Intestinal polyparasitism and levels of mucosal anthelmintic SIgA in children from endemic areas in Northeastern Brazil

The diagnostic of arbovirus-related obstetric complications in high-risk pregnancy and childbirth care is challenging, especially in endemic areas. We conducted a prospective study to track active or recent Zika (ZIKV), dengue (DENV), or chikungunya (CHIKV) virus infection among hospitalized pregnant women (PW) with obstetric complications in a hospital at the epicenter of Zika outbreak and ZIKV-related microcephaly in Brazil. Clinical data and blood samples were collected at enrollment and 10 days after the admission of study participants, between October 2018 and May 2019. Further clinical data were extracted from medical records. Samples were screened by molecular and serological tests. Out of 780 participants, 93.1% (95% CI: 91.1–94.7%) presented previous DENV exposure (IgG). ZIKV, CHIKV, and/or DENV laboratory markers of recent or active infection were detected in 130 PW, yielding a prevalence of 16.6% (95% CI: 14.2–19.5%); 9.4% (95% CI: 7.4–11.7%), 7.4% (95% CI: 5.7–9.7%), and 0.38% (95% CI: 0.1–1.2%) of CHIKV, ZIKV, and DENV infections, respectively. Most ZIKV infections were detected by molecular assays (89.6%), while CHIKV infections were detected by serology (95.9%). Our findings highlight the need for arbovirus infections screening in PW with obstetrical complications, potentially associated to these infections in endemic areas regardless of the signs or symptoms suggestive of arboviral disease.

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Increased detection of schistosomiasis with Kato-Katz and SWAP-IgG-ELISA in a Northeastern Brazil low-intensity transmission area

Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical ◽

10.1590/s0037-86822012000400019 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 45 (4) ◽

pp. 510-513 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Teiliane Rodrigues Carneiro ◽

Marta Cristhiany Cunha Pinheiro ◽

Sara Menezes de Oliveira ◽

Ana Lúcia de Paula Hanemann ◽

José Ajax Nogueira Queiroz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Serological Test ◽

Laboratory Diagnosis ◽

Elisa Test ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Serological Tests ◽

Predictive Values ◽

Transmission Area ◽

Elisa Technique ◽

Endemic Areas

INTRODUCTION: The laboratory diagnosis of schistosomiasis is based mainly on the detection of parasite eggs in stool samples through the Kato-Katz (KK) technique, reading one slide by test. However, a widely known limitation of parasitological methods is reduced sensitivity, particularly in low endemic areas. METHODS: To increase sensitivity, we conducted further slide readings from the same stool sample using the parasitological method associated with a serological test. We used the KK method (three slides) and the IgG anti-Schistosoma mansoni-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique to diagnose schistosomiasis in low endemic areas in the Brazilian State of Ceará. Fecal samples and sera from 250 individuals were analyzed. RESULTS: Sixteen percent and 47.2% of samples were positive in parasitological tests and serological tests, respectively. Parasitological methods showed that 32 (80%) individuals tested positive on the first slide, 6 (15%) on the second slide, and 2 (5%) on the third. The performance of the ELISA test in the diagnosis, using the KK method as diagnostic reference, showed a negative predictive value of 100%, with specificity and positive predictive values of 62.8% and 33.9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the increase from one to three slides analyzed per sample using the KK technique was shown to be a useful procedure for increasing the diagnostic sensitivity of this technique.

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Knowledge of the Population about Visceral Leishmaniasis Transmission in Endemic Areas near the Banks of the Mossoró River in Northeastern Brazil

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph120303343 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 3343-3357 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Camila de Amorim ◽

Sthenia Amóra ◽

Thaís Kazimoto ◽

Kalídia de Lima Costa ◽

Luanna Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Endemic Areas

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Studies on the Feeding Habits ofLutzomyia (Lutzomyia) longipalpis(Lutz & Neiva, 1912) (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) Populations from Endemic Areas of American Visceral Leishmaniasis in Northeastern Brazil

Journal of Tropical Medicine ◽

10.1155/2012/858657 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Margarete Martins dos Santos Afonso ◽

Rosemere Duarte ◽

José Carlos Miranda ◽

Lindenbergh Caranha ◽

Elizabeth Ferreira Rangel

Keyword(s):

Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

Feeding Habits ◽

Blood Feeding ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Sand Fly ◽

Lutzomyia Longipalpis ◽

Elisa Technique ◽

Endemic Areas ◽

Feeding Sources

The aim of this study was to identify potential blood feeding sources ofL. (L.) longipalpisspecimens from populations in Northeastern Brazil, endemic areas of American Visceral Leishmaniasis (AVL) and its correlation with the transmission ofL. (L.) i. chagasi. The ELISA technique was applied using bird, dog, goat, opossum, equine, feline, human, sheep, and rodent antisera to analyze 609 females, resulting in an overall positivity of 60%. In all municipalities, females showed higher positivity for bird followed by dog antiserum and sand fly specimens were also positive for equine, feline, human, sheep, goat, opossum, and rodent antisera. The finding for 17 combinations of two or three types of blood in some females corroborates the opportunistic habit of this sand fly species. The results demonstrating the association betweenL. (L.) longipalpisand opossum suggest the need for further evaluation of the real role of this synanthropic mammal in the eco-epidemiology of AVL.

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Awareness of visceral leishmaniasis and its relationship to canine infection in riverside endemic areas in Northeastern Brazil

Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical ◽

10.1590/0037-8682-0167-2014 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 47 (5) ◽

pp. 607-612 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Kalidia Felipe de Lima Costa ◽

Sthenia Santos Albano Amóra ◽

Camila Fernandes de Amorim Couto ◽

Celeste da Silva Freitas de Souza ◽

Luanna Fernandes Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Canine Infection ◽

Endemic Areas

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Antileishmanial Activity of Medicinal Plants Used in Endemic Areas in Northeastern Brazil

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2014/478290 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Aline Cavalcanti De Queiroz ◽

Thays de Lima Matos Freire Dias ◽

Carolina Barbosa Brito Da Matta ◽

Luiz Henrique Agra Cavalcante Silva ◽

João Xavier de Araújo-Júnior ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medicinal Plants ◽

Folk Medicine ◽

Aloe Vera ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Ruta Graveolens ◽

Chenopodium Ambrosioides ◽

Leishmanicidal Activity ◽

Pfaffia Glomerata ◽

Ldh Assay ◽

Endemic Areas

This study investigates the leishmanicidal activity of five species of plants used in folk medicine in endemic areas of the state of Alagoas, Brazil. Data were collected in the cities of Colonia Leopoldina, Novo Lino, and União dos Palmares, Alagoas state, from patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis (Leishmania amazonensis) who use medicinal plants to treat this disease. Plants extracts were tested at a concentration of 1–100 μg/mL in all experiments, except in an assay to evaluate activity against amastigotes, when 10 μg/mL was used. All plants extracts did not show deleterious activity to the host cell evidenced by LDH assay at 100, 10, and 1 μg/mL after 48 h of incubation. The plants extractsHyptis pectinata(L.) Poit,Aloe veraL.,Ruta graveolensL.,Pfaffia glomerata(Spreng.) Pedersen, andChenopodium ambrosioidesL. exhibited direct activity against extracellular forms at 100 μg/mL; these extracts inhibited growth by 81.9%, 82.9%, 74.4%, 88.7%, and 87.4%, respectively, when compared with promastigotes. The plants extractsH. pectinata, A. vera,andR. graveolensalso significantly diminished the number of amastigotes at 10 μg/mL, inhibiting growth by 85.0%, 40.4%, 94.2%, and 97.4%, respectively, when compared with control. Based on these data, we conclude that the five plants exhibited considerable leishmanicidal activity.

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Bancroftian filariasis in two urban areas of Recife, Brasil: the role of individual risk factors

Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo ◽

10.1590/s0036-46651995000300008 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 37 (3) ◽

pp. 224-233 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

M. de Fátima Militão de Albuquerque ◽

Mauro C Marzochi ◽

Ricardo A. de A. Ximenes ◽

M. Cintia Braga ◽

M. C. Maia Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Urban Areas ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Individual Characteristics ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Individual Risk ◽

Major Public Health Problem ◽

Bancroftian Filariasis ◽

Endemic Areas ◽

Individual Risk Factors

Bancroftian filariasis is spreading in towns of endemic areas as in Recife, northeastern Brazil, where it is a major public health problem. This paper deals with the prevalence of microfilaraemia and filarial disease in two urban areas of Recife, studying their association with individual characteristics and variables related to the exposure to the vectors. The parasitologic survey was performed through a "door-to-door" census and microfilaraemia was examined by the thick-drop technique using 45µl of peripheral blood collected between 20:00 and 24:00 o' clock. 2,863 individuals aged between 5 and 65 years were interviewed and submitted to clinical examination. Males aged between 15 and 44 years old presented the greatest risk of being microfilaraemic. Microfilaraemia was also significantly associated with no use of bednet to sleep. The risk of being microfilaraemic was greater among those who had lived in the studied areas for more than 5 years. The overall disease prevalence was 6.3%. Males presented the greatest risk of developing acute disease. The risk of developing chronic manifestations was also greater among males and increased with age. We found no association between time of residence, bednet use, microfilaraemia and acute and chronic disease. We may conclude that in endemic areas there are subgroups of individuals who has a higher risk of being microfilariae carriers due to different behaviours in relation to vector contact.

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