Antiparasitic antibodies occur with similar frequency in patients with clinically established multiple sclerosis with or without oligoclonal bands in the cerebrospinal fluid.

UNLABELLED: The "hygiene hypothesis" postulates an inverse relationship between the prevalence of parasitic infections and the frequency of multiple sclerosis (MS). OBJECTIVE: It was to study whether antibodies against parasites could be demonstrated more frequently in blood serum from MS patients with oligoclonal bands (OCB) than from MS patients without OCB. METHODS: We studied serum samples from 164 patients who had previously been analyzed to investigate OCB. Parasitic antibodies were studied through unidimensional electrophoresis of proteins on polyacrylamide gel against Taenia antigens, searching for antiparasitic specific low molecular weight antibodies and also for antiparasitic nonspecific high molecular weight antibodies. RESULTS: Two of the 103 patients with no evidence of OCB had antibodies of low molecular weight and 59 of them had antibodies of high molecular weight. Of the 61 patients with evidence of OCB, one showed antibodies of low molecular weight and 16 showed antibodies of high molecular weight. CONCLUSION: Antiparasitic antibodies are detected with similar frequency in MS patients with OCB and in MS patients without OCB.

Antiparasitic antibodies occur with similar frequency in patients with clinically established multiple sclerosis with or without oligoclonal bands in the cerebrospinal fluid / Anticorpos antiparasitarios ocorrem com frequencia semelhante em pacientes com esclerose multipla quando ha e quando nao ha bandas oligoclonais no liquido cefalorraquidiano

The "hygiene hypothesis" postulates an inverse relationship between the prevalence of parasitic infections and the frequency of multiple sclerosis (MS). Objective: It was to study whether antibodies against parasites could be demonstrated more frequently in blood serum from MS patients with oligoclonal bands (OCB) than from MS patients without OCB. Methods: We studied serum samples from 164 patients who had previously been analyzed to investigate OCB. Parasitic antibodies were studied through unidimensional electrophoresis of proteins on polyacrylamide gel against Taenia antigens, searching for antiparasitic specific low molecular weight antibodies and also for antiparasitic nonspecific high molecular weight antibodies. Results: Two of the 103 patients with no evidence of OCB had antibodies of low molecular weight and 59 of them had antibodies of high molecular weight. Of the 61 patients with evidence of OCB, one showed antibodies of low molecular weight and 16 showed antibodies of high molecular weight. Conclusion: Antiparasitic antibodies are detected with similar frequency in MS patients with OCB and in MS patients without OCB.

A "hipótese da higiene" postula haver relação inversamente proporcional entre a prevalência de infecções por parasitas e a frequência da esclerose múltipla (EM). Objetivo: Foi verificar se em pacientes com EM aparecem anticorpos antiparasitários mais frequentemente no grupo com bandas oligoclonais (BOC) do que no grupo sem BOC. Métodos: Foram estudadas amostras de sangue de 164 pacientes previamente analisadas para investigar BOC. Foi feita eletroforese unidimensional de proteínas em gel de poliacrilamida contra antígenos de Taenia para pesquisa de anticorpos específicos de baixo peso molecular e também de anticorpos inespecíficos de alto peso molecular. Resultados: Dois dos 103 pacientes em que não havia BOC apresentaram anticorpos de baixo peso molecular, e 59 apresentaram anticorpos de alto peso molecular. Dos 61 pacientes em que não havia BOC, um apresentou anticorpos de baixo peso molecular e 16, anticorpos de alto peso molecular. Conclusão: Anticorpos antiparasitários foram detectados com frequência semelhante em doentes com EM independentemente da presença ou não de BOC.

Seroepidemiological study of human cysticercosis with blood samples collected on filter paper, in Lages, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, 2004-2005.

INTRODUCTION: Human serofrequency of antibodies against Taenia solium antigens was determined and risk factors for cysticercosis transmission were identified. METHODS: Individuals (n=878) from periurban and rural locations of Lages, SC, were interviewed to gather demographic, sanitary and health information. Interviews and blood sample collections by finger prick on Whatman filter paper were performed from August 2004 to May 2005. Observation determined that 850 samples were suitable for analysis and were tested by ELISA using vesicular fluid of Taenia crassiceps heterologous antigen. To ensure the reliability of the results, 77 samples of the dried blood were matched with sera. The reactive samples were submitted to a serum confirmatory immunoblot (IB) test using purified Taenia crassiceps glycoproteins. RESULTS: The ELISA results for the dried blood and serum samples were statistically consistent. ELISA was positive in 186 (21.9%) out of 850 individuals. A group of 213 individuals were asked to collect vein blood for IB (186 with positive result in ELISA and 27 with inappropriate whole blood samples) and 130 attended the request. The IB was positive in 29 (3.4%) out of 850 individuals. A significant correlation (p = 0.0364) was determined among individuals who tested positive in the IB assay who practiced both pig rearing and kitchen gardening. CONCLUSIONS: ELISA with dried blood eluted from filter paper was suitable for cysticercosis population surveys. In Lages, human infection was associated with pig rearing and kitchen gardening. The prevalence index was compatible with other Latin American endemic areas.

Seroepidemiological study of human cysticercosis with blood samples collected on filter paper, in Lages, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, 2004-2005 / Estudo soroepidemiológico da cisticercose humana com amostras de sangue total coletado em papel filtro, em Lages, Estado de Santa Catarina, 2004-2005

INTRODUCTION: Human serofrequency of antibodies against Taenia solium antigens was determined and risk factors for cysticercosis transmission were identified. METHODS: Individuals (n=878) from periurban and rural locations of Lages, SC, were interviewed to gather demographic, sanitary and health information. Interviews and blood sample collections by finger prick on Whatman filter paper were performed from August 2004 to May 2005. Observation determined that 850 samples were suitable for analysis and were tested by ELISA using vesicular fluid of Taenia crassiceps heterologous antigen. To ensure the reliability of the results, 77 samples of the dried blood were matched with sera. The reactive samples were submitted to a serum confirmatory immunoblot (IB) test using purified Taenia crassiceps glycoproteins. RESULTS: The ELISA results for the dried blood and serum samples were statistically consistent. ELISA was positive in 186 (21.9 percent) out of 850 individuals. A group of 213 individuals were asked to collect vein blood for IB (186 with positive result in ELISA and 27 with inappropriate whole blood samples) and 130 attended the request. The IB was positive in 29 (3.4 percent) out of 850 individuals. A significant correlation (p = 0.0364) was determined among individuals who tested positive in the IB assay who practiced both pig rearing and kitchen gardening. CONCLUSIONS: ELISA with dried blood eluted from filter paper was suitable for cysticercosis population surveys. In Lages, human infection was associated with pig rearing and kitchen gardening. The prevalence index was compatible with other Latin American endemic areas.

INTRODUÇÃO: O primeiro levantamento sobre cisticercose humana e identificação dos fatores de risco associados à transmissão, foram realizados em Lages, SC. MÉTODOS: Oitocentos e setenta e sete voluntários de regiões periurbana e rural foram entrevistados e forneceram informações demográficas e condições sanitárias e de saúde. Amostras de sangue foram coletadas por meio de punção digital em papel filtro entre agosto 2004 e maio 2005. Verificou-se que 850 amostras estavam adequadas para análise. No ELISA, utilizou-se o antígeno heterólogo liquido vesicular de Taenia crassiceps. Para assegurar a confiabilidade dos resultados de ELISA, foram pareadas 77 amostras de soro e sangue eluido do papel filtro. A confirmação do diagnóstico sorológico foi feita por immunoblot (IB) com glicoproteínas purificadas de Taenia crassiceps. RESULTADOS: A reatividade de IgG eluída de sangue em papel filtro mostrou-se compatível com a dos soros correspondentes. A triagem por ELISA de 850 indivíduos revelou 186 (21,9 por cento) positivos. De 213 pessoas convidadas a colher soro para IB (186 ELISA positivo e 27 com amostras de sangue total inadequadas), compareceram 130. O IB foi positivo em 29 (3,4 por cento) de 850 amostras. Houve correlação significativa entre IB positivo e a prática de criação de suínos e de horta caseira (p = 0,0364). CONCLUSÕES: ELISA com sangue total em papel filtro mostrou-se adequado para inquéritos populacionais para cisticercose. A transmissão da cisticercose humana na área estudada mostrou correlação com criação suína domestica e horta caseira. A prevalência obtida foi semelhante à relatada em áreas endêmicas da América Latina.

Neurocysticercosis: relationship between Taenia antigen levels in CSF and MRI.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between Taenia antigen (TA) detection in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in patients with definite diagnosis of neurocysticercosis (NC). METHOD: Sixty-three patients with definite diagnosis of NC were submitted to a MRI of the brain, and to a CSF examination, with a meticulous search for TA by ELISA. RESULTS: TA detection was positive in 36 patients (57.1%). A total of 836 lesions were analyzed, greatly within the cerebral parenchyma (98.7 of the lesions). Intact or non-degenerating cysts were the most common evolutive phase observed (50.4% of all lesions), 22.1% were degenerating cysts and 19.5% calcified cysts. We observed a significant relationship between TA levels detected and the total number of lesions and the number of non-degenerating cysts, but not with calcified lesions. CONCLUSION: According to our results, we propose at least four important types of contribution: (1) TA detection may allow etiologic diagnosis in transitional phases of NC, with non-characteristic images; (2) in final stages of evolution of cysticercoids in the CNS, lesions may not appear on CT or MRI, and TA detection may contribute to a definite etiologic diagnosis; (3) TA detection may permit diagnosis of NC in some patients with previous negative tests for antibody detection in CSF; (4) TA detection may represent an accurate marker of disease activity in the epileptic form of NC.

Neurocysticercosis: relationship between Taenia antigen levels in CSF and MRI / Neurocisticercose: relação entre antígeno da Taenia no líquido cefalorraquidiano e ressonância magnética

Objective: To determine the relationship between Taenia antigen (TA) detection in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in patients with definite diagnosis of neurocysticercosis (NC). Method: Sixty-three patients with definite diagnosis of NC were submitted to a MRI of the brain, and to a CSF examination, with a meticulous search for TA by ELISA. Results: TA detection was positive in 36 patients (57.1 percent). A total of 836 lesions were analyzed, greatly within the cerebral parenchyma (98.7 of the lesions). Intact or non-degenerating cysts were the most common evolutive phase observed (50.4 percent of all lesions), 22.1 percent were degenerating cysts and 19.5 percent calcified cysts. We observed a significant relationship between TA levels detected and the total number of lesions and the number of non-degenerating cysts, but not with calcified lesions. Conclusion: According to our results, we propose at least four important types of contribution: (1) TA detection may allow etiologic diagnosis in transitional phases of NC, with non-characteristic images; (2) in final stages of evolution of cysticercoids in the CNS, lesions may not appear on CT or MRI, and TA detection may contribute to a definite etiologic diagnosis; (3) TA detection may permit diagnosis of NC in some patients with previous negative tests for antibody detection in CSF; (4) TA detection may represent an accurate marker of disease activity in the epileptic form of NC.

Objetivo: Determinar a relação entre a detecção de antígeno de Taenia (TA) no líquido cefalorraquidiano (LCR) e achados de ressonância magnética (RM) em pacientes com diagnóstico definitivo de neurocisticersose. Método: Sessenta e três pacientes com diagnóstico de NC foram submetidos a exame de RM e exame de LCR com pesquisa de antígeno de Taenia por método imunoenzimático. Resultados: A detecção de TA foi positiva em 36 pacientes (57,1 por cento). Um total de 836 lesões foram analizadas sendo 98,7 por cento intraparemquimatosas, 50,4 por cento dos cistos encontravam-se íntegros, 22,1 por cento degenerados e 19,5 por cento calcificados. Foi observada relação significativa entre a presença dos níveis de TA detectados com o número total dos cistos e também com o número de cistos íntegros. Não foi observada relação com cistos calcificados. Conclusão: (1) a detecção de TA permite o diagnóstico etiológico em formas transicionais na NC com imagem pouco característica; (2) em estágio evolutivo final de um cisticerco no sistema nervoso, este pode não aparecer na tomografia computadorizada ou RM sendo a presença do antígeno importante para confirmação diagnóstica; (3) a detecção do TA permite também o diagnóstico de NC nos casos em que as reações inumológicas são negativas; (4) a detecção do TA representa um marcador de atividade da doença nas formas epiléticas da NC.

New malaria vaccine candidates based on the Plasmodium vivax Merozoite Surface Protein-1 and the TLR-5 agonist Salmonella Typhimurium FliC flagellin.

The present study evaluated the immunogenicity of new malaria vaccine formulations based on the 19kDa C-terminal fragment of Plasmodium vivax Merozoite Surface Protein-1 (MSP1(19)) and the Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium flagellin (FliC), a Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) agonist. FliC was used as an adjuvant either admixed or genetically linked to the P. vivax MSP1(19) and administered to C57BL/6 mice via parenteral (s.c.) or mucosal (i.n.) routes. The recombinant fusion protein preserved MSP1(19) epitopes recognized by sera collected from P. vivax infected humans and TLR5 agonist activity. Mice parenterally immunized with recombinant P. vivax MSP1(19) in the presence of FliC, either admixed or genetically linked, elicited strong and long-lasting MSP1(19)-specific systemic antibody responses with a prevailing IgG1 subclass response. Incorporation of another TLR agonist, CpG ODN 1826, resulted in a more balanced response, as evaluated by the IgG1/IgG2c ratio, and higher cell-mediated immune response measured by interferon-gamma secretion. Finally, we show that MSP1(19)-specific antibodies recognized the native protein expressed on the surface of P. vivax parasites harvested from infected humans. The present report proposes a new class of malaria vaccine formulation based on the use of malarial antigens and the innate immunity agonist FliC. It contains intrinsic adjuvant properties and enhanced ability to induce specific humoral and cellular immune responses when administered alone or in combination with other adjuvants.

Comparative evaluation of different immunoassays for the detection of Taenia solium cysticercosis in swine with low parasite burden.

Seven swine were experimentally infected with Taenia solium eggs and blood samples from each animal were periodically collected. At the end of the experiment (t140) the animals did not show clinical aspects of cysticercosis or parasites in tongue inspection. All animals were slaughtered and cut into thin slices in searching for cysts. The number of cysts found in each animal varied from 1 to 85. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests for antibody (Ab) detection and for antigen (Ag) detection were performed, which presented respectively 71 and 57% of positivity. By immunoblot (IB), using 18/14(T. crassiceps Ag) or lentil-lectin-purified glycoproteins from T. solium Ag (LLGP) as Ag, five (71%) and six (86%) animals were positive, respectively. The association between Ag-ELISA with any IB (18/14 or LLGP) allowed the detection of all animals at 140 days post-experimental infection (days p.e.i.). The use of IB 18/14 combined to the Ag-ELISA allowed the detection of all animals since 70 days p.e.i., and the association between IB LLGP and Ag-ELISA allowed the detection of all animals since 112 days p.e.i. While all animals could be considered healthy by conventional screening tests, the use of immunoassays for detecting Ab and Ag showed better accuracy; therefore it would be more useful than usual clinical examination for screening cysticercosis in slightly infected pigs.

Comparative evaluation of different immunoassays for the detection of Taenia solium cysticercosis in swine with low parasite burden

Seven swine were experimentally infected with Taenia solium eggs and blood samples from each animal were periodically collected. At the end of the experiment (t140) the animals did not show clinical aspects of cysticercosis or parasites in tongue inspection. All animals were slaughtered and cut into thin slices in searching for cysts. The number of cysts found in each animal varied from 1 to 85. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests for antibody (Ab) detection and for antigen (Ag) detection were performed, which presented respectively 71 and 57 percent of positivity. By immunoblot (IB), using 18/14(T. crassiceps Ag) or lentil-lectin-purified glycoproteins from T. solium Ag (LLGP) as Ag, five (71 percent) and six (86 percent) animals were positive, respectively. The association between Ag-ELISA with any IB (18/14 or LLGP) allowed the detection of all animals at 140 days post-experimental infection (days p.e.i.). The use of IB 18/14 combined to the Ag-ELISA allowed the detection of all animals since 70 days p.e.i., and the association between IB LLGP and Ag-ELISA allowed the detection of all animals since 112 days p.e.i. While all animals could be considered healthy by conventional screening tests, the use of immunoassays for detecting Ab and Ag showed better accuracy; therefore it would be more useful than usual clinical examination for screening cysticercosis in slightly infected pigs.

Immunologically relevant strain polymorphism in the Amastigote Surface Protein 2 of Trypanosoma cruzi.

Several evidences suggest that the Amastigote Surface Protein-2 (ASP-2) of Trypanosoma cruzi is an important target for immunity during infection. Based on this, we considered it important to evaluate its strain polymorphism. Initially, we observed the presence of conserved cross-reactive epitopes in amastigotes of all parasite strains tested. In addition, the predicted amino acid sequences of the genes isolated from the cDNA of amastigotes of CL-Brener, Tulahuen, Colombian and G strains displayed a high degree of identity (>80%) to the previously described genes of ASP-2. Unexpectedly, Sylvio X10/4 and G strains expressed a new isoform of ASP-2 with limited identity to the previously described genes, but with a high degree of identity when compared to each other. Immunological studies confirmed the presence of cross-reactive epitopes between recombinant proteins representing the different isoforms of ASP-2. However, the genetic vaccination of mice with the new isoform of asp-2 gene expressed by the G strain failed to provide the same degree of protective immunity to a challenge by parasites of the Y strain as did asp-2 genes of Y or CL-Brener strains. In summary, we found that few strains can express different isoforms of ASP-2 which may not share cross-protective epitopes.

Recombinant expression of Taenia solium TS14 antigen and its utilization for immunodiagnosis of neurocysticercosis.

In order to evaluate the potential use of TS14 antigen in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for immunodiagnosis of neurocysticercosis (NC), its open reading frame (ORF) was amplified by RT-PCR from mRNA isolated from Taenia solium cysticerci. The ORF was subcloned into the expression vector pET-28a, and was used to transform Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) cells to produce TS14 antigen. The His-tagged expressed protein was purified on a nickel affinity column. Using the HISTS14 as antigen, ELISA was positive for 100% of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and 97% of serum samples from NC patients. No positive results were observed with sera and CSF samples from control groups. Cross-reactivity with sera from patients with schistosomiasis and Chagas' disease was not observed. Serum samples from patients with taeniasis were evaluated and 2 of 13 cases showed reactivity in this assay. Our data indicate the usefulness of HISTS14 in ELISA for an accurate and rapid assay for diagnosis of NC and seroepidemiological studies.

Taeniosis-cysticercosis complex in individuals of a peasants' settlement (Teodoro Sampaio, Pontal of Paranapanema, SP, Brazil).

In order to evaluate the taeniosis-cysticercosis complex in a population of a peasants' settlement, located at Teodoro Sampaio, state of São Paulo, Brazil (longitude 52 degrees 36'12 ", latitude 22 degrees 17'12 ") a series of laboratory markers were determined. After signing an informed consent, participants answered a standardized questionnaire. To determine anti-Taenia solium cysticercus antibodies, the samples were tested by enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay using 18-and 14-kDa antigen proteins from vesicular fluid of Taenia crassiceps (VF-Tcra). The reactive and inconclusive ELISA samples were tested by immunoblotting. Total IgE levels were determined by chemmiluminescence's assay and hemogram by flow cytometer flux counter. A total of 84 individuals, 5.9% presented anti-T. solium cysticercus antibodies in ELISA and 3.6% were strongly reactive in the 18/14 kDa immunoblotting confirmatory test. All of the individuals with positive antibodies showed elevated Total IgE levels. We conclude that the frequency of anti-T. solium cysticercus antibodies in this population is higher than other regions considered endemic in São Paulo. Thus, it is important to carry out surveys in Peasants' settlement areas with the objective of establishing public health measures for prevention and control of infectious diseases such as taeniosis-cysticercosis.

Taeniosis-cysticercosis complex in individuals of a peasants' settlement (Teodoro Sampaio, Pontal of Paranapanema, SP, Brazil)

In order to evaluate the taeniosis-cysticercosis complex in a population of a peasants' settlement, located at Teodoro Sampaio, state of São Paulo, Brazil (longitude 52º 36'12 ", latitude 22º 17'12 ") a series of laboratory markers were determined. After signing an informed consent, participants answered a standardized questionnaire. To determine anti-Taenia solium cysticercus antibodies, the samples were tested by enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay using 18-and 14-kDa antigen proteins from vesicular fluid of Taenia crassiceps (VF-Tcra). The reactive and inconclusive ELISA samples were tested by immunoblotting. Total IgE levels were determined by chemmiluminescence's assay and hemogram by flow cytometer flux counter. A total of 84 individuals, 5.9 percent presented anti-T. solium cysticercus antibodies in ELISA and 3.6 percent were strongly reactive in the 18/14 kDa immunoblotting confirmatory test. All of the individuals with positive antibodies showed elevated Total IgE levels. We conclude that the frequency of anti-T. solium cysticercus antibodies in this population is higher than other regions considered endemic in São Paulo. Thus, it is important to carry out surveys in Peasants' settlement areas with the objective of establishing public health measures for prevention and control of infectious diseases such as taeniosis-cysticercosis.

Cysticercosis immunodiagnosis using 18- and 14-kilodalton proteins from Taenia crassiceps cysticercus antigens obtained by immunoaffinity chromatography.

Monoclonal antibodies (MAb) against Taenia crassiceps and Taenia solium cysticerci were produced and showed cross-reactivity with a 14-kDa protein from T. solium and with 18- and 14-kDa proteins from T. crassiceps. These MAbs and antibodies from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as well as serum samples from patients with neurocysticercosis (NC) reacted with 18- and 14-kDa T. crassiceps proteins purified by immunoaffinity chromatography using a Sepharose column coupled with MAbs (anti-excretory/secretory or anti-vesicular fluid antigens). Immunoaffinity-purified 18- and 14-kDa proteins were used in the design of a diagnostic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect antibodies in 23 CSF and 20 serum samples from patients with NC, showing 100% sensitivity. The test specificity was determined using 42 noninflammatory CSF samples and 70 inflammatory CSF samples from patients with other neurological disorders (OND), showing 100% and 99.1% (confidence interval, 97.3% to 100%) specificity, respectively. A false-positive CSF sample result in the OND group was from a human immunodeficiency virus-positive patient with meningoencephalitis. By using serum samples from 194 healthy individuals, the specificity was 100%. Analysis of an additional 16 serum samples from individuals with other parasitic diseases (13 with intestinal parasitosis and 3 with schistosomiasis) showed negative results. Three (10%) serum samples from patients with hydatidosis were positive in our ELISA and in ELISA with T. solium cysticerci antigens. Two of them were also positive by immunoblotting. The use of 18- and 14-kDa T. crassiceps immunoaffinity-purified proteins for detection of anti-cysticercus antibodies in CSF and/or serum samples using an ELISA system showed a good performance and high specificity for serum samples, dispensing with the use of confirmatory tests, such as immunoblotting, for checking specificity.

Serological, epidemiological and molecular aspects of hepatitis C virus infection in a population from Londrina, PR, Brazil, 2001-2002

Aspectos sorológicos, epidemiológicos e moleculares da infecção pelo vírus da hepatite C (HCV) foram avaliados em 183 indivíduos da região de Londrina, Paraná. Amostras soropositivas para anti-HCV pelo enzimaimunoensaio de micropartículas (MEIA), provenientes de oito pacientes com hepatite C crônica, 48 doadores de sangue e 127 indivíduos infectados pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV), foram submetidas ao enzimaimunoensaio (ELISA) e a reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR). Em 78,7% das amostras, verificou-se resultado reagente no ELISA, ocorrendo maior proporção de resultados discordantes entre doadores de sangue (70,8%). O mesmo ocorreu com a pesquisa do RNA viral, na qual 111/165 (67,3%) amostras foram positivas com PCR, verificando-se maior positividade entre indivíduos HIV soropositivos e pacientes com hepatite crônica do que em doadores de sangue. Em 61 amostras com viremia detectável, realizou-se a genotipagem do HCV, encontrando-se os genótipos 1 (77,1%), 3 (21,3%) e 2 (1,6%). Por fim, foram avaliados os fatores epidemiológicos em indivíduos com infecção ativa, nos quais o uso de drogas injetáveis foi o principal fator de risco encontrado em indivíduos co-infectados pelo HIV/HCV e a transfusão sangüínea foi o mais comum em indivíduos sem infecção pelo HIV. O presente estudo contribuiu para o conhecimento do perfil da infecção pelo HCV em indivíduos da nossa população e da distribuição dos genótipos do HCV nesta região.

Taenia antigens detection in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with neurocysticercosis and its relationship with clinical activity of the disease.

OBJECTIVE: (1) To determine the concentration of Taenia antigens in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with neurocysticercosis (NC); (2) to establish its relationship with clinical activity of the disease and with classical variables of CSF. METHOD: A CSF examination was performed in one sample from 36 patients with definitive diagnosis of NC, including: quantitative and cytomorphological study, biochemical tests, immunological reactions for cysticercosis and Taenia antigens. The antibodies for antigens detection were obtained from the larval form of Taenia crassiceps, ORF strain. After intraperitoneal passage through female mice, a group of rabbits was immunized with vesicular fluid antigens. RESULTS: The Taenia antigen was detected in CSF from 17 patients (47.2%), especially in those patients with epileptic symptoms in the last 12 months. CONCLUSION: Taenia antigens presence in CSF have significant relationship with clinically active forms of NC, being a more sensitive marker than the classic eosinophil presence.

Taenia antigens detection in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with neurocysticercosis and its relationship with clinical activity of the disease

OBJETIVO: (1) Determinar a concentração de antígenos de Taenia no líquido cefalorraquidiano (LCR) em doentes com neurocisticercose; (2) estudar sua relação com a atividade clínica da doença e com as variáveis clássicas do LCR. MÉTODO: Em 36 pacientes com diagnóstico definido de neurocisticercose foi realizado exame do LCR, com estudo citológico e citomorfológico, exame bioquímico, reações imunológicas para cisticercose e detecção de antígenos de Taenia. Os anticorpos para detecção desses antígenos foram obtidos a partir da forma larvar da Taenia crassiceps, cepa ORF. Após a inoculação e proliferação intraperitoneal dessa forma larvária em ratas, foi imunizado um grupo de coelhos com seu líquido vesicular. RESULTADOS: Em 17 pacientes (47,2%) foi detectado antígeno de Taenia, especialmente naqueles com manifestação epiléptica nos últimos 12 meses. CONCLUSÃO: A detecção de antígeno de Taenia guarda relação significativa com a vigência de formas clinicamente ativas, sendo, nestas formas, marcador mais sensível que a eosinofilorraquia.

Cellular immune response of patients with neurocysticercosis (inflammatory and non-inflammatory phases).

The cellular immune response in neurocysticercosis (NC) was studied in 22 patients, 11 (50%) of them in the inflammatory phase of the disease, by means of immunophenotyping of cells in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and peripheral blood (PB), lymphoproliferation assay with Taenia solium total saline extract (Tso) and Taenia crassiceps vesicular fluid (Tcra) as stimuli, and by determining the cytokine production profile in the cell culture supernatant. A higher mean percentage of CD19+ and CD56+ cells was observed in the CSF samples from inflammatory (16.8 and 11.3%) and non-inflammatory NC-patients (14.1 and 8.4%) when compared with the control group (CG, 7.6 and 5.4%). The CSF samples from inflammatory NC-patients also showed a higher percentage of HCAM (19.1%) and ICAM (44.9%) adhesion molecules when compared to CG (3.1 and 4.8%). The inflammatory phase showed predominance of CD8+ cells (CSF 26.6% and PB 36.2%) when compared with non-inflammatory phase (CSF 21.5% and PB 29.0%). All cell populations identified in the CSF from NC-patients showed cell activation (CD69+). The cell populations identified in PB showed higher expression of CD69 during the inflammatory phase, while only CD4+ cells presented no cell activation during the non-inflammatory phase. The antigen-specific lymphoproliferation assay showed mean positive results (stimulation index, SI > or = 2.5) only for cells from inflammatory NC-patients (Tcra 3.2 and Tso 5.4), but less intense than the CG (Tcra 5.7 and Tso 8.9). The cytokine production profile when using Tso antigen as stimuli showed differences between NC-patients with inflammatory (production of IL-4/IL-12/TNF-alpha/ICAM/VCAM) and non-inflammatory phase (production of IL-6/IL-10/IL-12/TNF-alpha/ICAM/VCAM). A prevalence of Th2 profile was observed in nine (69%) of the 13 (62% of total) NC-patients presenting positive SI. Cells from inflammatory NC-patients showed a predominance of a Th1 response upon in vitro stimulation, while those from non-inflammatory NC-patients showed a mixed Th1/Th2 pattern.

Serological, epidemiological and molecular aspects of hepatitis C virus infection in a population from Londrina, PR, Brazil, 2001-2002.

Serological, epidemiological and molecular aspects of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were evaluated in 183 subjects from Londrina, Paraná, Brazil, and adjacent areas. Serum samples which tested anti-HCV positive by microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA) obtained from eight patients with chronic hepatitis C, 48 blood donors, and 127 patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were submitted to another enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) and to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). About 78.7% of samples were also reactive by ELISA, with the greater proportion (70.8%) of discordant results verified among blood donors. A similar finding was observed for HCV-RNA detection by PCR, with 111/165 (67.3%) positive samples, with higher rates among HIV-positive subjects and patients with chronic hepatitis than among blood donors. Sixty-one PCR-positive samples were submitted to HCV genotyping, with 77.1, 21.3 and 1.6% of the samples identified as types 1, 3 and 2, respectively. Finally, analysis of some risk factors associated with HCV infection showed that intravenous drug use was the most common risk factor among HIV/HCV co-infected patients, while blood transfusion was the most important risk factor in the group without HIV infection. The present study contributed to the knowledge regarding risk factors associated with HCV infection and the distribution of HCV genotypes in the population evaluated.

Cysticercosis ocurrence and sanitary risk in groups of inspected and non-inspected swine in Brazil

A sero-epidemiological study of swine cysticercosis was carried out in 628 swine slaughtered at seven locations in Brazil. 322 of these animals were inspected by approved meat inspectors at three locations and 306 animals were slaughtered at four different locations and were not inspected. Non-inspected swine (prevalence 16,3 percent) were 5,5 times more likely to be seropositive than inspected swine (3,4 percent) (p < 0,0001). The results of this study provide information to further understand the epidemiology of cysticercosis in Brazil