[Outbreak of histoplasmosis in Pedro Leopoldo, Minas Gerais, Brazil]. / Surto de histoplasmose em Pedro Leopoldo, Minas Gerais, Brasil.

An outbreak of histoplasmosis was spotted in Pedro Leopoldo, a city in Minas Gerais State, Brazil, in 1997, where four individuals had been in contact with a bat-inhabited cave. Acute pulmonary histoplasmosis diagnosis was made by the use of clinical, serologic, radiographic and epidemiological criteria. An antifungal treatment with ketoconazole (400mg daily for 30 days) was administered resulting in symptons' remission in a few days.

Clinical-epidemiologic study of schistosomiasis mansoni in Ponte do Pasmado, a village in the municipality of Itinga, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, 1992.

A clinical-epidemiologic study of schistosomiasis mansoni was conducted in the population of Ponte do Pasmado, a village in the municipality of Itinga, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Faecal parasitology by the Kato-Katz method and clinical examination were performed in 93.8% and 82.8% of the local population, respectively. A socioeconomic survey was also made and the signs and symptoms presented by the patients were recorded, as well as their contacts with natural waters. The rate of Schistosoma mansoni infection was 50.3%; the peak of infection occurred during the second decade of life; there was a predominance of low egg counts in faeces (85.89% of positive patients eliminated less than 500 eggs per gram of faeces); the splenomegaly rate was 1.23%. When the risk factors for S. mansoni infection were studied, significant risks were detected in activities such as fetching water, washing dishes, bathing, and crossing streams.

[Prevalence of schistosomiasis mansoni and parasitic intestinal diseases among students of the rural area of the Municipality of Jaboticatubas, MG, 1992-1993]. / Prevalência da esquistossomose mansoni e de parasitoses intestinais em escolares da área rural do Município de Jaboticatubas, MG, 1992-1993.

Students from a Rural Boarding house of UFMG School of Medicine performed a survey of prevalence of schistosomiasis mansoni and other intestinal parasites in 20 rural schools in Jaboticatubas, MG. An evaluation of house and sanitation conditions was made and stool parasitological examinations were realised in all school children. It was noticed that 15.43% of the children presented S. mansoni's ova in stool--that was the most prevalent parasite. From the examinations we verify 13.76% positive cases for G. lamblia; 12.89% for S. stercoralis; 11.13% for A. lumbricoides; 9.96% for hookworms; 9.57% for E. histolytica. The other parasites appeared with lower prevalence. All the children that presented parasite's ova in stool received treatment. The result that was found shows that schistosomiasis mansoni is a very serious problem of public health and basic sanitation actions are necessary to the endemic control.