Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a zoonosis whose etiologic agent in the Americas is Leishmania infantum, and dogs are the main host. Research and innovation in diagnostic techniques are essential to improve the surveillance and control of VL in endemic areas. The present study investigates the profile of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by healthy dogs and by dogs infected by L. infantum to detect variations in the VOCs that may be used as biomarkers in the diagnosis of VL. In total, 36 dogs were selected from an endemic area and divided into three groups: G1, not infected with L. infantum; G2, infected without clinical signs of VL; and G3, infected with clinical signs of VL. To analyze the profiles of the VOCs emitted by dogs from the three groups, solid-phase microextraction (SPME) combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used. Variations were observed between the profiles of the VOCs emitted in the three groups studied, and they also differentiated infected animals with or without clinical signs. Six VOCs were identified as potential biomarkers of infection, with significant variations between healthy dogs (G1) and infected dogs (G2 + G3). The detection of variations between groups G2 and G3 suggested that the profiles of some VOCs may be related to the type of immune response and the parasite load of the infected dogs. This study demonstrated the possibility of analysis of VOCs as biomarkers of VL in diagnostic, clinical, and epidemiological work.

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Spectrometric techniques for the analysis of trace cadmium have developed rapidly due to the increasing need for accurate measurements at extremely low levels of this element in diverse matrices. This review covers separation and preconcentration procedures, such as electrochemical deposition, precipitation, coprecipitation, solid phase extraction, liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) and cloud point extraction (CPE), and consider the features of the their application with several spectrometric techniques.

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Techniques -(FERREIRA, S. L. C.; DE ANDRADE, J. B.; KORN, M. D. G. A.; PEREIRA, M. D. G.; LEMOS, V. A.; DOS SANTOS, W. N. L.; RODRIGUES, F. D. M.; SOUZA, A. S.; FERREIRA, H. S.; DA SILVA, E. G. P.; J. Hazard. Mater. 145 (2007) 3, 358-367; Inst. Chem., Univ. Fed.

BackgroundMany studies have investigated what could attract insects of medical importance and a crucial role has lately been attributed to human skin odors. Most of these researches have been concerned with mosquitoes, e.g., vectors of dengue and malaria. Little is known about volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from human skin odors and their effects on leishmania vectors.ObjectiveThe present study aimed to identify the VOCs from human skin that can be attractive to female anthropophilic phlebotomine sandflies.ResultsForty-two VOCs were identified from skin odors of 33 male volunteers, seven of which were tested in wind tunnel assays employing field-captured phlebotomine sandflies (75.4% identified as Lutzomyia intermedia). Hexane and (E)-oct-3-en-1-ol (octenol) were used as negative and positive controls, respectively. 2-Phenylacetaldehyde (hereafter called phenylacetaldehyde), 6-methylhept-5-en-2-one (also known as sulcatone), nonadecane and icosane were found to activate female phlebotomine sandflies, but only phenylacetaldehyde, 6-methylhepten-5-en-2-one and icosane elicited attraction responses.ConclusionsThese results suggest that phenylacetaldehyde, 6-methylhepten-5-en-2-one and icosane may be suitable candidates for attractiveness experimentation in the field which can be an important tool to develop strategies concerning human beings protection against phlebotomine sandflies bites and consequently against leishmaniasis.