ABSTRACT
Chagas disease is a major endemic disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. This parasitic disease is widely distributed throughout Latin America, affecting 10 million people. There are also reports of canine infection in the southern part of the United States. Dogs are considered the predominant domestic reservoir for T. cruzi in many areas of endemicity. In México, dog infection by this parasite has been poorly studied. In this work 209 dogs from six villages in Jalisco, México, were assessed to detect anti-T. cruzi antibodies by ELISA and Western blot. Seventeen (17) seropositive dogs (8.1 %) were detected by both tests, representing a seropositive value similar to that found in some southern states of México where the infection is present. No statistical differences were observed concerning the age and sex of infected and non-infected dogs. The major antigens recognized by positive sera were 26, 32, 66 and 80 kDa. These proteins are candidates to develop a specific diagnostic method for canine Chagas. No antibodies against HSP16 protein were found in T. cruzi seropositive sera. This is the first report of canine serology of Chagas disease in this central part of México. This report will contribute to the knowledge of the infection status of domestic reservoirs in the state of Jalisco, México.
El mal de Chagas es una enfermedad endémica causada por el parásito protozoario Trypanosoma cruzi. Este padecimiento está ampliamente distribuido en América, donde afecta a alrededor de 10 millones de personas. También existen comunicaciones de la infección canina desde el sur de los Estados Unidos hasta países de Sudamérica. Los perros son considerados los principales reservorios domésticos de T. cruzi en muchas áreas endémicas. En México, la infección canina ha sido estudiada escasamente. En el presente trabajo se evaluó mediante ELISA y Western blot la presencia de anticuerpos anti-T. cruzi en el suero de 209 perros de seis localidades del estado de Jalisco, México. Se encontraron 17 perros seropositivos (8,1 %) a ambas pruebas. No se observaron diferencias de significación estadística en la edad o el sexo de los perros infectados comparados con los no infectados. Los principales antígenos reconocidos por los sueros positivos fueron de 26, 32, 66 y 80 kDa. Estas proteínas son candidatos para desarrollar un método de diagnóstico específico para Chagas canino. No se encontraron anticuerpos contra la proteína HSP16 en los sueros positivos anti-T. cruzi. Este es el primer informe de serología canina en la región central de México y contribuirá al conocimiento de la infección en reservorios domésticos de Jalisco, México.
Subject(s)
Animals , Dogs , Antigens, Protozoan/blood , Chagas Disease/veterinary , Dog Diseases/blood , Dog Diseases/epidemiology , Trypanosoma cruzi/immunology , Chagas Disease/blood , Chagas Disease/epidemiology , Dog Diseases/parasitology , Mexico/epidemiology , Seroepidemiologic StudiesABSTRACT
In this work it is emphasized the presence of the fibrinolitico system in different physiological mechanisms, specially in the antithrombotic regulation of the hemostasis. It is described: the mechanism of activation of plasminogen by their activators as much on the fibrin as in the cells surface; the inhibition of the activators in different metabolic alterations.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Fibrinolysis/physiology , Hemostasis , ThrombosisABSTRACT
The case of a 50 years old man, coming from an endemic Chagas' disease zone, is reported. This patient came with a dilated cardiomyopathy, likely of Chagasic etiology, and heart failure. He died in our Institute, were it was possible to register an ECG, and perform the necropsy, on the same day of his death. The ECG showed signs of heart chambers dilatation, inactive myocardium in subendocardial anterolateral regions of the left ventricle, and extensive subepicardial injury. The anatomical study demonstrated the four heart chambers dilatation, and a subendocardial fibrosis essentially located in anterolateral portions of the left ventricle. The histological examination proved that the distribution of injured zones corresponded to location of the inflammatory foci. Furthermore, Trypanosoma cruzi inoculation in mice produced inflammatory foci, predominantly located in the ventricular epicardial and subepicardial regions.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Chagas Cardiomyopathy/pathology , Chagas Cardiomyopathy , Electrocardiography , Chronic DiseaseABSTRACT
El corazón es el primer órgano que se forma y funciona en el embrión, de tal suerte que todos los eventos subsecuentes en la vida del organismo dependen de la habilidad de este órgano para atender las demandas de oxígeno y nutrientes que éste requiere. Las anormalidades en la formación del corazón, la forma más común de defectos humanos al nacimiento, afecta al 1 % de los nacidos vivos, y su frecuencia en abortos espontáneos se eleva diez veces más. La patofisiología de este tipo de malformaciones congénitas se ha venido enriqueciendo en los últimos años con el conocimiento del Proyecto Genoma Humano; debido al gran avance que se ha producido en el conocimiento genético y molecular de los diferentes genes y cromosomas que suelen ser afectados y muchas veces heredados para producir una enfermedad congénita en general. Esta revisión trata de enfocar su atención sobre la información extraída de los análisis genéticos y moleculares en el diagnóstico, tratamiento y entendimiento de la patogénesis de las enfermedades cardiovasculares pediátricas, dirigidas tanto por los más comunes defectos cardíacos congénitos o heredados, como por los desórdenes esporádicos o adquiridos.
The heart is the first organ to form and function in the embryo, and all subsequent events in the life of the organism depend on the heart's ability to match its output with the organism's demands for oxygen and nutrients. Abnormalities in heart formation, the most common form of human birth defects, afflict nearly 1% of newborns, and their frequency in spontaneously aborted pregnancies is estimated to be tenfold higher. With the completion of the sequencing of the human genome, molecular genetic efforts directed at finding genes for monogenic traits have accelerated dramatically. Breakthroughs in molecular genetic technology have just begun to be applied in pediatric cardiology stemming from the use of chromosomal mapping and the identification of genes involved in both the primary etiology and as significant risk factors in the development of cardiac and vascular abnormalities. This review will focus on information provided by molecular and genetic analysis in the diagnosis, treatment and overall heart disorders.