Urban arbovirosis in the state of São Paulo, Brazil: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Dengue represents one of the most important arboviruses in public health, and its etiological agent is transmitted by the bite of dipterans of the genus Aedes. Every year this disease affects a large part of the population of the state of São Paulo in Brazil, particularly due to the availability of favorable environmental conditions for the growth and development of the vector mosquito. This study aimed to verify the distribution of urban arboviruses in the municipalities of the state of São Paulo and the successful experiences of municipal governments to reduce cases, to highlight strategies that have successfully culminated, and which can serve as a basis for prevention strategies. METHODS: Information taken from government databases of the Ministry of Health and demographic data were used, where the incidence rate of 14 selected municipalities in the region of Vale do Paraíba between 2015 and 2019 was determined, and an attempt was made to evidence the strategies used to reduce cases. RESULTS: High incidence rates were observed in 2015 and 2019 concerning the other years of the historical series, due to environmental factors and the variation in the circulating strain. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The observed data allowed us to infer that the prevention strategies recommended by the evaluated municipalities had a positive effect in the years 2016 to 2018, but unforeseen a priori factors culminated in epidemics, revealing the importance of implementing epidemiological studies using advanced mapping tools, as a way of to minimize the risk of future epidemics.

Ovicidal and toxicological effect of hydroalcoholic extracts of Euphorbia milli var splendens, Synadenium carinatum Boiss and Tagetes minuta L. against Ancylostoma spp.: In vitro study.

Nematodes of the Ancylostomidae family consist of important parasitic species. The control of such parasitosis represents an important challenge, given the constant high rate of reinfection of some hosts, among which the domestic dog, as well as the high environmental contamination. Another factor that can have a negative influence is the toxicity of the chemicals used for environmental decontamination, highlighting the need to design research to identify new control strategies for this parasitosis, among which the use of plant extracts. Thus, the objective of this research was to evaluate the toxicity and ovicidal activity of hydroalcoholic extracts obtained by percolation of three plants: Tagetes minuta L., Euphorbia milli var splendens (Bojer ex Hook.) Ursch & Leandri and Synadenium carinatum Boiss, against Ancylostoma spp. In addition, these extracts were tested at different concentrations for toxicity against Artemia salina L. and Allium cepa L. It was observed that the hydroalcoholic extract of all plant species evaluated induced moderate ovicide activity at all the tested concentration, with emphasis on E. milii, which was the only plant species that presented significantly low toxicity in the concentration of 12.5 µL/mL when compared to the other species evaluated.

Willis method modification with a view to improving routine coproparasitological diagnosis

Intestinal parasites still cause high morbidity and mortality, due to poor hygiene and sanitary conditions, and therefore indiscriminate treatment has been routine practice advocated by the Public Health staff. Although there is a consensus regarding the need to diagnose such diseases, this is not performed with the necessary care, due to great demand and the lack of a wide ranged and highly sensitive technique. In this sense, most clinical laboratories use routine methods for fecal examination such as the Lutz sedimentation or modified Ritchie methods, which are complete and easy to execute, but do not have adequate sensitivity to detect low density eggs and protozoan cysts, especially when there is a predominance of low parasite burdens. In contrast, there are methods that are based on the flotation of low density developmental forms, namely, the Willis method (NaCl flotation d=1.120), which is rapid, easy to perform and allows high density egg flotation but with low sensitivity for protozoan cysts; and the Faust method, which is based on centrifugal flotation of developmental forms in a 33% ZnSO4 (d=1.200) solution, but with the disadvantage of being lengthy and requiring a centrifuge. In this study, we verified the applicability of introducing an alteration in the Willis method, which consisted in the substitution of NaCl by ZnSO4 in order to combine the advantages of this method with the Faust method. 208 samples were assessed by the Willis and Ritchie methods and by the proposed method (modified Willis). The latter proved superior to the other two (ρ <0,0001 ­ X2) regarding the detection of protozoan cysts, but similar to the Ritchie method in regard to other diagnosed parasites, therefore demonstrating the high potential for the introduction of this modified method in the routine of fecal diagnosis

Avaliação do consumo de Lactobacillus casei shirota para o controle de giardíase em crianças / Evaluation of Lactobacillus casei shirota consumption for giardiasis control in children

A giardíase é uma importante doença parasitária de elevada ocorrência mundial e, apesar de comumente ser considerada de bom prognóstico, sabe-se que crianças e pacientes imunocomprometidos podem apresentar perda de peso e depauperamento físico e mental. Há um grande número de drogas com atividade giardicida, mas, no decorrer dos anos, alguns protozoários têm apresentado resistência à maioria dos tratamentos recomendados, o que exige o desenvolvimento de novas estratégias para o controle de Giardia duodenalis. No presente trabalho, objetivou-se avaliar a eficácia do uso de Lactobacillus casei Shirota para o controle da giardíase em crianças naturalmente infectadas. Para tanto, foram selecionadas 12 crianças com giardíase clínica e laboratorialmente diagnosticada, das quais 6 compuseram o grupo controle, sem tratamento, e as demais consumiram 1,6x1010 lactobacilos vivos, diariamente, da espécie Lactobacillus casei Shirota, mediante ingestão de uma bebida láctea comercialmente disponível. Depois do início do tratamento, foi determinado o número de cistos eliminados por meio de exame coproparasitológico, segundo o método de Faust com modificações, e observação da consistência das amostras fecais coletadas. Transcorridos 21 dias de tratamento, não houve detecção de formas evolutivas de Giardia duodenalis nas fezes dos indivíduos que consumiram a bebida láctea e verificou-se melhora na consistência fecal, o que não ocorreu com o grupo controle, demonstrando-se, assim, o potencial de L. casei Shirota para o controle de giardíase em crianças.

Frequência de enteroparasitos em fezes de cães coletadas em praças públicas do município de Pindamonhangaba, SP, Brasil / Frequency of enteroparasites collected in feces of dogs in public squares in the city of Pindamonhangaba, SP, Brazil

Não obstante a importância dos cães domésticos para o ser humano, os benefícios desta convivência são significativamente atenuados quando estes animais contaminam ambientes de convívio mútuo com patógenos zoonóticos. No presente estudo, objetivou-se avaliar a ocorrência de formas parasitárias em amostras fecais de cães (Cannis familiaris) coletadas em praças públicas do município de Pindamonhangaba-SP no período de setembro de 2010 a setembro de 2011. Um total de 640 amostras fecais foi coletado em oito praças públicas e encaminhado, sob refrigeração, ao laboratório de parasitologia da FAPI. Ali as amostras foram submetidas aos métodos de Willis-Molay (1921) e Ritchie modificado (1948) e, após exame por microscopia óptica, apresentaram positividade para formas evolutivas de helmintos potencialmente zoonóticos: Ancylostomidae (23,4 por cento), Toxocara sp. (8,1 por cento) e Trichuris sp. (3,1 por cento). Houve predominância significativa (p<0,05) de formas evolutivas de Toxocara sp. nas amostras coletadas no período correspondente ao início da primavera, contudo Ancylostomidae apresentou maior prevalência no início do verão e do outono. Também foi possível observar uma diferença significativa (p<0,05) na eficácia do método de Willis-Molay (27,2 por cento de amostras positivas) para diagnóstico coproparasitológico, quando comparado ao método de Ritchie modificado (8,1 por cento de amostras positivas). Com base no porcentual de amostras positivas que foi observado, espera-se que os resultados do presente trabalho sirvam de subsídio para programas que visem ao controle da população de cães errantes, ao tratamento periódico destes animais e à promoção da educação em saúde da população no que concerne ao recolhimento das fezes de seus cães, o que evitaria a contaminação de locais públicos.

Despite the importance of domestic dogs to humans, the benefits of interaction are significantlyattenuated when these animals contaminate mutual interaction environments with zoonotic pathogens.The present study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of parasitic forms in fecal samples from dogs(Cannis familiaris) collected in public squares in the city of Pindamonhangaba from September2010 to September 2011. A total of 640 fecal samples were collected at eight public squares and sentunder refrigeration to the laboratory of parasitology of FAPI. The samples were analyzed using the Willis-Molay (1921) and modified Ritchie (1948) methods and, after examination by light microscopy,were positive for evolving forms of potentially zoonotic helminths, namely: Ancylostomidae (23.4%), Toxocara spp. (8.1%) and Trichuris spp. (3.1%). There was a significant prevalence (p<0.05) of evolving forms of Toxocara spp. in the period corresponding to early spring, however, Ancylostomidae was more prevalent in the early summer and early autumn. It was also possible to observe a significant difference(p <0.05) in the efficacy of the Willis-Molay method (27.18% of positive samples) for parasitological diagnosis when compared to the modified Ritchie method (8.1% of positive samples). Based on the percentage of positive samples that was observed, it is expected that the results of this research may help promote programs aimed at controlling the population of stray dogs, as well as the periodic treatment of these animals, and the promotion of health education in the population regarding the collection of dogfeces and avoiding contamination of public places.

Avaliação da atividade ovicida e larvicida de dez extratos vegetais ante Ancylostoma ssp / Evaluation of ovicidal and larvicidal activity of ten plant extracts against Ancylostoma spp

Diversos inquéritos coproparasitológicos têm destacado Ancylostoma spp. como sendo a espéciede helmintos que mais frequentemente parasita o cão doméstico, podendo gerar uma série de danos ao hospedeiro como irritabilidade, anorexia, anemia severa e morte. Os ancilostomídeossão enteroparasitos que desenvolvem uma parte do seu ciclo de vida no solo, tratando-se de um curto período de maturação de ovos e eclosão e evolução de larvas. É fundamental que esses doisprocessos ocorram para que o parasito possa evoluir para a fase infectante em seus hospedeiros. No presente trabalho, objetivou-se avaliar, in vitro, a propriedade ovicida e larvicida de extratos vegetais de plantas tóxicas coletadas na região do Vale Paraíba ante a Ancylostoma spp. Foramobtidos extratos hidroalcoólicos de dez plantas pelo método de Soxhlet, que foram concentrados por evaporação do solvente, sendo a concentração final do extrato ajustada para 10por cento do extrato bruto. Amostras fecais de cães naturalmente infectados foram utilizadas, das quais foram purificadosovos de ancilostomídeos e, em paralelo, procedeu-se à cultura de larvas pelo método de Harada-Mori. Das plantas avaliadas, quatro apresentaram resultados promissores: Allamanda cathartica L. (Apocynaceae), Nerium oleander L. (Apocynaceae), Mirabilis jalapa L. (Nyctaginaceae) e Brugmansia suaveolens Willd. (Solanaceae). Merecem destaque as duas últimas, pois apresentaram 100por cento de atividade larvicida na diluição de 12,5mg/mL, demonstrando, desse modo, o potencial da aplicabilidade destes extratos na descontaminação ambiental no que diz respeito ao controle de larvas de Ancylostoma spp.

Probiotic therapy: a promising strategy for the control of canine hookworm.

Canis familiaris is a domestic animal which plays an important role as a pet; however, it is very likely to develop diseases characterized by high morbidity and mortality. In this sense, there are some Ancylostomatidae species that can lead to anemia, weight loss, and abdominal pain. Therefore, the treatment with allopathic drugs is essential for eliminating the parasitism. However, the increasing occurrence of resistance to allopathic treatments stimulates the search for new therapeutic inputs, among which the probiotics stand out and are able to positively alter the intestinal microbiota and exert immunomodulatory effect. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the applicability of using species of Lactobacillus (L. acidophilus ATCC 4536, L. plantarum ATCC 8014, and L. delbrueckii UFV H2B20) to control canine ancylostomiasis. A probiotic preparation containing 1 × 10(6) CFU of each strain was administered to 10 naturally infected animals, on alternate days for 28 days. It was observed that the treatment with the probiotic preparation led to a significant reduction in EPG of feces (88.83%/ P < 0.05), as well as an increase in leukocyte and lymphocyte counts, highlighting the potential use of Lactobacillus species in the control of canine ancylostomiasis.