Nyssorhynchus dunhami: bionomics and natural infection by Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax in the Peruvian Amazon

BACKGROUND Nyssorhynchus dunhami, a member of the Nuneztovari Complex, has been collected in Brazil, Colombia, and Peru and described as zoophilic. Although to date Ny. dunhami has not been documented to be naturally infected by Plasmodium, it is frequently misidentified as other Oswaldoi subgroup species that are local or regional malaria vectors. OBJECTIVES The current study seeks to verify the morphological identification of Nuneztovari Complex species collected in the peri-Iquitos region of Amazonian Peru, to determine their Plasmodium infection status, and to describe ecological characteristics of their larval habitats. METHODS We collected Ny. nuneztovari s.l. adults in 2011-2012, and Ny. nuneztovari s.l. larvae and adults in 2016-2017. When possible, samples were identified molecularly using cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) barcode sequencing. Adult Ny. nuneztovari s.l. from 2011-2012 were tested for Plasmodium using real-time PCR. Environmental characteristics associated with Ny. nuneztovari s.l. larvae-positive water bodies were evaluated. FINDINGS We collected 590 Ny. nuneztovari s.l. adults and 116 larvae from eight villages in peri-Iquitos. Of these, 191 adults and 111 larvae were identified by COI sequencing; all were Ny. dunhami. Three Ny. dunhami were infected with P. falciparum, and one with P. vivax, all collected from one village on one night. Ny. dunhami larvae were collected from natural and artificial water bodies, and their presence was positively associated with other Anophelinae larvae and amphibians, and negatively associated with people living within 250m. MAIN CONCLUSIONS Of Nuneztovari Complex species, we identified only Ny. dunhami across multiple years in eight peri-Iquitos localities. This study is, to our knowledge, the first report of natural infection of molecularly identified Ny. dunhami with Plasmodium. We advocate the use of molecular identification methods in this region to monitor Ny. dunhami and other putative secondary malaria vectors to more precisely evaluate their importance in malaria transmission.

Atividade antimalárica, espectro e mecanismo de ação de compostos de rutênio e platina com a cloroquina / Antimalarial activity, spectrum and mechanism of action of ruthenium and platinum compounds with chloroquine

INTRODUÇÃO: A malária é uma das doenças infecciosas de maior incidência e que mais leva a óbito no mundo. Os medicamentos disponíveis são capazes de combater o parasita no ciclo intraeritrocítico, no entanto há cepas resistentes ao tratamento com quinolinas e temisininas. Além disso, os medicamentos em uso clínico não eliminam as formas sexuadas do parasita, responsáveis pela transmissão, nem os hipnozoítos, fase hepática latente causadora das recidivas da doença. Em virtude disso, é necessário identificar novos fármacos antimaláricos. Dentre as classes de moléculas com potencial terapêutico antimalárico, os complexos com metais de transição se destacam como possíveis candidatos...

Metabolomics in the fight against malaria

Metabolomics uses high-resolution mass spectrometry to provide a chemical fingerprint of thousands of metabolites present in cells, tissues or body fluids. Such metabolic phenotyping has been successfully used to study various biologic processes and disease states. High-resolution metabolomics can shed new light on the intricacies of host-parasite interactions in each stage of the Plasmodium life cycle and the downstream ramifications on the host’s metabolism, pathogenesis and disease. Such data can become integrated with other large datasets generated using top-down systems biology approaches and be utilised by computational biologists to develop and enhance models of malaria pathogenesis relevant for identifying new drug targets or intervention strategies. Here, we focus on the promise of metabolomics to complement systems biology approaches in the quest for novel interventions in the fight against malaria. We introduce the Malaria Host-Pathogen Interaction Center (MaHPIC), a new systems biology research coalition. A primary goal of the MaHPIC is to generate systems biology datasets relating to human and non-human primate (NHP) malaria parasites and their hosts making these openly available from an online relational database. Metabolomic data from NHP infections and clinical malaria infections from around the world will comprise a unique global resource.

Epidemiological profile of malaria in a University Hospital in the eastern region of Suadi Arabia

To study the epidemiological, clinical and hematological profile of laboratory-diagnosed malaria cases at King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia, during the period from January 1990 to December 1999, and to provide suitable recommendations accordingly. This was a clinical case series study of confirmed cases presenting to King Fahd Hospital of the Univeristy during the period from January 1990 to December 1999. A specially designed form was used for data collection and 602, laboratory-confirmed cases of malaria were retrospectively analyzed. There were 602 cases with a mean age of 25.8 + 14.3 and a male to female ratio of 2.9:1. Less than half the cases were Saudis [42%], most of whom [93%] reported a history of travel to the Southwestern part of the Kingdom. The highest frequency of cases was observed in the years 1992, 1994 and 1998 and 40% of the cases were diagnosed during the months of February, March and September. Plasmodium falciparum was the most common species among Saudi [83%], Sudanese [72%] and Yemeni [64%] patients, while Plasmodium vivax was predominant among others. Most of these cases [75%] had a history of travel to their home countries [endemic areas]. The most common clinical presentation was fever [97%], while the most common clinical signs were splenomegaly [9%] and jaundice [8%]. Anemia [60%] and thrombocytopenia [53%] were the most common hematological findings. Although it appears that the Eastern Province is still free of indigenous malaria transmission, this could not be confirmed by the data. Imported cases, however represent a continuous threat due to the existence of such vectors as Anopheles stephensi, Anopheles fluviatilis, Anopheles sergentii and Anopheles superpictus and a large number of non-immune persons. It is recommended that malaria be always considered in the differential diagnosis of all acute fevers, especially among those with a history of travel to an endemic area. Prompt diagnosis and treatment is necessary. Chemoprophylaxis, when traveling to endemic areas is mandatory, as well as the use of other primary preventive measures to protect against mosquito bites

Criopreservación de plasmodium, novyella, juxtanucleare con glicerol / Cryopreservation of plasmodium, novyella, juxtanucleare with glycerol

Se evaluó la criopreservación de Plasmodium juxtanucleare utilizando glicerol bajo cuatro concentraciones (20 por ciento, 16 por ciento, 12 por ciento, y 8 pro ciento). Posteriormente, congelamiento a -196ºC, por seis meses, la sangre fue descongelada e inoculada en pollos, tres pollos para cada concentración de glicerol (CG). Se realizó frotis sanguíneos diarios, de las aves, durante 35 días. El análisis de variables biológicas reveló que la parasitemia fue directamente proporcional a CG, el período pre-patente fue de 12,4 ñ 2,7 días, el pico máximo de parasitemia (PMP) fue de 23,5 ñ 3,5 días y la duración media de la parasitemia fue de 33,6 ñ 1,0 días. La tasa de hemólisis varió de 12,45 por ciento a 40 por ciento y, fue inversamente proporcional a CG. Hubo diferencia significativa (P<0,05) en cuanto a PMP; donde el inoculo con glicerol a 12 por ciento difirió de los demás, presentando el mayor PMP (30,5 ñ 0,5). La parasitemia media, de los grupos experimentales tuvo el inicio entre el séptimo y octavo día post-inoculación (DPI), durando, en media, hasta el 35º DPI. El grupo que recibió inoculo con glicerol a 20 por ciento presentó la mayor y más alta parasitemia. El glicerol a 20 por ciento fue la concentración más eficiente para la criopreservación de P. juxtanucleare

Esquizogonia exoeritrocítica plasmática en plasmodium, novyella, juxtanucleare, apicomplexa, plasmodiidae / Plasmatic exoerythrocytic merogony in plasmodium, novyella, juxtanucleare, apicomplexa, plasmodiidae

Se realizó un estudio de los esquizontes exoeritrocíticos plasmáticos de plasmodium juxtanucleare en gallinas sin raza difinida, provenientes del município de Seropédica, estado de Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Al examen sanguíneo se pudo observar en aves con alto índice de parasitémia eritrocítica (>10 por ciento) formas esquizogónicas exoeritrocíticas libres, con un tamaño promedio de 7,492 ñ 2,308 X 5,926 ñ 2,048 µm; conteniendo una média de 15 ñ 16,92 merozoítas. Estos esquizontes se presentaron con características pleomórficas de redondeado a oval, con merozoítos de núcleo basofílico. Se observó también, formas de esquizontes rotos con merozoítas libres. Estas y otras observaciones, reportadas y discutidas, hacen inferir que la cepa de P. juxtanucleare estudiada, realiza un ciclo paraeritrocítico. Se sugiere que P. juxtanucleare es una espécie de plasmodio, evolutivamente, intermediário entre los plasmodios de reptiles y los de mamíferos

Manifestaciones clínicas y hematológicas de paludismo congénito. Revisión a propósito de un caso / Clinical and hematological manifestations of congenital paludism. Review of a case

El paludismo congénito es un padecimiento poco frecuente y por lo tanto poco sospechado, principalmente en los centros hospitalarios de comunidades con baja endemicidad. Sin embargo, es factible que se pueda diagnosticar cuando el índice de sospecha es alto, o bien en forma casual, cuando el cuadro y la evolución clínica obligan a los médicos tratantes a socilitar valoraciones por otros servicios. Se presenta el caso de un niño originario y residente en el Distrito Federal, que desde las 24 horas de vida presenta cuadro clínico compatible con sepsis neonatal, recibiendo incluso tratamiento para la misma con evolución aparentemente satisfactoria, pero que posteriormente presenta alteraciones hematológicas caracterizadas por anemia, leucopenia y trombocitopenia. Se detectó la presencia de hematozoario en frotis de sangre periférica en dos determinaciones, lo cual se confirma mediante prueba de ELISA. Recibe tratamiento con cloroquina y responde satisfactoriamente, con controles posteriores negativos y disminución de las cifras de anticuerpos. Se corrobora además, presencia del hematozoario en la madre, aparentemente sin factores de riesgo

Parasitosis en huéspedes inmunosuprimidos: revisión / Parasitosis in immunosuppressed hosts: review

Existe escasa información sobre las características de las parasitosis en huéspedes inmunosuprimidos. Esta revisión recoge aspectos de importancia clínica en la infestación de huéspedes inmunodeficientes con Pneumocystis carinii, Toxoplasma gondii, Strongyloides stercoralis, Trichinella spiralis, como también protozoarios de los géneros Cryptosporidium, Plasmodium, Leishmania y parasitosis intestinales. Se detallan características clínicas, pruebas diagnósticas y tratamiento y se analizan los casos presentados en el programa de trasplante renal del Hospital Universitario de Maracaibo