Resumo Embora a ovinocultura tenha despertado o interesse de criadouros no estado do Acre nas últimas quatro décadas, pouco se conhece sobre a ocorrência de helmintoses no plantel de ovinos dessa região. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a possibilidade de ocorrência de helmintíases não intestinais entre ovinos abatidos no município de Rio Branco. Foram inspecionados 110 fígados de ovinos em dois abates (julho de 2014 e março de 2015) em um abatedouro no município de Rio Branco. Fígados com lesões macroscópicas foram fotografados com posterior análise histopatológica por microscopia de luz. Nas lesões macroscópicas foram encontrados pequenos nódulos apresentando características inflamatórias com áreas de fibrose, aparentemente calcificadas, sugerindo uma reação granulomatosa. Dos 110 fígados avaliados, observou-se 110 nódulos no total; estes nódulos têm um tamanho médio de 0,5 cm. A análise histopatológica mostrou alterações na arquitetura do lóbulo hepático, com múltiplos focos de necrose, além da formação de abscessos hepáticos constituídos por polimorfonucleares. Duas amostras revelaram a presença de helmintos da Classe Nematoda e ovos de Capillaria sp. identificados pela morfologia típica e morfometria. Esse resultado parece ser o primeiro registro de Capillaria sp. em fígado de ovino no Brasil, o que é um importante alerta para a vigilância no controle sanitário animal e o seu papel zoonótico para humanos.

Abstract Although sheep farming has grown in the state of Acre over the past four decades, little is known about occurrences of helminthiases in the herds of this region. The objective of the study was to assess the occurrences of non-intestinal helminthiasis among sheep slaughtered in Rio Branco. A total of 110 sheep livers were inspected from two slaughter batches (july 2014 and march 2015) in a slaughterhouse in Rio Branco. Livers with macroscopic lesions were photographed and were then subjected to histopathological analysis under an optical microscope. The macroscopic lesions showed small nodes with inflammatory characteristics and areas of fibrosis, which appeared to be calcified, thus suggesting a granulomatous reaction. Of the 110 evaluated livers, we noticed 110 nodules in total; these nodules have an average size of 0.5 cm. The histopathological analysis showed alterations to the architecture of the hepatic lobe, with multiple foci of necrosis and polymorphonuclear cells. Two samples revealed the presence of helminths from Nematode class and Capillaria sp. eggs identified by the typical morphology and morphometry. This seems to be the first report of Capillaria sp. in sheep livers in Brazil, and it serves as an important alert regarding animal health surveillance and control and regarding the Capillaria sp. zoonotic role in humans.

Maternal malnutrition during the lactation period in early development may have long-term programming effects on adult offspring. We evaluated the combined effects of parasitological behaviour and histopathological features and malnutrition during lactation. Lactating mice and their pups were divided into a control group (fed a normal diet of 23% protein), a protein-restricted group (PR) (fed a diet containing 8% protein) and a caloric-restricted group (CR) (fed according to the PR group intake). At the age of 60 days, the offspring were infected with Schistosoma mansoni cercariae and killed at nine weeks post-infection. Food intake, body and liver masses, leptinaemia, corticosteronaemia, collagen morphometry and neogenesis and the cellular composition of liver granulomas were studied. PR offspring showed reduced weight gain and hypophagia, whereas CR offspring became overweight and developed hyperphagia. The pre-patent period was longer (45 days) in both programmed offspring as compared to controls (40 days). The PR-infected group had higher faecal and intestinal egg output and increased liver damage. The CR-infected group showed a lower number of liver granulomas, increased collagen neogenesis and a higher frequency of binucleate hepatocytes, suggesting a better modulation of the inflammatory response and increased liver regeneration. Taken together, our findings suggest that neonatal malnutrition of offspring during lactation affects the outcome of schistosomiasis in mice.

INTRODUÇÃO: Pirajá da Silva fez contribuição magnífica à helmintologia ao descrever ovos de Schistosoma mansoni nas fezes de um paciente, no Estado da Bahia e a morfologia de vermes adultos. MÉTODOS: Neste estudo, apresentamos uma avaliação microscópica das lâminas montadas e depositadas na Coleção Helmintológica do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. A técnica empregada nesta nova análise foi a microscopia de varredura a laser confocal. RESULTADOS: Na parte anterior dos vermes adultos machos, observamos ventosas com musculatura bem desenvolvida e células germinativas dentro dos lobos testiculares. Visualizamos, também, espinhos localizados na região mediana do canal ginecóforo. Na superfície dorsal, encontramos tubérculos e feixes musculares transversais e longitudinais. Em relação ao aparelho reprodutivo feminino, pudemos distinguir um ovo no interior do útero e o ovário alongado com células germinativas. As glândulas vitelínicas estavam restritas à parte posterior das fêmeas conectadas por um ducto vitelínico curto. CONCLUSÕES: As características morfológicas são similares as estudadas anteriormente por Pirajá da Silva com vermes frescos. Além disso, este estudo demonstra a importância de se depositar espécimes nas coleções helmintológicas abrindo possibilidade de novos estudos com estas lâminas.

INTRODUCTION: Pirajá da Silva made a seminal contribution to helminthology by demonstrating both schistosome eggs in feces of patients from the State of Bahia and the morphology of Schistosoma mansoni adult worms. METHODS: In this study, a microscopic investigation of the whole-mounts deposited at the Helminthological Collection of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute is presented. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was used as the main investigation technique. RESULTS: At the anterior end of the adult male, suckers with well-developed musculature and germinative cells inside the testicular lobes were observed, as well as spines located in the mid region of the male gynecophoric canal. Tegumental tubercles and transversal and longitudinal muscular bundles were observed at the dorsal surface. The female reproductive system presented a uterus lacking eggs and an elongated ovary with germinative cells. The vitellaria were restricted to the extreme posterior end of each female connected to a short vitelline duct. CONCLUSIONS: The results reported in this study demonstrate that the characteristic studied here are similar to those previously reported, using fresh worms. Moreover, this study also highlights the importance of deposits of specimens in helminthological collections, which further permit revisiting whole-mounts in such institutions.

This study investigated whether a long-term high-fat diet has an effect on the outcome of chronic murine schistosomiasis mansoni compared to a standard diet. Swiss Webster female mice (3 weeks old) were fed each diet for up to six months and were then infected with 50 Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. Their nutritional status was assessed by monitoring total serum cholesterol and body mass. Infected mice were examined 6-17 weeks post infection to estimate the number of eggs in faeces. Mice were euthanised the next day. Total serum cholesterol was lower in infected mice in comparison to uninfected controls (p = 0.0055). In contrast, body mass (p = 0.003), liver volume (p = 0.0405), spleen volume (p = 0.0124), lung volume (p = 0.0033) and faecal (p = 0.0064) and tissue egg density (p = 0.0002) were significantly higher for infected mice fed a high-fat diet. From these findings, it is suggested that a high-fat diet has a prominent effect on the course of chronic schistosomiasis mansoni in mice.

O rato d´água Nectomys squamipes é importante transmissor não-humano da esquistossomose. Durante a infecção experimental em N. squamipes, os vermes adultos apresentam plasticidade fenotípica. Esses achados levaram-nos a investigar se os aspectos biológicos também são afetados. Foram comparadas as características biológicas de quatro cepas de S. mansoni: BE (Estado de Belém do Pará), CM (Estado de Pernambuco), CMO (Estado do Rio Grande do Norte) e SJ (Estado de São Paulo), utilizando como modelo experimental N. squamipes criados e mantidos em laboratório. A infecção foi monitorada para a determinação do período pré-patente, eliminação de ovos nas fezes, viabilidade dos ovos, contagem de ovos retidos no intestino e infectividade. Nenhuma modificação biológica foi observada nesses parâmetros. Os resultados sugerem que o N. squamipes é susceptível a várias cepas de S. mansoni, contribuindo para a manutenção da esquistossomose no Brasil.

The water-rat Nectomys squamipes is mostly important non-human host in schistosomiasis mansoni transmission in Brazil, due to its susceptibility, high abundance and water-contact pattern. During experimental infection of N. squamipes with Schistosoma mansoni, adult worms show phenotypic plasticity. This finding led us to investigate whether biological behavior is also affected. This was assessed comparing the biological characteristics of four S. mansoni strains: BE (State of Belém do Pará), CE (State of Pernambuco), CMO (State of Rio Grande do Norte) and SJ (State of São Paulo) using laboratory-bred N. squamipes. The infection was monitored by determination of the pre-patent period, fecal egg output, egg viability, intestinal egg count and, infectivity rate. No biological modification was observed in these parameters. Overall results highlight that N. squamipes was susceptible to several S. mansoni strains, suggesting that it might contribute to the maintenance of schistosomiasis mansoni in Brazil.

This study evaluated whether a high fat diet (HFC group) induces overweight, hepatic steatosis and plasma lipoproteins level alteration compared to standard chow diet (SC group). Female mice were submitted to each diet over 6 months. Body mass and food intake were evaluated weekly throughout the experiment. Total cholesterol, TG, LDL-c, HDL-c and VLDL-c were analyzed. Mice were sacrificed to remove liver, spleen, heart and intestine. The volume of the organs was determined according to the submersion method. Fixed livers were embedded in paraffin and stained with hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome. The analysis used a video microscope system and a test-system with 42 test-points. The volume density was estimated for hepatocytes, steatosis and sinusoids. Animals fed HFC had smaller chow intake than SC group. HFC group presented body mass greater than SC. Animals fed HFC showed heavier liver and spleen and lighter intestine than SC (p<0.05), heart mass was not significant between groups. Plasma lipoproteins differed between groups (p<0.05) except VLDL-c and TG fractions. The liver structure was without major alteration in SC group however, HFC mice group showed different degrees of fatty degeneration with micro- and macrovesicular steatosis dispersed in all liver with typical peri-cellular/peri-sinusoidal fibrosis. The quantitative study showed significant (p<0.05) volume density reduction for hepatocytes and sinusoids. In conclusion, our results clearly show that hepatic steatosis can be induced in mouse by such a fat-rich diet without any toxin ingestion, alimentary deficiency and genes depletion

Este estudio evaluó cómo una dieta de alta densidad energética (grupo ADE) induce sobrepeso, esteatosis hepática y altera los niveles de las lipoproteínas plasmáticas cuando son comparados con la dieta patrón (grupo SC). Hembras de camundongos fueron sometidas a cada una de las dietas durante 6 meses. La masa corporal y la ingestión de alimento fueron evaluadas semanalmente durante el experimento. Además fueron medidos el colesterol total, TG, LDL-c, HDL-c e VLDL-c. Los animales fueron sacrificados y el hígado, bazo, corazón e intestinos fueron removidos para estudio. El volumen de los órganos fue medido por el método de la sumersión. Fragmentos de hígado fueron preparados para el estudio en microscopía de luz, teñidos con hematoxilina-eosina y tricrómico de Masson. El análisis fue realizado con video microscopía y sistema test M42. La densidad de volumen fue estimada para hepatocitos, esteatosis y sinusoides. Los animales alimentados con dieta ADE presentaron menor ingestión de alimento y tuvieron masa corporal mayor que los animales con dieta patrón. Animales ADE mostraron también hígado y bazo más pesados e intestino más liviano que animales SC (p<0.05). Para la masa del corazón no hubo diferencia significativa entre los dos grupos. Las lipoproteínas plasmáticas fueron diferentes entre los grupos (p<0.05) excepto VLDL-c y fracciones de TG. La estructura hepática no presentó grandes alteraciones en el grupo SC; sin embargo, animales del grupo ADE presentaron diferentes grados de degeneración adiposa con esteatosis macro y microvesicular dispersas en todo el hígado con típica fibrosis pericelular y perisinusoidal, y significativa reducción de la densidad de volumen de hepatocitos y sinosoides. En conclusión, los resultados muestran que la esteatosis hepática puede ser inducida experimentalmente en camundongos, a través de dieta ADE, sin ingestión de cualquier toxina, deficiencia alimentaria o depleción genética

High-fat diets induce weight gain and fatty liver in wild-type mice. Schistosomiasis mansoni infection also promotes hepatic injury. This study was designed to quantify hepatic alterations in schistosomiasis mansoni-infected mice fed a high fat-rich chow compared to mice fed a standard rodent chow, using stereology. Female SW mice fed each either high-fat diet (29% lipids) or standard chow (12% lipids) over 8 months, and then were infected with Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. Four experimental groups were studied: infected mice fed a high-fat diet (IHFC) or standard chow (ISC), uninfected mice fed a high-fat diet (HFC) or standard chow (SC). Mice were sacrificed during early infection (9 weeks from exposure). The following hepatic biometry and the stereology parameters were determined: volume density (hepatocytes [h], sinusoids [s], steatosis [st] and hepatic fibrosis [hf]); numerical density (hepatocyte nuclei - Nv[h]); absolute number of total hepatocyte N[h], normal hepatocyte N[nh], and binucleated hepatocyte N[bh], percentage of normal hepatocyte P[nh] and binucleated hepatocyte P[bh]. IHFC and HFC groups exhibited TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, and body mass significantly greater (p < 0.05) than control group. No significant differences were found regards liver volume (p = 0.07). Significant differences were observed regards P[nh] (p = 0.0045), P[bh] (p = 0.0045), Nv[h] (p = 0.0006), N[h] (p = 0.0125), N[bh] (p = 0.0164) and N[nh] (p = 0.0078). IHFC mice group presented 29% of binucleated hepatocytes compared to HFC group (19%), ISC group (17%) and SC (6%). Volume density was significantly different between groups: Vv[h] (p = 0.0052), Vv[s] (p = 0.0025), Vv[st] (p = 0.0004), and Vv[hf] (p = 0.0007). In conclusion, schistosomiasis mansoni infection with concurrent high-fat diet promotes intensive quantitative changes in hepatic structure, contributing to an increasing on hepatic regeneration.

The blood flukes of mammals (Digenea: Schistosomatidae) are among trematodes unique whose adult worms have separeted sexes which are dissimilar in appearance. The developmental features, growth and organogenesis of Schistosoma mansoni were studied in Swiss Webster mice by a digital system for image analysis and confocal microscopy. Data so far obtained showed two phases with significative morphological changes at 3-4 weeks post-infection, and a gradual similar development onwards in the reproductive system and tegument. Our male-dependent phase demonstrated that mating occurs before sexual maturing. At week three, the majority of male worms (59%) had formed the gynaecophoric canal although testicular lobes and tegumental tubercles were absent. By this time, 33% females had an incipient ovary (without cellular differentiation). At week four, 77.2% males presented testicular lobes with few germinative cells while 26% had developing tegumental tubercles. The immature ovary was observed in 69% females. Suckers followed different pattern of growth between male and females. The size of oral and ventral suckers from six-week-old male worms grew abruptly (3.0 fold) more than that of three-week-old. In female worms, maximum growth was attained at week four, reducing in size thereafter. From sixth week onwards, all specimens showed the fully developed reproductive system. Probably, these features are morphological traits which schistosome has experienced from hermaphrodite to dioecy.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a high prevalent zoonosis in the central and southern Peruvian Andes. Serum samples (n50)frompatients presenting presumptive clinical and radiological diagnosis of CE (group 1), were tested for antibodies against Echinococcus granulosus metacestode using Arc-5 double diffusion assay (DD5), immunoelectrophoresis (IEF), and immunoelectrotransfer blot (EITB) techniques. Serum samples (n18) from patients presenting other parasite infections (paragonomiasis, cysticercosis, and fascioliasis) or healthy blood donors (n15), were designated as control groups. The overall sensitivity of the tests was of 94% (DD5 and IEF tests) or 96% (EITB test). Only patients from group 1 were seropositive for CE. Polypeptides of 21, 31, and 48 kDa were considered positive for CE. Based on these results, this study demonstrates that CE also occurs in other coastal departments (Piura, Ancash, Ica, Arequipa, and Tacna) besides Lima.

A comparative morphometric study was performed to identify host-induced morphological alterations in Schistosoma mansoni adult worms. A wild parasite population was obtained from a naturally infected rodent (Nectomys squamipes)and then recovered from laboratory infected C3H/He mice. Furthermore, allopatric worm populations maintained for long-term under laboratory conditions in Swiss Webster mice were passed on to N. squamipes. Suckers and genital system (testicular lobes, uterine egg, and egg spine) were analyzed by a digital system for image analysis. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) showed details of the genital system (testicular lobes, vitelline glands, and ovary) and the tegument just below the ventral sucker. Significant morphological changes (p < 0.05) were detected in male worms in all experimental conditions, with no significant variability as assessed by CLSM. Significant changes (p < 0.05) were evident in females from the wild population related to their ovaries and vitelline glands, whereas allopatric females presented differences only in this last character. We conclude that S. mansoni worms present the phenotypic plasticity induced by modifications in the parasite's microenvironment, mainly during the first passage under laboratory conditions.

Relata-se caso de dirofilaríase pulmonar humana em paciente com 45 anos de idade, proveniente do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. A radiografia torácica evidenciou nódulo pulmonar solitário localizado no lóbulo inferior esquerdo, mimetizando neoplasia. Dirofilaríase pulmonar humana deveria ser investigada em nódulos pulmonares não malignos e de etiologia não conclusiva.

We report a case of human pulmonary dirofilariasis in a female patient 45-years-old, derived from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The chest radiologic finding consisted of single pulmonary nodule located on the left lower lobe that simulated lung tumor. Human pulmonary dirofilariasis might be investigated in nodules that are not malignants and require conclusive diagnosis.

Camundongos foram infectados com cercárias, de um único sexo, de cepas simpátricas do Schistosoma mansoni. Nos vermes adultos, foram encontradas diferenças significativas (p<0,05) nas ventosas, lobos testiculares, ovário e espessura do tegumento. O experimento demonstra que a morfometria de vermes isolados de infecção unissexual também é uma ferramenta na identificação de cepas do Schistosoma mansoni.

Mice were infected with only one sex cercaria derived from sympatric strains of Schistosoma mansoni. Adult worms presented significative differences (p<0.05) regarding suckers, testicular lobes, ovary and thickness of the tegument. Data show that morphometric study of unisexual infection worms can be also used for characterization of Schistosoma mansoni strains.

A fim de verificar diferenças biológicas e morfológicas entre cepas brasileiras (CMO, CM e BE) de Schistosoma mansoni foram estudados os seguintes parâmetros: período pré-patente, cinética de eliminação de ovos nas fezes, contagem de ovos no intestino, infectividade e as características fenotípicas dos vermes adultos. O período pré-patente foi de 42 a 44 dias. A recuperação de vermes adultos variou de 26% a 29%, sem diferenças significativas (p>0,05) nestes parâmetros. Todas as cepas apresentaram maior quantidade de ovos no intestino delgado do que no grosso (p<0,05). Diferenças significativas foram observadas no aparelho reprodutor e ventosas dos adultos machos. Todas as medidas foram menores na cepa CMO. As fêmeas apresentaram diferenças significativas no maior diâmetro do ovo, área e perímetro do espinho do ovo e na área da ventosa oral. Concluímos que as diferenças entre cepas podem ser expressas mesmo quando estas são mantidas por várias gerações em condições de laboratório.

Aiming to determine parasitological and morphological differences between Brazilian strains (CMO, CM and BE) of Schistosoma mansoni the following parameters were studied: prepatent period, kinetics of egg releasing in feces, intestinal oogram, infectivity and the morphology of adult worms. No statistical difference (p>0.05) was found regarding the mean prepatent period (44 and 46 days) and infectivity (26% and 29%). All strains showed a higher concentration of trapped eggs in the small intestine than large intestine (p<0.05). All characteristics of the reproductive system and suckers of male worms presented significant differences (p<0.05). CMO strain was smaller in all measurements. Females showed significant differences (p<0.05) in the larger diameter of the eggs, in the area and perimeter of the spine egg and in the oral sucker area. We conclude that differences in strains can be expressed even when the strains have been cycled for several generations under laboratory conditions.

Experiments were carried out to analyze the biological characteristics of two sympatric isolates of Schistosoma mansoni derived from humans and murines in a low endemic transmission area (Sumidouro county, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). Sympatric reared-laboratory Biomphalaria glabrata and C3H/He mice were used as experimental hosts. Parameters assessed comprised: precercarial period, infectivity and mortality (snails), prepatent period, infectivity (percentage of cercariae maturation into adult worm) and intestinal egg count (mice). The murine isolate showed a shorter precercarial period and higher infectivity than human isolate (p < 0.05). This biological heterogenicity did not correspond to the vertebrate data because any biological parameter presented significant difference (p > 0.05). These data suggest that both isolates are local sub-populations, providing support for the hypotheses that in a same biotope mixed populations or sub-populations circulate among their main host (human beings) and/or rodent as an anfixenous infection.

Some unfavourable effects of malnutrition of the host on Schistosoma mansoni worm biology and structure have been reported based upon brigthfield microscopy. This paper aims to study by morphometric techniques, some morphological parameters in male and female adult worms recovered from undernourished albino mice in comparison with parasites recovered from well-fed infected mice. Undernourished animals were fed a multideficient and essentially low protein diet (RBD diet) and compared to well-fed control mice fed with the commercial diet NUVILAB. Seventy-five days post-infection with 80 cercarie (BL strain) animals were sacrificed. All adult worms were fixed in 10% formalin and stained with carmine chloride. One hundred male and 60 female specimens from each group (undernourished and control) were examined using an image system analysis Leica Quantimet 500C and the Sigma Scan Measurement System. The following morphometrical parameters were studied: body length and width, oral and ventral suckers, number and area of testicular lobes, length and width of ovary and uterine egg. For statistical analysis, the Student's t test for unpaired samples was applied. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were detected in body length and width, in parameters of suckers, uterine egg width, ovary length and area of testicular lobes, with lower values for specimens from undernourished mice. The nutritional status of the host has negative influence on S. mansoni adult worms, probably through unavailability of essential nutrients to the parasites.