Background: Sporotrichosis is a mycotic infectious disease that is generally acquired by traumatic inoculation of contaminated materials especially from plant debris or through bites and scratches from diseased animals, such as domestic cats. It affects the skin, lymphatic system, and other organs in the warm-blooded host. Etiological agents are embedded in the plant-associated order Ophiostomatales. With essential differences between possible outbreak sources and ecological niche, host-environment interactions are classic determinants of risk factors for disease acquisition. Sporotrichosis outbreaks with zoonotic transmission, such as those that are ongoing in southern and southeastern Brazil, have highlighted the threat of cross-species pathogen transmission. Sporothrix brasiliensis has emerged as a human threat owing to the intimate contact pattern between diseased cats and humans in endemic areas.

The main objective of this study is to standardize an ELISA for the diagnosis of feline sporotrichosis. Sporothrix schenckii is the etiological agent of human and animal sporotrichosis. Cats may act as reservoirs for S. schenckii and can transmit the infection to humans by a bite or scratch. There are few methods for the serological diagnosis of fungal diseases in animals. In this paper, an ELISA test for the diagnosis of cat sporotrichosis is proposed, which detects S. schenckii-specific antibodies in feline sera. Two different kinds of antigens were used: "SsCBF", a specific molecule from S. schenckii that consists of a Con A-binding fraction derived from a peptido-rhamnomannan component of the cell wall, and a S. schenckii crude exoantigen preparation. The ELISA was developed, optimized, and evaluated using sera from 30 cats with proven sporotrichosis (by culture isolation); 22 sera from healthy feral cats from a zoonosis center were used as negative controls. SsCBF showed 90% sensitivity and 96% specificity in ELISA; while crude exoantigens demonstrated 96% sensitivity and 98% specificity. The ELISA assay described here would be a valuable screening tool for the detection of specific S. schenckii antibodies in cats with sporotrichosis. The assay is inexpensive, quick to perform, easy to interpret, and permits the diagnosis of feline sporotrichosis.

Blood serum samples were collected from 451 bats captured within the Sã o Paulo city from April 2007 to November 2008, and individually tested by indirect immunofluorescence assay against antigens derived from five Rickettsia species reported to occur in Brazil: the spotted fever group (SFG) species R. rickettsii, R. parkeri, R. amblyommii, R. rhipicephali, and the ancestral group species R. bellii. For this purpose, an anti-bat immunoglobulin G was produced and used in the present study. Overall, 8.6% (39=451), 9.5% (34=358), 7.8% (28=358), 1.1% (4=358), and 0% (0=358) serum samples were reactive to R. rickettsii, R. parkeri, R. amblyommii, R. rhipicephali, and R. bellii, respectively. Endpoint titers of reactive sera ranged from 64 to 256. From 20 bat species of 3 different families (Molossidae, Vespertilionidae, and Phyllostomidae), 46 animals were shown to be reactive to at least one rickettsial antigen. Seropositivity per bat species ranged from 0% to 33.3%. Most of the serologically positive sera reacted with two or more rickettsial antigens. Seropositivity for SFG rickettsial antigens in the absence of reactivity against R. bellii (ancestral group species) suggests that bats from Sã o Paulo city can be infected by SFG rickettsiae. The possible role of soft ticks in serving as vectors of SFG rickettsiae to bats within the Sã o Paulo city, associated to its public health risks, is discussed.

Dedico este trabalho aos meus filhos Aline, Henrique e Ana Luiza, que me desculpem pela ausência em alguns momentos e por momentos de nervosismo, e também aos meus sobrinhos. E que todos possam alcançar seus sonhos por mais difícil que lhes pareça, que tenham sempre em mente que existe um ser superior "Deus" que sempre nos impulsiona e zela por nós. Ao meu esposo e companheiro Marcos, pai maravilhoso, sempre presente, obrigada pela sua compreensão e desculpe pelos momentos de ausência. A minha mãe, por estar sempre presente me apoiando, incentivando em todos os momentos de minha vida, minha companheira e amiga muito obrigada por ser tão dedicada, estando sempre pronta a me ajudar. Ao meu paizinho, onde quer que esteja, sei que esteve presente comigo durante esta jornada, agradeço pelo apoio que me deu em vida. À Zenilda, minha secretária do lar e amiga, obrigada pelo carinho e dedicação com meus filhos. Aos meus tios Manoel, Joel e Josias que sempre me apoiaram, me incentivaram e na falta de meu pai me aconselharam como verdadeiros pais, e a todos familiares que mesmo à distância sempre me apoiaram. Enfim, ao meu querido irmão Bosco que sempre disse que eu poderia……sim agora eu sei ……eu posso…… RESUMO GALVÃO-DIAS, M. A. Aspectos Epidemiológicos de Histoplasma capsulatum em morcegos em áreas urbanas do Estado de São Paulo. 89 f. Dissertação