Infections by entomopathogenic fungi in common green iguanas (Iguana iguana) in captivity in Brazil.

Entomopathogenic fungi, widely available biological agents used to control agricultural pests, are sporadically reported to cause focal or disseminated infection in reptiles and mammals, including humans. This study summarizes the clinical presentation, histopathological and molecular findings by panfungal polymerase chain reaction and sequencing of four cases of hypocrealean fungal infections in captive common green iguanas (Iguana, iguana). One case of granulomatous pneumonia, hepatitis and serositis was related to Metarhizium flavoviride complex infection. Two disseminated fungal infection cases, with scarce inflammatory cell infiltration, were caused by Beauveria bassiana while there was one case of multifocal granulomatous and necrotizing pneumonia by Purpureocillium spp. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of fatal mycosis infection due to entomopathogenic fungi in captive common green iguanas.

Cytokine profile and parasite load in lymph nodes of dogs naturally infected with Leishmania infantum from distinct epidemiological scenarios in São Paulo State, Brazil.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is an important zoonotic vector-borne disease and domestic dogs are considered the main domiciliary and peri-domiciliary reservoir of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum in South America. Distinct eco-epidemiological scenarios associated to the prevalence of the disease, clusters of parasite genotypes and chemotypes of vectors population are described in Brazil, especially in the state of São Paulo (SP). In this context, the purpose of the present study is to evaluate the clinical signs, histopathological lesions, parasite load and cytokine profile by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in popliteal lymph nodes of canines naturally infected with L. infantum, from different municipalities of the state of SP. Eighty-three dogs with VL, 61 from northwest SP (NWSP) and 22 from southeast SP (SESP), were clinically classified in stage II, with no babesiosis and ehrlichiosis. Subcapsular inflammatory infiltration and histiocytosis were significantly higher in the SESP group (p = 0.0128; 0.0077, respectively). On the other hand, dogs from NWSP revealed 4.6-fold significantly higher parasite burden (p = 0.0004) and higher IHC scores of IL-1ß (p = 0.0275) and IL-4 (p = 0.0327) in the popliteal lymph node tissues, which may be associated with the susceptibility and progression of the disease in these dogs. Differences in immune response profile associated with higher parasite load in dogs can also contribute to explain the distinct eco-epidemiological patterns of VL in specific geographic regions.

Against All Odds: RNA Extraction From Different Protocols Adapted to Formalin-fixed Paraffin-embedded Tissue.

For the preservation of tissue samples, formalin fixation followed by paraffin embedding (FFPE) has been the method of choice for decades, mainly because it maintains the morphologic characteristics of the original tissue particularly preserved, as well as its genetic material. FFPE cells can be used to perform molecular tests, such as conventional (c) or quantitative (q) reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), in retrospective investigations. However, extracting RNA from archived FFPE tissues is a challenging procedure, as it requires time and the use of complex extraction methods. As specific FFPE extraction methods are not always available in the laboratories, the objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of a method based on phenol-chloroform (PC) and 2 commercial methods for RNA extraction, adapting their protocols for FFPE tissues. For this study, a pool of FFPE tissues underwent RNA extraction by PC, QIAmp Viral RNA Mini, and RNeasy Mini Kit. Both the RT-cPCR and the RT-qPCR results were favorable, demonstrating the viability of the RNA. As these results expanded the alternatives for low-budget FFPE extraction, the choice of the ideal method to be used will depend on the availability of reagents and kits.

Validation of chromogenic in situ hybridization reactions for DNA and RNA detection in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue / Validação das reações de hibridização in situ cromogênica para detecção de DNA e RNA em tecidos fixados em formalina e incluídos em parafina

ABSTRACT Introduction: Chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) is used alternatively to the traditional immunohistochemical methods for the diagnosis of infectious diseases in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples, since it presents high sensitivity and specificity. This type of sample undergoes several chemical modifications during histological processing, and both poor and excessive fixation can impair sample quality, making it difficult to obtain good results. In CISH, it is common to use positive samples as quality control for the reactions; however, this practice does not provide any information regarding the preservation of the genetic material, nor does it avoid false-negative results. Objective: The objective of this study was to validate the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) (+) and (-), and ribonucleic acid (RNA) (+) and (-) control probes to be used as quality control for the samples, evaluating preservation of the genetic material. Materials and methods: Twelve histological sections were used (in quadruplicate, n = 48), prepared from a pool of tissues without microscopic changes related to infectious and/or inflammatory processes. The CISH protocol was conducted according to the manufacturer's instructions, standardized under the conditions of our laboratory, using commercial DNA and RNA probes chemically linked to digoxigenin. Results and conclusion: Our results were very satisfactory, showing high reproducibility, accuracy, sensitivity and analytical specificity, high predictive values for positive and negative assays and with zero ratio of false-positive and false-negative results, allowing the validation of this reaction.

RESUMEN Introducción: La hibridación in situ cromogénica (CISH) es una alternativa a los métodos tradicionales inmunohistoquímicos para el diagnóstico de enfermedades infecciosas en muestras fijadas en formoly embebidas enparafina, puesto que tiene alta sensibilidad y especificidad. Este tipo de muestra sufre diversas modificaciones químicas durante elprocesamiento histológico, y tanto la mala fijación cuanto la fijación excessiva pueden perjudicar la calidad de las muestras, impidiendo buenos resultados. En la CISH, es común el empleo de muestras positivas para control de calidad de reacciones; sin embargo, esta práctica no proporciona ninguna información acerca de la preservación del material genético. Objetivo: El propósito de este estudio ha sido realizar la validación de las sondas comerciales para ácido desoxirribonucleico (ADN) (+) y (-) y ácido ribonucleico (ARN) (+) y (-), para que sean utilizadas como control de calidad, evaluando la preservación del material genético en las muestras testadas. Material y métodos: Se incluyen en el estudio 12 cortes histológicos (en cuadruplicado, n = 48), confeccionados a partir de un pool de tejidos sin alteraciones microscópicas relacionadas con procesos infecciosos y/o inflamatorios. El protocolo de CISH se desarrolló de acuerdo a las instrucciones del fabricante y bajo las condiciones del nuestro laboratorio, haciendo uso de sondas comerciales de ADN y ARN quimicamente ligadas a digoxigenina. Resultados y conclusión: Nuestros resultados han sido muy satisfactorios, demostrando alta reproducibilidad, exactitud, sensibilidad, y especificidad analítica, así como altos valores predictivos para ensayos positivos y negativos, y con proporción nula de falsos negativos y falsos positivos, lo que ha permitido la validación de esa reacción.

RESUMO Introdução: A hibridização in situ cromogênica (CISH) é uma alternativa aos métodos tradicionais imuno-histoquímicospara diagnóstico de doenças infecciosas em amostras fixadas em formalina e incluídas em parafina, visto que apresenta grande sensibilidade e especificidade. Esse tipo de amostra sofre diversas modificações químicas durante o processamento histológico, e tanto a má fixação quanto a fixação em excesso podem prejudicar a qualidade das amostras, inviabilizando bons resultados. Na CISH, é comum a utilização de amostras positivas como controle de qualidade das reações; entretanto essa prática não fornece nenhuma informação a respeito da preservação do material genético, nem evita resultados falso-negativos nas amostras testadas. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi realizar a validação das sondas comerciais para ácido desoxirribonucleico (DNA) (+) e (-) e ácido ribonucleico (RNA) (+) e (-), para serem utilizadas como controle de qualidade, avaliando apreservação do material genético nas amostras testadas. Materiais e métodos: Foram utilizados 12 cortes histológicos (em quadruplicata, n = 48), confeccionados a partir de um pool de tecidos sem alterações microscópicas relacionadas com processos infecciosos e/ou inflamatórios. O protocolo de CISH foi conduzido de acordo com as instruções do fabricante e padronizado conforme as condições do nosso laboratório, utilizando sondas comerciais de DNA e RNA quimicamente ligadas à digoxigenina. Resultados e conclusão: Nossos resultados foram muito satisfatórios, demonstrando alta reprodutibilidade, acurácia, sensibilidade e especificidade analítica, bem como altos valores preditivos para ensaios positivos e negativos e com proporção nula de resultados falso-negativos e falso-positivos, o que possibilitou a validação dessa reação.

Experimental Zika virus infection induces spinal cord injury and encephalitis in newborn Swiss mice.

A widespread epidemic of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection was reported in 2015 in South and Central America, with neurological symptons including meningoencephalitis and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults, besides an apparent increased incidence of microcephaly in infants born to infected mothers. It is becoming a necessity to have a trustworthy animal model to better understand ZIKV infection. In this study we used newborn white Swiss mice as a model to investigate the ZIKV strain recently isolated in Brazil. ZIKV was inoculated via intracerebral and subcutaneous routes and analysed through gross histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Here we demonstrated first that the intracerebral group (ICG) displayed severe cerebral lesions, with neuronal death, presence of apoptotic bodies, white matter degeneration and neutrophil perivascular cuffing. In the subcutaneous group (SCG), we observed moderate cerebral lesions, morphologically similar to that found in ICG and additional myelopathy, with architectural loss, marked by neuronal death and apoptotic bodies. Interestingly, we found an intense astrogliosis in brain of both groups, with increased immunoexpression of GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) and presence of hypertrophic astrocytes. The spinal cord of subcutaneous group (SCG) exhibited reduction of astrocytes, but those positive for GFAP were hypertrophic and presented prolonged cellular processes. Finally significant lesions in the central nervous system (CNS) were present in newborn mice inoculated by both routes, but SCG method led to an important neurological manifestations (including myelopathy), during a longer period of time and appears for us to be a better model for ZIKV infection.

Experimental Zika virus infection induces spinal cord injury and encephalitis in newborn Swiss mice

A widespread epidemic of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection was reported in 2015 in South and Central America, with neurological symptons including meningoencephalitis and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults, besides an apparent increased incidence of microcephaly in infants born to infected mothers. It is becoming a necessity to have a trustworthy animal model to better understand ZIKV infection. In this study we used newborn white Swiss mice as a model to investigate the ZIKV strain recently isolated in Brazil. ZIKV was inoculated via intracerebral and subcutaneous routes and analysed through gross histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Here we demonstrated first that the intracerebral group (ICG) displayed severe cerebral lesions, with neuronal death, presence of apoptotic bodies, white matter degeneration and neutrophil perivascular cuffing. In the subcutaneous group (SCG), we observed moderate cerebral lesions, morphologically similar to that found in ICG and additional myelopathy, with architectural loss, marked by neuronal death and apoptotic bodies. Interestingly, we found an intense astrogliosis in brain of both groups, with increased immunoexpression of GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) and presence of hypertrophic astrocytes. The spinal cord of subcutaneous group (SCG) exhibited reduction of astrocytes, but those positive for GFAP were hypertrophic and presented prolonged cellular processes. Finally significant lesions in the central nervous system (CNS) were present in newborn mice inoculated by both routes, but SCG method led to an important neurological manifestations (including myelopathy), during a longer period of time and appears for us to be a better model for ZIKV infection.

Uma epidemia generalizada de infecção pelo vírus Zika (ZIKV) foi relatada em 2015 na América do Sul e Central, com sintomas neurológicos incluindo meningoencefalite e síndrome de Guillain-Barré em adultos, além de um aparente aumento da incidência de microcefalia em bebês nascidos de mães infectadas. Está se tornando uma necessidade ter um modelo animal confiável para entender melhor a infecção pelo ZIKV. Neste estudo, usamos camundongos suíços brancos recém-nascidos como modelo para investigar a cepa ZIKV recentemente isolada no Brasil. O ZIKV foi inoculado por via intracerebral e subcutânea e analisado por histopatologia macroscópica e imuno-histoquímica. Aqui, demonstramos primeiro que o grupo intracerebral (ICG) apresentou lesões cerebrais graves, com morte neuronal, presença de corpos apoptóticos, degeneração da substância branca e manguito perivascular de neutrófilos. No grupo subcutâneo (SCG), observamos lesões cerebrais moderadas, morfologicamente semelhantes às encontradas no ICG e mielopatia adicional, com perda arquitetônica, marcada por morte neuronal e corpos apoptóticos. Curiosamente, encontramos uma astrogliose intensa no cérebro de ambos os grupos, com aumento da imunoexpressão de GFAP (proteína ácida fibrilar glial) e presença de astrócitos hipertróficos. A medula espinhal do grupo subcutâneo (SCG) exibiu redução de astrócitos, mas os positivos para GFAP foram hipertróficos e apresentaram processos celulares prolongados. Finalmente, lesões significativas no sistema nervoso central (SNC) estavam presentes em camundongos recém-nascidos inoculados pelas duas vias, mas o método SCG levou a importantes manifestações neurológicas (incluindo mielopatia), por um período mais longo, e parece ser um modelo melhor para infecção por ZIKV.

Comparative study of five commercial probes for the detection of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) by in situ hybridization in cases of nodular sclerosis Hodgki's lymphoma / Estudo comparativo de cinco sondas comerciais para detecção do vírus Epstein-Barr (EBV) por hibridização in situ em casos de linfoma de Hodgkin esclerose nodular

ABSTRACT Introduction: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) may serve as a target in therapeutic treatments, thus reliable diagnostic results are necessary. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of EBV detection by in situ hybridization (ISH) using five commercial probes in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded samples of nodular sclerosis Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL), and to compare the results with immunohistochemistry (IHC) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Material and method: Thirty samples were selected, 28 were lymph nodes, one bone marrow and one mediastinum. The following parameters were analyzed: signal intensity; proportionality of positive cells; quality of the reaction according to comfort for evaluation, sign quality and homogeneity of labeled cells; background reaction; morphology; presence of artifacts; and positivity in other non-neoplastic cells. All samples were analyzed for EBV detection using the five probes, IHC for latent membrane protein type 1 (LMP1) and PCR for Epstein Barr virus nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1). Statistical analyses were performed with the R1 software; Fleiss' test and Cohen Kappa index of 5% were considered significant. Results: The detection by IHC-LMP1 was 26.7% (8/30) and 66.7% (20/30) by PCR-EBNA1. All probes detected EBV. Positivity was observed in 42/90 (46.7%), 38/90 (42.2%), 45/90 (50%), 27/90 (30%) and 61/90 (67.8%) for probes A, B, C, D and E, respectively. Discussion: All five probes demonstrated positivity. Conclusion: Probe E showed better rate (67.8%), sensitivity, specificity and accuracy (100%), a very good correlation among the different observers and with PCR, besides great cost-benefits relation.

RESUMO Introdução: O vírus Epstein-Barr (EBV) pode servir como alvo nos tratamentos terapêuticos, sendo necessário resultado diagnóstico confiável. Objetivo: Avaliar a acurácia da detecção do EBV pela hibridização in situ (ISH), utilizando cinco sondas comerciais em amostras fixadas em formalina e incluídas em parafina de linfoma de Hodgkin (LH) esclerose nodular, comparando os resultados com a imuno-histoquímica (IHQ) e a reação em cadeia pela polimerase (PCR). Material e método: Trinta amostras foram selecionadas, sendo 28 linfonodos, uma medula óssea e um mediastino. Os seguintes parâmetros foram analisados: intensidade do sinal; proporcionalidade das células positivas; qualidade da reação de acordo com o conforto na avaliação, qualidade do sinal e homogeneidade das células marcadas; reação de fundo; morfologia; presença de artefatos; e positividade em outras células não neoplásicas. Todas as amostras foram analisadas para a detecção do EBV usando as cinco sondas, IHQ para proteína da membrana latente tipo 1 (LMP1) e PCR para antígeno nuclear do EBV (EBNA1). As análises estatísticas foram realizadas com o software R1; os índices de 5% para Kappa de Fleiss e Cohen foram considerados significantes. Resultados: A detecção pela IHQ-LMP1 foi de 26,7% (8/30) e 66,7% (20/30) pela PCR-EBNA1. Todas as sondas detectaram EBV. A positividade foi observada em 42/90 (46,7%), 38/90 (42,2%), 45/90 (50%), 27/90 (30%) e 61/90 (67,8%) para as sondas A, B, C, D e E, respectivamente. Discussão: Todas as sondas demonstraram positividade. Conclusão: A sonda E mostrou melhor taxa (67,8%), sensibilidade, especificidade e precisão (100%), boa correlação entre os diferentes observadores e com a PCR, além de ótimo custo/benefício.