RESUMO

Canine visceral leishmaniasis is a parasitic zoonosis that has a profound impact on public health in countries where it is endemic. Chemotherapeutic treatments cannot keep dogs stable for long periods, and the risk of generating parasitic resistance must be considered. Forty-four symptomatic and naturally infected dogs with Leishmania infantum were tested with two treatment protocols (i) immunotherapy with LaSap vaccine and (ii) immunochemotherapy with LaSap vaccine plus allopurinol. At 90 days after the end of the treatment, it was verified that, although both protocols had generated significant clinical improvements with a greater production of IFN-γ/IL-10, in relation to the parasite load, mainly in the skin, the dogs treated only with immunotherapy maintained the same profile. These results indicate that LaSap is a good strategy to control dog parasitism.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous mycosis caused by pathogenic Sporothrix species. Among them, Sporothrix brasiliensis is the main species associated with endemic regions in South America, especially Brazil. It is highly virulent and can be spread through zoonotic transmission. Molecular epidemiological surveys are needed to determine the extent of genetic variation, to investigate outbreaks, and to identify genotypes associated with antifungal resistance and susceptibility. This study investigated the sequence variation of different constitutive genes and established a novel multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme for S. brasiliensis. Specific primers were designed for 16 genes using Primer-BLAST software based on the genome sequences of three S. brasiliensis strains (ATCC MYA-4823, A001 and A005). Ninety-one human, animal, and environmental S. brasiliensis isolates from different Brazilian geographic regions (South, Southeast, Midwest and Northeast) andtwo isolates from Paraguay were sequenced. The loci that presented the highest nucleotide diversity (π) were selected for the MLST scheme. Among the 16 studied genetic loci, four presented increased π value and were able to distinguish all S. brasiliensis isolates into seven distinct haplotypes. The PCR conditions were standardized for four loci. Some of the obtained haplotypes were associated with the geographic origin of the strains. This study presents an important advance in the understanding of this important agent of sporotrichosis in Brazil. It significantly increased the discriminatory power for genotyping of S. brasiliensis isolates, and enabled new contributions to the epidemiological studies of this human and animal pathogen in Brazil and in other countries.

Assuntos

RESUMO

One of the main factors limiting tilapia's production is the occurrence of infections caused by Aeromonas and Streptococcus species. This work intended to evaluate a bivalent vaccine against A. hydrophila and S. agalactiae by intraperitoneal (i.p) administration in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in Brazil. The study was carried out in two phases: one in the laboratory, on a small scale, and from the results obtained, the study was expanded to a large scale in a production system in cages. The vaccine proved to be safe and effective in laboratory tests, with a vaccine efficacy (VE) of 93.66%. However, in large-scale tests with 12,000 tilapias, the VE was 59.14%, with a better food conversion ratio (1.54 kg) in the vaccinated group compared to the control group (1.27 kg). These results corroborate the efficiency of this tested vaccine; however, they indicate the need for field tests to attest to real protection.

RESUMO

Visceral Leishmaniasis is one of the most important vector-borne zoonoses in the world. In 2013, the first autochthonous canine case of the disease in the state of Paraná, southern region of Brazil, was reported in Foz do Iguaçu, on the triple border between Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. In 2015, the first human case was related. Once the endemic was confirmed, the Zoonoses Control Center (ZCC), an agency of the Municipal Health Department, started actions to implement the Human Visceral Leishmaniasis (HVL) Surveillance and Control Program (VLSCP), of the Ministry of Health. Between 2015 and 2020, 12,205 dog samples were analyzed for the diagnosis of the disease. A prevalence of 37.94% (4,630 samples) was found: 2016 had the highest prevalence, with 46.25%, and the year with the lowest prevalence was 2020, with 25.98%. Possible risk factors for dogs were analyzed, and the results obtained were: whether the request for the exam was performed by the ZCC was a significant protective factor, with a lower prevalence (37.5%) than dogs coming from private clinics (OR = 0.89, p-value = 0.016). Males were significantly more infected than females, with 41.1% and 35.7% positivity, respectively (OR = 1.24, p < 0.0001). Companion dogs and mixed breed dogs were significantly less affected than the other groups tested (OR = 0.44, p < 0.001; OR = 0.79, p = 0.012, respectively). The dogs' dark coat color was a significant risk factor with respect to the other color categories. Short and medium coat sizes were significantly considered risk factors, with 41.3% and 31.3% positivity. Long-haired dogs had only 22.7% positivity. In univariate analyses, giant, large and medium dogs were significantly more affected than small dogs. Dogs up to four years of age were significantly less affected than those in other age groups. There was a coincidence of human and canine cases in the spatial distribution. However, according to the literature, a higher incidence would be expected in humans, due to the high prevalence found in dogs. Therefore, further studies should be carried out to understand the dynamics of the disease in this region.

Assuntos

RESUMO

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to spread worldwide as a severe pandemic, and a significant portion of the infected population may remain asymptomatic. Given this, five surveys were carried out between May and September 2020 with a total of 3585 volunteers in the municipality of Foz do Iguaçu, State of Paraná, a triple border region between Brazil/Argentina/Paraguay. Five months after the first infection, volunteers were re-analysed for the production of IgG anti-Spike and anti-RBD-Spike, in addition to analyses of cellular immunity. Seroconversion rates ranged from 4.4 % to a peak of 37.21 % followed by a reduction in seroconversion to 21.1 % in September, indicating that 25 % of the population lost their circulating anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies 3 months after infection. Analyses after 5 months of infection showed that only 17.2 % of people still had anti-RBD-Spike antibodies, however, most volunteers had some degree of cellular immune response. The strategy of letting people become naturally infected with SARS-CoV-2 to achieve herd immunity is flawed, and the first contact with the virus may not generate enough immunogenic stimulus to prevent a possible second infection.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Sex differences related with pain have been studied and evidences suggesting influence of sex steroid hormones on the thresholds of pain. Experimental nociception has been test using formalin as a model of nociceptive stimulus. Association of stress, pain and metabolic and hormonal changes has not been explored. The aim of this study was to compare metabolic and hormonal changes between male rats and female rats in proestrus and estrus cycle after painful stimulus by formalin into the masseter muscle. Male and female Wistar rats (200-250 g b.w.) were submitted to an injection of formalin (F, 1.5%) or saline (S, 9.9%) into the masseter muscle and after 0 (N, control group without injection), 5, 15, 30 or 60 minutes they were decapitate and blood was collected to measure biochemical parameters. Plasma estradiol concentration (pg dL-1) was significantly higher in proestrus (106.3 ± 4.3, n = 45, p 0.05) group compared to the estrous group (89.4 ± 3.5, n = 43). Blood plasma concentration of glucose (mg dL-1) was increased after 5 and 15 minutes of injection of formalin or saline in the animals, but in the estrus group the increase was bigger than in the others. Free fatty acids levels increased in the estrous group after 5, 15 and 30 minutes and also the corticosterone levels and these concentrations wer significantly different (p 0.05) from either male or female animals i

RESUMO

The objective of this research was to analyze the spatial distribution of a Mixed Ombrophylus Forest fragment, as well as of three species pertaining to distinct successional groups belonging to the same, by the Ripley's K function. The data came from a census carried out in a fragment located in the Campus Botanical Garden, UFPR, Curitiba - PR, Brazil, where all trees with DBH above 10cm were georeferenced. One plot with 4 ha was used for the analysis of the spatial distribution of the forest and individually for the species of Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) O. Kuntze, Casearia Sylvestris Sw. and Cedrela fissilis Vell. The spatial relationship between species, as well as the spatial relationship between diameter classes of the same were also analyzed. The forest showed a random spatial distribution, however, the three selected species showed an aggregate spatial distribution when analyzed individually. The Casearia Sylvestris presented an attraction relationship with Araucaria angustifolia and Cedrela fissilis, and these trees in turn, were related to repulsion between them. The spatial relationship between DBH classes of Araucaria angustifolia was attraction between individuals of smaller classes with larger individuals. This result reflects the form of seed dispersal of species, where regeneration occurs in the proximity to the parental trees. For the Casearia Sylvestris and Cedrela fissilis, aggregation occurred only between the smaller individuals.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo analisar a distribuição espacial de um fragmento de Floresta Ombrófila Mista Montana, bem como de três espécies de grupos sucessionais distintos pertencentes a ela, pela função K de Ripley. Os dados utilizados provêm de um censo realizado em um fragmento localizado no Campus Jardim Botânico da UFPR, Curitiba-PR, onde todas as árvores com DAP acima de 10cm foram georreferenciadas. Foi utilizada uma parcela de 4 ha para a análise da distribuição espacial da floresta bem como das espécies de Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) O. Kuntze (Araucária), Casearia Sylvestris Sw. (Cafezeiro) e Cedrela fissilis Vell. (Cedro). Foi analisada a relação espacial entre as espécies, bem como a relação espacial entre classes diamétricas destas. A floresta apresentou uma distribuição espacial aleatória, entretanto, as três espécies selecionadas apresentaram um padrão espacial agregado, quando analisadas separadamente. O Cafezeiro apresentou relação de atração com a Araucária e com o Cedro; estes, por sua vez, apresentaram relação de repulsão entre si. A relação espacial entre classes de DAP da Araucária foi de atração entre os indivíduos de classes menores com os indivíduos maiores. Este resultado reflete a forma de dispersão de sementes das espécies, em que a regeneração ocorre em proximidade às árvores parentais. Para o cafezeiro e o Cedro, ocorreu agregação apenas entre os indivíduos menores.

RESUMO

The objective of this research was to analyze the spatial distribution of a Mixed Ombrophylus Forest fragment, as well as of three species pertaining to distinct successional groups belonging to the same, by the Ripley's K function. The data came from a census carried out in a fragment located in the Campus Botanical Garden, UFPR, Curitiba - PR, Brazil, where all trees with DBH above 10cm were georeferenced. One plot with 4 ha was used for the analysis of the spatial distribution of the forest and individually for the species of Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) O. Kuntze, Casearia Sylvestris Sw. and Cedrela fissilis Vell. The spatial relationship between species, as well as the spatial relationship between diameter classes of the same were also analyzed. The forest showed a random spatial distribution, however, the three selected species showed an aggregate spatial distribution when analyzed individually. The Casearia Sylvestris presented an attraction relationship with Araucaria angustifolia and Cedrela fissilis, and these trees in turn, were related to repulsion between them. The spatial relationship between DBH classes of Araucaria angustifolia was attraction between individuals of smaller classes with larger individuals. This result reflects the form of seed dispersal of species, where regeneration occurs in the proximity to the parental trees. For the Casearia Sylvestris and Cedrela fissilis, aggregation occurred only between the smaller individuals.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo analisar a distribuição espacial de um fragmento de Floresta Ombrófila Mista Montana, bem como de três espécies de grupos sucessionais distintos pertencentes a ela, pela função K de Ripley. Os dados utilizados provêm de um censo realizado em um fragmento localizado no Campus Jardim Botânico da UFPR, Curitiba-PR, onde todas as árvores com DAP acima de 10cm foram georreferenciadas. Foi utilizada uma parcela de 4 ha para a análise da distribuição espacial da floresta bem como das espécies de Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) O. Kuntze (Araucária), Casearia Sylvestris Sw. (Cafezeiro) e Cedrela fissilis Vell. (Cedro). Foi analisada a relação espacial entre as espécies, bem como a relação espacial entre classes diamétricas destas. A floresta apresentou uma distribuição espacial aleatória, entretanto, as três espécies selecionadas apresentaram um padrão espacial agregado, quando analisadas separadamente. O Cafezeiro apresentou relação de atração com a Araucária e com o Cedro; estes, por sua vez, apresentaram relação de repulsão entre si. A relação espacial entre classes de DAP da Araucária foi de atração entre os indivíduos de classes menores com os indivíduos maiores. Este resultado reflete a forma de dispersão de sementes das espécies, em que a regeneração ocorre em proximidade às árvores parentais. Para o cafezeiro e o Cedro, ocorreu agregação apenas entre os indivíduos menores.

RESUMO

Sex differences related with pain have been studied and evidences suggesting influence of sex steroid hormones on the thresholds of pain. Experimental nociception has been test using formalin as a model of nociceptive stimulus. Association of stress, pain and metabolic and hormonal changes has not been explored. The aim of this study was to compare metabolic and hormonal changes between male rats and female rats in proestrus and estrus cycle after painful stimulus by formalin into the masseter muscle. Male and female Wistar rats (200-250 g b.w.) were submitted to an injection of formalin (F, 1.5%) or saline (S, 9.9%) into the masseter muscle and after 0 (N, control group without injection), 5, 15, 30 or 60 minutes they were decapitate and blood was collected to measure biochemical parameters. Plasma estradiol concentration (pg dL-1) was significantly higher in proestrus (106.3 ± 4.3, n = 45, p 0.05) group compared to the estrous group (89.4 ± 3.5, n = 43). Blood plasma concentration of glucose (mg dL-1) was increased after 5 and 15 minutes of injection of formalin or saline in the animals, but in the estrus group the increase was bigger than in the others. Free fatty acids levels increased in the estrous group after 5, 15 and 30 minutes and also the corticosterone levels and these concentrations wer significantly different (p 0.05) from either male or female animals i

RESUMO

The objective of this research was to analyze the spatial distribution of a Mixed Ombrophylus Forest fragment, as well as of three species pertaining to distinct successional groups belonging to the same, by the Ripley's K function. The data came from a census carried out in a fragment located in the Campus Botanical Garden, UFPR, Curitiba - PR, Brazil, where all trees with DBH above 10cm were georeferenced. One plot with 4 ha was used for the analysis of the spatial distribution of the forest and individually for the species of Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) O. Kuntze, Casearia Sylvestris Sw. and Cedrela fissilis Vell. The spatial relationship between species, as well as the spatial relationship between diameter classes of the same were also analyzed. The forest showed a random spatial distribution, however, the three selected species showed an aggregate spatial distribution when analyzed individually. The Casearia Sylvestris presented an attraction relationship with Araucaria angustifolia and Cedrela fissilis, and these trees in turn, were related to repulsion between them. The spatial relationship between DBH classes of Araucaria angustifolia was attraction between individuals of smaller classes with larger individuals. This result reflects the form of seed dispersal of species, where regeneration occurs in the proximity to the parental trees. For the Casearia Sylvestris and Cedrela fissilis, aggregation occurred only between the smaller individuals.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo analisar a distribuição espacial de um fragmento de Floresta Ombrófila Mista Montana, bem como de três espécies de grupos sucessionais distintos pertencentes a ela, pela função K de Ripley. Os dados utilizados provêm de um censo realizado em um fragmento localizado no Campus Jardim Botânico da UFPR, Curitiba-PR, onde todas as árvores com DAP acima de 10cm foram georreferenciadas. Foi utilizada uma parcela de 4 ha para a análise da distribuição espacial da floresta bem como das espécies de Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) O. Kuntze (Araucária), Casearia Sylvestris Sw. (Cafezeiro) e Cedrela fissilis Vell. (Cedro). Foi analisada a relação espacial entre as espécies, bem como a relação espacial entre classes diamétricas destas. A floresta apresentou uma distribuição espacial aleatória, entretanto, as três espécies selecionadas apresentaram um padrão espacial agregado, quando analisadas separadamente. O Cafezeiro apresentou relação de atração com a Araucária e com o Cedro; estes, por sua vez, apresentaram relação de repulsão entre si. A relação espacial entre classes de DAP da Araucária foi de atração entre os indivíduos de classes menores com os indivíduos maiores. Este resultado reflete a forma de dispersão de sementes das espécies, em que a regeneração ocorre em proximidade às árvores parentais. Para o cafezeiro e o Cedro, ocorreu agregação apenas entre os indivíduos menores.