RESUMO
Resumen Las patologías autoinmunes son condiciones causadas por una respuesta anormal del sistema inmune. La esclerosis sistémica es un trastorno autoinmune que afecta la microvasculatura del tracto gastrointestinal, pulmones, riñones, corazón, piel y articulaciones, con la consiguiente fibrosis de los órganos afectados, mientras que el lupus eritematoso sistémico se caracteriza por una actividad aberrante del sistema inmunológico considerada como un prototipo de enfermedad mediada por formación de inmunocomplejos, que conduce a síntomas clínicos variables; es poco usual la superposición de dos patologías del sistema inmune, sin hacer mención de la enfermedad mixta del tejido conectivo, y es de gran importancia identificar una patología combinada ya que tiene un gran impacto en las características clínicas, el diagnóstico, tratamiento y pronóstico del paciente.
Abstract Autoimmune pathologies are conditions caused by an abnormal response of the immune system. Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder that affects the microvasculature of the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, kidneys, heart, skin and joints, with consequent fibrosis of the affected organs, while systemic lupus erythematosus is characterized by an aberrant activity of the immune system considered as a prototype of immune complex-mediated disease, leading to variable clinical symptoms; the overlap of two pathologies of the immune system is unusual, without mentioning the mixed connective tissue disease, and it is of great importance to identify a combined pathology since it has a great impact on the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of the patient.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Analyses of environmental correlates of the composition of gastrointestinal parasite communities in black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra) have been hindered by inadequate calibration techniques of detection and quantification methods of the parasites. Here we calibrate samples and compare the likelihood of parasite detection using two flotation techniques, FLOTAC and Mini-FLOTAC, and compare flotation solution, preservation method and dilution ratio for egg detection and counts of the most common parasites (Controrchis spp. and Trypanoxyuris spp.) in howler monkeys. RESULTS: For samples preserved in 5% formalin, the Mini-FLOTAC technique was the best option for qualitative and quantitative copro-microscopic analysis. This technique displays an 83.3% and 100% detection of Controrchis spp. and Trypanoxyuris spp. infections, respectively. For the trematode Controrchis spp., more eggs per gram of feces (EPG) were recorded with the flotation solution (FS) #7 (zinc sulfate; specific gravity SG = 1.35) at 1:20 and 1:25 dilution than other methods. By contrast, for the nematode Trypanoxyuris spp., the best results were recorded with FS1 (sucrose and formaldehyde; SG = 1.20) at 1:10 dilution. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend the Mini-FLOTAC technique for general use with parasite analysis on frugivore/folivores like the howler monkey, especially if many samples are analyzed. The technique has a high detection rate and the best EPG counts, allowing the qualitative and quantitative analysis of parasite load among the species or populations without the need for specialized equipment.