RESUMO
Blastocystis sp. is a commonly reported intestinal parasite with a worldwide distribution. Phylogenetic analyses describe at least 17 subtypes for this parasite, and nine of them have been found in humans. However, the prevalence and some epidemiological characteristics of this parasitic infection in rural communities are not well known. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the prevalence, subtypes, and epidemiological factors related to Blastocystis sp. Infection in children from of a small rural community in the central area of Panama. For this, 66 fecal samples from children (1 to 12â¯years old), were initially analyzed for the presence of parasites by a formalin-ethyl acetate/concentration method. Molecular detection and identification of Blastocystis sp. subtypes were carried out by amplification and sequencing of a partial fragment of the small-subunit ribosomal RNA gene. Using data from a questionnaire, analyses of epidemiological conditions potentially associated with Blastocystis sp. transmission were also conducted. Microscopic diagnostics showed that 33.3% (22/66) of the analyzed samples presented entero-parasites. Among them, Blastocystis sp. was the most prevalent, with 21.2% (14/66), followed by the E. histolytica/dispar/moshkovskii complex 4.5% (3/66), Giardia lamblia 1.5% (1/66) and Strongyloides stercoralis 1.5% (1/66). PCR-based analyses detected a prevalence of Blastocystis sp. infection of 74.2% (49/66) in apparently healthy children. Phylogenetic analysis revealed two different subtypes of this parasite: ST1 with 42.2% (28/66) infected, and ST3 with 31.8% (21/66) infected. In addition, recent diarrhea was significantly associated with Blastocystis sp. infection. None of the other risk factors evaluated was statistically associated with infection. These results highlight the need to further investigate clinical, epidemiological, and genetic characteristics of Blastocystis sp. infections in this community.
RESUMO
Dogs play an important role in infectious disease transmission as reservoir hosts of many zoonotic and wildlife pathogens. Nevertheless, unlike wildlife species involved in the life cycle of pathogens, whose health status might be a direct reflection of their fitness and competitive abilities, dog health condition could be sensitive to socio-economic factors impacting the well-being of their owners. Here, we compare several dog health indicators in three rural communities of Panama with different degrees of socio-economic deprivation. From a total of 78 individuals, we collected blood and fecal samples, and assessed their body condition. With the blood samples, we performed routine hematologic evaluation (complete blood counts) and measured cytokine levels (Interferon-γ and Interleukin-10) through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. With the fecal samples we diagnosed helminthiases. Dogs were also serologically tested for exposure to Trypanosoma cruzi and canine distemper virus, and molecular tests were done to assess T. cruzi infection status. We found significant differences between dog health measurements, pathogen prevalence, parasite richness, and economic status of the human communities where the dogs lived. We found dogs that were less healthy, more likely to be infected with zoonotic pathogens, and more likely to be seropositive to canine distemper virus in the communities with lower economic status. This study concludes that isolated communities of lower economic status in Panama may have less healthy dogs that could become major reservoirs in the transmission of diseases to humans and sympatric wildlife.
Assuntos
Doenças do Cão/epidemiologia , Cães , Nível de Saúde , Animais de Estimação/fisiologia , Animais , Análise Química do Sangue , Doença de Chagas/epidemiologia , Doença de Chagas/veterinária , Estudos Transversais , Cinomose/epidemiologia , Vírus da Cinomose Canina/imunologia , Fezes/parasitologia , Feminino , Helmintíase Animal/epidemiologia , Humanos , Masculino , Panamá/epidemiologia , População Rural , Fatores Socioeconômicos , Trypanosoma cruzi/genética , Trypanosoma cruzi/imunologiaRESUMO
The prevalence of canine trypanosomosis was investigated in two Chagas disease endemic rural communities located in the central region of Panama. Serologic tests for Trypanosoma cruzi infection revealed a prevalence of 11.1%. Hemocultures coupled with PCR analysis demonstrated a Trypanosoma rangeli infection rate of 5.1%. An overall trypanosome infection index of 16.2% (16/99) was detected in this canine population. One dog had a mixed infection of T. cruzi and T. rangeli. Six of the trypanosome-infected dogs belong to people who were diagnosed of Chagas disease. We conclude that dogs from this rural area of Panama are frequently infected with trypanosomes transmitted by the sylvatic vector, Rhodnius pallescens, and suggest that dogs are important in the peridomestic transmission cycle of trypanosomes as reservoirs and hosts. The epidemiological implications of these findings are discussed.
Assuntos
Reservatórios de Doenças/veterinária , Doenças do Cão/parasitologia , Trypanosoma cruzi/isolamento & purificação , Tripanossomíase/veterinária , Zoonoses/parasitologia , Animais , Anticorpos Antiprotozoários/sangue , Distribuição de Qui-Quadrado , Estudos Transversais , Reservatórios de Doenças/parasitologia , Doenças do Cão/epidemiologia , Doenças do Cão/transmissão , Cães , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática/veterinária , Feminino , Técnica Indireta de Fluorescência para Anticorpo/veterinária , Humanos , Masculino , Panamá/epidemiologia , População Rural , Estudos Soroepidemiológicos , Tripanossomíase/epidemiologia , Tripanossomíase/parasitologia , Tripanossomíase/transmissão , Zoonoses/epidemiologia , Zoonoses/transmissãoRESUMO
El ultrasonido es una técnica de imagen sencilla, no invasiva y accesible que permite la evaluación del sistema musculoesquelético en tiempo real, con la ventaja de examinar las articulaciones en forma dinámica; adicionalmente, con la ayuda del Doppler de poder y de color, se pueden evaluar los fenómenos inflamatorios locales, sin someter al paciente a radiación ionizante. Tiene como desventaja ser dependiente del operador, el cual debe tener un amplio conocimiento de los principios físicos del ultrasonido, estar familiarizado con la ecotextura de los tejidos y de la anatomía musculoesquelética. Además es importante que sepa reconocer los fenómenos sonográficos que pueden presentarse como confusores, denominados artefactos. Este cúmulo de conocimientos es deseable para el especialista en padecimientos musculoesqueléticos, para que pueda interpretar adecuadamente los estudios ecográficos, reconocer los artefactos y así evitar diagnósticos erróneos y procedimientos innecesarios. En una serie de tres artículos se analizan los principios físicos básicos de la ecografía, la sonoanatomía del sistema musculoesquelético y los artefactos más comunes encontrados en ecografía. En esta primera entrega analizaremos los principios físicos básicos involucrados en la producción de imágenes ecográficas.
Ultrasonography is a simple, non invasive and accessible imaging technique that allows the evaluation of a variety of musculoskeletal structures in real time. It has the advantage of dynamic assessment of joints, tendons and muscles; furthermore, the presence of an underlying inflammatory phenomenon can be evaluated with power or color Doppler techniques in the same session without radiation exposure. However, it is an operator dependant technique that needs a in-depth knowledge of basic principles of ultrasound, musculoskeletal anatomy and ecostructure. Additionally, it is important to identify and recognize the presence of ultrasound artifacts that can be image confusors. A basic knowledge of ultrasound physics, as well as, sonoanatomy and ultrasound artifacts recognition is essential to understand ultrasound images. This knowledge diminishes the possibilities of misdiagnoses and unnecessary procedures. In a series of three papers, we will analyze the basic principles of ultrasound, musculoskeletal sonoanatomy and finally ultrasonographic artifacts. In the present paper we review the basic physical and technical principles behind ultrasound images.
Assuntos
Humanos , Músculo Esquelético , Física , Ultrassom , Ultrassonografia , Aumento da Imagem , Variações Dependentes do Observador , Transdutores , Ultrassonografia DopplerRESUMO
El ultrasonido musculoesquelético se ha convertido en una herramienta útil y eficaz en el diagnóstico de diferentes patologías que afectan el sistema musculoesquelético. Al ser un medio que permite visualizar estructuras tales como tendones, ligamentos, músculos, entre otras, el médico dedicado a este estudio debe tener un conocimiento profundo de la anatomía del sistema musculosquelético. La correcta visualización de estas estructuras y el diagnóstico acertado dependen también de que el operador conozca las imágenes sonográficas propias de cada estructura. En este artículo describimos las características sonográficas normales de las estructuras anatómicas que pueden ser evaluadas por ultrasonido.
Musculoskeletal ultrasound has become a useful and effective tool in the diagnosis of different pathologies that affect the musculoskeletal system. This method allows the visualization of soft tissue structures such as tendons, ligaments, muscles, among others. The healthcare professional dedicated to this area must have a deep knowledge of the anatomy of the musculoskeletal system. The correct visualization of these structures and the correct diagnosis also depend on the operators knowledge of the normal sonographic images of each structure. In this paper we describe the normal sonographic characteristics of the locomotor system that can be evaluated by ultrasound.
Assuntos
Humanos , Músculo Esquelético , Ultrassonografia , Doenças MusculoesqueléticasRESUMO
El ultrasonido musculoesquelético es susceptible de presentar defectos en su técnica operativa. Estos defectos son llamados artefactos. En este artículo revisaremos los artefactos que comúnmente ocurren en la práctica de este método diagnóstico. El conocimiento de los artefactos y su detección oportuna ayudan al operador a optimizar la práctica diaria del ultrasonido.
The musculoskeletal ultrasound is susceptible to present defects in its operative technique. These defects are called artifacts. In this article we will review the artifacts more susceptible to be found in daily practice. The knowledge of artifacts and their timely detection will help the operator to perform this technique accurately.
Assuntos
Humanos , Artefatos , Músculo Esquelético , UltrassonografiaRESUMO
In order to measure TSH receptor antibodies (TRAb) we tried to set up a radioreceptor assay using human thyroid membranes. Due to lack of appropriate binding activity of the material obtained, we decided to use a kit which provides solubilized porcine membrane-receptors to TSH instead of human membranes, as well as calibrators that have been standarized in a receptor assay against MRC LATS std B. With these reactives we have measured TRAb in sera from 7 normal controls (C), 54 thyrotoxic patients (43 diffuse goiters [BDH], 8 multinodular goiters [BDH] and 3 subacute Thyroiditis [TSA], 3 patients with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (TH) and 6 non-hyperthyroid Graves ophtalmopathy patients. Measurement were initially performed using calibrators and the results expressed as U/L; since a very good correlation between the expression U/L and the calculated inhibition Index (I.I.) was found (r=0.99, n=15, p<0,001), results are shown using latter. In C mean ñ SD value for I.I. was 3.4 ñ 2.37 percent so we decided to use, as cut off criteria for differentiating between normal and abnormal results, the figure 11 percent which represents the mean ñ 3 SD. According to this, 93 percent of BDH has elevated TRAb activity while only slightly more than one third of MBH had elevated values, this difference being highly significant (p<0,0001); both TSA and TH patients showed low TRAb activity while all Graves ophtalmopathy pts had elevated values, thus suggesting that they had a latent disease. We concluded that the methodology that is adequate and practical for clinical purposes. Our results show that measurement of TRAb activity is very useful in stablishing the etiology of hyperthyroidism in an individual patient. Also it provides help inthe differential diagnosis of patients with exoftalmus od unknown etiology. Its usefulness remains to be proved in the follow-up of BDH pts after been treated with antithyroid drugs
Assuntos
Doença de Graves/imunologia , Hipertireoidismo/imunologia , Receptores da Tireotropina/antagonistas & inibidores , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Reações Antígeno-Anticorpo/imunologia , Testes de Função Tireóidea/métodosRESUMO
Se analizan 110 pacientes con cáncer diferenciado del tiroides luego de ser tratados y en los cuales se realiza un seguimiento con tirogloobulinemia en forma periódica durante los últimos 10 años. En un grupo de ellos se realiza estudio comparativo con la cintigrafía de cuerpo entero. Al analizar la evaluación se concluye que la Tg es un excelente marcador tumoral con una sensibilidad de 92,8 por ciento y una especificidad de 88,5 por ciento , constituyéndose en el mejor método para el seguimiento y control de este tipo de pacientes, con la ventaja de la cintigrafía que no necesita la suspensión de la terapia sustitutiva y que es capaz de detectar lesiones no funcionantes desde el punto de vista isotópico
Assuntos
Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Adolescente , Adulto , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Biomarcadores Tumorais/isolamento & purificação , Tireoglobulina/isolamento & purificação , Neoplasias da Glândula Tireoide/diagnóstico , Neoplasias da Glândula TireoideRESUMO
Infection by Echinococcus granulosus is the main zoonosis affecting the human population of the IXth Region in southern Chile. Prevalence rates vary from 18.2 to 48 per 100,000. Animals are affected with prevalence rates of 40% for bovines, 39.5% for sheep and 14.8% for pork as estimated at the central meat processing plant in the city of Temuco. A cost of approximately $300,000 is estimated to treat affected individuals. Much greater losses may be estimated from unnotified meat processing in rural areas and from reduced yield of animal products such as wool an milk. Accordingly, a regional program for control of this zoonosis is urgently required.