Human chagas disease and migration in the context of globalization: some particular aspects.

Human Chagas disease originated in Latin America, being spread around the world in relation with multiple bioecological, sociocultural, and political factors. The process of the disease production and dispersion is discussed, emphasizing the human migration and correlated aspects, in the context of globalization. Positive and negative consequences concern the future of this trypanosomiasis, mainly in terms of the ecologic and sociopolitical characteristics of the endemic and nonendemic countries.

Strategy to assess the overall cytokine profile of circulating leukocytes and its association with distinct clinical forms of human Chagas disease.

Herein we have employed an alternative strategy to assess the cytokine patterns of circulating leukocytes and correlate dominant cytokine profiles with indeterminate-IND and cardiac-CARD clinical forms of Chagas disease. We have first calculated median percentages of cytokine-positive leukocytes of our study sample to establish, for each cytokine-positive cell population, the cut-off edge that would segregate 'low' and 'high' cytokine producers to build colour diagrams and draw a panoramic cytokine chart. Using this approach we demonstrated that most IND individuals presented a dominant regulatory cytokine profile, whereas CARD individuals displayed a dominant inflammatory cytokine pattern.

Etiological treatment during early chronic indeterminate Chagas disease incites an activated status on innate and adaptive immunity associated with a type 1-modulated cytokine pattern.

Pro-inflammatory immune response is usually associated with Chagas disease pathogenesis, but is also relevant to treatment effectiveness. Cross-sectional studies have suggested that this activated state may persist for years after therapeutic intervention. However, short-term longitudinal investigation has suggested that the Benznidazole treatment (Bz-treatment) leads to decreased immunological activation.

[The use of insecticide fumigant canister to protect an insectarium and its residual effect against triatomine bugs, in laboratory conditions].

An insecticide fumigant canister based on synthetic pyrethroids and dichlorvos was employed against cockroaches and ants which were invading an insectarium used for rearing triatominae. After removal of the Triatominae, the canister was activated and found to kill all the invading insects within 48 hours. Possible residual action against triatomines was then monitored by a 24-hour exposure of eggs, nymphs and adults of Triatoma infestans, Panstrongylus megistus and Rhodnius neglectus in the treated insectarium.