Parasite detection in sand from bays on the north coast of São Paulo state, Brazil

Soil contamination by protozoan parasites and soil-transmitted helminths (STH) is common in beach sand due to a number of factors such as pets, pluvial water, garbage, etc. These pathogens may cause many diseases in humans and animals and become a public health problem. Thus, systematic evaluation and inspection are necessary to develop control strategies regarding public contamination. For this purpose, our aims were to evaluate the parasitic profile of sandy soils on an urban beach and an untouched beach and correlate this with environmental and seasonal characteristics in Ubatuba, Brazil, in two seasons (winter and summer). 132 soil samples were collected for parasite analysis utilizing Rugai's method and the sedimentation adapted method. Our results showed positivity in 62% of the samples for at least one parasite in the urban beach and no parasitic structures on the untouched beach. The positivity was higher in summer (85%) than in winter (51.7%). All samples were positive for both, helminths and protozoa. Seasonal influence was noted regarding the presence of STH while for protozoa this influence was not observed. The parasitic structures most found were larvae of hookworms (35%) and Toxocara eggs (31.7%). We also noted the presence of Strongyloides sp, Ascaris lumbricoides, coccidia, Dipylidium caninum, Entamoeba hystolitica/dispar, Endolimax nana, Entamoeba coli, Giardia sp, Toxascaris leonina, Trichuris sp and Dibothricephalus latus. There was a positive correlation between temperature and the presence of STH in the sand samples. Most of the collection sites on the urban beach presented dogs or canine traces and garbage in both seasons. There was an association between the presence of dogs or their traces and parasitic structures. In conclusion, seasonality, urbanization and the presence of pets on beaches can potentially favor environmental contamination by parasites increasing the risk of transmission of zoonotic and parasitic diseases.

Trypanosoma cruzi Mexican Strains Differentially Modulate Surface Markers and Cytokine Production in Bone Marrow-Derived Dendritic Cells from C57BL/6 and BALB/c Mice.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are a type of antigen-presenting cells that play an important role in the immune response against Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that the modulation of these cells by this parasite can directly affect the innate and acquired immune response of the host in order to facilitate its biological cycle and the spreading of the species. Many studies show the mechanisms by which T. cruzi modulates DCs, but the interaction of these cells with the Mexican strains of T. cruzi such as Ninoa and INC5 has not yet been properly investigated. Here, we evaluated whether Ninoa and INC5 strains evaded the immunity of their hosts by modulating the biology and function of murine DCs. The CL-Brener strain was used as the reference strain. Herein, it was demonstrated that Ninoa was more infective toward bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) than INC5 and CL-Brener strains in both BMDCs of BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. Mexican strains of T. cruzi induced different cytokine patterns. In BMDCs obtained from BALB/c mice, Ninoa strain led to the reduction in IL-6 and increased IL-10 production, while in C57BL/6 mice Ninoa strain considerably increased the productions of TNF-α and IL-10. Also, Ninoa and INC5 differentially modulated BMDC expressions of MHC-II, TLR2, and TLR4 in both BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice compared to Brazilian strain CL-Brener. These results indicate that T. cruzi Mexican strains differentially infect and modulate MHC-II, toll-like receptors, and cytokine production in DCs obtained from C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice, suggesting that these strains have developed particular modulatory strategies to disrupt DCs and, consequently, the host immune responses.

Biology of Meccus pallidipennis (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) to Other Conditions Than That Encountered in Their Native Habitat.

BACKGROUND: Meccus pallidipennis (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) is only found in Mexico and is one of the most important vectors for Trypanosoma cruzi transmission there. Because data concerning the ability of this bug to adapt to different environments are scarce, we aimed to elucidate its biology, behavior and ability to acclimatize to different environmental conditions. METHODS: From the eclosion of 90 1st instar nymphs, development was followed until the adult phase. Adults were fed after 30 days of fasting, and the average amount of blood ingested, the time between the beginning of the blood meal and the production of feces, and the frequency of stools/insect were recorded during their meals. After taking a blood meal, couples were isolated and monitored for 21 days, during which eggs were collected weekly. RESULTS: The development of M. pallidipennis took 171.74±7.03 days to complete its life cycle, and females ingested larger amounts of blood than males. Oviposition was constant and did not demonstrate a significant decrease during this study. CONCLUSION: Meccus pallidipennis was able to acclimatize to fluctuating laboratorial conditions other than those naturally found in Mexico.

Effects of Spiritist "passe" (Spiritual healing) on stress hormone, pain, physiological parameters and length of stay in preterm newborns: a randomized, double-blind controlled trial.

Background Among the practices of complementary medicine used to treat several diseases is the Spiritist "passe (SP)." Experimental studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of this energy therapies in reducing anxiety in adults. However, studies evaluating the effects of the "passe" energy therapy on health outcomes in newborns (NBs) are lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of SP on stress hormone levels, pain, physiological parameters and length of stay in NBs. Methods NBs were randomly allocated into two groups: intervention (3 days SP sessions, n=13) and control (3 days sham sessions, n=12). Results In the SP group, respiratory frequency (RF) was found significantly lower (p<0.05), and reduction of heart rate and length of stay were observed, without statistical differences. While in the control, there was higher tendency of cortisol levels (p=0.05). Conclusions In this pilot study, RF reduced and prevented the elevation of the salivary cortisol concentration in preterm NBs receiving the SP compared with the control group.

Enteroparasitos em amostras de Lactuca sativa em um município no estado de Minas Gerais / Enteroparasites from samples of Lactuca sativa in a city in the state of Minas Gerais / Enteroparásitos en muestras de Lactuca sativa en un municipio en el estado de Minas Gerais

Investigou-se a presença de formas evolutivas de enteroparasitos em alfaces (Lactuca sativa) vendidas em diferentes áreas de distribuição urbanas em Ituiutaba, Minas Gerais. Foram analisados 72 pés de alface, utilizando as técnicas de sedimentação espontânea e de Ritchie, com o intuito de encontrar cistos e ovos de enteroparasitos. Observou-se a presença de enteroparasitos em 75% das amostras oriundas de sacolões, sendo, Endolimax nana (90,7%), ascarídeos (29,6%), ancilostomídeos (18,5%), Strongyloides sp. (16,7%), Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar (9,2%) e Entamoeba coli (3,7%). Das amostras advindas das feiras livres, 16,7% foram positivas, sendo, E. nana (91,7%), ancilostomídeos (33,3%), ascarídeos (25%), E. histolytica/E. dispar (16,7%) e Strongyloides sp. (8,3%). Quanto às alfaces da horta, 8,4% mostraram-se positivas, sendo, E. nana (66,6%), ascarídeos (50%), Strongyloides sp. (16,7%), E. histolytica/E. dispar (16,7%) e Toxocara sp. (16,7%). As alfaces comercializadas em diferentes estabelecimentos da área estudada apresentaram condições de higiene, manipulação e acondicionamento inadequados.(AU)

The presence of enteroparasite forms in lettuce (Lactuca sativa) sold in different urban distribution areas in the city of Ituiutaba, Minas Gerais, was investigated. Seventy-two lettuce samples were analyzed, using spontaneous sedimentation and Ritchie techniques, searching for enteroparasite cysts and eggs. The presence of enteroparasites was observed in 75% of the samples from supermarkets, being Endolimax nana (90.7%), ascarids (29.6%), hookworms (18.5%), Strongyloides sp. (16.7%), Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar (9.2%), and Entamoeba coli (3.7%). On samples obtained from street markets, 16.7% presented positive results, being E. nana (91.7%), hookworms (33.3%), ascarids (25%), E. histolytica/E. dispar (16.7%), and Strongyloides sp. (8.3%). As for the lettuce from the vegetable garden, 8.4% were positive, being, E. nana (66.6%), ascarids (50%), Strongyloides sp. (16.7%), E. histolytica/E. dispar (16.7%) and Toxocara sp. (16.7%). Lettuce sold in different stores in the studied area presented inappropriate hygiene, handling and packaging conditions.(AU)

Se investigó la presencia de formas evolutivas de enteroparásitos en lechuga (Lactuca sativa) vendidas en diferentes áreas de distribución urbana en Ituiutaba, Minas Gerais. Se analizaron 72 muestras de lechuga, utilizando las técnicas de sedimentación espontánea y de Ritchie, con el propósito de encontrar quistes y huevos de enteroparásitos. Se observó la presencia de enteroparásitos en 75% de las muestras procedentes en puntos de venta, siendo, Endolimax nana (90,7%), ascárideos (29,6%), ancilostomídeos (18,5%), Strongyloides sp. (16,7%), Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar (9,2%) y Entamoeba coli (3,7%). De las muestras procedentes de las ferias libres, 16,7% fueron positivas, siendo, E. nana (91,7%), ancilostomídeos (33,3%), ascarídeos (25%), E. histolytica/E. dispar (16,7%) y Strongyloides sp. (8,3%). En cuanto a las lechugas de la huerta, 8,4% fueron positivas, siendo, E. nana (66,6%), ascarídeos (50%), Strongyloides sp. (16,7%), E. histolytica/E. dispar (16,7%) y Toxocara sp. (16,7%). Las lechugas comercializadas en diferentes establecimientos del área estudiada presentaron condiciones de higiene, manipulación y acondicionamiento inadecuados.(AU)

Prevalence of intestinal parasites in child day care centers: epidemiological significance

Intestinal parasites are among the most commonly found pathogens in humans and are considered a public health problem. The frequency of intestinal parasites was evaluated in children and staff at two day care centers in the city of Ituiutaba, Brazil and health encouragement activities were developed. For parasite detection in stool samples the Ritchie's technique and the Hoffman-Pons-Janer, Baermann-Moraes, Willis and Ziehl-Neelsen methods were applied. Of 140 children, 88 (62.9%) were positive, where Giardia intestinalis cysts were present in 65 children (51.1%), Entamoeba coli in 22 (17.3%), Endolimax nana in 12 (9.4%), Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar in 9 (7%), Hymenolepis nana eggs were found in 5 (4%), hookworms in 4 (3.1%), Ascaris lumbricoides and Enterobius vermicularis in 3 (2.3%) and Strongyloides stercoralis, Trichuris trichiura, Cryptosporidium spp. and Iodamoeba butschlii in one child (0.8%). Among the 41 employees examined, 10 (24.3%) were positive, E. coli cysts were found in 6 samples (35.2%) and E. nana in 5 (29.4%), followed by E. histolytica/E. dispar in 4 (23.6%) and G. intestinalis and E. vermicularis eggs in (5.9%). The data show the high frequency of intestinal parasites in fecal samples analyzed and demonstrate the importance of adopting preventive measures such as health and education involving the community

The Driving of Immune Response by Th1 Adjuvants in Immunization of Mice with Trypanosoma cruzi marinkellei Elicits a Controversial Infection Control.

In previous studies, we have demonstrated that inoculation with a Trypanosoma cruzi marinkellei (avirulent RM1 strain) was able to reduce parasitemia in mice challenged with T. cruzi, although it was not able to prevent histopathological lesions. Th1 response stimulation by immunization is necessary for T. cruzi infection control, but the resistance is also dependent on immunoregulatory mechanisms, which can be induced by adjuvants. Thus, we evaluated whether inoculation of T. cruzi marinkellei associated with administration of different adjuvants would be capable of inducing different patterns of immune response to maximize the immune response against T. cruzi (virulent Romildo strain) infection. Two hundred eighty nonisogenic mice were divided into 14 groups according to the immunization scheme and the subsequent challenge with virulent Romildo T. cruzi strain. Nonimmunized groups and animals inoculated without adjuvants were also included. Immune protection was not observed with Th2 adjuvants (incomplete Freund's adjuvant [IFA] and Alum) due to high parasitemia. Th1/Th2-polarizing adjuvants also did not induce immune protection because inulin was unable to maintain survival, and immune-stimulating complexes induced intense inflammatory processes. Animals sensitized with RM1 strain without adjuvants were able to reduce parasitemia, increase survival, and protect against severe histological lesions, followed by adequate cytokine stimulation. Finally, our results demonstrate that the early and balanced IFN-γ production becomes critical to promote protection and that Th1 adjuvant elicited a controversial infection control due to increased histopathological damage. Therefore, the host's immunomodulation remains one of the most important challenges in the research for effective protection against T. cruzi infection. Similarly, the identification of protective antigens in the RM1 strain of T. cruzi marinkellei may contribute to further studies on vaccine development against human Chagas disease.