Armadillo meat intake was not associated with leprosy in a case control study, Curitiba (Brazil)

Leprosy's progression and its maintained endemic status, despite the availability of effective treatments, are not fully understood and recent studies have highlighted the possibility of involved Mycobacterium leprae ambient reservoirs. Wild armadillos can carry leprosy and, because their meat is eaten by humans, development of the disease among armadillo meat consumers has been investigated. This study evaluated the frequency of armadillo meat intake among leprosy patients as well as age and gender matched controls with other skin diseases from a dermatological unit. Armadillo meat consumption among both groups was adjusted by demographic and socioeconomic covariates based on a conditional multiple logistic regression model. One hundred twenty-one cases and 242 controls were evaluated; they differed in socioeconomic variables such as family income, hometown population and access to treated water. The multivariate analysis did not show an association between the intake of armadillo meat and leprosy (odds ratio = 1.07; CI 95 percent 0.56-2.04), even when only cases with no known contacts were analyzed. We conclude that leprosy is not associated with the intake of armadillo meat in these patients.

Coccidioidomicose: estudo clínico / Coccidiioidomycosis: clinicar study

Coccidioidomicose - infecção endêmica com distribuição geográfica relativamente limitada - é adquirida através da inalação de fungos do gênero Coccidioides, o qual tem atração por terrenos arenosos, alcalinos e de elevada salinidade. No Brasil, a região com maior quantidade de diagnósticos é o Nordeste. O quadro clínico varia de uma infecção respiratória leve à fatalidade. A infecção afeta os pulmões, e por disseminação linfática, pode afetar outros órgãos. Quando atinge o sistema nervoso central causa quadro de meningoencefalite crônica. O diagnóstico presuntivo pode ser baseado na detecção de anticorpos específicos no soro, fixação do complemento, além de teste cutânea de hipersensibilidade retardada à coccidioidina. Deve-se tratar apenas pacientes com fator de risco para a forma disseminada - sintomatologia há mais de dois meses e alterações à telerradiografia. O tratamento deve ser feito com itraconazol ou fluconazol, com duração de três meses, podendo se estender até seis meses.

Coccidioidomycosis - an endemic infection somewhat geographically limited - is acquired by inhaling spores of coccidioides fungi, which are common in alkaline highly saline sandy soils. In Brazil, the area with prevaling coccidioidosis diagnostics is the northeast region. Clinical signs range from mild respiratory disorders to mortality. From the lungs the disease may spread to other organs through the lymphatic system; when affecting the central nervous system it causes chronic meningoencephalitis. Presumptive diagnosis may be bases on the presence of specific antibodies in the serum level, complement fixation or skin tests of delayed hypersensibility to coccidioidin. Only the patients with risk factors for the disseminated form are treated - those who have been symptomatic for more than two months or show sign or alterations on teleradiography. Treatment of choice is itraconazole or fluconazole for three to six months.