Potential of native palm species in Northeast Brazil as hosts for the invasive mite Raoiella indica (Acari: Tenuipalpidae).

The red palm mite, Raoiella indica Hirst (Tenuipalpidae), has mainly been registered on palm species (Arecaceae), and its expansion in Brazil has the potential to cause significant negative impact on cultivated as well as native palms. Here, we evaluate the potential of native palms from Northeast Brazil to act as hosts of R. indica. Specifically, we used in situ free-choice and confinement tests, in which sections of palm leaves/leaflets of various species were experimentally infested with R. indica. We tested the following species: Acrocomia aculeata, Acrocomia intumescens, Allagoptera caudescens, Attalea funifera, Attalea oleifera, Bactris acanthocarpa var. acanthocarpa, Bactris ferruginea, Bactris glassmanii, Bactris hirta var. spruceana, Bactris pickelii, Copernicia prunifera, Desmoncus orthacanthos, Desmoncus polyacanthos, Syagrus coronata and Syagrus schizophylla. All of these were compared with the mite's preferred host, the coconut palm, Cocos nucifera. In the free-choice test, both male and female R. indica preferred C. nucifera in comparison to each of the native palms. In the confinement test, we observed significant differences in the survivorship between mites on native palms and those on coconut palms after the second day of infestation. By the fifth day, survivorship of mites on the native palms was almost always significantly lower than on C. nucifera (excepting for C. prunifera). We conclude that, among all the native palms evaluated, only the carnauba palm (C. prunifera) is at risk from R. indica. This result is relevant as this palm is an economically important species in the region.

Spontaneous telangiectatic osteosarcoma in a rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta).

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common type of bone cancer, especially in young. Telangiectatic osteosarcoma (TO) is a rare variant of OS, and hence, its occurrence, presentation, and prognosis are poorly understood. A 4-year-old female rhesus monkey presenting lameness and swelling was examined for a mass on the right humerus. Radiography revealed fracture and disorganized structure of bone tissue. Histopathological examination revealed malignant neoplasm composed of anaplastic osteoblasts, which invaded the bone marrow and surrounded blood-filled cysts in the epiphysis and diaphysis forming septa. Cytogenetic analysis showed aneuploid cells, supernumerary AgNORs, and a marker fragment. The neoplasm was diagnosed as TO. To our knowledge, the occurrence of TO and its cytogenetic analysis were reported for the first time in non-human primates.

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in adults submitted to endoscopy in southern Brazil

The most important characteristics of Helicobacter pylori infection were studied in 96 patients submitted endoscopic examination at the University Hospital of the Federal Unlversity of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis southern Brazil. As diagnostic method of the infection we used the presence of Helicobacter pylori on histologic examination, stained by hematoxilin-eosin and Giemsa stains ("gold standard"), immunologic test (ELISA Roche), bacteriologic slide (Gram stained), and urease biopsy test. The rnedian age of the series was 44.6 years (range 14 to 84 years, SD = 18.1), with 56 (58.3 per cent) males. The prevalence of the infection was 78.1 per cent 75/96 and Helicobacter pylori infection was associated with gastritis in 96.6 per cent of the cases (68/75, p < O.0 1). Sixteen of 17 patients with peptic ulcer disease tested positive for the presence of Helicobacter pylori. The infection proportionally more prevalent in the older groups, and there was no statistical gender difference.

Hepatobiliary alterations in massive biliary ascariasis: histopathological aspects of an autopsy case

Os autores apresentam os aspectos histopatologicos encontrados no figado de um caso de autopsia de ascaridiase biliar macica. A intensa colangite foi o aspecto predominante, mas outras lesoes tambem foram encontradas, tais como metaplasia pilorica e intestinal, hiperplasia epitelial com papilomas intraductais, e por vezes padrao adenomatoso. Restos do helminto foram encontrados fortemente aderidos ao epitelio, sendo intensa a positividade de mucopolissacarides, principalmente acidos, na borda luminal do epitelio ductal e em glandulas proliferadas ao redor dos ductos. Os autores discutem a semelhanca da ascaridiase biliar com a colangio hepatite oriental, e sugerem que o processo inflamatorio e a presenca de restos do verme sao responsaveis pelas alteracoes hiperplasicas e metaplasicas, analogamente ao que ocorre na clonorquiase, fascioliase e esquistossomose

Hepatobiliary alterations in massive biliary ascariasis. Histopathological aspects of an autopsy case.

Hepatobiliary alterations found in an autopsy case of massive Biliary Ascariasis, are reported on histological grounds. Severe cholangitis was the main finding, but other changes were also detected, such as pyloric and intestinal metaplasia, hyperplasia of the epithelial lining, with intraductal papillomas and adenomatous proliferation. Remnants of the worm were observed tightly adhered to the epithelium, forming microscopic intrahepatic calculi. Mucopolysaccharides, especially acid, showed to be strongly positive on the luminal border, and in proliferated glands around the ducts. The authors discuss the similarity between such findings and Oriental Cholangio-hepatitis, and suggest that inflammation and the presence of the parasitic remnants are responsible for the hyperplastic and metaplastic changes, similarly with what occurs in chlonorchiasis, fascioliasis and schistosomiasis.