by physical exercise calibrated in rats with osteoarthritis induced by monosodium iodoacetate.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of impact exercise on the joint cartilage of rats with osteoarthritis (OA) induced by monosodium iodoacetate (MIA). METHODS: Eighteen male rats were divided into three groups of six animals each: control, OA, and OA plus exercise (OAE). The OAE group trained on a treadmill for 8 weeks. Afterward, the right joints of the animals were washed with saline solution and joint lavage was used for biochemical analyses of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and total thiol content. The same limb provided samples of the articular capsule for analyses of MPO activity and total thiol content. The left joint was used for histological analysis. RESULTS: Our results indicate that MPO activity was increased in both OA groups in the lavage as well as the articular capsule, regardless of exercise status. SOD activity was increased in animals with OA, especially in the animals that had run on the treadmill. On the other hand, thiol content in the articular capsule and joint lavage decreased in the OA group, while the OAE group had values similar to those of the control group. The histological data indicate that animals that were submitted to running exercise showed a higher preservation rate of proteoglycan content in the superficial and intermediate areas of the joint cartilage. CONCLUSION: Our results show that physical training contributes to the preservation of joint cartilage in animals with OA and to increase the defense mechanism against oxidative stress.

Inefficacy of piracetam in the prevention of painful crises in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease.

Analgesia and hydration remain the only safe treatment for painful crises of sickle cell disease; hydroxyurea is effective, but the toxicity is still a problem. Piracetam is a nootropic drug that has reportedly been effective and non-toxic in sickle cell patients, but most studies were not placebo-controlled and included a small number of patients. The present study evaluated the drug in a double-blind crossed placebo-controlled clinical trial in 73 children and adolescents suffering from moderate to severe painful crises for 13 months. Information regarding frequency and severity of pain was acquired through monthly clinical evaluation, visits and house calls, and 4,300 weekly questionnaires filled out by the patients in their domiciles. A monthly pain score was calculated for each patient. Pain was the most frequent adverse manifestation of the disease stressing its significant bio-psycho-social impact. Although nearly all patients and relatives reported a better clinical course throughout the whole study, the drug was ineffective in the prevention of painful crises. This placebo effect may be ascribed to an unplanned and unsystematic 'cognitive-behavioural' management of the children. The pain score in the second semester of the study - both in the experimental and in the control groups - was significantly smaller than that in the first semester. In conclusion, piracetam was found to be ineffective in the prevention of painful crises; a powerful placebo effect due to adequate patient care was demonstrated.

[Prevalence of canine filariasis by Dirofilaria immitis and Dipetalonema reconditum in Maceió, Alagoas State, Brazil]. / Prevalência da filariose canina causada por Dirofilaria immitis e Dipetalonema reconditum em Maceió, Alagoas, Brasil.

A survey on the prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis and Dipetalonema reconditum was conducted in 1,519 dogs from Maceió and two coastal areas in the State of Alagoas, Northeast Brazil, from 1995 to 1999, by testing for microfilariae in blood. All blood samples were from exclusively domiciled dogs with a known history, showing that the infections were autochthonous, confirming transmission of canine filariasis in these areas. In Greater Metropolitan Maceió, 15 (1.3%) microfilaremic dogs were detected with D. immitis and 15 (1,3%) with D. reconditum. In the southern coastal area there was an estimated prevalence of 12.7% for D. immitis. D. immitis and D. reconditum microfilaria were 298.1 micrometer and 249.2 micrometer long and 7.3 micrometer and 4.4 micrometer wide, respectively. A Witness immunotest that detects D. immitis antigen was used to confirm parasitological results and reveal occult dirofilariasis cases. Of the total 6,579 females examined, 8 (0.1%) Culex quinquefasciatus were observed to be naturally infected with D. immitis larvae. These results proved dirofilariasis transmission in Maceió and demonstrated D. reconditum in the same geographic area.

The microfilarial periodicity of Wuchereria bancrofti in north-eastern Brazil.

The periodicity of Wuchereria bancrofti microfilariae (mff) in peripheral blood was analysed in 42 microfilaraemics living in Maceió, in Alagoas state, north-eastern Brazil. Nine blood samples were collected from each subject, over a 24-h period, and two quantitative (60-microliter) thick smears were prepared from each sample. Although all the subjects had detectable microfilaraemias from 23.00 hours to 06.00 hours, no mff could be detected in most (71.4%) of the smears prepared from samples collected at 15.00 hours. Samples collected during the day, at 15.00 hours, contained 170 times fewer mff/microliter than those collected at 01.00 hours, when microfilaraemias were generally most intense. For diagnosis of bancroftian filariasis in Maceió, blood samples should be collected between 22.00 and 03.00 hours, when microfilarial counts will be at least 90% of the peak counts. The circadian variation observed was independent of the subject's gender and microfilarial density. Mathematical analysis, using a simple harmonic-wave model, indicated a periodicity index of 127.6 and that maximum microfilarial densities occurred at 00.51 hours, confirming the nocturnal pattern of microfilaraemia in the study area.

Infecçäo por Dirofilaria immitis em cäes de Maceió / Dirofilaria immitis infection in dogs from Maceió, Alagoas, Northeast region of Brazil

De 2.007 amostras de sangue examinadas de cäes da cidade de Maceió-AL, foram detectados 62 (3,1 por cento) animais positivos para a presença de microfilária (mf). Em 11 cäes, escolhidos aleatoriamente, foi colhido sangue venoso para a identificaçäo específica de Dirofilaria immitis. Para tal, foram utilizadas a motilidade, o tamanho, a morfologia das mf e a presença de antígenos solúveis do parasito, sendo encontrados cinco animais portadores de D. immitis. Mosquitos da espécies Culex quinquefasciatus foram alimentados com sangue de um cäo portador de D. immitis. O desenvolvimento de formas larvárias foi obsevado nos títulos de Malpighi, confirmando a ocorrência da dirofilariose canina por D. immitis na cidade de Maceió-AL

[Bancroftian filariasis in urban areas of Alagoas State, Northeast Brazil: study in the general population]. / Filariose bancroftiana em áreas urbanas do Estado de Alagoas, nordeste do Brasil: estudo em populaçao geral.

In order to assess the present status of lymphatic filariasis in Alagoas State, Brazil, hemoscopic surveys were carried out in the human population of the three different physiographic regions of the State. Blood samples were collected by thick smear technique taken after 10:00 p.m. From a total of 101 cities of the State, 10 were randomly selected, Bancroftian filariasis was only found in Maceió, the capital of Alagoas State. In a cross-sectional survey conducted among the general population of 4 neighborhoods in the city, 10,973 individuals were examined, 226 were microfilaraemic with prevalence in the city neighborhoods ranging from 0 to 5.4%. Prevalence rates and microfilariae density were significantly higher in males. Among the examined inhabitants born out of Maceió, microfilariae carriers had lived a significantly longer time in endemic areas than the amicrofilaraemic subjects. Based on the data obtained in the present study, measures to avoid expansion of bancroftian filariasis in the region were established.

Dirofilaria immitis infection in dogs from Maceió, Alagoas, Northeast region of Brazil

De 2.007 amostras de sangue examinadas de cães da cidade de Maceió-AL, foram detectados 62 (3,1%) animais positivos para a presença de microfilárias (mf). Em 11 cães, escolhidos aleatoriamente, foi colhido sangue venoso para a identificação específica de Dirofilaria immitis. Para tal, foram utilizadas a motilidade, o tamanho, a morfologia das mf e a presença de antígenos solúveis do parasito, sendo encontrados cinco animais portadores de D. immitis. Mosquitos da espécie Culex quinquefasciatus foram alimentados com sangue de um cão portador de D. immitis. O desenvolvimento de formas larvárias foi observado nos túbulos de Malpighi, confirmando a ocorrência da dirofilariose canina causada por D. immitis na cidade de Maceió-AL.

Autoradiographic thyroid evaluation in short-term experimental diabetes mellitus.

Previous studies have shown that in vitro thyroid peroxidase (TPO) iodide oxidation activity is decreased and thyroid T4-5'-deiodinase activity is increased 15 days after induction of experimental diabetes mellitus (DM). In the present study we used thyroid histoautoradiography, an indirect assay of in vivo TPO activity, to determine the possible parallelism between the in vitro and in vivo changes induced by experimental DM. DM was induced in male Wistar rats (about 250 g body weight) by a single i.p. streptozotocin injection (45 mg/kg), while control (C) animals received a single injection of the vehicle. Seven and 30 days after diabetes induction, each diabetic and control animal was given i.p. a tracer dose of 125I (2 microCi), 2.5 h before thyroid excision. The glands were counted, weighted, fixed in Bouin's solution, embedded in paraffin and cut. The sections were stained with HE and exposed to NTB-2 emulsion (Kodak). The autohistograms were developed and the quantitative distribution of silver grains was evaluated with a computerized image analyzer system. Thyroid radioiodine uptake was significantly decreased only after 30 days of DM (C: 0.38 +/- 0.05 vs DM: 0.20 +/- 0.04%/mg thyroid, P < 0.05) while in vivo TPO activity was significantly decreased 7 and 30 days after DM induction (C: 5.3 and 4.5 grains/100 micron 2 vs DM: 2.9 and 1.6 grains/100 micron 2, respectively, P < 0.05). These data suggest that insulin deficiency first reduces in vivo TPO activity during short-term experimental diabetes mellitus.

Bancroftian filariasis in Maceio, state of Alagoas, Brazil: Observations on Culex quinquefasciatus after blood feeding on individuals with different densities of microfilariae in the peripheral blood stream.

Females of laboratory-reared Culex quinquefasciatus were allowed to take blood meals on individuals with low (1-100 microfilariae/ml of peripheral blood), moderate (101-500 microfilariae/ml), and high (> 500 microfilariae/ml) microfilaremia. The mosquitoes ingested 1.39-3.80 microl of blood and infective third-stage (L3) larvae were first recorded 13-14 days after the infecting blood meal. The number of microfilariae ingested by mosquitoes was proportional to the density of microfilariae in the peripheral blood of the human subjects, but with a concentration factor of up to 6.5 times the expected number. Survival of mosquitoes was not influenced by the density of microfilariae in the peripheral blood of infected individuals. Infectivity indices were proportional to microfilaremia in human subjects. The number of L3 larvae/female (intensity of infection) was not influenced by individual microfilaremia. The highest vector efficiency and the best experimental infection index were recorded in mosquitoes that blood fed on individuals with moderate microfilaremia. The results are discussed in relation to the transmission on Bancroftian filariasis in the study area.

Autoradiographic thyroid evaluation in short-term experimental diabetes mellitus

Previous studies have shown that in vitro thyroid peroxidase (TPO) iodide oxidation activity is decreased and thyroid T4-5' -deiodinase activity is increased 15 days after induction of experimental diabetes mellitus (DM). In the present study we used thyroid histoautoradiography, an indirect assay of in vivo TPO activity, to determine the possible parallelism between the in vitro and in vivo changes induced by experimental DM. DM was induced in male Wistar rats (about 250 g body weight) by a single ip streptozotocin injection (45 mg/kg), while control c animals received a single injection of the vehicle. Seven and 30 days after diabetes induction, each diabetic and control animal was given ip a tracer dose of I (2 muCi), 2.5 h before thyroid excision. The glands were counted, weighed, fixed in Bouin's solution, embedded in paraffin and cut. The sections were stained with HE and exposed to NTB-2 emulsion (Kodak). The autohistograms were developed and the quantitative distribution of silver grains was evaluated with a computerized image analyzer system. Thyroid radioiodine uptake was significantly decreased only after 30 days of DM (C:0.38 + 0.05 vs DM: 0.20 + 0.04 percent/mg thyroid, P<0.05) while in vivo TPO activity was significantly decreased 7 and 30 days after DM induction (C:5.3 and 4.5 grains/100 mum2 vs DM: 2.9 and 1.6 grains/100 mum2, respectively, P<0.05). These data suggest that insulin deficiency first reduces in vivo TPO activity during short-term experimental diabetes mellitus.

Lymphatic filariasis in Brazilian urban area (Maceió, Alagoas).

A cross-sectional survey conducted among evening students was used to determine the prevalence of Wuchereria bancrofti infection in Maceió, capital of the State of Alagoas, northeast Brazil. A single thick-blood smear was used, being collected between 10 p.m. and 12 a.m. From a total of 29,551 students enrolled at evening elementary schools in the 33 city sectors, 16,569 (56.4%) were random selected for inclusion in the study. From those, 10,857 (65.5%) were interviewed and examined and 73 (0.7%) were found to have microfilaraemia. Autochthonous W. bancrofti carriers live in 10 of the 33 city sectors, suggesting a focal distribution. Moreover, 84% of infections were diagnosed among 29% of all students examined, inhabiting three contiguous sectors at the city central area, presenting infection rates up to 5.3%. Students living in city sectors with prevalence of microfilariae carriers greater than 1% were found to have a higher risk for infection when compared to students from the rest of the town [Relative Odds (RO) 12.8, 95% CI 6.7-25.1]. Eleven positive individuals from non endemic areas were living in Maceió for more than 10 years; time of residence in the area was a major risk factor for infection among students not born in the region (p < 0.01). Regarding sex, male students presented a higher proportion of positive (RO 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.9).

Open clinical study of the efficacy and safety of terbinafine cream 1% in children with tinea corporis and tinea cruris.

BACKGROUND: Topical application of antifungal agents is considered the treatment of choice for dermatomycoses. Most of the available drugs are fungistatic, requiring long term treatment to prevent relapses. Terbinafine is a synthetic antifungal agent that, because of its fungicidal action, provides high cure rates and low relapse rates after short periods of treatment. METHODS: Ninety-seven children ages 2 to 15 years with a suspected diagnosis of tinea corporis and/or tinea cruris were enrolled in this open trial. After mycologic assessment to confirm diagnosis (culture and direct microscopy) terbinafine 1% cream was applied once daily during 1 week. Clinical and mycologic assessments were made at the baseline visit and on Days 7, 14 and 21. Efficacy assessment was based on 88 children (9 patients excluded by protocol violation). RESULTS: Therapy was considered effective in 92.0% (81 of 88) of patients (complete clinical and mycologic cure or mycologic cure with minimum signs and symptoms or clinical improvement, > or = 50%). Tolerability was assessed in 97 patients on an intention-to-treat basis. Adverse reactions were itching 3% (3 of 97), itching associated with erythema exacerbation 1% (1 of 97) and contact dermatitis 1% (1 of 97). CONCLUSION: Terbinafine 1% cream appears to be an effective and well-tolerated treatment for tinea corporis and tinea cruris in children.

A comparison of two Brazilian populations of Culex quinquefasciatus (Say, 1823) from endemic and non-endemic areas to infection with Wuchereria bancrofti (Cobbold, 1877).

Culex quinquefasciatus is known to be an efficient insect host of Wuchereria bancrofti. In Brazil Cx. quinquefasciatus is widely distributed throughout the country and is often abundant in and around human habitations. In contrast, Bancroftian filariasis is limited to three foci in Brazil. Experiments were undertaken to compare the vector capacities of Cx. quinquefasciatus originating from Maceió (Alagoas), one of the endemic areas of W. bancrofti infection in Brazil, and Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais), a non endemic area. Laboratory-reared Cx. quinquefasciatus were dissected 20 days after blood feeding on microfilaraemic patients. Survival rates and the number of infective larvae that developed did not differ in female mosquitoes of different origins. Thus both populations of Culex were susceptible to infection with W. bancrofti.