Cristina Pires de Araujo

Larva migrans cutânea em crianças de uma escola em área do Centro-Oeste do Brasil

Relata-se a ocorrencia de larva migrans cutânea em criancas de uma escola de educacao infantil de Campo Grande, MS (Brasil). Dos 16 alunos que frequentam a escola, seis (37,5%) adquiriram essa dermatite parasitaria em duas areas de recreacao com areia contaminada por fezes de gatos, cujo exame parasitologico revelou a presenca de larvas de ancilostomideos. As lesoes serpiginosas e/ou papulares essavam localizadas nas maos, pes, nadegas, coxas, vulva e saco escrotal. Sao discutidas medidas de controle dessa parasitose.

Detection of Mycobacterium bovis in bovine and bubaline tissues using nested-PCR for TbD1.

In the present study, a nested-PCR system, targeting the TbD1 region, involving the performance of conventional PCR followed by real-time PCR, was developed to detect Mycobacterium bovis in bovine/bubaline tissue homogenates. The sensitivity and specificity of the reactions were assessed with DNA samples extracted from tuberculous and non-tuberculous mycobacteria, as well as other actinomycetales species and DNA samples extracted directly from bovine and bubaline tissue homogenates. In terms of analytical sensitivity, the DNA of M. bovis AN5 was detected up to 1.56 ng with conventional PCR, 97.6 pg with real-time PCR, and 1.53 pg with nested-PCR in the reaction mixture. The nested-PCR exhibited 100% analytical specificity for M. bovis when tested with the DNA of reference strains of environmental mycobacteria and closely-related Actinomycetales. A clinical sensitivity value of 76.0% was detected with tissue samples from animals that exhibited positive results in the comparative intradermal tuberculin test (CITT), as well as from those with lesions compatible with tuberculosis (LCT) that rendered positive cultures. A clinical specificity value of 100% was detected with tissue samples from animals with CITT- results, with no visible lesions (NVL) and negative cultures. No significant differences were found between the nested-PCR and culture in terms of detecting CITT+ animals with LCT or with NVL. No significant differences were recorded in the detection of CITT- animals with NVL. However, nested-PCR detected a significantly higher number of positive animals than the culture in the group of animals exhibiting LCT with no previous records of CITT. The use of the nested-PCR assay to detect M. bovis in tissue homogenates provided a rapid diagnosis of bovine and bubaline tuberculosis.

Direct detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in bovine and bubaline tissues through nested-PCR

Post-mortem bacterial culture and specific biochemical tests are currently performed to characterize the etiologic agent of bovine tuberculosis. Cultures take up to 90 days to develop. A diagnosis by molecular tests such as PCR can provide fast and reliable results while significantly decreasing the time of confirmation. In the present study, a nested-PCR system, targeting rv2807, with conventional PCR followed by real-time PCR, was developed to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) organisms directly from bovine and bubaline tissue homogenates. The sensitivity and specificity of the reactions were assessed with DNA samples extracted from tuberculous and non-tuberculous mycobacteria, as well as other Actinomycetales species and DNA samples extracted directly from bovine and bubaline tissue homogenates. Regarding the analytical sensitivity, DNA of the M. bovis AN5 strain was detected up to 1.5 pg by nested-PCR, whereas DNA of M. tuberculosis H37Rv strain was detected up to 6.1 pg. The nested-PCR system showed 100% analytical specificity for MTC when tested with DNA of reference strains of non-tuberculous mycobacteria and closely-related Actinomycetales. A clinical sensitivity level of 76.7% was detected with tissues samples positive for MTC by means of the culture and conventional PCR. A clinical specificity of 100% was detected with DNA from tissue samples of cattle with negative results in the comparative intradermal tuberculin test. These cattle exhibited no visible lesions and were negative in the culture for MTC. The use of the nested-PCR assay to detect M. tuberculosis complex in tissue homogenates provided a rapid diagnosis of bovine and bubaline tuberculosis.

Anticorpos contra Toxoplasma gondii em estudantes de medicina veterinária de Campo Grande, MS, Brasil

Serum samples obtained from students of the School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade para o Desenvolvimento do Estado e da Regiao do Pantanal, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil, were examined for Toxoplasma gondii gondii antibodies. Serum samples from 44 (30.34%) of the 145 veterinary students examined were positive on the hemagglutination test, yielding a titer of 1:16 or greater. There were no relations between the epidemiological characteristics examined, such as food habits (eating of raw or rare-cooked cattle meat, raw/uncleaned vegetables, unpasteurized dairy products), frequent contact with dogs and the presence of T. gondii antibodies, except for a significantly higher percentual of seropositive students that reported frequent contact with cats (P=0.03).

Cutaneous larva migrans in children of a school, Brazil

Relata-se a ocorrencia de larva migrans cutânea em criancas de uma escola de educacao infantil de Campo Grande, MS (Brasil). Dos 16 alunos que frequentam a escola, seis (37,5%) adquiriram essa dermatite parasitaria em duas areas de recreacao com areia contaminada por fezes de gatos, cujo exame parasitologico revelou a presenca de larvas de ancilostomideos. As lesoes serpiginosas e/ou papulares essavam localizadas nas maos, pes, nadegas, coxas, vulva e saco escrotal. Sao discutidas medidas de controle dessa parasitose.

Cutaneous larva migrans in children from a school in central-west Brazil.

Relata-se a ocorrencia de larva migrans cutânea em criancas de uma escola de educacao infantil de Campo Grande, MS (Brasil). Dos 16 alunos que frequentam a escola, seis (37,5%) adquiriram essa dermatite parasitaria em duas areas de recreacao com areia contaminada por fezes de gatos, cujo exame parasitologico revelou a presenca de larvas de ancilostomideos. As lesoes serpiginosas e/ou papulares essavam localizadas nas maos, pes, nadegas, coxas, vulva e saco escrotal. Sao discutidas medidas de controle dessa parasitose.