Seroprevalences of antibodies against ToRCH infectious pathogens in women of childbearing age residing in Brazil, Mexico, Germany, Poland, Turkey and China.

Determination of antibodies against ToRCH antigens at the beginning of pregnancy allows assessment of both the maternal immune status and the risks to an adverse pregnancy outcome. Age-standardised seroprevalences were determined in sera from 1009 women of childbearing age residing in Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Poland, Turkey or China using a multiparametric immunoblot containing antigen substrates for antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1, HSV-2), Bordetella pertussis, Chlamydia trachomatis, parvovirus B19, Treponema pallidum and varicella zoster virus (VZV). Seroprevalences for antibodies against HSV-1 were >90% in samples from Brazil and Turkey, whereas the other four countries showed lower mean age-adjusted seroprevalences (range: 62.5-87.9%). Samples from Brazilian women showed elevated seroprevalences of antibodies against HSV-2 (40.1%), C. trachomatis (46.8%) and B. pertussis (56.6%) compared to the other five countries. Seroprevalences of anti-T. gondii antibodies (0.5%) and anti-parvovirus B19 antibodies (7.5%) were low in samples from Chinese women, compared to the other five countries. Samples from German women revealed a low age-standardised seroprevalence of anti-CMV antibodies (28.8%) compared to the other five countries. These global differences in immune status of women in childbearing age advocate country-specific prophylaxis strategies to avoid infection with ToRCH pathogens.

Molecular identification of Hepatozoon canis in dogs from Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil / Identificação molecular de Hepatozoon canis em cães de Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil

The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of Hepatozoon species infecting dogs in the municipality of Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), Brazil, using blood samples (n = 165) drawn from dogs. The species Hepatozoon caniswas identified in 3.63% of the tested animals using molecular tools. Further studies are needed to determine the clinical relevance of this infection and the main arthropod vectors involved in its transmission.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar a frequência e espécies de Hepatozoon infectando cães no município de Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. Uma amostragem de 165 animais foi utilizada e, por meio do uso de ferramentas moleculares, a espécie Hepatozoon canis foi identificada em 3,63% dos animais. Mais estudos são necessários para identificar a relevância clínica e os principais vetores envolvidos na transmissão desse protozoário na região.(AU)

Molecular identification of Hepatozoon canis in dogs from Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil / Identificação molecular de Hepatozoon canis em cães de Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil

The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of Hepatozoon species infecting dogs in the municipality of Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), Brazil, using blood samples (n = 165) drawn from dogs. The species Hepatozoon caniswas identified in 3.63% of the tested animals using molecular tools. Further studies are needed to determine the clinical relevance of this infection and the main arthropod vectors involved in its transmission.

O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar a frequência e espécies de Hepatozoon infectando cães no município de Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. Uma amostragem de 165 animais foi utilizada e, por meio do uso de ferramentas moleculares, a espécie Hepatozoon canis foi identificada em 3,63% dos animais. Mais estudos são necessários para identificar a relevância clínica e os principais vetores envolvidos na transmissão desse protozoário na região.

Risk factors for intestinal parasitic infections in preschoolers in a low socio-economic area, Diamantina, Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To verify the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among preschoolers and to identify the associated risk factors. METHODS: The study is a cross-sectional study nested in a cohort of children who were born and resident in Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil. At the time of the study, all children were aged 60 months ± five months. They were recruited after written informed consent was obtained from parents or guardians. The study was carried out between July 2009 and July 2010. In total 214 children provided a stool sample for examination on intestinal parasitic infections. Information on potential risk factors for parasitosis was obtained from parents and guardians of the children by a questionnaire. Logistic regression was used for analysis. RESULTS: Intestinal parasitic infections were found in 27·5% (n = 59) of children. The boys' infection prevalence (26·1%, n = 36) was slightly lower than the infection prevalence of the girls (30·3%, n = 23), but not statistically different (p = 0·51). Fourteen children, (23·7%) were infected with two or more parasite species and forty-five (76·3%) with single parasites. A low per capita income of family was strongly associated with an increased risk for an infection (OR = 2·89; P = 0.003). Preschoolers whose mothers did not work outside home had a significantly lower risk for infection (OR = 0·41; p = 0·01). CONCLUSION: Intestinal parasite infection is a health problem among Diamantina preschoolers. Poverty was implicated as an important risk factor for infection, while the presence of the mother at home full-time was a protective factor.

Parasites of pigeons (Columba livia) in urban areas of lages, Southern Brazil

The prevalence of ectoparasites and endoparasites was studied in 5 8 free-living pigeons (Columba livia) in urban areas of Lages, in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. The pigeons were visually inspected and fecal and blood samples were collected to determine the presence of ectoparasites. The serological diagnosis was established through the use of blood smears stained with Quick Panoptic and Giemsa methods. The fecal samples were analyzed using Sheather 's method. The Quick Panoptic andGiemsa methods detected 67.24 percent (39/58) and 46.55 percent (27/58) of Haemoproteussp, respectively. The prevalence rate amounted to 57 percent of 116 smears analyzed (P value=0.0387; odds ratio = 2.357 with a 95 percent confidence interval). The prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was 74.14 percent (43/58). Protozoa (100 percent for Eimeria sp.) were detected in 86.05 percent of the cases and nematodes (Ascaridia sp. and Capillaria sp.) in 32.56 percent, whereas 20.93 percent of the pigeons were infected by multiple parasites. The fly Pseudolynchia canariensis was found beneath the feathers of all pigeons. This is the first report of parasites in C. livia in the state of Santa Catarina.

A prevaléncia de ecto e endoparasitos de 58 pombos (Columba livia) de vida livre foi estudada em áreas urbanas de Lages, estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil. Os pombos foram submetidos ao exame visual para a coleta e identificação de ectoparasites, coletas de fezes e sangue. O diagnóstico hemoparasitológico foi através de esfregacos sanguíneos corados pelas técnicas de Panótico Rápido e Giemsa. As fezes foram processadas pelo método de Sheather. Entre os hemoparasitos destacou-se o Haemoproteus sp., com 67,24 por cento (39/58) para a técnica de Panótico Rápido e 46,55 por cento (27/58) para a técnica de Giemsa. Dos 116 esfregaços analisados, a prevalência foi de 57 por cento (P = 0,0387; Odds Ratio = 2,357 e Intervalo de Confiaça de 95 por cento). A prevalência de parásitos gastrintestinais foi de 74,14 por cento (43/58) com 86,05 por cento para protozoários (100 por cento para Eimeria sp.), 32,56 por cento para nematódeos (Ascaridia sp. e Capillaria sp.) e 20,93 por cento multiparasitados. A presença da mosca Pseudolynchia canarienses foi observada entre as penas de todas as aves. Este é o primeiro registro destes parásitos em C. livia no estado de Santa Catarina.

Tritrichomonas foetus: a scanning electron microscopy study of erythrocyte adhesion associated with hemolytic activity.

The in vitro hemolytic activity of Tritrichomonas foetus was investigated. The parasite was tested against human erythrocytes of groups A, B, AB, and O, and against erythrocytes of nine adult animals of different species (the rabbit, rat, chicken, cat, dog, swine, horse, bovine, and sheep). The results showed that T. foetus strains (ATCC KV1, K, PAL, 5022, RJ, 90) did not present any hemolytic activity against any human erythrocyte group nor against rabbit, rat, chicken, cat, dog and swine erythrocytes. T. foetus strains, however, lysed horse, bovine, and sheep erythrocytes. No hemolysin released by the parasites could be identified. Hemolysis did not occur with trichomonad culture supernatants, with sonicated extracts of T. foetus, nor with killed organisms. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that human erythrocytes did not adhere to the trophozoites, in contrast horse erythrocytes adhered to the surface of the parasites and were phagocytosed for up to 90 min. The parasites are able to exert their cytopathic effects through: (a) physical contact established between the two cell surfaces, (b) toxins released from parasites into the interaction media, or (c) the association of both mechanisms. Further studies are necessary to clarify the importance of the hemolytic activity in the biology of T. foetus.

Blood parasites in birds from Monteverde, Costa Rica.

In a survey of avian blood parasites in Costa Rica, 51 (11%) of 479 birds sampled were infected by at least one species of hematozoan. Fourteen of the 60 species of birds in the survey were examined for the first time. Infections were most common in ramphastids and emberizids and infrequent in other taxa. Among resident species, infections were more commonly detected during the wet season when most birds breed than during the dry season when few birds breed. Infections caused by Haemoproteus sp. were most common, while Plasmodium sp., Leucocytozoon sp., Trypanosoma sp., and microfilarial infections were rare. The intensity of the 40 Haemoproteus infections in adult birds was low, with a mean +/- SE of 12.5 +/- 3.7 infected cells per 10,000. Haemoproteus infections did not undergo seasonal changes in intensity.

Avian hematozoa from west-central Bolivia.

A total of 641 birds representing 135 species of 25 families from Noel Kempff Mercado National Park in west-central Bolivia was examined for hematozoa; only 33 (5.1%) harbored blood parasites. Microfilariae were the most commonly encountered hematozoans, followed, in numerical sequence, by species of Haemoproteus and Plasmodium; Trypanosoma, Atoxoplasma, and Hepatozoon were seen infrequently. The survey included 13 new host-parasite records, and 58 species of birds were examined for blood parasites for the first time; 43 were parasite-free. The low prevalence of parasitism recorded in this survey is compared to other areas in the Neotropical region and to prevalence of blood parasites in the avifauna of other major land masses.

Blood parasites of some birds from northeastern Mexico.

A total of 196 birds of 31 species from 15 families from northeastern Mexico was examined for blood parasites; 25 birds (12.8%) of 11 species harbored 1 or more species of hematozoans. Species of Haemoproteus accounted for half of the total infections encountered. Leucocytozoon simondi was found in 2 Mexico ducks (Anas diazi) and this represents the first record of the transmission of this parasite in Mexico. The results of this survey were compared with those obtained nearly 50 yr ago from a survey of birds from the same general area; prevalence in both samples was similar, despite the change to a more agricultural environment over this period.