Panton-Valentine leucocidin arises from the combination of one S component (LukS-PV) with one F component (LukF-PV), whereas y-haemolysin comprises two S components (HlgA and HlgC) with one F component HlgB. The intravitreal injection of rabbit eye with the six combinations (S + F) of channel-forming leucotoxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 49775 induced acute inflammatory reactions depending on time and doses of toxins. These reactions involved posterior chamber as well as anterior chamber and conjunctiva, eyelids and annexes. Histological examination confirmed the involvement of eye tissues and the disruption of the retinal barrier. The lesions began only 4 h after injections and persisted for at least 5 days. Clinical and biological effects of each leucotoxin were modulated by the speed of onset and intensity of inflammation and necrosis, leading to a functional classification according to the severity of the lesions (HlgA + LukF-PV > HlgA + HlgB 3 LukS-PV + HlgB 3 LukS-PV + LukF-PV > HlgC + HlgB 3 HlgC + LukF-PV). Moreover, N-acetyl p-D glucosaminidase assays on crude extracts of vitreous revealed granules and granule secretions 'from polymorphonuclear cells with levels according the above classification. These results show that channel-forming leucotoxins have a very significant inflammatory activity. As most S. aureus strains produce two or even six leucotoxins depending on the production of Panton-Valentine leucocidin, these compounds could be considered to be virulence factors.

IIntroduction: Garlic has a wide range of actions, including antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiprotozoal and anthelmintic actions. This antiparasitic activity has been attributed to allicin, which is the main constituent of garlic. The present study aimed to investigate the in vitro activity of allicin on the tegument of adult Schistosoma mansoni worms using scanning electron microscopy. Methods: Swiss Webster mice were infected with S. mansoni cercariae (100 per mouse) and sacrificed 50 days later to acquire the adult worms. These worms were collected by perfusion and placed in RPMI medium 1,640 at 37°C before transferring to RPMI media containing 0 (control), 5, 10, 15 and 20mg/mL of allicin, where they were incubated for 2h. The worms were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde solution, washed twice, post-fixed in osmium tetroxide, washed twice and then dehydrated with ascending grades of ethanol. The samples were air-dried, mounted on stubs, gold coated in an ion sputtering unit and viewed using a scanning electron microscope. Results: A concentration of 5mg/mL caused wrinkling in the tegument; a concentration of 10mg/ mL resulted in changes to tubercles and loss or modification of spines. With 15 and 20mg/mL increasing damage to the tegument could be seen, such as vesicle formation and the presence of ulcers. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate the effect of allicin on adult S. mansoni worms and indicate that most of the changes occur at concentrations greater than that normally indicated for treatment.

Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus obtained from a Brazilian university hospital were characterized in relation to resistance to gentamicin and related aminoglycosides. Thirty‐six isolates were susceptible to methicillin (MSSA) and 14 were resistant (MRSA). All isolates were sensitive to nucleic acid‐binding compounds. All MRSA isolates and one MSSA isolate were demonstrated to be resistant to gentamicin and were coincidentally resistant to amikacin, kanamycin, neomycin and tobramycin. Among the gentamicin sensitive MSSA isolates, five isolates were found to be resistant only to kanamycin/neomycin. The resistance to gentamicin (and related aminoglycosides: kanamycin and tobramycin) must be due to AAC(6′)‐APH(2″) activity. As these isolates also showed resistance to neomycin, they must carry an additional genetic element, probably the one responsible for APH(3′)III activity, which accounts for the high level of resistance to kanamycin and to amikacin. The resistance to kanamycin/neomycin in the gentamicin sensitive isolates could not be attributed to the AAD(4′)(4″) activity because of the tobramycin sensitivity, and so could be ascribed to the APH(3′)III activity. Curing and transfer experiments, as well as electrophoresis procedures, indicate that gentamicin resistance in Staph. aureus strains here studied has, characteristically, chromosomal localization.

a b s t r a c tThis study evaluated the microbiological quality of 180 lettuce samples (Lactuca sativa) of the iceberg variety from different cropping systems and examined the efficacy of two sanitizers in reducing the bacterial counts. The results showed high contamination by mesophilic aerobic bacteria in traditionally grown and organically grown samples, which also possessed thermotolerant coliforms above the recommended levels in 66% and 80% of samples, respectively. Salmonella sp. was not detected in any of the analyzed samples. Traditionally grown and organically grown samples also exhibited a high frequency of intestinal parasites, including the pathogenic Taenia sp. and the Entamoeba histolytica species. In contrast, only 20% of hydroponically grown lettuce samples were contaminated with parasites. Sodium hypochlorite and acetic acid at concentrations of 100 mg L À1 and 1%, respectively, were effective in reducing bacterial counts, even in samples with high levels of contamination.

As diversas enteroparasitoses podem ser veiculadas mediante alimentos e água contaminados por cistos e oocistos de protozoários e ovos de helmintos. Além disso, as mãos do homem constituem-se como um dos vetores do processo de contaminação dos alimentos. Assim, o presente estudo tem por objetivo traçar o perfil parasitológico dos manipuladores de alimentos do Restaurante Universitário (RU) e do Refeitório Universitário Lauro Wanderley (RULW), ambos de uma Universidade Pública do Estado da Paraíba. Este estudo contou com uma amostra de 67 manipuladores de alimentos, sendo desenvolvido em três etapas. Durante a primeira etapa, aplicou-se uma ficha epidemiológica. Na segunda, o material fecal foi analisado pela técnica de Hoffmann, Pons e Janner. A terceira etapa consistiu na entrega dos laudos para a nutricionista responsável e na realização de palestras educativas. Mediante exames coproparasitológicos, constatou-se que 52% dos manipuladores investigados em ambos os restaurantes estavam parasitados, particularmente com espécies de transmissão fecal-oral e por geohelmintos. O perfil parasitológico encontrado foi o seguinte: Endolimax nana (27%), Entamoeba histolytica/E. dyspar (10%), Entamoeba coli (9%), Iodamoeba butschlii (1%), Strongyloides stercoralis (2%), Ancylostomidae (1%), Ascaris lumbricoides (1%) e Trichuris trichiura (1%). Portanto, faz-se necessária a adoção de capacitações específicas aos trabalhadores para a realização de procedimentos sanitários adequados. DESCRITORES: Enteroparasitoses. Manipuladores de alimentos. Protozoários.Os parasitos intestinais ainda constituem um dos mais sérios problemas de saúde pública, afetando cerca de 3,5 milhões de pessoas em todo o mundo (3).

Introduction: S. aureus is of great importance to public health due to its pathogenicity. This study aimed to evaluate lipase production by S. aureus isolates from different sources. Methodology: Lipolytic activity was determined using Tween-Calcium agar (48 hours; 35°C). Results: Eighty-six percent of the isolates from human wounds were positive for lipase production. The frequencies of isolates positive for lipase production were 33.3% from cow udders, 15.4% from the nasal cavities of cattle, 82.9% from ricotta cheeses, and 100% and 91.7% from meat-and vegetable-contact surfaces, respectively. Conclusion: The production of lipase varied among the isolates according to their source.

Thirty-eight nontoxigenic strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae isolated between 1987 and 1992 from clinical specimens of French patients were typed by biotyping, antibiograms, bacteriophage typing, ribotyping, and restriction analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Excellent correlation occurred between the genotypes defined by PFGE SfiI profiles or by ribotype BstEII profiles. Genotyping revealed seven genotype patterns among the 26 biotype mitis isolates, five among the nine biotype gravis isolates, and three among the three biotype belfanti isolates. Phage typing was nonreactive for nine of the 38 isolates. A combination of all the typing methods led to the identification of 19 different types of Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

RESUMOAs enteroparasitoses são consideradas um importante problema de saúde pública e acometem principalmente as crianças, por estas não terem hábitos adequados de higiene e pelo sistema imunológico ainda ser imaturo. No Brasil, o desenvolvimento socioeconômico e as condições sanitárias são muito precárias, o que contribui para o aumento das doenças parasitárias. Portanto, este estudo teve como objetivo pesquisar a presença de enteroparasitos em crianças, verificar a ocorrência de estruturas como ovos e larvas de helmintos em elementos sanitários e promover medidas educativas de higiene e prevenção em creches do município de João Pessoa. Para a execução deste trabalho foram aplicados questionários epidemiológicos e realizadas atividades lúdicas para as crianças das creches e seus responsáveis, voltadas para educação preventiva. Obteve-se 67 amostras fecais de crianças, o exame coproparasitológico demonstrou que 37 (55,2%) apresentaram positividade para a presença de pelo menos uma espécie de parasitose intestinal. O perfil enteroparasitológico traçado foi: Ascaris lumbricoides 10 (16,1%); Trichuris trichiura 4 (6,4%); Ancylostomatidae 1 (1,6%); Enterobius vermicularis 1 (1,6%); Giardia lamblia 11 (17,7%); Endolimax nana 21 (33,9%); Entamoeba histolytica/dispar 2 (3,2%); Entamoeba coli 11 (17,7%); Iodamoeba butschlii 1 (1,6%). Das 52 amostras de sanitários analisadas, nenhuma apresentou contaminação por enteroparasitos. Com isso, constatou-se que não havia negligência quanto à limpeza dos sanitários das creches, logo, esse não era o principal meio de contaminação das crianças. Se faz necessário a adoção de campanhas educativas relacionadas à higiene pessoal e à correta manipulação dos alimentos nas comunidades. Palavras-Chave:Crianças. Enteroparasitos. Sanitários. ABSTRACTIntestinal parasites are considered an important public health problem and mainly affects children, because these don't have adequate hygiene habits and due to low immunity. In Brazil, socioeconomic development and sanitary conditions are very poor, which contributes to the increase of parasitic diseases. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the presence of intestinal parasites in children, check the occurrence of structures like eggs and larvae of helminths in sanitary elements and promote educational measures of hygiene and prevention in a nursery in the city of João Pessoa. For the execution of this work epidemiological questionnaires were applied and held recreational activities for the children's daycare and your parents, directed to preventive education. Were obtained 67 Fecal samples from children, the parasitological examination showed that 37 (55,2%) they were positive for the presence of at least one species of intestinal parasitoses.The parasitological tracing entire profile was: Ascaris lumbricoides 10 (16,1%); Trichuris trichiura 4 (6,4%); Ancylostomatidae 1 (1,6%); Enterobius vermicularis 1 (1,6%); Giardia lamblia 11 (17,7%); Endolimax nana 21 (33,9%); Entamoeba histolytica/dispar 2 (3,2%); Entamoeba coli 11 (17,7%); Iodamoeba but...