It is estimated that Schistosoma mansoni is present in 19 Brazilian states and one of the factors responsible for the spread of schistosomiasis is the migration of individuals from endemic areas, particularly from northeastern Brazil. In the municipality of Conceição da Barra, northern state of Espírito Santo, the present study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of schistosomiasis among sugarcane cutting workers in the alcohol industry, who migrated from the northeastern region of the country. For the diagnosis of intestinal parasites, spontaneous sedimentation and Kato-Katz techniques were used. Of the 287 individuals analyzed, 45 (15.7%), from the states of Alagoas, Pernambuco and Bahia, were positive for S. mansoni. Of the total positive individuals, 38 (84.4%) were from the state of Alagoas, 6 (13.3%) from Pernambuco and 1 (2.2%) from Bahia. The results indicate the possibility of schistosomiasis expansion in the northern state of Espírito Santo.
Recent evidence has supported a pathogenic role for neuroinflammation in Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, it is unclear whether the immune changes are involved in the initial physiopathology of PD, leading to the non-motor symptoms (NMS) observed in the prodromal PD stage. The current study aimed to characterize the behavioral and cognitive changes in a toxic-induced model of prodromal PD-like syndrome. We also sought to investigate the role of neuroinflammation in prodromal PD-related NMS. Male mice were subjected to bilateral intranasal (i.n.) infusion with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) or saline (control group), followed by comprehensive behavioral and neurochemical analysis. Intranasal MPTP infusion was able to cause the loss of dopaminergic neurons. In parallel, it induced impairment in olfactory discrimination and social memory consolidation, compulsive and anxious-like behaviors, but did not influence motor function. In addition, iba-1 and GFAP expressions were increased in the SNpc, suggesting an activated state of microglia and astrocytes. Consistent with this finding, MPTP mice had increased levels of IL-10 and IL-17A, and decreased levels of BDNF and tropomyosin receptor kinase (Trk) A mRNA in the SNpc. The striatum showed increased IL-17A and decreased BDNF and NFG levels compared to control mice. In conclusion, our results suggest that neuroinflammation may play an important role in the early stage of experimental PD-like syndrome. Our data also indicate that i.n. administration of MPTP may represents a valuable mouse model for prodromal PD.
Helminth eggs and protozoan cysts have great resistance to aggressions and environmental factors. In order to verify the involvement of inanimate objects in the transmission mechanisms of parasitic infections, a parasitological study was carried out with paper money circulating in the city of São Mateus, ES, Brazil, among September 2010 and September 2012. Notes were sent to Laboratório de Análises Clínicas of the Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, distributed in plastic containers containing distilled water, stirred and scraped manually. The material from scraping and rinsing was centrifuged and the pellet fraction was analyzed in a light microscope. From a total of 270 samples analyzed, 22 (8.15%) were positive for eggs or cysts of intestinal parasites and R$ 2.00 bill was the most contaminated. Among the parasite species found Giardia duodenalis was the most frequently, which was observed in 2.22% of the samples, followed by Entamoeba coli and hookworm, both with 1.48%, Ascaris lumbricoides, Taenia sp., E. histolytica/E. dispar and free-living nematode larvae all with 0.74% positivity. From the 30 shops analyzed, 10 (33.33%) had paper money positive for parasitic forms and the greater positive frequency was observed in downtown establishment. Considering the large resistance of eggs/cysts of intestinal parasites to environmental conditions and the importance of paper money as transmitting disease, it is noteworthy the imminent need for investments in studies in São Mateus in order to provide better epidemiology survey for parasitic infections.
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