Epidemiological study of myiases in the Hospital do Andaraí, Rio de Janeiro, including reference to an exotic etiological agent.

Myiases are infestations with dipteran larvae in both necrosed and living tissues, the food source of these insects. These illnesses occur in warm humid climates, and are most frequent in developing countries. We assessed the epidemiological aspects and the influence of climate on the occurrence of myiases and the bioagents in patients admitted to the federal Hospital do Andaraí in Rio de Janeiro from February 2007 to 2008. The influence of abiotic factors (temperature, humidity, and rainfall) on the incidence of myiases was investigated by using the Pearson's correlation test. Of the 40 patients studied, the prevalence of myiases was higher in adults, particularly in the 40 to 65 year-old (37.5%) African descent males (57.5%). Most of the injuries were caused by trauma (62.5%). Some patients made use of licit (50%) and illicit drugs (17.2%). The occurrence of myiases was not affected by the abiotic factors investigated. The cases reported here were treated in only one hospital, indicating that the disease is relatively common. The most frequent bioagent was Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel), but Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius), Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) and Dermatobia hominis (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) were also detected causing myiases. Chrysomya albiceps is an exotic etiologic agent of myiases.

First record of human myiasis caused by association of the species Chrysomya megacephala (Diptera: Calliplioridae), Sarcophaga (Liopygia) ruficornis (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), and Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae).

We report a rare case of myiasis caused simultaneously by three dipterous species. A 54 yr-old indigent patient was admitted to Andaraí Hospital with painful eruptions on the scalp. The parieto-occipital sulcus showed two lesions caused by scratching associated with deep, odoriferous and exudative pediculosis. Larvae removed with the help of forceps and vaseline produced 153 adults, identified in the laboratory as 114 specimens of Chrysomya megacephala (F., 1794), 38 of Sarcophaga (Liopygia) ruficornis (F., 1794), and one of Musca domestica (L., 1758).

Effects of forest fragmentation on dipterofauna (Calliphoridae) at the Reserva Biológica do Tinguá, Nova Iguaçu, RJ.

Samples were collected every month in three different sites of the Reserva Biológica do Tinguá, Brazil: site A was located on the border of the forest and sites B and C were located 1,000 and 500 m, respectively, towards the forest interior. The objective was to determine edge effects on a fragment of the Atlantic Forest. The greatest species richness was observed in sites A and B (23 species), compared with site C (16 species). Site A showed the greatest abundance and constancy, independent of the degree of synanthropy. Asynanthropic species were more abundant and constant in sites B and C. Site B showed the greatest diversity; and sites A and B showed the greatest similarity of populations. There was no significant correlation between Calliphoridae richness and canopy openness except in site C. Richness and abundance were positively correlated with subwood density, except for richness in site B.

Organization, evolution and transcriptional profile of hexamerin genes of the parasitic wasp Nasonia vitripennis (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae).

Hexamerins and prophenoloxidases (PPOs) proteins are members of the arthropod-haemocyanin superfamily. In contrast to haemocyanin and PPO, hexamerins do not bind oxygen, but mainly play a role as storage proteins that supply amino acids for insect metamorphosis. We identified seven genes encoding hexamerins, three encoding PPOs, and one hexamerin pseudogene in the genome of the parasitoid wasp Nasonia vitripennis. A phylogenetic analysis of hexamerins and PPOs from this wasp and related proteins from other insect orders suggests an essentially order-specific radiation of hexamerins. Temporal and spatial transcriptional profiles of N. vitripennis hexamerins suggest that they have physiological functions other than metamorphosis, which are arguably coupled with its lifestyle.

Effect of triiodothyronine on adiponectin expression and leptin release by white adipose tissue of normal rats.

Previous studies have shown that alterations in thyroid status may lead to changes in serum leptin and adiponectin, both in humans and rodents. The mechanisms, especially for adiponectin, are unclear. In the present study, we investigated the effect of triiodothyronine (T3) on the expression of adiponectin mRNA and the release of leptin and adiponectin by white adipose tissue (WAT) explants obtained from epididymal (visceral) or inguinal (subcutaneous) depots from normal rats. We also analyzed the effects of other known regulators of adiponectin and leptin release, such as rosiglitazone and dexamethasone. T3 acted directly at rat WAT explants in a depot-specific manner and in a unique fashion to each hormone. T3 was able to inhibit leptin release only by epididymal explants, and to reduce adiponectin mRNA expression only in inguinal explants. However, T3 was incapable of modifying adiponectin release by both explants. Additionally, rosiglitazone exhibited an inhibitory effect on adiponectin release by both WAT explants, even though adiponectin mRNA was importantly upregulated only in inguinal explants. Rosiglitazone acted as an inhibitor of leptin release by both studied fat depots, while only epididymal explants responded to the stimulatory effect of dexamethasone on leptin release. Therefore, the present model of isolated rat white adipose tissue explants highlights the fact that the regulation of hormonal production by white adipose tissue depends on the type of depot and its anatomical location. In this context, our results show for the first time a potential inhibitory effect of T3 on adiponectin mRNA expression specifically on WAT from a subcutaneous depot.

Diversity of Calliphoridae (Diptera) in Brazil's Tinguá Biological Reserve.

The Calliphoridae are flies of great ecological, medical and sanitary importance because they are decomposers of organic matter, mechanical vectors of pathogenic agents, and causers of myiasis. This paper attempts to ascertain the diversity of Calliphoridae in the Tinguá Biological Reserve and correlate meteorological data (temperature, relative humidity of the air, and precipitation) with the occurrence of these flies. The study was conducted at a site in the Tinguá Biological Reserve, located in the municipality of Nova Iguaçu, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Four traps were set up using chicken viscera as bait. The experiment was conducted over the period of May 2001 to April 2002, with two monthly collections. The captured flies were killed with ether and conserved in 70% alcohol and identified in the Laboratory of Diptera Studies (UNIRIO) and the Laboratory of Vector Insect Biology and Control (FIOCRUZ), both headquartered in the city of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. A total of 1,987 insects were captured, 37.5% belonging to the family Calliphoridae, 29.4% to Muscidae, 16.0% to Sarcophagidae, and 17.1% to other families. The most representative species found was Phaenicia eximia (47.0%), followed by Hemilucilia semidiaphana (23.6%), Mesembrinella bellardiana (13.7%), Hemilucilia segmentaria (7.5%), Chloroprocta idioidea (4.9%), Chrysomya albiceps (1.2%), Chrysomya megacephala (0.9%), Phaenicia sericata (0.6%), Eumesembrinella sp. (0.5%), and Chrysomya putoria (0.1%). Large numbers of Calliphoridae were noted in May, June, September and January, coinciding with low rainfall and an average temperature of 21.8 to 27.0 degrees C. A negative correlation was found between the number of Calliphoridae captured and meteorological factors.

Diversity of Calliphoridae (Diptera) in Brazil's Tinguá Biological Reserve

Os califorídeos são dípteros de grande importância ecológica e médico-sanitário, em virtude de serem decompositores de matéria orgânica, vetores mecânicos de agentes patogênicos e causadores de miíases. O presente trabalho objetivou verificar a diversidade de califorídeos na Reserva Biológica do Tinguá e correlacionar os dados meteorológicos (temperatura, umidade relativa do ar e precipitação) com a ocorrência desses dípteros. O estudo foi realizado em uma localidade da Reserva Biológica do Tinguá, município de Nova Iguaçu. Foram instaladas quatro armadilhas de captura, utilizando como isca vísceras de frango. O experimento foi conduzido no período de maio/2001 a abril/2002, sendo realizadas duas coletas mensais. Os dípteros capturados foram sacrificados com éter, conservados em álcool 70% e sua identificação ocorreu no Laboratório de Estudo de Dípteros (UNIRIO) e no Laboratório de Biologia e Controle de Insetos Vetores (FIOCRUZ). Foram capturados 1987 insetos pertencentes às famílias Calliphoridae (37,5%), Muscidae (29,4%), Sarcophagidae (16,0%) e outras (17,1%). Phaenicia eximia foi a espécie mais representativa (47,0%), seguida por Hemilucilia semidiaphana (23,6%), Mesembrinella bellardiana (13,7%), Hemilucilia segmentaria (7,5%), Chloroprocta idioidea (4,9%), Chrysomya albiceps (1,2%), Chrysomya megacephala (0,9%), Phaenicia sericata (0,6%), Eumesembrinella sp. (0,5%), e Chrysomya putoria (0,1%). Observou-se um maior percentual de fêmeas (70,6%). Constatou-se elevada incidência de califorídeos em maio, junho, setembro e janeiro, coincidindo com baixa precipitação e temperatura média entre 21,8 e 27,0 ºC. Constatou-se uma correlação negativa entre o número de califorídeos capturados e os fatores meteorológicos.