RESUMEN
An outbreak of haemoparasitoses occurred from October 2007 to July 2008 in cattle from the district of Rio Cuarto, province of Alajuela, Costa Rica. Fifty animals of various ages out of 450 Brown Swiss were affected. The animals presented fever, severe anemia, jaundice, abortion or premature birth, loss of appetite, decrease milk production and accentuated weight loss in a short period of time. Haemoparasites were observed in the blood smears: Anaplasma marginale was present in 17 animals (60.7%); Trypanosoma vivax in nine (32.1%) and Babesia bovis in two (7.1%). Three of the animals (10.7%) had a mixed infection with T. vivax and A. marginale. After treatment, all the animals were clinically recovered and subsequent blood samplings showed no parasites. Data suggest that the outbreak might be related to a decrease in the availability and quality of the pastures due to very heavy rainfalls during the year 2007, as well as an increase in the abundance of Boophilus microplus and Stomoxys calcitrans. This is the first report of the presence of T. vivax in Costa Rica.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedades de los Bovinos/parasitología , Industria Lechera , Trypanosoma vivax , Tripanosomiasis Africana/veterinaria , Animales , Bovinos , Enfermedades de los Bovinos/epidemiología , Costa Rica/epidemiología , Brotes de Enfermedades/veterinaria , Femenino , Prevalencia , Tripanosomiasis Africana/epidemiología , Tripanosomiasis Africana/parasitologíaRESUMEN
UNLABELLED: Portable devices might be an alternative method to diagnose patients suspected for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). We have analized one hundred patients consecutively referred to our especialized out-patient clinic for sleep breathing disorders. We have used a previously validated portable device-Polygraphics CNS-which records thoracoabdominal movement, nasobuccal airflow, ECG, oxymetry, body position, and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Sixty patients showed an apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) > 15. Seven patients showed an AHI > 10f plus symptoms suggestive of OSAS. Two patients had an AHI between 5-10 and very high suspicion for OSAS; a subsequent CPAP treatment showed the disappearance of respiratory events and an evident improvement in oxymetric records. Twenty two patients showed an AHI < 5. Nine patients could not be classified and other diagnostic method were deemed necessary. CONCLUSION: A previously validated cardiorrespiratory portable polygraphic device was useful in most cases for taking diagnostic decisions in OSAS.