Carcinoma basocelular de piel y diagnóstico diferencial de leishmaniosis mucocutánea / Basal cell carcinoma of the skin and differential diagnosis mucocutaneous leishmaniasis

Contexto: la leishmaniosis es una enfermedad parasitaria causada por veinte especies diferentes del protozoario Leishmania y transmitida al hombre por la picadura del mosquito hembra del género Phlebotomine. Las manifestaciones clínicas son variables y se relacionan con la especie infestante, su relación con el medio ambiente y respuesta inmune del hospedero. La leishmaniosis cutánea (LC) y mucocutánea (LMC) afecta a piel y mucosas de vías respiratorias superiores; está presente en Latinoamérica donde es producida principalmente por la especie Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis. Los signos iniciales son eritema y ulceraciones a nivel de orificios nasales seguido por inflamación destructiva que puede extenderse hasta afectar el septo nasal y en algunos casos faringe o laringe, desfigurando gravemente el rostro y comprometer la vida del paciente. Presentación de caso: se presenta el caso de un hombre de 90 años de edad, procedente del noroccidente de la Provincia de Pichincha; exhibe varias lesiones ulcerativas localizadas a nivel del puente nasal derecho, ángulo interno del ojo derecho y mejilla homolateral, cubriendo un área aproximada de 4 cm de diámetro. Inicialmente se sospechó de LMC y se aplicaron varias dosis de antimonio pentavalente (Glucantime©). Se realizaron exámenes diagnósticos para leishmaniosis (frotis, cultivo y prueba cutánea de Montenegro) los cuales resultaron negativos. El estudio histopatológico determinó que se trataba de un carcinoma basocelular de piel (CBC). Conclusiones: en zonas endémicas de LC y LMC, es necesario realizar un adecuado diagnóstico diferencial con otras patologías que causan lesiones ulcerativas, entre las que se incluye el carcinoma basocelular de piel, evitando administrar antimonio pentavalente de manera indiscriminada.

Context: Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease caused by twenty different species of the Leishmania protozoan and transmitted to man by the bite of the female mosquito of the genus Phle- botomine. The clinical manifestations are variable and are related to the infestant species, its relationship with the environment and the host's immune response. Cutaneous and mucocutaneous (LMC) leishmaniasis affects the skin and mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract; It is present in Latin America where it is mainly produced by the species Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis. The initial signs are erythema and ulcerations at the level of nostrils followed by destructive inflammation that can extend to affect the nasal septum and in some cases pharynx or larynx, seriously disfiguring the face and compromising the patient's life. Case presentation: The case of a 90-year-old man from the northwest of the Pichincha Province is presented; It presents several ulcerative lesions located at the level of the right nasal bridge, internal angle of the right eye and homolateral cheek, covering an area approximately 4 cm in diameter. Initially, CML was suspected and several doses of pentavalent antimony (Glucantime©) were applied. Diagnostic tests were performed for leishmaniasis (smear, culture and skin test of Montenegro) which were negative. The histopathological study determined that it was a basal cell carcinoma of the skin (CBC). Conclusions: In endemic areas of LC and CML, it is necessary to make an adequate differential diagnosis with other pathologies that cause ulcerative lesions, including basal cell carcinoma of the skin, avoiding administering pentavalent antimony indiscriminately.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for diagnosis of Amphimerus spp. liver fluke infection in Humans

BACKGROUND Amphimerus spp. is a liver fluke that infects humans and domestic animals. It is highly prevalent in some Ecuadorian communities. Currently, diagnosis is based on the microscopic observation of eggs in faeces, but this has variable sensitivity. More sensitive methods are needed for diagnostic testing. OBJECTIVE The main objective of this work was to develop an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using crude antigens from Amphimerus spp. adult worms to detect anti-Amphimerus IgG in human sera. METHODS Crude somatic antigens were obtained from adult Amphimerus spp. worms. Human sera from 119 patients were tested: 48 from individuals with a confirmed Amphimerus spp. infection, 78 from non-infected Ecuadorians living in the endemic region, 60 from persons living in non-endemic areas (20 Ecuadorians, 20 Europeans, and 20 Africans), and 33 who had other parasitic and non-parasitic infections. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Results were analysed using the receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis with an area under curve (AUC) value of 0.967. The accuracy of the ELISA was high. The sensitivity was 85.0% [95% confidence interval (CI): 80.3-89.7%] and the specificity was 71.0% (95% CI: 65.2-76.8%). Some cross reactivity was detected against Paragonimus mexicanus, Fasciola hepatica, Schistosomiasis, Taenia solium, Strongyloides stercoralis, Mansonella spp., and Vampirolepis nana. MAIN CONCLUSIONS We have developed the first ELISA technique that detects anti-Amphimerus IgG in human sera with good sensitivity, repeatability and reproducibility. However, more specific antigens are needed to further enhance performance of this assay. Regardless, this ELISA test could be useful for early diagnosis and prompt treatment of human Amphimerus spp. infections.

Factores sociales asociados con la utilización de los servicios de atención prenatal en Ecuador / Social factors associated with use of prenatal care in Ecuador

RESUMEN Objetivos La atención prenatal es uno de los pilares de la salud pública y permite el acceso a intervenciones tales como la prevención de la transmisión materno-infantil del VIH y de la sífilis congénita. Este artículo tiene como objetivo describir los factores sociales asociados con la utilización de los servicios de atención prenatal en Ecuador. Métodos Entre 2011 y 2012, se realizó un análisis de la información procedente de las historias clínicas y de la entrevista a las participantes, que integraron una muestra probabilística a nivel nacional de 5 998 mujeres atendidas por parto o aborto en 15 servicios sanitarios en Ecuador con el objetivo de estimar la prevalencia de VIH, sífilis, enfermedad de Chagas y la cobertura de atención prenatal. Resultados El estudio mostró que 94,1% de las mujeres había acudido a algún control prenatal, pero la asistencia al menos a cuatro controles fue 73,1%. Se encontró que el menor nivel educativo, el mayor número de embarazos, la ocupación en el sector agrícola o ganadero y la pertenencia a los grupos étnicos indígena, afroecuatoriano u otros minoritarios fueron factores asociados con la falta de uso (ningún control prenatal) o al uso inadecuado de la atención prenatal (menos de cuatro controles o primer control después de las 20 semanas de gestación) en Ecuador. Conclusiones Estos resultados apuntan a la persistencia de desigualdades marcadas en el acceso y en la utilización de servicios de atención prenatal atribuibles a factores socioeconómicos y a la necesidad de fortalecer las estrategias para su abordaje para alcanzar la meta de la cobertura universal de atención prenatal.(AU)

ABSTRACT Objectives Prenatal care is a pillar of public health, enabling access to interventions including prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and congenital syphilis. This paper describes social factors related to use of prenatal care in Ecuador. Methods In 2011 and 2012, participant clinical history and interview information was analyzed from a national probability sample of 5 998 women presenting for delivery or miscarriage services in 15 healthcare facilities in Ecuador, to estimate prevalence of HIV, syphilis, and Chagas disease, and prenatal care coverage. Results The study found that 94.1% of women had attended at least one prenatal visit, but that attendance at no less than four visits was 73.1%. Furthermore, lower educational level, greater number of pregnancies, occupation in the agriculture or livestock sector, and membership in ethnic indigenous, Afro-Ecuadorian, or other minority groups were factors associated with lack of use (no prenatal visits) or insufficient use of prenatal care (fewer than four visits or first visit at >20 weeks gestation) in Ecuador. Conclusions These results point to persistence of marked inequalities in access to and use of prenatal health services attributable to socioeconomic factors and to the need to strengthen strategies to address them, to reach the goal of universal prenatal care coverage.(AU)

Molecular identification of Giardia duodenalis in Ecuador by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism

The aim of this study was to determine the genetic diversity of Giardia duodenalis present in a human population living in a northern Ecuadorian rain forest. All Giardia positive samples (based on an ELISA assay) were analysed using a semi-nested polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay that targets the glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) gene; those amplified were subsequently genotyped using NlaIV and RsaI enzymes. The gdh gene was successfully amplified in 74 of 154 ELISA positive samples; 69 of the 74 samples were subsequently genotyped. Of these 69 samples, 42 (61%) were classified as assemblage B (26 as BIII and 16 as BIV), 22 (32%) as assemblage A (3 as AI and 19 as AII) and five (7%) as mixed AII and BIII types. In this study site we observe similar diversity in genotypes to other regions in Latin America, though in contrast to some previous studies, we found similar levels of diarrheal symptoms in those individuals infected with assemblage B compared with those infected with assemblage A.