Protective effect of lectin from Synadenium carinatum on Leishmania amazonensis infection in BALB/c mice.

The protective effect of the Synadenium carinatum latex lectin (ScLL), and the possibility of using it as an adjuvant in murine model of vaccination against American cutaneous leishmaniasis, were evaluated. BALB/c mice were immunized with the lectin ScLL (10, 50, 100 microgram/animal) separately or in association with the soluble Leishmania amazonensis antigen (SLA). After a challenge infection with 10(6) promastigotes, the injury progression was monitored weekly by measuring the footpad swelling for 10 weeks. ScLL appeared to be capable of conferring partial protection to the animals, being most evident when ScLL was used in concentrations of 50 and 100 microgram/animal. Also the parasite load in the interior of macrophages showed significant reduction (61.7%) when compared to the control group. With regard to the cellular response, ScLL 50 and 100 microgram/animal stimulated the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction significantly (P < 0.05) higher than SLA or SLA plus ScLL 10 weeks after the challenge infection. The detection of high levels of IgG2a and the expression of mRNA cytokines, such as IFN-gamma, IL-12, and TNF-alpha (Th1 profiles), corroborated the protective role of this lectin against cutaneous leishmaniasis. This is the first report of the ScLL effect on leishmaniasis and shows a promising role for ScLL to be explored in other experimental models for treatment of leishmaniasis.

Effect of imidocarb and levamisole on the experimental infection of BALB/c mice by Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis.

The adverse effects from using currently available drugs for the treatment of leishmaniasis have motivated the search for new therapeutical agents. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of imidocarb and levamisole on the treatment of BALB/c mice experimentally infected by Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. BALB/c mice were infected with 10(6) promastigotes of L. (L.) amazonensis (IFLA/BR/67/PH8) and, starting on day 51, mice were treated subcutaneously with imidocarb (IMD, 34 mg/kg), imidocarb plus levamisole (IMD+LVS, 34 and 12 mg/kg, respectively), only levamisole (LVS, 12 mg/kg) or without treatment (control). Lesion size and swelling were weekly monitored for 10 weeks after the beginning of the treatment. On day 121 post-infection, serum levels of specific IgG from infected mice were evaluated, as well as histopathological and morphometric alterations in the footpad, lymph nodes and spleen of these animals. The data obtained in this study demonstrated that, when compared to controls, mice treated with IMD had lower levels of IgG anti-L. (L.) amazonensis (34.45%), smaller vacuolar area in macrophages (3.75%), lower number of megakaryocytes in spleen (63.19%) and lower parasite burden in the footpad (30.2%). Thus, the evaluated parameters suggest the use of imidocarb as a potential drug in the treatment of tegumentary leishmaniasis.

Ocorrência de cisticircose em necropsias realizadas em Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brasil / Ocurrence of cysticercosis in autopsies performed in Uberlandia, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Foram realizadas 3937 necropsias no período de 1971 a 1993 no Serviço de Anatomia Patológica do Hospital de Clínicas da Fundaçäo de Assistência, Estudo e Pesquisa de Uberlândia Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, local para onde convergem todos os casos de autópsias do município. A análise de 2862 registros cujos laudos estavam completos e com idade de um ano revelou 39 casos (1,4 por cento de cisticercose. A idade variou de 16 a 83 anos, sendo 66,5 por cento do sexo masculino. A análise da procedência demonstrou que 82,1 por cento dos indivíduos eram do Estado de Minas Gerais e 15,4 por cento de Goiás; 1 caso (2,5 por cento) näo tinha procedência anotada. Dos 39 indivíduos parasitados, 35 (89,7 por cento) apresentavam comprometimento do sistema nervoso central, isolado ou associado a outras formas clínicas da doença; em 9 ocorreu a forma cardíaca (isolada ou associada), em 4 a forma muscular (isolada ou associada) e em 4 a forma visceral (isolada ou associada) Em somente 7 casos (17,9 por cento) a cisticercose foi a causa básica do óbito