Maria do Desterro Soares Brandão Nascimento

Leishmaniose visceral no estado do Maranhão, Brasil: a evolução de uma epidemia

Os autores fazem um breve relato da evolucao historica da leishmaniose visceral no Estado do Maranhao, Brasil, avaliando as possiveis causas da expansao da referida doenca no Estado, assim como as medidas de controle adotadas pelo Ministerio da Saude objetivando a diminuicao da incidencia da mesma.

Aspectos epidemiológicos determinantes na manutenção da leishmaniose visceral no Estado do Maranhão - Brasil

The authors analysed the visceral leishmaniasis (VL) aspects in the State of Maranhao-Brazil, from 1982 to 1993. The disease happens to occur predominantly in Sao Luis, Island (MA) and during the epidemic period, town of Sao Luis was pointed out as the main endemic area. The greatest frequency of cases occured in 1993, despite the use of insecticid and dogs control. There was predominance of age between 0 to 4 year old population with 58.04% of cases. Neither the human disease nor the rainfall index had significant seasonal variation. However they were correlated moderately, with high number of cases after the period of great preciptation of rain. After this study, the data obtained will allow a better control of the disease, despite some factors such as: the urbanization, localization and dynamic of transmission in endemic areas in the Maranhao State.

Induction and modulation of the immune response to Leishmania by Montenegro's skin test

The intradermal inoculation in naive or in previously sensitized individuals of small amounts of Leishmania extract (Montenegros skin test) induced or modulated, respectively, the immune response to Leishmania, as assessed by subsequent Montenegros skin tests. These phenomena could hinder the interpretation of Montenegros skin tests in a population already subjected to the test in the past and, in addition, could affect in an unknown way the development of mucosal lesions in people infected with L. braziliensis or L. amazonensis, since those lesions have been associated with hypersensitivity to Leishmania antigens. Anti-Leishmania antibody responses, assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, were not induced in naive individuals by Montenegros skin tests, but tended to become more intense following these tests in previously sensitized individuals.

Prevalência de infecção por Leishmania chagasi utilizando os métodos de ELISA (rK39 e CRUDE) e intradermorreação de Montenegro em área endêmica do Maranhão, Brasil

A prospective study was undertaken in 1,520 children less than 15 years of age in São José de Ribamar, Maranhão, Brazil, from June 1994 to January 1995, to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics (socioeconomic, environmental, and behavioral) associated with infection by Leishmania chagasi. Montenegro skin test (MST) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA-rK39 and CRUDE) test were used to detect infection. The statistical analysis used the chi2 test with Yates correction and a p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Prevalence of infection was 61.7% as measured by MST, 19.4% according to ELISA (rK39), and 19.7% by ELISA (CRUDE). Association was detected between leishmaniasis in the family, water supply, application of insecticide, and infection by L. chagasi using MST. No association with infection by L. chagasi was detected using ELISA rK39 or CRUDE. More effective control measures are needed to reduce prevalence and to detect asymptomatic cases in this high percentage of infected children.

Antileishmanial IgG and IgE antibodies recognize predominantly carbohydrate epitopes of glycosylated antigens in visceral leishmaniasis

The specificity of human antileishmanial IgG and IgE antibodies to glycosylated antigens of Leishmania chagasi was evaluated. An ELISA was performed with soluble leishmanial antigen (SLA) and a panel of 95 sera including samples from patients with subclinical infection (SC) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL), subjects cured of visceral leishmaniasis (CVL), and from healthy individuals from endemic areas (HIEA). Antileishmanial IgG were verified for 18 (40%) of 45 SC subjects (mean absorbance of 0.49 +/- 0.17). All nine sera from VL patients had such antibody (0.99 +/- 0.21), while 11 (65%) of 17 CVL individuals were seropositive (0.46 +/- 0.05). Only three (12%) of 24 HIEA controls reacted in IgG-ELISA. Antileishmanial IgE was detected in 26 (58%) of 45 SC patients (0.35 +/- 0.14), and in all VL patients (0.65 +/- 0.29). These antibodies were also detected in 13(76%) of 17 CVL subjects (0.42 +/- 0.14) while all HIEA controls were seronegative. There was no correlation between antileishmanial IgG and IgE antibody absorbances. Mild periodate oxidation at acid pH of SLA carbohydrates drastically diminished its antigenicity in both IgG and IgE-ELISA, affecting mainly the antigens of 125, 102, 94, and 63 kDa as demonstrated by western immunoblotting.

Rastreamento do câncer do colo do útero no Estado do Maranhão, Brasil

The scope of the study was to analyze the screening for cervical cancer in the state of Maranhao using secondary data from the Cervical Cancer Information System (SISCOLO). A retrospective descriptive study was conducted using secondary data from 139505 cytopathology exams recorded in SISCOLO in Maranhao in 2011. The variables: age, education, adequacy of material, represented epithelia, microbiology and cellular changes detected in Pap smear tests were selected. The age group between 25 to 29 years and incomplete basic schooling were the most frequent findings. The most common microbiological agents detected were bacilli (52.8%), cocci (45.5%) and Lactobacillus sp (32.6%). Inflammation was the most common benign cellular alteration (86.3%). Low-grade intraepithelial lesions were the most prevalent atypical findings in squamous cells (0.6%), followed by high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (0.2%). Squamous cell carcinoma was observed in 0.003% and 0.006% for adenocarcinoma. SISCOLO proved a useful tool for studying aspects related to cancer screening of the cervix, which can orient actions to reduce the incidence and mortality from this cancer.

Spatial dynamics of urban populations of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Caxias, State of Maranhão, Brazil

INTRODUCTION In this paper, we report the ecology of Lutzomyia longipalpis in Caxias City, located in the eastern part of State of Maranhão, Brazil and highlight its seasonal and geographical distribution by environment. In addition, we discuss natural Leishmania infection and its relationship with visceral leishmaniasis. METHODS Between September 2007 and August 2009, the collection of sandflies was performed using Center for Disease Control (CDC) light traps from 15 houses in 5 selected neighborhoods. RESULTS Lutzomyia longipalpis was present in all zones of the city. We also found that Lu. longipalpis was regularly detected both inside and around the house, predominantly in outdoor areas. In urban areas, Lu. longipalpis was present in both the dry and rainy seasons, with a higher density present in the latter. One female specimen of Lu. longipalpis was observed to have natural Leishmania infection. CONCLUSIONS The presence of Lu. longipalpis was observed throughout the year during 2 seasonal periods, with a predominance in the rainy season. A low rate of natural Leishmania infection was observed in urban areas during the rainy season.

Relationship between rainfall and temperature: observations on the cases of visceral leishmaniasis in São Luis Island, State of Maranhão, Brazil

INTRODUCTION Visceral leishmaniasis is a serious public health problem that requires global control strategies, especially with respect to factors that may intervene in reducing the incidence of endemicity. In this work, rainfall density and temperature were correlated with the incidence of human cases in an area endemic for leishmaniasis in São Luis do Maranhão, Northeastern Brazil. METHODS Notification of human cases by the National Health Foundation/Regional Coordination of Maranhão (FUNASA/COREMA) from 2002 to 2010 was used. Ecological data (mean temperature and rainfall density) were provided by the Meteorological Office of State. RESULTS A significant association was verified between the number of VL cases and rainfall rate but not in the analysis concerning mean temperatures. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that the control actions in visceral leishmaniasis should be performed during rainy season in the State of Maranhão, which is in the first half of the year.

Holochilus brasiliensis nanus Thomas, 1897: sugestão de modelo experimental para filariose, leishmaniose e esquistossomose

Wild rodents classified as Holochilus brasiliensis nanus THOMAS, 1897, were captured in Lowland Region of State of Maranhao-Brazil. Natural infection by schistosome and filaria was detected in the most of these animals. Rodents born in the Animal House of the University of Maranhao were experimentally infected with Leishmania mexicana amazonensis or Schistosoma mansoni. Pathological aspects of leishmaniasis in these animals were found similar to that found in hamsters infected with Leishmania. Severe hepatic lesions were found in the animals infected with schistosome similar to that seen in human infection. These findings suggest the utilization of this animal as an experimental model of filariasis, leishmaniasis and schistosomiasis.

Extraction and Evaluation of Fatty Acid Compositon of Orbignya phalerata Martius Oils (Arecaceae) from Maranhão State, Brazil

The fatty acid composition of six Orbignya phalerata samples of different cities from Maranhao State (Brazil) was studied. The oils were extracted by two methods using Soxhlet extractor and the fatty acid composition was evaluated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The lipid fraction content showed that the solvent used influences lipid extraction, the highest percent was obtained with hexane. Lipid content ranged from 62.46-67.45%, with predominance of saturated fatty acids (80.32-87.80%), mainly lauric acid (C12:0) with 44.86 to 52.15%. Multivariate analysis showed the distribution of O. phalerata samples into three distinct regions and suggests that the oil chemical composition may be associated with their geographic location. These data show knowledge of the biodiversity of O. phalerata fatty acids among the different regions of the Maranhao State (Brazil).