Avaliação do conhecimento sobre a doença de Chagas em escolares das zonas rural e urbana de municípios endêmicos em Minas Gerais / Assessment of knowledge about Chagas disease in schoolchildren in rural and urban areas of endemic municipalities in Minas Gerais state, Brazil

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o conhecimento de escolares do ensino médio de três escolas localizadas em municípios mineiros endêmicos para a doença de Chagas e extrair informações relativas à sua percepção em relação aos aspectos gerais, biológicos, clínicos e epidemiológicos da doença, do vetor e controle entomológico da doença de Chagas, além de comparar o conhecimento dos participantes em função da localização das escolas (zona rural ou urbana). Para isso, aplicou-se um questionário semiestruturado a 68 alunos. Todos os participantes já ouviram falar a respeito da doença de Chagas, afirmando ter adquirido esse conhecimento, sobretudo, com familiares e escola. Além disso, muitos participantes demonstraram conhecer os hábitos dos vetores, tais como hematofagia e fontes alimentares. Não houve associação clara entre o perfil de urbanização e o conhecimento dos participantes. No entanto, alunos da zona urbana apresentaram menos conhecimento prático a respeito dos triatomíneos e aspectos relativos à transmissão da doença, em relação aos alunos da zona mais "ruralizada". Sugere-se o aprofundamento do tema nos currículos escolares do ensino médio e a necessidade de elaboração de ações de educação em saúde voltadas à vigilância entomológica da doença de Chagas nesses municípios e, provavelmente, em outras regiões do Brasil.

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge of high school students from three schools located in endemic municipalities of Minas Gerais to Chagas disease and to extract information related to their perception regarding the general, biological, clinical and epidemiological aspects of the disease, vector and entomological control of Chagas disease, in addition to comparing the knowledge of participants according to the location of schools (rural or urban area). For this, a semi-structured questionnaire was applied to 68 students. All participants have heard about Chagas disease, stating that they have acquired this knowledge, especially with family members and school. In addition, many participants demonstrated to know the habits of vectors, such as hematophagy and dietary sources. There was no clear association between the urbanization profile and the participants' knowledge. However, students from the urban area presented less practical knowledge about triatoins and aspects related to the transmission of the disease, in relation to students in the most "ruralized" area. It is suggested the deepening of the theme in high school curricula and the need to develop health education actions aimed at entomological surveillance of Chagas disease in these municipalities and, probably, in other Brazilian regions.

Heat stress induces expression of HSP genes in genetically divergent chickens.

BACKGROUND: Chickens are animals that are sensitive to thermal stress, which may decrease their production level in terms that it affects feed intake and thus, decreasing body weight gain. The Heat Shock Factors (HSF) and Heat Shock Proteins (HSP) genes are involved in the key cellular defense mechanisms during exposure in hot environments. Aimed with this study to analyze the expression of HSF1, HSF3, HSP70 and HSP90 genes in two local breeds (Peloco and Caneluda) and a commercial broiler line (Cobb 500®) to verify differences in resistance of these chicken to Heat stress treatment. Chicken were submitted to heat stress under an average temperature of 39°C ± 1. RESULTS: Under stress environment, the HSP70 and HSP90 genes were more expressed in backyard chickens than in broiler. There was a difference in HSP70 and HSP90 expression between Caneluda and Cobb and between Peloco and Cobb under stress and comfort environment respectively. HSP70 expression is higher in local breeds during heat stress than in a commercial broiler line. No significant differences were observed in the expression of HSF1 and HSF3 genes between breeds or environments. CONCLUSIONS: HSP70 and HSP90 genes are highly expressed, HSF1 and HSF3 genes did not have high expression in all genetic groups. HSP70 and HSP90 are highly expressed in Peloco and Caneluda within heat stress, these breeds proved to be very resistant to high temperature.

Análise do desenvolvimento tecnológico para o diagnóstico das leishmanioses: da proteção intelectual à disponibilidade comercial

A leishmaniose tegumentar (LT) e a leishmaniose visceral (LV) estão na lista de doenças tropicais negligenciadas (DTNs) da Organização Mundial da Saúde e da Organização Pan-Americana da Saúde. Para acelerar a superação do impacto das DTNs sobre as populações acometidas, as ações identificadas como necessárias são intensificação do diagnóstico e do manejo clínico. O investimento em pesquisa e desenvolvimento para necessidades das DTNs é pequeno, quando comparado a doenças ou condições com potencial de retorno financeiro para a indústria e para os serviços. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar o cenário do desenvolvimento tecnológico relacionado ao diagnóstico das leishmanioses, disponível em base patentária e artigos científicos. A busca sistematizada em bancos de depósitos de patentes (Thomson Innovation®) e base de dados de produção científica (PubMed – U. S. National Library of Medicine) compreendeu o período de 01/01/2003 a 01/06/2015. O conteúdo das patentes foi analisado quanto a utilidade, foco tecnológico, aplicação e tipo de proteção requerida. Na produção científica, considerou-se novas metodologias de diagnóstico para as leishmanioses aquelas que não estão em comercialização no Brasil e uso rotineiro ou que apresentavam melhorias sobre as utilizadas. A busca por patentes resgatou 787 documentos, destes 19 (2,4%) apresentavam prova de conceito para diagnóstico das leishmanioses, sendo duas nacionais, depositadas pela Fiocruz

A pesquisa em literatura científica para o diagnóstico da LT resultou em 1.538 artigos, dos quais 16 artigos foram analisados detalhadamente, após seleção pela leitura dos resumos. Para o diagnóstico da LV, a busca resultou em 4.126 artigos e 14 foram selecionados para análise. Em conjunto, 30 novos métodos/testes foram analisados. Entre os 5 métodos/testes relacionados ao diagnóstico parasitológico, predominam novas técnicas de cultivo de parasito e não há nenhum produto comercializado. Entre os 3 métodos/testes voltados à pesquisa de antígeno, destaca-se um kit comercial desenvolvido nos Estados Unidos e não avaliado no Brasil, para identificação de um antígeno específico em fragmentos de lesão cutânea. Entre os 16 métodos/testes baseados em pesquisa de anticorpos específicos destacam-se os testes rápidos com novos antígenos recombinantes, sendo o mais avaliado o antígeno recombinante rK39, que tem dois kits comerciais registrados no Brasil, sendo um atualmente distribuído pelo SUS aos laboratórios e serviços de referência do país. Cinco métodos/testes moleculares se destacam com melhor desempenho, sendo que os métodos de amplificação isotérmica com leitura visual oferecem perspectiva de uso em locais remotos. Duas oportunidades para autossuficiência de produção nacional de testes de elevado desempenho e aumento de acesso a diagnóstico foram identificadas: a produção de antígeno rK39, cuja patente expirou e o teste de aglutinação direta – DAT, que tem protótipo nacional validado. O estudo confirma o baixo investimento do setor industrial no desenvolvimento de testes para o diagnóstico das leishmanioses e explicita a necessidade de parcerias entre instituições tecnológicas, universidades e indústria, dirigidas às necessidades de saúde pública do país, com ação coordenada dos órgãos públicos

Evaluation of parasitological and molecular techniques for the diagnosis and assessment of cure of schistosomiasis mansoni in a low transmission area.

This study evaluated parasitological and molecular techniques for the diagnosis and assessment of cure of schistosomiasis mansoni. A population-based study was performed in 201 inhabitants from a low transmission locality named Pedra Preta, municipality of Montes Claros, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Four stool samples were analysed using two techniques, the Kato-Katz® (KK) technique (18 slides) and the TF-Test®, to establish the infection rate. The positivity rate of 18 KK slides of four stool samples was 28.9% (58/201) and the combined parasitological techniques (KK+TF-Test®) produced a 35.8% positivity rate (72/201). Furthermore, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-ELISA assay produced a positivity rate of 23.4% (47/201) using the first sample. All 72 patients with positive parasitological exams were treated with a single dose of Praziquantel® and these patients were followed-up 30, 90 and 180 days after treatment to establish the cure rate. Cure rates obtained by the analysis of 12 KK slides were 100%, 100% and 98.4% at 30, 90 and 180 days after treatment, respectively. PCR-ELISA revealed cure rates of 98.5%, 95.5% and 96.5%, respectively. The diagnostic and assessment of cure for schistosomiasis may require an increased number of KK slides or a test with higher sensitivity, such as PCR-ELISA, in situations of very low parasite load, such as after therapeutic interventions.

Evaluation of parasitological and molecular techniques for the diagnosis and assessment of cure of schistosomiasis mansoni in a low transmission area

This study evaluated parasitological and molecular techniques for the diagnosis and assessment of cure of schistosomiasis mansoni. A population-based study was performed in 201 inhabitants from a low transmission locality named Pedra Preta, municipality of Montes Claros, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Four stool samples were analysed using two techniques, the Kato-Katz® (KK) technique (18 slides) and the TF-Test®, to establish the infection rate. The positivity rate of 18 KK slides of four stool samples was 28.9% (58/201) and the combined parasitological techniques (KK+TF-Test®) produced a 35.8% positivity rate (72/201). Furthermore, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-ELISA assay produced a positivity rate of 23.4% (47/201) using the first sample. All 72 patients with positive parasitological exams were treated with a single dose of Praziquantel® and these patients were followed-up 30, 90 and 180 days after treatment to establish the cure rate. Cure rates obtained by the analysis of 12 KK slides were 100%, 100% and 98.4% at 30, 90 and 180 days after treatment, respectively. PCR-ELISA revealed cure rates of 98.5%, 95.5% and 96.5%, respectively. The diagnostic and assessment of cure for schistosomiasis may require an increased number of KK slides or a test with higher sensitivity, such as PCR-ELISA, in situations of very low parasite load, such as after therapeutic interventions.

Acute schistosomiasis diagnosis: a new tool for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis in a group of travelers recently infected in a new focus of Schistosoma mansoni.

INTRODUCTION: The diagnosis of schistosomiasis mansoni on early stages of infection is important to prevent late morbidity. A simple, cheap, sensitive and specific assay for routine diagnosis of schistosome infection based on the detection of specific IgG for schistosomula tegument antigens (ELISA-SmTeg) was developed by our group. METHODS: We describe here an acute outbreak involving a travel group of 80 individuals from a non-endemic area of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. These individuals were in contact with a freshwater pool where Biomphalaria glabrata was found. Results obtained from our new methodology were compared to IgG antibody titers against soluble worm antigenic preparation (SWAP) by ELISA and, also to parasitological examination, nuclear magnetic resonance and clinical findings. RESULTS: ELISA-SmTeg was capable of detecting 64 positive cases among the 80 individuals participating at the survey with a positivity ratio of 80% and a higher sensitivity than ELISA-SWAP that was only sensitive for 56% of positive cases. Besides, a significant correlation was found for the severity of the infection and the specific IgG titers against SmTeg. CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed that ELISA-SmTeg might serve as the initial diagnostic tool for acute stages of the infection in community-based helminth control programs or for the surveillance of individuals from non-endemic areas.

Acute schistosomiasis diagnosis: a new tool for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis in a group of travelers recently infected in a new focus of Schistosoma mansoni

Introduction The diagnosis of schistosomiasis mansoni on early stages of infection is important to prevent late morbidity. A simple, cheap, sensitive and specific assay for routine diagnosis of schistosome infection based on the detection of specific IgG for schistosomula tegument antigens (ELISA-SmTeg) was developed by our group. Methods We describe here an acute outbreak involving a travel group of 80 individuals from a non-endemic area of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. These individuals were in contact with a freshwater pool where Biomphalaria glabrata was found. Results obtained from our new methodology were compared to IgG antibody titers against soluble worm antigenic preparation (SWAP) by ELISA and, also to parasitological examination, nuclear magnetic resonance and clinical findings. Results ELISA-SmTeg was capable of detecting 64 positive cases among the 80 individuals participating at the survey with a positivity ratio of 80% and a higher sensitivity than ELISA-SWAP that was only sensitive for 56% of positive cases. Besides, a significant correlation was found for the severity of the infection and the specific IgG titers against SmTeg. Conclusions Our data showed that ELISA-SmTeg might serve as the initial diagnostic tool for acute stages of the infection in community-based helminth control programs or for the surveillance of individuals from non-endemic areas. .