Evaluation of a RAPD-based typing scheme in a molecular epidemiology study of Vibrio cholerae O1, Brazil.

AIMS: To evaluate the utility of random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique for routine practice in public health laboratories for epidemiological studies of Vibrio cholerae O1 isolates. MATERIALS AND RESULTS: Seventy-nine strains were examined by PCR for the toxin genes (ctx A, zot and ace), virulence-associated genes (tcp A and tox T) and RAPD sequences. Except for one strain (no. 1123) from the Amazonas State, all the strains analysed carried the genes ctx A, zot, ace, tcp A and tox T. RAPD fingerprinting revealed variability but no correlation with serotype, biotype or geographical origin of the isolates was found. CONCLUSION: A standardized RAPD method does not enable the establishment of a pattern data bank for the identification of V. cholerae O1 strains. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The simplicity and discriminative capacity of this technique make it useful for detecting genetic diversity among micro-organisms from a defined group or for outbreak investigation.

[Identification of Vibrio spp bacteria on skin lesions of fisherman in the county of Raposa-MA]. / Pesquisa de bactérias do gênero Vibrio em feridas cutâneas de pescadores do município de Raposa-MA.

The study was undertaken aiming at identifying bacteria from the county of Raposa in the state of Maranhão. The clinical sample was collected by using a swab and held in a Cary-Blair transport medium. Enrichment in alkaline peptone water, isolation in TCBS selective indicator medium and biochemical coding of species were used for laboratory processing. Fifty fisherman with age varying from 12-65 years took part on the study. Vibrio bacteria isolated in 21 subjects had been identified. There was a predominance of V. alginolyticus (66.6%) followed by V. parahaemolyticus (42.8%), and V. cholerae non-O1 (9.5%). Lesions predominated on lower limbs, presenting hyperhemia, swelling, secretion, and pain. Some species of gram-negative bacteria of the Serratia, Proteus, Escherichia, Citrobacter, Enterobacter associated to the vibrios were isolated, as well as other non-fermenting bacteria (30.9) and gram-positive bacteria of the genos Staphylococcus.

Truncus arteriosus with patent ductus arteriosus and normal aortic arch.

In hearts with a common arterial trunk (truncus arteriosus), there is almost always an inverse development of the aortic arch and the ductus arteriosus. Truncus with a normal aortic arch and a patent ductus is a rare echocardiographic and surgical finding. In this report, we describe 2 neonates in whom truncus arteriosus with a normal aortic arch and a medium or large patent ductus was diagnosed by preoperative echocardiography (without catheterization) and confirmed intraoperatively.

Participation of the autonomic nervous system in lipolysis induced by intraventricular injection of carbachol in the pigeon.

The possible involvement of central cholinergic neurotransmission in lipomobilization in avian species was investigated by injecting carbachol into the brain lateral ventricle (i.c.v.) of conscious pigeons (N = 9 per experimental group). I.c.v. injections of carbachol (27 nmol in 1 microliter) induced an intense increase (nearly 91% above baseline levels) in the concentration of plasma free fatty acids (FFA). Previous intraperitoneal administration of hexamethonium (10 mg/kg) completely blocked the lipomobilizing effect of i.c.v. injections of carbachol. These results suggest that cholinergic neurons may be involved in central mechanisms controlling FFA mobilization in pigeons, and that this response is mainly mediated by activation of autonomic nervous system.