Short communication: Extended-spectrum AmpC-producing Escherichia coli from milk and feces in dairy farms in Brazil.

The AmpC enzyme is normally expressed constitutively in Escherichia coli, and its overproduction confers resistance to cefoxitin. A newly reported AmpC, the extended-spectrum AmpC (ESAC), is related to resistance to cefepime, a fourth-generation cephalosporin. This enzyme presents more flexibility in the active site due to insertions, replacements, and deletions on AA sequences. Many isolates producing ESAC were reported in human clinical isolates, but E. coli ESAC producers were reported in animals only in France. The animal E. coli strains can produce this enzyme and possibly disseminate it to human and production environments. In our study, 3 strains of E. coli from milk and feces bovine samples, collected in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were suspected to produce ESAC. After excluding other mechanisms of resistance, the gene was sequenced to verify ESAC characteristics. These strains presented replacement of AA in omega and R2 loops, suggesting ESAC production. This is the first report to study ESAC E. coli in dairy farms in Brazil.

Intraepithelial lymphocytes subsets in different forms of celiac disease.

AIM: The enumeration of intraepithelial lymphocytes subsets (total, γδ, and CD3(-) IELs) by flow cytometry (FCM), named as IEL lymphogram, constitutes a useful tool for celiac disease (CD) diagnosis. The aim of this study was to quantify IELs by FCM and their diagnostic value to differentiate active, silent and potential CD. METHODS: Prospective study of 60 active and 20 silent CD patients, and 161 controls in which duodenal biopsy and IEL quantification by FCM was performed. RESULTS: Active and silent CD patients had significant higher levels of both total and γδ IELs than absent CD patients (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001, P = 0.012 and P < 0.011; respectively). Active and silent CD patients had significant lower levels of CD3(-) IELs than absent CD patients (P < 0.047 and P < 0.009, respectively). Moreover, they were lower in silent than in active CD patients (P = 0.002). Changes of IELs subsets were more marked in children than adults active CD. The optimal IEL lymphogram cut off values for active CD diagnosis were: ≥10, ≥15 and ≤9 %, and with better performance characteristics for silent CD: ≥ 11, ≥10 and ≤5 %. CONCLUSION: The evaluation of IELs subsets by FCM is useful to confirm diagnosis of active and silent CD.

Caracterização genotípica de amostras Escherichia coli isoladas de mastite bovina / Genotypic characterization of Escherichia coli isolated from cows with mastitis

Escherichia coli samples isolated from cases of dairy mastitis in municipalities of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, were genotypically compared and Shiga-toxin genes were detected and their prevalence evaluated. Genetically related samples were verified and the referred genes were detected in 14.28% of the cases.

Enterobacterial microbiota on Stomoxys calcitrans external surface.

The current study evaluated the prevalence of enterobacterial agents on the external surface of the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans. In addition, this study investigated the presence of virulence genes of enterobacteria. Twenty different species were isolated and identified, Escherichia coli was the most frequent species isolated. The genes stx1, stx2 and/or eae for production of Shiga toxin were present in 13.04% of the E. coli samples.

Microbiota bacteriana em segmentos de mosca do estábulo Stomoxys calcitrans no Brasil: primeiro relato de espécies / Microbiota in Stomoxys calcitrans segments in Brazil: first description of species

This study report the first description of bacterial species recovered from body segments of Stomoxys calcitrans collected in dairy farms from Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Eighteen out of 33 isolated and identified species were unknown in stable flies by the worldwide literature. Some of these species have the potential to develop diseases in man and other animals and some others have not been described yet as pathogenic agents.

The effects of semi-purified diets on growth and condition of Sepia officinalis L. (Mollusca: Cephalopoda).

The effects of five different surimi diets (fish myofibrillar protein concentrate) on growth and condition of Sepia officinalis were evaluated in terms of individual growth using different morphometric and biochemical parameters. A casein supplemented surimi diet produced significant growth (instantaneous growth rate 0.4-0.8% body weight). The digestive gland-to-body weight ratio increased and the cuttlebone-to-body weight ratio decreased significantly in relation to instantaneous growth rate. The RNA content of mantle muscle increased significantly, while the DNA content of mantle muscle did not change in relation to instantaneous growth rate. Mantle muscle protein content was depleted in cuttlefish with instantaneous growth rate < or = 0. No compensatory food consumption, food conversion or growth was observed for cuttlefish fed surimi diets after refeeding them with a natural diet (thawed raw shrimp). Digestive gland and cuttlebone-to-body weight ratios, and RNA content in mantle muscle could be used as short-term indicators of instantaneous growth rate and condition of cuttlefish. Mantle muscle protein content could be used as a long-term indicator.

Manifestaçöes psiquiátricas da AIDS: 1ª parte: demência / Psychiatric manifestations of AIDS: 1ª part: dementia

No trabalho säo citados pelos autores os achados da literatura a respeito da prevalência, quadro clínico, tratamento dos quadros demênciais associados a AIDS e mecanismos patogênicos envolvidos.

Lack of evidence for HIV-2 infection among at-risk individuals in Brazil.

Recent reports have indicated the possibility that HIV-2 has been introduced into groups at risk for AIDS in Brazil. We studied sera collected in 1987 and 1988 from 1,821 at-risk individuals from diverse regions in Brazil. Of the 1,821 sera, 367 (20%) were confirmed as being positive for HIV-1 antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence (IF), and Western blot. An additional 33 (2%) sera displayed some reactivity to HIV-2-infected cells by IF. All 33 sera were subsequently tested in HIV-1 and HIV-2 Western blots as well as an ELISA using HIV-1- or HIV-2-specific peptides. All sera were confirmed as positive for HIV-1 and negative for HIV-2 antibodies in both assays. We conclude that caution should be used in the interpretation of serologic cross-reactivity between HIV-1 and HIV-2 and that there is no evidence that HIV-2 has entered groups at risk for HIV infection in Brazil.

Evaluation of enzyme-linked immunosorbent and alternative assays for detection of HIV antibodies using panels of Brazilian sera

Os soros de 472 brasileiros, confirmados como sendo positivos ou negativos em relacao a presenca de anticorpos anti-HIV e compreendendo todo o espectro clinico da infeccao, foram utilizados na avaliaco de seis ensaios imunoenzimaticos comerciais (ELISA), bem como de quatro testes alternativos tais como imunofluorescencia indireta (IFI), hemaglutinacao passiva (HP), dot blot e Karpas AIDS cell test. As sensibilidades variaram de 100 por cento (ELISA Abbott e Roche) a 84,2 por cento (HP) e as especificidades variaram de 99,3 por cento (IFI) a 80,2 por cento (HP). A sensibilidade e especificidade da HP e a sensibilidade do Karpas AIDS cell test foram significativamente menores que os outros ensaios. Embora a IFI e o dot blot tivessem apresentado uma boa sensibilidade e especificidade, os ensaios imunoenzimaticos (ELISA) foram mais adequados para serem utilizados em triagem quando outros parametros tais como facilidade de leitura e interpretacao dos resultados e duracao dos ensaios foram considerados

Trypanosoma cruzi in the opossum Didelphis marsupialis: an indirect fluorescent antibody test for the diagnosis and follow-up of natural and experimental infections.

The use of an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) performed in a "sandwich" technique has demonstrated: (i) the usefulness of the test for the diagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in the opossum Didelphis marsupialis; (ii) the existence of differences in the serological response of the opossum, that were related to the parasite strain and were clearly evident during the follow-up of experimental infections in laboratory born specimens; (iii) that, despite a good correlation between serological and parasitological examinations, IFAT was the most sensitive diagnostic test used, followed by xenodiagnosis; and, (iv) that in general, the opossum D. marsupialis seems to be a good responder to T. cruzi antigens.