Leishmaniose visceral canina: comparação de métodos sorológicos em cães de área indene do Rio Grande do Sul no Brasil / Canine visceral leishmaniasis: Comparison of serological methods in dogs of unsurveyed area of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil

Neste estudo foi realizado um levantamento da presença de cães soropositivos em canis de 12municípios do Rio Grande do Sul, comparando-se métodos e protocolos de diagnóstico. Comisso, pode-se detectar precocemente uma possível disseminação da doença e, consequentemente,incentivar campanhas de controle e prevenção e evitar futuros surtos. Este estudo foi realizadoem uma área do RS sem diagnóstico de leishmaniose visceral canina (LVC), sendo avaliado umtotal de 165 cães. A pesquisa sorológica foi realizada por meio das técnicas de imunofluorescênciaindireta (IFI), ensaio imunoenzimático (ELISA) e Dual Plate Plataform (DPP). Constataram-setaxas de 33,9 por cento (56/165) na IFI, 6,7 por cento (11/165) no DPP, 3,0 por cento (5/165) na IFI e DPP e 6,1 por cento (10/165)no ELISA. Dentre os resultados confirmados no ELISA, cinco (5/10) foram reagentes na IFI, dosquais, desconsiderando-se os dois que foram soropositivos apenas no ELISA e IFI, resultaram trêscães (3/10) soropositivos no DPP e ELISA, conforme o protocolo atual preconizado pelo Ministérioda Saúde. Também foi feita a comparação entre os testes de diagnóstico para verificar acurácia evalor kappa. Ao considerar somente resultados positivos no DPP e IFI, a acurácia aumentou para94,6 por cento, com um valor Kappa=0,375, ou seja, com uma concordância considerável. Conclui-se quea pesquisa em áreas do RS sem diagnóstico de LVC revelou a presença de cães sororreagentes emquatro municípios do estado: Cachoeira do Sul (2), São Francisco de Assis (1), Dom Pedrito (1) eRio Grande (1)...

This study surveyed the presence of seropositive dogs in kennels of twelve municipalities of RioGrande do Sul (RS), comparing methods and diagnostic protocols. Using this approach we coulddetect a possible spread of the disease, consequently encouraging prevention and control campaigns,and preventing future outbreaks. This study was conducted in an undiagnosed area for caninevisceral leishmaniasis (CVL) of RS and a total of 165 dogs were evaluated. Serological analysiswas performed using the indirect immunofluorescence (IIF), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) and Dual Plate Platform (DPP). A rate of 33.9 percent (56/165) in the IIF, 6.7 percent (11/165) inDPP, 3.0 percent (5/165) in IIF and DPP and 6.1 percent (10/165) in ELISA was observed. Among the resultsconfirmed by ELISA, five (5/10) were positive by IIF, of which, disregarding two of these five thatwere seropositive only by ELISA and IIF, three dogs (3/10) were seropositive by DPP and ELISA,according to the current protocol recommended by the Ministry of Health. Comparisons betweenthe diagnostic tests to verify accuracy and kappa value were also made. When considering onlythe results positive in DPP and IIF, the accuracy increased to 94.6 percent, with a kappa value of 0.375,therefore, with considerable agreement. It is concluded that the research in undiagnosed areas of RSrevealed the presence of seropositive dogs in four municipalities of the State: Cachoeira do Sul (2),São Francisco de Assis (1) Dom Pedrito (1) and Rio Grande (1)...

Genotoxic biomonitoring of tobacco farmers: Biomarkers of exposure, of early biological effects and of susceptibility.

Tobacco farming presents several hazards to those who cultivate and harvest the plant. The genotoxic and mutagenic effects in tobacco farmers were investigated. In order to verify the relationship between genetic susceptibility and biomarkers GSTT1, GSTM1, GSTP1, CYP2A6, PON, OGG1, RAD51, XRCC1, and XRCC4 genes polymorphism were evaluated. Oxidative stress markers and trace elements content were determined. Peripheral blood cells samples were collected from 111 agricultural workers during pesticides application and leaf harvest, and 56 non-exposed subjects. Results show that farmers are exposed to mixture of substances with genotoxic and cytotoxic potential. Only GSTM1 null and CYP2A6*9 showed significant associations with cytokinesis-blocked micronuclei assay results. In pesticide application an increase in trace elements content was observed. The results indicated that exposure to pesticides and nicotine can influence antioxidant enzymes activity. Our study drives the attention once more to the need for occupational training on safe work environment for farm workers.

Effects of dermal exposure to Nicotiana tabacum (Jean Nicot, 1560) leaves in mouse evaluated by multiple methods and tissues.

Tobacco farmers are routinely exposed to complex mixtures of the compounds present in tobacco leaves, including organic and inorganic pesticides. Penetration through skin is the most significant route of uptake in occupational exposure to chemicals, including dust and liquids containing toxic and carcinogenic substances. This study evaluates the genotoxic effect of tobacco leaves with and without dermal exposure to flumetralin in Mus musculus, determining cell damage by the micronucleus test and the Comet assay as well as antioxidant enzyme activities and hematologic parameters. Nicotine was used as positive control. Blood samples were collected for 0, 3, 24 and 48 h exposure periods, and DNA damage by Comet assay and micronucleus test was evaluated for all these periods. Bone marrow and liver cells were also evaluated for the 48 h exposure period. Significant differences between Comet assay results in blood cells from animals exposed to tobacco leaves with and without pesticide were found in 24 and 48 h exposure periods in relation to negative control. Bone marrow cells from the group exposed to leaves with pesticide (48 h) also demonstrated significant increase in DNA damage. Concerning the micronucleus test, only animals exposed to tobacco leaves without pesticide (24 h) showed increase in frequency of micronuclei when compared to the negative control. Oxidative stress activities also were demonstrated for different groups. The results demonstrate the injury effect caused by tobacco leaves in different Mus musculus tissues, suggesting that the effects of dermal exposure to tobacco leaves are caused by complex mixtures present in the plant, but mainly by nicotine.