[en] We describe the evolution of parenchymal cerebral cysticerci on MRI, to assess signs of early cyst degeneration. We studied 15 lesions in four treated and one untreated patient. MRI was performed before therapy and repeated in the 1st month after each course of anticysticercus drugs, every 4 months during the 1st year and then annually; the follow-up period was 8-48 months. Lesions were classified according to changes in four features: cyst content and capsule signal, gadolinium enhancement and oedema signal. We were able to recognise each of the pathological phases; five MRI stages were identified. Stage 1 showed oedema and/or nodular gadolinium enhancement in the tissue invasion phase; stage 2 was cerebrospinal fluid-like signal within a cyst in the vesicular phase; stage 3 showed a thick capsule with an impure liquid content signal and surrounding oedema, in the cystic phase; stage 4 showed the disappearance of the cyst fluid content signal in the degenerative phase; stage 5 showed a calcified lesion in the residual phase. Stage 1 lesions disappeared after therapy; the other progressed from one stage to another. Stage 4 indicated the end of viability of the parasite and determined the point after which treatment was useless. On T2-weighted images changes in the cyst content differed according to the history of the lesion; nodular low intensity followed the natural degeneration of the parasite and a mixed fluid signal with punctate low signal seemed to represent the specific result of therapy. MRI staging can help in the evaluation of indications for treatment and facilitate clinical therapeutic trials. (orig.). With 4 figs., 1 tab

[en] Highlights: ► We confirm a previous report that infection with Leishmania can manifest multiple nodular lesions of the spleen. ► We confirm these lesions to be readily detectable with present imaging modalities. ► We affirm the fact that these lesions are hypoechoic on ultrasound, though in our case no hypoechoic halo was observed. ► We found these lesions to be hypodense on CT in the delayed phase after intravenous contrast administration. ► In addition to these previous findings we found that the spleen showed an inhomogeneous intensity on MRI; upon closer examination whilst scrolling through the T2-weighted sequences we can note multiple ill-defined and heterogeneous hypointense nodules. -- Abstract: We present a case of a 15-month-old Moroccan girl with fever of unknown origin, hepatosplenomegaly and multiple hypoechoic nodular splenic lesions that appear hypodense on CT. T2-weighted MRI sequences show a markedly inhomogeneous intensity of the parenchyma, seemingly caused by multiple ill-defined and heterogeneous hypointense nodules. Laboratory tests confirmed a recent infection with Leishmania, a parasite endemic to (sub)tropic regions. During and after therapy these lesions gradually resolved. To our knowledge this is the second published case in which different imaging modalities were able to demonstrate organ lesions associated with Leishmania. It is also the first report of MRI-findings associated with these lesions

[en] The effect of different sub sterilizing gamma ray doses on Sesame nonagrioides Lef., Lepidoptera Noctuidae is herein studies. It appears from the observed resultats that : - doses of 70 Gy are those required to obtain sub sterile insects. - F1 males from subterile parents present sterility superior to that of parents without any reduction in sexual competitivity on acouplement frequency. - On the 3 successive generations that we studies, the sex ratio is modified and a great residual sterility is observed.

[en] The genus Lutzomyia has a variety of species, where some are vectors of the disease called leishmaniasis which has implications for public health developing different clinical manifestations that highly affect humans such as cutaneous, visceral and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. The aim of the study was to update the registry of the Lutzomyia species that are present in six areas of the Atlantico department. Three traditional capture techniques were implemented, with CDC traps implemented from 18:00 to 6:00 o'clock, Shannon traps from 19:00 to 10:00 and active search with mouth aspirators on trunks, tree bases and other rest sites from 09:00 to 11:00 and 16:00 to 17:30, in six municipalities of the Atlantico department, Colombia. Ten phlebotomine species were captured during the present work, from which the finding of Lutzomyia longipalpis and Lutzomyia atroclavata are reported for the first time at the Atlantico department. From the ten species captured, Lutzomyia longipalpis has antecedents as a vector of Leishmania infantum in Colombia and other regions of Latin America. The most abundant species with the greatest spatial distribution was Lu. evansi, which is the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in the Caribbean region. In conclusion, the richness of phlebotomineal fauna of the department of Atlantico is updated to twelve species, with the first record of Lu. longipalpis and Lu. atroclavata. Phlebotomy fauna is also reported for the first time in localities of the department of Atlantico such as Campeche, Puerto Colombia, Luruaco, Ponedera and Campo de la Cruz.

[en] Leaf anatomy of Gaiadendron punctatum and Tripodanthus belmirensis species is described with the aim of exploring possible characters that allow a precise identification of these two genera, characterized by tree or shrub habit, belonging to Loranthaceae family. Samples were processed and stained with routine techniques for observation on optical microscope. Both species showed similarities, such as one-layered epidermis and rubiaceous type stomata. However, a different anatomic composition was observed in aspects such as: mesophyll, position and shape of epidermic cells and presence of suber accumulations in G. punctatum, or numerous idioblasts in T. belmirensis. A dichotomous key was constructed for species determination based on anatomical leaf characters, between the species of genus Tripodanthus and G. punctatum. Furthermore, the use of anatomical characters in determination and support of distinguishable taxonomical entities inside Loranthaceae is also briefly discussed.

[en] In this paper the use of radioisotope tracers in kinetic studies, problems associated with interpretation of kinetic data and graphical analysis of these data in parasitology are discussed

[en] The ability of Tocopherols deaerator Charon and Margabandhu, 1942 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) to search and parasitize Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius, 1794) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) pupae in sugarcane stalks was evaluated. To analyze the ability for search and parasitism were used stalks of sugarcane (20 cm) where it was introduced a pupa of d. saccharalis (T1); a pupa and a caterpillar (T2) or a pupa and fecal matter (T3). Each stalk was placed in a transparent plastic bottle with 21 females of T. diatraeae. These pupae were isolated, after 72 h, in glass tubes at 25 +/- 2 Celsius degrade, 70 +/- 10 % relative humidity, and 14:10 light/dark. The experiment was developed in an entirely casualized design with three treatments and 12 repetitions. Percentage of D. saccharalis pupa parasitized by T. diatraeae was 50 %, 83.33 % and 16.66 % in the T1, T2 and T3, respectively (X"2 = 3.896, p"= 0.04). The presence of D. saccharalis caterpillars favored searching and parasitism of this host.

[en] Host specificity in the parasitic plant Cytinus hypocistis was quantified at four sites in the Algarve region of Portugal from 2002 to 2007. The parasite was found to be locally host specific, and only two hosts were consistently infected: Halimium halimifolium and Cistus monspeliensis. C. hypocistis did not infect hosts in proportion to their abundance; at three sites, 100% of parasites occurred on H. halimifolium which represented just 42.4%, 3% and 19.7% of potential hosts available, respectively. At the remaining site, where H. halimifolium was absent, 100% of parasites occurred on C. monspeliensis which represented 81.1% of potential hosts available. Other species of potential host were consistently uninfected irrespective of their abundance. Ecological niche divergence of host plants H. halimifolium and C. monspeliensis may isolate host-specific races of C. hypocistis, thereby potentially driving allopatric divergence in this parasitic plant.

[en] Skeletal hydatidosis results from the deposition of the larval form of the Echinococcus, a genus of tapeworm. The incidence of bone disease is extremely low as most larvae are trapped by the liver and lung upon release of the embryo into the portal blood stream. The interpretation of imaging studies can prove very confusing because bone changes evolve with time, and the non-specificity of these findings often leads to a mistaken diagnosis. We present the case of a 35-year-old woman with long-standing pain in the left hip joint in which the findings on CT were thought of as being either tuberculous or neoplastic in nature. The result of a CT-guided biopsy and another done following surgery concurred on an unexpected diagnosis of a hydatid cyst. This case illustrates that in the absence of a high index of suspicion for echinococcal infection, the semblance of imaging findings of hydatid disease in bone to those of other skeletal pathologies can lead to misinterpretation. Copyright (2002) Blackwell Science Pty Ltd

[en] Leishmaniasis is a disease with significant impact on public health, given the characteristics of the tegumentary lesions. Experimental Treatment with larval therapy (LT) has shown its potential use for the cure of leishmaniosis. However, fly species not easy to collect and/or colonize have been used. The objective of the present work was to use a fly of accessible collection and high fecundity, not a producer of human myiasis, such as Musca domestica. A qualitative-quantitative study of a descriptive type was carried out through an experimental design with an animal model (Mesocricetus auratus) with infection by Leishmania amazonensis to evaluate the therapeutic effect of LT and compare the results with the antimonial chemical treatment of the drug experimental Ulamina. Scarring were observed with the use of LT in 66.66 % with TL-simple and 100 % with TL-combined. However, the combined use of LT + Ulamina, shows an enhancing effect of the clinical cure of the lesions, but with persistent inflammation. Optimal effectiveness of TL with M. domestica was observed on the ulcers; however, an effect on L. amazonensis was not observed given the presence of amastigotes in the smears and the 480 bp amplicons from the tissue of the ulcers of animals.