Occurrence of zoonotic enteric parasites in fecal samples from dogs in shelters, parks, squares and public roads, and the dog guardians' perception of zoonoses as for the risk to public health in the city of Guarapuava, Paraná, Brazil.

The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of zoonotic enteroparasites in the feces of dogs from public shelters, squares, parks, and public roads in the city of Guarapuava, Paraná, Brazil, and to evaluate the perception of dog guardians regarding zoonoses and their risk to public health. Fecal samples were collected, coproparasitological examinations were performed to detect zoonotic enteroparasites, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to identify Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. Questionnaires were given to guardians who walked their dogs in parks, squares, and public roads, as to assess their perception of zoonoses. A total of 333 samples were collected, of these 75, 123, and 135 of them were from public shelters, squares and parks, and public roads, respectively. One or more parasites were identified in 166 (50 %) samples, of which 58/75 (77 %) were from public shelters, 50/123 (41 %) from squares and parks, and 58/135 (43 %) from public roads. The parasites detected included Ancylostoma spp., Giardia spp., Trichuris spp., Toxocara spp., and Cystoisospora spp., with Ancylostoma spp. having the highest occurrence. PCR was performed on 161 samples for convenience due to financial limitations, because only a portion of the study was funded by the municipal government, of which 15.6 % were positive for Giardia spp., and all were negative for Cryptosporidium spp. In total, 246 guardians were interviewed, of which 36 % said they did not collect their animals' feces during walks, 20 % did not use anti-helminthics on their dogs, and 23 % did not know which diseases could be transmitted by feces. Therefore, we conclude that there is a high infection rate of parasites with zoonotic potential in public places, showing the need to raise awareness among guardians about the diseases transmitted by dog feces, correct vermifugation and the importance of collecting feces in public places.

Estratificação do risco cardiovascular em cadeirantes jogadores de basquetebol / Cardiovascular risk stratification in wheelchair basketball players

Objetivou-se estratificar fatores de risco para doenças cardiovasculares (DCV) em dez anos em jogadores de basquetebol em cadeiras de rodas. O percentual de risco cardiovascular foi estratificado pelos escores de Framingham (ERF) e de Risco Global (ERG). Dos treze jogadores avaliados, 38,46% apresentava sobrepeso e obesidade e 77%, alterações na porcentagem de gordura corporal e na circunferência abdominal. O ERF identificou 15,38% dos jogadores com risco intermediário para desenvolvimento de DCV e pelo ERG, 15,4% dos homens apresentava risco intermediário, 7,7% alto risco por diabetes e 7,7% muito alto risco por doenças ateroscleróticas. Os resultados de composição corporal demonstram uma predisposição para desenvolvimento de DCV, sendo que o ERG identificou indivíduos com alto risco e muito alto risco. Conclui-se que a identificação dos fatores de risco é útil para que ocorra uma maior prevenção das DCV e aconselhamento adequado sobre adoção de hábitos de vida saudáveis por esses indivíduos.

The objective of this study was to stratify risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in ten years in wheelchair basketball players. The percentage of cardiovascular risk was stratified by the Framingham Score (FS) and Global Risk Score (GRS). Of the thirteen players evaluated, 38.46% were overweight and obese and 77%, presented changes in body fat percentage and waist circumference. The GRS identified 15.38% of the players with intermediate risk for developing CVD and according to GRS, 15.4% of men presented intermediate risk, 7.7% high risk for diabetes and 7.7% very high risk for atherosclerotic diseases. The results of body composition demonstrate a predisposition for the development of CVD and the ERG identified individuals with high risk and very high risk. It is concluded that the identification of risk factors is useful for a greater prevention of CVD and appropriate advice on the adoption of healthy lifestyle habits by these individuals.

Relationship between the type of delivery and the epidemiological profile of prenatal and perinatal assistance in a municipality of Minas Gerais / Relação do tipo de parto com o perfil epidemiológico da assistência pré-natal e perinatal em um município de Minas Gerais

Abstract Objectives: to describe the profile of prenatal and perinatal health by correlating it with sociodemographic and clinical conditions, verifying the effectiveness of health actions. Methods: quantitative, descriptive and retrospective research using data from the Live Birth Information System (Sinasc) of the municipality of Patos de Minas in the period of 2011 to 2015. Results: between 2011 and 2014 there was a reduction in the rate of vaginal births and a slight increase in 2015, however, the rates of cesarean delivery were higher than recommended by the Ministry of Health. In both types of delivery, most pregnant women attended seven or more prenatal consultations, however, this rate was significantly higher for pregnant women who underwent cesarean section. Maternal age > 35 years was also related to cesarean delivery, however, there was no significant relationship between type of delivery, the gestation time, birth weight and occurrence of maternal death. Conclusions: during the analyzed period there were more cesarean sections in relation to vaginal deliveries, with no significant change in the number of maternal deaths. A significant association was found between the highest number of prenatal consultations and maternal age > 35 years in pregnant women who underwent caesarean section. Verification of these associations can help in reorienting health practices in the region.

Resumo Objetivos: traçar o perfil da saúde pré-natal e perinatal relacionando-o com as condições sociodemográficas e clínicas, verificando a efetividade das ações de saúde. Métodos: pesquisa quantitativa, descritiva e retrospectiva com dados do Sistema de Informações sobre Nascidos Vivos (Sinasc) do município de Patos de Minas no período de 2011-2015. Resultados: entre 2011-2014 houve redução na taxa de partos vaginais, com leve aumento em 2015, todavia, as taxas de parto cesáreo foram maiores que o preconizado pelo Ministério da Saúde. Em ambos os tipos de parto, a maioria das gestantes compareceram em sete ou mais consultas pré-natais, entretanto, essa taxa foi significativamente maior para as gestantes que se submeteram à operação cesariana. A idade materna >35 anos também esteve relacionada ao parto cesáreo, entretanto, não houve relação significativa entre o tipo de parto, a duração da gestação, o peso ao nascer e a ocorrência de óbito materno. Conclusões: no período analisado ocorreram mais operações cesarianas em relação aos partos vaginais, sem alteração significativa no número de óbitos maternos. Constatou-se associação significativa entre o maior número de consultas pré-natais e idade materna >35 anos em gestantes que fizeram cesarianas. A verificação dessas associações pode auxiliar na reorientação das práticas de saúde da região.

IgE, IgG1, and IgG4 Reactivity to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus Glycosylated Extract in Allergic Patients.

BACKGROUND: House dust mites are important allergen sources and some of these allergenic proteins may contain carbohydrate moieties, which are able to be isolated using lectins, as Concanavalin A (ConA). This study aimed to investigate allergenicity (IgE) and antigenicity (IgG1 and IgG4) of ConA-unbound and ConA-bound Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dpt) crude extracts using sera of mite-allergic patients as well as inhibition capacity of antibody binding. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We obtained mannose-enriched and mannose-depleted fractions from Dpt by ConA affinity chromatography. Both ConA-bound and ConA-unbound fractions were evaluated by ELISA and Western Blotting for specific IgE, IgG1, and IgG4 reactivity with sera obtained from 95 mite-allergic patients (DP+) and 92 nonallergic (NA) subjects. Inhibition ELISA was used to assess cross-reactivity between Dpt extract and its fractions. RESULTS: Among the DP+ patients, no difference was found between ConA-unbound and ConA-bound fractions regarding the levels of specific IgE, IgG1, and IgG4. Nonallergic subjects had the same levels of specific IgG1 to both ConA-unbound and ConA-bound fractions, although for specific IgG4, values were higher for ConA-bound. A positive correlation was found among specific IgE, IgG1, and IgG4 levels when Dpt was compared to ConA-unbound and ConA-bound fractions. Recognition of crude Dpt by IgE, IgG1, and IgG4 was highly inhibited by ConA-unbound and ConA-bound fractions. Western Blotting revealed a broad spectrum of bands ranging from 14 to 116 kDa recognized by specific IgE and IgG4. However, IgG1 reached higher frequency values on high molecular weight polypeptides. CONCLUSION: ConA-unbound and ConA-bound fractions derived from D. pteronyssinus crude extract revealed important components involved in the IgE recognition in allergic patients as well as IgG1 and/or IgG4 in allergic and healthy subjects.

Toxoplasma gondii 70 kDa heat shock protein: systemic detection is associated with the death of the parasites by the immune response and its increased expression in the brain is associated with parasite replication.

The heat shock protein of Toxoplasma gondii (TgHSP70) is a parasite virulence factor that is expressed during T. gondii stage conversion. To verify the effect of dexamethasone (DXM)-induced infection reactivation in the TgHSP70-specific humoral immune response and the presence of the protein in the mouse brain, we produced recombinant TgHSP70 and anti-TgHSP70 IgY antibodies to detect the protein, the specific antibody and levels of immune complexes (ICs) systemically, as well as the protein in the brain of resistant (BALB/c) and susceptible (C57BL/6) mice. It was observed higher TgHSP70-specific antibody titers in serum samples of BALB/c compared with C57BL/6 mice. However, the susceptible mice presented the highest levels of TgHSP70 systemically and no detection of specific ICs. The DXM treatment induced increased parasitism and lower inflammatory changes in the brain of C57BL/6, but did not interfere with the cerebral parasitism in BALB/c mice. Additionally, DXM treatment decreased the serological TgHSP70 concentration in both mouse lineages. C57BL/6 mice presented high expression of TgHSP70 in the brain with the progression of infection and under DXM treatment. Taken together, these data indicate that the TgHSP70 release into the bloodstream depends on the death of the parasites mediated by the host immune response, whereas the increased TgHSP70 expression in the brain depends on the multiplication rate of the parasite.