Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 46(6):741-745, Nov-Dec, 2013http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0203-2013 INTRODUCTION ABSTRACT Introduction:The relationship between severe clinical manifestations of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and immune response profi les has not yet been clarifi ed, despite numerous studies on the subject. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between cytokine profi les and the presence of immunological markers associated with clinical manifestations and, particularly, signs of severity, as defi ned in a protocol drafted by the Ministry of Health (Brazil). Methods: We conducted a prospective, descriptive study between May 2008 and December 2009. This study was based on an assessment of all pediatric patients with VL who were observed in a reference hospital in Maranhão. Results: Among 27 children, 55.5% presented with more than one sign of severity or warning sign. Patients without signs of severity or warning signs and patients with only one warning sign had the highest interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels, although their interleukin 10 (IL-10) levels were also elevated. In contrast, patients with the features of severe disease had the lowest IFN-γ levels. Three patients who presented with more than two signs of severe disease died; these patients had undetectable interleukin 2 (IL-2) and IFN-γ levels and low IL-10 levels, which varied between 0 and 36.8pg/mL. Conclusions: Our results showed that disease severity was associated with low IFN-γ levels and elevated IL-10 levels. However, further studies with larger samples are needed to better characterize the relationship between disease severity and cytokine levels, with the aim of identifying immunological markers of active-disease severity.

Apresenta-se o resultado de um estudo de campo sobre a leishmaniose visceral autóctone da Ilha de São Luís. Com início em 2004 e término em 2006, a pesquisa visou conhecer aspectos epidemiológicos e clínicos determinantes da endemia. Foram analisados 299 casos autóctones, sendo 83,6% em menores de 9 anos e 54,1% do sexo masculino. O agravo ocorreu em todos os meses do ano com pico em junho. O coeficiente de incidência foi reduzido de 46,1 para 35,2 casos por 100.000 habitantes nos anos estudados. O diagnóstico teve confirmação laboratorial em 93,3% dos casos. O tratamento de escolha foi à base de N-metilglucamina com percentual de cura de 96,1%. A letalidade média foi de 3,7%. Em função da inexistência de ações mais sistemáticas de controle, propõe-se a criação de um programa a ser desenvolvido pelos municípios sob a coordenação da Secretaria de Estado da Saúde.

.3% of cases proving to be important areas for study. The western region, with a prevalence of 10.8/100,000 inhabitants, has a significantly higher proportion of cases than the northern, southern, and eastern regions (p < 0.05). The occurrence was higher in men with 89.3% of cases, and the male-to-female ratio was 8.4:1. The majority of patients were older than 20 years, lived in rural areas, and had farming or soil management as main occupation (73.8%). At CREDIP, 29 cases were diagnosed, of which 26 (89.6%) had multifocal manifestations. Mucous tissues were involved more (75.8%) frequently, followed by lymph nodes, skin, and lungs with 65.5%, 39% and 37.9 %, respectively. The diagnosis was made by combining direct examination, culture, and histopathology. Conclusions: The study shows the geographical distribution and the epidemiological and clinical aspects of paracoccidioidomycosis, revealing the significance of the disease to the State of Maranhão.

The high detection coefficient defines the town of Buriticupu, MA, as hyperendemic for leprosy. Active cases search is an important method for disease control.

The study was undertaken aiming at identifying bacteria from the county of Raposa in the state of Maranhão. The clinical sample was collected by using a swab and held in a Cary-Blair transport medium. Enrichment in alkaline peptone water, isolation in TCBS selective indicator medium and biochemical coding of species were used for laboratory processing. Fifty fisherman with age varying from 12-65 years took part on the study. Vibrio bacteria isolated in 21 subjects had been identified. There was a predominance of V. alginolyticus (66.6%) followed by V. parahaemolyticus (42.8%), and V. cholerae non-O1 (9.5%). Lesions predominated on lower limbs, presenting hyperhemia, swelling, secretion, and pain. Some species of gram-negative bacteria of the Serratia, Proteus, Escherichia, Citrobacter, Enterobacter associated to the vibrios were isolated, as well as other non-fermenting bacteria (30.9) and gram-positive bacteria of the genos Staphylococcus.