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Biomedical subjects

J M Costa

Publications and source records attributed to J M Costa.

142 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
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[The resistance of fasting and nutritional aspects of Triatoma lecticularia (Stal, 1859) (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae)].

The resistance to fasting of Triatoma lecticularia was studied in all phases of the life cycle and the insect weighed in different nutritional situations (fed, not fed, death after starvation). The temperature and humidity levels were also recorded. The nymphal phases showed increasing resistance to fasting as demonstrated by the following averages (days) 1st 45.84; 2nd 61; 3rd 88.74; 4th 123.44; 5th 162.30. Upon the adult phase, the averages were similar to those of the 3rd stage for the male insects 88.94 and for the females 83.66. The weighing technique allowed for the measurement of the quantity of blood ingested, the weight loss during the fast and the percentage weight loss as related to the initial weight. The species is found in the Neartic region where it has been found infected with Trypanosoma cruzi and is associated with the terrestrial rodents Neotoma micropus Baird and Spermophilus variagatus (Erxelebem).

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[Bionomic studies of Cavernicola lenti Barrett & Arias, 1985 (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae)].

In the biological study, the development of the biological cycle of the insect under different feeding conditions was evaluated. The insects were fed on either mouse blood (c) or pigeon blood (p) using two types of rearing techniques (individual or group) at 28 degrees C and 90% relative humidity (which is equivalent to their natural environment). A fifth cycle studied, was fed on mouse blood reared on group, and maintained at laboratory environmental temperature. In the five cycles analyzed, it was found that groups on mouse blood at near natural conditions developed more rapidly (between 60 and 73 days) and had a lower rate of mortality (16.66%). The daily handling and changes in environment, of the individually reared insects, for observation of biological characteristics (no. and duration of bloodmeal, defecation and first fed of each stage) had a negative influence. None of the individuals fed on mouse or pigeon blood reached adult hood. It was found that the longevity and the fertility rate were significantly superior on couples maintained individually on mouse blood. These males had an average lifespan of 110.26 days and the females had an average lifespan of 104.46 days. The average number of eggs laid by each female was 21.26. Four couples kept in groups (five couples in each group) under the same condition, the longevity for males was 51.86 days and for females was 81.06 days. An average of 10.5 eggs were laid by each female. However, the percentage of fertile eggs was higher in couples kept in groups (72.15%) than in the individual couples (57.68%).

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An outbreak of human Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis infection.

The occurrence of acute cutaneous leishmaniasis among inhabitants of 10 farms within 10 Km of the hamlet of Corte de Pedra, Bahia, Brazil was studied prospectively from 1984-1989. A mean population of 1,056 inhabitants living in 146 houses were visited every 6 months and the number of skin ulcers recorded. A leishmanin skin test survey was done people with suggestive skin scars or active disease in 1984. The incidence of skin ulcers due to Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis (Lvb) reached 83/1,000 inhabitants but declined sharply in the subsequent 2 years. Retrospective data shows that leishmaniasis is a sporadic endemic disease. Although the reasons for this epidemic are unclear some possible aetiological factors are discussed.

Adolescent↗
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[Distribution of Aedes aegypti and dengue in the State of Maranhão, Brazil].

Dengue and Aedes aegypti are widespread in the State of Maranhão. During 1995, 87 of the 136 of the State's counties, including 176 towns and 480,687 households, were studied, of which 30 counties (34. 4%), 118 towns (67.0%) and 10,357 households (2.1%) were positive for Aedes aegypti. The positive counties are distributed as follow: 3 on São Luís Island, 7 in the Amazonia of Maranhão, 12 in the southern zone of the cerrados or savannas, and 5 in the mixed forest/savanna/palm grove zone. One positive county for Ae. aegypti was located in each of the following: alluvial fields, forest/palm grove, and sand dune/shoals areas. The Ae. aegypti-positive household rates were higher in the Amazonia of Maranhão (3.5%) and on São Luís Island (2.5%), because they are the most heavily traveled migratory and trade routes between Maranhão and neighboring states and are also the State's main economic centers. Household infestation rates for Ae. aegypti and reported dengue case rates were higher during the rainy season, showing the importance of rain in forming prime breeding sites for Aedes and spreading dengue.

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[Sandflies (Diptera, Psychodidae) from an endemic leishmaniasis area in the cerrado region of the State of Maranhão, Brazil].

This article presents a list of ten sandfly species from the genus Lutzomyia França, 1924 found in the counties of Aldeias Altas, Capinzal do Norte, Caxias, Codó, Coelho Neto, Timbiras, Timon and Tuntum in northeastern Maranhão, Brazil. Presence of sandflies was associated with cases of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis. Some 377 specimens were captured indoors with CDC light traps and 1491 specimens in the peridomicile. The species were: Lutzomyia cortelezii, Lutzomyia evandroi, Lutzomyia goiana, Lutzomyia intermedia, Lutzomyia lenti, Lutzomyia longipalpis, Lutzomyia longipennis, Lutzomyia squamiventris, Lutzomyia termitophila and Lutzomyia whitmani. The most abundant species was L. longipalpis (67. 4% and 70.2%) followed by L. whitmani (31.0% and 24.7%). L. longipalpis was captured both indoors and outdoors in all the months studied.

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Emerging Chagas disease: trophic network and cycle of transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi from palm trees in the Amazon.

A trophic network involving molds, invertebrates, and vertebrates, ancestrally adapted to the palm tree (Attalaea phalerata) microhabitat, maintains enzootic Trypanosoma cruzi infections in the Amazonian county Paço do Lumiar, state of Maranhão, Brazil. We assessed seropositivity for T. cruzi infections in the human population of the county, searched in palm trees for the triatomines that harbor these infections, and gathered demographic, environmental, and socioeconomic data. Rhodnius pictipes and R. neglectus in palm-tree frond clefts or in houses were infected with T. cruzi (57% and 41%, respectively). Human blood was found in 6.8% of R. pictipes in houses, and 9 of 10 wild Didelphis marsupialis had virulent T. cruzi infections. Increasing human population density, rain forest deforestation, and human predation of local fauna are risk factors for human T. cruzi infections.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Phlebotominae (Diptera: Psychodidae) of Lagoas, a city of Buriticupu, Amazonia of Maranhão. I. The richness and relative abundance of the species in an area of recent colonization].

In this study the diversity of the species and relative abundance of the sand flies in the Amazonian community of Lagoas, in Buriticupu, Maranhão State, was determined. The study consisted of adult sandflies captured with CD light-traps, Shannon-trap and manual aspiration tube, between 18 PM and 6 AM, once a month, from December/95 to January/97, in a forest fragment and in the domestic environment (peri and intra). In all, 9,393 specimens were captured (4,302 males and 5,140 females) distributed among 38 species (1 Brumptomyia and 37 Lutzomyia). The diversity and abundance of species was higher in the forest, followed by the peri and intra. The predominance in the wild ambient is a consequence of the potentialities found in the remaining fragments of the forest which have survived the lumber yard exploitation and agricultural activities. In the forest environment Lutzomyia whitmani (64.9%), L. migonei (27%) and L. serrana (3.6%) were the most frequent species. In the peri and intra domicile L. evandroi predominated (55.4% and 97.9%). The species, L. whitmani (33.4%) and L. migonei (6.4%), were important in the peri domicile. The peridomestic habit of 7.7% of the sand flies showed the greatest epidemiologic importance, due to the existence of patients with leishmaniasis ulcers, who believe they were infected near their habitations.

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[Multiple intracranial tuberculomas in infancy].

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculous involvement of the CNS is most frequent in children aged between 6 months and 6 years, although it may occur at any age. It may present as meningoencephalitis, basal arachnoiditis or intracranial tuberculomas. Whilst meningitis is typical of infancy, tuberculomas and arachnoiditis are commoner in adults. It has been estimated that tuberculomas make up 3% of the cases of neurotuberculosis. The increasing use of CAT and MR has been a great help for diagnosis of this serious complication of tuberculosis. CLINICAL CASE: A 5 month old patient presented with tuberculous meningitis which had been treated with streptomycin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide and rifampicin at the usual dosage. One month later, after good initial progress, triventricular hydrocephaly was diagnosed and a ventriculoperitoneal shunt inserted. Three months after this, there was an episode of intracranial hypertension. Cranial CAT showed considerable zones of hypodense parenchyma without ventricle dilatation. On MR there were multiple, disseminated, rounded areas which were hyperintense on T2 and compatible with intracranial tuberculomas. After fresh insertion of a ventricular shunt, the patient progressed but still had a residual right hemiparesia and retarded development. CONCLUSIONS: Although intracranial tuberculomas usually occur in adults, they may be seen in children following meningoencephalitis. Occasionally, following a good initial response to tuberculostatic drugs, tuberculomas appear, although not present before, as happened in our patient. This usually occurs within the first three months, and although the mechanism is unknown, it is believed to be due to the accumulation of lymphocytes and macrophages at preexisting microscopic foci when treatment is started.

Female↗
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[Fonsecaea pedrosoi-caused chromoblastomycosis in the state of Maranhão. I. The clinical, epidemiological and evolutionary aspects].

The aim of this study was to observe the clinical and of epidemiological behavior of chromoblastomycosis in the State of Maranhão. A retrospective and prospective study of 13 cases was performed at the infectious diseases section of the Hospital dos Servidores do Estado do Maranhão, from November, 1988 to July, 1991. In the investigation a protocol record was used with a view to further analysis. A higher prevalence between 50 and 60 years of age (46.1%) and in male patients (92.3%) was noted. Twelve patients (92.3%) were from Maranhão State, and 10 of them (76.9%) came from the western microregion of the State of Maranhão. Regarding occupation, 92.3% were land workers, and most of them presented the lesions on the lower limbs (84.6%) of a vegetant warty aspect, brown in color with itching. Histopathological examination diagnosed chromomycosis in 100% of the cases. Culture was performed in 11 cases, and Fonsecaea pedrosoi isolated in 9 of them. Treatment with 5-fluorocytosine resulted in a good evolutive response. This study indicates the existence of a probable endemic area of chromomycosis in hinterland of Maranhão (western microregion) that hither to unknown.

Adult↗
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[Musculocutaneous and visceral cysticercosis: a rare disease?].

The aims of the present study were to measure the frequency of cutaneous, muscular and visceral forms of cysticercosis in anatomopathological examinations and necropsies in the Federal District and to study the clinical aspects of this disease. In 64.911 protocols of anatomopathological examinations reviewed, 30 (0.05%) had the diagnosis of cysticercosis, 90% had cysticerci in the subcutaneous tissue, skeletal muscle or mucous membrane, 3.3% in lymph node and 6.7% in the central nervous system. Two (7.4%) patients had cysticerci in the tongue. In 1520 autopsies protocols reviewed, 25 (1.6%) autopsies with cysticercosis were found. 96% had cysticerci in the central nervous system, 8% in the heart, 8% in the skeletal muscle and 4% in the liver, either isolated or associated with cysticerci in other viscera. 1122 people were also examined. Indirect immunofluorescence and ELISA were the serological tests used in all patients for the diagnosis of cysticercosis. The radiological investigation of the skull and soft tissues was also performed. 59 (5.3%) patients had both serological tests positive (10 had also biopsies with the diagnosis of cysticercosis). The muscular form was found in 42.4%, subcutaneous cysts were present in 20.3% and the visceral form was found in 3.4% of cases. In patients with visceral cysticercosis, the cysts were localized in the heart, pleura, kidney and ovary. Calcifications in the skull and/or soft tissues were demonstrated radiologically in 32 (2.8%) patients with negative serological tests for cysticercosis. The present study suggests a high frequency of subcutaneous and muscular forms of cysticercosis in the Federal District. The visceral form of the disease is also found in various organs, without clinical manifestations of importance.

Adolescent↗
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[Pulmonary involvement in malaria (review)].

Pulmonary involvement occurs in 3 to 10% of the cases of Plasmodium falciparum malaria and represents the most serious complication of this infection, with a lethality of about 70%. The understanding of its pathogenesis is still very fragmentary, however it is recognized that activation of the immune system by antigens released by the parasite plays an important role in the induction and worsening of lung damage. Capillary endothelial cells, which control the flux of fluids to the interstitial space, appear to be the most involved structure. These cells are activated by cytokines, produced by lymphocytes and macrophages during the immune response, and express receptors and molecules of adhesion, allowing for sequestration of parasitized erythrocytes and adherence of cells, which will produce locally inflammatory mediators. The inflammatory reaction and lesion of endothelial cells that ensue, together with the hemodynamic alterations induced by the capillary blockade due to the sequestration of parasitized erythrocytes and leukocytes, cause alterations of the vascular permeability and transfer of liquid to intertitial space and alveoles. Severe cases are clinically expressed by a picture of Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome. The clinical manifestations of pulmonary involvement may start suddenly at any time during the course of malaria, even after disappearance of circulating parasites. The inducing factors are unknown. Hyperparasitemia, renal failure and pregnancy are predisposing factors. The prognosis will depend on how fast the diagnosis is established and convenient treatment initiated. If parasites are present they shall be treated with schizonticidal drugs, hemodynamic parameters continuously evaluated, preferably through a Swam-Ganz catheter. Appropriate oxygen supply and fluid balance have to be warranted. Other complications of malaria, frequently associated to the pulmonary involvement, need special attention and proper treatment. A better understanding of the pathogenesis of lung damage associated to malaria will certainly help to improve treatment and reduce morbidity and mortality.

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