Eliana Maria Mauricio da Rocha

Clinical and epidemiological aspects of visceral leishmaniasis in children up to 15 years of age in Alagoas, Brasil

In order to investigate epidemiological and clinical characteristics of visceral leishmaniasis in children up to 15 years old, a prospective study was carried out in Alagoas, Brasil from 1981 to 1995. Of the 530 diagnosed cases, predominantly from the rural area of Alagoas State, 58% were male and 42% female, being 55.3% children under 5 years old. The most frequently observed clinical manifestations were: hepatosplenomegaly, fever and parlor. The average size of the liver and the spleen of patients with shorter time of disease (<30 days) were smaller than those presenting sickness for a extended time (>or= 360 days). No matter the length of disease there was reduction of the liver and the spleen after treatment. However, the reduction of the spleen was higher in those patients with less time of sickness. With relation to liver that difference was not observed.

Lymphatic filariasis in Brazil: epidemiological situation and outlook for elimination

Since the World Health Assembly’s (Resolution WHA 50.29, 1997) call for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis by the year 2020, most of the endemic countries identified have established programmes to meet this objective. In 1997, a National Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Plan was drawn up by the Ministry of Health of Brazil, creating local programs for the elimination of Bancroftian filariasis in areas with active transmission. Based on a comprehensive bibliographic search for available studies and reports of filariasis epidemiology in Brazil, current status of this parasitic infection and the outlook for its elimination in the country were analysed. From 1951 to 1958 a nationwide epidemiological study conducted in Brazil confirmed autochthonous transmission of Bancroftian filariasis in 11 cities of the country. Control measures led to a decline in parasite rates, and in the 1980s only the cities of Belém in the Amazonian region (Northern region) and Recife (Northeastern region) were considered to be endemic. In the 1990s, foci of active transmission of LF were also described in the cities of Maceió, Olinda, Jaboatão dos Guararapes, and Paulista, all in the Northeastern coast of Brazil. Data provide evidence for the absence of microfilaremic subjects and infected mosquitoes in Belém, Salvador and Maceió in the past few years, attesting to the effectiveness of the measures adopted in these cities. Currently, lymphatic filariasis is a public health problem in Brazil only in four cities of the metropolitan Recife region (Northeastern coast). Efforts are being concentrated in these areas, with a view to eliminating the disease in the country.

Lymphatic filariasis in Belém, Pará State, North of Brazil and the perspective of elimination

The objective was to characterize the epidemiological situation of lymphatic filariasis in Belém, state of Pará. Hemoscopic data was analyzed from 1951 through 2003. Information for the period from 1951 to 1994 was collected from reports available from the National Health Foundation. Data from 1995 to 2003 was obtained through surveys carried out in 62 city sectors, within the eight administrative districts of the city. An appreciable drop in the microfilaraemic rates was observed over the years. The percentages of parasitized individuals in the decades of 1950, 1960, 1970, 1980 and 1990, were respectively: 8.2%, 2.6%, 0.7%, 0.16% and 0.02%. In 2001, a single microfilaraemic case was diagnosed, interrupting a series of two years without registering positive cases in the city. In 2002 and 2003, hemoscopic and entomological surveys were performed simultaneously revealing no microfilariae positive individuals, nor infected mosquitoes. To maintain this trend, surveillance measures must be conducted in order to detect and promptly treat patients, to prevent the risk of resurgence of a focus apparently now controlled.

Consumo alimentar de crianças e adolescentes residentes em uma área de invasão em Maceió, Alagoas, Brasil

OBJECTIVE To assess the food intake of energy, macronutrients and micronutrients related to growth and development in individuals under 16 years of age living in a consolidated invasion settlement in Maceió, Alagoas. METHODS The assessment of food intake was carried out by the 24-hour recall method, using a food picture album. Nutritional composition of diets was analysed using the Virtual Nutri-1.0 software. The estimated prevalence of inadequate intake was based on the Dietary Reference (DRIs), adjusted to account for intra-individual variability. The Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 11.5 was used for data analysis. RESULTS 5.6% of the subjects studied presented excessive energy intake and for 3.7% it was inadequate. The frequency of excessive energy intake was higher in the 1 to 3 year-old age group (p <0.05), which also showed higher rates of inadequate intake of vitamin A, vitamin E and zinc, and it was the only group in which average consumption of calcium was higher than the adequate intake. CONCLUSION Data show that dietary patterns of the individuals studied need adjustments.

Influência do tratamento específico na prevalência de enteroparasitoses e esquistossomose mansônica em escolares do município de Barra de Santo Antônio, AL

From a total of 1,020 students examined, 983 (92%) showed positive results for at least one species of parasite. Six months after treatment, a sample of 383 students (37.5%) was reevaluated and 347 (90.6%) presented positive results. There was no significant change in prevalence before and after treatment, although the number of individuals that had multiple parasitism was significantly lower in the second sample.

Filariose bancroftiana no Brasil

The past and present distribution of Bancroftian filariasis in Brazil is reviewed. Parasitological and entomological surveys were conducted between 1951 and 1958, the autochthonous transmission of Wuchereria bancrofti having been found only in 11 places in the country as follows, with the corresponding prevalences; Ponta Grossa (SC), 14.5% Belém (PA), 9.8%; Barra de Laguna (SC), 9.4%; Recife (PE), 6.9%; Castro Alves (BA), 5.9%; Florianópolis (SC), 1.4%; São Luis (MA), 0.6%; Salvador (BA), 0.4%; Maceió (AL), 0.3%; Manaus (AM). 0.2% and Porto Alegre (RS), 0.1%. The distribution of infection was urban and focal, occurring mainly along the coast. Control measures carried out against filariasis achieved considerable success, reducing infection and transmission, only Belém and Recife being considered endemic areas. Recent studies show the active transmission of filariasis with higher prevalences than those observed in the past, in Maceió, considered to be free from infection, and in Recife. The knowledge of the present status of Bancroftian filariasis in Brazil is important as baseline information, because it will allow for the establishment of control measures by Public Health organizations.

Situação atual da filariose bancroftiana na cidade de Maceió, estado de Alagoas, Brasil

Com o objetivo de determinar a prevalencia e a distribuicao da filariose linfatica bancroftiana na area urbana de Maceio, estado de Alagoas, assim como identificar os insetos vetores na regiao, foram realizados inqueritos hemoscopicos e entomologicos. Foram examinadas, pelo metodo da gota espessa, amostras de sangue de 10.450 escolares oriundos de diferentes regioes da cidade, sendo detectado 0,66% de individuos microfilaremicos por Wuchereria bancrofti. A parasitose tem distribuicao focal com 80% dos individuos com infeccao patente detectados em duas regioes vizinhas, cujas prevalencias atingiram 1,24% e 5,25%. Estudos paralelos feitos em amostras populacionais com individuos de diferentes faixas etarias mostraram prevalencias semelhantes as detectadas entre os escolares. No entanto, o exame dos familiares de individuos infectados pela W. bancrofti mostrou prevalencia seis vezes mais alta, sugerindo maior transmissao no intradomicilio. A percentagem de parasitados foi maior no grupo etario mais jovem (< 20 anos). Mosquitos Culex quinquefasciatus capturados nos bairros onde a parasitose foi detectada apresentavam taxas de infeccao natural de 0,28% ate 4,62%. Esses dados descrevem a ocorrencia da transmissao natural da filariose bancroftiana na area urbana de Maceio, Alagoas. Baseadas nesses dados, medidas de controle da filariose foram planejadas para conter sua expansao na regiao analisada.

Terpenóides e avaliação do potencial antimalárico, larvicida, anti-radicalar e anticolinesterásico de Pouteria venosa (Sapotaceae)

This work describes the isolation of four triterpenes (taraxerol, ursolic acid, 3b,19a,23-trihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid and 2a,3a,19a,23-tetrahydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid) and a phytosteroid (spinasterol), as well as a preliminary evaluation of antimalarial (NK-65 strains of Plasmodium berghei), larvicidal (4th instar of Aedes aegypti), anti-radicalar (2,2-diphenyl-1-pycryl-hydrazyl, DPPH) and anticholinesterase activities of Pouteria venosa (Mart.) Baehni extracts from leaves, stem barks and stems. All isolated compounds are being described for the first time in this species and were identified on basis of the spectral data (IR and NMR, including APT, DEPT), as well as by comparison with literature data.

Filariose bancroftiana em áreas urbanas do Estado de Alagoas, nordeste do Brasil: estudo em população geral

In order to assess the present status of lymphatic filariasis in Alagoas State, Brazil, hemoscopic surveys were carried out in the human population of the three different physiographic regions of the State. Blood samples were collected by thick smear technique taken after 10:00 p.m. From a total of 101 cities of the State, 10 were randomly selected, Bancroftian filariasis was only found in Maceio, the capital of Alagoas State. In a cross-sectional survey conducted among the general population of 4 neighborhoods in the city, 10,973 individuals were examined, 226 were microfilaraemic with prevalence in the city neighborhoods ranging from 0 to 5.4%. Prevalence rates and microfilariae density were significantly higher in males. Among the examined inhabitants born out of Maceio, microfilariae carriers had lived a significantly longer time in endemic areas than the amicrofilaraemic subjects. Based on the data obtained in the present study, measures to avoid expansion of bancroftian filariasis in the region were established.In order to assess the present status of lymphatic filariasis in Alagoas State, Brazil, hemoscopic surveys were carried out in the human population of the three different physiographic regions of the State. Blood samples were collected by thick smear technique taken after 10:00 p.m. From a total of 101 cities of the State, 10 were randomly selected, Bancroftian filariasis was only found in Maceió, the capital of Alagoas State. In a cross-sectional survey conducted among the general population of 4 neighborhoods in the city, 10,973 individuals were examined, 226 were microfilaraemic with prevalence in the city neighborhoods ranging from 0 to 5.4%. Prevalence rates and microfilariae density were significantly higher in males. Among the examined inhabitants born out of Maceió, microfilariae carriers had lived a significantly longer time in endemic areas than the amicrofilaraemic subjects. Based on the data obtained in the present study, measures to avoid expansion of bancroftian filariasis in the region were established.

Experimental Infection of Culex (Culex) quinquefasciatus and Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti with Wuchereria bancrofti

A study was conducted to determine the susceptibility of local strains of Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti to infection with the strain of Wuchereria bancrofti that occurs in Maceió. State of Alagoas, Brazil. Cx. quinquefasciatus blood fed simultaneously on the same microfilariae carrier ingested more blood and 2-3x more microfilariae than Ae. aegypti. Survival rates of both species of insects living for 21 days after blood feeding on microfilaraemic patients were not significantly different from the survival rates of mosquitoes that blood fed on amicrofilaraemic individuals. W. bancrofti parasites underwent normal development in Cx. quinquefasciatus, with third stage larvae first being recorded on the 11th day post infection, and their numbers increasing thereafter. Development of filariae in Ae. aegypti did not proceed beyond the first larval stage, and there was a progressively increasing number of non-viable larvae with the passage of time. It is concluded that Ae. aegypti is not involved in the transmission of W. bancrofti in Maceió.