Clinical, hematological and risk factors associated with borreliosis in horses from Sao Paulo, Brazil / Fatores clínicos, hematológicos e de risco associados à borreliose em cavalos de São Paulo, Brasil

Lyme borreliosis is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and affects humans and many other mammals, including horses. This disease is poorly studied and reported in horses, and epidemiological surveys are required to provide more precise information about the course of the disease. The aims of the present study were to determine the prevalence of seropositive horses for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in São Paulo State, Brazil and to collect data on possible risk factors associated with the disease along with clinical and hematological changes in seropositive horses. There was verified that there was a high correlation between the occurrence of seropositive horses infested with Amblyomma sculptum ticks and the presence of capybaras on the property as well as the occurrence of abortion and retained placenta in mares. In terms of hematological alterations, the occurrence of lymphopenia was observed in seropositive animals. Borreliosis in horses from São Paulo, Brazil can be associated with presence of Amblyomma scupltum ticks, proximity with capybaras and can be manifested as alterations in reproduction of mares and lymphopenia.(AU)

A borreliose de Lyme é causada por Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato e afeta humanos e muitos outros mamíferos, incluindo cavalos. Esta doença é pouco estudada e relatada em equinos, sendo necessários levantamentos epidemiológicos para fornecer informações mais precisas sobre o curso da doença. Os objetivos do presente estudo foram determinar a prevalência de cavalos soropositivos para Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato no Estado de São Paulo, Brasil e coletar dados sobre possíveis fatores de risco associados à doença, juntamente com alterações clínicas e hematológicas em cavalos soropositivos. Verificou-se que houve alta correlação entre a ocorrência de equinos soropositivos infestados por carrapatos Amblyomma sculptum e a presença de capivaras nas propriedades, bem como a ocorrência de abortamento e retenção de placenta em éguas. Em termos de alterações hematológicas, observou-se a ocorrência de linfopenia em animais soropositivos. A borreliose em cavalos de São Paulo, Brasil, pode estar associada à presença de carrapatos Amblyomma scupltum, proximidade com capivaras e se manifestar clinicamente como alterações reprodutivas em éguas e linfopenia.(AU)

Clinical, hematological and risk factors associated with borreliosis in horses from Sao Paulo, Brazil / Fatores clínicos, hematológicos e de risco associados à borreliose em cavalos de São Paulo, Brasil

Lyme borreliosis is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and affects humans and many other mammals, including horses. This disease is poorly studied and reported in horses, and epidemiological surveys are required to provide more precise information about the course of the disease. The aims of the present study were to determine the prevalence of seropositive horses for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in São Paulo State, Brazil and to collect data on possible risk factors associated with the disease along with clinical and hematological changes in seropositive horses. There was verified that there was a high correlation between the occurrence of seropositive horses infested with Amblyomma sculptum ticks and the presence of capybaras on the property as well as the occurrence of abortion and retained placenta in mares. In terms of hematological alterations, the occurrence of lymphopenia was observed in seropositive animals. Borreliosis in horses from São Paulo, Brazil can be associated with presence of Amblyomma scupltum ticks, proximity with capybaras and can be manifested as alterations in reproduction of mares and lymphopenia.

A borreliose de Lyme é causada por Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato e afeta humanos e muitos outros mamíferos, incluindo cavalos. Esta doença é pouco estudada e relatada em equinos, sendo necessários levantamentos epidemiológicos para fornecer informações mais precisas sobre o curso da doença. Os objetivos do presente estudo foram determinar a prevalência de cavalos soropositivos para Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato no Estado de São Paulo, Brasil e coletar dados sobre possíveis fatores de risco associados à doença, juntamente com alterações clínicas e hematológicas em cavalos soropositivos. Verificou-se que houve alta correlação entre a ocorrência de equinos soropositivos infestados por carrapatos Amblyomma sculptum e a presença de capivaras nas propriedades, bem como a ocorrência de abortamento e retenção de placenta em éguas. Em termos de alterações hematológicas, observou-se a ocorrência de linfopenia em animais soropositivos. A borreliose em cavalos de São Paulo, Brasil, pode estar associada à presença de carrapatos Amblyomma scupltum, proximidade com capivaras e se manifestar clinicamente como alterações reprodutivas em éguas e linfopenia.

CLINICAL, HEMATOLOGICAL AND RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH BORRELIOSIS IN HORSES FROM SAO PAULO, BRAZIL

Lyme borreliosis is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and affects humans and many other mammals, including horses. This disease is poorly studied and reported in horses, and epidemiological surveys are required to provide more precise information about the course of the disease. The aims of the present study were to determine the prevalence of seropositive horses for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in São Paulo State, Brazil and to collect data on possible risk factors associated with the disease along with clinical and hematological changes in seropositive horses. There was verified that there was a high correlation between the occurrence of seropositive horses infested with Amblyomma sculptum ticks and the presence of capybaras on the property as well as the occurrence of abortion and retained placenta in mares. In terms of hematological alterations, the occurrence of lymphopenia was observed in seropositive animals. Borreliosis in horses from São Paulo, Brazil can be associated with presence of Amblyomma scupltum ticks, proximity with capybaras and can be manifested as alterations in reproduction of mares and lymphopenia.

Produtividade e qualidade do óleo essencial de capim-limão, Cymbopogon citratus, DC, submetido a diferentes lâminas de irrigaçã / Growth production and essential oil quality of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) under different irrigation depths

Devido às poucas informações sobre as práticas de cultivo do capim-limão (Cymbopogon citratus, DC.) objetivou-se avaliar o efeito de lâminas de irrigação sobre: a produção de biomassa, o rendimento e composição do óleo essencial. O experimento foi instalado em ambiente protegido para possibilitar o controle das lâminas de irrigação e avaliar a viabilidade para situações em que as condições climáticas normais sejam inadequadas. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos inteiramente casualizados com cinco tratamentos e três repetições. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância pelo tese F e as médias comparadas pelo teste de Tukey a 5% de probabilidade. Na etapa um, os tratamentos consistiram da aplicação de lâminas referentes a 50%, 75%, 100%, 125% da evapotranspiração da cultura (ETc), irrigando duas vezes por semana e de 100% da evapotranspiração da cultura (ETc), irrigando uma vez por semana, sendo denominados de T1, T2, T3, T4 e T5, respectivamente. Na etapa dois, os tratamentos consistiram da aplicação de lâminas referentes a 50%, 75%, 100%, 125% da ETc irrigando uma vez por semana e de 100% da ETc, irrigando a cada 14 dias, sendo denominados de T6, T7, T8, T9 e T10 respectivamente. O corte do capim-limão foi realizado após 60 dias do início dos tratamentos. Avaliou-se a altura de plantas, o número de perfilhos por touceira, a massa seca da parte aérea, o rendimento e a composição do óleo essencial. O T5, caracterizado por estresse hídrico e intervalo de irrigação moderado, foi o que apresentou a maior produção de matéria seca, maior produtividade do capim-limão e maior estimativa da produtividade de óleo essencial e maior concentração de citral, na primeira etapa. Na etapa dois, o T6, correspondente ao estresse hídrico crescente e acentuado, foi o que apresentou maior estimativa da produtividade de óleo essencial. De acordo com os resultados observados, não foi possível definir a melhor lâmina, porém, concluiu-se que uma única irrigação semanal, para as condições estudadas neste experimento promoveu o melhor resultado.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of different irrigation depths on biomass production, yield and composition of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)essential oil, because of poor information on cultivation practices. The experiment was set up in a protected environment to control irrigation and also to evaluate situations in which the normal climatic conditions are inadequate. A complete randomized block design was incorporated with five treatments and three replications, and averages were compared using the Tukey's test at 5% probability. In phase one, the treatments consisted of irrigation depths relating to 50%, 75%, 100%, 125% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc), irrigating twice a week, and irrigating only once a week for a sample supplied with 100% of the crop evapotranspiration (ETc); these were labeled T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5, respectively. In phase two, the treatments consisted of depths of 50%, 75%, 100%, 125% of the ETc, irrigating once a week, and another with 100% of the ETc, irrigating every 14 days, which were denominated T6, T7, T8, T9 and T10, respectively. Harvest of the lemon grass was done after 60 days of treatment. Plant height, number of tillers per plant, dry mass of the shoots, yield and composition of essential oil were evaluated. Treatment T5, characterized by water stress and a moderate irrigation interval, presented the highest dry matter production, lemongrass productivity, estimate of essential oil productivity and concentration of citral in the first phase. In phase two of this work, T6,characterized by a sharp increaseof water stress, presented the greatest estimate of essential oil productivity. According to the results observed, we could not define an optimal irrigation depth; however, we concluded that a single irrigation per week for the conditions of this experiment provided the best result.

Description of Lyme disease-like syndrome in Brazil. Is it a new tick borne disease or Lyme disease variation?

An emerging clinical entity that reproduces clinical manifestations similar to those observed in Lyme disease (LD) has been recently under discussion in Brazil. Due to etiological and laboratory particularities it is named LD-like syndrome or LD imitator syndrome. The condition is considered to be a zoonosis transmitted by ticks of the genus Amblyomma, possibly caused by interaction of multiple fastidious microorganisms originating a protean clinical picture, including neurological, osteoarticular and erythema migrans-like lesions. When peripheral blood of patients with LD-like syndrome is viewed under a dark-field microscope, mobile uncultivable spirochete-like bacteria are observed. PCR carried out with specific or conservative primers to recognize Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto or the genus Borrelia has been negative in ticks and in biological samples. Two different procedures, respectively involving hematoxylin and eosin staining of cerebrospinal fluid and electron microscopy analysis of blood, have revealed spirochetes not belonging to the genera Borrelia, Leptospira or Treponema. Surprisingly, co-infection with microorganisms resembling Mycoplasma and Chlamydia was observed on one occasion by electron microscopy analysis. We discuss here the possible existence of a new tick-borne disease in Brazil imitating LD, except for a higher frequency of recurrence episodes observed along prolonged clinical follow-up.

Description of Lyme disease-like syndrome in Brazil: is it a new tick borne disease or Lyme disease variation?

An emerging clinical entity that reproduces clinical manifestations similar to those observed in Lyme disease (LD) has been recently under discussion in Brazil. Due to etiological and laboratory particularities it is named LD-like syndrome or LD imitator syndrome. The condition is considered to be a zoonosis transmitted by ticks of the genus Amblyomma, possibly caused by interaction of multiple fastidious microorganisms originating a protean clinical picture, including neurological, osteoarticular and erythema migrans-like lesions. When peripheral blood of patients with LD-like syndrome is viewed under a dark-field microscope, mobile uncultivable spirochete-like bacteria are observed. PCR carried out with specific or conservative primers to recognize Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto or the genus Borrelia has been negative in ticks and in biological samples. Two different procedures, respectively involving hematoxylin and eosin staining of cerebrospinal fluid and electron microscopy analysis of blood, have revealed spirochetes not belonging to the genera Borrelia, Leptospira or Treponema. Surprisingly, co-infection with microorganisms resembling Mycoplasma and Chlamydia was observed on one occasion by electron microscopy analysis. We discuss here the possible existence of a new tick-borne disease in Brazil imitating LD, except for a higher frequency of recurrence episodes observed along prolonged clinical follow-up.

Statin monotherapy attenuates renal injury in a salt-sensitive hypertension model of renal disease.

BACKGROUND: Several salutary biological effects of statins have been described. We sought to investigate more closely the anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative effects of simvastatin (SIMV) in a model of hypertension and progressive renal disease, as well as its effects on the cyclin-cdk inhibitors p21 and p27. METHODS: Munich-Wistar rats received the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor L-NAME (25 mg/kg/day p.o.) for 20 days accompanied by a high-salt diet (HS, 3% Na) and then were kept on HS for 60 days. Animals were then divided into two groups: vehicle (VH) or SIMV 2 mg/kg/day p.o. Albuminuria and tail-cuff pressure were determined at 30 and 60 days. RT-PCR was done to assess renal expression of TGF-beta1, collagen I and III, fibronectin, p27, p21 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). Renal protein expression was assessed by Western blot (proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)) and immunostaining (macrophage, lymphocyte, PCNA). RESULTS: SIMV did not prevent the development of severe hypertension or albuminuria. SIMV-treated animals had less severe renal interstitial inflammation and cell proliferation. MCP-1 expression was significantly diminished in the SIMV-treated animals (55.4 +/- 7.3 vs. 84.4 +/- 8.2 OD, p = 0.02). mRNA renal expression for p27 and TGF-beta did not change between groups, but p21 mRNA renal expression, highly induced in this model, significantly decreased with SIMV treatment (31.6 +/- 6.6 vs. 50.2 +/- 5.8 OD, p < 0.05). The interstitial fibrosis score significantly decreased with SIMV (2.46 +/- 0.40 vs. 4.07 +/- 0.38%, p < 0.01), which was confirmed by a decrease in renal collagen I and fibronectin expression. Serum cholesterol level did not change with SIMV. CONCLUSION: SIMV attenuated interstitial fibrosis associated with this model of hypertensive renal disease. The mechanism involved MCP-1 downregulation. SIMV treatment was also associated with a p21 downregulation in the kidney, which might be involved in the protection of renal scarring.

Prognostic significance of the combined expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9, urokinase type plasminogen activator and its receptor in breast cancer as measured by Northern blot analysis.

Using Northern blot analysis we have measured the co-expression of the matrix metalloprotease MMP-9, plasminogen activator urokinase type (uPA) and its receptor (uPAR) mRNAs in 81 biopsies of breast carcinomas with the objective of analyzing the impact of these factors on the overall survival probability of the patients (median follow-up time: 4 years). Individual mRNA levels of either uPA or uPAR showed parallel variations with MMP-9 mRNA, suggesting a coordinate transcription of these markers. When median values were used as cutoff points to discriminate between high and low factor expression, no association was found with patient outcome and MMP-9 or uPA mRNA distribution. However, increased uPAR mRNA levels were associated with poor prognosis (p = 0.01). The combination of MMP-9 and uPAR mRNA measurements has not enhanced prognostic information compared to information supplied by the receptor alone (p = 0.01). The combination of MMP-9 and high levels of uPA mRNA led to a significant association with poor outcome (p = 0.03). Multivariate analysis supported the notion that increased uPAR mRNA production in primary breast cancer may be a predictor of overall survival.

Expression of gelatinases A and B, stromelysin-3 and matrilysin genes in breast carcinomas: clinico-pathological correlations.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association among matrix metalloproteinases (gelatinases A and B, stromelysin-3 (ST3) and matrilysin) mRNAs expressed in primary breast carcinomas and standard prognostic parameters and clinical outcome. mRNA levels were determined by Northern analysis in samples of 81 breast cancer patients (median follow-up, 40 months) and 27 samples of uninvolved adjacent breast tissue. Proteases were expressed by the majority of the tumors and normal breast tissues examined. ST3, gelatinase A and matrilysin mRNAs were more often expressed at high levels in carcinomatous than in normal breast tissues. Differences in the distribution of gelatinase B mRNA were not found. However, paired normal tissues generally produced weaker signals when compared to matched tumor samples. Univariate analysis showed no significant association of gelatinase A and matrilysin mRNAs with the classical prognostic markers (age, menopausal status, stage, size, nodal status, vascular infiltrate, necrosis, steroid receptors, metastasis and survival). Overexpression of ST3 was more frequently found in tumors of post-menopausal women (P < 0.022). Elevated expression of gel B mRNA was associated with the presence of vascular infiltrate (P < 0.026), necrosis (P < 0.039), PR negative tumors (P < 0.014) and inversely correlated to the number of survivors (P < 0.021). Multivariate analysis including 68 patients for whom all information was available indicated that neither stromelysin correlated significantly with pathological, clinical or biochemical features. High levels of gelatinase A and B mRNAs were inversely associated with the number of survivors. Our findings suggest that measurements of gelatinase A and B mRNAs expression in breast carcinoma may help to identify patients with an aggressive form of the disease.