Epidemiological, clinical and laboratory aspects of Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection: an integrative review.

This integrative literature review study analyzes the findings of the last 5 years of the parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis. It is known that this nematode is found in the pulmonary arteries of rats, where it remains as a definitive host. From mice, the cycle spreads to animals, such as snails, which in contact with humans can trigger the disease. In humans, the parasite causes several neurological, abdominal manifestations and mainly meningitis. Based on the review of studies, its epidemiology shows worldwide distribution, although there are endemic cases for this parasite, such as asian countries. Laboratory findings generally showed altered CSF with turbidity, increased protein and eosinophilia, which generated meningeal signs in the patient, moreover MRI exams showed multiple alterations. Rare findings of the nematode in the eyeball, lung and signs of peritoneal inflammation were reported, which requires further studies to understand the whole pathophysiology. Finally, conservative treatment based on anthelmintics and anti-inflammatories brought good responses, although there are reports of deaths, which demonstrates the importance in the prevention and therapy of this disease.

Frequência de alimentaçäo e densidade de estocagem do pacu (Piararactus mesopotamicus Holmberg, 1887) na fase de crescimento, criado em sistema de tanque-rede / Frequency of feeding and stocking density of the pacu (Piararactus mesopotamicus Holmberg, 1887) in the course of growth, reared in net-pound system

No reservatório da Usina Hidrelétrica de Itutinga, da Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais (CEMIG), realizou-se um experimento no período de outubro de 1992 a abril de 1993. Estudaram-se os efeitos da frequência de alimentaçäo (1, 3 e 5 vezes/dia) e densidade de estocagem (40 e 80 peixes/m cúbico) sobre o desempenho produtivo do Piararactus mesopotamicus, com peso médio inicial de 23,8 mais ou menos 0,77g e comprimento médio total de 10,5 mais ou menos 0,17 cm. Os resultados de ganho de peso total e diário (g), taxa de crescimento relativo e específico (porcentagem), crescimento médio (cm) foram maiores nas frequências de 3 e 5 vezes ao dia (P<0,05) independente da densidade de estocagem. A estocagem de 80 peixes/m cúbico e arraçoamento parcelado em 3 vezes ao dia proporcionam melhores resultados de crescimento de pacus estocados em tanques-rede

Níveis de proteína bruta na raçäo para alevinos de pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus Holmberg, 1887) cultivados em tanques-rede com várias densidades de estocagem / Level of crude protein in the diet of pacu fingerlings (Piaractus mesopotamicus Holmberg, 1887) raised in net-cages in several stocking densities

Este trabalho foi realizado em tanques-rede instalados na represa da Usina Hidrelétrica (UHE) de Itutinga-MG da CEMIG, durante 341 dias. O objetivo foi estudar níveis de proteína bruta (PB) na raçäo (20, 26 e 32 por cento) e densidade de estocagem (30, 60 e 90 peixes/m cúbico) para alevinos de pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus Holmberg, 1887), com aproximadamente 90 dias de idade. O delineamento foi inteiramente casualizado, com os tratamentos arranjados em esquema fatorial 3x3 (níveis de proteína x densidade de estocagem) com 3 repetiçöes por tratamento. As raçöes experimentais apresentaram valores de energia bruta de aproximadamente 4000 kcal/kg, na forma peletizada. Os resultados apresentaram efeito quadrático dos níveis protéicos sobre o ganho de peso total (g), ganho de comprimento total (cm) e biomassa média final (kg/m cúbico), sendo que os melhores índices foram obtidos com o valor médio de PB de 28,1, 28,4 e 27,9 por cento respectivamente. O aumento da densidade de estocagem reduziu linearmente o ganho de peso total, ganho de comprimento total e aumentou a biomassa média final

Effect of temperature on the reproduction of the snail Biomphalaria glabrata.

1. The reproduction of the snail Biomphalaria glabrata, one of the intermediate hosts of Schistosoma mansoni, was evaluated under laboratory conditions by measuring egg production, number of ovipositions, number of eggs per oviposition, and hatching rate using a Latin square design with five different temperature treatments. This permitted the elimination of occasional variation in oviposition due to manipulation or a priori group. 2. Egg production and spawning rates were higher at temperatures between 20.0 and 27.5 degrees C than at 17.5 degrees C. Number of eggs per spawning and hatching rate did not vary with temperature. 3. During a 3-day adaptation phase, a short-term thermal effect appeared in which some indices of reproductive rates differed significantly from those of the experimental phase.

Effect of temperature on the reproduction of the snail biompholaria glabrata

1. The reproduction of the snail Biomphalaria glabrata, one of the intermediate hosts of Schistosoma mansoni, was evaluated under laboratory conditions by measuring egg production, number of ovipositions, number of eggs per oviposition, and hatching rate using a Latin square design with five different temperature treatments. This permitted the elimnation of occasional variation in oviposition due to manipulation or a priori group. 2. Egg production and spawning rates were higher at temperatures between 20.0 and 27.5-C than at 17.5-C. Number of eggs per spawning and hatching rate did not vary with temperature. 3. During a 3-day adaptation phase, a short-term therminal effect appeared in chich some indices of reproductive rates differed signifcantly from those of the experimental phase

Influence of experimental illumination and seasonal variation on crossbreending mating in the snail Biomphalaria

The crossbreeding activities of the Schistosoma mansoni vector snail Biomphalaria glabrata were counted in a laboratory aquarium throughout the year under two regimes of 12h light: 12h dark from 7 A., M. to 10 P. M. Mating increased significantly in Authmn and Winter and just missed a significant inverse correlation with temperature and a direct one with locomotion. Other similar experiments were carried out to compare mating under various ilumination conditions in complete daily cycle measurements. Mating counts decreased under the regimes which submited snail to a total exposure of 12h light and 12 dark during a daily cycle in the following sequence: 12h light: 12h dark alternating hourly with light gradient, 12h light: 12h dark, 1h light: 1h dark and 12h dark: 12h light. Under two constant illuminations, the mating scored less than under the previous conditions, except under 12h light. Under darkeness the mating count was lower than light conditions. There was no way to differentiate the night and day rhythms of mating on different days in each regime, except for mating under 12h light: 12 dark alternating with light gradient, constant dark and 12h dark: 12h light conditions. Mating increased in certain light and temperature conditions, in wich the intensities, should have an optimum value

Influence of experimental illumination and seasonal variation on crossbreeding mating in the snail Biomphalaria glabrata.

The crossbreeding activities of the Schistosoma mansoni vector snail Biomphalaria glabrata were counted in a laboratory aquarium throughout the year under two regimes of 12h light: 12h dark from 7 A. M. to 10 P. M. Mating increased significantly in Autumn and Winter and just missed a significant inverse correlation with temperature and a direct one with locomotion. Other similar experiments were carried out to compare mating under various illumination conditions in complete daily cycle measurements. Mating counts decreased under the regimes which submitted snail to a total exposure of 12h light and 12h dark during a daily cycle in the following sequence: 12h light:12h dark alternating hourly with light gradient, 12h light:12h dark, 1h light:1h dark and 12h dark:12h light. Under two constant illuminations, the mating scored less than under the previous conditions, except under 12h dark:12h light. Under darkness the mating count was lower than under light conditions. There was no way to differentiate the night and day rhythms of mating on different days in each regime, except for mating under 12h light:12h dark alternating with light gradient, constant dark and 12h dark:12h light conditions. Mating increased in certain light and temperature conditions, in which the intensities should have an optimum value.

The effect of seasonal temperature and experimental illumination on reproductive rate in the snail Biomphalaria glabrata.

1. Reproduction in the snail Biomphalaria glabrata, a vector of Schistosoma mansoni, was measured by egg production and other parameters such as number of clutches, eggs per clutch and egg hatching, under laboratory conditions. 2. Reproductive rates were highest in terms of total number of eggs, clutches and hatching under constant illumination, followed by conditions similar to the natural rhythm of illumination. The greatest reduction in reproduction occurred in constant darkness. In summary, reproductive rate was dependent on both the intensity of absolute illumination and the schedule of illumination exposure. 3. Seasonal variation in reproductive rate appeared to vary inversely with local temperature in Belo Horizonte, situated in a tropical zone (latitude 20 S) owing probably to a temperature preference of 20 to 25 degrees C by the snail. The highest reproductive rates occurred in winter, except for the parameter eggs per clutch which was maximal in autumn. Snail reproduction appeared to be most reduced during summer. There was no linear correlation between reproductive rate and temperature.

The effect of seasonal temperature and experimental illumination on reproductive rate in the snail Biomphalaria glabrata

1. Reproduction in the snail Biomphalaria glabrata, a vector of Schistosoma mansoni, was measured by egg production and other paramneters such as number of clutches, eggs per clutch and egg hatching, under laboratory conditions. 2. Reproductive rates were highest in terms of total number of eggs, clutches and hatching under constant illumination, followed by conditions similar to the natural rhythm of illumination. The greatest reduction in reproduction occurred in constant darkness. in summary, reproductive rate was dependent on both the intensity of absolute illumination and the schedule of illumination exposure. 3. Seasonal variation in reproductive rate appeared to vary inversely with local temperature in Belo Horizonte, situated in a tropical zone (latitude 20 S) owing probably to a temperature prefernce of 20 to 25-C by the snail. the highest reproductive rates occurred in winter, except for the parameter eggs per clutch which was maximal in autumn. Snail reproduction appeared to be most reduced during summer. There was no linear correlation between reproductive rate and temperature