Schistosoma mansoni eggs are classified, according to morphological characteristics, as follows: viable mature and immature eggs; dead mature and immature eggs, shells and granulomas. The scope of this study was to compare the staining characteristics of different morphological types of eggs in the presence of fluorescent labels and vital dyes, aiming at differentiating live and dead eggs. The eggs were obtained from the intestines of infected mice, and put into saline 0.85%. The fluorescent labels were Hoechst 33258 and Acridine Orange + Ethidium Bromide and vital dyes (Trypan Blue 0.4% and Neutral Red 1%). When labelled with the probe Hoechst 33258, some immature eggs, morphologically considered viable, presented fluorescence (a staining characteristic detected only in dead eggs); mature eggs did not present fluorescence, and the other types of dead eggs, morphologically defined, showed fluorescence. As far as Acridine Orange + Ethidium Bromide are concerned, either the eggs considered to be live, or the dead ones, presented staining with green color, and only the hatched and motionless miracidium was stained with an orange color. Trypan Blue was not able to stain the eggs, considered to be dead but only dead miracidia which had emerged out of the shell. Neutral Red stained both live and dead eggs. Only the fluorescent Hoechst 33258 can be considered a useful tool for differentiation between dead and live eggs.

The synthesis and physicochemical properties of the new mononuclear ruthenium(II) complex, of formula Na2[Ru(bptz)(CN)4].4H2O (bptz = 3,6-bis(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine) are reported. The IR and UV-vis spectral data, together with cyclic voltammetry measurements, indicate that the ligand bptz has a π-acceptor ability intermediate between dpp and bpz when coordinated to the tetracyanoruthenate(II) moiety (dpp = 2,3-bis(2'-pyridyl)pyrazine ; bpz = 2,2'-bipyrazine). This complex can be used as a photosensitizer, since it emits at room temperature in alcoholic solutions, and as a building block for new polynuclear complexes, such as the symmetric ion [(CN)4Ru(bptz)Ru(CN)4]4-, whose preparation and spectral properties in aqueous solutions are also described in this work.

Se reportan la síntesis y las propiedades fisicoquímicas del nuevo complejo mononuclear de rutenio (II), de fórmula Na2[Ru(bptz)(CN)4].4H2O (bptz = 3,6-bis(2-piridil)-1,2,4,5-tetrazina). Los datos espectrales de IR y de UV-visible, junto a las medidas de voltamperometría cíclica, indican que el ligando bptz tiene una capacidad aceptora π- intermedia entre dpp y bpz cuando se coordina a un grupo tetracianorutenato(II) (dpp = 2,3-bis(2'-piridil)pirazina ; bpz = 2,2'-bipirazina). Este complejo puede ser usado como un fotosensibilizador, pues emite a temperatura ambiente en soluciones alcohólicas, y como una unidad estructural para la construcción de nuevos complejos polinucleares, tales como el ion simétrico [(CN)4Ru(bptz)Ru(CN)4]4-, cuya preparación y propiedades espectrales en soluciones acuosas se describen también en este trabajo.

Two groups of Schistosoma japonicum infected patients (acute and chronic ) and non-infected individuals were studied using IgA antibody to egg antigen (SEA) and IgG and IgM antibodies to keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH). The means and standard deviation of the optical density in ELISA of acute, chronic and negative groups for IgA anti-SEA were 583±124.7, 98.2±78.8 and 82.2±39. 3, respectively. There was a statistically significance between acute patients and chronic patients (P<0.01). The means and standard deviation of IgG and IgM antibodies to KLH were 501.5±150.6, 113.0±79.1, 28.8±56.3 and 413.6±148.5, 70.2±14.8, 65.3±45.3, respectively. The detection results of IgA to SEA compared with the IgG and IgM to KLH did not demonstrate a significant difference (P>0.01). The sensitivities of IgA to SEA and IgG and IgM antibodies to KLH for the detection of acute infection were 95.24%, 90.48% and 85.71%, respectively. Therefore, this study showed that the detection of IgA to SEA is also a useful new method for the serological differentiation of acute and chronic schistosomiasis japonica in humans.

In order to characterize the epidemiology of American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ACL) in a periurban area of the municipality of Sabará in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte (MRBH), an area until then considered free of the disease, a cross sectional survey was undertaken in 1990. The survey of the population consisted of 1119 interviews and 881 clinical examinations using Montenegro's skin test (MST). A low prevalence (3.7%) of positive MST was encountered. The disease had been occuring in the area for about 20 years in the form of sporadic cases. The predominant species of sandfly both in domestic areas and nearby areas of secondary vegetation was Lutzomyia whitmani. A canine survey of delayed hypersensitivity to the antigen P10,000 identified only one dog with a positive reaction out of 113 examined. The transmission of ACL in MRBH was confirmed. The occurrence of the disease in women, children and individuals with no contact with forest areas as well as the presence of potential vector species in the domiciliar environment, suggests the transmission of the disease in this environment.

It has been studied the chemoprophylactic action on experimental schistosomiasis of the essential oil from Pterodon pubescens "sucupira branca" as an additive through different formulations, in toilet soap. Immediately or 24 hours later, groups of mice were exposed by tail method to Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. After 45 days of the exposition, the protective action of these soaps were evaluated. The results showed different levels of protection, ranging from 29.0 to 100.0%. Further studies are on going with the most promising formulations.

São descritas as principais etapas de uma técnica simples e sensível para a pesquisa, na mesma placa, do antígeno, do anticorpo e de imunocomplexos específicos baseada no "Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay" (ELISA). A técnica se mostrou de grande utilidade na pesquisa do antígeno, do anticorpo e de imunocomplexos específicos no soro de pacientes com esquistossomose hépato-intestinal crônica.

The main steps of a sensitive and quantitative technique for the simultaneous determination, in the same microplate, of antigen, antibody and specific immune complexes has been described. The assay involved principles of the double sandwich technique used in the "Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay" (ELISA). The technique proved to be useful for the estimation of antigen, antibody and specific immune complexes in sera of patients with human chronic hepato-intestinal schistosomiasis.

Avaliou-se em coelhos e camundongos, a atividade imunogênica e protetora de um extrato antigênico de Schistosoma mansoni, obtido pela estocagem de vermes adultos em solução salina tamponada (Extrato Salino). A imunização dos animais determinou o desenvolvimento de resposta imune celular e humoral, avaliada por provas específicas. Todos os coelhos imunizados com ES, desenvolveram altos níveis de anticorpo citotóxico (91 a 100%), determinados pela avaliação da atividade citotóxica in vitro, contra esquitossômulos. Concluiu-se que os coelhos e camundongos imunizados com o extrato salino apresentaram diminuição da carga parasitária oriunda da infecção posterior com cercárias do S. mansoni, em relação aos controles. Os percentuais de proteção foram de 88.6% e 54% para os animais vacinados (coelhos e camundongos respectivamente).

The immunogenic and protective activity of an extract of S. mansoni, obtained by incubation of viable adult worms in buffered saline, was evaluated in rabbits and mice. Animal immunization with this extract resulted in the development of both humoral and cellular immune response. All immunized rabbits developed high levels (91 to 100%) of cytotoxic antibodies as determined by in vitro assays of cytotoxic activity of their sera against viable schistosomules. Immunized animals challenged with S. mansoni cercariae showed a lower parasite load than that of normal controls. Protective activity was 88.6% and 54.0% in immunized rabbits and mice, respectively.