Spatial dynamics of dengue fever spreading for the coexistence of two serotypes with an application to the city of São Paulo, Brazil.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Dengue fever is a disease in which individuals' spatial distribution and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes breeding places are important factors for the disease dynamics. Typically urban, dengue is a problem for least developed countries due to the ineffectiveness in controlling the vector and disorderly urbanization processes. The result is a composition of urban sanitation problems and areas with high demographic densities and intense flows of people. This paper explores the spatial distribution of vector breeding places to evaluate introducing a new dengue serotype to a population at equilibrium for a pre-existing serotype. The paper's objective is to analyze the spatial dynamics of dengue using variations of the basic reproduction number. METHODS: A model based on probabilistic cellular automata is proposed to permitting the necessary flexibility to consider some spatial distributions of vector breeding places. Then, ordinary differential equations are used as a mean-field approach of the model, and the basic reproduction number (R0) is derived considering the next-generation matrix method. A spatial approach for R0 is also proposed, and the model is tested in a neighbourhood from the city of São Paulo, Brazil, to examine the potential risks of vector breeding cells distribution. RESULTS: The results indicated that the more spread out these places, the higher are the values of R0. When the model is applied to a neighbourhood in São Paulo, residential areas may boost the infections and must be under public vigilance to combat vector breeding sites. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the mean-field approximation of the cellular automata model by ordinary differential equations, the basic reproduction number derived returned an estimative of the disease dynamics in the population. However, the spatial basic reproduction number was more assertive in showing areas with a higher disease incidence. Moreover, the model could be easily adapted to be used in real maps enabling simulations closer to real problems.

Pulmonary adenocarcinoma in a captive ocelot (Leopardus pardalis): morphologic and immunophenotypic characterization - case report / Adenocarcinoma pulmonar em uma jaguatirica (Leopardus pardalis) de cativeiro: caracterização morfológica e imunofenotípica - relato de caso

Pulmonary adenocarcinoma is a malignant epithelial neoplasia that usually arises from conducting airways or alveolar parenchyma. It has rarely been described in wild felids, with no previous reports in ocelots. In domestic cats it is a very aggressive neoplasm with a high metastatic rate that usually evolves to death. This report aimed to describe a pulmonary adenocarcinoma in a captive and senile ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), with a thorough morphologic and immunophenotypically characterization, evidencing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenomenon in a high metastatic carcinoma, an important feature rarely described in veterinary medicine, even in domestic cats.(AU)

O adenocarcinoma pulmonar é uma neoplasia epitelial maligna originada do epitélio respiratório das vias aéreas inferiores e do parênquima alveolar. É uma neoplasia raramente descrita em felinos selvagens, sem nenhum relato em jaguatiricas. Em gatos domésticos, é uma neoplasia muito agressiva, com alta taxa de metástase, e geralmente evolui para o óbito do paciente. O presente relato objetiva descrever um adenocarcinoma pulmonar em uma jaguatirica (Leopardus pardalis) senil de cativeiro, com detalhada caracterização morfológica e imunofenotípica, evidenciando o fenômeno de transição epitelial-mesenquial (TEM) em um carcinoma altamente metastático, uma característica importante, com escassos relatos na medicina veterinária, mesmo em gatos domésticos.(AU)

Feeding behavior of feedlot lambs fed diets with different energy and protein sources.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the replacement of ground corn by crude glycerin and soybean meal by cottonseed cake, in association or not, on feedlot lambs' feeding behavior. Thirty-two non-castrated crossbred ½ Dorper ½ Santa Inês lambs, with an average body weight of 18.52 ± 3.24 kg (mean ± standard deviation), were distributed in a completely randomized design, into four treatments and eight replicates per treatment, in a 2 × 2 factorial scheme. Four experimental diets were tested with different sources or combinations of energy and protein ingredients in the concentrate, respectively: (1) ground corn + soybean meal; (2) ground corn and cottonseed cake; (3) crude glycerin and soybean meal; and (4) crude glycerin and cottonseed cake. The glycerin decreased dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (P < 0.001) intakes, whereas it increased times spent in feeding (P = 0.009; from 21.8 to 28.6), rumination (P = 0.006; from 56.2 to 67.2), and chewing (P < 0.001; from 79.4 to 97.2), in minutes/100 g of DM. Feeding efficiencies of DM (P = 0.003) and NDF (P = 0.008) were decreased by the diets. Protein sources increased (P = 0.018) the times spent in chewing and per period in rumination (P = 0.014). Cottonseed cake, as a protein source, up to a 112 g/kg DM level, can totally replace soybean meal in diets for feedlot lambs without effects on the intake, behavioral activities, and feeding efficiencies. In contrast, the crude glycerin energy source is not adequate to replace ground corn in lambs' diets.

Dioctophymosis in a free-ranging maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus): clinical-therapeutic, ultrasonographic and pathological aspects - case report / [Dioctofimose em um lobo guará (Chrysocyon brachyurus) de vida livre: aspectos clínico-terapêuticos, ultrassonográficos e patológicos - relato de caso]

Dioctophymosis is the disease caused by Dioctophyma renale, a large nematode, popularly known as giant kidney worm, and whose definitive hosts are the domestic dog and many wild mammal species. There are some reports of maned wolf parasitism by D. renale, however, in most cases the reports are restricted to the finding of the parasite during necropsy, without clinical assessment. The present report aimed to describe the clinical-therapeutic, ultrasonographic and pathological aspects of D. renale parasitism in a free-ranging maned wolf, emphasizing the treatment with an association of doramectin, praziquantel, pyrantel pamoate, and febantel that resulted in complete elimination of the parasite.(AU)

A dioctofimose é a doença causada pelo Dioctophyma renale, um nemátodo grande, popularmente chamado de verme gigante do rim e que tem como hospedeiro definitivo o cão doméstico e inúmeras espécies de mamíferos silvestres. Existem alguns relatos do parasitismo do lobo-guará por D. renale, contudo, na maioria das vezes, os relatos se restringem apenas ao achado do parasita durante a necropsia, sem a correlação clínica. O presente relato objetiva descrever os aspectos clínico-terapêuticos, ultrassonográficos e patológicos do parasitismo por D. renale em um lobo-guará de vida livre, enfatizando o tratamento com uma associação de doramectina, praziquantel, pamoato de pirantel e febantel, o que resultou na eliminação completa do parasita.(AU)

Nursing clinical practice changes to improve self-management in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

AIM: To propose nursing clinical practice changes to improve the development of patient self-management. BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is one of the main causes of chronic morbidity, loss of quality of life and high mortality rates. INTRODUCTION: Control of the disease's progression, the preservation of autonomy in self-care and maintenance of quality of life are extremely challenging for patients to execute in their daily living. However, there is still little evidence to support nursing clinical practice changes to improve the development of self-management. METHODS: A participatory action research study was performed in a medicine inpatient department and the outpatient unit of a Portuguese hospital. The sample comprised 52 nurses and 99 patients. For data collection, we used interviews, participant observation and content analysis. RESULTS: The main elements of nursing clinical practice that were identified as a focus for improvement measures were the healthcare model, the organization of healthcare and the documentation of a support decision-making process. The specific guidelines, the provision of material to support decision-making and the optimization of information sharing between professionals positively influenced the change process. This change improved the development of self-management skills related to the awareness of the need for 'change', hope, involvement, knowledge and abilities. DISCUSSION: The implemented changes have improved health-related behaviours and clinical outcomes. CONCLUSION: To support self-management development skills, an effective nursing clinical practice change is needed. This study has demonstrated the relevance of a portfolio of techniques and tools to help patients adopt healthy behaviours. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND/OR HEALTH POLICY: The involvement and participation of nurses and patients in the conceptualization, implementation and evaluation of policy change are fundamental issues to improve the quality of nursing care and clinical outcomes.

Association between periodontal changes and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible association between periodontal changes and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women through a longitudinal study. METHODS: This longitudinal study included 33 patients. The participants were divided into three groups according to the bone mineral density assessed in the lumbar region: normal bone (G1, n = 15), osteopenia (G2, n = 12) and osteoporosis (G3, n = 6). Periodontal evaluation included clinical attachment level, probing depth, gingival bleeding index and visible plaque index, evaluated by two examiners blinded to systemic bone condition. The statistical process included the t-test for paired samples, with a significance level of 5% to check for changes in periodontal parameters considered at initial and final systemic bone density. RESULTS: The results showed that, after follow-up, there was a significant increase in gingival bleeding index in the group of women who had normal initial bone condition and progressed to osteopenia (after 3 years, 59.89%, p = 0.010) and osteoporosis (after 3 years, 74.37%, p = 0.035). In addition, the group diagnosed with osteopenia at baseline who progressed to osteoporosis after 3 years also showed a significant increase in gingival bleeding index (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that periodontal changes can be associated with osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

Ingestive behavior of lambs confined in individual and group stalls.

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the ingestive behavior of lambs confined in individual and group stalls. We used thirty-four lambs in their growing phase, aged an average of three months, with mean initial live weight of 17.8±5.2 kg. They were allotted in a completely randomized design with 24 animals kept in individual stalls and 10 animals confined as a group. The experiment lasted for a total of 74 days, and the first 14 days were dedicated to the animals' adaption to the management, facilities and diets. The data collection period lasted 60 days, divided into three 20-d periods for the behavior evaluation. The animals were subjected to five days of visual observation during the experiment period, by the quantification of 24 h a day, with evaluations on the 15th day of each period and an interim evaluation consisting of two consecutive days on the 30th and 31st day of the experiment. The animals confined as a group consumed less (p<0.05) fiber. However, the animals confined individually spent less (p<0.05) time on feeding, rumination and chewing activities and longer in idleness. Therefore, the lower capacity of lambs confined in groups to select their food negatively affects their feeding behavior.

An Illustrative Case of Neurofibromatosis Type 1 and NF1 Microdeletion.

We report on a patient with NF1 microdeletion and clinical manifestations that fulfill the diagnostic criteria for neurofibromatosis type 1 but also presenting features reminiscent of Proteus syndrome.

Cysteine peptidases in Herpetomonas samuelpessoai are modulated by temperature and dimethylsulfoxide-triggered differentiation.

Cysteine peptidases of protozoa have been implicated in a variety of biological events, and the expression of these enzymes is modulated in response to distinct stimuli, including environmental changes and differentiation. In the present work, we have examined the expression of cysteine peptidases from Herpetomonas samuelpessoai grown at distinct temperatures and during dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)-elicited differentiation. We demonstrated that a 45 kDa cysteine peptidase had its activity reduced during the parasite growth at 37 degrees C in comparison to 26 degrees C, and when cultured up to 72 h in the presence of DMSO. The modulation in the 45 kDa cysteine peptidase expression is connected to the differentiation process, since both temperature and DMSO are able to trigger the promastigote to paramastigote transformation in H. samuelpessoai. The possible immunological similarity of H. samuelpessoai proteins with well-known cysteine peptidases produced by trypanosomatid pathogens, including cruzipain (Trypanosoma cruzi) and cysteine peptidase b (cpb) from Leishmania mexicana, was also investigated, as well as with calpain molecules. The protein cellular lysate of H. samuelpessoai reacted with antibodies raised against cpb of L. mexicana and calpain of Drosophila melanogaster; however, no reaction was observed against cruzipain. The 35 kDa cpb-like protein had its expression diminished in DMSO-treated parasites, while the 80 kDa calpain-like molecule was enhanced and an additional 30 kDa calpain-related polypeptide was exclusively observed in these cells. Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry analyses corroborated these data. The results described above add H. samuelpessoai to the list of parasites whose differentiation seems to be correlated with cysteine peptidase expression.

Differential influence of gp63-like molecules in three distinct Leptomonas species on the adhesion to insect cells.

Parasites belonging to the Leptomonas genus have been used as model organisms for studying biochemical, cellular, and genetic processes unique to members of the Trypanosomatidae family. In the present study, the cell-associated and extracellular peptidases of three Leptomonas species, Leptomonas collosoma, Leptomonas samueli, and Leptomonas wallacei, were assayed and characterized by gelatin-sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. All parasites released metallopeptidases, whereas no cell-associated proteolytic activity could be detected in the cellular extracts from L. collosoma. Western blotting probed with a polyclonal antibody raised against gp63 from Leishmania amazonensis revealed two major reactive polypeptides of apparent molecular masses of 63 and 52 kDa, with different intensities in cellular extracts and released proteins from the studied trypanosomatids. Flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy analyses showed that the gp63-like molecules have a surface location. This is the first report on the presence of gp63-like molecules in L. collosoma, L. samueli, and L. wallacei. The pretreatment of L. samueli and L. wallacei with anti-gp63 antibody significantly diminished their association index to Aedes albopictus cell line (C6/36), suggesting a potential involvement of the gp63-like molecules in the interaction process of these insect trypanosomatids with the vector.

Redução da variabilidade da freqüência cardíaca em indivíduos de meia-idade e o efeito do treinamento de força / Reduction of heart rate variability in middle-aged individuals and the effect of strength training

OBJETIVO: Investigar a modulação autonômica exercida sobre o nodo sinusal, por meio da análise da variabilidade da freqüência cardíaca (VFC), em indivíduos jovens e de meia-idade (MI), bem como os efeitos de um programa de treinamento de força resistência sobre tal modulação nos indivíduos de meia-idade. MÉTODO: Trinta e dois homens sadios, sedentários e não-tabagistas, sendo 10 jovens (22,2 ± 1,5 anos) e 22 de MI (49,3 ± 5,3 anos), foram submetidos à aquisição do sinal de eletrocardiograma para análise da VFC no domínio do tempo. Os indivíduos de MI foram divididos em dois grupos: experimental (n= 12) e controle (n= 10). Os indivíduos do grupo experimental foram inseridos em um programa de treinamento de força com duração de três meses. A análise dos dados foi realizada por meio dos testes de Wilcoxon e Mann-Whitney (p< 0,05). RESULTADOS: O grupo MI apresentou redução significativa, em comparação ao jovem, de todas as variáveis utilizadas para a investigação da VFC (SDNN= 33,4 vs. 49,7ms; RMSSD= 29,9 vs. 49,5ms; pNN50= 6,5 vs. 27 por cento). O treinamento promoveu aumento significativo da força e resistência muscular em todos os grupamentos musculares e aumento não significativo das variáveis SDNN (33,4 vs. 37,6ms), RMSSD (30,2 vs. 31,3ms) e pNN50 (7,5 vs. 11,4 por cento). CONCLUSÕES: Os achados deste estudo confirmam que o aumento da idade provoca alteração na modulação autonômica exercida sobre o nodo sinusal, retratada por uma diminuição da VFC em indivíduos de MI, que não foi modificada de maneira significativa pelo tipo de treinamento físico estudado.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate autonomic modulation of the sinus node, by analyzing heart rate variability (HRV) among young and middle-aged individuals, and to assess the effect of an endurance strength training program on this modulation among middle-aged individuals. METHOD: Thirty-two healthy nonsmoking men with sedentary lifestyles, of whom 10 were young (22.2 ± 1.5 years) and 22 were middle-aged (49.3 ± 5.3 years), underwent electrocardiogram signal acquisition for time-domain HRV analysis. The middle-aged individuals were divided into two groups: experimental (n= 12) and control (n= 10). The individuals in the experimental group were enrolled in a strength training program lasting three months. The data analysis was carried out using the Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests (p< 0.05). RESULTS: The middle-aged group presented significant reductions (in relation to the young group) for all the variables used in investigating HRV (SDNN= 33.4 vs. 49.7 ms; RMSSD= 29.9 vs. 49.5 ms; pNN50= 6.5 vs. 27 percent). The training caused a significant increase in muscle strength and endurance for all muscular groups and non-significant increases in the variables SDNN (33.4 vs. 37.6 ms), RMSSD (30.2 vs. 31.3 ms) and pNN50 (7.5 vs. 11.4 percent). CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this study confirm that increased age causes alteration to the autonomic modulation of the sinus node, as demonstrated by reduced HRV in middle-aged individuals, which was not significantly modified by the type of physical training studied.

Double-staining immunohistochemistry of canine mammary neoplasms / Dupla marcação imunoistoquímica em neoplasias mamárias caninas

Descreve-se a técnica de dupla-marcação em imunoistoquímica aplicada a tumores mamários em cadelas incluídos em parafina. Foram utilizados dois tipos de neoplasia em que ocorre envolvimento de células epiteliais, mioepiteliais e mesenquimais, tumor misto benigno e carcinossarcoma. Foram testados dois anticorpos, AE1/AE3 para identificação de tecido epitelial e S100 como marcador de células mioepiteliais. A dupla marcarcação em imunoistoquímica pode ser utilizada como ferramenta importante na pesquisa e diagnóstico de lesões mamárias complexas.

Leishmanolysin (gp63 metallopeptidase)-like activity extracellularly released by Herpetomonas samuelpessoai.

In previous studies, we showed that Herpetomonas samuelpessoai produced a large amount of a surface-located metallopeptidase that presented similar biochemical properties to that of gp63 from Leishmania spp., which is a well-known virulence factor expressed by these digenetic parasites. The present study aims to identify the proteolytic activity released by living H. samuelpessoai cells. In this context, the parasites were incubated in phosphate buffer up to 4 h, and the supernatants were obtained by centrifugation and filtration steps and were then applied on SDS-PAGE to determine the secretory protein profile and on gelatin-SDS-PAGE to identify the proteolytic activity. The results demonstrated that H. samuelpessoai secreted at least 12 polypeptides and an extracellular peptidase of 66 kDa. This enzyme had its activity diminished by 1,10-phenanthroline, EDTA and EGTA. This metallopeptidase was active in a broad spectrum of pH, showing maximum activity at pH 6.0 at 37 degrees C. Casein was also cleaved by this secretory proteolytic enzyme, while bovine serum albumin and haemoglobin were not degraded under these conditions. Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry using anti-gp63 antibody against leishmanolysin of L. amazonensis demonstrated the presence of similar molecules on the cell-surface of H. samuelpessoai. Moreover, immunoblot analysis showed the presence of a reactive polypeptide in the cellular extract and in the supernatant fluid of H. samuelpessoai, which suggests immunological similarities between these two distinct trypanosomatids. The zinc-metallopeptidase inhibitor 1,10-phenanthroline was able to inhibit the secretion of the 66 kDa metallopeptidase in a dose-dependent manner, while the phospholipase C inhibitor (p-CMPS) did not alter the secretion pattern. Additionally, anti-cross-reacting determinant (CRD) antibody failed to recognize any secreted polypeptide from H. samuelpessoai. Collectively, these results suggest that the gp63-like molecule was released from the H. samuelpessoai surface by proteolysis instead of phospholipolysis, in a similar mechanism to that observed in Leishmania.

Neonatal handling and the expression of immunoreactivity to tyrosine hydroxylase in the hypothalamus of adult male rats

Neonatal handling has long-lasting effects on behavior and stress reactivity. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of neonatal handling on the number of dopaminergic neurons in the hypothalamic nuclei of adult male rats as part of a series of studies that could explain the long-lasting effects of neonatal stimulation. Two groups of Wistar rats were studied: nonhandled (pups were left undisturbed, control) and handled (pups were handled for 1 min once a day during the first 10 days of life). At 75-80 days, the males were anesthetized and the brains were processed for immunohistochemistry. An anti-tyrosine hydroxylase antibody and the avidin-biotin-peroxidase method were used. Tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive (TH-IR) neurons were counted bilaterally in the arcuate, paraventricular and periventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus in 30-æm sections at 120-æm intervals. Neonatal handling did not change the number of TH-IR neurons in the arcuate (1021 + or - 206, N = 6; 1020 + or - 150, N = 6; nonhandled and handled, respectively), paraventricular (584 + or - 85, N = 8; 682 + or - 62, N = 9) or periventricular (743 + or - 118, N = 7; 990 + or - 158, N = 7) nuclei of the hypothalamus. The absence of an effect on the number of dopaminergic cells in the hypothalamus indicates that the reduction in the amount of neurons induced by neonatal handling, as shown by other studies, is not a general phenomenon in the brain

Neonatal handling and the expression of immunoreactivity to tyrosine hydroxylase in the hypothalamus of adult male rats.

Neonatal handling has long-lasting effects on behavior and stress reactivity. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of neonatal handling on the number of dopaminergic neurons in the hypothalamic nuclei of adult male rats as part of a series of studies that could explain the long-lasting effects of neonatal stimulation. Two groups of Wistar rats were studied: nonhandled (pups were left undisturbed, control) and handled (pups were handled for 1 min once a day during the first 10 days of life). At 75-80 days, the males were anesthetized and the brains were processed for immunohistochemistry. An anti-tyrosine hydroxylase antibody and the avidin-biotin-peroxidase method were used. Tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive (TH-IR) neurons were counted bilaterally in the arcuate, paraventricular and periventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus in 30-microm sections at 120-microm intervals. Neonatal handling did not change the number of TH-IR neurons in the arcuate (1021 +/- 206, N = 6; 1020 +/- 150, N = 6; nonhandled and handled, respectively), paraventricular (584 +/- 85, N = 8; 682 +/- 62, N = 9) or periventricular (743 +/- 118, N = 7; 990 +/- 158, N = 7) nuclei of the hypothalamus. The absence of an effect on the number of dopaminergic cells in the hypothalamus indicates that the reduction in the amount of neurons induced by neonatal handling, as shown by other studies, is not a general phenomenon in the brain.

Mathematical modeling of controlled-release kinetics of herbicides in a dynamic-water-bath system.

Release of herbicides from lignin-based formulations follows a diffusion-controlled mechanism. For mathematical modeling of diffusive transport, the conventional approach is to assume sink conditions at both surfaces of polymeric matrix. This boundary condition proved to be inadequate to describe experimental data obtained in a water dynamic bath system. However, satisfactory descriptions for this system were obtained when a stagnant unstirred layer of herbicide solution was used as the boundary condition. The adequacy of the model incorporating this new boundary condition was statistically tested using the Fisher test at a confidence level of 95% and plotting the residual distribution.

Mathematical modeling of controlled-release systems of herbicides using lignins as matrices. A review.

The herbicides applied in soils can be easily lost, owing to leaching, volatilization, and bio- and photodegradation. Controlled-release systems using polymeric matrices claim to solve these problems. The movement of the herbicides in the soil is also an important phenomenon to be studied in order to evaluate the loss processes. The development of mathematical models is a relevant requirement for simulation and optimization of such systems. This study reviews mathematical models as an initial step for modeling data obtained for controlled-release systems of herbicides (diuron, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, and ametryn) using sugarcane bagasse lignin as a polymeric matrix. The release kinetic studies were carried out using several acceptor systems including a water bath, soil, and soil-packed columns. Generally, these models take into account phenomena such as unsteady-state mass transfer by diffusion (Fick's law) and convection, consumption by several processes, and partitioning processes, resulting in partial differential equations with respect to time and space variables.

A comparative study of lymph node mast cell populations in five marsupial species.

In order to determine whether different subpopulations of mast cells exist, mast cells of mandibular and axillary lymph nodes from five species (Didelphis aurita, Metachirus nudicaudatus, Philander opossum, Marmosops incanus and Gracilinanus agilis) of South American marsupials were studied. Our results showed that mast cells present in the connective tissue of the capsule and septa (CTMC) were similar to those described for eutherian mammals. However, a population of mast cells that was present in the lymphatic sinuses and bathed by the lymph, plus in direct contact with granulocytes, lymphocytes, macrophages, and reticular cells, were morphologically and histochemically different from the CTMC. In the five species studied, these cellular types, called lymphatic-sinus mast cells (LSMC), had a lower concentration of intragranular heparin and, in four of the five species, the cytoplasmic granules appeared to be larger than those in CTMC. Although LSMC have been rarely described in eutherian mammals, it was verified, in this study, that LSMC are nevertheless present in lymphatic sinuses of the five metatherian species studied. These observations suggest that the presence of LSMC may be a characteristic of the marsupials and important in the immune response and adaptive success of the Didelphidae.

[Etiological and clinical characteristics of infectious optic neuritis]. / Caracterização etiológica e clínica das neurites ópticas infecciosas.

Fifty-one patients with infectious optic neuritis (ION) with no associated choroidal or retinal involvement were studied in relation to the etiologic agents, and to the epidemiological and clinical features to look up features which could be used to distinct them from the demyelinating optic neuritis (DON) which have a well-known tendency to convert to multiple sclerosis. Bilateral involvement was found in 23 patients (45.1%), simultaneously in 18 cases. Sex distribution was 2M:1F. The ages ranged from 1 to 82 years (median 34.8); 1/3 of the patients were younger than 20 and 1/3 were 50 years of age or older. Syphilis was found in 19 patients being the single most common etiology, whereas viral infections were found in 41.2% of the cases. Visual acuity was severely damaged in most patients and was worse than 20/200 in 57.3% of the involved eyes. Color vision was affected in 91.8%. Visual field defects were found in 92.2%, with predominance of the central defects (40.7%). The optic disc was abnormal in 90.5% of the eyes. This study clearly demonstrates that ION and DON have distinct epidemiological and clinical features. The awareness of these differences may help clinicians to follow different paths for the correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment and prognostic orientation of their patients.