ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Approximately 5 million workers are estimated to be occupationally exposed to welding fumes worldwide. Nickel and chromium are genotoxic metals found in welding fumes, therefore welders are exposed to these metals at the workplace. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to investigate the frequency of cytotoxic and genetic damage in cells harvested from the oral mucosa of welders and also from a group of workers not exposed to metallic fumes. METHODS: A total of 44 individuals, divided into 2 groups - welders and non-welders - were compared using the micronucleus assay technique and cell death (pyknosis, karyorrhexis and karyolysis) on buccal mucosa cells of welding workers. The examined cells were stained with Feulgen/Fast Green. Results: Welders exhibited higher frequency (p<0.05) of cytotoxicity than the group of volunteers not exposed to metallic fumes. CONCLUSION: The results of this preliminary study suggest that the frequency of cytotoxic damage in buccal mucosa cells might be higher among welders compared to non-welders.
CONTEXTO: Estima-se que no mundo existam, aproximadamente, 5 milhões de trabalhadores expostos ocupacionalmente à fumaça de soldagem. Níquel e Cromo são metais que podem ocasionar danos ao material genético, e soldadores, por força do ofício, são rotineiramente expostos a eles. OBJETIVO: O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar a frequência de danos citotóxicos e genotóxicos em células da mucosa bucal de um grupo de soldadores. MÉTODOS: Um total de 44 indivíduos, distribuídos em 2 grupos - soldadores e não soldadores -, foi comparado utilizando a técnica do ensaio do micronúcleo e morte celular (picnose, cariorrexe e cariólise) em células da mucosa oral de trabalhadores de soldagem. As células examinadas foram coradas com Feulgen/Fast-green. RESULTADO: Os soldadores apresentaram maior frequência (p<0,05) de alterações indicativas de citotoxicidade quando comparados ao grupo de indivíduos não expostos a fumos metálicos. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados deste estudo preliminar sugerem que soldadores apresentam maior frequência de danos citotóxicos e morte celular em células da mucosa bucal que trabalhadores não expostos.
ABSTRACT
Campylobacteriosis is a worldwide distributed zoonosis. One of the main virulence factors related to Campylobacter spp. in animals and humans is the cytolethal distending toxin (CDT), encoded by three adjacent genes (cdtA, cdtB, cdtC). The occurrence of Campylobacter spp. in samples of vegetables has not been reported in Brazil yet, and has seldom been described in the international literature. The detection of CDT in these strains has not been reported, either. The objectives of the present study were to determine the occurrence of Campylobacter spp. strains carrying virulence factors in samples of poultry and vegetables (lettuce and spinach) from different points of sale, thus verifying if vegetables are as an important vehicle for potentially virulent Campylobacter spp. strains as poultry. Twenty four strains were identified as Campylobacter jejuni by phenotypic and genotypic methods: 22 from broiler carcasses and two from lettuce samples. Three strains were identified as Campylobacter coli: two from broiler carcasses and one from lettuce. The presence of the cdt genes were detected in 20/24 (83.3%) C. jejuni strains, and 3/3 (100%) C. coli strains. The isolation of Campylobacter spp. strains with the cdt gene cluster in lettuce samples points to a new possible source of contamination, which could have an impact in the vegetable production chain and risk to public health. Results show that potentially virulent C. jejuni and C. coli strains remain viable in samples of broiler carcasses and vegetables at the points of sale.
