Leishmaniases are neglected tropical diseases and Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum and Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis are the most important causative agents of leishmaniases in the New World. These two parasite species may co-circulate in a given endemic area but their interactions in the vector have not been studied yet. We conducted experimental infections using both single infections and co-infections to compare the development of L. (L.) infantum (OGVL/mCherry) and L. (V.) braziliensis (XB29/GFP) in Lutzomyia longipalpis and Lutzomyia migonei. Parasite labelling by different fluorescein proteins enabled studying interspecific competition and localization of different parasite species during co-infections. Both Leishmania species completed their life cycle, producing infective forms in both sand fly species studied. The same happens in the co infections, demonstrating that the two parasites conclude their development and do not compete with each other. However, infections produced by L. (L.) infantum reached higher rates and grew more vigorously, as compared to L. (V.) braziliensis. In late-stage infections, L. (L.) infantum was present in all midgut regions, showing typical suprapylarian type of development, whereas L. (V.) braziliensis was concentrated in the hindgut and the abdominal midgut (peripylarian development). We concluded that both Lu. migonei and Lu. longipalpis are equally susceptible vectors for L. (L.) infantum, in laboratory colonies. In relation to L. (V.) braziliensis, Lu. migonei appears to be more susceptible to this parasite than Lu. longipalpis. Leishmaniases are important parasitic diseases, causing serious medical problems in many countries, as they rank in the top-three list of neglected tropical diseases caused by protists 1. The causative agents, flagellates of the genus Leishmania (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae), subgenera Leishmania and Viannia, are transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) 2. In Brazil, Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum and Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis are the most important causative agents of leishmaniases in humans 3. L. (V.) braziliensis causes a typical cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), which may progress to mucosal disease, whereas L. (L.) infantum infections is responsible for a life-threatening form of the disease-visceral leishmaniasis (VL). These two parasite species also differ in their development in the sand fly vector; both colonize the sand fly midgut, but only L. (V.) braziliensis was documented to colonize the hindgut (peripylarian development) 4 .

Background: Various vector-borne pathogens (VBPs) affect dogs worldwide, with their diversity and force of infection being usually higher in the tropics. Cross-sectional studies have been conducted to investigate the prevalence of VBPs in dogs, but data from longitudinal studies are scarce. Herein, we assessed the prevalence and the year-crude incidence (YCI) of Leishmania spp. and other VBPs in privately-owned dogs from two geographical regions of Brazil.Methods: A total of 823 dogs were initially screened for Leishmania spp. by both serology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). From the negatives, 307 (103 from São Joaquim de Bicas, Minas Gerais, and 204 from Goiana, Pernambuco) were randomly selected for the longitudinal study. These dogs were tested for various VBPs at baseline, after 8 and 12 months.Results: Out of 823 dogs initially screened, 131 (15.9%) were positive for Leishmania spp. Out of the 307 dogs enrolled in the longitudinal study, 120 (39.1%) were lost for different reasons (e.g. animal death, owner decision, and lost to follow-up). In São Joaquim de Bicas, the baseline prevalence and YCI were as follows: 16.5% and 7.1% for Anaplasma spp.; 81.6% and 100% for Babesia spp.; 0% and 1.3% (only one faint positive) for Dirofilaria immitis; 37.9% and 22.9% for Ehrlichia spp.; 19.5% and 43.8% for Leishmania spp. In Goiana, the baseline prevalence and YCI were as follows: 45.1% and 38.3% for Anaplasma spp.; 79.9% and 96.0% for Babesia spp.; 36.3% and 39.8% for D. immitis; 64.7% and 58.5% for Ehrlichia spp.; 14.7% and 19.6% for Leishmania spp. Anti-Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies were not detected in any of the samples tested herein. The prevalence and YCI of Anaplasma spp., D. immitis and Ehrlichia spp. were significantly higher in Goiana. In contrast, the YCI of Leishmania spp. infection was significantly higher in São Joaquim de Bicas. Conclusions:We confirmed a high prevalence and YCI of various VBPs among privately-owned dogs in two geographical regions of Brazil. Our data also indicate that the risk of infection varies significantly for individual VBPs and between the regions, which may be related to several factors that are still poorly understood.

Several studies have described the use of non-invasive collection methods, mostly based on the detection of parasite DNA, for diagnosis. However, no Leishmania specimens have been isolated from saliva. Here, we report the first isolation of Leishmania braziliensis from the saliva of humans with cutaneous leishmaniasis but without lesions on their mucosa. The isolates were obtained from salivary fluid inoculated in hamsters and were tested by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis. Seven samples from 43 patients suspected of having the disease were identified for in vivo culture. These findings suggest that saliva is a clinical sample that allows the isolation of Leishmania sp.

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More than 1,000 species of phlebotomine sand flies have been described in the literature, many of which are vectors of Leishmania spp. In addition to the morphological similarities between some species groups, the occurrence of anomalies within one species may lead to erroneous description of new taxa. This study describes a case of bilateral anomaly in the number of spines in the gonostyle in a male of Evandromyia lenti. In this anomalous male, a 5th spine is present between the upper external spine and the lower external spine. The occurrence of such an anomaly can potentially result in misidentifications in this important group of insects.

Grandes centros urbanos sofrem com problemas de qualidade do ar, os indivíduos são altamente expostos a partículas de poluentes que influenciam negativamente os sistemas do corpo humano. Essa alta exposição parece comprometer de forma diferente as diversas categorias das fases humanas. Alguns estudos apontam que a exposição a altas concentrações de poluentes atmosféricos podem causar sonolência e redução na capacidade cognitiva de jovens estudantes. Sendo assim, o presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar a qualidade do ar atmosférico em sala do ensino médio de uma escola da Grande Recife. As coletas foram realizadas durante 15 dias em duas salas de aulas de uma escola na zona metropolitana na cidade do Recife-PE. As variáveis analisadas foram concentração de CO2, temperatura e a umidade do ar. Os dados foram tabulados e analisados através de estatística descritiva. Os resultados revelam pequenas variações na concentração de CO2 ao longo do dia. No turno da manhã as concentrações de CO2 não ultrapassaram 1.000 ppm, enquanto à tarde as concentrações ultrapassaram 1.000 ppm, tendo seu maior pico por volta das 16:00 h (1.593 ppm). Os valores obtidos em determinados períodos estão em desconformidade com a norma vigente, sendo referenciados como grande causa de bocejo, sonolência e redução de rendimento. Como esperado, as menores temperaturas do ar foram observadas pela manhã (25,65 °C), porém não se observou temperaturas superiores a 26 °C durante todo o dia. A umidade relativa do ar média observada teve como mínima 51,9% e máxima de 61,5%. No período da tarde, exibiu umidade relativa do ar mínima de 57,8% e a máxima de 65,425%. De acordo com a classificação fornecida pela OMS, a umidade ideal para a saúde dos seres humanos está entre 50% e 60%, ou seja, dentro valores coletados na escola durante a pesquisa ficaram classificados como recomendado à saúde humana. Conclui-se que em termos de temperatura e umidade relativa do Ar o ambiente escolar está em conformidade com as normas regulatórias recomendas, no entanto, em alguns momentos do dia a concentração de CO2 esteve acima dos limites estabelecidos como ideais para ambientes fechados, o que se recomenda definir estratégias de circulação do ar periódica ao longo do turno escolar.