[Epidemiological pattern of lymphatic filariasis in children living in endemic areas]. / Perfil epidemiológico da filariose linfática em crianças residentes em áreas endêmicas.

OBJECTIVE: Lymphatic filariasis still represents a major public health problem in the city of Recife. In spite of the fact that previous surveys had already shown high frequency of microfilaraemia in pediatric population, the prevalence of filarial disease and the microfilaraemic pattern of this group were unknown. This paper describes the clinical-epidemiological pattern of filariasis in children and adolescents living in two highly endemic areas of Recife. METHODS: The parasitological survey was done through a census carried out between December 1990 and July 1991. Thick drop technique (45 micro l) was performed on a total of 1,464 children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 14, of whom 967 were submitted to clinical examination. Positive cases had their blood recollected (60 micro l) to measure the microfilaraemic density. RESULTS: The microfilaraemia prevalence was 6.4 %. In the age groups of 5 to 9 and 10 to 14 a microfilaraemia prevalence of respectively 4.6% and 8.3% was observed. The microfilaraemic density varied from 3 to 864 microfilariae per 60 microl of blood, there having been no statistically significant difference between the sexes and age groups (p<0.05). 6 cases (0.6 %) of acute filarial disease and 11 of chronic filarial disease (1.1%) were identified, hydrocele being the principal manifestation found. Lymphadenopathy was found in 22% of the children, statistical association with microfilaraemia being observed (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the parasitological survey show the strong presence of children in the contingent of microfilaraemic individuals, indicating an early and intense exposure to filariasis in the population studied.

[An increase in Hansen's disease in northeastern Brazil]. / A expansão da hanseníase no nordeste brasileiro.

The epidemiological aspects of hanseniasis in Recife from 1960 to 1985 were studied. Clinical-epidemiological records of 3,923 leprosy patients reported to the Secretaria de Saúde do Estado de Pernambuco were reviewed. The cruce as well as the age, sex and type-specific detection rates were calculated. The way the cases were detected and the time elapsed between the appearance of the first symptoms and the disease was analysed. The analysis of the time trend during the observation period showed an increase in the detection rate with time, rising from 5.5 per 100,000 inhabitants in 1960 to 36.1 per 100,000 inhabitants in 1985. The higher frequency of the tuberculoid type of leprosy and the high percentage of patients under 15 might refleet the expansion of the disease in Recife. The decline and the stabilization in the time elapsed between the appearance of the disease and its detection, from 1979 onwards, indicates a more prompt detection and, as a consequence of that, that the rate of detection is approaching the incidence rate. From 1970 to 1985 the most common means of detecting cases of Hanseniasis was through dermatological consultation followed by disease notification. Only 14.2% of the cases were discovered through the surveillance of contacts. The analysis of the epidemiological and operational indicators suggest that the increase in the detection rate over the period from 1960 to 1985 was due both to expansion of the disease and improvement in control measures. The prevalence rate of Hanseniasis in Recife in December 1984 was 2.04 per 100,000 inhabitants; according to the WHO criteria Recife may be considered an area of high endemicity.

[Griseocarnin, an antifungal antibiotic isolated from Streptoverticillium criseocarneum (IA-7527)]. / Griseocarnin, um antibiótico antifúngico isolado do Streptoverticillium criseocarneum(ia-7527)

We have been studying the antagonistic activity of the Streptoverticillium griseocarneum, strain IA-7527. It produces a strong antifungal substance which we named griseocarnin. Its antimicrobial power to Neurospora crassa, Rhodotorula, rubra, Hansenula suaveolens and Candida albicans deserves to be exceled. The isolated substance was compared with other antifungal antibiotics presenting close similarity with the heptaens Ascosin and PA-150. The production, extraction and purification methods as well as physical, chemical and biological properties are included in this work.