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The diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis presents limitations and therefore new options are necessary. The analysis of amniotic fluid by real-time PCR has already proved effective for confirmation of fetal infection. However, its performance in other biological samples is not clear yet. The aim of this study is to better understand the role of real-time PCR in the blood of the mother and newborn as well as in the amniotic fluid and placenta in the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis. This is a descriptive cohort study of pregnant women with toxoplasmosis followed up in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Real-time PCR was performed in samples of maternal blood, amniotic fluid, placenta, and blood of newborns. In addition, histopathological examination of placentas was performed, and data collected from babies were collected. 116 pregnant women were followed up and 298 samples were analyzed. One (0.9%) pregnant woman presented positive PCR in the blood, 3 (3.5%) in the amniotic fluid, 1 (2.3%) in the placenta and no newborn had positive PCR in the blood. Histopathological study was suggestive of toxoplasmosis infection in 24 (49%) placentas. Six (5.2%) newborns were diagnosed with congenital toxoplasmosis, and only cases with positive PCR in the amniotic fluid had correlation of the PCR result with the diagnosis of congenital infection. Both maternal and blood samples of newborns and placenta did not prove to be promising in the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis. Further studies are needed to evaluate the real role of molecular diagnosis in other biological materials rather than the amniotic fluid.

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Background: The increasing habitat heterogeneity and complexity shows positive effects over different communities, leading to environmental diversity, access to resources and reducing the effectiveness of predation. In the present study we evaluate the structural and functional patterns of polychaete assemblages of three Mussismilia species with different coral morphology. Mussismilia hispida has a massive growth pattern; M. braziliensis also is a massive coral but forms a crevice in the corallum base; and M. harttii has a meandroid pattern. Methods: Ten individuals of the three Mussismilia species were sampled in two reefs in the Todos-os-Santos Bay, and we analyzed the differences in richness and abundance of polychaete species and the functional diversity metrics: Rao's quadratic entropy, functional dispersion, functional evenness, number of functional groups and functional richness, among Mussismilia species. Results: Two-way ANOVA with permutations showed significant differences for polychaete abundances and richness among Mussismilia species (higher values for M. harttii), but no differences were recorded when compared between the two coral reef areas studied. There was no statistical difference among coral species or between reefs in relation to the functional diversity components influenced by abundance, such as Rao quadratic entropy, functional dispersion, and functional evenness. Some individual polychaete functional traits presented differences among Mussismilia species, and that also helped us to build a picture about the effect of different growth structures over functional aspects of polychaete assemblages. Thus, the taxonomical approach, the analysis of individual functional traits and the functional diversity metrics are fundamental tools to characterize the assemblage of organisms associated with corals.

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ABSTRACT The diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis presents limitations and therefore new options are necessary. The analysis of amniotic fluid by real-time PCR has already proved effective for confirmation of fetal infection. However, its performance in other biological samples is not clear yet. The aim of this study is to better understand the role of real-time PCR in the blood of the mother and newborn as well as in the amniotic fluid and placenta in the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis. This is a descriptive cohort study of pregnant women with toxoplasmosis followed up in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Real-time PCR was performed in samples of maternal blood, amniotic fluid, placenta, and blood of newborns. In addition, histopathological examination of placentas was performed, and data collected from babies were collected. 116 pregnant women were followed up and 298 samples were analyzed. One (0.9%) pregnant woman presented positive PCR in the blood, 3 (3.5%) in the amniotic fluid, 1 (2.3%) in the placenta and no newborn had positive PCR in the blood. Histopathological study was suggestive of toxoplasmosis infection in 24 (49%) placentas. Six (5.2%) newborns were diagnosed with congenital toxoplasmosis, and only cases with positive PCR in the amniotic fluid had correlation of the PCR result with the diagnosis of congenital infection. Both maternal and blood samples of new-borns and placenta did not prove to be promising in the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis. Further studies are needed to evaluate the real role of molecular diagnosis in other biological materials rather than the amniotic fluid.

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Herein, we describe the first-ever identification of Amorphinopsis atlantica in the Iguape Bay (Bahia, Brazil). The bay, where fish and shellfish harvesting has been practiced for centuries, is part of the Paraguau River estuary, the main tributary of Todos-os-Santos Bay. Massive encrusting specimens of sponge species growing on three different types of substrates were collected manually in the intertidal zone of a mangrove in an estuary; despite being initially described in Brazilian subtropical coastal waters. There are records for A. atlantica in the southeastern states of Rio de Janeiro, So Paulo, and northeastern states of Pernambuco, Paraba (Brazil), Falcn (Venezuela), Campeche and Vera Cruz (Mexico), in the department of Crdoba (Colombia), in the Hidden Creek district (Belize) and the Atlantic coast of Costa Rica. In the collection area, the construction of a dam in the tidal river and the subsequent hydroelectric power have changed the estuary dynamics to a threshold condition expected to be tolerated by new colonizers organisms. In this unpredictable scenario, Amorphinopsis atlantica has found a new habitat for more than 15 years. Local people have alleged that the sponge may cause recurring skin rashes, but this has not yet been confirmed. Monitoring and study on the distribution and abundance of the species and a medical survey may clarify the role of the sponge on the skin dermatitis complained by the local population.

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The Entomolepididae family is a small taxon with a very characteristic body morphology and is represented, in the Atlantic Ocean, by three genera and five species. A recent study in Todos-os-Santos Bay, in Bahia State, has revealed a new species of Spongiopsyllus and a new species and genus belonging to the Entomolepididae. The new species of Spongiopsyllus is found in association with the sponge Aplysina cauliformis (Carter, 1882) sampled at the Porto da Barra beach. It is distinguished from its congeners mainly by differences in the segmentation pattern of the antennule, endopod of antenna, and the setation of the maxillule, maxilla and maxilliped. The new genus and species from Parmulodinae Eiselt, 1959 is found in association with the sponge Aplysina solangeae Pinheiro, Hajdu Custódio, 2007, sampled at the Yacht Club Beach. The genus differs from others Parmulodinae mainly due to segmentation pattern of the antennule, endopod of antenna, maxilliped and swimming legs.

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Eriopisidae is a widespread amphipod family, whose members have subcylindrical bodies, often do not have eyes, showing elongate third uropods in which the endopod is reduced and the exopod can become very long. This is the first record of Eriopisidae from Central America. Here, we describe the new genus and species Panamapisa guaymii gen. nov., sp. nov. from Bocas del Toro, Panama. The taxon differs from other members of the family in having a greatly enlarged merus on gnathopod 1, marginal setae on the dactyls of pereopod 5 to 7 and a third uropod nearly as long as the body.

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Toxoplasmosis is the most prevalent zoonosis in the world and is associated with a large spectrum of diseases. Acute acquired toxoplasmosis (AAT) is considered a benign and self-limiting disease but severe postnatal infections have been reported, particularly in South America. Laboratory diagnosis is based on the detection of anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgM, IgG, and presence of low IgG avidity. However, these assays present limitations, and therefore, PCR has been suggested as an alternative diagnostic tool. In this study, we performed real-time and nested PCR in DNA blood samples from 59 individuals with AAT lasting less than 80 days. None of the patients had parasitic DNA detected by PCR, even in the more severe cases or when blood was collected early after disease onset. These negative results indicate that the parasitemia kinetics needs investigation to determine the best time for blood sampling, especially in immunocompetent individuals. Thus, we emphasize that a negative PCR result does not exclude recent T. gondii infection, and serological criteria are still decisive for the laboratory diagnosis of AAT.

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ABSTRACT Toxoplasmosis in pregnant women can cause significant morbidity and mortality in the fetus, which may be mitigated by early diagnosis and treatment. Social factors have also been related to the risk of developing the congenital form of toxoplasmosis, since some of these factors interfere directly in the quality of prenatal care. This study aimed to describe the clinical, laboratory, and epidemiological data of pregnant women diagnosed with toxoplasmosis and their newborns followed up at a referral hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This was descriptive cohort study of 334 pregnant women with toxoplasmosis followed from May 2014 to December 2017. We conducted interviews to assess knowledge about the disease and its preventive measures, analyzed clinical and laboratory data during antenatal visits, and collected data from the newborns' medical charts. Results: This was a predominantly low-income women cohort study, with little schooling, mainly referred from public health services late in pregnancy (178; 53.3%), in the second and third trimesters (286; 85.6%). Diagnosis of acute toxoplasmosis had not been confirmed in 171 cases (51.2%). Out of 183 (54.9%) women who had initiated treatment at the original health services, 45 (24.6%) received an incorrect prescription. Seventy-two amniocenteses were performed, with positive real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in the amniotic fluid in two cases (2.8%). Congenital toxoplasmosis at birth was identified in eight newborns (5.4%). Conclusion: Late referral to specialized medical services, inadequate toxoplasmosis management at the original prenatal care services, and social vulnerabilities are contributing factors to the persistent occurrence of congenital toxoplasmosis cases.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Toxoplasmosis in pregnant women can cause significant morbidity and mortality in the fetus, which may be mitigated by early diagnosis and treatment. Social factors have also been related to the risk of developing the congenital form of toxoplasmosis, since some of these factors interfere directly in the quality of prenatal care. This study aimed to describe the clinical, laboratory, and epidemiological data of pregnant women diagnosed with toxoplasmosis and their newborns followed up at a referral hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This was descriptive cohort study of 334 pregnant women with toxoplasmosis followed from May 2014 to December 2017. We conducted interviews to assess knowledge about the disease and its preventive measures, analyzed clinical and laboratory data during antenatal visits, and collected data from the newborns' medical charts. RESULTS: This was a predominantly low-income women cohort study, with little schooling, mainly referred from public health services late in pregnancy (178; 53.3%), in the second and third trimesters (286; 85.6%). Diagnosis of acute toxoplasmosis had not been confirmed in 171 cases (51.2%). Out of 183 (54.9%) women who had initiated treatment at the original health services, 45 (24.6%) received an incorrect prescription. Seventy-two amniocenteses were performed, with positive real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in the amniotic fluid in two cases (2.8%). Congenital toxoplasmosis at birth was identified in eight newborns (5.4%). CONCLUSION: Late referral to specialized medical services, inadequate toxoplasmosis management at the original prenatal care services, and social vulnerabilities are contributing factors to the persistent occurrence of congenital toxoplasmosis cases.

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Cryptopontius is the most species-rich genus in the family Artotrogidae with 25 species, being recorded in almost all oceans, except in the Arctic. However only three species of this genus have been recorded from the Brazilian coast, all of them along the coast of Pernambuco state. This study describes two new species of the genus. Cryptopontius phyllogorgius sp. nov. differs from other species by having 9-segmented antennule, and nine elements on the third exopodal segment of leg 4. Cryptopontius pentadikos sp. nov. differs from its congeners by having five expressed antennulary segments proximal to fused ancestral IX-XII, two setae on second endopodal segment of leg 1, eight elements on third exopodal segment of leg 1 and the free segment of leg 5 with two setae. A key to species of the genus Cryptopontius is provided.

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