Diversity of rickettsiae and potential vectors of spotted fever in an area of epidemiological interest in the Cerrado biome, midwestern Brazil

The Brazilian state of Goiás, untouched by spotted fever (SF) until 2012, has subsequently reported cases of the disease in several regions. This study aimed to survey the diversity of potential vectors and rickettsia in areas of Goiás under environmental surveillance or case investigation for SF. Collected specimens were assayed with molecular biology technology using DNA extraction, amplification and sequencing of fragments of the genes gltA, ompA, ompB and sca4 to detect rickettsia in ticks and fleas. Amplification of cytochrome oxidase subunit II and 16S rRNA was performed to assist tick identification. Rickettsia felis (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) was found in Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché, 1835) (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae). Rickettsia bellii was found in Amblyomma rotundatum Koch, 1844 (Ixodida: Ixodidae) and in Amblyomma cajennense sensu lato. Rickettsia sp. strain NOD was found in Amblyomma nodosum Neumann, 1899. Of the Amblyomma cajennense complex, Amblyomma sculptum Berlese, 1888 was confirmed in the northern, northeast, midwest and southeast regions of Goiás, whereas Amblyomma cajennense sensu stricto (Fabricius, 1787) was found only in the northern region of the state. Amblyomma dubitatum Neumann, 1899 associated with a species of the A. cajennense complex was the most common epidemiological finding, although Rickettsia rickettsii was not detected. This is the first report of Rickettsia sp. strain NOD in Goiás.

Odontogenic myxoma in a child treated with enucleation and curettage

Odontogenic myxoma is an aggressive benign odontogenic tumor, accounting for 3-6% of all the odontogenic tumors in adults. The incidence among children is lower. Due to its clinical behavior, there is no consensus on the best treatment. In this paper, the authors report the case of a 9-year-old girl with the diagnosis of odontogenic myxoma. The panoramic X-ray showed an extensive radiolucent lesion involving the left mandibular body causing teeth displacement. The treatment consisted of tumor enucleation followed by vigorous curettage of the bone walls. Both the base of the mandible and the inferior alveolar nerve were preserved. The patient is asymptomatic after 6 months of surgery. The age of the patient and the radiographic features were taken into account when deciding in favor of the conservative treatment.

Combining logistic models with multivariate methods for the rapid biological assessment of rivers using macroinvertebrates

This work represents an attempt to define a simple method to classify the relative degree of disturbance of sites in lotic systems on the basis of comparison of their faunistic composition with reference sites. Two ecotypes were selected in northern Portugal where benthic invertebrates were sampled in reaches with different levels of contamination. As a first stage, previous Geographic Information System information was used to define reference sites in each ecotype. Afterwards, multivariate techniques and non linear estimation models were combined to assess biological quality. This method allowed us to quantify sites according to increasing levels of contamination, after the probabilities of occurrence of taxa along a gradient of contamination taking into account the reference condition. The results suggest that this method is sensitive to organic pollution, easy to interpret, namely the species tolerance, and could be a good framework to establish regional rankings depending on the ecological impact of river sites.

The action of the herbicide paraquat on somatic and germ cells of mice

The genotoxic potential of paraquat was evaluated in mouse somatic (bone marrow) and germ (spermatozoa) cells. Two exposure schedules were conducted: single and multiple treatment. Only for multiple treatment was an increased frequency of chromosomal aberrations observed. In germ cells, paraquat induced an increase of sperm-shape abnormalities when the animals were treated at three stages of cell development: spermatozoa, spermatid and preleptotene spermatogonial cells. These toxicogenetic effects might be attributed to the ability of paraquat to generate oxygen free radicals.

[Klüver-Bucy syndrome caused by viral encephalitis. Report of a case]

A case of peculiar form of Klüver-Bucy syndrome is reported. The diagnosis of viral meningoencephalitis was made by the clinical features and by cerebrospinal fluid and histological examination (brain biopsy). The computed tomography and electroencephalographic aspects are analysed. The viral meningoencephalitis was possibly herpetic in nature (herpes simplex virus). The patient here concerned, a woman aged twenty-one years old, during the clinical course of the disease showed insatiable appetite, psychic blindness, oral tendencies, aberrant sexual behavior and hypermetamorphopsia (Klüver-Bucy syndrome). The significance of these features is discussed.

[Hemifacial spasm: results of surgical treatment in 14 cases]

Quatorze pacientes com espasmo hemifacial foram submetidos a exploração cirúrgica e neurolise do 7º par craniano no ângulo ponto-cerebelar. Em 7 pacientes havia indubitável compressão do nervo facial por alça anômala da artéria cerebelar anterior e inferior sendo que um paciente também apresentava malformação de Arnold-Chiari. Em um paciente havia aracnoidite envolvendo o nervo. Em 6 outros, o nervo achava-se aparentemente livre. Houve alívio imediato e duradouro do espasmo em 10 pacientes, 2 permaneceram inalterados e um apresentou recidiva após 10 meses. Houve um óbito no pós-operatório imediato, conseqüente a traumatismo craniano por queda do paciente.