Disentería y absceso hepático en el Chile colonial y republicano: El Doctor Miguel Claro Vásquez / Disentery and hepatic abscess in the colonial and republican Chile: Doctor Miguel Claro Vásquez

The frequency and severity of dy sentery and hepatic abscess during the colonial and republican era in Chile are reviewed. The amebian etiology was confirmed in both clinical entities. Also, Miguel Claro Vásquez, physician and later priest and bishop of the Catholic Church, was distinguished for his contribution to hepatic abscess surgery.

En esta comunicación se destaca la frecuencia y gravedad en Chile, durante la época colonial y republicana, de dos entidades clínicas: disentería y absceso hepático, comprobándose finalmente la etiología amebiana en ambos procesos. Además se distingue al doctor Miguel Claro Vásquez, médico, después sacerdote y obispo de la Iglesia Católica, por su aporte a la cirugía del absceso del hígado.

Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in the Islamic Republic of Iran

A national survey of the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in the Islamic Republic of Iran was made on a r and om sample of families covered by local health centres affiliated to the medical universities. Out of 53,995 people aged 2+ years, from 12,495 families [0.1% of all families in 1999], 45,128 stool samples were analysed by formalin-ether precipitation. Intestinal parasitic infections were found in 19.3% of the study population [19.7% male, 19.1% female]. Giardia lamblia [10.9%], Ascaris lumbricoides [1.5%], Entamoeba histolytica [1.0%] and Enterobius vermicularis [0.5%] were the most common infections. The infection rate was highest in the 2-14 years age group [25.5%] and in rural residents [23.7%]

Eitology of chidhood diarrhea in Zliten, Libya

To determine the etiological agents of diarrhea in children from a small semi-urban city in Libya and the association of age, gender, seasonal variation, breast-feeding, source of water for drinking, or antibiotic use with the isolation of enteropathogens and whether such agents are community or hospital acquired. Using standard microbiological techniques we examined stool samples from 169 children [70 females] aged a few days to 12 years with acute diarrhea for viral, bacterial and parasitological agents. We used the disc diffusion method to determine the susceptibility of bacterial pathogens to antimicrobial agents. We carried out the study between April 2000 to March 2001. We detected a single agent in 44.4%, rotavirus in 26.6%, Salmonella in 13.6%, and Cryptosporidium in 13% of patients and other enteric pathogens, Shigella in 3.6%, Aeromonas in 5.5%, Entamoeba histolytica/dispar in 11.8, and Giardia lamblia in 1.2%. Serotyping of isolated Salmonella resulted in 21 being Salmonella enteric serotype heidelberg and 3 Salmonella enteritidis. We detected both serotypes in one child. More than 75% of the isolated Salmonella were resistant to 6 different commonly used antimicrobial agents. We found rotavirus, non-typhoid Salmonella and Cryptosporidium to be the most important enteric agents associated with childhood diarrhea in Zliten. The isolated bacterial pathogens showed high resistant rates, particularly among the Salmonella, to the commonly used antimicrobial agents. The ease of which one can obtain these drugs in Zliten may play a role in such resistance

[Prevalence of infection by intestinal parasites in north Lebanon: 1997-2001]

We determined the prevalence of intestinal parasites in the north of Lebanon between 1997 and 2001. We analysed the parasitology records of 17126 patients and evidence of parasitic infections was found in 5 713 [33.35%] cases. There was no significant difference in prevalence for males or females for any of the parasites. The most prevalent parasites were Entamoeba coli [38.45%], Ascaris lumbricoides [37.14%], Giardia lamblia [15.39%], Ent. histolytica [4.57%] and Taenia sp. [3.3%]. A comparison between our data and results of previous studies in Lebanon in 1937, 1939, 1956, 1967 and 1993 showed an increase in the prevalence of A. lumbricoides and G. lamblia in the period 1997-2001, with less marked changes in the prevalence of the other parasites

Prevalencia de la Entamoeba histolytica en asentamientos temporales post terremoto de la ciudad de Armenia / Entamoeba histolytica prevalence in temporary housing after the earthquake, Armenia, Colombia

Objetivo: determinar la prevalencia de parásitos intestinales y de Entamoeba histolytica mediante la prueba ELISA de adhesina en heces en asentamientos temporales post-terromoto. Diseño: estudio de prevalencia de punto. Lugar: ocho asentamientos temporales post-terremoto de la ciudad de Armenia. Población: muestra representativa de la población entre 4 y 65 años de edad de asentamientos, en total 169 personas. Mediciones: coproscópico y prueba ELISA para adhesina de Entamoeba histolytica en heces. Resultados: Endolimax nana fue el parásito comensal más prevalente con 66 por ciento, seguido por Entamoeba coli 26 por ciento y Lodamoeba buschtlii 10 por ciento. Giardia lamblia fue la especie patógena más prevalente con 38 por ciento, seguida de Ascaris lumbricoides 10 por ciento, Strongyloides stercoralis 2 por ciento, Trichuris trichura 1.7 por ciento, Hymenolepsis nana 0.6 por ciento (1/169). Los quistes de Entamoeba histolytica/dispar fueron detectados por microscopía en 17.5 por ciento y la prueba de adhesina fue positiva en sólo una de las 169 muestras estudiadas (0.6 por ciento). Conclusiones: este estudio señala que E. histolytica es poco frecuente en asentamientos temporales post-terremoto y la necesidad en Colombia de realizar pruebas específicas, con el fin de determinar la instauración de un tratamiento antiamibiano, el cual no se puede basar en el resultado de la microscopía óptica dada la alta frecuencia de amibas no patógenas

Intestinal parasites in children with diarrhea in Delhi, India.

The parasitic causes of diarrhea in children in Delhi were determined by the direct smear technique; stool specimens of 127 children were examined for intestinal parasites. In 59 cases (46.5%) intestinal helminths and protozoa were demonstrated. Ascaris lumbricoides was observed in 1 (0.8%) case, while Trichuris trichiura was the finding in 3 (2.4%). Protozoal parasites included Giardia intestinalis and Entamoeba histolytica in 14 (11%) cases each, Balantidium coli in 3 (2.4%) cases and Cryptosporidium spp in 24 (18.9%) patients. Mixed infection was not seen in any of the cases. Intestinal parasites may increase susceptibility to infection with other intestinal pathogens and therefore with the help of a simple technique, like direct fecal smear examination. rapid diagnosis can be made and specific therapy instituted.

Enzymeba, Procedimiento eficaz para estudiar la prevalencia de infección intestinal por entamoeba histolytica / ENZYMEBA: an effective method for analzing the prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica intestinal infection

Por la unidad epidemiológica que tiene el desarrollo de procedimientos que permitan estudios confiables de prevalencia de amebiosis intestinal se estudió la eficacia de ENZYMEBA, ensayo inmunoenzimático para la detección en heces de Entamoeba histolytica. ENZYMEBA, mediante el empleo de una sola muestra por individuo participante en el estudio, demostró infección por E. histolytica en 27 de los 686 casos estudiados. La observación microscópica de heces sólo igualó los resultados de ENZYMEBA cuando fueron analizados los resultados de ambos procedimientos sobre 3 muestras de cada uno de los individuos en el estudio. Por su alta sensibilidad, requerir de una sola muestra por persona encuestada y ser un inmunoensayo realizable en condiciones mínimas de laboratorio, consideramos que ENZYMEBA es una herramienta muy útil para estudios de prevalencia de amebiosis intestinal

Ausência de amebíase invasiva em aidéticos homossexuais masculinos, no Recife / Absence of invasive amoebiasis in male homosexual AIDS patients in Recife

The purpose of this paper was to determine if among male homosexual AIDS [correction of SIDA] patients, the Entamoeba histolytica was able to product invasive illness. From the 77 investigated patients only one (1.3 per cent) has cysts of E. histolytica in his stools. The electrophoresis of the only isolated strain has shown it was from zimodeme I, non pathogenic. The research of antiamebic antibodies was negative in the serum of the totality of patients. Those results showed that even in immunocompromised patients with AIDS [correction of SIDA], E. histolytica strain found in Recife was not able to produce disease. The utilization of metronidazol is not indicated in amoebic cysts carriers.

Amebiasis in the epidemiologic transition in Mexico: its morbidity and mortality trends in the Mexican Institute of Social Security

Amebiasis is one of the most common parasite-related diseases and one of those with the greatest impact on health. At the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (Mexican Institute of Social Security-IMSS) approximately half a million cases per year are currently treated. Of these, more than 2500 correspond to the form wich invades the live. Within the process of epidemiologic transition which Mexico undergoing, a progressive reduction has been observed in incidence of, and mortality due to, invading amebiasis in all its clinical forms. In turn, there is a significant decrese in its fatality rate. The social and economic development and improved sanitary conditions observed in Mexico, particularly in the second half of this century, may have conditioned this process. The improvement in availability, accessibility and utilization of medical care services could also explain the reduction which has been noted in its fatality rate and mortality. The model for epidemiologic transition proposed by Omran and adapted for Mexico by Frenk, offers a plausible explanation for the changes observed in the occurrence and mortality of invanding amebiasis in Mexixo

Seroepidemiología de la amebiasis / Seroepidemiological study of amebiasis

Por medio de la técnica de ELISA se estudiaron 35 sueros de personas del distrito de Sapillica (Piura) y 36 sueros de estudiantes de la Joya (Arequipa) encontrándose que el 46 por ciento de los sueros de Sapillica y el 72 por ciento de los sueros de La Joya eran positivos para anticuerpos contra Entamoeba histolytica.

Parásitosis intestinal en niños de Chiloé insular / Intestinal parasites in children of the Chiloe Archipielago, southern Chile

En 191 niños de escuelas básicas de 7 islas del archipiélago de Chiloé, se practicó una encuesta coproparasitológica la cual demostró una prevalencia de infección del 57,6%. Las infecciones más frecuentes correspondieron a A. lumbricoides y T. trichiura (32,5%) G. lamblia (15,7%) la disminución de la prevalencia en relación a estudios previos justifica los esfuerzos por mejorar las condiciones de saneamiento ambiental y de educación sanitaria

Amebiasis at an evacuation site on the Thai-Cambodian border.

Symptomatic intestinal amebiasis was highly endemic among the Cambodians living at Green Hill, an evacuation site on the Thai-Cambodian border between June 1987 through May 1989. Monthly incidence rates of intestinal amebiasis were determined to be inversely proportional to cumulative monthly rainfall. The highest incidence of amebic dysentery was 63/1000 in children 12-23 months old. Behavioral risk factors were investigated by conducting a case-control study. A questionnaire was administered to 73 families, each having at least one member with confirmed intestinal amebiasis within the past 3 months, and to 95 randomly selected control families having no individual with diarrhea for at least 3 months. Individuals from families with greater than 4 members were at higher risk for acquiring intestinal amebiasis. No significant differences in behavioral risk factors were identified between case and control families. Eighty-six percent of 51 water samples drawn from wells where amebiasis patients obtained their drinking water had greater than 10 coliforms/100 ml. The main route of transmission of E. histolytica was not identified, but was most likely via the fecal-oral route.

Parasitological and serological studies on amoebiasis and other intestinal parasitic infections in the rural sector around Recife, Northeast Brazil

Foram realizados exames parasitológicos em 485 habitantes de quatro vilarejos da cidade de Säo Lourenço da Mata, distante 25 Km à noroeste de Recife-PE, Brasil, no período de julho à dezembro de 1989. Aproximadamente 99,6% dos examinados mostraram-se infectados com pelo menos uma espécie de parasita intestinal. Observou-se ainda uma alta prevalência de Shistosoma mansoni (82,1%), ancilostomídeos (80,2%), Trichuris trichiura (69,9%), Ascaris lumbricoides (61,9%) e Entamoeba coli36,7%). A cultura de larvas de ancilostomídeos nas fezes - método de Harada - revelou que Necator americanus (84,4%) é a espécie mais comum nesta regiäo seguida pelo Strongyloides stercoralis. Foram ainda realizados testes sorológicos imunodifusäo em gel (GDP) e enzima imunoensaio (ELISA) - em 334 soros, para o diagnóstico de amebíase, todavia apenas 24 (7,2%) dos soros apresentaram positivdade no teste de ELISA e nenhuma positividade foi encontrada nos mesmos soros testados pelo GDP