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“Leprosy is still a worldwide public health problem. Brazil and India show the highest prevalence rates of the disease. Natural infection of armadillos Dasypus novemcinctus

with Mycobacterium leprae has been reported in some regions of the United States. Identification of bacilli is difficult, particularly due to its inability to grow in vitro. The use of molecular tools represents a fast and NVP-BSK805 mw sensitive alternative method for diagnosis of mycobacteriosis. In the present study, the diagnostic methods used were bacilloscopy, histopathology, microbiology, and PCR using specific primers for M. leprae repetitive sequences. PCR were performed using genomic DNA extracted from 138 samples of liver, spleen, lymph nodes, and skin of 44 D. novemcinctus, Euphractus sexcinctus, Cabassous unicinctus, and C. tatouay armadillos from the Middle Western region of the state of Sao Paulo and from the experimental station of Embrapa Pantanal, located in Pantanal da Nhecolandia of Mato Grosso do Sul state. Also, the molecular selleck screening library analysis of 19 samples from internal organs of other road killed species of wild animals, such as Nasua nasua (ring-tailed coati), Procyon cancrivoros (hand-skinned), Cerdocyon thous (dog-pity-bush), Cavia aperea (restless cavy), Didelphis albiventris (skunk), Sphigurrus spinosus (hedgehog), and Gallictis vittata (ferret) showed PCR negative data. None of the 157 analyzed

samples had shown natural mycobacterial infection. Only the armadillo inoculated with material collected from untreated multibacillary VX-661 concentration leprosy patient presented PCR positive and its genomic sequencing revealed 100% identity with M. leprae. According to these preliminary studies, based on the

used methodology, it is possible to conclude that wild mammals seem not to play an important role in the epidemiology of leprosy in the Middle Western region of the Sao Paulo state and in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso do Sul state.”
“Background Guidelines suggest tuberculosis (TB) prophylaxis in renal transplant recipients originating in endemic areas or in those at risk from non-endemic countries. Concern remains that these guidelines may fail to provide adequate prophylaxis for a cohort of patients who remain at potential risk. We aimed to determine variation patterns among different transplant units within the United Kingdom (UK) with regard to TB prophylaxis policy. Methods The renal pharmacist at each of the 25 UK renal transplant centers was contacted. Specific information was obtained relating to drug prophylaxis given, duration of treatment, as well as which transplant recipients were eligible for treatment. Results A 96% response rate (24/25 centers) was achieved. Prophylaxis regimens varied from no prophylaxis to isoniazid 300 mg given life-long. The most common duration of treatment was 6 months post transplantation (at 7 centers).