Relationship of Galectin-3 Expression in Canine Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinomas with Histopathological Grading and Proliferation Indices.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a frequent malignant neoplasm of the skin that usually arises from areas of solar dermatosis. It is characterized by local invasiveness and regional lymph node metastasis, mainly in poorly differentiated tumours. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a lectin that is expressed in the nucleus or cytoplasm and has been identified as a prognostic tool for human neoplasms. The purpose of this study was to characterize Gal-3 expression in canine cutaneous SCCs and to investigate its relationship with tumour differentiation and cell proliferation indices. Immunohistochemical analysis of 50 SCCs for Gal-3 revealed no correlation between the localization or intensity of immunolabelling, or number of immunopositive cells, with histological grade of tumour or proliferative activity. The results suggest that Gal-3 expression is not a reliable prognostic marker for cutaneous SCC in dogs.

Host-feeding patterns of potential human disease vectors in the Paraíba Valley region, State of Säo Paulo, Brazil.

Engorged females of Aedes albopictus, Ochlerotatus scapularis, Culex nigripalpus and Culex quinquefasciatus were collected by aspiration and sweep net during two years in Tremembé county, State of Säo Paulo, Brazil. Of the 1,092 specimens analyzed with the precipitin test, 87.6% reacted to one or more of the eight antisera tested. Of the four species for which the host determination was made, the reaction in 98.5% was to a single host. The application of the feeding index for four species of mosquitoes in Tremembe represented an attempt to measure and compare mosquito feeding patterns on these domestic hosts to evaluate the potential risk the region presents for the introduction and dissemination of arthropod-borne diseases. The results of the feeding index showed that Ae. albopictus commonly fed on humans and cattle; Oc. scapularis fed more upon cattleand dogs; Cx. nigripalpus fed on a wide range of hosts, and Cx. quinquefasciatus presented similar behavior but humans and dogs were the most common. The analysis of the feeding index agrees with the reported host feeding patterns of the four species investigated.

[Aedes albopictus in bromeliads of anthropic environment in São Paulo State, Brazil]. / Aedes albopictus em bromélias de ambiente antrópico no Estado de São Paulo, Brasil.

OBJECTIVE: Aedes albopictus populations can breed in several kinds of containers, and its presence has also been reported in Bromeliaceae. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological importance of the Bromeliaceae plants as potential breeding sites of Aedes albopictus and to document the associated Culicidae entomofauna found in this micro-habitat. METHODS: Collections of Culicidae larvae were carried out fortnightly in aquatic content of bromeliads during 1998 and 1999. Collections took place in urban and periurban areas of Ilhabela island and periurban area of Ilha Comprida island, Brazil. RESULTS: A total of 26,647 Culicidae larvae were collected at both study sites, 14,575 in the urban area and 10,987 in the periurban area of Ilhabela and the remaining 1,085 in the periurban area of Ilha Comprida. There was no statistical difference between the amount of larvae collected in urban and periurban areas of Ilhabela. Regarding the Ae. albopictus, there was found a higher frequency and amount of larvae in the urban area of Ilhabela, followed by the periurban area in the same site, whereas in the periurban area of Ilha Comprida, its presence was considered accidental, since it was reported only in the first three months. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that bromeliads, largely used in landscaping, may contribute to the spread of Ae. albopictus. The presence of this species in domesticated and domiciled bromeliads allows us to suggest that the Culicidae larva is part of the regional fauna and facilitate the contact between humans and etiological agents of the natural ecosystem.

[Finding of Aedes aegypti breeding in bromeliad]. / Nota sobre o encontro de Aedes aegypti em bromélias.

A breeding place of Aedes aegypti immature forms were found in bromeliads domesticated for decorative purposes. Implications for the control measures were considered.

[Epidemiologic significance of Aedes albopictus breeding places in bromeliads]. / Significado epidemiológico dos criadouros de Aedes albopictus em bromélias.

A breeding place of immature stages of Aedes albopictus in bromeliads is described. The epidemiological role of bromeliaceae as natural or artificial containers, is discussed. The ability of the mosquito to expand its habitat calls for attention especially as regards its adaptability as an invading species.

[Immature forms of anophelines in artificial containers]. / Formas imaturas de anofelíneos em recipientes artificiais.

Immature stages of Anopheles bellator and of An. argyritarsis were found in artificial containers. The great number of on-returnable containers now produced, may be playing an important role in the increase in the number of available breeding places for culicid mosquitoes.

[New findings of Anopheles mosquitoes in artificial containers]. / Novos encontros de anofelíneos em recipientes artificiais.

New findings of Anopheles mosquitoes in artificial containers are reported. In one, a plastic container served as a breeding place for Anopheles bellator larvae and, in another, four instar larvae of An. albitarsis s.l. were found in an abandoned toilet basin. Reflections are offered as to the selective pressure represented by the production, of an ever increasing scale, of disposable objects.

[Anthropophilic behavior of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Vale do Paraíba Region, southeastern Brazil]. / Comportamento antropofílico de Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae) na região do Vale do Paraíba, Sudeste do Brasil.

INTRODUCTION: The epidemiological role of Aedes albopictus has been investigated in the State of S. Paulo by the study of its biological and ecological characteristics. The biting activity of Ae.albopictus taking stationary and moving collectors as parameters, is determined. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The study area was a small farm located in the periurban zone of Tremembé city, Vale do Paraíba, State of S. Paulo, Brazil. Aedes albopictus was caught by using two human-bait modalities. One lasted 24 hours as the collectors remained sitting in only one place and in the other the collectors visited 48 different points for five minutes each over a total period of four hours in the morning and the afternoon. Both catches were made once a month for the period of a year (1989/90). RESULTS: The 24 catches undertaken yielded 637 females of Ae.albopictus, of which 54 (8.4%) and 583 (91.6%) corresponded, respectively to fixed and moving human-bait conditions. An analysis of the data was made to discover the influence of host movement as attracting stimulus for Ae.albopictus. The biting activity took place during the day with peaks at 6:00 a.m., 1:00-2:00 p.m. and the highest between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. The majority of the adults were collected during the summer and autumn and the moving catches were positive for Ae.albopictus throughout the year. Rainfall and rising temperature were correlated to the abundance of this species. CONCLUSION: This study has shown the complex influence of the endogenous and exogenous factors relating to the blood feeding habit of Ae.albopictus. However, it seems clear that its biting behavior depends on two distinct flights. On one, the blood feeding is obtained by the flight direct to the host, over a small supposedly short distance, and another less significant apetente flight when collectors were in a stationary position. The biting activity took place during the day and may occur all year round.

Description of the eggs of Anopheles (Kerteszia) laneanus and Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) antunesi (Diptera: Culicidae) by scanning electron microscopy.

The eggs of Anopheles laneanus Correa and Cerqueira and Anopheles antunesi Galvão and Amaral are described and illustrated with scanning electron micrographs. The egg of An. laneanus is compared with those of Anopheles cruzii Dyar and Knab and Anopheles bellator Dyar and Knab, and An. antunesi is compared with Anopheles lutzii Cruz and other Nyssorhynchus species.

Duration of larval and pupal development stages of Aedes albopictus in natural and artificial containers.

Aedes albopictus were reared in different containers: a tree hole, a bamboo stump and an auto tire. The total times from egg hatching to adult emergence were of 19.6, 27.3 and 37.5 days, respectively, according to the container. The first, second and third-instar larvae presented growth periods with highly similar durations. The fourth-instar larvae was longer than the others stages. The pupation time was longer than the fourth-instar larvae growth period. The temperature of the breeding sites studied, which was of 18 degrees C to 22 degrees C on average, was also taken into consideration. The mortality of the immature stages was analysed and compared as between the experimental groups; it was lower in the natural containers than in the discarded tire. The average wing length of adult females emerging from tree hole was significantly larger (p < 0.05) than that of those emerging from the tire.

[Comparative study of larval and ovitrap efficacy for surveillance of dengue and yellow fever vectors]. / Estudo comparativo de eficácia de larvitrampas e ovitrampas para vigilância de vetores de dengue e febre amarela.

A comparative study of the efficiency of ovitraps and larval-traps was undertaken with a view to improving the entomological survey of vectors of Dengue and Yellow Fever-Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus-in S. Paulo State, Brazil. The region studied is infected only by Aedes albopictus, a species that keeps to wild habitats but colonizes artificial breeding grounds as well. The first part of the study was located in a periurban area of Tremembé county were 3 hollon trees, 23 ovitraps and 5 larval-traps were compared. The second part of these experiments took place in Lavrinhas county (Pinheiros district), where 20 ovitraps and 5 larval-traps were tested. The results showed that the ovitrap was more efficient than larval-traps and were positive even in the presence of natural breeding grounds. It was also observed un the evaluation of the results of "thermonebulization (fog)" that the ovitraps showed strong reduction in the average number of eggs, but this was not observed in the Breteau Index.

[Microhabitats of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) in the region of the Paraiba Valley, São Paulo State, Brazil]. / Microhabitats de Aedes albopictus (Skuse) na região do Vale do Paraíba, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil.

The objective of this study was the determination of extent of the spatial distribution of Aedes albopictus in the Paraíba River Valley, State S. Paulo, Brazil. Thus, collections of larvae and pupae mosquitoes were carried out at six sites distributed along a transection with a 10-km extension. The target was the tree-holes but artificial containers were also used in this investigation. Aedes terrens and Ae. albopictus were the only species of genus Aedes present in the tree-holes mentioned. The segregation of seven species of the tree-hole community was undertaken in the light of macrohabitat and microhabitat features. Thus, the distribution of Ae. albopictus was found to cover the rural, rural-urban and urban zones, but the rural-urban held the preference. Ae. albopictus never present in the residual and primary forest. The favorable factor to infestation with Ae. albopictus in the Paraíba Valley seems to have been the large number of natural niches made vacant by human influence. The rain has been important in the production of larvae and pupae, but the rainfall period does not coincide with the maximum production on them. The tree-holes whose volume exceeded 600 ml were the most productive breeding places. The abundance of these two stages occurs in the summer and autumn. However, the highest peak was observed in the months of March and April. These seasonal variations were found to be common in both the bamboo trap and the artificial container. The temperature data suggest a limit of from 17 to 23 degrees C for the best development of larvae. In the light of this, the strain of Ae. albopictus studied seems to have originated in tropical Asia. Just as happened with Ae. aegypti it may become an important epidemiological vector for the dengue fever and provide links for yellow fever transmission in Brazil.