Parasitological, microbiological, and antimicrobial resistance profiles of raw and drinking water in a tourist city in the tri-border region of South America.

Despite the large amounts of freshwater available in Brazil, the deterioration of surface water can represent a risk of waterborne disease for national and international tourists. The main goal of this study was to assess the quality of drinking water in the triple border region of Brazil before and after being treated in water treatment plants (WTPs) and in Municipal Early Childhood Education Centers (MECECs), in terms of parasitological, microbiological, and physical-chemical aspects. Different water samples were monitored: raw water (RW), treated water (TW), and tap water from the MECECs, giving 60 samples in total, to investigate the presence of Giardia and Cryptosporidium, microbiological indicators, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and antimicrobial resistance profiles using conventional microbiological assays and parasitological, immunological, and molecular techniques. The results obtained were compared with the reference values recommended by the legislation of drinking water in Brazil. For the first time, contamination by Cryptosporidium and Giardia was demonstrated in RW used to supply WTPs, in TW of Foz do Iguaçu, and in water destined for consumption by children. A total of 52 bacterial isolates were obtained, with high percentages of multidrug resistance to antibiotics, including a carbapenem-resistant profile, highlighting the need to improve quality control standards.

Ciliated protozoa community of a combined UASB-activated sludge system in southeastern Brazil.

The aims of the present study were (1) to evaluate the abundance and taxonomic composition of ciliated protozoa in the activated sludge of a full-scale combined anaerobic-aerobic system operating in a tropical country and (2) to study the relationship between the effluent quality, the physicochemical variables, and the ciliates present in the operating system. The total ciliate fauna of the activated sludge of the Piçarrão Wastewater Treatment Plant (Piçarrão WWTP) was composed of 36 morphospecies belonging to 33 genera. These included 21 species observed in the activated sludge samples on the day of collection and 15 species found in cultures. The activated sludge of the Piçarrão WWTP contained a diversified ciliate community composed mainly of indicator organisms. The most frequently occurring morphospecies were Aspidisca cicada, Vorticella spp., Gastronauta aloisi, Acineria uncinata, and Epistylis plicatilis complex. These results showed that satisfactory operating conditions prevailed at the Piçarrão WWTP. In the combined UASB-activated sludge system, the presence of Aspidisca cicada suggests the occurrence of denitrification in the process while the presence of Acineria uncinata and G. alosi indicates the removal of carbonaceous organic matter.

First report of predation of Giardia sp. cysts by ciliated protozoa and confirmation of predation of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts by ciliate species.

Ciliated protozoa are important components of the microbial food web in various habitats, especially aquatic environments. These organisms are useful bioindicators for both environmental quality assessment and the wastewater purification process. The pathogenic parasitic protozoan species Giardia and Cryptosporidium represent a significant concern for human health, being responsible for numerous disease outbreaks worldwide. The predation of cysts and oocysts in 15 ciliate species from water and sewage samples collected in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil were verified under laboratory conditions. The ciliated protozoan species were selected based on their mode of nutrition, and only bacterivorous and suspension-feeders were considered for the experiments. The species Blepharisma sinuosum, Euplotes aediculatus, Sterkiella cavicola, Oxytricha granulifera, Vorticella infusionum, Spirostomum minus, and Stentor coeruleus ingested cysts and oocysts, the resistance forms of Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp., respectively. This is the first time that the ingestion of Giardia cysts by ciliated protozoa has been reported. These findings may contribute to a better understanding of the biological removal of these pathogens from aquatic environments.

Epidemiology and distribution of phlebotomine sand flies (diptera: phlebotominae) in Blumenau, SC, Brazil, an area of transmission of american cutaneous leishmaniasis

Since 259 cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis were recorded in the year 2005 in the city ofBlumenau, in the southern state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. In order to obtain more information onthe transmission cycle of the disease in this city, this study aimed to conduct a survey of patientsaffected by American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ACL) and to evaluate and characterize the sandfly fauna in the city. A questionnaire was completed by the patient or guardian, containing elevenquestions about their health, housing and its surroundings, proximity of the forest and presence ofdomestic and wild animals when confirmed cases of ACL were found. Collections of sand flies wereperformed in 14 residences divided between four districts (Badenfurt, Central Itoupava, Old andProgress). These districts were chosen because they showed the highest number of cases. The insectswere collected for three consecutive nights per month, from April to October 2008, using CDC traps.From the households selected for the survey, fifteen patients were identified, 53.3 percent female and46.6 percent male. All residences were within 200 m of the forest, 85.7 percent reported the presence of wildlifenear homes and 72.2 percent reported having a domestic animal. Two hundred and seventy-five specimensfrom eight species were obtained. Nyssomyia neivai (42.9 percent) and Pintomyia fischeri (38.2 percent werethe most prevalent species.

Em 2005, 259 casos de leishmaniose tegumentar americana (LTA) foram registrados no municípiode Blumenau, sul do estado de Santa Catarina. Visando à obtenção de maiores informações sobre ociclo de transmissão da doença no município, o objetivo deste estudo foi realizar um levantamentodos pacientes afetados por LTA, avaliar e caracterizar a fauna de flebotomíneos na cidade. Nasresidências com casos confirmados de LTA, aplicou-se um questionário ao paciente ou responsávelcontendo 11 perguntas sobre as condições sanitárias da residência, seu entorno, proximidade dafloresta e presença de animais domésticos e silvestres. As coletas dos flebotomíneos foram realizadasem 14 residências distribuídas em quatro bairros (Badenfurt, Itoupava Central, Velha e Progresso).Os bairros foram escolhidos por apresentarem o maior número de casos da doença. Os insetos foramcoletados durante três noites consecutivas por mês, de abril a outubro de 2008, usando-se armadilhasCDC. Dos domicílios selecionados para a pesquisa, 15 pacientes foram identificados, sendo 53,3 por centodo sexo feminino e 46,6 por cento do sexo masculino. Todas as residências estavam a menos de 200 m dafloresta, 85,7 por cento relataram a presença de animais selvagens perto das casas e 72,2 por cento relataram teralgum animal doméstico. Foram obtidos 175 exemplares de 8 espécies, sendo Nyssomyia neivai(42,9 por cento) e Pintomyia fischeri (38,2 ) as prevalentes.

Parasitoses intestinais em um centro de educação infantil público do município de Blumenau (SC), Brasil, com ênfase em Cryptosporidium spp. e outros protozoários / Intestinal parasitism in a public day care center in Blumenau city (Brazil) with emphasis in Cryptosporidium spp and other protozoans

Este estudo teve como objetivo conhecer a prevalência de Cryptosporidium spp e outros parasitos intestinais em crianças de 0 a 6 anos de idade, de um Centro de Educação Infantil Público de Blumenau (SC), Brasil, entre março e maio de 2006, por meio de exames parasitológicos. Os pais responderam a um questionário sobre as condições sanitárias de moradia. Foram analisadas 53 amostras de fezes processadas de acordo com os métodos de centrífugo-sedimentação pela formalina-éter, sedimentação espontânea, Ziehl Neelsen modificado (a quente) e pesquisa de Cryptosporidium spp por meio do ELISA (TechLab). Verificou-se a prevalência de parasitismo intestinal em 39,6por cento das crianças analisadas, tendo sido encontrados os seguintes parasitos: Giardia duodenalis (18,9por cento), Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar/Entamoeba hartmanni (15,1por cento), Cryptosporidium spp (7,6por cento), Entamoeba coli (3,8por cento), Endolimax nana (3,8por cento) e Cyclospora cayetanensis (1,9por cento). O método de Ziehl Neelsen modificado (a quente), usado para análise das amostras e coloração das lâminas, mostrou-se eficaz na coloração das estruturas álcool-ácido-resistentes. Os casos positivos foram encaminhados para tratamento específico e as crianças e os responsáveis participaram de atividades educativas. A elevada taxa de parasitismo encontrada revela a necessidade da adoção de medidas educativas que tenham como objetivos a prevenção e a melhoria da qualidade de vida da população estudada.