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We investigated the ABO genotypes and heterogeneity of the O alleles in Plasmodium falciparum-infected and non-infected individuals from the Brazilian Amazon region. Sample collection took place from May 2003 to August 2005, from P. falciparum malaria patients from four endemic regions of the Brazilian Amazon. The control group consisted of donors from four blood banks in the same areas. DNA was extracted using the Easy-DNA(TM) extraction kit. ABO genotyping was performed using PCR/RFLP. There was a high frequency of ABO*O01O01. ABO*AO01 was the second most frequent genotype, and the third most frequent genotype was ABO*BO01. There were low frequencies of the ABO*O01O02, ABO*AA, ABO*AB, ABO*BB, and ABO*O02O02 genotypes. We analyzed the alleles of the O phenotype; the O(1variant) allele was the most frequent, both in malaria and non-malaria groups; consequently, the homozygous genotype O(1)(v)O(1)(v) was the most frequently observed. There was no evidence of the homozygous O(2) allele. Significant differences were not detected in the frequency of individuals with the various alleles in the comparison of the malaria patients and the general population (blood donors).

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Malaria is an endemic parasitosis and its causitive agent, Plasmodium, has a metabolism linked to iron supply. HFE is a gene with the polymorphisms C282Y and H63D, which are associated with a progressive iron accumulation in the organism leading to a disease called hereditary hemochromatosis. The aim of the present study was to determine the allelic and genotypic frequencies of the HFE gene polymorphisms in malaria patients and blood donors from the Brazilian Amazon region. We screened 400 blood donors and 400 malaria patients for the HFE C282Y and H63D polymorphisms from four states of the Brazilian Amazon region by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. We did not find any C282Y homozygous individuals, and the only five heterozygous individuals detected were from Pará State. The most frequent genotype in the North region of Brazil was the H63D heterozygote, in both study groups. Our results contribute to the concept that the Brazilian Amazon region should not be regarded as a single entity in South America. These polymorphisms did not influence the symptoms of malaria in the population studied, as neither severe signs nor high parasitemia were observed. Therefore, different hereditary hemochromatosis diagnostic and control measures must be developed and applied within its diverse locations. Investigations are currently being carried out in our laboratory in order to determine the importance of the coexistence of hereditary hemochromatosis in patients affected by parasitic diseases, such as malaria.

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Malaria is an endemic parasitosis and its causitive agent, Plasmodium, has a metabolism linked to iron supply. HFE is a gene with the polymorphisms C282Y and H63D, which are associated with a progressive iron accumulation in the organism leading to a disease called hereditary hemochromatosis. The aim of the present study was to determine the allelic and genotypic frequencies of the HFE gene polymorphisms in malaria patients and blood donors from the Brazilian Amazon region. We screened 400 blood donors and 400 malaria patients for the HFE C282Y and H63D polymorphisms from four states of the Brazilian Amazon region by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. We did not find any C282Y homozygous individuals, and the only five heterozygous individuals detected were from Pará State. The most frequent genotype in the North region of Brazil was the H63D heterozygote, in both study groups. Our results contribute to the concept that the Brazilian Amazon region should not be regarded as a single entity in South America. These polymorphisms did not influence the symptoms of malaria in the population studied, as neither severe signs nor high parasitemia were observed. Therefore, different hereditary hemochromatosis diagnostic and control measures must be developed and applied within its diverse locations. Investigations are currently being carried out in our laboratory in order to determine the importance of the coexistence of hereditary hemochromatosis in patients affected by parasitic diseases, such as malaria.

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We describe a heterozygous case of Hb I-Philadelphia [alpha 16 (A14) LYS-->GLU] in a blood donor from the Acre State Blood Bank, in the Brazilian Amazon region. We confirmed the mutation by electrophoretic and chromatographic methods and by DNA sequencing. A literature search showed that this is the first description of this alpha globin mutant in a Brazilian Caucasian group. We also emphasize the importance of the hemoglobin study in blood donors for the purpose of the genetic counseling and quality assurance of the blood to be transfused. Screening tests for hemoglobin mutants are also important for gathering anthropological information about the Brazilian population.

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We describe a heterozygous case of Hb I-Philadelphia [alpha 16 (A14) LYS-->GLU] in a blood donor from the Acre State Blood Bank, in the Brazilian Amazon region. We confirmed the mutation by electrophoretic and chromatographic methods and by DNA sequencing. A literature search showed that this is the first description of this alpha globin mutant in a Brazilian Caucasian group. We also emphasize the importance of the hemoglobin study in blood donors for the purpose of the genetic counseling and quality assurance of the blood to be transfused. Screening tests for hemoglobin mutants are also important for gathering anthropological information about the Brazilian population.

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Comparing patterns of genetic variation at multiple loci in the genome of a species can potentially identify loci which are under selection. The large number of polymorphic microsatellites in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum are available markers to screen for selectively important loci. The Pfs48/45 gene on Chromosome 13 encodes an antigenic protein located on the surface of parasite gametes, which is a candidate for a transmission blocking vaccine. Here, genotypic data from 255 P. falciparum isolates are presented, which show that alleles and haplotypes of five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the Pfs48/45 gene are exceptionally skewed in frequency among different P. falciparum populations, compared with alleles at 11 microsatellite loci sampled widely from the parasite genome. Fixation indices measuring inter-population variance in allele frequencies (F(ST)) were in the order of four to seven times higher for Pfs48/45 than for the microsatellites, whether considered (i) among populations within Africa, or (ii) among different continents. Differing mutational processes at microsatellite and SNP loci could generally affect the population structure at these different types of loci, to an unknown extent which deserves further investigation. The highly contrasting population structure may also suggest divergent selection on the amino acid sequence of Pfs48/45 in different populations, which plausibly indicates a role for the protein in determining gamete recognition and compatibility.

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We report the evaluation of four techniques for Giardia lamblia diagnosis in children's stool. The Iron haematoxilin staining and direct examination with lugol showed lower positivity, while the method of Faust et al. Continues to be a good option for G. lamblia diagnosis and Immunoenzymatic assay increases the detection of this parasite.

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We report the evaluation of four techniques for Giardia lamblia diagnosis in children's stool. The Iron haematoxilin staining and direct examination with lugol showed lower positivity, while the method of Faust et al. Continues to be a good option for G. lamblia diagnosis and Immunoenzymatic assay increases the detection of this parasite.

Relatamos a comparação de quatro metodologias para o diagnóstico da Giardia lamblia em material fecal de crianças, Belém/PA. A Hematoxilina Férrica e o método direto apresentaram menor positividade, enquanto que o Método de Faust continua uma boa escolha para o diagnóstico e o Ensaio imunoenzimático melhora a qualidade da detecção deste parasito.

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The present study evaluated the glass fibre membrane (GFM)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique for genotyping the Plasmodium vivax variants, to verify the distribution of P. vivax variants (VK210, VK247 and P. vivax-like) in parts of Brazil and their correlation with levels of parasitaemia, previous malaria experience and clearance of parasitaemia linked to different treatment schedules. The samples were taken from individuals living in Macapá, Porto Velho and Belém, all of which are endemic areas of vivax malaria in the Amazon region of Brazil. Blood samples were collected on GFMs. The gene that codes for the circumsporozoite proteins of P. vivax variants was amplified by PCR and the amplified fragments were hybridized to variant-specific, digoxigenin-labelled oligonucleotide probes by ELISA. The GFM-PCR-ELISA technique was shown to be accurate for epidemiological surveys of the vivax complex. All variants were detected in all 3 areas, but only P. vivax VK210 was found as a single agent of infection, while the other 2 occurred as mixed infections. The P. vivax-like variant was found to be associated with low parasitaemia and VK210 with the highest parasitaemia levels; none of the P. vivax variants was linked with a previous malaria experience. In all cases parasitaemia clearance was identical regarding the type of treatment and consequently it is not possible to confirm the previously reported correlation between P. vivax genotype and response to chloroquine.

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We compare diagnostic methods for Entamoeba histolytica in fecal samples from the city of Belém, Pará, Brazil. We analyze stool samples from children and adults (Group I); stool and serum samples from adults (Group II); and stool samples from children (Group III). In groups I and III, we used direct examination with lugol (DM), Faust et al (FM), and ELISA (detection of E. histolytica anti-GIAP coproantigen) and in group II, DM, iron hematoxylin staining (IHS), FM, ELISA, and the indirect immunofluorescence test (IFAT) for detection of IgG antibodies. Positivity was 10.50% by DM plus FM and 28.99% by ELISA. There was no correlation between positivity and age group. In Group II (n = 87), the positive rate was 4.59% by DM plus FM, 8.04% by IHS, 4.59% by IFAT, and 21.83% by ELISA. The ELISA test was the most sensitive for all groups. IFAT alone is still not a useful tool for diagnosis of E. histolytica infection. The ELISA test is simple, performed in one-third of cases used for IHS and IFAT, and greatly improves quality of diagnosis. We recommend this as the method of choice for diagnosis of suspected E. histolytica infection.

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The polymorphic, merozoite surface protein-1 (MSP-1) of Plasmodium falciparum, an antigen of the parasite's asexual blood-stages, is a major malaria-vaccine candidate. Nucleotide sequences of each variable domain or block of this antigen may be grouped into one of three possible allelic types (K1, MAD20 and RO33), and 24 major types of the msp-1 gene may be defined, as unique combinations of allelic types in these variable blocks. Isolates collected from the Brazilian Amazon, over a period of 14 years, have now been investigated, by PCR-based typing of the msp-1 gene. Thirteen of the 24 possible gene-types were identified, and 336 P. falciparum clones were fully typed among 239 isolates. Most parasites (87%) belonged to one of the seven most frequent gene-types. Marked temporal variation in the distribution of msp-1 variants was found when comparing parasites sampled in the same sites at intervals of at least 5 years. Spatial variations were also found when comparing parasites from both neighbouring and distant sites within the Amazon Basin. The between-population variance in the frequencies of msp-1 allelic types found in Brazil, as estimated by Wright's FST statistic, is of similar magnitude to that found in previous world-wide comparisons. The potential implications of these findings for the development of an MSP-1-based, multivalent malaria vaccine are discussed.

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Parasite resistance to antimalarial drugs, particularly chloroquine, is the most disturbing problem of malaria chemotherapy. There is evidence that the codon 86Tyr polymorphism of the Pfmdr1 gene is associated with chloroquine resistance in West African Plasmodium falciparum. The association of this and four other coding alterations of the Pfmdr1 gene with chloroquine resistance has not been extensively investigated in South American isolates. In this study, we examined 51 Brazilian P. falciparum isolates for the presence or absence of Asn86Tyr, Asn1042Asp, and Asp1246Tyr polymorphisms. While these isolates were all sensitive in vitro to mefloquine, amodiaquine, and quinine, only 2 (4%) were chloroquine-sensitive. The findings reported here provide the first observations of this kind on a large number of field parasite samples from South America. We show that in vitro chloroquine-resistant and -sensitive strains carry the Asn1042Asp and Asp1246Tyr polymorphisms and provide support for earlier suggestions that Asn86Tyr may be rare or absent in South American P. falciparum.

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We report an adaptation of a technique for the blood sample collection (GFM) as well as for the extraction and amplification of Plasmodium DNA for the diagnosis of malaria infection by the PCR/ELISA. The method of blood sample collection requires less expertise and saves both time and money, thus reducing the cost by more than half. The material is also suitable for genetic analysis in either fresh or stored specimens prepared by this method.

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In 1,000 students from Great São Paulo First Degree Schools, from 6 to 18 years old, we studied: age, sex, race, weight, height, left arm circumference, blood pressure, pulse and family history of hypertension. Of these 550 were female and 450 male, with predominance of caucasians in both sexes (83.7%). The conclusions of this study were: until 9 years old the blood pressure was similar in both sexes. As the school girls grow up earlier, their blood pressure rose first, but after 16 years this fact changed: 126 +/- 3.5 x 76 +/- 2.8 in males and 115 +/- 2.0 x 74 +/- 1.9 in females. Students with a family history of hypertension had higher blood pressure than students without and the prevalence of systolic and diastolic hypertension was higher in the first group: 12.2 and 13.8 to 4.7 and 3.8% respectively. Diastolic blood pressure was dominant in only in males Negros. The prevalence of systolic and diastolic hypertension was 6.9% in these 1,000 students.

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