Diagnóstico de situación de la investigación en salud en el ámbito del Ministerio de Salud de la Nación y 10 ministerios provinciales / Situational diagnosis of the health research at the national and 10 Provincial Ministries fo Health in Argentina

INTRODUCCIÓN: El estudio y análisis de la investigaciónpara la salud reviste interés para los países desde el punto de vista sanitario y socioeconómico, ya que procura establecer información confiable y de calidad acerca de qué, cómo y a través de quiénes se investiga en este campo. OBJETIVO: Describir las actividades de gestión de la investigación, difusión o producción de conocimiento que se realizan en los ministerios y sus organismos dependientes, con la finalidad de efectuar un diagnóstico inicial de esa situación en 2010. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal. Se analizaron 11 ministerios de salud y 215 organismos dependientes. El relevamiento se realizó a través de una encuesta estructurada a funcionarios responsables. Se relevaron los ministerios de Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (CABA), Provincia de Buenos Aires, Chaco, Chubut, Córdoba, Corrientes, Jujuy, Mendoza, Nación, Neuquén y Tucumán. RESULTADOS: CABA, Buenos Aires,Córdoba, Jujuy, Mendoza, Nación y Neuquén contaban con áreas específicas de investigación y realizaban actividades de regulación y auditorías de investigación. Se relevaron 1.019 investigaciones, de las cuales el 61% contaban con financiamiento. De los 126 hospitales relevados el 56% (71) efectuaban investigaciones. Entre los ministerios de CABA (424), Nación (177), Córdoba (125) y Buenos Aires(103) y sus hospitales concentraron el 81%. CONCLUSIONES: A pesar del alto porcentaje de investigaciones hospitalarias, solo el 55% de ellas recibieron financiamiento, lo que denotaría un gran esfuerzo institucional. Por otra parte, la mayoría de los ministerios relevados contaban con áreas específicas de investigación, lo que indicaría el interés del Estado en la investigación en salud.

INTRODUCTION: The study and analysis of health research is relevant for all countries from both health and socio-economic point of view - it intends to obtain trust worthy and quality information about what, how and by whom research is done in this field. OBJECTIVE: To describe the activities related to research management, diffusion and knowledge production with in the frame work of ministries and its agencies, in order to make an initial diagnosis of the situation during 2010. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed. It analyzed 11 health ministries and 215 dependent agencies. It was conducted through a structured survey to responsible officials in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (CABA), Buenos Aires Province, Chaco, Chubut, Córdoba,Corrientes, Jujuy, Mendoza, Nation, Neuquén and Tucumán. RESULTS: CABA, Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Jujuy, Mendoza, Nation and Neuquén had specific areas of research, carried out regulatory activities and research audits. Of the 1.019 investigations, 61% were funded. 126 hospitals were surveyed, and 56% (71) conducted researches. The ministries of CABA(424), Nation (177), Córdoba (125) and Buenos Aires (103) and the hospitals under their jurisdiction totaled 81% of the investigations. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the high percentage of hospital investigations, only 55% of them were funded, which would indicate a large institutional effort. More over,most of the ministries surveyed had specific research areas, that would indicate the State´s interest in health research.

New record and larval habitats of Culex eduardoi (Diptera: Culicidae) in an irrigated area of Patagonia, Chubut Province, Argentina

The object of the present work was to identify the larval habitats of Culex eduardoi and to determine the microenvironmental conditions related to their presence in different artificial freshwater environments (temporary, semi-permanent, irrigation ditches, and drainage ditches) in tillable areas of Chubut Province, Argentina. This report represents the first record of Cx. eduardoi from this Province and extends its range to latitude 45°S. Immature stages of Cx. eduardoi were found in 8 out of 109 (7.3 percent) freshwater habitats and were significantly more prevalent in semi-permanent water bodies. Positive sites had significantly larger surface areas and more vegetation cover than negative sites.

Aportes morfológicos y morfométricos sobre Echinococcus granulosus para vacuna ovina EG95 / Morphological and morphometric contributions on Echinococcus granulosus for EG95 sheep vaccine

Se describe el estadío adulto de la cepa de Echinococus granulosus, utilizada en la validación de la Vacuna Ovina EG95 en el marco del Programa de Control de Hidatidosis (Provincia de Chubut, Argentina), con el propósito de medir la efectividad de la Vacuna Ovina EG95, elaborada por el Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular de la Universidad de Melbourne de Australia. Se estudiaron treinta ejemplares adultos de E. granulosus (conservados en formol al 10%) cuyo tamaño osciló entre 1,6 y 5,1 mm de largo. Los resultados mostraron que, además de su escólex, el parásito adulto presenta entre 3 y 5 proglótidos. En los ejemplares observados la proglótida grávida siempre era la última, independientemente de la cantidad de proglótidas presentes. El promedio de huevos de cada proglótido grávida fue 525 por parásito (rango de 405-808).

The adult stage of the Echinococus granulosus strain used in Sheep Vaccine EG95 validation within the framework of the Hydatidosis Control Program (Chubut Province, Argentina) is described in this work in order to measure the effectiveness of this vaccine developed by the Molecular Parasitology Laboratory of Melbourne University, Australia. Thirty adult specimens of E. granulosus (in 10% formalin) were studied. The size of these specimens ranged from 1.6 to 5.1 mm long. The results showed that, in addition to its scolex, the adult parasite presents 3 and 5 proglottids. In the specimens observed, the gravid proglottid was always the last one, regardless of the number of proglottids present. The average number of eggs of each gravid proglottid was 525 per parasite (range 405- 808).

Contaminación por helmintos en espacios públicos de la provincia de Chubut, Argentina / Contamination by helminths in public places at Chubut province, Argentina

Canine-borne helminthiases constitute a worldwide problem. Some of these parasites can originate serious pathologies in humans. Given the potential existence of these zoonoses in Argentina, horizontal surveys on contamination degree evaluated as faeces per hectare and on parasite prevelence in faeces were carried out in six localities of the Province of Chubut. The behaviour of people visiting public places was also analyzed qualitatively. All of the survey sites were contaminated with faeces and with some parasitic forms. Contamination degrees ranged from 32 to 147 faeces/ha. Toxocara sp. (17.4 percent), Strongyloides sp. (5.1 percent), and Ancylostoma. sp (5.6 percent) were the main genera among other parasites detected. As a whole, the analysis revealed that contamintion degree, prevalence and human behaviour in relation to the exposure to the parasite would be the main factors to be taken into a account in formulating control measures. Transmission risk patterns in Chubut were not homogenous; therefore, studies and control strategies should be devised and implemented at the local scale