RESUMO

Human ascariasis is a neglected tropical disease of great relevance to public health and is considered the most frequent helminthiasis in poor regions. Accurately diagnosing this parasite has been challenging due to limitations of current diagnostic methods. Immunoglobulin Y (IgY) technology is a very effective alternative for the production of highly specific and profitable antibodies. This study aimed to produce and apply anti-Ascaris suum IgY antibodies in the immunodiagnosis of human ascariasis. Five immunizations comprising total saline extract from A. suum adult life forms were given at 14-day intervals to Gallus gallus domesticus hens of the Isa Brown line. Eggs and blood samples were collected weekly and fortnightly, respectively, to monitor the production of antibodies. The specificity of antibodies was confirmed by dot-blot, kinetic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), avidity ELISA, immunoblotting and indirect immunofluorescence antibody tests. The application for disease diagnosis was performed through the detection of immune complexes in human serum samples by sandwich ELISA. Peaks of IgY anti-A. suum production occurred at weeks 6 and 8. IgY showed high avidity levels after the second dose of immunization, ranging from 64% to 93%, with a mean avidity index of 78.30%. Purified IgY recognized 12 bands of proteins from A. suum saline extract. Eggs, the uterine portion and cuticles of A. suum female adult are reactive in immunofluorescence. The detection of immune complexes showed diagnostic values of 80% sensitivity and 90% specificity. In conclusion, specific IgY have been shown to be a potential immunodiagnostic tool with promising future applications in human ascariasis.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Studies of carrion fauna have increased in Brazil and have contributed to the knowledge of this fauna in the national territory. Brazil has continental dimensions and presents various biomes in its territorial area. Most of the carrion fauna have seldom been studied, and this is especially true for the Savanna or "Cerrado." The present research examined the fauna visiting carrion in two environments and two seasons in a rural area situated in a region of Cerrado in southeastern Brazil. The two environments studied were a pasture and a fragment of semi-deciduous forest. Samples were collected during the dry and humid seasons of the year. The study identified the diversity and relative abundance of species attracted to pig carcasses (Sus scrofa L.) exposed in each environment and season. Eight pig carcasses (10 ± 1 kg) were placed in traps, and adult insects attracted to the traps were collected during the decay of the carcasses. A total of 92,489 insects were collected during the experiments. The Diptera was the most frequent order (92.2%) represented by 27 families and at least 124 species. This was followed by Coleoptera (4.4%) represented by 14 families and at least 65 species. Sarcophagidae had the greatest diversity of species, followed by Muscidae and Calliphoridae. Several species were collected only during a specific period of the year or in a single environment. The results are important from an ecological point of view and for Medico-Legal Forensic Entomology.

Assuntos

RESUMO

The main objective of this study was to identify potential forensic indicators in the insect fauna associated with pig carrion and the pattern of insect succession during the decomposition process in two environments of a rural area in Uberlândia, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The study was conducted at two locations: in a pasture and in a fragment of a semi-deciduous forest (vegetation profile of the Cerrado biome) in two different seasons (rainy and dry) of 2010. The decomposition process was more rapid in the rainy season. More than 32,000 insects belonging to 17 species of 6 families of Diptera and 2 species of Coleoptera bred in the carcasses. The majority of Diptera bred in the first three stages of decomposition. However, Phoridae and Coleoptera bred mainly in the last two stages. The insects bred more abundantly in the pasture and in the humid season. The exceptions were the Fanniidae (Diptera), which bred more abundantly in the forest and the Dermestidae and Cleridae (Coleoptera), which did not demonstrate any preference in terms of environments and were more abundant in the dry season, respectively. Species such as Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann), Peckia (Patonella) intermutans (Walker), Necrobia rufipes (De Geer), and Dermestes maculatus (De Geer) may be potential indicators of post-mortem interval. Hemilucilia segmentaria (Fabricius) and Ophyra aenescens (Wiedemann) may be indicators of localization of the natural environment, while Musca domestica Linnaeus may be an indicator of the anthropic environment. The study thus presented many species of potential forensic indicators in rural areas of this region.

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RESUMO

O objetivo desse trabalho foi determinar a dinâmica da contaminação por indicadores bacterianos e verificar o efeito do uso do cloro na água de dessedentação de bezerras. Para isso, foram analisadas amostras de água não clorada e clorada dos bebedouros de bezerras mantidas em abrigos móveis individuais em local aberto (manejo 1) e em baias individuais em bezerreiro (manejos 2 e 3). A água permaneceu nos bebedouros à disposição dos animais por 24, 17 e 7 horas nos manejos 1, 2 e 3, respectivamente. A quantificação de enterococos, Escherichia coli e microrganismos heterotróficos mesófilos, e o consumo de cloro foram realizados nas amostras de água. Nos três manejos, nas águas não cloradas cloradas, ocorreu aumento na contaminação bacteriana para os indicadores bacteriológicos estudados durante a permanência da água nos bebedouros. A utilização do cloro foi fundamental para a melhoria da qualidade da água e a utilização de água clorada por um tempo de permanência de no máximo 7 horas nos bebedouros foi o melhor manejo para garantir a qualidade microbiológica da água.

The objective of this study was to determine the contamination dynamic of bacteriological indicators and verify the effect of chlorination in heifers' drinking water. For this, non-chlorinated and chlorinated water samples from water troughs of heifers kept in individual mobile shelters (tropical shelter) (management 1) and in individual stall in covered place (managements 2 and 3) were analyzed. The water remained in the water troughs during 24, 17 and 7 hours in managements 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Enterococcus, Escherichia coli, mesophilic heterotrophic microorganisms and chlorine consumption were determined in the water samples. In the three managements, in non-chlorinated and chlorinated water, was verified increase in bacterial contamination of bacteriological indicators during the permanence of the water in the water troughs. The use of chlorine was important for maintenance of the quality of the water and the use of chlorinated water in the maximum of 7 hours in the water troughs was the better management to guarantee the microbiological quality of water.

Assuntos

RESUMO

O objetivo desse trabalho foi determinar a dinâmica da contaminação por indicadores bacterianos e verificar o efeito do uso do cloro na água de dessedentação de bezerras. Para isso, foram analisadas amostras de água não clorada e clorada dos bebedouros de bezerras mantidas em abrigos móveis individuais em local aberto (manejo 1) e em baias individuais em bezerreiro (manejos 2 e 3). A água permaneceu nos bebedouros à disposição dos animais por 24, 17 e 7 horas nos manejos 1, 2 e 3, respectivamente. A quantificação de enterococos, Escherichia coli e microrganismos heterotróficos mesófilos, e o consumo de cloro foram realizados nas amostras de água. Nos três manejos, nas águas não cloradas e cloradas, ocorreu aumento na contaminação bacteriana para os indicadores bacteriológicos estudados durante a permanência da água nos bebedouros. A utilização do cloro foi fundamental para a melhoria da qualidade da água e a utilização de água clorada por um tempo de permanência de no máximo 7 horas nos bebedouros foi o melhor manejo para garantir a qualidade microbiológica da água.PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Bebedouro. Bovino. Cloro. Microrganismos.

RESUMO

OBJECTIVES: To present the experience with the first 12 living related liver transplants performed at Hospital Sírio-Libanês in São Paulo. METHODS: The donors were the fathers (6) and the mothers (6) with age ranging from 30 to 48 years. All candidates for donation were submitted to a full informed consent form, clinical and radiological evaluation and had blood withdrawn for autotransfusion. Recipient age ranged from 7 months to 10 years whereas recipient weight varied from 6.3 to 34 kg. Six patients were considered as high risk due to complications of advanced liver disease and were submitted to urgent transplantation. RESULTS: Mean donor hospital stay was 10 days with no mortality. Technical complications were observed in 4 recipients. Seven patients presented at least one episode of bacterial, viral or fungal infection. One or more biopsy proven rejection episodes were disclosed in 7 patients. Overall recipient survival was 67%, being 83% for elective cases and 50% for urgent cases. Long term follow up ranged from 8 to 25 months. Seven out of 8 survivors present excellent quality of life and normal liver function. The other patient is currently under reduced immunosuppression due to Epstein-Barr virus infection.CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate the safety and viability of living related liver transplantation which, in face of the current donor scarcity, should be considered as a valid option for the treatment of children with end stage liver disease.