Determinantes ambientais e não-ambientais da transmissão do plasmódio na paisagem urbana amazônica e suas consequências clínicas: estudo de base populacional em Mâncio Lima, Acre / Environmental and non- environmental determinants of plasmodium transmission in the Amazonian urban ladscape and its clinical consequences: a population- based study in Mâncio Lima, Acre

Este estudo avaliou as mudanças ambientais da paisagem urbana deum município com alta incidência de malária na Amazônia brasileira(Mâncio Lima, Acre) e sua relação com a doença, com o objetivo deprover evidências de que a transmissão do Plasmódio é causada pelomodo como os seres humanos interagem com o meio-ambiente. Foramefetuados três estudos populacionais consecutivos, entre 2012 e 2013,com 1260 indivíduos, com identificação do plasmódio por microscopiae técnicas moleculares. Casos de malária foram analisados medianteum questionário clinico. O estudo entomológico envolveu 8 inquéritostransversais com coleta de formas imaturas em 90 corpos d’água, bemcomo avaliação espacial desses dados. Os resultados mostraram quea transmissão de malária na área deveu-se em grande parte a criaçãode tanques de piscicultura, que elevaram em cerca de 10 vezes aprodutividade de imaturos de Anopheles darlingi, e à grande mobilidadeda população, que se desloca para áreas de maior transmissão (comoárea ribeirinha e rural) e retorna infectada para a área urbana. Foramidentificados casos de portadores assintomáticos do Plasmódio, emboraem pequena quantidade. Os fatores associados a ausência de sintomas(infecção assintomática) foram o sexo e o tempo da última malária.Em pacientes sintomáticos, a frequência dos sintomas se relacionoucom idade, número de malárias previas e parasitemia. A concentraçãogeográfica dos casos deveu-se em parte a características socioeconômicasagregadas no espaço, em conjunto com fatores ambientais comopresença do vetor, visto que o uso infrequente de mosquiteiro associousecom a incidência maior de malária(AU)

This study evaluated the environmental changes of the urban landscapeof a municipality with a high incidence of malaria in the BrazilianAmazon (Mâncio Lima, Acre) and its relation with the disease, in orderto provide evidence that the transmission of Plasmodium is causedby the way humans interact with the environment. Three consecutivepopulation studies were carried out between 2012 and 2013, with1260 individuals, with plasmodium identification by microscopy andmolecular techniques. Malaria cases were analyzed using a clinicalquestionnaire. The entomological study involved 8 cross-sectionalsurveys with collection of immature forms in 90 bodies of water, aswell as spatial evaluation of these data. The results showed that thetransmission of malaria in the area was largely due to the creation offish tanks, which increased the immature productivity of Anophelesdarlingi by around 10 times, and the great mobility of the population,which moves to areas of greater transmission (as riverside and ruralarea) and returns infected to the urban area. Cases of asymptomaticPlasmodium carriers have been identified, albeit in small numbers.Factors associated with absence of symptoms (asymptomatic infection)were the sex and time of the last malaria. In symptomatic patients, thefrequency of symptoms was related to age, number of previous malariaand parasitemia. The geographic concentration of the cases was due inpart to aggregate socioeconomic characteristics in space, together withenvironmental factors such as vector presence, since the infrequent useof mosquito nets was associated with a higher incidence of malaria(AU)

Determinantes ambientais e não-ambientais da transmissão do plasmódio na paisagem urbana amazônica e suas consequências clínicas: estudo de base populacional em Mâncio Lima, Acre / Environmental and non- environmental determinants of plasmodium transmission in the Amazonian urban ladscape and its clinical consequences: a population- based study in Mâncio Lima, Acre

Este estudo avaliou as mudanças ambientais da paisagem urbana de um município com alta incidência de malária na Amazônia brasileira (Mâncio Lima, Acre) e sua relação com a doença, com o objetivo de prover evidências de que a transmissão do Plasmódio é causada pelo modo como os seres humanos interagem com o meio-ambiente. Foram efetuados três estudos populacionais consecutivos, entre 2012 e 2013, com 1260 indivíduos, com identificação do plasmódio por microscopia e técnicas moleculares. Casos de malária foram analisados mediante um questionário clinico. O estudo entomológico envolveu 8 inquéritos transversais com coleta de formas imaturas em 90 corpos d’água, bem como avaliação espacial desses dados. Os resultados mostraram que a transmissão de malária na área deveu-se em grande parte a criação de tanques de piscicultura, que elevaram em cerca de 10 vezes a produtividade de imaturos de Anopheles darlingi, e à grande mobilidade da população, que se desloca para áreas de maior transmissão (como área ribeirinha e rural) e retorna infectada para a área urbana. Foram identificados casos de portadores assintomáticos do Plasmódio, embora em pequena quantidade. Os fatores associados a ausência de sintomas (infecção assintomática) foram o sexo e o tempo da última malária. Em pacientes sintomáticos, a frequência dos sintomas se relacionou com idade, número de malárias previas e parasitemia. A concentração geográfica dos casos deveu-se em parte a características socioeconômicas agregadas no espaço, em conjunto com fatores ambientais como presença do vetor, visto que o uso infrequente de mosquiteiro associouse com a incidência maior de malária.

This study evaluated the environmental changes of the urban landscape of a municipality with a high incidence of malaria in the Brazilian Amazon (Mâncio Lima, Acre) and its relation with the disease, in order to provide evidence that the transmission of Plasmodium is caused by the way humans interact with the environment. Three consecutive population studies were carried out between 2012 and 2013, with 1260 individuals, with plasmodium identification by microscopy and molecular techniques. Malaria cases were analyzed using a clinical questionnaire. The entomological study involved 8 cross-sectional surveys with collection of immature forms in 90 bodies of water, as well as spatial evaluation of these data. The results showed that the transmission of malaria in the area was largely due to the creation of fish tanks, which increased the immature productivity of Anopheles darlingi by around 10 times, and the great mobility of the population, which moves to areas of greater transmission (as riverside and rural area) and returns infected to the urban area. Cases of asymptomatic Plasmodium carriers have been identified, albeit in small numbers. Factors associated with absence of symptoms (asymptomatic infection) were the sex and time of the last malaria. In symptomatic patients, the frequency of symptoms was related to age, number of previous malaria and parasitemia. The geographic concentration of the cases was due in part to aggregate socioeconomic characteristics in space, together with environmental factors such as vector presence, since the infrequent use of mosquito nets was associated with a higher incidence of malaria.

Plasma concentrations of CCL3 and CCL4 in the cardiac and digestive clinical forms of chronic Chagas disease.

The aim of this study was to investigate the plasma levels of the CCL3 and CCL4 chemokines in patients with the cardiac and digestive clinical forms of chronic Chagas disease and in cardiac patients with and without left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD). Plasma samples from 75 patients were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to confirm infection by T. cruzi. Plasma levels of the CCL3 and CCL4 chemokines were measured using Milliplex® MAP assay (Millipore). There were no significant differences in the levels of CCL3 and CCL4 between patients with the digestive and cardiac clinical forms of Chagas disease. Moreover, no significant differences were found between patients without LVSD and those with LVSD. Higher CCL3 and CCL4 plasma levels were found in patients with LVSD compared to those with the digestive form of the disease. The CCL3 and CCL4 chemokines might not be involved in differential susceptibility to the digestive and cardiac clinical forms of chronic Chagas disease, and it seems they do not influence the development of LVSD.

Prevalence of anemia in non-severe malaria cases in Mâncio Lima, Acre

Malaria, a parasitic disease, is a serious public health problem. In Brazil, the majority of cases are found in the Amazon. The clinical manifestations of malaria depend on several factors and they may be related to the development of anemia. This study evaluated the prevalence of anemia in malaria cases and its associated factors. The study was conducted in Mâncio Lima (Acre, Brazil). Participants were chosen through passive detection of malaria cases in the municipal health services. They were interviewed and blood samples analyzed for Plasmodium detection and for hemoglobin measurement. SPSS 13.0, software was applied for statistical analysis. One hundred and twenty patients with malaria were studied, of which 58.3% male and 41.7% female. There was a 25% prevalence of anemia, mainly among the women, and in those presenting symptoms for more than four days as well as headaches. The prevalence of anemia and its associated factors in these malaria patients may be connected, not only to the infection, but also to previous or overlapping diseases

Genetic Susceptibility to Cardiac and Digestive Clinical Forms of Chronic Chagas Disease: Involvement of the CCR5 59029 A/G Polymorphism.

The clinical manifestations of chronic Chagas disease include the cardiac form of the disease and the digestive form. Not all the factors that act in the variable clinical course of this disease are known. This study investigated whether the CCR5Δ32 (rs333) and CCR5 59029 A/G (promoter region--rs1799987) polymorphisms of the CCR5 gene are associated with different clinical forms of chronic Chagas disease and with the severity of left ventricular systolic dysfunction in patients with chronic Chagas heart disease (CCHD). The antibodies anti-T. cruzi were identified by ELISA. PCR and PCR-RFLP were used to identify the CCR5Δ32 and CCR5 59029 A/G polymorphisms. The chi-square test was used to compare variables between groups. There was a higher frequency of the AA genotype in patients with CCHD compared with patients with the digestive form of the disease and the control group. The results also showed a high frequency of the AG genotype in patients with the digestive form of the disease compared to the other groups. The results of this study show that the CCR5Δ32 polymorphism does not seem to influence the different clinical manifestations of Chagas disease but there is involvement of the CCR5 59029 A/G polymorphism in susceptibility to the different forms of chronic Chagas disease. Besides, these polymorphisms do not influence left ventricular systolic dysfunction in patients with CCHD.

Humoral immune responses against the malaria vaccine candidate antigen Plasmodium vivax AMA-1 and IL-4 gene polymorphisms in individuals living in an endemic area of the Brazilian Amazon.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have recently demonstrated that the immune responses against malaria is governed by different factors, including the genetic components of the host. The IL-4 gene appears to be a strong candidate factor because of its role in the regulation of the Th2 response. The present study investigated the role of IL-4 polymorphisms in the development of IgG antibodies against PvAMA-1 and the IL-4 levels in individuals infected with Plasmodium vivax in a malaria endemic area in the Brazilian Amazon. METHODS: The study sample included 83 patients who were diagnosed with P. vivax infection using thick smear and confirmed by nested-PCR. The IL-4 -590C>T and IL-4 -33C>T polymorphisms were genotyped by PCR-RFLP, and the intron 3 VNTR was genotyped by PCR. A standardised ELISA protocol was used to measure the total IgG against PvAMA-1. The cytokine/chemokine levels were measured using a Milliplex multiplex assay (Millipore). All of the subjects were genotyped with 48 ancestry informative markers to determine the proportions of African, European and Amerindian ancestry using STRUCTURE software. RESULTS: Of the 83 patients, 60 (73%) produced IgG antibodies against PvAMA-1. A significant decrease in the percentage of respondents was observed among the primo-infected individuals. No significant differences were observed in the frequencies of genotypes and haplotypes among individuals who were positive or negative for IgG antibodies against PvAMA-1. Furthermore, no significant correlation was observed between the IL-4 polymorphisms, antibody levels, IL-4 levels, and parasitemia. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that the polymorphisms identified in the IL-4 gene are not likely to play a role in the regulation of the antibody response against PvAMA-1 and IL-4 production in vivax malaria.

Soroprevalência de Anticorpos anti-Toxoplasma gondii em Amostras de Gestantes no Pré-Natal / Seroprevalence of Anti-Toxoplasma Gondii Antibodies in Samples of Pregnant Women in The Prenatal Care

Avaliar o perfil sorológico para toxoplasmose emamostragem de gestantes no pré-natal da região NoroestePaulista. Metodologia: Estudo retrospectivo e descritivoexploratório com abordagem quantitativa e qualitativa,realizado no período entre abril e agosto de 2013. Foramanalisados 186 prontuários de gestantes. Os dados dosprontuários foram coletados através de questionáriopadronizado pela equipe do estudo. Resultados: A média deidade das pacientes foi de 33 anos (dp ± 4,33). O pré-natal foiiniciado no primeiro trimestre por 87,63% das gestantes e93% eram primigestas. Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Assay foi atécnica laboratorial empregada na sorologia paratoxoplasmose. Foi identificada imunidade para o Toxoplasmagondii em 25,27% das gestantes, 73,65% tinham sorologianegativa e 1,08% tiveram sorologia positiva para os anticorposda classe IgM. No grupo sororreagente, 47 gestantes forampositivas somente para dosagem de anticorpos da classe IgG.Uma gestante teve sorologia positiva para os anticorpos dasclasses IgM (1,04) e IgG (700,0 UI/ml). A elevada avidez dosanticorpos IgG de 89% indica infecção há mais de três meses.Conclusão: A soronegatividade descrita na maioria dosprontuários estudados alerta sobre a importância daconscientização dessas mulheres para os riscos de contatocom o protozoário durante a gestação e reforça a necessidadedos exames diagnósticos para a toxoplasmose. Contudo, osresultados sororreagentes não garantem proteção total duranteo período gestacional, em decorrência da variabilidade decepas e virulência do Toxoplasma gondii...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the serologicalprofile for toxoplasmosis in pregnant women of the Northwestregion of São Paulo. Material and Methods: This was anexploratory descriptive study with quantitative and qualitativeapproaches, carried out between April and August 2013. Weanalyzed 186 medical records of pregnant women, which werecollected using a standardized questionnaire by the study team.Results: The mean age of the patients was 33 years (SD ±4.33). The prenatal care was initiated in the first quarter by87.63% of pregnant women and 93% were primigravidae. Thelaboratory technique used in the serology for toxoplasmosiswas the Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Assay. Immunity toToxoplasma gondii was identified in 25.27% of pregnant women,73.65% had negative serology and 1.08% had positive serologyfor IgM antibodies. Of the seropositive women, 47 were positiveonly for IgG antibodies. One pregnant woman was seropositivefor IgM (1.04) and IgG (700.0 IU/ml). The elevated IgG avidityof 89% indicates infection for more than three months.Conclusion: The seronegative results described in most of themedical records alert about the importance of awareness ofthese women to the risks of contact with the protozoan duringpregnancy. These findings reinforce the need for diagnostictests for toxoplasmosis. However, seropositive results do notguarantee full protection during pregnancy due to thevariability of strains and virulence of Toxoplasma gondii...

Epidemiologia da Leishmaniose Tegumentar e descrição das populações de flebotomíneos no município de Acrelândia, Acre, Brasil / Epidemiology of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis and description of phlebotomine sandfly populations in the city of Acrelandia, Acre, Brazil

São apresentadas neste artigo a distribuição da leishmaniose tegumentar (LT) e descrição das populações de flebotomíneos em Acrelândia, Acre. Os dados epidemiológicos foram obtidos a partir de fichas de notificação de casos ocorridos entre 2001 e 2004, e os dados entomológicos são provenientes de capturas com armadilhas luminosas efetuadas entre 2004 e 2005 na zona rural de Acrelândia. Ocorreram 82 novos casos de LT, com idade entre 2 e 69 anos, sendo 75,6 por cento em homens e 83,9 por cento na zona rural. Predominou a LT com lesões únicas (78 por cento). A microscopia direta da lesão, intradermorreação de Montenegro e biópsia apresentaram positividade de 100 por cento, 98 por cento e 79,5 por cento, respectivamente. A resposta ao tratamento farmacológico foi bem sucedida em 71,6 por cento dos casos; a falência terapêutica foi maior em pacientes com diagnóstico exclusivamente clínico (41,2 por cento) e nos que receberam dose diária inadequada de antimonial pentavalente (64,3 por cento). Foram coletados 40 espécimes de flebotomíneos em propriedades rurais com casos de LT (3 gêneros, 14 espécies), sendo 3 espécies conhecidas como vetoras ou possíveis vetoras de Leishmania: Nyssomyia antunesi predominou no peridomicílio (59,1 por cento) e em margens de matas; Nyssomyia whitmani foi freqüente no peridomicílio (15 por cento) e a única espécie encontrada no intradomicílio, e Trichophoromyia ubiquitalis foi capturada no peridomicílio. O uso de dados epidemiológicos existentes no serviço de saúde de Acrelândia, embora com várias limitações, permitiu avaliar a eficácia do diagnóstico e o tratamento empregados no município, enquanto os dados entomológicos coletados podem orientar estudos mais amplos visando identificar os vetores e espécies circulantes na região.

Mixed Plasmodium falciparum infections and its clinical implications in four areas of the Brazilian Amazon region.

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence pattern of mixed-Plasmodium falciparum malaria infections in Brazil by molecular diagnosis and to address its clinically important features. DNA was extracted from 115 thick blood film P. falciparum human blood positive samples using the phenol-chloroform method, followed by a semi-nested PCR protocol with species-specific primers. Seventy-three percent of P. falciparum single infections and 26.95% of mixed infections were found. Amongst mixed infections, the majority was double infection (96.77%). Our results suggest that the prevalence of one species over the other can be important on weakening P. falciparum malaria clinical symptoms. We confirm that P. falciparum co-infections frequently occur in Brazilian malaria endemic areas, with underestimated diagnosis. The results point to the need of improving microscopy or changing for another accurate diagnosis technique to differentiate among human malaria species, as this is essential to choose the best treatment and control measure for malaria. More investigations are necessary in order to clarify the role of mixed-infections in the severity of P. falciparum disease.

A new polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism protocol for Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite protein genotype (VK210, VK247, and P. vivax-like) determination.

For the molecular diagnosis of Plasmodium vivax variants (VK210, VK247, and P. vivax-like) using DNA amplification procedures in the laboratory, the choice of rapid and inexpensive identification products of the 3 different genotypes is an important prerequisite. We report here the standardization of a new polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism technique to identify the 3 described P. vivax circumsporozoite protein (CSP) variants using amplification of the central immunodominant region of the CSP gene of this protozoan. The simplicity, specificity, and sensitivity of the system described here is important to determine the prevalence and the distribution of infection with these P. vivax genotypes in endemic and nonendemic malaria areas, enabling a better understanding of their phylogeny.

Plasmodium vivax infection among Duffy antigen-negative individuals from the Brazilian Amazon region: an exception?

We present evidence for Plasmodium vivax infection among Duffy blood group-negative inhabitants of Brazil. The P. vivax identification was determined by both genotypic and non-genotypic screening tests. The Duffy blood group was genotyped by PCR/RFLP and phenotyped using a microtyping kit. We detected two homozygous FY*B-33 carriers infected by P. vivax, whose circumsporozoite protein genotypes were VK210 and/or P. vivax-like. Additional efforts are necessary in order to clarify the evidence that P. vivax is being transmitted among Duffy blood group-negative patients from the Brazilian Amazon region.

Molecular screening of Plasmodium sp. asymptomatic carriers among transfusion centers from Brazilian Amazon region.

The transmission of malaria in Brazil is heterogeneous throughout endemic areas and the presence of asymptomatic Plasmodium sp. carriers (APCs) in the Brazilian Amazon has already been demonstrated. Malaria screening in blood banks is based on the selection of donors in respect to possible risks associated with travel or residence, clinical evidence and/or inaccurate diagnostic methods thereby increasing the probability of transfusion-transmitted infection. We evaluated the frequency of APCs in four blood services in distinct areas of the Brazilian Amazon region. DNA was obtained from 400 human blood samples for testing using the phenol-chloroform method followed by a nested-PCR protocol with species-specific primers. The positivity rate varied from 1 to 3% of blood donors from the four areas with an average of 2.3%. All positive individuals had mixed infections for Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum. No significant differences in the results were detected among these areas; the majority of cases originated from the transfusion centres of Porto Velho, Rondônia State and Macapá, Amapá State. Although it is still unclear whether APC individuals may act as reservoirs of the parasite, efficient screening of APCs and malaria patients in Brazilian blood services from endemic areas needs to be improved.

Molecular screening of Plasmodium sp. asymptomatic carriers among transfusion centers from Brazilian Amazon region

The transmission of malaria in Brazil is heterogeneous throughout endemic areas and the presence of asymptomatic Plasmodium sp. carriers (APCs) in the Brazilian Amazon has already been demonstrated. Malaria screening in blood banks is based on the selection of donors in respect to possible risks associated with travel or residence, clinical evidence and/or inaccurate diagnostic methods thereby increasing the probability of transfusion-transmitted infection. We evaluated the frequency of APCs in four blood services in distinct areas of the Brazilian Amazon region. DNA was obtained from 400 human blood samples for testing using the phenol-chloroform method followed by a nested-PCR protocol with species-specific primers. The positivity rate varied from 1 to 3 percent of blood donors from the four areas with an average of 2.3 percent. All positive individuals had mixed infections for Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum. No significant differences in the results were detected among these areas; the majority of cases originated from the transfusion centres of Porto Velho, Rondônia State and Macapá, Amapá State. Although it is still unclear whether APC individuals may act as reservoirs of the parasite, efficient screening of APCs and malaria patients in Brazilian blood services from endemic areas needs to be improved.

A transmissão da malária no Brasil é heterogênea em todas as áreas endêmicas e a presença de portadores assintomáticos de Plasmodium sp. (PAPs) na Amazônia brasileira já foi demonstrada. A triagem de pacientes maláricos em bancos de sangue é baseada na seleção dos doadores com relação aos riscos possíveis associados com residência, evidência clínica e/ou os métodos diagnósticos não acurados que aumentam a probabilidade da infecção transmitida por transfusão. Avaliamos a freqüência de PAPs em quatro bancos de sangue em áreas distintas da região Amazônica brasileira. O DNA foi obtido a partir de 400 amostras de sangue humano usando o método do fenol-clorofórmio, seguido por um protocolo de nested-PCR com oligonucleotídeos espécie-específicos. A taxa de positividade variou de 1 a 3 por cento de doadores do sangue das quatro áreas, com uma média de 2,3 por cento. Todos os indivíduos positivos tinham infecções mistas entre o Plasmodium vivax e o Plasmodium falciparum. Nenhuma diferença significativa nos resultados foi detectada entre estas áreas; a maioria dos casos originou dos Hemocentros de Porto Velho, do Estado de Rondônia e de Macapá, Estado do Amapá. Embora ainda não esteja claro se os indivíduos PAPs possam agir como reservatórios do parasito, a triagem eficiente de PAPs e de pacientes com malária em bancos de sangue no Brasil das áreas endêmicas necessita ser implementada.

Bacterial, yeast, parasitic, and viral enteropathogens in HIV-infected children from São Paulo State, Southeastern Brazil.

We present here the frequency of enteropathogens in an HIV-infected children group and investigate their correlation with clinical and sociodemographic characteristics by collecting 100 stool samples from 55 HIV-seropositive Brazilian children. All specimens were processed according to standard methods for bacterial and yeast detection. A commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect protozoan, and to perform virus detection, molecular tests were applied. Consumption of raw vegetables and fruits and severe immunosuppression were significantly associated with diarrhea. Cryptosporidium parvum was the commonest enteropathogen, followed by Candida albicans, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, and astrovirus. The number of potential pathogenic agents identified in fecal specimens in asymptomatic HIV-seropositive infants is high, which raises the need for additional investigation in this area as well as in other Brazilian regions.

Frequencies of ABO, MNSs, and Duffy phenotypes among blood donors and malaria patients from four Brazilian Amazon areas.

We compared the serological phenotypic frequencies of ABO, MNSs, and Duffy in 417 blood donors and 309 malaria patients from four Brazilian Amazon areas. Our results suggest no correlation between ABO phenotype and malaria infection in all areas studied. We observed significant correlation between the S +s +, S +s -, and S -s + phenotypes and malaria infection in three areas. Some of the Duffy phenotypes showed significant correlation between donors and malaria patients in different areas. These data are an additional contribution to the establishment of differential host susceptibility to malaria.

Performance of an immunoenzymatic assay for Cryptosporidium diagnosis of fecal samples.

We evaluated the diagnostic performance of a Cryptosporidium immunoenzymatic assay (ELISA). Fecal samples were collected from 94 HIV-seropositive patients. All specimens were processed with a commercially-available ELISA to detect C. parvum specific coproantigen and with a modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain (ZNm) microscope exam. Overall, sensitivity of the immunoenzymatic test was 100%, with a specificity of 96%; positive and negative predictive values were 89% and 100%, respectively. The commercial ELISA and ZNm proved to be valuable diagnostic tools for Cryptosporidium infection.

Evaluation of an immunochromatography test for malaria diagnosis under different storage conditions.

This study aimed to evaluate the second-generation OptiMal test for malaria diagnosis under various storage conditions. It detected all the positive samples, except for two Plasmodium malariae samples. Further research evaluating diverse environmental conditions are important for ICT test applicability in Brazilian malaria areas.

Evaluation of an immunochromatography test for malaria diagnosis under different storage conditions

Este estudo objetiva avaliar o desempenho do teste OptiMal de segunda geração para o diagnóstico de malária em diferentes condições de estocagem. Ele detectou todas as amostras positivas, exceto duas amostras de Plasmodium malariae. Futuras pesquisas avaliando as diversas condições ambientais são importantes para a aplicabilidade do ICT em áreas de malária brasileira.

Performance of an immunoenzymatic assay for Cryptosporidium diagnosis of fecal samples

We evaluated the diagnostic performance of a Cryptosporidium immunoenzymatic assay (ELISA). Fecal samples were collected from 94 HIV-seropositive patients. All specimens were processed with a commercially-available ELISA to detect C. parvum specific coproantigen and with a modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain (ZNm) microscope exam. Overall, sensitivity of the immunoenzymatic test was 100 percent, with a specificity of 96 percent; positive and negative predictive values were 89 percent and 100 percent, respectively. The commercial ELISA and ZNm proved to be valuable diagnostic tools for Cryptosporidium infection.