Alynne da Silva Barbosa

Parasitological and immunological diagnoses from feces of captive-bred snakes at Vital Brazil Institute

Fecal samples from 56 snakes at the Vital Brazil Institute, in the city of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, were tested using the sedimentation and flotation techniques to investigate the evolutionary forms of parasites such as helminths and protozoa, and using enzyme immunoassay techniques to detect antigens of Cryptosporidium sp. and Giardia sp. Among the animals tested, 80.3% were positive for parasites. Out of these, there were 16 Bothrops jararaca, 16 B. jararacussu and 13 Crotalus durissus. The prevalence of parasitic nematodes was 41.1%, and nematodes were found in all three snake species. Among these, the most frequent finding was eggs of Kalicephalus sp., which were diagnosed in 25% of the snakes. The positivity for protozoa detected using parasite concentration techniques was 75%, including oocysts of Caryospora sp. in 75%, cysts with morphology similar to Giardia sp. 3.6%, amoeboid cysts in 41.1% and unsporulated coccidia oocysts in 8.9%. Immunoassays for Cryptosporidium sp. antigens produced positive findings in 60.7%. Pseudoparasites were detected in 64.3%. These results show that there is a need to improve the sanitary handling of captive-bred snakes, and also for the animal house that supplies rodents to feed them. The results also highlight that diagnostic tests should be performed periodically on stool specimens from captive-bred snakes.

Balantioides coli: morphological and ultrastructural characteristics of pig and non-human primate isolates

Balantioides coli is a ciliated protozoon that inhabits the intestine of pigs, non-human primates and humans. Light microscopy studies have described over 50 species of the genus Balantioides but their validity is in doubt. Due to the limited information about this genus, this study is aimed to identify morphological characteristics of Balantioides coli isolated using fluorescence microscopy and both scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Trophozoites isolated from the feces of pig and macaque were washed and subjected to centrifugation. These cells were fixed with paraformaldehyde for immunofluorescence. Other aliquots of these trophozoites were fixed with glutaraldehyde, post fixed with osmium tetroxide and processed for SEM and TEM. Immunofluorescence studies revealed microtubules with a longitudinal distribution to the main axis of the parasite and in the constitution of cilia. SEM demonstrated a high concentration of cilia covering the oral apparatus and a poor presence of such structures in cytopyge. TEM revealed in the plasma membrane, several associated structures were observed to delineate the cellular cortex and mucocysts. The cytoskeleton of the oral region was observed in detail and had an organization pattern consisting of microtubules, which formed files and nematodesmal networks. Organelles such as hydrogenosomes like and peroxisomes were observed close to the cortex. Macronuclei were observed, but structures that were consistent with micronuclei were not identified. Ultrastructural morphological analysis of isolates confirms its similarity to Balantioides coli. In this study were identified structures that had not yet been described, such as hydrogenosomes like and cytoskeletal structures.

Parasitological diagnosis in fecal samples in the Laboratory of Clinical Analyzes: comparison of techniques and cost of implantation

Objective: This study aimed to compare the techniques of BaermannMoraes, Faust et al., modified Ritchie, Lutz and Kato-Katz for the diagnosis of intestinal parasitosis and to estimate the cost of implantation of each of these techniques in a clinical analysis laboratory. Methods: A total of 374 faecal samples were analyzed by the five techniques. Results: Of the samples studied, 292 were analyzed by the Baermann-Moraes technique and were negative. Positivity, considering the other techniques, was 25.66%. Modified Ritchie detected positivity in 20.1% of the samples with greater efficiency for Blastocystis sp., Followed by Lutz (15.8%), Faust et al. (12.8%) and Kato-Katz (1.1%). The Kappa agreement indexes between the techniques used excluding Kato-Katz were moderate and Kato-Katz with the other parasitological techniques was weak. It was evidenced absence of significant difference only between the techniques of Faust et al. and Lutz. Kato-Katz was considered an inadequate technique for the diagnosis of intestinal parasitosis, in the face of the decline in the frequency of geohelminthiasis and the permanence or increase of the infections determined by protozoa. Lutz presented the lowest implantation cost, followed by Baermann-Moraes, Kato-Katz, modified Ritchie and Faust et al., and should be the technique of choice when the parameter is economical. Conclusion: Considering the positivity parameter, the implementation of modified Ritchie is recommended, although the association of techniques yields more effective results. The association of best-performing techniques was between modified Ritchie and Lutz or modified Ritchie and Faust et al.

Gastrointestinal parasites of swine raised in different management systems in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

De 2012 a 2013 foram pesquisados parasitos gastrintestinais de suinos de granjas localizadas em diferentes municipios do estado do Rio de Janeiro. Amostras fecais de 790 suinos foram coletadas da ampola retal, sendo 88 de propriedades familiares e 702 de granjas com producao industrial. As amostras foram submetidas as tecnicas de Faust et al., Sheather, Ritchie, Lutz e exame direto. A prevalencia estimada foi de 93,1% nas granjas familiares e 59,1% nas granjas industriais. Balantidium coli, coccidios e Entamoeba sp. foram os parasitos que apresentaram as maiores frequencias, sendo as categorias machos e femeas reprodutoras e leitoes de terminacao as mais infectadas (p<0,05). Trofozoitas de B. coli foram mais evidenciados nas amostras fecais de consistencias semi-solida, seguida pelas fezes com consistencias solida e diarreica. Ovos de estrongilideos e Trichuris suis foram detectados exclusivamente em criacoes familiares. Ovos de Ascaris suum e de Strongyloides ransomi apresentaram baixa frequencia. O alto grau de parasitismo, principalmente de protozoarios, indica a necessidade de reavaliacao do manejo dos suinos em ambos os tipos de producao.