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Biomedical subjects

A A Pinto

Publications and source records attributed to A A Pinto.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Zooplankton community structure of two marginal lakes of the River Cuiabá (Mato Grosso, Brazil) with analysis of Rotifera and Cladocera diversity.

In the present study, two small lakes on the margins of the River Cuiabá were analyzed regarding taxonomic composition and population densities of the zooplankton. Diversity was evaluated for two groups, Rotifera and Cladocera; sampling was carried out on two dates: 2 March 1999, in the rainy season, and 25 August 1999, in the dry season. Seventy-nine rotifer taxa, 30 cladoceran taxa, and 6 copepod taxa were found. Comparing the species identified in the present study with those recorded by other authors for several water bodies in Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul states, it was found that 9 species of Cladocera, 2 of Copepoda, and 14 of Rotifera are new records for the region. The most abundant rotifer species were Keratella cochlearis, Brachionus angularis, Polyarthra vulgaris, and Keratella americana. Moina minuta and Bosminopsis deitersi were dominant among the cladocerans, and Notodiaptomus transitans and N. devoyorum among the copepods. Comparing both lakes, the greatest species richness of both Rotifera and Cladocera was observed in Lake Souza Lima, during the rainy season. This is probably linked to the fact that the littoral region of this lake is densely colonized by macrophytes. The lake also has better environmental conditions since it does not receive domestic sewage inputs, as does Lake Parque Atalaia. The diversity of the Rotifera was markedly low in Lake Parque Atalaia, during the dry season, again perhaps linked domestic sewage input found in this water body.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Extensive antigenic and genetic variation among foot-and-mouth disease type A viruses isolated from the 1994 and 1995 foci in São Paulo, Brazil.

Nine foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) type A isolates recovered from the field FMD foci in São Paulo State, Brazil, during 1994 and 1995 (a period preceding the last reported focus of FMD in 1996 in this state) were compared among themselves and with the reference vaccine strain A(24)Cruzeiro. The techniques used were sandwich ELISA, virus neutralization (VN), polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) of the structural polypeptides and direct sequencing of the VP1-coding region (1D gene). Results of VN were recorded as serological relationships "R" and those from ELISA were expressed as percentage of the homologous reaction "r". ELISA and VN gave comparable results (correlation coefficient, 0.936) allowing assignment of these field viruses to four groups which were distinct from the A(24)Cruzeiro strain. PAGE and 1D nucleotide sequencing were also able to distinguish between these viruses. The high level of genetic and antigenic variation found when comparing the A(24)Cruzeiro vaccine strain and type A strains recovered from the last identified foci of FMD came from a formerly endemic area where vaccination with polyvalent vaccines (O(1)Campos, A(24)Cruzeiro and C(3)Indaial) had been extensively applied. The similarity between the results of the serological and genetic analyses suggest that the antigenic differences found are mainly located in the 1D protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Detection and quantification of antibodies to Newcastle disease virus in ostrich and rhea sera using a liquid phase blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

A liquid phase blocking ELISA (LPB-ELISA) was adapted for the detection and quantification of antibodies to Newcastle disease virus. Sera from vaccinated and unvaccinated commercial flocks of ostriches (Struthio camelus) and rheas (Rhea americana) were tested. The purified and nonpurified virus used as the antigen and the capture and detector antibodies were prepared and standardized for this purpose. The hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test was regarded as the reference method. The cutoff point for the LPB-ELISA was determined by a two-graph receiver operating characteristic analysis. The LPB-ELISA titers regressed significantly (P < 0.0001) on the HI titers with a high correlation coefficient (r = 0.875). The two tests showed good agreement (kappa = 0.82; P < 0.0001), relative sensitivity (90.91%) and specificity (91.18%), and accuracy (91.02%), suggesting that they are interchangeable.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Antibody response to Newcastle disease vaccination in a flock of young partridges (Rhynchotus rufescens).

Ten young partridges (Rhynchotus rufescens) were vaccinated with the lentogenic strain of Newcastle disease virus. Another eight unvaccinated birds were kept in close contact with the treated flock. Antibodies levels were measured over the course of 3 mo in all birds using the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test and the liquid-phase blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (LPB-ELISA). The LPB-ELISA was standardized, and the results were compared with those obtained with the HI test. Antibodies increased after 23 days postvaccination in 16 birds with no side effects as determined by both the HI test and the LPB-ELISA.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of antibodies against Babesia bovis in cattle.

A method for the isolation of Babesia bovis merozoites from infected erythrocytes (Machado et al., 1994) and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of anti-B. bovis antibodies were developed. This ELISA utilizes a soluble, alkali-digested B. bovis antigen. Sera from calves experimentally infected with B. bovis were screened by this technique from day 9 to day 233 postinfection (PI). Maximum titers were reached between days 29 and 149 PI. Sera from calves (n = 62), heifers (n = 38) and cows (n = 49), raised in tick-infested areas of São Paulo State, showed higher antibody levels in heifers and cows. A higher percentage of negative sera (19.4%) was found among calves. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and immunoblotting have identified proteins of similar molecular mass in the two species. Sera from calves experimentally infected with B. bovis reacted with homologous antigens at the level of 95, 66 and 23 kDa. The same serum reacted with the 23 kDa band of heterologous antigen. Sera from calves experimentally infected with B. bigemina recognized 82, 66, 58, 36 and the 23 kDa polypeptides of homologous and heterologous antigens. The experimental ELISA described may prove to be a practical serological test for bovine Babesia infection with the choice of specific test antigen for B. bovis and B. bigemina.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Botulinum toxin type A for the treatment of arm and hand spasticity in stroke patients.

BACKGROUND: Focal spasticity can be a major drawback in the rehabilitation of stroke patients. Previous studies suggest a beneficial effect for botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) for relief of spasticity. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of BTX-A in the treatment of spasticity in a homogeneous group of stroke patients. METHODS: In this phase III open label trial 19 stroke patients stable for at least six months were enrolled (mean age 53.1 (SD 3.27) years; range 26-72). There were 16 males and 4 females. ASSESSMENTS: Clinical (Ashworth spasticity rating scale, scores for joint mobility, pain and frequency of spasms, Frenchay arm test (FAT)) and subjective (semi-quantitative rating scale filled out by the patient). Only hand and finger flexors were injected. The maximum dosage was 150 U BOTOX (25 U/muscle), the mean dosage was 92.1 +/- 31.6 U BOTOX. RESULTS: Ashworth rating scale and joint mobility scores improved from a median value of 2 at baseline to a median value of 1 one month after treatment, FAT scores also improved from a median value of 0 at baseline to a median value of 1 one month after treatment (Kruskall-Wallis test p < 0.01). Two-thirds of the patients rated their functional improvement as none or mild. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirmed that BTX-A has an anti-spastic effect but its functional impact needs further evaluation.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Liquid-phase blocking sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of antibodies against foot-and-mouth disease virus in water buffalo sera.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and apply the liquid-phase blocking sandwich ELISA (BLOCKING-ELISA) for the quantification of antibodies against foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) strains O1 Campos, A24 Cruzeiro, and C3 Indaial. DESIGN--Antibody quantification. SAMPLE POPULATION: 158 water buffalo from various premises of Sao Paulo State-Brazil. The sera were collected either from systemically vaccinated or nonvaccinated animals. PROCEDURE: The basic reagents of BLOCKING-ELISA (capture and detector antibodies, virus antigens, and conjugate) were prepared and the reaction was optimized and standardized to quantify water buffalo antibodies against FMDV. An alternative procedure based on mathematical interpolation was adopted to estimate more precisely the antibody 50% competition titers in the BLOCKING-ELISA. These titers were compared with the virus-neutralization test (VNT) titers to determine the correlation between these techniques. The percentages of agreement, cutoff points, and reproducibility also were determined. RESULTS: The antibody titers obtained in the BLOCKING-ELISA had high positive correlation coefficients with VNT, reaching values of 0.90 for O1 Campos and C3 Indaial, and 0.82 for the A24 Cruzeiro (P < 0.0005). The cutoff points obtained by use of the copositivity and conegativity curves allowed determination of high levels of agreement between BLOCKING-ELISA and VNT antibody titers against the 3 FMDV strains analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: The results characterized by high correlation coefficients, levels of agreement, and reproducibility indicate that the BLOCKING-ELISA may replace the conventional VNT for detection and quantification of antibodies from water buffalo sera to FMDV.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Rapid coagglutination test for the detection and typing of foot and mouth disease virus.

Protein A containing Staphylococcus aureus was used to develop a coagglutination (COA) test for the detection and typing of foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) O, A and C serotypes in infected cells and tissues. Different batches and amounts of guinea pig anti-FMDV sera were assessed to optimize the preparation of COA conjugates. The sensitivity and specificity of the COA Test for the detection of FMDV O, A and C serotypes and heterologous viruses was also characterized. Comparison between the COA Test and complement fixation test for the detection and typing of FMDV obtained from extracts of tongue epithelial tissues from infected cattle revealed high agreement in the results and indicated a potential application of the COA Test for the direct diagnosis of viruses.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1983

Serological diagnosis of brucellosis in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis): comparison among complement fixation, serum agglutination and rose bengal plate test.

The results of a comparative study among complement fixation (CFT), plate agglutination (PAT), tube agglutination (TAT) and Rose Bengal plate tests ( RBPT ) to the serodiagnosis of brucellosis in Indian buffaloes are reported. Sera from 212 buffaloes unvaccinated against brucellosis were examined and the CFT was able to reveal significant titres in sera with low agglutinating titres. From 109 sera which did not show agglutination titres in the PAT, four showed complement fixing titre greater than 1 in 200. All the positive sera to the RBPT gave complement fixing titre equal to or greater than 1 in 20. In sera that showed negative result to the RBPT the CFT was able to reveal relatively high titres. From 131 sera negative to the RBPT five showed complement fixing titres greater than 1 in 60.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1983

Comparative study among complement fixation, serum agglutination and Rose Bengal Plate tests in the serodiagnosis of bovine brucellosis.

The complement fixation test (CFT) based on the 50 per cent hemolytic end point technique was applied to the diagnosis of bovine brucellosis in a comparative study involving the plate agglutination test (PAT), the tube agglutination test (TAT) and the Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT). Among 180 bovine sera that were examined the CFT was able to reveal significant titres in sera that gave low agglutinating titres. Some sera with agglutinating titres between 1 in 50 and 1 in 100 did not given a titre in the CFT. The results show that the CFT is useful for bovine brucellosis diagnosis and may be used after sera screening with PAT and RBPT.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1982

Comparative study among complement fixation, serum agglutination and Rose Bengal plate tests in the serodiagnosis of bovine brucellosis.

The complement fixation test (CFT) based on the 50 per cent hemolytic end point technique was applied to the diagnosis of bovine brucellosis in a comparative study involving the plate agglutination test (PAT), the tube agglutination test (TAT) and the Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT). Among 180 bovine sera that were examined the CFT was able to reveal significant titres in sera that gave low agglutinating titres. Some sera with agglutinating titres between 1 in 50 and 1 in 100 did not give a titre in the CFT. The results show that the CFT is useful for bovine brucellosis diagnosis and may be used after sera screening with PAT and RBPT.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1980

Comparative study between microscopic agglutination and complement fixation tests in experimental canine leptospirosis.

In order to evaluate the antibody response to pathologic leptospira from both serovars icterohaemorrhagiae and canicola, dogs were experimentally inoculated with these leptospiras. Each of the serovar were inoculated in 15 dogs and the antibody response in the acute phase of infected was followed by microscopic agglutination and complement fixation tests. Complement fixing antibodies were detected in both groups at the 4th day post infection and agglutinins appeared in circulation at the 7th day post infection when homologous antigens were used. On the 63rd day post infection with serovar canicola and on 56th day post infection with serovar icterohaemorrhagiae, complement fixing antibodies could no longer be detected but, in both experimental groups, specific agglutinins were presented in significant titers.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1979

Immune response to virus-infection-associated (VIA) antigen in cattle repeatedly vaccinated with foot-and-mouth disease virus inactivated by formalin or acetylethyleneimine.

The results of experiments to investigate antibody to 'virus infection associated' (VIA) antigen in cattle repeatedly vaccinated with formalin- or acetylethyleneimine- (AEI) inactivated foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccines under laboratory conditions are reported. Results are also presented from some vaccinated animals subsequently exposed to FMD infection. Antibody against VIA was not detected before and after the first vaccination with formalin or AEI-inactivated vaccine but did develop in all animals after the second formalin vaccination and persisted throughout the experiment. After the second AEI vaccination, 4 of 12 animals developed antibody which persisted for at least 37 days. This transient response in some cattle was repeated after successive vaccinations but, in general, more animals responded as the number of vaccinations increased. After exposure to infection a transient VIA antibody response was occasionally observed in immune AEI-vaccinated animals. Some immune repeatedly AEI-vaccinated cattle did not develop detectable VIA antibody after challenge despite the persistence of virus in oesophageal-pharyngeal (O/P) fluid. The presence of antibody to VIA antigen is not conclusive proof that vaccinated animals have been exposed to infection and field data must be interpreted with caution.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

The detection of antibody to virus-infection associated (VIA) antigen in various species of African wildlife following natural and experimental infection with foot and mouth disease virus.

The double immuno-diffusion (DID) test has been applied to detect antibody to VIA antigen in sera from various species of African wild ungulates. In conjunction with the serum neutralisation (SN) test it can be used to decide the degree of risk of movement of animals to other countries free from foot and mouth disease (FMD). The value of the test in assessing the history of infection is limited by its relatively low sensitivity and specificity in respect of virus type.

Africa↗
PubMed1975

[The complement-fixation test in rabies. I. Antibody titer of vaccinated dogs (author's transl)].

Complement-fixation test based in 50% hemolytic end point was applied to investigate the immune status to rabies of dogs vaccinated with heigh egg-passage Flury vaccine. The complement-fixation titer was compared with serum neutralization results. Twenty-five sera was employed and the complement fixation titer varied of 0 to 256. Three sera was anticomplementary. The results indicated a lack of quantitative correlation, but was found a qualitative correlation between the two methods.

Animals↗