Antifungal sensitivity and species of yeasts in oral mucosa of street mixed-breed dogs.

The aim of this research is to verify the yeast species isolated from oral mucosa in street mixed-breed dogs and to determine the antifungal profiles. After capturing and sedating the animals, oral mucosa samples were collected from fifty dogs and the materials were inoculated on Sabouraud dextrose agar with chloramphenicol. Forty-three yeast strains were isolated and identified trough the API-20C AUX method. Thirty-seven (86.1%) of the yeasts belonged to genus Candida, five (11.6%) to genus Trichosporon and only one strain (2.3%) to genus Malassezia. The sensitivity profiles to anifungals (amphotericin B, itraconanole, ketoconazole, fluconazole and variconazole) were determined through Etest® method. This study found resistance of some yeasts to amphotericin B and a good susceptibility to voriconazole and ketoconazole. Some of these antifungals are used in veterinary medical practice. This research is the first investigation on street mixed-breed dogs regarding yeast identifications and antifungals profiles.

Evaluation of the cytotoxicity of latex and non-latex orthodontic separating elastics.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that a difference in cytotoxicity exists between latex and non-latex orthodontic separating elastics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five intra-oral separating elastics from different manufactures (four latex and one non-latex) were divided into five groups of 15 elastics each: Group MA (non-latex elastics, Masel), Group MO (natural latex, Morelli), Group DE (natural latex, Dentaurum), Group TP (natural latex, TP Orthodontics) and Group UN (natural latex, Unitek). The cytotoxicity assay was performed using cell cultures (epithelial HEp-2 cells originating from human laryngeal carcinoma) that were submitted to the cell viability test with neutral red (dye-uptake) at 24, 48, 72 and 168 h. Analysis of variance (anova) with multiple comparisons and Tukey's test were employed (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The results showed no statistically significant differences between groups MA, DE, TP and UN in relation to Group CC (cell control) for experimental times of 24, 48 and 168 h (p > 0.05). Morelli, Dentaurum, TP Orthodontics and Unitek elastics induced a great amount of cell lyses at 72 h. CONCLUSION: One can demonstrate that the Masel elastic induced less cell lysis compared with other elastics, but all trademarks were found to be clinically biocompatible. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Separating orthodontic elastics are used in the interdental subgingival region with the aim to separate the teeth for placement of orthodontic bands. However, latex has been known to cause allergy. As these materials are widely used in clinical orthodontics, care regarding the cytotoxicity of orthodontic elastics should be taken. Thus, clinically proven biocompatible materials should be acquired whenever possible.

Surface component characterization as taxonomic tools for Phytomonas spp identification.

The genus Phytomonas arbitrarily includes all protozoa of the family Trypanosomatidae isolated from plants, but its differentiation is a complex task. The phase separation technique using Triton X-114 was used to analyze hydrophobic and hydrophilic surface proteins in ten strains of Phytomonas isolated from various fruits. The iodination of surface proteins by the Iodo-Gen method was also used for Phytomonas isolates from tomatoes, corn and annatto, Herpetomonas samuelpessoai and Crithidia fasciculata. The distribution of protein-bound radioactivity in acrylamide gels was determined by autoradiograms and showed the presence of protein bands of 36-68 kDa in all strains of Phytomonas: there were two major bands at 88 kDa and 94 kDa, with minor bands at 36 kDa and 142 kDa in H. samuelpessoai; and there were three bands at 74, 86 and 94 kDa, with minor bands at 23 kDa and 105 kDa in C. fasciculata. The results demonstrated that samples of plant parasites can be clearly differentiated from H. samuelpessoai and C. fasciculata. These plant parasites were also submitted to polysaccharide analysis by gas-liquid chromatography of the corresponding alditol acetate. Arabinose, galactose, glucose and mannose, were the major monosaccharides found, while fucose, rhamnose and xylose were found in smaller amounts. The results of all these methods indicated that, after extension to a wider range of trypanosomatid strains, they may be useful in Phytomonas taxonomy.

[Adult Aedes albopictus and Ae. scapularis behavior (Diptera: Culicidae in Southeastern Brazil]. / Comportamento de Aedes albopictus e de Ae. scapularis adultos (Diptera: Culicidae) no Sudeste do Brasil.

OBJECTIVE: Aedes albopictus and Ae. scapularis were found living together in the Pedrinhas Village, Southeastern of São Paulo State, Brazil. This finding was a good opportunity to make observations about the mosquitoes' behavior. METHODS: From October 1996 to January 2000 observations were carried out through systematic collections with human bait, environment aspirations and Shannon trap utilization. Synanthropy was estimated by the Nuorteva index and synanthropic ratios. RESULTS: The 87 collections with human bait yield 872 females adults. Williams' means, multiplied by 100, were 118 and 21 for Ae. albopictus at the 7 AM-6PM and 6PM-8PM hours, respectively, 100 and 106 for Ae. scapularis at the same timetable but there was an evening peak. Through environmental aspirations, a total of 1,124 adults samples was collected, 226 Ae. albopictus samples and 898 Ae. scapularis samples. The period between the months of January-May was the one with higher yield for both mosquitoes. There was no Ae. albopictus in the Shannon trap operated inside the adjacent forest. Regarding the sinanthropy, that culicid showed the higher index values, while Ae. scapularis was ubiquitous. CONCLUSIONS: The data obtained allows to form the hypothesis that Ae. scapularis females may have a diapause phase in the resting places and after that period they will retake the hematophagy habit. That might explain the higher activity at the human bait during the dry months, corresponding to the period of July-October.

Further characterization of carbohydrate-containing fractions from Trypanosoma mega.

Epimastigotes of Trypanosoma mega were submitted to phenol extraction after lipid extraction, providing an extract whose carbohydrate portion (30%) contained fucose, ribose, xylose, mannose, galactose, and glucose. The purified fraction recovered in the void volume of Bio Gel P-150 gave on SDS-PAGE a band of Mr approximately equal to 55,000 positive for protein and carbohydrate and a diffuse band strongly positive for carbohydrate and lipids (Mr approximately equal to 22,000). The structural analysis of the carbohydrate moiety of this fraction by GLC-MS indicated the presence of nonreducing end groups of fucopyranose, mannopyranose, and galactopyranose, 3-O- and 4-O-substituted and 2,3- and 2,4-di-O-substituted galactopyranosyl units. Extraction of this fraction with chloroform/methanol/water provided a soluble fraction that on SDS-PAGE gave rise to a carbohydrate and lipid-positive band (Mr approximately equal to 22,000). This fraction contained fucose, mannose, and galactose (1:1:1). As main branch points, 2,3-di-O-substituted galactopyranosyl units were present according to methylation data. Similar proportions of fucopyranosyl, mannopyranosyl, galactopyranosyl end units were present. The presence of lipids in this fraction was confirmed by methanolysis following isolation and characterization of the corresponding fatty acid methyl esters. Palmitic acid (16:0) and an 18:1 fatty acid were the predominant fatty acids.