First Report of Orange Rust of Sugarcane Caused by Puccinia kuehnii in Mexico, El Salvador, and Panama.

Symptoms of sugarcane orange rust were observed on July 17, 2008 on sugarcane cvs. Mex 57-1285, Mex 61-230, and Co 301 (a clone received in Mexico in 1953) at the Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo de la Caña de Azúcar en Tuxtla Chico, Chiapas, Mexico. In El Salvador, from August 2008 through January 2009, rust symptoms were observed on cv. CP 72-2086 (previously resistant to brown rust caused by Puccinia melanocephala Syd. & P. Syd.) in 117 dispersed sugarcane-production fields in various localities of El Salvador. Likewise, rust symptoms were first observed on sugarcane cv. SP 74-8355 (more than 25% severity and considered resistant to brown rust) at Natá, Coclé Province in Panama from January to February 2008. Dried herbarium leaf samples of sugarcane rust-infected leaves collected in El Salvador and Mexico were sent to the ARS, USDA Systematic Mycology and Microbiology Laboratory in Beltsville MD for identification. Panamanian samples were collected similarly and analyzed at the CALESA Biotechnology Laboratory. Morphological features of uredinial lesions and urediniospores were distinct from those of P. melanocephala and consistent with P. kuehnii E. J. Butler observed previously on specimens from Florida, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua (1-3). Analysis of the ITS1, 5.8S, and ITS2 and 28S large subunit rDNA sequences of the rust on infected cvs. Mex 57-1285, Mex 61-230, and Co 301 (BPI 878930, 879139, and 879140; GenBank Accession Nos. GO283006, GO283004, and GO283005, respectively) from Mexico and cv. CP 72-2086 from three locations in El Salvador (BPI 879135, 879136, and 879137; GenBank Accession Nos. GO283009, GO283007, and GO283008, respectively) all confirmed the identification of P. kuehnii. Similar analysis of the ITS1, 5.8S, and ITS2 rDNA sequence for the rust infecting cv. SP 74-8355 (GenBank Accession No. GO281584) confirmed the identification of P. kuehnii in Panama. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. kuehnii causing orange rust disease of sugarcane in El Salvador, Mexico, and Panama. These findings also confirm the wider distribution of orange rust in the Western Hemisphere. References: (1) E. Chavarria et al. Plant Dis. 93:425, 2009. (2) J. C. Comstock et al. Plant Dis. 92:175, 2008. (3) W. Ovalle et al. Plant Dis. 92:973, 2008.

Balantidiasis: report of a fatal case with appendicular and pulmonary involvement.

A case of fatal balantidial infection with appendicular and pulmonary involvement in a Venezuelan farmer is reported. The clinical, post-mortem and histological features are described.

Effect of isofluorane anesthesia on serum levels of Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn and Co in humans.

In this study the levels of zinc, copper, iron, manganese and cobalt were determined in serum of 25 male and 15 female patients, aged 18 to 35 years, with various pathologies requiring surgery, and who had received isofluorane anesthesia. Significant differences were detected in the concentration of zinc, copper, iron and manganese between presurgical and post-anesthesia samples. The truly striking finding in the present study was the significant increase in serum Zn in the post-operative period. The fact that alterations in the serum levels of these elements occurred only after a considerable time had elapsed following the intervention (24 hours), leads to the conclusion that the changes in serum cation concentration very likely result from surgical trauma and not from isofluorane anesthesia per se.

Topical tretinoin 0.1% for pregnancy-related abdominal striae: an open-label, multicenter, prospective study.

In an open-label, multicenter, prospective study, 20 women applied tretinoin (retinoic acid) cream 0.1% daily for 3 months to pregnancy-related stretch marks in the abdominal area. Efficacy was evaluated by analysis of one preselected target lesion, which was rated on a six-point scale (-1 = worse to 4 = cleared). At week 12, significant global improvement was noted from baseline in all stretch marks, and the target lesion decreased in length by 20% (P = .01). Erythema and scaling, the most common adverse events, occurred in 11 patients, decreased in severity after the first month of treatment, and were controlled with continued application of tretinoin and petroleum jelly ointment. In this small study, topical application of tretinoin significantly improved the clinical appearance of pregnancy-related stretch marks.

[Malaria in the region of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, 1980 to 1994]. / Malária na região de Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil, 1980 a 1994.

According to epidemiological data, from 1980 to 1994, 2,781 cases of malaria were registered as follows: DIR XII-Campinas (49.3%), DIR XV-Piracicaba (41.3%) and DIR XX-São João da Boa Vista (9.4%). The Plasmodium vivax was found in 70.6% of the patients; Plasmodium falciparum in 25.4% and 4% of the patients presented a mixed infection. The epidemiological classification showed that 95% of the cases came from the States of Rondônia, Mato Grosso and Par. The masculine sex, between the age of 20 to 39 years old, was responsible for 84.3% of the confirmed cases. During the study period, 9 cases of induced malaria were registered: 5 of which through blood transfusion, 3 through the sharing of syringes and infected needles among drug users and one occurrence of congenital malaria. 5 deaths were registered in patients prime-infected by Plasmodium falciparum with late diagnosis. The set of variables studied enabled a greater understanding of the epidemiology of malaria in the region and to subsidize and indicate the process of decentralization of attendance, diagnosis and treatment of the patient, as well as the control and epidemiological surveillance of the endemic disease in Campinas region and in the State of São Paulo.

[Sandflies (Diptera, Psychodidae) from the transmission area for American cutaneous leishmaniasis in the town of Itupeva, the southeastern region of São Paulo state, Brazil]. / Flebotomíneos (Diptera, Psychodidae) de área de transmissão de leishmaniose tegumentar americana, no município de Itupeva, região sudeste do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil.

The present study was effected aiming the verification of the seasonal, spatial and hourly of the phlebotominic species found in the county of Itupeva. Captures were performed fortnightly and 864 sand flies were collected between april/94 and march/95. 81.3% of the captured specimens belonged to 4 species: L. migonei (32.4%), L. whitmani (26.0%), L. intermedia (12.0%) e L. fischeri (10.9%). Such species showed larger densities during the cold and dry season of the year (from april to september/94) and were more active between the second and the fifth hour after twilight. L. migonei predominated almost in all the investigated surroundings being followed by L. whitmani and L. longipalpis in the domestic environments. In conclusion it is thought that in conjunction with L. intermedia, a suspect vector in the State of São Paulo, L. migonei and L. whitmani may have an important role in the transmission of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the area under study.

[Triatoma infestans in area under entomological surveillance for Chagas' disease in São Paulo State, Brazil]. / Triatoma infestans em área sob vigilância entomológica para doença de Chagas, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil.

In response to notification of the capture of a winged triatomine bug by local inhabitants, an epidemiological investigation was investigated in the rural area of the Municipality of Paulínia, São Paulo State (Brazil). This led to the collection of 109 specimens of Triatoma infestans from peridomiciliary breeding sites. Local conditions favored colonization by triatomine bugs: many abandoned outbuildings were inhabited by pigeons and sparrows, which meant abundant feed for these bugs. Thus, surveillance is mandatory as long as conditions for triatomine breeding persist. Nevertheless, entomological and serological indicators ruled out immediate concern over vectorial transmission of Chagas' disease in this municipality. All domiciliary units of the region were sprayed with residual-effect insecticides and the triatomine breeding sites were destroyed by the use of mechanical control of bird nests. The importance of reporting the occurrence of triatomine bugs, particularly Triatoma infestans, in this region, is emphasized.

[Dengue fever: a post-epidemic sero-epidemiological survey in an urban area setting at a northwestern county of São Paulo State, Brazil]. / Dengue: inquérito sorológico pós-epidêmico em zona urbana do Estado de São Paulo (Brasil).

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the real size of the epidemics registered in the urban area of the county of Santa Bárbara D'Oeste, SP, Brazil, from April to June, 1995. The measurement of the epidemiological validity of the official surveillance system criteria and its positive predicted value were adopted as specific goals. METHODS: A sero-epidemiological survey was carried out over a sample of 1,113 sera from citizens of Santa Barbara D'Oeste, through a systematic random sampling of houses, five months after the end of the epidemics. Infection rates were compared with the infestation indexes by Aedes aegipty and the notified cases amongst the county sections. The importance of submitting patients with clinical suspicion of dengue to laboratory tests was discussed. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: It was found that infection rates by dengue virus varied in the same direction and proportion as the presence of Aedes aegipty larvae reported by the "Breteau Index", as well as the number of cases reported by the official notifiable diseases surveillance system during the epidemics. A prevalence of 630 by 100 thousand inhabitants was found, a 15-fold rate when compared to the laboratory positive sera from cases detected by the surveillance system during the epidemics. A retrospective comparison with the surveillance reports, using serological results as a gold standard, also showed that the majority of dengue specific serum-positive individuals were not detected during the epidemics, otherwise cases that did not present serological reaction were notified exhibiting a low positive predictive value of clinical diagnosis (15,6).

[Congenital malaria in the county of Leme, SP]. / Malária congênita no município de Leme, SP.

Congenital malaria associated to Plasmodium vivax in a newborn baby (14 days old) is reported. The mother lived in a malaria-prone area, and came up to the county of Leme, São Paulo state, 40 days before baby's birth. Congenital malaria was classified through precocious symptoms, absence of malaria in the county and no history of blood transfusion or parenteral intervention of any sort. The case arises interest because of the necessity of malaria diagnoses suspicion on febrile newborns in non endemic areas, since the mother have lived or stayed in a malarious region.

[Histopathology and ultrastructure of chromomycosis caused by Cladosporium carrionii]. / Histopatología y ultraestructura de la cromomicosis causada por Cladosporium carrionii.

Light and electron microscopic study of chromomycosis caused by C. carrionii was undertaken. Biopsies from 10 patients were taken and processed by means of conventional histopathologic techniques of hematoxylin and eosine and by transmission electron microscopy. Granulomatous and suppurative components of the infection process were observed by the histological procedure, other cellular elements such as lymphocytes, plasma cells, eosinophils and Langerhans cells were present. The fungus was observed free or within phagocyticcells. Ultrastructural evidence revealed that it was surrounded by a wide multilayered and electron dense cell wall. Its cytoplasmic membrane presented invaginations and vacuoles containing the electron-dense material. We suggest the existence of a secretion-excretion process of a melanin-like dark pigment, which is accumulated on the cell wall of fungus, increasing the resistance of fungal cell to its destruction by phagocytic cell. It is necessary to determine the exact role of Langerhans cells in chromomycosis caused by C. carrionii.

Immunofluorescence test on Schistosoma mansoni worm paraffin sections (IgM-IFT) for the study of schistosomiasis transmission in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.

The detection of IgM antibodies for Schistosoma mansoni using gut-associated antigens (IgM-IFT) was compared to the parasitological Kato-Katz method for study of the transmission of schistosomiasis in an urban area in Campinas. About 400 schoolchildren whose ages ranged from 6 to 18 years, were observed for a period of two years. Blood samples on filter paper and fecal samples were collected, at intervals of six months. Serological (IgM-IFT) prevalence rates of 1.2%, 4.3%, 3.6%, 2.9% and 3.4% were obtained in five surveys carried out. S. mansoni eggs were detected in only one child out of the 225 children (0.4%) who were submitted to the Kato-Katz method (three slides for each fecal sample) in the 1st survey. Sixty eight children who submitted five blood samples, one for each survey, were found IFT negative throughout the study. No child was found to be IFT positive in all five surveys, and only four children showed IFT positive results in at least four surveys. Seroconversion from IFT negative to positive was observed from the 1st to the 2nd survey in six children, from the 2nd to the 3rd survey in three children, from the 3rd to the 4th survey in four children, and from the 4th to the 5th survey in two cases. However, confirmation of S. mansoni infection using the fecal examination was not possible in any of the cases. Also, in most of them the IFT result oscillated from negative to positive and vice versa. Our data implied that recent transmission of schistosomiasis in the study area was not possible.

[Eco-epidemiological aspects of American cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Municipality of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil] / Aspectos eco-epidemiológicos da leishmaniose tegumentar americana no Município de Campinas.

The authors describe an outbreak of American cutaneous leishmaniasis from February 1993 to September 1994 in the districts of Sousas and Joaquim Egídio, Campinas, São Paulo State. Out of a total of 25 cases, seven occurred in the countryside, nine in the periurban area, and nine in the urban area. The authors observed a shift in the occurrence of leishmaniasis cases from rural to urban areas. Cases in males predominated over females (60%/40%). Some 44% of the cases occurred in individuals ranging from 11 to 30 years of age. Some 48% of cases occurred in students, domestic workers, and housewives. In 90% of the cases, the disease presented as a single lesion, located predominantly on the upper and lower limbs. The appearance of cases in the region is probably related to the expansion of urban areas occurring in the 1970s and 1980s, a trend which intensified further more recently.

Anestesia conductiva en colecistectomías abiertas: una mejor alternativa en cirugía y relación costo beneficio / Conductive anesthesia in open cholecystectomies: a better alternative in surgery and cost-benefit relationship

Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo de tipo descriptivo, con la revisión de 180 historias médicas de pacientes que ingresaron por el servicio de cirugía, a los cuales se les practicó colecistectomia abierta con anestesia subdural, en el Hospital Fundahosta para el período enero del 2000 hasta enero del 2004, los datos fueron obtenidos de acuerdo a la recolección de 10 parámetros, correspondientes al año de la intervención quirúrgica, edad, sexo, diagnóstico preoperatorio, postoperatorio, modalidad de anestesia, número de aguja subdural, complicaciones, tiempo de estancia, hospitalaria y costo del servicio. Nuestro objetivo es dar a conocer las ventajas que ofrece la anestesia conductiva subdural en relación a la reducción del tiempo operatorio, escasas complicaciones, mejor relación costo beneficio con el que cuenta la institución y garantizar la eficacia de las intervenciones electivas a los pacientes que serán sometidos a este procedimiento.