RESUMO

Equine coital exanthema (ECE) is an infectious, venereally transmitted muco-cutaneous disease affecting mares and stallions, caused by equid alphaherpesvirus 3 (EHV3). Diagnostic tools for rapid identification of EHV3 are of primary importance to diminish the risk of EHV3 dissemination at the time of breeding. In the last years, it has been shown that the performance of the insulated-isothermal polymerase chain reaction (iiPCR) is comparable to virus isolation, nested PCR and real-time PCR (qPCR) in detecting pathogens of various animal species. Analytical sensitivity and specificity of the iiPCR were compared with a qPCR, using a plasmid containing the target region of the EHV3 glycoprotein G gene and an Argentinian EHV3 isolate (E/9283/07 C3A). In order to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the iiPCR, nucleic acids of 85 perineal and genital swabs (PGS) of mares and stallions were extracted by tacoTM mini and tested by both techniques. EHV3 was detected in 46 and 45 of the 85 PGS by the iiPCR and qPCR, respectively. There was almost perfect agreement between the two diagnostic methods (98.82%; 95% CI: 95.03-100%; κ = 0.98). The iiPCR had a limit of detection of 95.00% at 6 genome equivalents per reaction and a detection endpoint for viral DNA comparable to that of the qPCR, and did not react with six non-targeted equine pathogens. The iiPCR represents a sensitive and specific method for the rapid on-site diagnosis of EHV3 infection. Its routinely implementation in breeding facilities, and artificial insemination and embryo transfer centers, will contribute to prevent the dissemination of this venereal, highly contagious disease in horses.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Dispersal and exposure to amphibian chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, Bd) is not confined to the aquatic habitat, but little is known about pathways that facilitate exposure to wild terrestrial amphibians that do not typically enter bodies of water. We explored the possible spread of Bd from an aquatic reservoir to terrestrial substrates by the emergence of recently metamorphosed infected amphibians and potential deposition of Bd-positive residue on riparian vegetation in Cusuco National Park, Honduras (CNP). Amphibians and their respective leaf perches were both sampled for Bd presence and the pathogen was detected on 76.1% (35/46) of leaves where a Bd-positive frog had rested. Although the viability of Bd detected on these leaves cannot be discerned from our quantitative PCR results, the cool air temperature, closed canopy, and high humidity of this cloud forest environment in CNP is expected to encourage pathogen persistence. High prevalence of infection (88.5%) detected in the recently metamorphosed amphibians and frequent shedding of Bd-positive residue on foliage demonstrates a pathway of Bd dispersal between aquatic and terrestrial habitats. This pathway provides the opportunity for environmental transmission of Bd among and between amphibian species without direct physical contact or exposure to an aquatic habitat.

Assuntos

Assuntos

RESUMO

A survey of an emerging tuberculosis epidemic among the Yanomami Indians of the Amazonian rain forest provided a unique opportunity to study the impact of tuberculosis on a population isolated from contact with the tubercle bacillus for millennia until the mid-1960s. Within the Yanomami population, an extraordinary high prevalence of active tuberculosis (6.4% of 625 individuals clinically examined) was observed, indicating a high susceptibility to disease, even among bacille Calmette-Guérin-vaccinated individuals. Observational studies on cell-mediated and humoral immune responses of the Yanomami Indians compared with contemporary residents of the region suggest profound differences in immunological responsiveness to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Among the Yanomami, a very high prevalence of tuberculin skin test anergy was found. Of patients with active tuberculosis, 46% had purified protein derivative of tuberculosis reactions <10 mm; similarly 58% of recent bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccines exhibited skin test reactions <5 mm. The Yanomami also had higher titers of antibodies against M. tuberculosis glycolipid antigens (>70%) than the control subjects comprised of Brazilians of European descent (14%). The antibodies were mostly of the IgM isotype. Among the tuberculosis patients who also produced IgG antibodies, the titers of IgG4 were significantly higher among the Yanomami than in the control population. Although it was not possible to analyze T-cell responses or patterns of lymphokine production in vitro because of the remoteness of the villages from laboratory facilities, the results suggest that the first encounter of the Yanomami Indian population with tuberculosis engenders a diminished cell-mediated immune response and an increased production antibody responses, relative to other populations with extensive previous contact with the pathogen. These findings suggest that tuberculosis may represent a powerful selective pressure on human evolution that over centuries has shaped the nature of human immune responses to infection.

Assuntos

RESUMO

To explore sexually transmitted diseases and sexual behavior as risk factors for cervical cancer, we analyzed data from a population-based case-control study of breast and cervical cancer in Costa Rica. Data from 415 cases of cervical carcinoma in situ, 149 cases of invasive cervical cancer, and 764 controls were included in the analysis. Multivariate analysis showed that lifetime number of sex partners, first intercourse before age 15 years, number of livebirths, herpes simplex virus type 2 seropositivity, and serologic evidence of previous chlamydial infection were predictors of carcinoma in situ. Serologic evidence of previous syphilis was not associated with carcinoma in situ. Predictors for invasive cervical cancer included lifetime number of sex partners, first intercourse before age 15 years, number of livebirths, serologic evidence of previous syphilis, herpes simplex type 2 infection, and chlamydial infection. Cigarette smoking, socioeconomic status, self-reported history of sexually transmitted diseases, and douching were not associated with either carcinoma in situ or invasive cervical cancer.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Thirteen children with human immunodeficiency virus infection acquired perinatally and with varicella were identified. Clinical and epidemiologic information, including the use of varicella immune globulin and acyclovir, was obtained and testing for antibodies to varicella-zoster virus was done. The 13 children infected with human immunodeficiency virus had an uncomplicated clinical course, and many had a significant antibody response to varicella-zoster virus.

Assuntos

RESUMO

The development of quantitative single-cell immunoassays has provided a novel opportunity to demonstrate the isotype-specific immunoglobulin responses in normal and infected neonates. The reverse enzyme-linked immunospot assay was used to determine the number of immunoglobulin-secreting cells (IgSCs) in peripheral blood. Baseline numbers of IgSCs were established in 69 uninfected term and preterm infants within 5 days of birth; values above the 99th percentile were considered elevated. The IgSCs were also measured in 266 infants with proved or suspected infections or congenital anomalies. A subset of newborn infants was retested weekly. Few IgSCs (mostly IgMSCs) were detected within 5 days of birth in uninfected neonates, but by 1 month 77% had increased numbers of IgSCs, primarily IgASCs. Sixty-three (24%) of 266 study infants had increased IgSCs on initial sampling (predominantly IgMSCs); these included infants as immature as 25 to 27 weeks of gestational age; elevations in IgSCs were most frequent in infants with intrauterine infections. Increased numbers of IgSCs were uncommon in infants with early-onset sepsis in the first 5 days but were frequent by the second week, consistent with acquisition of infection near the time of delivery. We conclude that the presence of elevated numbers of IgSCs soon after birth may be a useful surrogate marker of untreated intrauterine infection. The development of predominantly IgASCs in the first month of life suggests postnatal exposure to common mucosal antigens.

Assuntos

RESUMO

O presente trabalho é uma analise retrospectiva de 218 casos de nutriçäo enteral monomérica realizada em pacientes de diversas enfermarias do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeiräo Preto no período de 1979 a 1988. A duraçäo média desse suporte nutricional foi de 24 dias, a média de idade dos pacientes de 47,6 anos sendo 77,5% do sexo masculino. Os diagnosticos mais comuns foram desnutriçäo por neoplasias, doenças intestinais inflamatorios, sindrome do intestino curto e pore alcoolismo. Houve ganho de peso em 67, 1% dos casos. Apos o uso da nutriçäo enteral monomerica, os valores de proteínas totais e albumina foram maiores que os iniciais, sendo que essa diferença foi mais acentuada naqueles pacientes que receberam a nutriçäo enteral por um período de tempo maior. As complicaçöes metabolicas foram as mais frequentes, no entanto apresentaram intensidade suficiente para interromper o suporte nutricional. A nutriçäo enteral monomerica, alem das facilidades na sua manipulaçäo e comntrole adequadoda oferta dos diferentes nutrientes, representou uma terapeutica dos pacientes que necessitam de suporte nutricional

Assuntos

RESUMO

We studied the prevalence of antibody to Herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) in 766 randomly selected Costa Rican women 25-59 years of age in a national household survey in 1984-1985. Overall, 97.1% were seropositive for HSV-1 and 39.4% for HSV-2. Only 1.1% of HSV-2 seropositive women gave a history of symptomatic genital herpes. HSV-2 virus antibody increased with age and with the number of lifetime sexual partners. HSV-2 seroprevalence among women who reported only 1 lifetime sexual partner was almost twice as high as the prevalence among women who denied sexual experience (30.5% vs. 17.7%) and reached 79.2% among women with greater than or equal to 4 partners. HSV-2 seroprevalence was lower among women whose partners used condoms: 28.9% for those who had used condoms for at least 2 years vs. 44.3% for those who never used condoms.

Assuntos

Assuntos

RESUMO

Calcium gluconate is irritating to soft tissues and can produce tissue necrosis and slough; Radiographs of the part following extravasation initially show only soft tissue swelling. A variable pattern of soft tissue calcification then develops in one to three weeks, and gradually is completely resorbed over several months' time. The cause of the soft tissue calcifications may be quite puzzling, if the incident of calcium gluconate extravasation has been overlooked.

Assuntos

Assuntos

Assuntos