[Biological aspects of Argas (Persicargas) miniatus Kock, 1844, (Ixodoidea; Argasidae) larvae in Gallus gallus]. / Aspectos biológicos de larvas de Argas (Persicargas) miniatus Koch, 1844, (Ixodoidea: Argasidae) em Gallus gallus.

The aim of the present study was to describe the biological aspects of larvae of Argas miniatus at 27+/-1 masculineC and 80+/-5% and in environmental condition. Domestic fowls with age lower than one week were infested with approximately 700 larvae of A. miniatus 15 days posthatching. The period of larval fixation varied from 3 to 7 days in four repetitions. Approximately 90% of larvae were recovered in the 4th and 5th day after attachment. The mean weight increased approximately 81.37 times the initial weight of the unfed larvae. The mean larval mortality in controlled conditions and laboratory environment were 6.35% and 13.97%, respectively. Molting period varied from 4 to 9 days in controlled condition, while in the environment conditions the interval varied from 5 to 15 days. The larval longevity was 120 days, in both conditions. Unfed larvae maintained at 27+/-1 masculineC and 80+/-5% and environment condition were capable to attach from 6 to 60 days and 8 to 45 days, respectively.

Coexistence of antibodies to tick-borne agents of babesiosis and Lyme borreliosis in patients from Cotia county, State of São Paulo, Brazil.

This paper reports a case of coinfection caused by pathogens of Lyme disease and babesiosis in brothers. This was the first case of borreliosis in Brazil, acquired in Cotia County, State of S o Paulo, Brazil. Both children had tick bite history, presented erythema migrans, fever, arthralgia, mialgia, and developed positive serology (ELISA and Western-blotting) directed to Borrelia burgdorferi G 39/40 and Babesia bovis antigens, mainly of IgM class antibodies, suggestive of acute disease. Also, high frequencies of antibodies to B. bovis was observed in a group of 59 Brazilian patients with Lyme borreliosis (25.4%), when compared with that obtained in a normal control group (10.2%) (chi-square = 5.6; p < 0.05). Interestingly, both children presented the highest titers for IgM antibodies directed to both infective diseases, among all patients with Lyme borreliosis.

Coexistence of antibodies to tick-borne agents of babesiosis and Lyme borreliosis in patients from Cotia county, State of São Paulo, Brazil

This paper reports a case of coinfection caused by pathogens of Lyme disease and babesiosis in brothers. This was the first case of borreliosis in Brazil, acquired in Cotia County, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Both children had tick bite history, presented erythema migrans, fever, arthralgia, mialgia, and developed positive serology (ELISA and Western-blotting) directed to Borrelia burgdorferi G 39/40 and Babesia bovis antigens, mainly of IgM class antibodies, suggestive of acute disease. Also, high frequencies of antibodies to B. bovis was observed in a group of 59 Brazilian patients with Lyme borreliosis (25.4 percent), when compared with that obtained in a normal control group (10.2 percent) (chi-square = 5.6; p < 0.05). Interestingly, both children presented the highest titers for IgM antibodies directed to both infective diseases, among all patients with Lyme borreliosis

Aspectos epidemiológicos da leishmaniose tegumentar americana em cães, no Município de Paraty, Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil / Epidemiological aspects of canine american tegumentary leishmaniasis in the Municipality of Paraty, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

A leishmaniose tegumentar americana (LTA) é de ocorrência endêmica no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, sendo a maior incidência observada nos municípios do litoral sul. No período de 1993 a 1995, foram registrados, no Município de Paraty, extremo sul do Estado, 169 casos humanos, o que corresponde a 15 porcento das notificações no estado. Neste trabalho, realizou-se estudo em áreas endêmicas (Praia Grande, Taquari, Várzea do Machado e Graúna) de LTA, com cães residentes no Município de Paraty, entre março e dezembro de 1996. Foram visitadas 315 residências, compreendendo uma população de 1.282 habitantes, com 215 cães estudados. O trabalho inicial consistiu na coleta de sangue venoso, para realização das técnicas sorológicas: Reação de Imunofluorescência Indireta (RIFI) e Enzyme Linked Immunossorbent Assay (ELISA). O resultado da sorologia foi de 3,2 percent de positividade para a técnica de Rifi e 10,2 porcento para a de Elisa. A prova intradérmica canina foi realizada na mesma ocasião da coleta de sangue e sua positividade foi de 8,8 porcent. Dos 215 cães, cinco deles apresentaram lesões suspeitas, nos quais realizou-se biópsia e técnica de aspirado a vácuo