Blastocystis homins is a protozoan that causes an intestinal infection known as human blastocystosis. This infection is diagnosed by means of parasitological examination of stools and by permanent staining techniques. The present study was developed to evaluate the frequency of Blastocystis hominis infection among inhabitants of the Araraquara region, State of São Paulo, and to compare different methods for investigating this protozoan in feces samples. Evaluations on 503 stool samples were performed by means of direct fresh examination and using the techniques of Faust et al., Lutz and Rugai et al. In addition, the iron hematoxylin, trichrome and modified Kinyoun staining techniques were used. Out of the 503 samples examined, 174 (34.6%) were found to be positive for the presence of intestinal parasites. The most frequent protozoa and helminths were Entamoeba coli (14.6%) and Strongyloides stercoralis (6.7%), respectively. Blastocystis hominis was present in 23 (4.6%) fecal samples, with a predominately pasty consistency and without characterizing a condition of diarrhea. Despite the low frequency of Blastocystis hominis found in the Araraquara region, compared with other regions of Brazil, it is important to perform laboratory diagnostic tests for this protozoan. Its finding in fecal material is indicative of food and drinking water contamination. Since the transmission route for this parasite is accepted to be oral-fecal, this implies that the population needs guidance regarding hygiene and basic sanitation measures as a means for controlling health problems caused by enteroparasites. Key-words:Blastocystis hominis. Diagnosis. Intestinal parasites. Coproparasitology. RESUMOBlastocystis hominis é um protozoário, causador de infecção intestinal denominada blastocistose humana, cujo diagnóstico é realizado pelo exame coproparasitológico e por meio de técnicas de coloração permanente. Este estudo foi desenvolvido para avaliar a freqüência da infecção por Blastocystis hominis em habitantes da região de Araraquara/SP, bem como comparar diferentes métodos para a pesquisa desse protozoário em amostras de fezes. Foram estudadas 503 amostras de fezes submetidas ao exame direto a fresco, às técnicas de Faust e cols, Lutz e de Rugai e cols, além das colorações pela hematoxilina férrica, tricrômio e de Kinyoun modificada. Entre as 503 amostras examinadas, 174 (34,6%) apresentaram-se positivas para a presença de parasitas intestinais. O protozoário e o helminto mais freqüentes foram Entamoeba coli (14,6%) e Strongyloides stercoralis (6,7%), respectivamente. Blastocystis hominis foi observado em 23 (4,6%) amostras fecais com consistência predominantemente pastosa, não caracterizando quadro diarréico. Apesar da baixa freqüência de Blastocystis hominis encontrada na região de Araraquara, comparativamente a outras regiões brasileiras, é importante a realização do diagnóstico laboratorial desse protozoário. O encontro de Blastocystis hominis em material fecal é indicativo de contaminação de alimentos e água de consumo, ...

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The diagnosis of human cutaneous leishmaniasis in small towns is sometimes made without the species identification of the Leishmania, even in areas without previous epidemiological surveys. Here Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic infection affecting 12 million people worldwide in 88 countries. The annual incidence is 2 million, with 1.5 million presenting the cutaneous form and 0.5 million the visceral form. In Brazil, American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) is a widespread disease (Marzochi & Marzochi 1994). Since the beginning of the last century to nowadays, changes on the environment of the state of São Paulo have altered the epidemiological pattern of ACL from an epidemic to an endemic one (Tolezano 1994 (Grimaldi et al. 1989, Tolezano 1994. During the medical routine of health centres in small towns the diagnosis of ACL suspects is carried out by standard tests such as Montenegro's skin test and histopatological analysis, without the species identification. However, the species and the strain identification is important for eco-epidemiological evaluations and to monitor the entrance of new Leishmania species in a local focus (Lainson et al. 1994). Seven ACL cases were notified from 1998 to 2004 in the municipality of Rincão (map reference) which it is located in the northeast centre of the state of São Paulo, at the boarder of the western Paulista Plateau. The area is crossed by MogiGuaçu river and its landscape is composed by residual forest and sugar cane plantations. To identify the Leishmania species circulating on that region, attempts were made to isolate a strain from one patient. Both punch biopsy and aspirates were made from the lesion. A fragment was taken and triturated in saline plus antibiotics (1000 U/ ml penicillin and 1 mg/ml streptomycin). The aspirates were transfered into a tube containing saline and antibiotics and centrifuged after 3 h (1000 g for 1 min). Fragments and the pellet of the aspirated were inoculated separately into a biphasic culture medium (NNN-agar rabbit blood with LIT medium). These cultures were kept at 28 o C. Promastigotes forms were observed after eight days but only in the tubes inoculated with aspirates. The Leishmania isolate was analyzed by multi-locus enzyme electrophoresis approach as previously described (Cupolillo et al. 1994). The strain was identified as L. (V.) braziliensis zymodeme IOC/Z27. This same zymodeme has been found in other endemic ACL areas of Southeast Brazil (Cupolillo et al. 2003).Entomological surveys were performed about 50 m from the edge of Mogi-Guaçu river, area where the patient live (21 o 35'13''S, 48 o 04'15''W). Shannon trap and CDC light traps were used in two nights from 18 to 22h. The only sand fly species captured was Lutzomyia neivai (Pinto, 1926) (149 females and 79 males). This species was previously designated as a junior synonym of L. intermedia (Lutz & Neiva, 1912). Marcondes (1996) revalidated the name and Andrade Filho et al. (2003) redescribed both species, adopting the genus Nyssomyia instead of Lutzomyia according to Gala...

Ascaris lumbricoides is responsible for a highly disseminated helminth parasitic disease, ascariosis, a relevant parasitosis that responds for great financial burden on the public health system of developing countries. In this work, metabolic fingerprinting using high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) was employed to identify marker molecules from A. lumbricoides in different development stages. We have identified nine biomarkers, such as pheromones and steroidal prohormones in early stages, among other molecules in late development stages, making up four molecules for fertilized eggs, four marker molecules for first larvae (L1) and one marker molecule for third larvae (L3). Therefore, our findings indicate that this approach is suitable for biochemical characterization of A. lumbricoides development stages. Moreover, the straightforward analytical method employed, with almost no sample preparation from a complex matrix (feces) using high-resolution mass spectrometry, suggests that it is possible to seek for an easier and faster way to study animal molding processes.

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