Helminth fauna of Norops fuscoauratus (D'Orbigny, 1837) (Squamata: Dactyloidae) in the Atlantic Forest, northeastern Brazil / Helmintofauna de Norops fuscoauratus (D'Orbigny, 1837) (Squamata: Dactyloidae) na Mata Atlântica, Nordeste, Brasil

The composition of macro endoparasites associated with the lizard Norops fuscoauratus (Squamata) was analysed in two localities in the Atlantic Forest on the northeast of Brazil between December 2012 and July 2015. 74 specimens of N. fuscoauratus were examined and five species of helminths were reported, being: (a) for the population of Pernambuco: Cystacanth (Prevalence=37.5%), Physaloptera retusa Rudolphi, 1819 (Prevalence=4.16%), larva of flatworm (Prevalence=2.08%), Rhabdias sp. (Prevalence=2.08%) and Strongyluris oscari Travassos, 1923 (Prevalence=2.08%), and (b) of Alagoas: S. oscari (Prevalence=17.85%) and Rhabdias sp. (Prevalence=3.57%). The differences in the composition of endoparasites in the two populations are attributed to individualities of environments occupied by the lizards. The collection period does not influence the abundance of parasites, but when associated with sex, there was a positive correlation with the abundance of helminths, with more females than males being infected with parasites in the rainy season.

A composição de macro endoparasitas associada com o lagarto Norops fuscoauratus (Squamata) foi analisada em duas localidades da Mata Atlântica no nordeste do Brasil, entre dezembro de 2012 e julho de 2015. 74 espécimes foram examinados e cinco espécies de helmintos foram encontradas, sendo: (a) para a população de Pernambuco: Cistacanto (Prevalência=37.5%), Physaloptera retusa Rudolphi, 1819 (Prevalência=4.16%), larva de platelminto (Prevalência=2.08%), Rhabdias sp. (Prevalência =2.08%) e Strongyluris oscari Travassos, 1923 (Prevalência =2.08%) e (b) Alagoas: S. oscari (Prevalência=17.85%) e Rhabdias sp. (Prevalência =3.57%). As diferenças na composição dos endoparasitas nas duas populações pode ser atribuída as individualidades dos ambientes ocupados por esses lagartos. O período de coleta não influenciou na abundância de parasitas, mas quando associado com o sexo, houve uma correlação positiva com a abundância de helmintos, com mais fêmeas do que machos, infectadas na estação chuvosa.

Helminth fauna of Norops fuscoauratus (D'Orbigny, 1837) (Squamata: Dactyloidae) in the Atlantic Forest, northeastern Brazil / Helmintofauna de Norops fuscoauratus (D'Orbigny, 1837) (Squamata: Dactyloidae) na Mata Atlântica, Nordeste, Brasil

The composition of macro endoparasites associated with the lizard Norops fuscoauratus (Squamata) was analysed in two localities in the Atlantic Forest on the northeast of Brazil between December 2012 and July 2015. 74 specimens of N. fuscoauratus were examined and five species of helminths were reported, being: (a) for the population of Pernambuco: Cystacanth (Prevalence=37.5%), Physaloptera retusa Rudolphi, 1819 (Prevalence=4.16%), larva of flatworm (Prevalence=2.08%), Rhabdias sp. (Prevalence=2.08%) and Strongyluris oscari Travassos, 1923 (Prevalence=2.08%), and (b) of Alagoas: S. oscari (Prevalence=17.85%) and Rhabdias sp. (Prevalence=3.57%). The differences in the composition of endoparasites in the two populations are attributed to individualities of environments occupied by the lizards. The collection period does not influence the abundance of parasites, but when associated with sex, there was a positive correlation with the abundance of helminths, with more females than males being infected with parasites in the rainy season.

A composição de macro endoparasitas associada com o lagarto Norops fuscoauratus (Squamata) foi analisada em duas localidades da Mata Atlântica no nordeste do Brasil, entre dezembro de 2012 e julho de 2015. 74 espécimes foram examinados e cinco espécies de helmintos foram encontradas, sendo: (a) para a população de Pernambuco: Cistacanto (Prevalência=37.5%), Physaloptera retusa Rudolphi, 1819 (Prevalência=4.16%), larva de platelminto (Prevalência=2.08%), Rhabdias sp. (Prevalência =2.08%) e Strongyluris oscari Travassos, 1923 (Prevalência =2.08%) e (b) Alagoas: S. oscari (Prevalência=17.85%) e Rhabdias sp. (Prevalência =3.57%). As diferenças na composição dos endoparasitas nas duas populações pode ser atribuída as individualidades dos ambientes ocupados por esses lagartos. O período de coleta não influenciou na abundância de parasitas, mas quando associado com o sexo, houve uma correlação positiva com a abundância de helmintos, com mais fêmeas do que machos, infectadas na estação chuvosa.

Helminth fauna of Norops fuscoauratus (DOrbigny, 1837) (Squamata: Dactyloidae) in the Atlantic Forest, northeastern Brazil

Abstract The composition of macro endoparasites associated with the lizard Norops fuscoauratus (Squamata) was analysed in two localities in the Atlantic Forest on the northeast of Brazil between December 2012 and July 2015. 74 specimens of N. fuscoauratus were examined and five species of helminths were reported, being: (a) for the population of Pernambuco: Cystacanth (Prevalence=37.5%), Physaloptera retusa Rudolphi, 1819 (Prevalence=4.16%), larva of flatworm (Prevalence=2.08%), Rhabdias sp. (Prevalence=2.08%) and Strongyluris oscari Travassos, 1923 (Prevalence=2.08%), and (b) of Alagoas: S. oscari (Prevalence=17.85%) and Rhabdias sp. (Prevalence=3.57%). The differences in the composition of endoparasites in the two populations are attributed to individualities of environments occupied by the lizards. The collection period does not influence the abundance of parasites, but when associated with sex, there was a positive correlation with the abundance of helminths, with more females than males being infected with parasites in the rainy season.

Resumo A composição de macro endoparasitas associada com o lagarto Norops fuscoauratus (Squamata) foi analisada em duas localidades da Mata Atlântica no nordeste do Brasil, entre dezembro de 2012 e julho de 2015. 74 espécimes foram examinados e cinco espécies de helmintos foram encontradas, sendo: (a) para a população de Pernambuco: Cistacanto (Prevalência=37.5%), Physaloptera retusa Rudolphi, 1819 (Prevalência=4.16%), larva de platelminto (Prevalência=2.08%), Rhabdias sp. (Prevalência =2.08%) e Strongyluris oscari Travassos, 1923 (Prevalência =2.08%) e (b) Alagoas: S. oscari (Prevalência=17.85%) e Rhabdias sp. (Prevalência =3.57%). As diferenças na composição dos endoparasitas nas duas populações pode ser atribuída as individualidades dos ambientes ocupados por esses lagartos. O período de coleta não influenciou na abundância de parasitas, mas quando associado com o sexo, houve uma correlação positiva com a abundância de helmintos, com mais fêmeas do que machos, infectadas na estação chuvosa.

Helminth fauna of Norops fuscoauratus (D'Orbigny, 1837) (Squamata: Dactyloidae) in the Atlantic Forest, northeastern Brazil.

The composition of macro endoparasites associated with the lizard Norops fuscoauratus (Squamata) was analysed in two localities in the Atlantic Forest on the northeast of Brazil between December 2012 and July 2015. 74 specimens of N. fuscoauratus were examined and five species of helminths were reported, being: (a) for the population of Pernambuco: Cystacanth (Prevalence=37.5%), Physaloptera retusa Rudolphi, 1819 (Prevalence=4.16%), larva of flatworm (Prevalence=2.08%), Rhabdias sp. (Prevalence=2.08%) and Strongyluris oscari Travassos, 1923 (Prevalence=2.08%), and (b) of Alagoas: S. oscari (Prevalence=17.85%) and Rhabdias sp. (Prevalence=3.57%). The differences in the composition of endoparasites in the two populations are attributed to individualities of environments occupied by the lizards. The collection period does not influence the abundance of parasites, but when associated with sex, there was a positive correlation with the abundance of helminths, with more females than males being infected with parasites in the rainy season.

Lower levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate are associated with more advanced liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C.

Chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus induces liver fibrosis, but it is unknown why some patients progress to advanced fibrosis while others remain with mild disease. Recently, an inverse association between serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S) and liver fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease was described, and it was postulated that dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has antifibrotic effects. Our aim was to compare serum DHEA-S levels with liver fibrosis in hepatitis C patients. We collected serum samples from hepatitis C patients at the same day they underwent a liver biopsy. S-DHEA was compared to different stages of fibrosis. Binary logistic regression models were applied to evaluate independent variables associated to fibrosis. We included 287 patients (43.9% male). According to fibrosis stages 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4, median serum DHEA-S levels were 103 (26-462), 73 (5-391), 46 (4-425), 35 (6-292) and 28 (2-115) µg/dL, respectively (P < .001). Median serum DHEA-S levels were 74 (5-462) vs 36 (2-425) µg/dL for mild (F0-1) vs significant (F2-4) fibrosis, respectively (P < .001). Median serum DHEA-S levels were 64 (4-462) vs 31 (2-292) µg/dL for non advanced (F0-2) vs advanced fibrosis (F3-4), respectively (P < .001). The same association was found when the subgroup of HCV patients with and without steatosis or steatohepatitis was analysed. The association between lower DHEA-S levels and advanced fibrosis was independent of age, gender, diabetes mellitus, obesity and steatosis. Lower circulating DHEA-S levels are associated with more advanced stages of liver fibrosis in hepatitis C patients.

Soroprevalência e fatores de risco para a leptospirose em cães de Campina Grande, Paraíba / Soroprevalence and risk factors for leptospirosis in dogs from Campina Grande, State of Paraíba, Brazil

Investigou-se a prevalência de leptospirose em cães da cidade de Campina Grande, PB, e realizou-se um estudo de fatores de risco para a infecção. Foram examinadas 285 amostras de soro sangüíneo de cães colhidas durante a campanha de vacinação anti-rábica animal, conduzida em setembro de 2003. O diagnóstico da leptospirose foi realizado pela técnica de soroaglutinação microscópica, utilizando-se uma coleção de 22 sorovares. Para a caracterização do sorovar mais provável, levou-se em conta a titulação e a freqüência. A prevalência encontrada foi de 21,4% (IC 95% = 16,8%-26,6%), com maior freqüência dos sorovares autumnalis (7,4%), copenhageni (6%) e canicola (2,1%). A análise de regressão logística multivariada mostrou que os fatores de risco para a leptospirose foram: idade superior a um ano (odds ratio = 3,00; P = 0,006), raça não definida (odds ratio = 4,02; P = 0,011) e ocorrência de enchentes (odds ratio = 2,32; P = 0,039).

The prevalence of leptospirosis was investigated in dogs from Campina Grande city, State of Paraíba, Brazil, and the risk factors for infection were analyzed. Two hundred and eighty five blood samples were collected from dogs during the rabies vaccination campaign, in September 2003. The diagnostic method run for leptospirosis was the microscopic agglutination test, using a batch of 22 leptospiral serovars. The most prevalent serovar was found crossing the results of frequency and titer of agglutinins. The prevalence was 21.4% (95% CI = 16.8%-26.6%) and most frequent reactant serovars were autumnalis (7.4%), copenhageni (6%) and canicola (2.1%). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the risk factors for leptospirosis were: age older than one year (odds ratio = 3.00; P = 0.006), mixed breed (odds ratio = 4.02; P = 0.011) and occurrence of floods in the area (odds ratio = 2.32; P = 0.039).

Application of a simple method to the characterization and differentiation of protein foods.

A screening method for the characterization and differentiation of proteinaceous samples and amino acid mixtures was applied to protein foods (4 protein-rich mixtures, one product sold as dietary supplement, and 3 raw materials of frequent use in the preparation of these products). Graphic profiles which describe the relative amounts of amino acid groups in the samples were obtained and subjected to statistical analysis. According to a previously established criterion of identity or difference, the correlation coefficients showed that at least 90% of the comparisons dealt with different samples. The method is proposed as a valuable tool for the quality control of protein-rich foods and their raw materials.

A screening method for protein characterization and differentiation.

A circular paper chromatographic method was developed for the separation of the amino acids in proteins into 7 subgroups. Butanol-acetic acid water (4+1+1) was used as the developing solvent. Eluted ninhydrin-stained aminograms gave rise to graphic profiles or numerical indexes based on absorbance percentages. The profiles can be used to compare protein-containing samples. Twenty different samples were studied through 190 comparisons of graphic profiles and coefficients of correlation, with only 4% misleading results. The method showed excellent reproducibility for the identification or differentiation of proteins and has the advantage of being performed with low-priced apparatus and reagents.