RESUMO
Leishmaniasis is a group of diseases caused by protozoan parasites of the Leishmania genus. Previous studies have shown that a DNA vaccine encoding Leishmania donovani antigen nucleoside hydrolase 36 and L. mexicana glycoprotein 63 is protective in mice. We investigated here the efficacy of this DNA vaccine to induce protection in golden hamsters. Male hamsters were more susceptible to infection by Leishmania mexicana than females. Following immunization with two doses of the DNA vaccine, only females resulted protected while males developed normal lesions.
Assuntos
Cricetinae/parasitologia , Glicoproteínas/imunologia , Leishmania mexicana/efeitos dos fármacos , Leishmaniose Cutânea/imunologia , Leishmaniose Cutânea/veterinária , N-Glicosil Hidrolases/imunologia , Proteínas de Protozoários/imunologia , Vacinas de DNA/uso terapêutico , Animais , Cricetinae/imunologia , Feminino , Imunização/métodos , Imunização/veterinária , Leishmania mexicana/enzimologia , Masculino , Camundongos , Caracteres SexuaisRESUMO
Leishmania mexicana is the main causal agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Yucatán peninsula in Mexico. Control of this disease is associated with a Th1-type immune response and garlic extract has been reported as a Th1 immunomodulator in BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania major. In this study, we investigated the effect of garlic extracts on L. mexicana infection in vivo and in vitro. Garlic extract reduced footpad lesions in L. mexicana-infected BALB/c mice by inducing IFN-gamma production from T cells. In vitro, garlic extract reduced macrophage infection through induction of nitric oxide (NO) production. Garlic extract may thus act on both T cells and macrophages to stimulate IFN-gamma production and NO synthesis for parasite killing. A 10- to 14-kDa fraction was identified as responsible for the in vitro effect of the whole extract and may lead to the identification of novel immunomodulating drugs and therapeutic alternatives for the treatment of leishmaniasis.
Assuntos
Alho/imunologia , Leishmaniose Cutânea/tratamento farmacológico , Macrófagos/efeitos dos fármacos , Óxido Nítrico/biossíntese , Fitoterapia , Animais , Feminino , Citometria de Fluxo , Alho/química , Interferon gama/efeitos dos fármacos , Interferon gama/imunologia , Interferon gama/metabolismo , Leishmania mexicana , Leishmaniose Cutânea/imunologia , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Macrófagos/microbiologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Óxido Nítrico/imunologia , Extratos Vegetais/imunologia , Extratos Vegetais/uso terapêutico , Linfócitos T/efeitos dos fármacos , Linfócitos T/imunologiaRESUMO
Methanol extracts were prepared from different parts of 18 plants collected in the Yucatan peninsula and evaluated in an in vitro bioassay for leishmanicidal activity against Leishmania mexicana promastigotes. The ten most potent plant extracts (IC(50)<50 microg/ml) were Aphelandra scabra leaves, Byrsonima bucidaefolia bark, Byrsonima crassifolia bark, Clusia flava leaves, Cupania dentata bark, Diphysa carthagenensis leaves, Dorstenia contrajerva whole plant, Milleria quinqueflora roots, Tridax procumbens whole plant, and Vitex gaumeri bark.
Assuntos
Antiprotozoários/farmacologia , Leishmania mexicana/efeitos dos fármacos , Fitoterapia , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Plantas Medicinais , Animais , Antiprotozoários/administração & dosagem , Antiprotozoários/uso terapêutico , Concentração Inibidora 50 , Leishmaniose Cutânea/tratamento farmacológico , Medicina Tradicional , México , Testes de Sensibilidade Parasitária , Casca de Planta , Extratos Vegetais/administração & dosagem , Extratos Vegetais/uso terapêutico , Folhas de PlantaRESUMO
Dengue fever was detected in Yucatan in 1979. Since then, about 17,000 clinical cases have been reported, of which 1169 were confirmed by the presence of specific antibodies (IgM and IgG) and/or virologic studies; 10 of the cases were classified as dengue haemorrhagic fever and four died. The disease is endemic in the region and serotypes 1, 2 and 4 have been observed. This paper describes a patient with chronic autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura who developed a primary dengue infection with hemorrhagic manifestations and responded to corticosteroids. We discuss the physiopathogeny of thrombocytopenia and analyze the utility of treatment with corticosteroids in patients with autoimmune disease.
Assuntos
Dengue/complicações , Púrpura Trombocitopênica Idiopática/complicações , Adulto , Humanos , MasculinoRESUMO
Sera from 223 human beings were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for immunoglobulin G antibodies to Leishmania mexicana mexicana promastigotes. 76% of 74 sera from patients with chiclero's ulcer gave positive reactions at a titre of 1:40; the positivity rate was lower in patients with long-standing infections. False positive reactions were obtained with only 7% of 56 sera from healthy individuals with positive Montenegro tests and with 6 of 7 sera from patients with Chagas disease. It is concluded that this method would be a useful contributory diagnostic method in cases of suspected chiclero's ulcer.
Assuntos
Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Imunoglobulina G/imunologia , Leishmania mexicana/imunologia , Leishmaniose/imunologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Animais , Anticorpos Antiprotozoários/análise , Especificidade de Anticorpos , Doença de Chagas/imunologia , Criança , Reações Cruzadas , Humanos , México , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Sensibilidade e EspecificidadeRESUMO
Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Mexico was first described in 1912. Since then, its existence has been repeatedly confirmed in the forest regions of the peninsula of Yucatan. In order to obtain reliable knowledge about the magnitude of this problem, we questioned and skin-tested a sample of 449 persons randomly selected from men aged 15-45 years. We found a positivity rate of 24 to 90% (mean 43%) in the seven rural health posts studied. Furthermore, 72 patients were examined between January and December 1987 by parasitological investigation (smear, isolation, culture and/or biopsy) and the Montenegro skin test; 56 had acquired the disease in 1987. Based on these data, we found an annual incidence rate of 508 per 100,000 inhabitants. Further long-term studies are indicated to determine the incidence and prevalence rates for this disease in other parts of the country.
Assuntos
Leishmaniose/epidemiologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Humanos , Masculino , México/epidemiologia , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Testes Cutâneos , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosAssuntos
Leishmaniose/patologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Antígenos/análise , Granuloma/etiologia , Granuloma/patologia , Humanos , Hipergamaglobulinemia/etiologia , Imunidade Celular , Leishmania/imunologia , Leishmaniose/complicações , Leishmaniose/imunologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , RecidivaRESUMO
Se estudiaron un total de siete pacientes provenientes de area endemica y con cuadro clinico de leishmaniasis cutanea mexicana.Se les practicaron historia clinioepidemiologica, biopsia, evaluacion de perfil inmunologico (linfocitos T y B, determinacion de inmunoglobulinas y C3) y reaccion inmunitaria especifica (intradermorreaccion de Montenegro y ELISA). Clinicamente no se encontraron diferencias con lo informado en la literatura. El patron histopatologico es caracteristico y diferente a lo encontrado en otras leishmaniasis cutaneas. Inmunologicamente los hallazgos sobresalientes fueron hipergammaglobulinemia en 6/7 (85.71 por ciento) y ELISA positivo en 5/7 (71.42 por ciento). Se discuten las posibles correlaciones y se proponen criterios diagnosticos