ABSTRACT
An extensive malacological survey was carried out between 2005-2009 in order to clarify the exact number of lymnaeid species which may be intermediate hosts of Fasciola hepatica in Venezuela. Four species were discovered during this survey, including two local species: Lymnaea cubensis and Lymnaea cousini and two exotic species: Lymnaea truncatula and Lymnaea columella. The most common local species was L. cubensis which was found at 16 out of the 298 sampling sites. This species has a large distribution area throughout the Northern part of Venezuela and was encountered from sea level to an altitude of 1,802 m in state of Trujillo. The second local species L. cousini was collected at only two sites of the Andean Region at altitudes of 3,550 m and 4,040 m, respectively. The European L. truncatula was found at 24 sites all located in the states of Mérida and Táchira at an altitude varying between 1,540-4,000 m. The respective distribution areas of L. cubensis and L. truncatula do not appear to overlap, but more detailed malacological surveys are needed. The fourth lymnaeid species, L. columella was collected in a canal from Mérida at an altitude of 1,929 m and in an irrigation canal from the state of Guárico, at an altitude of 63 m. The role of these four lymnaeid species in the transmission of fascioliasis in Venezuela is discussed.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Male , Disease Vectors/classification , Lymnaea , Fascioliasis/transmission , Lymnaea/anatomy & histology , Lymnaea/classification , VenezuelaABSTRACT
Objective. To investigate the use of a personal computer (PC)-based; continuous-wave Doppler device by a trained midwife at the fetal evaluation clinic at a tertiary hospital to assess flow velocity waveforms (FVWs) of the umbilical artery flow in referred women. Methods. Pregnant women referred for suspected poor fetal growth were evaluated from June 2002 through December 2004. The Umbiflow device (still prototype; developed by CSIR/MRC/Stellenbosch University); consisting of a Pentium 3 PC with an ultrasound transducer plugged into the USB port; was used to analyse the FVW of the umbilical artery. Pregnancies in which the resistance index (RI) was 75th percentile (P75) were not further evaluated for fetal well-being unless the clinical condition of the mother had changed. Pregnancies with an RI P75 were followed up according to a specific protocol. Primary endpoints were intrauterine death and intrauterine growth restriction. Results. Doppler FVWs were assessed in 955 pregnancies. The RI was P75 in 529 participants (55.4); between the P75 and P95 percentile in 350 (36.6) and P95 in 53 (5.5). In 23 cases (2.4) end-diastolic flow was absent or reversed (AREDF). Intrauterine death within 1 week of the test occurred in 1; 4; 0 and 2 women respectively in these four groups; and 16.7; 34.5; 54.9and 65.5respectively gave birth to infants that were small for gestational age. Conclusions. Intrauterine death; within 1 week of the test; was extremely rare when the RI was P75 (0.2). Relatively more deaths within a week of the Doppler examination occurred in the P75 - P95 group. This group should be regarded as being at high risk and needs careful antenatal surveillance
Subject(s)
Echocardiography , Fetal Death , Infant , Pregnant Women , Umbilical ArteriesABSTRACT
La non compaction du ventricule gauche (NCVG) est une cardiomyopathie congenitale de description recente et probablement rare; caracterisee par une alteration de la structure du myocarde secondaire a une embryogenese incomplete. Les auteurs rapportent trois observations de patients africains porteurs d'une NCVG; jusqu'a present et a notre connaissance jamais decrite dans cette population. Il s'agit d'une serie de trois hommes ages de 23 a 45 ans et originaires d'Afrique subsaharienne. Le premier presentant une cardiomegalie sur un cliche thoracique de realisation systematique etait asymptomatique. Le second; dyspneique a l'effort; etait porteur d'un bloc de branche gauche. Le troisieme etait hospitalise pour un oedeme aigu du poumon. Dans les trois cas; l'echocardiographie trans-thoracique a permis d'evoquer le diagnostic. Le ventri- cule gauche etait dilate et hypokinetique avec un aspect spongieux du myocarde; revelant la presence de trabeculations saillantes separees par des cryptes; localisees a l'apex et a la paroi laterale. Le Doppler couleur permettait de visualiser le remplissage inter-trabeculaire par le flux sanguin. L'IRMcardiaque a confirme cet aspect morpholo- gique specifique. Lamort subite d'origine rythmique; l'insuffisance cardiaque et les accidents emboliques constituent les principales complications de la NCVG. Cette pathologie dont la frequence est certainement sous estimee; se revele volontiers chez l'adulte jeune mais peut etre diagnostiquee a tout age. L'echocardiographie et l' IRM permettent la mise en evidence des criteres morphologiques qui affirment le diagnostic. L'origine genetique de la NCVG a ete recemment rapportee; et les presentes obser-vations demontrent que les mutations responsables sont presentes dans la population d'Afrique subsaharienne. Le depistage familial dans les populations africaines peut s'averer difficile a realiser. La prise en charge therapeutique actuelle est fondee sur le traitement symptomatique de l'insuffisance cardiaque; et peut mettre en oeuvre des techniques parfois peu accessibles en milieu tropical.MOTS-CLeS Non compaction du ventricule gauche - Cardiomyopathie - Echocardiographie
Subject(s)
Cardiomyopathies , Diffusion Magnetic Resonance ImagingABSTRACT
La non compaction du ventricule gauche (NCVG) est une cardiomyopathie congenitale de description recente et probablement rare; caracterisee par une alteration de la structure du myocarde secondaire a une embryogenese incomplete. Les auteurs rapportent trois observations de patients africains porteurs d'une NCVG; jusqu'a present et a notre connaissance jamais decrite dans cette population. Il s'agit d'une serie de trois hommes ages de 23 a 45 ans et originaires d'Afrique subsaharienne. Le premier presentant une cardiomegalie sur un cliche thoracique de realisation systematique etait asymptomatique. Le second; dyspneique a l'effort; etait porteur d'un bloc de branche gauche. Le troisieme etait hospitalise pour un oedeme aigu du poumon. Dans les trois cas; l'echocardiographie trans-thoracique a permis d'evoquer le diagnostic. Le ventricule gauche etait dilate et hypokinetique avec un aspect spongieux du myocarde; revelant la presence de trabeculations saillantes separees par des cryptes; localisees a l'apex et a la paroi laterale. Le Doppler couleur permettait de visualiser le remplissage inter-trabeculaire par le flux sanguin. L'IRMcardiaque a confirme cet aspectmorphologique specifique. Lamort subite d'origine rythmique; l'insuffisance cardiaque et les accidents emboliques constituent les principales complications de la NCVG. Cette pathologie dont la frequence est certainement sous estimee; se revele volontiers chez l'adulte jeune mais peut etre diagnostiquee a tout age. L'echocardiographie et l'IRMpermettent la mise en evidence des criteres morphologiques qui affirment le diagnostic. L'origine genetique de la NCVG a ete recemment rapportee; et les presentes observations demontrent que les mutations responsables sont presentes dans la population d'Afrique subsaharienne. Le depistage familial dans les populations africaines peut s'averer difficile a realiser. La prise en charge therapeutique actuelle est fondee sur le traitement symptomatique de l'insuffisance cardiaque; et peut mettre en oeuvre des techniques parfois peu accessibles en milieu tropical
Subject(s)
Heart VentriclesABSTRACT
Lymnaea cousini Jousseaume, 1887 was collected in Mucubaji, Merida State, Venezuela, from a permanent pond located at a very high altitude (3760 m). Identification of the collected specimens was made by comparison with the original description of the shell by Jousseaume and the description of the renal organ and reproductive system of topotypic specimens by Paraense.
Subject(s)
Animals , Lymnaea , VenezuelaABSTRACT
The construction of the Diama dam on the Senegal river, the Manantali dam on the Bafing river, Mali and the ensuing ecological changes have led to a massive outbreak of Schistosoma mansoni in Northern Senegal, associated with high intensity of infections, due to intense transmission, and the creation of new foci of S. haematobium. Data on the vectorial capacity of Biomphalaria pfeifferi from Ndombo, near Richard Toll, Senegal are presented with sympatric and allopatric (Cameroon) S. mansoni. Comparisons are made on infectivity, cercarial production, chronobiology of cercarial emergence and longevity of infected snails. Recent data on the intermediate host specificity of different isolates of S. haematobium from the Lower and Middle Valley of the Senegal river basin (SRB) demonstrate the existence of at least two strains of S. haematobium. The role of Bulinus truncatus in the transmission of S. haematobium in the Lower and Middle Valleys of the SRB is reviewed. Both S. haematobium and S. mansoni are transmitted in the same foci in some areas of the SRB