Integration of animal health and public health surveillance sources to exhaustively inform the risk of zoonosis: An application to visceral leishmaniasis data in Brazil.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a parasitic disease that is endemic in more than 80 countries, and leads to high fatality rates when left untreated. We investigate the relationship of VL cases in dogs and human cases, specifically for evidence of VL in dogs leading to excess cases in humans. We use surveillance data for dogs and humans for the years 2007-2011 to conduct both spatial and spatio-temporal analyses. Several models are evaluated incorporating varying levels of dependency between dog and human data. Models including dog data show marginal improvement over models without; however, for a subset of spatial units with ample data, models provide concordant risk classification for dogs and humans at high rates (∼70%). Limited reported dog case surveillance data may contribute to the results suggesting little explanatory value in the dog data, as excess human risk was only explained by dog risk in 5% of regions in the spatial analysis.

Prevalence, risk factors, and biochemical markers in dogs with ultrasound-diagnosed biliary sludge.

Regarded as an incidental finding, biliary sludge is often diagnosed in dogs on abdominal ultrasound. The aims of the present study were to assess the risk factors, biochemical markers and ultrasonographic findings and to estimate the prevalence and influence of different breeds, sexes, and ages on biliary sludge in dogs. Results demonstrate that the prevalence of biliary sludge is high, especially in senior dogs. The biochemical markers did not have a significant correlation with biliary sludge, and the type of diet was not considered to be the major risk factor. Hepatomegaly was frequently observed on the ultrasound scan of affected animals and of dogs on different systemic drugs and with cardiopathies, which have been referred to as risk groups for the development of inspissated bile.

Immunoperoxidase inhibition assay for rabies antibody detection.

An immunoperoxidase inhibition assay (IIA) for detection of rabies antibodies in human sera is described. Diluted test sera are added to microplates with paraformaldehyde-fixed, CER cells infected with rabies virus. Antibodies in test sera compete with a rabies polyclonal rabbit antiserum which was added subsequently. Next, an anti-rabbit IgG-peroxidase conjugate is added and the reaction developed by the addition of the substrate 3-amino-9-ethylcarbazole (AEC). The performance of the assay was compared to that of the "simplified fluorescence inhibition microtest" (SFIMT), an established virus neutralization assay, by testing 422 human sera. The IIA displayed 97.6% sensitivity, 98% specificity and 97.6% accuracy (Kappa correlation coefficient=0.9). The IIA results can be read by standard light microscopy, where the clearly identifiable specific staining is visible in antibody-negative sera, in contrast to the absence of staining in antibody-positive samples. The assay does not require monoclonal antibodies or production of large amounts of virus; furthermore, protein purification steps or specialized equipment are not necessary for its performance. The IIA was shown to be suitable for detection of rabies antibodies in human sera, with sensitivity, specificity and accuracy comparable to that of a neutralization-based assay. This assay may be advantageous over other similar methods designed to detect rabies-specific binding antibodies, in that it can be easily introduced into laboratories, provided basic cell culture facilities are available.

Efficacy of an inactivated, recombinant bovine herpesvirus type 5 (BoHV-5) vaccine.

Bovine herpesvirus type 5 (BoHV-5) is the causative agent of bovine herpetic encephalitis. In countries where BoHV-5 is prevalent, attempts to vaccinate cattle to prevent clinical signs from BoHV-5-induced disease have relied essentially on vaccination with BoHV-1 vaccines. However, such practice has been shown not to confer full protection to BoHV-5 challenge. In the present study, an inactivated, oil adjuvanted vaccine prepared with a recombinant BoHV-5 from which the genes coding for glycoprotein I (gI), glycoprotein E (gE) and membrane protein US9 were deleted (BoHV-5 gI/gE/US9(-)), was evaluated in cattle in a vaccination/challenge experiment. The vaccine was prepared from a virus suspension containing a pre-inactivation antigenic mass equivalent to 10(7.69) TCID(50)/dose. Three mL of the inactivated vaccine were administered subcutaneously to eight calves serologically negative for BoHV-5 (vaccinated group). Four other calves were mock-vaccinated with an equivalent preparation without viral antigens (control group). Both groups were boostered 28 days later. Neither clinical signs of disease nor adverse effects were observed during or after vaccination. A specific serological response, revealed by the development of neutralizing antibodies, was detected in all vaccinated animals after the first dose of vaccine, whereas control animals remained seronegative. Calves were subsequently challenged on day 77 post-vaccination (pv) with 10(9.25) TCID(50) of the wild-type BoHV-5 (parental strain EVI 88/95). After challenge, vaccinated cattle displayed mild signs of respiratory disease, whereas the control group developed respiratory disease and severe encephalitis, which led to culling of 2/4 calves. Searches for viral DNA in the central nervous system (CNS) of vaccinated calves indicated that wild-type BoHV-5 did not replicate, whereas in CNS tissues of calves on the control group, viral DNA was widely distributed. BoHV-5 shedding in nasal secretions was significantly lower in vaccinated calves than in the control group on days 2, 3, 4 and 6 post-challenge (pc). In addition, the duration of virus shedding was significantly shorter in the vaccinated (7 days) than in controls (12 days). Attempts to reactivate latent infection by administration of dexamethasone at 147 days pv led to recrudescence of mild signs of respiratory disease in both vaccinated and control groups. Infectious virus shedding in nasal secretions was detected at reactivation and was significantly lower in vaccinated cattle than in controls on days 11-13 post-reactivation (pr). It is concluded that the inactivated vaccine prepared with the BoHV-5 gI/gE/US9(-) recombinant was capable of conferring protection to encephalitis when vaccinated cattle were challenged with a large infectious dose of the parental wild type BoHV-5. However, it did not avoid the establishment of latency nor impeded dexamethasone-induced reactivation of the virus, despite a significant reduction in virus shedding after challenge and at reactivation on vaccinated calves.

A sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay to detect rabies antibodiesin sera of different species

A sandwich ELISA (S-ELISA) was developed to detect antibodies to rabies virus in seraof different species. The test was performed as follows: ELISA plates were coated withpolyclonal mouse/anti-rabies antibodies for 2 hours at 37ºC. After adsorption, plateswere washed and non-specific binding blocked with 2% powdered milk. In a separateplate, serial threefold dilutions of test sera were incubated with inactivated rabies virusantigen. The mixtures were then placed on the rabies antibody-coated plates andincubated. These were then washed and incubated with polyclonal rabbit/anti-rabiesantibodies. Subsequently, a rabbit/IgG-peroxidase conjugate was added and platesincubated. After washing, the chromogen (ABTS with 0.15% H2O2) was added to platesand after incubation for 30 min were read in a spectrophotometer (OD405). To validatethe S-ELISA, 128 serum samples including humans, cattle, hematophagous and nonhaematophagous bats, mice, marmosets, ocelots - Leopardus pardalis, raccoons -Procyon lotor, jaguarondi - Herpailurus yaguarondi, fox - Cerdocyon thous and coati -Nasua nasua, were tested and compared to a standard fluorescent antibody virusneutralization test (FAVN). In comparison to FAVN, the S-ELISA showed highsensitivity (82.98%) and specificity (100%), with an accuracy of 87.5%. Subsequently,738 serum samples from different species were tested in the S-ELISA. Antibodies torabies were detected by S-ELISA in all species tested, with the exception of the threeserum samples from raccoons. The S-ELISA was shown to be a serological test of lowcost that can be easily implemented in diagnostic laboratories. In addition, no liveanimals, infectious virus, cell culture or fluorescence microscopy are required forperformance of the test. This is an additional advantage of the S-ELISA over othermethods of rabies antibody detection.

Inibição dos lentivírus de pequenos ruminantes por drogas antivirais / Inhibition of small ruminant lentivirus by antiviral drugs

Inibidores da enzima transcriptase reversa e da protease foram avaliados quanto ao seu efeito inibitório na replicação do Vírus da Artrite Encefalite Caprina (CAEV) cepa CAEV Cork e do vírus Maedi-Visna (MVV) cepa K1514 cultivados em células fibroblásticas de caprinos. Os fármacos utilizados foram: lamivudina, didanosina, estavudina, zidovudina, efavirenz, atazanavir e lopinavir/ritonavir. A maior concentração utilizada para lamivudina, estavudina, zidovudina e efavirenz foi 500 ?M, para atazanavir foi 50 ?M e 5,0 ?M para lopinavir/r e didanosina. A atividade antiviral in vitro foi pesquisada por meio da avaliação da viabilidade celular através da redução do MTT e pela pesquisa de inibição dos efeitos citopáticos (CPE) dos vírus. A replicação dos vírus só não foi completamente bloqueada pelos inibidores de protease (IP) atazanavir e lopinavir/r enquanto os demais apresentaram eficácia antiviral significativa em diferentes concentrações. Os IP juntamente com o efavirenz, não mostraram atividade antiviral quando foram avaliados pela técnica de redução do MTT. Esses dados indicam que os fármacos inibidores da transcriptase reversa lamivudina, didanosina, estavudina e zidovudina são eficazes na inibição in vitro dos lentivírus de pequenos ruminantes.

Inhibitors of the reverse transcriptase and protease enzymes were evaluated for their inhibitory effect on the replication of caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) strain CAEV Cork and of the Maedi-Visna virus (MVV) strain K1514 cultured in fibroblastic cells. The drugs lamivudine, didanosine, stavudine, zidovudine, efavirenz, atazanavir and lopinavir/ritonavir were used. The highest concentration used for lamivudine, stavudine, zidovudine and efavirenz was 500 ?M, for atazanavir it was 50 ?M and 5.0 ?M for lopinavir/r and didanosine. The in vitro antiviral activity was investigated by evaluating the cell viability by the MTT method and testing for inhibition of cytopathic effects (CPE) of the virus. The replication of the virus was not completely inhibited by the protease inhibitors atazanavir and lopinavir/r in the test for CPE, while the others drugs showed significant antiviral efficacy in different concentrations. The protease inhibitors together with the efavirenz did not show antiviral activity when they were assessed by the reduced MTT technique. These data showed that the reverse transcriptase inhibitor drugs lamivudine, didanosine, stavudine and zidovudine were effective in the in vitro inhibition of small ruminant lentivirus.

Late results on the surgical treatment of Chagasic megaesophagus with the Thal-Hatafuku procedure.

BACKGROUND: Chagas' disease has a wide distribution in Central and South America. It is endemic in 21 countries, with 16 to 18 million persons infected and 100 million at risk. Surgical treatment of achalasia from Chagas' disease is the first choice in advanced stages. The aim of this study was to analyze the late clinical followup of 50 patients operated on for Chagas megaesophagus with the Thal-Harafuku procedure. STUDY DESIGN: During the period of January 1966 to January 1993, 50 patients suffering from advanced achalasia from Chagas' disease were submitted to the Thal-Hatafuku procedure. The patients answered a questionnaire concerning the most relevant postoperative symptoms. The Thal-Hatafuku procedure was performed as the first surgical option (46 patients), and on reoperations because of failure of other surgical techniques (4 patients). RESULTS: The mean followup was 63.11 months for the 44 patients with longterm followup. Postoperative complications included surgical site infection (3 of 50 patients), urinary infections (3 of 50 patients), atelectasis (2 of 50 patients), pleural effusion (2 of 50 patients), and deep venous thrombosis (1 of 50 patients). The main symptoms found in the postoperative period were dysphagia (20 of 44 patients), heartburn (11 of 44 patients), vomiting (13 of 44 patients), and retrosternal pain (6 of 44 patients). Eleven patients of the 44 remained asymptomatic at the end of the followup period. Outcomes were analyzed according to the modified Visick classification. Visick classes I and II represented 25% and 27.3%, respectively. Eighteen patients (40.9%) were classified as Visick III. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the Thal-Hatafuku operation is a therapeutic option that should be considered in the treatment of achalasia of the esophagus secondary to Chagas' disease, in advanced cases.

[Demonstration of several functions of motoneurons using microcomputers]. / Demostración de algunas funciones de las motoneuronas mediante microcomputadoras.

In order to display some electrophysiological properties of the motoneurons, a special program for a microcomputer has been designed. The images in the monitor resemble those of an oscilloscope screen. The microelectrode penetration in the cell membrane, magnitude of the resting potential, inhibition and facilitation phenomena and the time-course of a spike potential are shown. The sequences of program's sentences (detailed in the text) can be exhibited in the screen also. Related theoretical basis of neurophysiology and a discussion of the present work are included.

Demostración de algunas funciones de las motoneuronas mediante microcomputadoras. / [Demonstration of several functions of motoneurons using microcomputers]

In order to display some electrophysiological properties of the motoneurons, a special program for a microcomputer has been designed. The images in the monitor resemble those of an oscilloscope screen. The microelectrode penetration in the cell membrane, magnitude of the resting potential, inhibition and facilitation phenomena and the time-course of a spike potential are shown. The sequences of programs sentences (detailed in the text) can be exhibited in the screen also. Related theoretical basis of neurophysiology and a discussion of the present work are included.

Infeccao pos-operatoria na esquistossomose hepatoesplencia. / Postoperative infection in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis

Os autores estudaram 1.339 pacientes submetidos a cirurgias limpas, limpas com contaminacao, contaminadas e infectadas. Entre estes pacientes, estudaram separadamente pacientes com hipertensao portal esquistossomatica para analise comparativa com outras patologias, submetidas a cirurgias equivalentes. Os autores concluiram que pacientes com hipertensao portal esquistossomatica apresentam um risco de infeccao significativamente maior que outros pacientes

Mortalidade pos-operatoria em cirurgia geral. / Postoperative mortality in general surgery

Os autores estudaram 1.233 pacientes operados no Servico de Cirurgia Abdominal da UFPE no periodo de 1/1/77 a 31/12/79. Nos anos de 1977 e 1978, foram operados 754 pacientes sendo a mortalidade de 2.65% e necropsiados 70% dos casos. A sepsis foi responsavel por 45% dos obitos. Em 1979 foram operados 479 pacientes, sendo a mortalidade de 2,29% e necropsiados 72% dos casos. A sepsis foi responsavel por 27% dos obitos. A reducao da mortalidade e da sepsis nao foram estatisticamente significantes

A vagotomia gastrica proximal no tratamento cirurgico da ulcera duodenal estenosada e perfurada. / Proximal gastric vagotomy in the surgical treatment of stenosing and perforating duodenal ulcer

Os autores apresentam um material de 35 pacientes portadores de ulcera duodenal estenosada e perfurada, submetidos a tratamento cirurgico utilizado a vagotomia gastrica proximal. Nao houve mortalidade na serie e os resultados foram considerados muito bons nos casos de perfuracao, ocorrendo elevado indice de maus resultados (27,27) nos casos de estenose submetidos a uma vagotomia gastrica proximal associada a dilatacao digital do pilor

Tratamento cirurgico do megaesofago chagasico. Avaliacao de 60 casos. / Surgical treatment of chagasic megaesophagus

Os autores estudaram retrospectivamente o resultado do tratamento cirurgico de 60 pacientes portadores de megaesofago, sendo 22 submetidos a operacao de Heller associada a um procedimento antirefluxo, 22 a operacao de Thal Hatafuku e 16 a esofogectomia cervico-abdominal (Op. Eugenio Ferreira).O seguimento pos-operatorio global foi de 73,33% e ocorreram dois casos de obito entre os submetidos a operacao de Thal Hatafuku (4,54%). Os resultados considerados bons e regulares ocorreram em 59,11% dos casos submetidos a operacao de Heller associada a um procedimento antirefluxo, 40,92% apos a operacao de Thal Hatafuku e 87,50% apos a operacao de Eugenio Ferreira

Qualitative study of prostaglandins in pregnant uterine tissues: effects of estradiol- 17 beta and betamethasone.

The presence of prostaglandins (PGs) E1 and F2 alpha in extracts of endometrial, myometrial and placental samples from 19 pregnant women at term, was investigated. The tissue samples were obtained from the following group of patients: untreated, A) with onset of labor, B) without onset of labor; pre-treated (without onset of labor); C) with betamethasone, D) with estradiol-17 beta. Thin-layer chromatography determinations demonstrated PGE1 presence in all tissue samples from the four groups. On the other hand, PGF2 alpha was consistently found in placenta and endometrial samples from groups A, C, and D, but it was absent in those from group B. The results suggest a physiological role of PGF2 alpha in human parturition, and a possible influence of estrogens and corticosteroids on the appearance of this prostaglandin.