Occurrence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodiesin dogs in rural areas in Minas Gerais, Brazil / Ocorrência de anticorpos anti-Neospora caninum em cães de áreas rurais em Minas Gerais, Brasil

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies and risk factors associated with seropositivity in 240 dogs from rural areas of the Lavras, Belo Horizonte and Nanuque regions, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT) with a cutoff of 50 was used to assess the frequency of seropositive dogs. The risk factor analysis was performed using the Chi-square test (χ2) and multiple logistic regression. The frequency of seropositivity for N. caninum was 15% of the dogs (36/240). Presence of dogs without defined breed (p = 0.018; OR = 5.9) and presence of cattle on the farm (p = 0.053, OR = 4.3) were associated with N. caninum seropositivity. Dogs in the Nanuque region had higher seropositivity for N. caninum (29.9%) than did those in the Lavras (6.2%) and Belo Horizonte (2.2%) regions (p < 0.05). The presence of seropositive dogs in rural areas of Minas Gerais demonstrates the potential risk of horizontal transmission of N. caninum to cattle, especially from dogs without defined breed, which were four times more likely to be seropositive than purebred dogs were.

O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a frequência de anticorpos anti-Neospora caninum e fatores de risco associados à soropositividade, em 240 cães de áreas rurais, nas regiões de Lavras, Belo Horizonte e Nanuque, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Foi utilizada a reação de imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI), com um ponto de corte igual a 50, para avaliar a frequência de cães soropositivos. A análise dos fatores de risco foi realizada pelo teste de Qui-quadrado (χ2) e regressão logística múltipla. A frequência de cães soropositivos para N. caninum foi de 15% (36/240). A presença de cães sem raça definida (SRD) (p = 0,018; OR = 5,9) e bovinos na propriedade (p = 0,053; OR = 4,3) foi associada à soropositividade pelo N. caninum. A frequência de cães soropositivos foi mais elevada na região de Nanuque (29,9%), quando comparados aos das regiões de Lavras (6,2%) e Belo Horizonte (2,2%) (p < 0,05). A presença de cães soropositivos, em áreas rurais de Minas Gerais, demonstra o risco potencial da transmissão horizontal de N. caninum para os bovinos, especialmente os cães SRD, que apresentaram quatro vezes mais a chance de serem soropositivos em relação aos cães com raça definida.

Studies on a newly emerging protozoal pathogen: cyclospora cayetanensis

Cyclospora is frequently misdiagnosed with Cryptosporidia. Stool samples were collected from 150 immunocompromised patients and concentrated by the parasep fecal parasite concentration and the discontinuous Percoll gradients methods. Wet mount examination was done and the parasite was successfully stained with modified Ziehl Neelsen [ZN] and safranin methylene blue stain. Cyclospora was detected in 4% of the examined cases. Cyclospora was easily differentiated from Cryptosporidia by using the modified detergent ZN stain, whereby Cyclospora resisted staining and Cryptosporidia pick up the pink coloration. Scanning and transmission electron microscopic examinations were done to the unsporulated Cyclospora oocysts. They appeared as spherical objects with an outer fibrillar coat, an indentation and sutures. These spherical objects also contained light and dark granules. In studying the possible sources of transmission of this parasite, sporulated and unsporulated oocysts were detected in tap water and lettuce heads, which supported the theory that water and food could be the sources of transmission of this parasite

Coccidian parasites as a cause of watery diarrhoea among protein energy malnourished and other immunocompromised Egyptian children

The role of coccidian parasites in the pathogenesis of watery diarrhea was studied among children with protein energy malnutrition [PEM] immunocompromised due to causes other than PEM and immunocompetent diarrheic cases of matched age and sex as controls. The results showed that the prevalence of infection was 15.48%, Cryptosporidium was the most prevalent and showed 14.19% [18.3%, 17.5% and 7.3% in PEM, immunocompromised and immunocompetent cases, respectively]. Cyclospora oocysts were detected only among two cases of PEM group. Isospora oocysts were not detected in any of the studied groups. Modified Ziehl-Neelsen [ZN] technique was found to be the most reliable technique for identification of coccidian protozoa infection in stool. Giardia lamblia cysts were found in 10.97% and Entamoeba histolytica in 5.16% of cases. Mixed infection [G. lamblia and E. Histolytica] was found in 2.58% of the cases. The duration of diarrhoea was more prolonged in Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora infections among PEM and immunocompromised cases. Cryptosporidium is one of the important causes of watery diarrhoea in infants and children in PEM and immunocompromised patients

Primer hallazgo de cyclospora cayetanensis en Concepción: Chile 1997 / First finding of cyclospora cayetanensis in Concepción: Chile 1997

Se describe el hallazgo de Cyclospora cayetanensis en una muestra de deposición, en la cual se observó también formas vacuoladas de Blastocystis hominis y trofozoítos y quistes de Entamoeba coli. La muestra provenía de un paciente de 50 años de edad, de sexo femenino, quien había visitado Cuba, y que, a los 5 días de regreso a Chile, comenzó con sintomatología. El examen parasitológico seriado de deposición se llevó al cabo 30 días después de su regreso al país. Se realizó observación al fresco de heces preservadas en fijador PAF (fenol, alcohol, formalina) con lugol, MIF (merthiolate, lugol, formol), y yodo de D'Antoni; al mismo tiempo se prepararon 3 frotis de sedimento fecal los que fueron teñidos mediante tinción de Ziehl Neeisen modificada, Kinyou y Safranina. Una proporción de los ooquistes encontrados fueron medidos. La identificación de C. cayetanensis fue confirmada en esta muestra por el Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC Atianta, Georgia, USA) y por el Departamento de Parasitología del Hospital for Tropical Diseases (London UK). Este constituye el primer hallazgo de C. cayetanensis informado en Concepción, Chile

Características morfológicas, clínicas y terapéuticas de cyclospora cayetanensis / Morphological, clinical and therapeutic characteristics of cyclospora cayetanensis

In the last years Cyclospora sp. has been increasingly associated to human intestinal diseases. The first studies have been reported to this parasite as a Cyanobacterium-like body, large Cryptosporidium or coccidian-like body. The ultrastructural characteristic and the "in vitro" sporulation have revealed the existence of oocyst constituted for two sporocysts with two sporozoites per sporocyst. This evidence has allowed its classification as a coccidian within the genus Cyclospora and its designation as a new pathogen species in humans, Cyclospora cayetanensis. Recently phylogenetic analysis based on rDNA sequences suggested that Cyclospora sp. was closely related to the Eimeria genus. The identification, morphological characteristics, clinical evaluation and chemotherapy of the human intestinal disease asssociated to Cyclospora sp. are commented in the present paper