RESUMO
The epidemiology of the visceral leishmaniasis in the Americas is associated with both a natural and a domestic cycle. The existence of reproductively isolated populations of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva), and the scarcity of records of this species from natural habitats in areas where it has been associated with domestic habitats indicated that natural populations could be genetically distinct from domestic ones. Therefore, we compared the genetic structure and estimated the gene flow between L. longipalpis from domestic and peridomestic habitat and from an adjacent undisturbed natural environment along a 1.2-km transect. The analyses were performed on electrophoretic data from eight isozyme loci. The absence of fixed differences in the diagnostic loci Ak and Hk indicated that all specimens belonged to one of the two cryptic species identified in Venezuela. The average number of alleles per locus ranged from 2.0 to 2.9 and the average heterozygosity ranged from 7.8 to 13.4%. No differences were detected in the genetic structure of this species from domestic or peridomestic habitats and those trapped as far as 1.2 km from human dwellings. Nm, estimated from Wright's Fst, indicated that at least 208 individuals per generation migrated between the peridomestic habitat and a 1.2-km distant point to maintain the observed similarities in allelic frequencies. This high rate of gene flow indicated that this species has high migration rates between domestic and natural environments, and has the potential to transport for Leishmania from natural to domestic environments.
Assuntos
Genes de Insetos , Insetos Vetores/enzimologia , Leishmaniose Cutânea , Leishmaniose Visceral , Psychodidae/enzimologia , Adenilato Quinase/genética , Alelos , Animais , Arginina Quinase/genética , Feminino , Frequência do Gene , Glucose-6-Fosfato Isomerase/genética , Glicerolfosfato Desidrogenase/genética , Hexoquinase/genética , Insetos Vetores/classificação , Insetos Vetores/genética , Isocitrato Desidrogenase , Isoenzimas/genética , Leishmaniose Cutânea/epidemiologia , Leishmaniose Visceral/epidemiologia , Malato Desidrogenase/genética , Masculino , Psychodidae/classificação , Psychodidae/genética , Venezuela/epidemiologiaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) and cyclophosphamide (IVCy) in children with severe neuropsychiatric (NP) systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE). METHODS: We studied 7 consecutive pediatric patients with severe NPSLE. All patients were treated initially with IVMP and IVCy followed by monthly IVCy for at least 3 months, and then every 2 and/or 3 months according to clinical response. Prednisone was given at 1-2 mg/kg during the first month. Laboratory studies included routine laboratory tests, antinuclear antibodies, anti-dsDNA, antiphospholipid antibodies, and complement components C3 and C4. Neurodiagnostic studies included cerebrospinal fluid, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography scanning, single photon emission computed tomography and electroencephalography. RESULTS: Three patients had organic brain syndrome with psychosis, 3 had seizures, 1 stroke, 1 cerebral vasculitis, 1 optic neuritis, and 1 transverse myelitis. In 3 of these cases, nervous system involvement was the initial presentation of SLE. Five patients had 2 or more NP manifestations. Most of them were accompanied by general SLE activity. Anticardiolipin antibodies were positive in 3 patients and none was anticoagulated. All patients improved, 6 patients had a complete recovery and 1 patient recovered with minor neurological deficit. All but one improved significantly within the first week of combined IVMP and IVCy. The mean time of follow-up was 37 months (range 8-55). IVCy was well tolerated with minimal side effects. CONCLUSION: Early aggressive treatment with combined IVMP and IVCy followed by monthly IVCy may be an effective therapy for severe NPSLE in children.
Assuntos
Encefalopatias/tratamento farmacológico , Ciclofosfamida/uso terapêutico , Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico/diagnóstico , Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico/tratamento farmacológico , Transtornos Mentais/tratamento farmacológico , Metilprednisolona/uso terapêutico , Adolescente , Idade de Início , Anti-Inflamatórios/administração & dosagem , Anti-Inflamatórios/uso terapêutico , Encefalopatias/diagnóstico , Criança , Ciclofosfamida/administração & dosagem , Quimioterapia Combinada , Eletroencefalografia , Feminino , Humanos , Imunossupressores/administração & dosagem , Imunossupressores/uso terapêutico , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética , Transtornos Mentais/diagnóstico , Metilprednisolona/administração & dosagem , Tomografia Computadorizada de Emissão , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
The delimitation of cryptic species within the main vector of the American visceral leishmaniasis, Lutzomyia longipalpis, remains a topic of controversy. An analysis of genetic variability based on 8 enzymatic loci revealed fixed differences in 2 diagnostic loci, adenylate kinase (Ak) and hexokinase (Hk), between sympatric and allopatric populations at 4 localities in Venezuela. The absence of heterozygotes for these 2 loci within 1 locality indicates, for the first time, the presence of 2 sympatric reproductively isolated populations or cryptic species within L. longipalpis. Significant differences were also detected between these cryptic species in the allele frequencies of glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (Gpi) and malate dehydrogenase, decarboxylating (Me). One species showed mean heterozygosities that ranged between 6.6% and 6.7%, with 1.6-1.9 alleles detected per locus, while the other had mean heterozygosities that ranged from 4.3% to 6.3%, with 1.3-1.6 alleles per locus. Comparisons of isozyme profiles with published data suggests that 1 species is similar to the L. longipalpis described in Colombian and Brazilian populations, whereas the other has not been previously reported.