scholarly journals Multiclonal Leishmania braziliensis Population Structure and Its Clinical Implication in a Region of Endemicity for American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis

2004 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 508-514 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Schriefer ◽  
A. L. F. Schriefer ◽  
A. Góes-Neto ◽  
L. H. Guimarães ◽  
L. P. Carvalho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Structure ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Leishmania Braziliensis ◽  
Disease Manifestation ◽  
Disease Spectrum ◽  
Tegumentary Leishmaniasis ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Global Positioning ◽  
American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis ◽  
Strain Polymorphism

ABSTRACT In Corte de Pedra (CP), northeastern Brazil, Leishmania braziliensis causes three distinct forms of American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL). To test the hypothesis that strain polymorphism may be involved in this disease spectrum and accurately characterize the parasite population structure in CP, we compared one L. major, two non-CP L. braziliensis, one CP L. amazonensis, and 45 CP L. braziliensis isolates, obtained over a 10-year period from localized cutaneous, mucosal, and disseminated leishmaniasis patients, with randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Electrophoretic profiles were mostly unique across species. All typing protocols revealed polymorphism among the 45 CP L. braziliensis isolates, which displayed eight different RAPD patterns and greater than 80% overall fingerprint identity, attesting to the adequacy of the tools to assess strain variability in CP's geographically limited population of parasites. The dendrogram based on the sum of RAPD profiles of each isolate unveiled nine discrete typing units clustered into five clades. Global positioning showed extensive overlap of these clades in CP, precluding geographic sequestration as the mechanism of the observed structuralization. Finally, all forms of ATL presented a statistically significant difference in their frequencies among the clades, suggesting that L. braziliensis genotypes may be accompanied by specific disease manifestation after infection.

scholarly journals A multi-approach analysis of the genetic diversity in populations of Astyanax aff. bimaculatus Linnaeus, 1758 (Teleostei: Characidae) from Northeastern Brazil

2008 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 621-630 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa de Carvalho Cayres Pamponet ◽  
Paulo Luiz Souza Carneiro ◽  
Paulo Roberto Antunes de Mello Affonso ◽  
Viviam Souto Miranda ◽  
Juvenal Cordeiro Silva Júnior ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Structure ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Main Channel ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Dam Reservoir ◽  
Effective Barrier ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Genetic Patterns ◽  
Structure Index

Few reports are available about the ichthyofauna of typical semi-arid rivers, although the regional diversity has been constantly threatened by human activities, mainly related to impoundment and construction of dams. The goal of the present work was to evaluate using different methods, the population genetic structure of a characin fish, Astyanax aff. bimaculatus, widespread throughout hydrographic basins of Bahia, Northeastern Brazil. Morphological (meristic and morphometric data), cytogenetic (karyotype and Ag-NOR), and molecular (RAPD and SPAR) analyses were carried out in specimens collected upstream and downstream of Pedra Dam, in the main channel of Contas River (Contas River Basin), and in the Mineiro stream, which belongs to the adjacent Recôncavo Sul basin. Few external differences were detected among populations, where the individuals collected upstream of Pedra Dam were slightly larger than the others. Cytogenetic data also showed a similar karyotypic pattern (2n=50; 6m+28sm+12st+4a; FN= 96) and NORs located on the short arms of up to two chromosome pairs, with numerical inter- and intra-populational variation. Nonetheless, RAPD and SPAR analyses differentiated reliably the three populations, revealing striking differences in the allele frequencies among the localities studied and a significant difference in population structure index (Fst=0.1868, P<0.0001). The differences between populations within a same river were as significant as those between distinct hydrographic basins, indicating that the dam/reservoir represents an effective barrier to gene flow. Additionally, environmental peculiarities from each locality are also believed to influence the genetic patterns detected herein. On the other hand, the similarity between samples from Contas River and Recôncavo Sul basins could be related to a common evolutionary history, since both basins are geographically close to each other. Finally, the present study shows that a multi-approach analysis is particularly useful in identifying the population structure of widely distributed species and to evaluate the impacts of human activities on natural fish populations.

scholarly journals Disseminated Leishmaniasis by Leishmania viannia Subgenus: A Series of 18 Cases in Southeastern Brazil

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Vernal ◽  
Natalia A. De Paula ◽  
Ciro M. Gomes ◽  
Ana Maria Roselino
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Type ◽  
Enzymatic Digestion ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Body Parts ◽  
Clinical Form ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Tegumentary Leishmaniasis ◽  
American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis ◽  
Polymerase Chain

Abstract Background.  Disseminated leishmaniasis (DL) is an emerging clinical form of American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) that occurs mainly in Northeastern Brazil. This study describes 18 cases where DL has not yet been reported. Methods.  Disseminated leishmaniasis cases were extracted from ATL recorded cases between 1987 and March 2015. Disseminated leishmaniasis identification was based on ≥10 mixed-type lesions, located in ≥2 body parts. Results.  Eighteen (5.4%) patients were identified as DL. Polymerase chain reaction followed by enzymatic digestion confirmed Leishmania viannia subgenus in 17 patients; amastigotes forms were identified in another one. Conclusions.  Considering that DL diagnosis and management is challenging, clinicians must be aware of this emerging clinical form of the disease.

Identification of Serine Proteases from Leishmania braziliensis

2007 ◽  
Vol 62 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 373-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Herbert L. M. Guedes ◽  
João M. Rezende Neto ◽  
Mayra A. Fonseca ◽  
Cristiane M. C. Salles ◽  
Bartira Rossi-Bergmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Serine Protease ◽  
Serine Proteases ◽  
Leishmania Braziliensis ◽  
Ester Hydrochloride ◽  
Chloromethyl Ketone ◽  
Chymotrypsin Inhibitor ◽  
Optimal Activity ◽  
Tegumentary Leishmaniasis ◽  
American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis ◽  
Aqueous Detergent

Leishmania (V.) braziliensis is one of the most important ethiologic agents of the two distinct forms of American tegumentary leishmaniasis (cutaneous and mucosal). The drugs of choice used in leishmaniasis therapy are significantly toxic, expensive and are associated with frequent refractory infections. Among the promising new targets for anti-protozoan chemotherapy are the proteases. In this study, serine proteases were partially purified from aqueous, detergent and extracellular extracts of Leishmania braziliensis promastigotes by aprotinin-agarose affinity chromatography. By zymography, the enzymes purified from the aqueous extract showed apparent activity bands of 60 kDa and 45 kDa; of 130 kDa, 83 kDa, 74 kDa and 30 kDa from the detergent extract; and of 62 kDa, 59 kDa, 57 kDa, 49 kDa and 35 kDa from the extracellular extract. All purified proteases exhibited esterase activity against Nα-benzoyl-l-arginine ethyl ester hydrochloride and Nα-p-tosyl-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (serine protease substrates) and optimal activity at pH 8. 0. Proteases purified from the aqueous and extracellular extracts were effectively inhibited by benzamidine (trypsin inhibitor) and those from the detergent extract were inhibited by N-tosyl-l-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (chymotrypsin inhibitor) indicating that all these enzymes are serine proteases. These findings indicate that L. braziliensis serine proteases display some biochemical similarities with L. amazonensis serine proteases, demonstrating a conservation of this enzymatic class in the Leishmania genus. This is the first study to report the purification of a serine protease from Leishmania braziliensis.

scholarly journals Photodynamic Therapy for the Treatment of American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis: Evaluation of Therapies Association in Experimentally Infected Mice With Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 274-282
Author(s):  
Roberta Ayres Ferreira do Nascimento Volpe ◽  
Taisa Rocha Navasconi ◽  
Vanessa Nesi dos Reis ◽  
Noboru Hioka ◽  
Tânia Cristina Alexandrino Becker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Photodynamic Therapy ◽  
Light Emitting Diode ◽  
Leishmania Amazonensis ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Volume Data ◽  
Tegumentary Leishmaniasis ◽  
Long Term Treatment ◽  
Red Led ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis

Introduction: American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) is a zoonotic disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania that affects the skin and mucous membrane. Currently, the available drugs for the treatment are injectable, with side effects, long-term treatment regimen and there is the possibility of drug resistance. Thus, alternative therapies have been tested, including photodynamic therapy (PDT). We evaluated the efficacy of PDT on its own and associated with the prescribed ATL treatment. Methods: BALB/c mice were infected with Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis and divided into 6 groups: Gluc+PDT, treated with Glucantime® and photodynamic therapy (PDT) with methylene blue (MB)/red LED (light-emitting diode); Gluc, treated with Glucantime®; PDT, treated with PDT with MB/red LED; Ampho+PDT, treated with amphotericin and PDT with MB/red LED; Ampho, treated with amphotericin; and control, which were infected but not treated. Two treatment cycles were performed. After 165 days of infection, the parasite load was determined. Results: Statistical differences were not found (P>0.05) between measures of volume and thickness of the infected footpads in the treated groups when compared with the control group. However, there was a significant reduction (P<0.05) in the parasitic load of the popliteal lymph nodes of the Gluc+PDT, Gluc, PDT and Ampho groups when compared to the control group. In the histological analysis of the infected footpads, the Gluc+PDT group presented a smaller amount of amastigote nests and lower intensity of the mononuclear infiltrate when compared to the Gluc and PDT groups. Conclusion: The results showed that although there is no significant difference in the evaluations of footpad size (thickness and volume), there is a downward measurement tendency in the Gluc+PDT group, as it can be observed by volume data and corroborated by parasite negative load.

scholarly journals Cytokine profile in Montenegro skin test of patients with localized cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis

2008 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 333-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcia Ferraz Nogueira ◽  
Hiro Goto ◽  
Mírian Nacagami Sotto ◽  
Luiz Carlos Cucé
Keyword(s):  
Skin Test ◽  
Positive Response ◽  
Cell Mediated Immunity ◽  
Ifn Gamma ◽  
Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽  
Tegumentary Leishmaniasis ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis ◽  
Parasite Leishmania

American tegumentary leishmaniasis presents as two major clinical forms: localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL) and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL). The immune response in leishmaniasis is efficiently evaluated by the response to Leishmania antigen through the Montenegro skin test (MST). Both LCL and MCL present positive response to MST, indicating that the patients present cell-mediated immunity against the parasite - Leishmania. In spite of the presence of immunity in MCL, this is not sufficient to stop disease progression and prevent resistance to treatment. In this study we demonstrated interleukin (IL) 2, 4, 5 and interferon (IFN) gamma expression in biopsies of MST of ten patients with American tegumentary leishmaniasis. The obtained results were compared between LCL (n = 5) and MCL (n = 5) patients. The MST of MCL patients displayed a higher expression of IL-2, IL-4 and IL-5, in comparison to LCL. There was no significant difference in IFN-gamma expression between groups. The obtained results suggest the role of IL-4 and IL-5 in the maintenance of the immunopathogenic mechanism of the destructive lesions that characterize MCL.

scholarly journals Population structure of Gobiidae in a tropical urban estuary

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 381-390
Author(s):  
André Luiz Ramos Holanda de Andrade ◽  
Susmara Silva Campos ◽  
Simone Ferreira Teixeira
Keyword(s):  
Population Structure ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Sampling Station ◽  
Length Relationship ◽  
Representative Species ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Density And Biomass ◽  
Relationship Of

As spatiotemporal variations in estuaries affect the population structure of species, the study aimed to analyze the distribution of species of the family Gobiidae in the Capibaribe River's estuary city of Recife (northeastern Brazil). Sampling was performed bi-monthly from February 2009 to December 2012 at two sampling stations. The weight-length relationship of the species was determined using potential regression analysis. Density and biomass values were determined for each species per sampling station and season. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare spatial and seasonal differences in abundance. A non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination was used to assess changes in species composition. Seven hundred eighty-eight individuals were caught. The most representative species of Gobiidae was Ctenogobius boleosoma, followed by Evorthodus lyricus and Gobionellus oceanicus. The relationship between total weight (TW) and standard length (SL) was potential and significant for both C. boleosoma (TW = 0.04SL2.1815) and E. lyricus (TW = 0.0272SL2.795), and both exhibited negative allometric growth. The analysis of the main species' spatial variation demonstrated a significant difference in the number of individuals for C. boleosoma (U = 528; p = 0.000005) and E. lyricus (U = 312; p = 0.000000). No significant difference in abundance was found between the dry and rainy season for either C. boleosoma (U = 1052.2; p = 0.4659) or E. lyricus (U = 1054; p = 0.4726). The two most abundant species have similar habits and customarily inhabit stressful environments. Ctenogobius boleosoma and E. lyricus are residents of the Capibaribe River's estuary, and both move to regions near the outfall of the river in the rainy season.

Clinical features and therapeutic response in adult and pediatric patients with American tegumentary leishmaniasis in Rio de Janeiro

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiana C R Senna ◽  
Maria Inês F Pimentel ◽  
Liliane F A Oliveira ◽  
Marcelo R Lyra ◽  
Mauricio N Saheki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Features ◽  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Therapeutic Response ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Healing Time ◽  
The Body ◽  
Reference Centre ◽  
Tegumentary Leishmaniasis ◽  
American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis

Abstract Background American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) is a neglected disease with wide territorial distribution. Knowledge is scarce in children and adolescents. This study aims to compare the clinical features and response to antimony treatment in pediatric and adult patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis. Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed with 659 patients who attended a reference centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 2000 to 2015. The pediatric cohort consisted of 131 (20%) patients and the adult cohort consisted of 528 (80%) patients. Results The epidemiological profile, antimony therapeutic response and incidence of adverse events (AE) were different in the pediatric cohort compared with the adult cohort. Mucosal form was less frequent in the pediatric cohort (RR:0.49, p=0.011). Lesions in the head, neck and trunk were more frequent in the pediatric cohort (RR:1.49, p=0.043). The effectiveness of antimony treatment was superior in the pediatric cohort (88.3% vs 76.6%) with a shorter healing time (RR:0.49, p=0.009). Pediatric patients had lower proportions of moderate to severe AE compared with adults (RR:0.45, p=0.027). Clinical AE predominated in the adult cohort (RR:0.40, p=0.000) and laboratory AE in the pediatric cohort (RR:1.50, p=0.023). Conclusions This study adds to the body of knowledge on differences that exist between different age groups in ATL.

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