Marco Aurélio Sicchiroli Lavrador

Antilisterial activity of lactic acid bacteria inoculated on cooked ham

This study was conducted to evaluate the ability of Lactobacillus sakei 1, a bacteriocin-producing (bac(+)) lactic acid bacterium (LAB), isolated from Brazilian fresh pork sausage to inhibit two Listeria monocytogenes strains (serotypes 4b and 1/2a) on cooked, sliced vacuum-packaged ham. L. sakei ATCC 15521 was used as a non-bacteriocin producer (bac(-)). L. monocytogenes (ca. 2 logCFU/mL) and LAB (ca. 6 logCFU/ml) were inoculated on the sterilized ham, vacuum-sealed and incubated at 8°C for 10 days. A treatment with the bacteriocin Chrisin (UI/ml) was included. Both L. monocytogenes strains were significantly inhibited in the presence of either bac(+) and bac(-) LAB in comparison to the control (L. monocytogenes alone). Using a bacteriocinogenic strain of LAB did not offer an additional barrier to listerial growth in the studied meat system. The application of Chrisin did not affect at all the growth of L. monocytogenes.

Dermatophyte susceptibilities to antifungal azole agents tested in vitro by broth macro and microdilution methods

The in vitro susceptibility of dermatophytes to the azole antifungals itraconazole, fluconazole and ketoconazole was evaluated by broth macro and microdilution methods, according to recommendations of the CLSI, with some adaptations. Twenty nail and skin clinical isolates, four of Trichophyton mentagrophytes and 16 of T. rubrum were selected for the tests. Itraconazole minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) varied from < 0.03 to 0.25 microg/mL in the macrodilution and from < 0.03 to 0.5 microg/mL in the microdilution methods; for fluconazole, MICs were in the ranges of 0.5 to 64 microg/mL and 0.125 to 16 microg/mL by the macro and microdilution methods, respectively, and from < 0.03 to 0.5 microg/mL by both methods for ketoconazole. Levels of agreement between the two methods (+/- one dilution) were 70% for itraconazole, 45% for fluconazole and 85% for ketoconazole. It is concluded that the strains selected were inhibited by relatively low concentrations of the antifungals tested and that the two methodologies are in good agreement especially for itraconazole and ketoconazole.

Performance of Selective and Differential Media in the Primary Isolation of Yeasts from Different Biological Samples

In view of the increase in yeast infections, especiallypolymicrobial ones, differential culture media have acquired increasing importance. The presentstudy evaluated the Sabouraud chloramphenicol, Biggy agar, Pagano Levin agar and CHROMagarCandida media in terms of isolation, number of yeast colony forming units per plate,and inhibition of bacteria and filamentous fungi. To this end, we used 223 biological samples,including feces, and oral, vaginal and anal mucosae from 86 patients presenting or notsymptoms of fungal infections. The four media did not differ significantly in terms of detectionof yeast-positive cultures. The number of colony forming units per plate ranged from zero to 2.380,with a predominance of counts of 1 to 9 colonies per plate. No significant differences wereobserved among the four culture media in terms of number of colonies counted, for each kind ofbiological material.Fifteen species belonging to the genera Candida, Saccharomyces,Cryptococcus, Trichosporon and Rhodotorula were isolated,with C. albicans being the predominant species, followed by C. parapsilosis and R. rubra. CHROMagar Candidaand Biggy agar were complementary in the isolation of the different species and favored a greater recoveryof polymicrobial cultures. Pagano Levin agar isolated the smallest variety of species. Sabouraud chloramphenicolagar was the least effective in terms of bacterial inhibition and favored a greater development of filamentous fungi. The results suggest that more than one culture medium should be used for an adequate primary isolation.

Virulence attributes and genetic variability of oral Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis isolates

The wide spectrum of candidiasis and its clinical importance encourage the research with the purpose of clarifying the mechanisms of pathogenicity and identification of virulence factors of Candida sp. Therefore, the aim of this study was to verify the adhesion capacity, protease activity and genotypic diversity of oral C. albicans and C. tropicalis isolates. The adhesion ability to the extracellular matrix glycoproteins laminin and fibronectin was evaluated using the ELISA technique. The research of proteases was carried out in agar plate containing bovine albumin and through a quantitative method in buffer solution containing haemoglobin. Intra and interspecies polymorphisms was verified through random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. All C. albicans and C. tropicalis isolates binded to immobilised laminin and fibronectin. Ca33 and Ct13 isolates had relative adhesion index significantly higher than the other isolates for both glycoproteins (P < 0.001). Protease activity was observed in all isolates of C. albicans using either the semi‐quantitative or quantitative assay. The protease activity of C. tropicalis was better detected through the quantitative assay. The genotypic diversity by RAPD revealed a heterogeneous population in both species. Nevertheless, C. tropicalis presented higher genetic variability than C. albicans strains.

High prevalence of clinically unsuspected dengue disease among children in Ribeirao Preto city, Brazil.

The aim of this study was to analyze the characteristics of Dengue virus (DENV)‐infected children and the accuracy of dengue diagnosis based on clinical presentations. The inclusion criteria were children ≥1‐year‐old presenting febrile illness with 1–7 days of onset. Children (n = 110) aged 2–15 years were included in this study. DENV infection was confirmed with virological tests using serum, salvia, and/or urine samples. The attending pediatricians classified 56/110 (50.91%) of the children as suspected dengue cases. The DENV infection was confirmed by specific laboratory tests in 52/56 (92.9%) of the suspected dengue cases but also in 44/54 (81.5%) of the unsuspected dengue cases; total of 96/110 (87.27%) confirmed dengue cases. The clinical diagnosis gave an overall sensitivity of 54.2% (52/96) and a specificity of 71.4% (10/14). The positive predictive value of the clinical diagnosis was 92.8% and negative predictive value was 18.5%. After the third day of onset of symptoms, the DENV genome detection rate was similar in serum and saliva samples, suggesting that saliva samples represent an alternative to blood samples for early dengue diagnosis. Vaccination against Yellow fever virus did not influence the antibody response against DENV‐1, DENV‐2, and DENV‐3, which circulated during the study period. Although the signs and symptoms were compatible with dengue, the attending pediatricians did not suspect the disease in several children. Therefore, the inclusion of virological tests for early diagnosis in the protocols for dengue surveillance would help in the implementation of prompt treatment of patients and epidemic containment strategies. J. Med. Virol. 88:1711–1719, 2016.

Substâncias químicas, trabalho e alterações neurológicas: possíveis relações entre estas variáveis

Foram investigados 239 prontuarios de pacientes atendidos em um hospital, portadores de patologias neurologicas de etiologias desconhecidas, buscando-se alguma relacao entre a doenca apresentada e o uso ocupacional de substâncias quimicas. Em 32 prontuarios havia registros sobre ocupacao. 37.50% dos pacientes trabalhavam na agricultura; 34.37% eram empregadas domesticas/donas de casa; 12.50% eram pedreiros; um era sapateiro, um seleiro; um montador de moveis e os demais trabalhavam com maquinas. Em decorrencia de sua atividade, possivelmente utilizaram substâncias quimicas. As poucas informacoes relacionando o uso destes produtos e a doenca apresentada pelos pacientes demonstram a reduzida importância conferida a estas variaveis.Authors searched 239 reports of patients admitted in a hospital who carried neurological pathologies with unknown etiologies in order to find the possible relationship between the disease and the occupational use of chemical substances. They found the occupation in 32 reports. 37.50% of the patients worked with agriculture; 34.37% were maids/worked at home; 12.50% were masons; one was a shoemaker, one a saddler; one made fornitures and the others worked with machines. Considering their activities, they possibly used chemical substances. Few information relating this utilization and the presented disease showed the reduced importance given to these variables.

Chemical substances, work and neurological alterations: possible relationship among these variables

Foram investigados 239 prontuarios de pacientes atendidos em um hospital, portadores de patologias neurologicas de etiologias desconhecidas, buscando-se alguma relacao entre a doenca apresentada e o uso ocupacional de substâncias quimicas. Em 32 prontuarios havia registros sobre ocupacao. 37.50% dos pacientes trabalhavam na agricultura; 34.37% eram empregadas domesticas/donas de casa; 12.50% eram pedreiros; um era sapateiro, um seleiro; um montador de moveis e os demais trabalhavam com maquinas. Em decorrencia de sua atividade, possivelmente utilizaram substâncias quimicas. As poucas informacoes relacionando o uso destes produtos e a doenca apresentada pelos pacientes demonstram a reduzida importância conferida a estas variaveis.Authors searched 239 reports of patients admitted in a hospital who carried neurological pathologies with unknown etiologies in order to find the possible relationship between the disease and the occupational use of chemical substances. They found the occupation in 32 reports. 37.50% of the patients worked with agriculture; 34.37% were maids/worked at home; 12.50% were masons; one was a shoemaker, one a saddler; one made fornitures and the others worked with machines. Considering their activities, they possibly used chemical substances. Few information relating this utilization and the presented disease showed the reduced importance given to these variables.

Substancias químicas, trabajo y alteraciones neurológicas: posibles relaciones entre estas variables

Foram investigados 239 prontuarios de pacientes atendidos em um hospital, portadores de patologias neurologicas de etiologias desconhecidas, buscando-se alguma relacao entre a doenca apresentada e o uso ocupacional de substâncias quimicas. Em 32 prontuarios havia registros sobre ocupacao. 37.50% dos pacientes trabalhavam na agricultura; 34.37% eram empregadas domesticas/donas de casa; 12.50% eram pedreiros; um era sapateiro, um seleiro; um montador de moveis e os demais trabalhavam com maquinas. Em decorrencia de sua atividade, possivelmente utilizaram substâncias quimicas. As poucas informacoes relacionando o uso destes produtos e a doenca apresentada pelos pacientes demonstram a reduzida importância conferida a estas variaveis.Authors searched 239 reports of patients admitted in a hospital who carried neurological pathologies with unknown etiologies in order to find the possible relationship between the disease and the occupational use of chemical substances. They found the occupation in 32 reports. 37.50% of the patients worked with agriculture; 34.37% were maids/worked at home; 12.50% were masons; one was a shoemaker, one a saddler; one made fornitures and the others worked with machines. Considering their activities, they possibly used chemical substances. Few information relating this utilization and the presented disease showed the reduced importance given to these variables.