Cysticercosis in free-ranging agoutis (Dasyprocta leporina) in the Eastern Brazilian Amazon.

The study describes the occurrence of cysticercosis in liver of 22 wild agoutis (Dasyprocta leporina) in the Brazilian Amazon. The phylogenetic analysis and microscopic characteristics of metacestodes in liver tissue sections, associated with the geographic distribution of the intermediate hosts indicated that a possibly novel Taenia sp. metacestode caused the parasitism. Additionally, two cases of hepatic co-infection by Taenia sp., Calodium sp. and Echinococcus oligarthra were also observed among the analyzed animals. The results point to the need for a better understanding of hepatotropic parasites among wild rodents in the Brazilian Amazon.

Serological and molecular retrospective analysis of hepatitis E suspected cases from the Eastern Brazilian Amazon 1993-2014.

INTRODUCTION: We evaluated the anti-hepatitis E virus (HEV) antibody prevalence and HEV-RNA in archived serum samples of non-A-C hepatitis, or suspected cases of HEV infection from the Eastern Brazilian Amazon from 1993 to 2014. METHODS: Serum samples (n = 318) were tested using ELISA and immunoblotting, and screened for HEV-RNA by RT-qPCR. RESULTS: Anti-HEV IgM and IgG were detected in 3.4% (11/318) and 5.9% (19/318) of the samples, respectively. All samples were HEV-RNA negative. CONCLUSIONS: HEV was detected at a low prevalence. Broader serological and molecular evaluation of HEV infection in the Amazon region should be carried out.

A paruterinid metacestode in the liver of a Neotropical bat (Molossus molossus).

We describe a case of microscopic liver lesion caused by larval cestode in a frugivorous bat (Molossus molossus) from the Western Brazilian Amazon. Histopathological analysis of liver indicated the occurrence of metacestode associated with multifocal histiocytic response and the phylogenetic analysis of Cox-I and 18S rDNA genes indicated that the parasite belonged to the family Paruterinidae. This is the first identification of cestodes of the family Paruterinidae in bats and may suggest a broad range of paruterinid tapeworm hosts to be investigated in the Brazilian Amazon.

Serological and molecular retrospective analysis of hepatitis E suspected cases from the Eastern Brazilian Amazon 1993-2014

Abstract INTRODUCTION We evaluated the anti-hepatitis E virus (HEV) antibody prevalence and HEV-RNA in archived serum samples of non-A-C hepatitis, or suspected cases of HEV infection from the Eastern Brazilian Amazon from 1993 to 2014. METHODS Serum samples (n = 318) were tested using ELISA and immunoblotting, and screened for HEV-RNA by RT-qPCR. RESULTS Anti-HEV IgM and IgG were detected in 3.4% (11/318) and 5.9% (19/318) of the samples, respectively. All samples were HEV-RNA negative. CONCLUSIONS HEV was detected at a low prevalence. Broader serological and molecular evaluation of HEV infection in the Amazon region should be carried out.

Detection of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in captive non-human primates in the Amazon region, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasma gondii infections in captive non-human primates are of interest because often they die due to severe toxoplasmosis. Thus, we aimed to evaluate samples from a serum bank to T. gondii antibodies. METHODS: Serum samples of 179 monkeys from the National Center of Primates, Brazil, were retrospective analyzed for T. gondii IgG antibodies by modified agglutination test using formalin-fixed whole parasites as antigen (cutoff 1:25). RESULTS: Among the 179 samples tested, 88 (49.2%) were positive. Twelve of the 18 evaluated species presented at least one positive animal. A higher occurrence of positive animals was found in New World (52.2%) than Old World (22.2%) monkeys (P = .023) and in the animals from domestic donation origin, which had lived in human homes as pets (P = .004). CONCLUSIONS: We confirm the widespread presence of T. gondii in captive monkeys and contribute to the range of species that can be infected by this parasite.

SEROLOGICAL DETECTION OF HEPATITIS A VIRUS IN FREE-RANGING NEOTROPICAL PRIMATES (Sapajus spp., Alouatta caraya) FROM THE PARANÁ RIVER BASIN, BRAZIL.

Nonhuman primates are considered as the natural hosts of Hepatitis A virus (HAV), as well as other pathogens, and can serve as natural sentinels to investigate epizootics and endemic diseases that are of public health importance. During this study, blood samples were collected from 112 Neotropical primates (NTPs) (Sapajus nigritus and S. cay, n = 75; Alouatta caraya, n = 37) trap-captured at the Paraná River basin, Brazil, located between the States of Paraná and Mato Grosso do Sul. Anti-HAV IgG antibodies were detected in 4.5% (5/112) of NTPs, specifically in 6.7% (5/75) of Sapajus spp. and 0% (0/37) of A. caraya. In addition, all samples were negative for the presence of IgM anti-HAV antibodies. These results suggest that free-ranging NTPs were exposed to HAV within the geographical regions evaluated.

SEROLOGICAL DETECTION OF HEPATITIS A VIRUS IN FREE-RANGING NEOTROPICAL PRIMATES (Sapajus spp., Alouatta caraya) FROM THE PARANÁ RIVER BASIN, BRAZIL

Nonhuman primates are considered as the natural hosts of Hepatitis A virus (HAV), as well as other pathogens, and can serve as natural sentinels to investigate epizootics and endemic diseases that are of public health importance. During this study, blood samples were collected from 112 Neotropical primates (NTPs) (Sapajus nigritus and S. cay, n = 75; Alouatta caraya, n = 37) trap-captured at the Paraná River basin, Brazil, located between the States of Paraná and Mato Grosso do Sul. Anti-HAV IgG antibodies were detected in 4.5% (5/112) of NTPs, specifically in 6.7% (5/75) of Sapajus spp. and 0% (0/37) of A. caraya. In addition, all samples were negative for the presence of IgM anti-HAV antibodies. These results suggest that free-ranging NTPs were exposed to HAV within the geographical regions evaluated.

Neotropical echinococcosis: second report of Echinococcus vogeli natural infection in its main definitive host, the bush dog (Speothos venaticus).

The bush dog (Speothos venaticus) acts as the natural definitive host in the life cycle of Echinococcus vogeli, the causative agent of polycystic hydatid disease, a zoonotic neglected disease in the South America. We report a case of natural infection by Echinococcus vogeli in a bush dog from the Brazilian Amazon, confirmed by the morphological and morphometric examination of adult parasites and their hooks obtained from the small intestine of the canid. Additionally, mitochondrial DNA sequence analysis corroborated these findings. This is the second report of natural infection by E. vogeli in a bush dog.

Capillaria hepatica (Bancroft, 1893) (Nematoda) entre populações indígenas e mamíferos silvestres no noroeste do Estado do Mato Grosso, Brasil, 2000 / Capillaria hepatica (Bancroft, 1893) (Nematoda) among indigenous populations and wild mammals in the northwest of Mato Grosso State, Brazil, 2000

Capillaria hepatica é um nematoide hepatotrópico capaz de infectar roedores e outros mamíferos. Em virtude da identificação de ovos deste helminto em amostras de fezes de indígenas do noroeste do Mato Grosso, no ano 2000, foi realizado inquérito coproparasitológico nas fezes de 477 (76,6 por cent) dos 622 indígenas de seis aldeias (Mamaindé, Kithãulu,Camararé, Negatoré, Nambiquara e Wassussu) situadas nos vales dos rios Guaporé e Nambiquara, noroeste do Estado do Mato Grosso. Amostras de fígado de animais silvestres utilizados como fonte alimentar por estes indígenas também foram coletadas para avaliação histopatológica e parasitológica...

Capillaria hepatica is a hepatotropic nematode that infects rodents and other mammals. In 2000, eggs of this helminth were identified in stool samples from the indigenous population in Northwestern Mato Grosso, Brazil. A parasitological survey was conducted in stool samples from 477 (76.6 per cent) out of 622 Indians from six villages (Mamaindé, Kithãulu, Camararé, Negatoré, Nambiquara and Wassussu) located in the valleys of the Guaporé and Nambiquara rivers. Liver samples from wild animals were used by these Indians as a food source and were collected for histopathological and parasitological assessment...

Prevalência de infecção pelos vírus das hepatites A, B, C e D na demanda de um hospital no Município de Juruti, oeste do Estado do Pará, Brasil / Prevalence of hepatitis A, B, C and D infections in the Juruti municipal hospital, western Pará, Brazil

O Município de Juruti, localizado a oeste do Estado do Pará, possui importante reserva de bauxita, cuja exploração iniciou em 2005. O surgimento ou aumento da frequência de doenças influenciadas por essa exploração, particularmente em relação às hepatites virais, é diversa da observada em qualquer outra região do mundo. Para definir a prevalência das infecções pelos vírus das hepatites A, B, C e D na demanda do hospital municipal de Juruti, entre fevereiro de 2007 e abril de 2008, foram coletadas amostras de soro de pessoas da demanda hospitalar e submetidas à análise dos marcadores sorológicos das hepatites A (VHA), B (VHB), C (VHC) e D (VHD), por técnicas imunoenzimáticas. Nas amostras positivas para os vírus B e C foram realizadas pesquisas para detecção do VHB-DNA e VHC-RNA, por PCR e RT-PCR, respectivamente. Entre as 1.630 amostras coletadas, ocorreu prevalência de 85,6 por cento para o anti-VHA total; de 0,7 por cento para o HBsAg; 9,1 por cento anti-HBc/anti-HBs e 31,4 por cento anti-HBs isolado. Entre os HBsAg+, 9,1 por cento eram HBeAg+; 63,6 por cento anti-HBe+ e 72,7 por cento VHB-DNA+. O anti-VHC foi positivo em 0,1 por cento e não foi detectada sorologia positiva para o VHD. Caracterizamos, em base laboratorial, alta prevalência de infecção pelo VHA, detecção de portadores crônicos e de suscetíveis para o VHB, presença de portador do VHC e a ausência de portadores do VHD. Recomenda-se a realização de estudos epidemiológicos locais, baseados em comunidades, para comparar com os dados hospitalares ora apresentados...

The Juruti Municipality, located to the west of the Pará State, possesses major bauxite reserves, the exploration of which started in 2005. The appearance of some diseases and the increased frequency of others have been influenced by this exploration, particularly in relation to viral hepatitis. These epidemiological trends are different from those observed anywhere else worldwide. To define the prevalence of the infections by the hepatitis A, B, C and D viruses in the Juruti municipal hospital between February 2007 and April 2008, serum samples were collected from patients and analyzed for serological markers of hepatitis A (HAV), B (HBV), C (HCV) and D (HDV) by immunoenzymatic techniques. In samples positive for the hepatitis B and C viruses, assays were performed for the detection of HBV-DNA and HCV-RNA by PCR and RT-PCR, respectively. Among the 1,630 samples collected, the prevalence of total anti-HAV was 85.6 per cent; HBsAg was 0.7 per cent; anti-HBc/anti-HBs was 9.1 per cent and isolated anti-HBs were 31.4 per cent. Among the HBsAg+, 9.1 per cent were HBeAg+; 63.6 per cent were anti-HBe+ and 72.7 per cent were HBV-DNA+. Anti-HCV was positive in 0.1 per cent of the samples and positive serologies were not detected for HDV Laboratory-based characterization revealed a high prevalence of infection by HAV, detected chronic HBV carriers and those susceptible to HBV, identified an HCV carrier and revealed the absence of HDV carriers. Local, community-based epidemiological studies are recommended for comparison to the hospital data presented here...

Ocorrência de hepatites virais, helmintíases e protozooses em primatas neotropicais procedentes de criação domiciliar: afecções de transmissão fecal-oral com potencial zoonótico / Viral hepatitis, helminthiasis and protozoan disease in neotropical primates raised in captivity: potentially zoonotic affections with fecal-oral transmission

A criação de primatas não humanos em domicilio não é permitida pela legislação ambiental. Entretanto, na Região Amazônica é comum encontrar primatas não humanos convivendo em ambientes familiares. Essa interface favorece a transmissão de doenças de caráter zoonótico. Esta pesquisa se propôs avaliara presença de alguns agentes zoonóticos em primatas não humanos de criação domiciliar. Foram investigados animais doados ou apreendidos pelo Batalhão de Policiamento Ambiental e/ou Instituto Brasileiro de Meio Ambiente e Recursos Naturais Renováveis no Estado do Pará e encaminhados ao Centro Nacional de Primatas. Durante a quarentena, 25 animais foram submetidos a colheitas de sangue para a obtenção de soro e pesquisa de anticorpos para hepatites virais (tipos A, B e E), realizada no Instituto Evandro Chagas. A análise parasitológica fecal foi realizada em 29 animais, sendo utilizados os métodos de Willis, Hoffman e exame direto. Nenhum dos animais apresentou anticorpos positivos para anti-HBV e anti-HEV; entretanto, 12 por cento dos animais apresentaram positividade para anticorpos anti-HAV totais. Os estudos parasitológicos demonstraram que 48,2 por cento apresentavam algum tipo de parasita com potencial zoonótico, ocorrendo Strongyloides stercoralis em 17,2 por cento casos, sendo que em 3,4 por cento dos casos este parasita estava associado à Giardia lamblia...

Brazilian environmental legislation does not allow non-human primates to be raised in captivity. However, this remains a common practice in the Amazon region, and the close proximity of animals and humans facilitates the transmission of zoonotic diseases. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the presence of zoonotic agents in household-raised non-human primates. We analyzed animals donated or apprehended by Brazil's Environmental Police Battalion and/or the Instituto Brasileiro de Meio Ambiente e Recursos Naturais Renováveis in Pará State, Brazil, and sent to the Centro Nacional de Primatas. Blood samples taken from 25 animals during the quarantine period were subjected to serum and antibody tests for viral hepatitis (types A, B and E) at the Instituto Evandro Chagas. Parasitological analysis of fecal material was performed on 29 animals using direct examination and the Willis and Hoffman methods. None of the animals tested positive for anti-hepatitis B or anti-hepatitis E virus antibodies, but 12 per cent were positive for total anti-hepatitis A antibodies. In addition, parasitological studies showed that 48.2 per cent of the animals had parasites with zoonotic potential. Strongyloides stercoralis was observed in 17.2 per cent, but this parasite was associated with Giardia lamblia in only 3.4 per cent of the samples. Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica were detected in 3.4 per cent and 10.3 per cent of the samples, respectively. All of the pathogens described in this study are transmitted through the fecal-oral route. Therefore, we concluded that non-human primates should not be raised in captivity, and this practice should be addressed as an important public health concern.

[Polycystic echinococcosis in the Eastern Brazilian Amazon: an update]. / Equinococose policística na Amazônia oriental brasileira: atualização da casuística.

By means of epidemiological and clinical-laboratorial approaches was consolidated an update of polycystic echinococcosis in the Eastern Brazilian Amazon, period from 1962 to 2003, including unpublished cases and those already published. In that way, they were identified 40 cases of the disease in referred period, understanding cases coming from the States of Pará and Amapá, Brazil. The width of the ages went from 10 to 72 years and 47.5% belonged to the masculine sex. The liver was the attacked organ (82.5% of the cases). The Echinococcus vogeli (Rausch and Bernstein, 1972), comes as the main agent involved. Starting from the recognition of the importance and of the implications of the handling of the echinococcosis for the tropical area, it is believed that should happen an improvement of the diagnosis, appropriate treatment and of a better registration of the disease.

Equinococose policística na Amazônia oriental brasileira: atualização da casuística / Polycystic echinococcosis in the eastern brazilian Amazon: an update

Mediante critérios epidemiológicos, clínicos e laboratoriais, foi levantada a casuística de equinococose policística no período de 1962 a 2003, no âmbito da Amazônia oriental brasileira, incluindo casos inéditos e aqueles já publicados. Dessa forma, foram identificados 40 casos da doença no referido período, compreendendo casos procedentes dos estados do Pará e Amapá, Brasil. A amplitude das idades foi de 10 a 72 anos. Do total 47,5% pertenciam ao sexo masculino. O fígado foi o órgão mais acometido (82,5% dos casos). O Echinococcus vogeli (Rausch e Bernstein, 1972), apresentou-se como o principal agente etiológico envolvido. A partir do reconhecimento da importância e das implicações do manejo da equinococose para a região tropical, acredita-se que deverá ocorrer uma implementação do diagnóstico precoce, tratamento adequado e de um melhor registro da doença.

By means of epidemiological and clinical-laboratorial approaches was consolidated an update of polycystic echinococcosis in the Eastern Brazilian Amazon, period from 1962 to 2003, including unpublished cases and those already published. In that way, they were identified 40 cases of the disease in referred period, understanding cases coming from the States of Pará and Amapá, Brazil. The width of the ages went from 10 to 72 years and 47,5% belonged to the masculine sex. The liver was the attacked organ (82,5% of the cases). The Echinococcus vogeli (Rausch and Bernstein, 1972), comes as the main agent involved. Starting from the recognition of the importance and of the implications of the handling of the echinococcosis for the tropical area, it is believed that should happen an improvement of the diagnosis, appropriate treatment and of a better registration of the disease.