BACKGROUND The knowledge about eicosanoid metabolism and lipid droplet (LD) formation in the Leishmania is very limited and new approaches are needed to identify which bioactive molecules are produced of them. OBJECTIVES Herein, we compared LDs and eicosanoids biogenesis in distinct Leishmania species which are etiologic agents of different clinical forms of leishmaniasis. METHODS For this, promastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis, L. braziliensis and L. infantum were stimulated with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and LD and eicosanoid production was evaluated. We also compared mutations in structural models of human-like cyclooxygenase-2 (GP63) and prostaglandin F synthase (PGFS) proteins, as well as the levels of these enzymes in parasite cell extracts. FINDINGS PUFAs modulate the LD formation in L. braziliensis and L. infantum. Leishmania spp with equivalent tissue tropism had same protein mutations in GP63 and PGFS. No differences in GP63 production were observed among Leishmania spp, however PGFS production increased during the parasite differentiation. Stimulation with arachidonic acid resulted in elevated production of hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids compared to prostaglandins. MAIN CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest LD formation and eicosanoid production are distinctly modulated by PUFAS dependent of Leishmania species. In addition, eicosanoid-enzyme mutations are more similar between Leishmania species with same host tropism.

Este estudo avaliou a concordância entre o diagnóstico clínico e o diagnóstico laboratorial da hanseníase, utilizando os resultados de biópsias dos laboratórios A e B e o teste ML-Flow. A concordância diagnóstica clínico-histopatológica foi de 67,6%. Os laboratórios apresentaram um índice de concordância de 73,7% em relação ao índice baciloscópico, e o laboratório B detectou 25,4% a mais de casos positivos. A maior concordância foi obtida para a forma V, e a menor para a forma I. A maior discrepância diagnóstica ocorreu para a forma DD. A concordância clínico-laboratorial foi de 41,3% para o laboratório A e 54% para o B. O teste ML-Flow reclassificou 10,7% dos pacientes. A classificação espectral é importante para o melhor entendimento da doença e para seu tratamento adequado, mas não é utilizada em centros de saúde, que adotam os critérios simplificados da OMS, que poderiam ser complementados pelo teste ML-Flow. Tal simplificação é inaceitável para os Centros de Referência em assistência, ensino e pesquisa em hanseníase, de modo que é recomendada a padronização pela classificação de Ridley-Jopling.

This study examined the correlation between the clinical and laboratory diagnosis of leprosy, using biopsy results from laboratories "A" and "B" and the ML Flow test. Clinical and histopathological diagnoses presented 67.6% agreement. The laboratories showed 73.7% agreement in the bacterial index and laboratory 'B' detected 25.4% more positives. The highest agreement was in the LL form and lowest, in the I form. The highest diagnostic discrepancy was for the BB form. Clinical diagnosis agreement was 41.3% for laboratory 'A' and 54% for 'B'. The ML Flow test reclassified 10.7% of the patients. The spectrum of leprosy classification is important for a clearer understanding of the disease and its proper treatment, but is not used in health services, which use the simplified WHO criteria. This could be complemented by ML Flow testing. Such simplification is unacceptable for Leprosy Reference Centers regarding patient attendance, teaching and research, for which the standardization of the Ridley-Jopling classification is recommended.