Publications by authors named "Manoel Sebastiao da Costa Lima-Junior"
Accuracy evaluation of diagnostic methods for visceral leishmaniasis in adult patients with and without HIV infection: Clinical management implications.
Acta Trop
December 2024
Article Synopsis
- Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) diagnosis is critical, especially in untreated cases, with the gold standard being bone marrow aspirate, which is invasive and not always feasible, particularly when HIV is involved.
- A study in Brazil examined 127 VL patients, with 37.8% also having HIV, comparing diagnostic tools like the rK39-ICT test, PCR, and IFAT against a reference standard of parasitological examination.
- Results showed that while rK39-ICT was effective in HIV-negative patients, it significantly underperformed in HIV-positive patients compared to PCR, highlighting the need for improved diagnostic strategies that consider the presence of HIV.
Feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukemia virus and Leishmania spp. prevalence in cats from shelters in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.
Rev Bras Parasitol Vet
July 2024
Diseases such as those caused by feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) represent health problems for cats. Feline leishmaniasis (FL) has been reported in several cities across the country. The objective was to carry out a clinical-epidemiological and laboratory study of FIV, FeLV and FL in cats from shelters in Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFConventional PCR provides Leishmania species characterization with even a small amount of biological material. Species-specific primers have been a widely used alternative; however, nonspecific amplifications are a reality, interfering with PCR efficiency. In endemic areas with multiple etiological agents for leishmaniasis, there is a requirement for higher specificity of primers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVisceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan Leishmania infantum, and dogs are considered the main urban hosts for future disease transmission. The first and most effective control against the spread of disease relies on identifying infected animals, followed by their treatment or sacrifice, to reduce the protozoan reservoirs. Despite the availability of various diagnostic tests for VL in dogs the development of a quick and accurate diagnosis is essential from a public health and ethical point of view.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Leishmaniasis is a highly prevalent neglected tropical disease. It mainly presents as two forms: cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis, the latter being the most severe form. However, asymptomatic cases of Leishmania infection result in an increase in the underreporting and transmission of the protozoan OBJECTIVES: In this study, articles on the incidence of asymptomatic Leishmania infection were systematically reviewed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: In the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, sand flies and cases of visceral (VL) and cutaneous (CL) leishmaniases have been reported in almost all municipalities. The aim of this study was to analyze the geographic distribution of VL and CL in relation the sand fly species found in the municipalities of Mato Grosso do Sul.
Methods: We analyzed VL and CL cases from 2001 to 2018 using data from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN).
Background: We aimed to determine the cellular recruitment (leukocyte rolling and adhesion) by which the , () , and ) species in the mesenteric microcirculation of BALB/c mice.
Methods: Five experimental groups were considered: group 1 (); group 2 (); group 3 (); group 4 (control group with PBS); group 5 (negative control group), analyzed 3, 6, 12, and 24 h after parasite inoculation.
Results: Infections by the different species caused an increase in the number of rolling leukocytes: a peak at 6 h; and a peak at 3 h.
The dog is the main domestic reservoir of Leishmania and font of infection for the vector, constituting an important host for the transmission of the parasite to humans. Non-invasive collection of swab samples for leishmaniasis diagnosis has been a promising alternative. This study analyzed the positivity of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the diagnosis of canine leishmaniasis in conjunctiva samples.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study aimed to examine the distribution of sand flies, specifically Lutzomyia longipalpis, in Dourados, Brazil, to assess leishmaniasis transmission risks.
- A total of 712 sand flies were collected over two periods, with 697 identified as Lu. longipalpis, revealing varying infestation rates influenced by rainfall and humidity.
- No sand flies tested positive for Leishmania, but the findings help identify environmental factors for effective control measures against sand flies.
Article Synopsis
- Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected parasitic disease characterized by symptoms like fever, spleen enlargement, and anemia, yet many individuals show no symptoms at all, complicating diagnosis.* -
- Current diagnostic methods are ineffective for asymptomatic cases, leading researchers to explore molecular techniques, particularly PCR, which have shown promise in identifying these cases through systematic review.* -
- Expert opinions highlight that qPCR targeting RNA could improve the diagnosis of asymptomatic VL, emphasizing the need for further research on various ribosomal RNA targets to shape public health policies.*
Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in HIV-positive individuals is a global health problem. HIV-Leishmania coinfection worsens prognosis and mortality risk, and HIV-Leishmania coinfected individuals are more susceptible to VL relapses. Early initiation of antiretroviral therapy can protect against Leishmania infection in individuals living in VL-endemic areas, and regular use of antiretrovirals might prevent VL relapses in these individuals.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study has estimated the risk of Leishmania transmission via blood transfusion in one of the largest blood banks in Northeastern Brazil, where visceral leishmaniasis is endemic. Five hundred blood samples from donors were tested for circulating Leishmania spp. DNA by real-time PCR.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a life-threatening infection remaining as one of the most neglected tropical diseases around the world. Despite scientific advances, an accurate diagnosis of VL remains a challenge. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) has emerged as a promising diagnostic tool with the possibility of becoming a point-of-care test to guide VL diagnosis and treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis article contains the data regarding species identification in human and canine clinical samples from a Brazilian region endemic for () spp., () and () , using a previously developed approach involving two qPCR assays (qPCR-ML and qPCR-ama). The data are related to the article "Real-time PCR to differentiate among () subgenus, () and () : application on Brazilian clinical samples" [1], and include also details of clinical evaluation/diagnosis of human patients and primer sequences used in the qPCR assays.
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- The study analyzed blood samples from 400 dogs infected with Leishmania and Ehrlichia using PCR to identify infections and assess clinical symptoms.
- PCR results indicated a high prevalence of Leishmania infection at 84.75%, while parasitological tests showed 63.25% for Leishmania and 31.75% for Ehrlichia.
- The findings suggest that conventional PCR is an effective diagnostic tool for canine visceral leishmaniasis and can be combined with other methods for accurate species identification in complex cases.
Transfusion-transmitted leishmaniasis has been a concern in regions endemic for the disease. Whether immediate or delayed, the risks posed by this mode of transmission call for careful assessment. The purpose of this study was to detect Leishmania infection in blood donors living in an endemic area and to investigate progression to the disease in these individuals.
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- Leishmaniasis encompasses various diseases with diverse clinical manifestations and is complicated by different agents, reservoirs, and vectors; cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) makes control challenging due to its unique transmission patterns.
- The study focuses on identifying Leishmania species in CL patients in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, using tissue samples from cases diagnosed between 2009 and 2013, employing PCR and RFLP for analysis.
- Out of 43 samples tested, 40 were identified, revealing Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis, and Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum as the primary agents, thus enhancing understanding of CL's
Article Synopsis
- Leishmania infantum causes visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the Americas, primarily transmitted by sandflies, especially Lutzomyia longipalpis, with domestic dogs as main reservoirs.
- While much research has focused on the genetic makeup of L. infantum, there has been limited study on how this relates to the genetic structure of the sandfly vectors.
- This study examines the population structure of L. infantum in three key VL-endemic regions in Brazil and explores its connection to the geographic structure of Lutzomyia longipalpis.
Article Synopsis
- Leishmaniasis is an emerging zoonotic disease caused by Leishmania parasites, now becoming more prevalent in urban areas.
- Researchers discovered Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis in two bats in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, marking the first detection of this parasite in bats in the state.
- The presence of these parasites in both rural and urban bats raises concerns for public health, highlighting the need for further studies on the relationship between bats and this disease, especially given bats' close proximity to human populations.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the clinical features and molecular types of Cryptococcus sp.-related bloodstream infections in a public hospital in Mato Grosso do Sul over a 14-year period, focusing on 48 diagnosed patients.
- The majority of patients (81.3%) had HIV/AIDS, with a high mortality rate of 72.9%, and the most commonly identified species was Cryptococcus neoformans.
- Molecular typing revealed genotypes VNI, VNII, and VGII, and all strains exhibited susceptibility to major antifungals, highlighting the need for early diagnosis and treatment to improve patient outcomes, especially in HIV-negative individuals.
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a severe chronic disease caused by Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum chagasi. Better knowledge on the effects caused by this disease can help develop adequate clinical management and treatment. Parasitological and immunohistochemical studies were performed golden hamsters Mesocricetus auratus infected with bone marrow from individuals with VL in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, central-west Brazil.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF[Identification of Leishmania species isolated in human cases in Mato Grosso do Sul, by means of the polymerase chain reaction].
Rev Soc Bras Med Trop
November 2009
Leishmaniases are endemic zoonoses in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul. Their etiological agents in this region of Brazil are Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi, Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis and Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a tool with high specificity and sensitivity for identifying Leishmania species.
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- * Researchers tested a recombinant protein, NcSRS2, as an antigen in an indirect ELISA to measure immune responses in sheep, comparing it to an existing method (IFAT).
- * Both tests showed high sensitivity and specificity (98.6% and 98.3% respectively), with strong agreement between them, indicating that rNcSRS2 is an effective tool for serological diagnosis of N. caninum in sheep.