RESUMO
Iron and oxidative stress have a regulatory interplay. During the oxidative burst, phagocytic cells produce free radicals such as hypochlorous acid (HOCl). Nevertheless, scarce studies evaluated the effect of either iron deficiency anemia (IDA) or anemia of chronic disease (ACD) on phagocyte function in the elderly. The aim of the present study was to determine the oxidative burst, phagocytosis, and nitric oxide (*NO) and HOCl, reactive species produced by monocytes and neutrophils in elderly with ACD or IDA. Soluble transferrin receptor, serum ferritin, and soluble transferrin receptor/log ferritin (TfR-F) index determined the iron status. The study was constituted of 39 patients aged over 60 (28 women and 11 men) recruited from the Brazilian Public Health System. Oxidative burst fluorescence intensity per neutrophil in IDA group and HOCl generation in both ACD and IDA groups were found to be lower (p < 0.05). The percentages of neutrophils and monocytes expressing phagocytosis in ACD group were found to be higher (p < 0.05). There was an overproduction of *NO from monocytes, whereas the fundamental generation of HOCl appeared to be lower. Phagocytosis, oxidative burst, and *NO and HOCl production are involved in iron metabolism regulation in elderly patients with ACD and IDA.
Assuntos
Anemia/metabolismo , Fagocitose , Espécies Reativas de Oxigênio/metabolismo , Explosão Respiratória , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Anemia Ferropriva/metabolismo , Células Cultivadas , Doença Crônica , Feminino , Sequestradores de Radicais Livres/metabolismo , Humanos , Ácido Hipocloroso/metabolismo , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Monócitos/metabolismo , Neutrófilos/metabolismo , Óxido Nítrico/metabolismoRESUMO
Saliva plays important roles in facilitation of a bloodmeal, lubrication of mouthparts, and parasite transmission for some vector insects. Salivary composition changes during the lifetime of an insect, and differences in the salivary profile may influence its functions. In this report, the amount and profile of salivary gland protein of the American visceral leishmaniasis vector Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) were analyzed at different times of insect development and diet. Protein content from unfed female sand flies increased significantly with age, and a significant difference was observed in sugar-fed females during the first 10 d of adult life. Salivary protein content sharply decreased 1 d after blood feeding, with gradual increase in concentration the following days. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis revealed that most polypeptides present in the saliva of sugar-fed also were present in the saliva of blood-fed females. Understanding changes in sand fly's saliva contents at distinct days after emergence and the influence of a bloodmeal in this aspect may reveal the role played by saliva during leishmaniasis transmission.
Assuntos
Envelhecimento/fisiologia , Dieta , Proteínas de Insetos/metabolismo , Psychodidae/metabolismo , Proteínas e Peptídeos Salivares/metabolismo , Animais , Feminino , Regulação da Expressão GênicaRESUMO
A morphometric survey examined adult specimens of Lutzomyia whitmani (Antunes & Coutinho) captured at 5 municipalities in southeastern and northeastern Brazil to compare the populations. The localities were Ilhéus (Bahia), Martinho Campos (Minas Gerais), Corte de Pedra (Bahia), Baturité (Ceará), and Amaraji (Pernambuco): all are known foci of American cutaneous leishmaniasis. Fifteen males and 15 females from each population were analyzed morphometrically for 42 and 37 characters, respectively. Statistical data alone were insufficient to discriminate among the 5 populations. Further analysis generated phenograms that indicated there were 2 spatial clusters: the 1st was composed of specimens from Ilhéus (Bahia) and Baturité (Ceará) and the 2nd of specimens from Martinho Campos (Minas Gerais), Corte de Pedra (Bahia), and Amaraji (Pernambuco). Although insufficient to define the taxonomic status of the populations studied, the results delineated the existence of biogeographical structuring within L. whitmani. Complementary studies on the susceptibility to Leishmania braziliensis infection in the 5 populations are in progress to clarify the relationship between the 2 biogeographical clusters and American cutaneous leishmaniasis transmission in those Brazilian regions.
Assuntos
Filogenia , Psychodidae/anatomia & histologia , Psychodidae/genética , Animais , Brasil , Feminino , Variação Genética , Geografia , Masculino , Psychodidae/classificaçãoRESUMO
An outbreak of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) was detected in the village of Canoa in 1993. A prospective observational study was outlined to determine the frequency rates and to clinically characterize the disease. A total of 555 people were followed up. There were 29 cases of ACL, 11 cases of probably previous ACL (scars) and 529 healthy individuals. Of these 529 individuals, 65 had a positive Montenegro reaction without any present or past evidence of leishmaniasis. The prevalence of ACL during the two years was 5.2% (29/555). The leishmania involved was Leishmania braziliensis and the vector, Lutzomyia intermedia. Evidence of infection was detected in dogs and horses. The high frequency of the disease among children under ten years, the similar sex distribution of cases and a component of familial aggregation suggest a peri- or intra-domiciliary transmission.
Assuntos
Surtos de Doenças , Leishmaniose Cutânea/epidemiologia , Adulto , Animais , Brasil/epidemiologia , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Cães , Feminino , Humanos , MasculinoRESUMO
In March-October 1987 were analyzed 1295 coprological specimens in a sample of the human population who lives in riverside localities in the Valdivia River Basin, Chile. A 23.6% of examined persons presented infection by one or more helminth species. The prevalence of infection by Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and Trichostrongylidae gen. sp. were 15.5, 12.7 and 0.2%, respectively. The prevalence of human ascariosis and trichuriosis were greater in pre-school and school children. The sex of the host and prevalence of geohelminthosis did not show any relationship. Prevalences of ascariosis and trichuriosis were higher in persons from houses with no sanitary fecal and water disposal. Over 35% and 20.7% of family groups showed infection by A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura, respectively in over 40% of the members of each group. Fecal samples from domestic mammals revealed the following prevalences rates for helminth infections: in dogs 19.0 and 15.2% for Toxocara canis and Uncinaria stenocephala respectively, in cats 65.1% for Toxocara cati, and in pigs 25.4 and 3.2% for Ascaris suum and Trichuris suis respectively. Some of these species are clearly demonstrated agents of zoonoses.
Assuntos
Ascaríase/epidemiologia , Enteropatias Parasitárias/epidemiologia , Tricostrongiloidíase/epidemiologia , Tricuríase/epidemiologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Animais , Doenças do Gato/epidemiologia , Gatos , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Chile/epidemiologia , Doenças do Cão/epidemiologia , Cães , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Masculino , Prevalência , Suínos , Doenças dos Suínos/epidemiologia , Toxocaríase/epidemiologiaRESUMO
The direct effects Of soil phosphorus on sport germination and hyphal growth of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM), Glomus etunicatum Beck &Beck &Gerd., E3 and Scutellospora heterogama (Nicol &Gerd) Walker &Sanders, were investigated by means of two soil-agar plate experiments. In the first experiment, the percentage spore germination and hyphal length of G. etunicatum, measured at ten different P levels and three periods of incubation, were affected by the P status of the soil. The best correslation with P level in the soil occurred at 7 d of incubation for spore germination and at 14 d far hyphal growth and hyphal growth increment. Spore germination was stimulated when 12.5 µ PO g-1 was applied to the soil and decreased with further soil P increments. Hyphal growth decreased significantly with soil P amendments above 37.5 µg P g-1 In the second experiment including three different P levels and the three AM endophytes, soil P affected spore germination and hyphal growth, and both decreased at the high phosphate treatment for G. etunicatum and S. heterogama. The K3 spare germination was similar to the other two species, but the hyphal growth was poorer. S. heterogama was more sensitive to P fertilization than the Glomus spp. and for the three species the hyphal production was not proportional to spore size.
Assuntos
Antígenos de Protozoários , Leishmania infantum/imunologia , Leishmaniose Visceral/diagnóstico , Proteínas de Protozoários , Doença Aguda , Animais , Cães , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática/métodos , Estudos de Avaliação como Assunto , Humanos , Leishmaniose Visceral/sangue , Leishmaniose Visceral/epidemiologia , Leishmaniose Visceral/imunologia , Proteínas Recombinantes , Sensibilidade e Especificidade , Testes Sorológicos/métodosRESUMO
Between March and October 1987, the prevalence of infection by Blastocystis hominis and other intestinal protozoan, their relationship with the age and sex of the hosts, and the percentage of infected persons in family groups were determined in riverside communities of Valdivia River Basin, Chile. One or more intestinal protozoan species were determined in 72.5% of the examined persons. The prevalence was greater for B. hominis (61.8%). The prevalences of B. hominis, Endolimax nana and Entamoeba coli were greater in relation to the age of the host. The sex of the host and prevalence of infections by B. hominis and other species of intestinal protozoans did not show association. Prevalence of B. hominis was greater in persons from houses with no sanitary faeces disposal. Over 60% of the members of family groups showed infection by B. hominis in 53.1% of the groups compared to 2.4%-21.8% of infections by other protozoan species. Faecal samples of 45 pigs revealed 22.2% of infection by Blastocystis.
Assuntos
Infecções por Blastocystis/epidemiologia , Blastocystis hominis , Enteropatias Parasitárias/epidemiologia , Infecções por Protozoários/epidemiologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Distribuição por Idade , Animais , Infecções por Blastocystis/parasitologia , Blastocystis hominis/isolamento & purificação , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Chile/epidemiologia , Fezes/parasitologia , Feminino , Água Doce , Humanos , Lactente , Enteropatias Parasitárias/parasitologia , Masculino , Prevalência , Infecções por Protozoários/parasitologia , Distribuição por SexoRESUMO
Between 1986 and 1987, 666 fishes distributed among the following species introduced in Chile, and from different sectors of the Valdivia river basin (39 degrees 30'-40 degrees 00'S, 73 degrees 30'-71 degrees 45'W), were examined: 348 Salmo trutta, 242 Salmo gairdneri, 24 Cyprinus carpio and 52 Gambusia affinis holbrooki. The presence of Camallanus corderoi and Contracaecum sp. in S. gairdneri and of C. corderoi in S. trutta is recorded in Chile for the first time. Cyprinus carpio and G. a. holbrooki did not present infections by nematodes. The prevalence and mean intensity of the infections by nematodes presented significant differences among some sectors of the Valdivia river basin. In general, the prevalence and intensity of the infections by C. corderoi were greater than those by Contracaecum sp. The infections in S. gairdneri were higher than in S. trutta. The sex of the hosts had no influence on the prevalence and intensity of the infections by both nematodes. The length of the hosts did have an influence, except in the case of the infections by Contracaecum sp. in S. gairdneri. The infrapopulations of both nematode species showed over-dispersion in most cases. The diet of the examined salmonids suggests that they would become infected principally through the consumption of autochthonous fishes.