RESUMO
Opossums are synanthropic marsupials able to interchange among wild, periurban and urban environments, playing an epidemiologically important role as hosts for emerging pathogens and ectoparasites of relevance in public health. The present study aimed to detect and molecularly characterize vector-borne agents in a population of common opossums (Didelphis marsupialis) from the Island of São Luís do Maranhão, northeastern Brazil. Of the 45 animals analyzed, one (2.22%) was positive in the nested PCR assay based on the 18S rRNA gene of piroplasmids. The obtained sequence was phylogenetically positioned in a clade containing sequences of Babesia sp. previously detected in Didelphis aurita, Didelphis albiventris and associated ticks from Brazil. Eight (17.77%) samples were positive in PCR for Ehrlichia spp. based on the dsb gene; four samples were sequenced and positioned into a new clade, sister to E. minasensis and Ehrlichia sp. clade detected in Superorder Xenarthra mammals. No samples tested positive in the screening PCR assays based on the 16S rRNA gene of Anaplasma spp. Two samples were positive in the qPCR for Bartonella spp. based on the nuoG gene. Seven animals (15.56%) were positive in the nPCR based on the 16S rRNA gene of hemoplasmas. Of these, three were positive in a PCR based on the 23S rRNA gene. The phylogenies based on both 16S rRNA and 23S rRNA genes corroborated to each other and positioned the sequences in the same clade of hemoplasmas previously detected in D. aurita and D. albiventris sampled in Brazil. Finally, three (6.66%) animals were positive in the PCR for Hepatozoon spp.; the obtained 18S rRNA sequence was positioned into the H. felis clade.The present study showed, for the first time, the circulation of piroplasmids, Hepatozoon spp., Ehrlichia spp., hemoplasmas and Bartonella spp. in D. marsupialis sampled in northeastern Brazil, with description of putative novel genotypes of Ehrlichia and Hepatozoon and copositivity by different vector-borne agents. The present work consolidates the "South American Marsupialia" piroplasmid clade, adding one more genotype of Babesia sp. to this clade.
Assuntos
Babesia , Bartonella , Didelphis , Carrapatos , Animais , Brasil/epidemiologia , RNA Ribossômico 16S/genética , Carrapatos/parasitologia , Anaplasma/genética , Ehrlichia/genética , Babesia/genética , Bartonella/genética , MamíferosRESUMO
Para identificar as propriedades químicas de plantas do Cerrado, realizou-se um levantamentoetnobotânico que resultou na seleção de sete espécies vegetais de acordo com as indicações terapêuticaspara antibiótico, anti-inflamatório, analgésico, antiofídico e cicatrizante. Foram testados os extratoshidroalcoólicos das seguintes plantas quanto à sua atividade contra as formas promastigotas de Leishmaniaamazonensis: Terminalia fagifolia Mart. (Combretaceae), Vellozia squamata Pohl. (Velloziaceae),Vochysia haenkeana (Spreng.) Mart. (Vochysyaceae), Siparuna guianensis Aublet (Siparunaceae),Lafoensia pacari St. Hil. (Lythraceae), Galactia glauscecens Kunth. (Leguminosae) e Plathymeniareticulata Benth. (Mimosaceae). Feita a triagem para identificação da atividade leishmanicida,calculou-se a concentração inibitória do crescimento (IC50) em relação às culturas não tratadas com osextratos. Nas espécies L. pacari, G. glaucensces e P. reticulata, seus extratos demonstraram IC50 comvalores de 14,6 mug/mL, 46,0 mug/mL e 59,5 mug/mL, respectivamente, apresentando maior eficácia eminduzir a morte dos parasitos. T. fagifolia, V. squamata e V. haenkeana apresentaram IC50 com valoresde 446,1 mug/mL, 305,0 mug/mL e 85,1 mug/mL, respectivamente, demonstrando eficácia moderada.A prospecção fitoquímica evidenciou a presença de flavonoides, triterpenoides, esteroides e taninosque, segundo a literatura, são responsáveis pela atividade leishmanicida. Esses resultados indicam anecessidade de mais estudos para a avaliação da atividade em infecções in vivo e do fracionamento dassubstâncias em busca dos princípios ativos responsáveis pela ação leishmanicida...
In order to identify chemical properties of plants of the Brazilian savanna (Cerrado) an ethnobotanicalsurvey was performed. Seven plant species were selected according to their indications for antibiotic,anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-ophidian and healing properties. The following hydroalcoholic extracts of these plants were tested for activity against promastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis:Terminalia fagifolia Mart. (Combretaceae), Vellozia squamata Pohl. (Velloziaceae), Vochysiahaenkeana (Spreng.) Mart. (Vochysyaceae), Siparuna guianensis Aublet (Siparunaceae), Lafoensiapacari St. Hil. (Lythraceae), Galactia glauscecens Kunth. (Leguminosae) and Plathymeniareticulata Benth. (Mimosaceae). The growth inhibitory concentration (IC50) of these extracts wascalculated in relation to untreated cultures. Higher efficacy in inducing the death of parasites wasdemonstrated with extracts of L. pacari, G. glaucensces and P. reticulata, which showed IC50 valuesof 14.6 mg/mL, 46.0 mg/mL and 59.5 mg/mL, respectively. Moderate effectiveness was shown withT. fagifolia, V. squamata and V. haenkeana extracts, with values of 446.1, mg/mL 305.0 mg/mL and85.1 mg/mL respectively. Phytochemical studies showed the presence of flavonoids, triterpenoids,steroids and tannins that, according to the literature, are responsible for the leishmanicidal activity.These results indicate the need for future studies to evaluate the activity of these extracts againstinfections in vivo, as well as the fractionation of substances, in search of the active componentsresponsible for the leishmanicidal action...