The aim of this study was to verify the occurrence of Cryptosporidium infection in 52 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients (group 1) and 38 clinically healthy individuals (group 2) by using enzyme immunoassay (EIA). All fecal samples collected were submitted to the Baermann, Lutz, and Ritchie methods, the Safranin/Methylene Blue, and Weber's chromotrope modified Trichrome staining techniques, and EIA. In group 1, parasitological staining techniques and EIA were both positive for Cryptosporidium sp. infection in 3/52 (5.8%) samples and both negative in 45/52 (86.5%) samples, while 4/52 (7.7%) samples were positive in EIA and negative in parasitological staining techniques. Concerning group 2, all samples were negative by EIA and microscopy for Cryptosporidium infection. In conclusion, EIA may be an alternative method for detecting Cryptosporidium-specific coproantigen in HIV/AIDS patients.

The present study was conducted to detected IgG antibodies using Strongyloides venezuelensis alkaline extract for the diagnosis of human strongyloidiasis by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Sera from 90 subjects were analyzed (30 with strongyloidiasis, 30 with other parasites and 30 healthy individuals). Results were expressed in antibody titers, which were considered as positive when titer was > 80. Sensibility and specificity of the assay were 100% and 96.7%, respectively. It can be concluded that the heterologous alkaline extract could be employed in ELISA as a diagnostic aid in human strongyloidiasis, due to its advantages as easiness of obtaining, practicability in preparing, and high indexes of sensitivity and specificity.

O diagnóstico parasitológico e imunológico da estrongiloidíase foi realizado em 151 crianças (83 imunodeprimidas -ID e 68 imunocompetentes -IC) de zero a 12 anos de idade internadas no Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brasil, no período de fevereiro de 1996 a junho de 1998. Para o diagnóstico parasitológico três amostras de fezes de cada indivíduo foram processadas pelos métodos de Baermann-Moraes e de Lutz. O diagnóstico imunológico para a detecção de anticorpos IgG e IgM foi realizado através das reações de imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI) utilizando-se como antígeno cortes de 4 micra de larvas filarióides de Strongyloides stercoralis e Strongyloides ratti e do teste ELISA utilizando-se como antígeno extrato alcalino de larvas de S. ratti. Das 151 crianças, 5 (3,31%) estavam infectadas com S. stercoralis (2 casos ID, 2,41% e 3 casos IC, 4,41%). A RIFI- IgG detectou 7 (8,43%) amostras de soros positivas nas ID, e 2 (2,94%) nas IC. O teste ELISA-IgG detectou 10 (12,05%) amostras de soros positivas nas ID, e 1 (1,47%) nas IC. A RIFI-IgM detectou 6 (7,22%) casos positivos nas ID, e 3 (4,41%) nas IC. O teste ELISA-IgM detectou 10 (12,05%) casos positivos nas ID e 3 (4,41%) nas IC. Concluiu-se que os testes imunológicos podem contribuir para o diagnóstico da estrongiloidíase em crianças imunodeprimidas.

Parasitological and immunological diagnoses were part of a study conducted among 151 children, 83 immunocompromised (IC) and 68 non-immunocompromised (non-IC) aged from zero to 12, seen at the University Hospital, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, from February, 1996, to June, 1998. Three fecal samples from each child were analyzed for the parasitological diagnosis by Baermann-Moraes and Lutz methods. The immunological diagnosis to detect IgG and IgM antibodies was carried out by the indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) with cryo-microtome sections of Strongyloides stercoralis and Strongyloides ratti larvae as antigens and by the ELISA test with an alkaline extract of S. ratti as the antigens. Of the 151 children 5 (3.31%) were infected with larvae of S. stercoralis (2 cases IC, 2.41%, and 3 cases non-IC, 4.41%). The IFAT-IgG detected 7 (8.43%) serum samples positive among IC, and 2 (2.94%) cases among non-IC. The ELISA-IgG test detected 10 (12.05%) serum samples positive among IC, and 1 (1.47%) case among non-IC. The IFAT-IgM detected 6 (7.22%) positive cases among IC, and 3 (4.41%) cases among non-IC. ELISA-IgM test detected 10 (12.05%) positive cases among IC, and 3 (4.41%) cases among non-IC. It was concluded that the immunological tests can help in the diagnosis of strongyloidiasis in immunocompromised children.

Inquérito envolvendo leishmaniose e doença de Chagas, por meio da Reação de Imunofluorescência Indireta, foi realizado com soros de 331 cães de Uberlândia e Coromandel, Municípios do Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Para tal inquérito, utilizaram-se, como antígenos, Leishmania amazonensis e Trypanosoma cruzi. No que tange a Uberlândia, examinaram-se 230 soros, sendo 200 da área urbana com 4,5% de positividade, e 30 da área rural, dos quais, 6,6% positivos para a RIFI com antígeno L. amazonensis. No que se refere a Coromandel, a mesma reação realizada em 89 soros, com o mesmo antígeno, L. amazonensis, foi positiva em 5,6% dos cães. Além dos 230 soros de Uberlândia, mais 12, advindos de cães atendidos no Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, com suspeita clínica de leishmaniose, foram incluídos; destes, os soros de dois reagiram à Reação de Imunofluorescência Indireta, sendo um positivo frente ao antígeno L. amazonensis, e o outro, frente ao antígeno T. cruzi. Tais resultados sugerem a urbanização da leishmaniose e da doença de Chagas em cães.

Leishmaniasis and Chagas' disease were surveyed by indirect immunofluorescence with sera from 331 dogs from Uberlândia and Coromandel, two counties in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Leishmania amazonensis and Trypanosoma cruzi antigens were employed. In Uberlândia county, 230 sera were studied, of which 200 were from urban areas and 30 rural: 4.5% of urban samples and 6.6% of rural were positive for L. amazonensis antigen. Of 89 sera from Coromandel, 5.6% were positive for the same test to L. amazonensis antigen. Twelve additional canine sera were obtained from the Veterinary Hospital at the Federal University in Uberlândia, all of which with a pending diagnosis of leishmaniasis: of these, one had a positive immune test to L. amazonensis and another to T. cruzi antigens. The results suggest regional urbanization of both leishmaniasis and Chagas' disease in the canine populations of both communities.

Inquérito envolvendo leishmaniose e doença de Chagas, por meio da Reação de Imunofluorescência Indireta, foi realizado com soros de 331 cães de Uberlândia e Coromandel, Municípios do Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Para tal inquérito, utilizaram-se, como antígenos, Leishmania amazonensis e Trypanosoma cruzi. No que tange a Uberlândia, examinaram-se 230 soros, sendo 200 da área urbana com 4,5% de positividade, e 30 da área rural, dos quais, 6,6% positivos para a RIFI com antígeno L. amazonensis. No que se refere a Coromandel, a mesma reação realizada em 89 soros, com o mesmo antígeno, L. amazonensis, foi positiva em 5,6% dos cães. Além dos 230 soros de Uberlândia, mais 12, advindos de cães atendidos no Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, com suspeita clínica de leishmaniose, foram incluídos; destes, os soros de dois reagiram à Reação de Imunofluorescência Indireta, sendo um positivo frente ao antígeno L. amazonensis, e o outro, frente ao antígeno T. cruzi. Tais resultados sugerem a urbanização da leishmaniose e da doença de Chagas em cães.

Leishmaniasis and Chagas' disease were surveyed by indirect immunofluorescence with sera from 331 dogs from Uberlândia and Coromandel, two counties in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Leishmania amazonensis and Trypanosoma cruzi antigens were employed. In Uberlândia county, 230 sera were studied, of which 200 were from urban areas and 30 rural: 4.5% of urban samples and 6.6% of rural were positive for L. amazonensis antigen. Of 89 sera from Coromandel, 5.6% were positive for the same test to L. amazonensis antigen. Twelve additional canine sera were obtained from the Veterinary Hospital at the Federal University in Uberlândia, all of which with a pending diagnosis of leishmaniasis: of these, one had a positive immune test to L. amazonensis and another to T. cruzi antigens. The results suggest regional urbanization of both leishmaniasis and Chagas' disease in the canine populations of both communities.