This study showed for the first time changes in the reproductive biology of Biomphalaria glabrata experimentally infected with Angiostrongylus cantonensis. The values of all the parameters analyzed (total number of eggs, number of egg masses, number of eggs/mass, number of eggs/snail, percentage of viable eggs and galactogen content in albumen gland) changed with progressive infection. The results indicate the occurrence of partial parasitic castration of B. glabrata by A. cantonensis larvae, probably in response to the depletion of energy reserves, with no injuries to the gonadal tissues.

RESUMOComo ações de saneamento são escassas ou inexistentes no meio rural, o monitoramento das fontes de água permite o diagnóstico dos riscos e da precariedade das situações de saneamento. Neste estudo foi monitorado sazonalmente a qualidade da água dos poços da comunidade rural "Cinturão Verde" por meio de análises físico-químicas, colimétricas, e parasitológicas para identificação de fontes de contaminação devido à ausência de meios adequados de saneamento. Foram analisadas amostras coletadas em quatro períodos sazonais e detectados coliformes acima dos padrões de potabilidade do Ministério da Saúde nos poços tubulares em três dos quatro períodos sazonais. Foi detectada também a presença de parasita no período seco. Os parâmetros físico-químicos também estavam fora dos padrões da legislação em algumas estações, e foi constatado que esses riscos eram devido à inexistência de serviços de saneamento como: abastecimento com poços sem tratamento, precariedade de esgotamento e proximidade dos mananciais à criação de animais. Conclui-se que o monitoramento permitiu detectar períodos de riscos no uso de águas dos poços, avaliar diferenças regionais, e a necessidade de medidas de desinfecção da água antes de ser utilizada. Estas medidas de saneamento rural podem garantir a proteção dos mananciais de águas subterrâneas.Palavras-chave:águas subterrâneas, qualidade sanitária, saneamento, saúde ambiental. The monitoring of water wells as health evaluation strategy in RuralCommunity in São Luís City, MA, Brazil ABSTRACTAs sanitation is scarce or nonexistent in a rural environment, the monitoring of water sources allows for the diagnosis of risks and precarious sanitation situations. This study

Background/Aims: Furosemide is a loop diuretic widely used in clinical practice for the treatment of oedema and hypertension. The aim of this study was to determine physiological and molecular changes in the hypothalamic-neurohypophysial system as a consequence of furosemide-induced sodium depletion. Methods: Male rats were sodium depleted by acute furosemide injection (10 and 30 mg/kg) followed by access to low sodium diet and distilled water for 24 h. The renal and behavioural consequences were evaluated, while blood and brains were collected to evaluate the neuroendocrine and gene expression responses. Results: Furosemide treatment acutely increases urinary sodium and water excretion. After 24 h, water and food intake were reduced, while plasma angiotensin II and corticosterone were increased. After hypertonic saline presentation, sodium-depleted rats showed higher preference for salt. Interrogation using RNA sequencing revealed the expression of 94 genes significantly altered in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of sodium-depleted rats (31 upregulated and 63 downregulated). Out of 9 genes chosen, 5 were validated by quantitative PCR in the PVN (upregulated: Ephx2, Ndnf and Vwf; downregulated: Caprin2 and Opn3). The same genes were also assessed in the supraoptic nucleus (SON, upregulated: Tnnt1, Mis18a, Nr1d1 and Dbp; downregulated: Caprin2 and Opn3). As a result of these plastic transcriptome changes, vasopressin expression was decreased in PVN and SON, whilst vasopressin and oxytocin levels were reduced in plasma. Conclusions: We thus have identified novel genes that might regulate vasopressin gene expression in the hypothalamus controlling the magnocellular neurons secretory response to body sodium depletion and consequently hypotonic stress.

Intestinal helminths are among the pathogens most often found in humans and can result in serious pathological, such as visceral larva migrans syndrome. Domestic animals serve as the natural hosts, but under certain conditions humans can acquire infection, developing an atypical cycle. Thus, the contamination for animal droppings in public spaces, such as beaches, poses risk factor in the transmission, increasing the incidence of these zoonoses. In this context, informations about environmental health is necessary because the monitoring would be the first step for treating unhealthy environments. Therefore, the study monitored the sand of beaches of two islands within Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro state, was carried out by traditional methods (Lutz and Baermann) and the ELISA immunological test, in order to determine the level and the influence of seasonality on this contamination. Among the genera detected, Ascaris sp. and Ancylostoma sp. occurred with greatest frequency, functioning as important biological markers of environmental contamination. The highest frequency of parasite structures occurred in the summer, meaning a greater risk of disease transmission. The results evidence the high level of environmental contamination and the seasonal variations of this contamination. Additionally, the data obtained from ELISA confirm the sensitivity of this technique to detect cysts and oocysts of protozoa in the sand samples analyzed. Keywords: environmental contamination, sand, parasitological techniques RESUMOHelmintos intestinais estão entre os patógenos mais frequentemente encontrados em seres humanos e podem resultar em patologias graves, como a síndrome de larva migrans visceral. Os animais domésticos servem como hospedeiros naturais e, em certas condições, os seres humanos podem ser afetados, desenvolvendo um ciclo atípico. Por isso, a contaminação por fezes de animais em espaços públicos, como praias, representa risco na transmissão, aumentando a incidência de possíveis zoonoses. Neste contexto, informações sobre a salubridade ambiental se faz necessária visto que o monitoramento é a primeira etapa para o * adrianasotero@ensp.fiocruz.br

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