Seroepidemiological aspects of human infection by Strongyloides stercoralis in Alfenas, southern Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Introduction: In most Strongyloides stercoralis infected individuals, nematoidosis occurs asymptomatically, but in immunocompromised patients, it can cause hyperinfection. Serological techniques seem to be a good alternative for detecting this parasite.

Methods: The frequency of seropositivity for strongyloidiasis in Alfenas, MG, was estimated using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay on blood samples, between May and August of 2015.

Leishmania infantum INFECTION IN DOGS FROM THE SOUTHERN REGION OF MINAS GERAIS STATE, BRAZIL.

Visceral leishmaniasis is a systemic and chronic disease and dogs are the main reservoir of the etiologic agent, Leishmania infantum (syn L. chagasi). A serological and molecular investigation of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) was performed in the municipality of Alfenas, located in the southern region of Minas Gerais, where the disease is not endemic.

[Occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. in a dairy cattle herd from Caçapava Municipality, São Paulo State, Brazil].

Occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. was investigated in a Brazilian dairy farm over the course of 1 year. Cattle of different aged were employed and divided into seven groups: 0-2 months; 2-4 months; 4-6 months; 6- 10 months; 10-16 months; 16-24 months; > 24 months.

Genotypic identification of Cryptosporidium spp. isolated from HIV-infected patients and immunocompetent children of São Paulo, Brazil.

Cryptosporidium isolates identified in fourteen stool samples, collected from five HIV-infected patients and nine immunocompetent children, living in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, were submitted to a molecular analysis using a nested PCR followed of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), for genetic characterization. The analysis was based on digestion with RsaI restriction enzyme of a DNA fragment amplified from the Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein (COWP) gene. Based on this analysis, four samples were identified as Cryptosporidium parvum, eight as Cryptosporidium hominis and two presented a profile that corresponded to Cryptosporidium meleagridis when compared to the standards used in the analysis.

Synthetic peptides as an antigenic base in an ELISA for laboratory diagnosis of schistosomiasis mansoni.

A pool of five synthetic peptides was used as an antigenic base in an ELISA (ELISA-Pp) for laboratory diagnosis of Schistosoma mansoni. Serum samples were obtained from individuals with acute (n=23) and chronic (n=30) schistosomiasis, with other parasitoses (n=39) or without parasitic infections (n=100). ELISA-Pp was compared with other immunoenzymatic methods for detection of IgM (IgM-ELISA) or IgG (IgG-ELISA) as well as an immunofluorescence test for detection of IgM antibodies (IgM-IFT).

[Serology as a diagnostic tool for surveillance and control of schistosomiasis in Holambra, São Paulo State, Brazil].

The present study aimed to evaluate the incorporation of the immunofluorescence test (IFT) with adult parasite paraffin sections as antigen substrate for the detection of IgM antibodies (IgM-IFT), as a diagnostic method in the schistosomiasis control program in the county (municipality) of Holambra, São Paulo State, Brazil. This city was selected for this study based on its low endemicity for schistosomiasis, the first cases having been reported in 1993, and because of the need to implement a control program with more sensitive diagnostic techniques. 202 individuals underwent IgM-IFT, with 48 serologically positive cases; of these, 28 were tested with the Kato-Katz technique, using three stool samples.

Characterization of a clone from an adult worm cDNA library selected with anti-Schistosoma mansoni human antibodies dissociated from immune complexes: a preliminary report.

Considering the scarcity of defined antigens, actually useful and reliable for use in the field studies, we propose an alternative method for selection of cDNA clones with potential use in the diagnosis of schistosomiasis. Human antibodies specific to a protein fraction of 31/32 kDa (Sm31/32), dissociated from immune complexes, are used for screening of clones from an adult worm cDNA library. Partial sequencing of five clones, selected through this strategy, showed to be related to Schistosoma mansoni: two were identified as homologous to heat shock protein 70, one to glutathione S-transferase, one to homeodomain protein, and one to a previously described EST (expressed sequence tag) of S.

Application of synthetic peptides in development of a serologic method for laboratory diagnosis of schistosomiasis mansoni.

The immunoreactivity of seven peptides synthesized from Schistosoma mansoni proteins, was evaluated by dot-blot and ELISA assays using two different sensitization methodologies. The best results were obtained on wells of the Costar 3590 microplates coated with peptides P1, P2, P3, P6, and P7 using conventional methodology. The signals increased considerably (p < 0.

Detection of Cryptosporidium sp. in non diarrheal faeces from children, in a day care center in the city of São Paulo, Brazil.

The protozoan Cryptosporidium sp. has been frequently detected in faeces from children with persistent diarrhoea. This work achieved to investigate an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis, in a day care center, attending children of high socio-economic level, between 0 and six years old.

Efficacy of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay as a diagnostic tool for schistosomiasis mansoni in individuals with low worm burden.

IgM-ELISA is an immunoenzymatic method useful for detection of IgM antibodies against a fraction of Schistosoma mansoni adult worm antigen (AWA) that is soluble in trichloroacetic acid (AWA-TCA). This method was applied to three groups of individuals with different clinical and epidemiological characteristics, and the results compared with those obtained by other diagnostic methods: immunofluorescence test for detection of IgM antibodies (IgM-IFT) or IgG antibodies (IgG-IFT), ELISA for detection of IgG antibodies (IgG-ELISA), and two parasitological methods, Kato-Katz and miracidium hatching. The IgM-ELISA presented a sensitivity of 98%, when the parasitologic fecal examination was defined as reference diagnostic method, and a specificity of 98 and 97.

Schistosomiasis mansoni: follow-up of control program based on parasitologic and serologic methods in a Brazilian community of low endemicity.

A field survey on schistosomiasis was carried out in 1998, in the municipality of Pedro de Toledo, a low endemic area in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. According to the parasitologic Kato-Katz method, the prevalence rate was 1.6%, with an infection intensity of 40.

[IgM-ELISA for diagnosis of schistosomiasis mansoni in low endemic areas].

An immunoenzymatic method for the detection of IgM antibodies (IgM-ELISA) against a fraction of Schistosoma mansoni adult worm antigen, soluble in trichloroacetic acid (TCA-soluble fraction), was evaluated for epidemiological purposes in low endemic areas for schistosomiasis. Blood samples on filter paper were collected from a population living in the municipality of Pedro de Toledo, São Paulo State, and submitted to IgM-ELISA. The results were compared to those obtained by the IgM-immunofluorescence test (IgM-IFT) and the Kato-Katz parasitological method.

Schistosoma mansoni heat shock protein 70 elicits an early humoral immune response in S. mansoni infected baboons.

A study was undertaken to search for DNA recombinant Schistosoma mansoni proteins responsible for eliciting an antibody response from the host at a very early phase after infection. A S. mansoni adult worm cDNA expression library was screened using pooled sera from baboons with four weeks of infection.

IgM-immunofluorescence test as a diagnostic tool for epidemiologic studies of Schistosomiasis in low endemic areas.

The high sensitivity and the ability to diagnose schistosomiasis in a very early phase after infection have indicated the detection of IgM antibodies to Schistosoma mansoni gut antigens by the immunofluorescence test (IgM-IFT) as a useful serological test for epidemiological studies in low endemic areas. When applied in a follow-up study for two years, higher rates of seroconversion from IFT negative to positive were observed during the summer months, suggesting seasonal transmission of schistosomiasis in the rural area of the municipality of Itariri (São Paulo, Brazil). In each survey, blood samples from about 600 schoolchildren were collected on filter paper and submitted to IgM-IFT.