These results demonstrate that species from Argentina have the potential to be natural hosts of S. mansoni and that the appearance of foci of mansoni schistosomiasis in Argentina is possible.
Schistosomiasis is a severely neglected disease with a wide geographical distribution. It affects approximately 210 million people in the world and at least 800 million people live in risk areas. The search for new drugs to treat this parasitosis is significant due to the appearance of strains of the worm that are resistant to the currently available drugs. The retrieval of compounds extracted from plants that act on these parasites has increased scientific investigation of this subject. The present study demonstrates, in vitro and in vivo, the action of crude extract of Piper tuberculatum on adult Schistosoma mansoni. The extract was shown to be quite effective in the in vitro tests, causing soft tissue alterations and acting on the reproductive system of females and the mortality of the worms, with a greater effect on males. The in vivo experiment was performed with infected Mus musculus and a decrease in the number of eggs in the first and second oogram stages was found, suggesting action on oviposition.
KEYWORDS: Schistosoma mansoni; Piper tuberculatum; in vitro; in vivo
RESUMOEfeito do Extrato de Piper tuberculatum sobre adultos de Schistosoma mansoni: testes in vitro e in vivo A esquistossomose, doença negligenciada grave e de larga distribuição geográfica, atinge cerca de 210 milhões de pessoas no mundo e ao menos 800 milhões vivem em área de risco. A busca de novos medicamentos para o tratamento desta parasitose é relevante em razão do aparecimento de linhagens do verme resistentes aos fármacos disponíveis. A obtenção de compostos extraídos de plantas com ação sobre parasitos tem incrementado a investigação científica sobre este assunto. O presente trabalho mostra a ação in vitro e in vivo do extrato bruto de Piper tuberculatum sobre adultos de Schistosoma mansoni. O extrato mostrou-se bastante eficaz nos ensaios in vitro, provocando alterações tegumentares, tendo ação no sistema reprodutor das fêmeas e na mortalidade dos vermes
Fluctuations in population density of planorbid hosts of S. mansoni are influenced by climatic factors. The knowledge about interference from changes in water temperature in these populations is an important aspect of the epidemiology of schistosomiasis. In this experiment, it is explored the influence of different temperatures on the development of Schistosoma mansoni in Biomphalaria glabrata melanic and albino variants. The results indicated an intrinsic relationship between temperature and development of the parasite in the intramollusc phase, independent of the pigmentation of the mantle of the molluscs. The higher the temperature, the shorter the period necessary for the development of the parasite was while the higher the mortality of infected mollusks. It is concluded that, in the presence of climate change, the increasement of temperature in cold and flooded regions may encourage the establishment of new foci of transmission of schistosomiasis by changing the geographic extent and extending the epidemiological transmission potential. In warm climates, higher temperatures, however, could compromise the transmission of the disease because of biological stress suffered by parasite and host. Under these conditions, it can result in the death of the parasite or a change in their ability to infect new host species of molluscs in new areas. Mantle pigmentation patterns in molluscs have not shown significant interference in the development of the parasite.
Biomphalaria amazonica is a planorbid species considered a potential host of Schistosoma mansoni. It is widely distributed in the Neotropical zone, particularly in the North and Centre-West of Brazil and in the North of Bolivia. The aim of the present study was to determine the host-parasite relationship between B. amazonica and S. mansoni (BH and SJ strains). Specimens of B. amazonica and their snail-conditioned water were examined in terms of their ability to attract miracidia. The infectivity of the mollusks was determined by exposing them to 20 miracidia of both strains. Sporocyst development and amebocyte reactions were studied after each mollusk specimen was exposed to 100 miracidia. Although no cercariae were eliminated, specimens of B. amazonica proved capable of attracting 77% of the miracidia they were exposed to. Viable sporocysts with no amebocyte reaction were found 96 hours after the exposure to miracidia. These results indicate the susceptibility of B. amazonica to the BH and SJ strains of S. mansoni, and therefore demonstrate the importance of this planorbid species as a potential vector of the trematode in the areas where it occurs.Keywords: schistosomiasis, susceptibility, BH strain, SJ strain.
Relação parasito-hospedeiro entre
Parasitic infectious diseases acquired in tourist areas may pose a challenge to physicians and to travel medicine practitioners. Acute schistosomiasis may be seen in returning travelers and migrants after primary infection. This form of schistosomiasis is frequently misdiagnosed due to its temporal delay and its nonspecific presentation and might occur even in countries where the disease is endemic, such as in Brazil. The patient developed the acute phase of schistosomiasis with severe clinical manifestations. The quantitative analysis revealed the presence of 240 eggs per gram of stool. The treatment was administered with oxamniquine, and the control of cure of the patient was monitored and was favorable. The present paper aims to emphasize the importance of a detailed clinical history including information regarding travel history.
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