[Cases of american cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis in the towns of Cosmópolis and Indaiatuba-region of Campinas, in São Paulo, Brazil]. / Casos de leishmaniose tegumentar americana por Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis nos Municípios de Cosmópolis e Indaiatuba-região de Campinas, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil.

A study was carried out to identify Leishmania species involved in skin lesions of patients from Cosmópolis and Indaiatuba, State of São Paulo, Brazil. The epidemiological data of cutaneous leishmaniasis in two cities suggested a epidemic situation in 1994. The lesions were clinically characteristic of cutaneous leishmaniasis and five out six patients responded positively to Montenegro's intradermal test. The histopathology of skin lesions were characterized by two patterns: exudative-cellular reaction and exudative granulomatous reaction. The clinical and histopathological parameters suggested Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis as the possible etiologic agent. In agreement, it was difficult to isolate and maintain the parasite in the laboratory. Characterization by in situ hybridization with kDNA amastigotes from lesions fragments confirmed that Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis was the parasite responsible for the studied cutaneous lesions.

Use of praziquantel in patients with schistosomiasis mansoni previously treated with oxamniquine and/or hycanthone: resistance of Schistosoma mansoni to schistosomicidal agents.

Fourteen patients with active schistosomiasis mansoni in spite of previous treatment with oxamniquine and/or hycanthone were treated with praziquantel, single oral dose of 45 to 50 mg/kg body-weight. All underwent clinical, laboratory and electrocardiographic examination before and after treatment. Untoward effects (dizziness, drowziness, nausea and abdominal pain) were observed in ten. Laboratory findings disclosed no significant alteration and the electrocardiograms showed no abnormalities. Monthly follow-up examinations of 13 patients for six consecutive months showed parasitological cure in all. Before praziquantel treatment strains of Schistosoma mansoni were isolated from two patients, one treated three times with oxamniquine and the other with hycanthone once and oxamniquine twice. Progenies of these strains were maintained in Biomphalaria glabrata and mice. Groups of these infected mice were then treated with oxamniquine, hycanthone, niridazole and praziquantel and results compared with the BH strain maintained in our laboratory for many years. Schistosomicidal activity was assessed by the localization of worms in the portal vein system and oogram changes. Progenies from the strains isolated in this study were resistant to oxamniquine and hycanthone but sensitive to niridazole and praziquantel. The BH strain was sensitive to all four drugs. The serial runs of S. mansoni strains through intermediate and definitive hosts have not influenced their reactions to these schistosomicides.

Tratamento de escolares com "Hymenolepsis nana" pelo praziquantel. / Treatment of school children with \"Hymenolepsis nana\" with praziquantel

Foi administrado praziquantel a 30 escolares, naturalmente parasitados por Hymenolepsis nana. A droga foi administrada por via oral, em dose unica, 25mg/kg. O controle de cura parasitologica constitui-se nos exames de fezes, praticados no 7o., 14o. e 21o. dias apos o tratamento, utilizando-se as tecnicas de Hoffman, Pons & Janer e de Faust et al. Dos 28 escolares que concluiram os tres controles, constatou-se que 23 (82,1%) tenham sido curados, por nao apresentarem ovos de H. nana nos exames efetuados. Reacoes colaterais quando ocorreram (23,3% dos casos tratados), foram leves e de pequena duracao; a mais frequente foi a queixa de desconforto abdominal. Os resultados deste trabalho confirmam os de outros pesquisadores e sao de molde a se admitir que o praziquantel, no momento, deve ser medicacao preferencial no tratamento da himenolepiase nana do homem