Exposure to larva migrans syndromes in squares and public parks of cities in Chile

Entre novembro de 2001 e dezembro de 2002, 600 amostras de fezes de cão foram coletadas nas principais praças e parques públicos de 13 cidades do Chile, localizadas nas regiões norte ao estremo sul da nação. No laboratório, as amostras foram processadas mediante os métodos de sedimentação por centrifugação e de Harada-Mori. Ovos de Toxocara canis foram encontrados em 12 cidades em freqüências que variaram entre 1,9 a 12,5 por cento por cidade, com média de 5,2 por cento. Sete por cento das amostras apresentaram ovos e 9,5 por cento larvas rabditóides ou filarióides de Ancylostomatidae. Strongyloides stercoralis não foi encontrado nas amostras estudadas. Praças e parques públicos do Chile apresentam riscos potenciais para aquisição de larva migrans visceral, ocular ou cutânea.

Infecciones por protozoos y helmintos intestinales en pre-escolares y escolares de la Comuna de Colina, Santiago, Chile, 2003 / Intestinal protozoa and infections in pre-school and elementary school-children from colina county, Santiago, Chile, 2003

En mayo de 2003 se efectuó una encuesta epidemio-parasitológica en pre-escolares y escolares de la Escuela San Vicente de Lo Arcaya de Colina, comuna semirural de la Provincia de Santiago ubicada en la Región Metropolitana de Chile. Hay que destacar que los niños estudiados eran asintomáticos. Los elementos parasitarios más frecuentemente encontrados fueron: Blastocystis hominis - en hombre y mujeres respectivamente - 38,8 por ciento y 44,4 por ciento, Giardia intestinalis con 9,5 por ciento y 16,2 por ciento y Enterobius vermicularis con 12,9 por ciento y 10,0 por ciento. Cryptosporidium parvum no fue encontrado y ELISA para Strongyloides stercoralis resultó positiva en un niño.

Dos casos de oftalmomiasis externa por oestrus ovis en la Región Metropolitana de Chile / Two cases of extern ophthalmomyiasis by oestrus ovis in the Región Metropolitana of Chile

Las oftalmomiasis externas son producidas por larvas biontófagas, es decir, que requieren huéspedes vivos para su desarrollo, corresponden a las miasis primarias u obligatorias. Oestrus ovis es la responsable de la mayoría de la miasis conjuntivales. Oestrus ovis es una mosca de distribución universal. La mosca adulta que es vivípara coloca las larvas en las fosas nasales de ovejas y cabras de donde migran a las cavidades sinusales. Ahí se alimentan y crecen, en la primavera migrando a las fosas nasales desde donde caen al suelo. Posteriormente se desarrollan las pulpas y al cabo de 3 a 6 semanas emergen los ejemplares adultos. Mientras ovejas y cabras son los huéspedes naturales de las larvas de oestrus ovis el hombre es un huésped accidental y las larvas se desarrollan en el suelo hasta el primer estadio. Dos pacientes de 22 y 33 años después de haber permanecido en áreas rurales presentaron la sensación de cuerpo extraño, ardor, dolor ocular, fotofobia, edema palpebral, congestión y secreción conjuntival que fueron identificadas como larvas de Oestrus ovis. La oftalmomiasis externa es una miasis importante que debe ser considerada en pacientes de zonas rurales especialmente donde existe crianza de ovejas y cabras

Congenital Chagas disease of second generation in Santiago, Chile. Report of two cases

Congenital Chagas disease (CChD) has been reported in different countries, mostly in Latin America. In 1987 a fatal case of CChD of second generation (CChDSG) was published. Within a period of six months - 1989-1990 - two cases of CChDSG were diagnosed and studied in the city of Santiago. Two premature newborns, sons of two sisters, with moderate liver and spleen enlargement, were found to have positive serology for Chagas disease and xenodiagnoses. The mothers, urban residents all their lives, without antecedents of triatomine bugs contact or blood transfusions, showed positive serology and xenodiagnoses. Their mother (grandmother of the infants), lived 20 years in a Northern rural Chagas disease endemic locality, in a triatomine infested house. Afterwards, she moved to Santiago, where she married and has resided up to now. Serology and xenodiagnoses were also positive. All the Trypanosoma cruzi infected individuals were successfully treated with nifurtimox

Contaminación ambiental por huevos de toxocara sp. en algunas plazas y parques públicos de Santiago de Chile, 1999 / Environmental contamination by toxocara sp. eggs in public squares and parks from Santiago, Chile, 1999

Most of cases of visceral larva migrans syndrome are caused by Toxocara canis larvae. Man acquires the infection by accidental ingestion of ripe eggs of the helminth. In order to find out the frequency of the presence of Toxocara sp. eggs in dog fecal specimens from public places of Santiago city in 1999 july-september a study was carried out in 84 squares and 12 parks from 32 couties. Three fecal samples were collected in each of these places, making a total of 288. Each sample was processed according to a modified Telemann method and three smears of each were microcopically examined. Toxocara sp. eggs were found in 39 (13.5 percent) fecal specimens. In 28/84 (33.3 percent) squares and in 8/12 (66.7 percent) parks these eggs were detected. These results make necessary the control of dogs and cats populations with the aim of reduce the presence of animals without responsible owners. It schould be advisable to prevent dogs and cats defecation in public areas grounds, trying to exclude these animals from recreation areas

Seroepidemiology of human toxoplasmosis in Chile

En este trabajo se revisa, se amplia y se analiza en conjunto una crise serie e encuestas seroepidemiologicas sobre toxoplasmosis efectuadas en Chile entre 1982 y 1994, utilizando la reaccion de hemaglutinacion indirecta (RHAI). El estudio incluyo 76.317 personas aparentemente sanas de diferentes edades (0,57 por cento de la problacion total del pais), procedentes de 309 localidades urbanas y rural-periurbanas...

Evaluación de los programas de erradicación de vectores de la enfermedad de Chagas en Chile mediante estudio serológico de niños menores de 10 años / Evaluation of Chagas's disease vector erradication programs in Chile by serological study of children under 10 years old

Chagas's disease is a parasitic zoonosis with high prevalence in Chile. It is distributed in rural and periurban section in the northern most seven out of thirteen regions in which the country is divided, and affects about 142,000 individuals dispersed in most of the 165 counties sited in the chagasic zone triatoma infestans, intradomiciliary species, is the main and practically exclusive vector of trypanosoma cruzi. Diverse tools be utilized in order to interrupt the domestic cycle of transmission of T. cruzi health education, housing improvement and elimination of vectors by dwelling insecticide sprayings. This last resource has received priority in Chile in the last 12 years. To evaluate the effectivity of the programs for eliminating T. infestans a serological study for Chagas's disease, comprising 8,767 children less than 10 years old from 27 rural counties insecticide sprayed in the last 12 years, was carried out. A global total of 125 (1,4 percent) children resulted positive, figure significantly lower than 5,4 percent found in 1982-1990 in the same age group. Distribution by regions of positive individuals showed a decrease of prevalence in each of them: III Region, from 9,8 to 1,0 percent, IV Region, 7,2 to 2,0 percent, V Region, 5,2 to 1,9 percent, and Metropolitan Region, 1,4 to 0,6 percent. Even though positive children have still been found in 46,7 percent of localities of the studied counties, it is possible to affirm that the vector control programs have been effective and must be maintained, and increased in those localities with T. cruzi infection in children under 10 years of age, with the general aim of eradicate Chagas's disease transmission in Chile before 2000.

Programa antitriatomico experimental de Santiago / Experimental antitriatomic program in Santiago

The rural migration to urban centers occurred since the 40s in many Latin American countries, including Santiago the capital city of Chile, originated a growing belt of premises built with light poor material (the rests of previous rural habitations, mud, pieces of timber, plastic and card board for walls, and cane stalks and artificial clinkstones for roofs) giving raise to many types of slums. This situation facilitated the passive transport of the different instars, including eggs, of triatomine bugs. Due to the fact that in the 1959-1960 warm seasons, the Santiago Province health instituions had received an increasing reported number of triatomine bugs (Triatoma infestans) in dwellings from different periurban, even urban and rural section of the province, the central local health authorities with the advise of the University of Chile, Department of Parasitology decided to carry out an experimental program against these vectors of Chagas' disease. The program consisted basically in an spray and thorought application of liquid forms (emulsion, suspension, solution) of 1% lindane (average * 500 mg per 1 m*), depending on the material of the constructions, to all the surfaces of walls, ceilings, attics and peridomiciliary estructures of all the infested dwellings in a sector and those located less than 100 m around. In order to reach triatomine bugs not affected, for different reasons, in the first spraying, a second application, identical to the first was performed to the total number of premises between 30 and 120 days later. Periodical evaluations were made, and positive dwellings found and neighboring ones were sprayed again. During insecticide applications adequate protection measures for spraying workers, inhabitants, domestic animals, household goods and food were adopted. All the steps of the program were accompanied by health education activities directed to individuals, families, schools teachers and community institutions, tending to motivate the people to an active participation, as in the report of the presence or reapearing of triatomines in premises as in cooperating in the sprayings and improving the material conditions of their properties. Thus, in the period 1960-1972 the following goals were achieved: 1) Spraying twice with 1% lindane 32,708 dwellings located in 199 quarters from 26 periurban and rural sections. 2) Protection to 191,090 people against T. infestans bites and the eventual acquired chagasic infection. 3) Percentages of t

Rendimiento del xenodiagnóstico, según el número de cajas utilizadas en 1.181 personas con infección chagásica crónica diagnosticada mediante la reacción de hemaglutinación indirecta / Yielding of xenodiagnosis, according to the number of boxes utilized, in 1.181 persons with chronic chagasic infection diagnosed by means of indirect hemagglutination reaction

A study for evaluation of the yielding of xenodiagnosis (XD) in 1,181 persons with a previous positive indierect hemagglutination test (IHAT) for Trypanosoma cruzi infection was carried out. The infections of these people was detected during epidemiological surveys performed in rural-periurban and urban sections of the endemo-enzootic area of Chagas' disease in Chile, which involves the first seven, out of the thirteen political-administrative regions of the country. The sex distribution was 75.0% females and 25.0% males, varying the ages between 2 and 80 years. According to individual and geographical possibilities each person was submitted to 1-8 XD, which consisted in cylindrical wooden boxes containing seven third instar nymphs, laboratory reared, of Triatoma infestans. The boxes, covered with a pieces of tulle fixed with a rubber band were applied on the skin of the posterior side of the arm of the subject to be examined, holdea with a linen bracelet during 25-30 min. After the insects were fed the boxes were maintained in the laboratory at 27-C and 85% relative environmental humidity. Posteriorly, all the nymphs of each box were examined at 30, 60 and 90 days after application. A drop of abdominal content of each of them, homogenized with a drop of saline, was examined at the microscope looking for T. cruzi. XD resulted positive in 503 (42.6%) people. The positiveness of XD showed a trend of increasing according to the number of boxes used, from 11.4% with one to 51.6% with six. Under a practical point of view, the simultaneous application of four XD boxes seems to be advisable. In relation to the IHAT for Chagas' infection, the percentages of XD positivity increased from 39.8% in those people with lower titers (16-128) to 61.7% in those with higher titers (256-1,000)

Enfermedad de Chagas en el Altiplano Chileno: aspectos epidemiológicos, parasitológicos y clínicos / Chagas disease in Chilean altiplane: epidemiological, parasitological, and clinical aspects

Chagas'disease is endemo-enzootic in periurban and rural sections of the first seven (18-30'-34-36' South lat), out of the thirteen political-administrative regions of Chile. Permanent inhabited localities situated at different altitudes over the sea level (OSL) are clasified in: coastal settlement (0-1,499 , OSL), intermediate settlement (1,500-3,000 m OSL) and altiplano settlement (>3,000 m OSL). A total of 1,558 dwellings and their occupants from regions I and II were surveyed in 1982-1984 for different epidemiological Trypanosoma cruzi infection parameters. Hence, 261 dwellings, 189 domestic mammals and 517 people (ages 5-*60 years) from the Altiplano settlement were studied. The results obtained were: 4(1.5% ) and 1(0.8% ) of dwellings infested with Triatoma infestans, according to occupants information and by observation of direct evidences respectively; 8(4.2% ) animals (1 dog, 4 goats and 3 sheep) with a positive hemagglutination test (IHAT) for Chagas' disease; 21 people (4,1% ) with a positive IHAT; 4(19.0% ) and 3(14.3% ), out of the 21 IHAT positive individuals with all types of electrocardiogram (EKG) abnormalities and EKG abnormalities suggestive of a chagasic etiology respectively, whereas 65(13.1% ) and 15(3.0% ), out of the 496 IHAT negative ones presented the same kinds of EKG abnormalities. In comparing the frequence of presumedly chagasic EKG abnormalities in 91, 258 and 21 IHAT positive individuals from the three settlements surveyed, eventhough the figures lack of statistical significance, it is interesting to emphasize the increasing of percentages, paralell to altitutde, observed from 4.4 in the coastal settlement to 6.2 in the intermediate settlement up to 14,3 in the Altiplano, suggesting a possible influence of this factor in the production of EKG abnormalities. A similar situation was observed in 1,155, 1,211 and 496 IHAT negative individuals with the corresponding percentages of 2.1, 1.8 and 3.0

Endemia chagásica familiar detectada a consecuencia de un caso de infección congénita / Household chagasic endemia detected as a consequence of a case of congenital infection

During a study on prevalence of parasitic and viral serological markers in pregnant adolescents, a 17-years-old primipara from Polpaico, village near Santiago, gave birth to a normal male newborn in a Santiago hospital. As both of them presented positive an indirect hemaglutination test (IHAT) for Chagas's disease and the corresponding xenodiagnosis (XD), the infection in the infant was considered to be acquired through the placental route. According to recent epidemiologiacal surveys Polpaico is an endemo-enzootic chagasic rural settlement, where 14.7% of dwellings were infested with Triatoma infestans, while triatominae, persons and domestic mammals were found infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. One month later the adolescent mother, her son and other 11 consanguineous members of the family were visited in their homes in order to submit each of then to a physical examination and to IHAT for Chagas' disease, and XD to those whose IHAT resulted positive. Thus, in 7 (53.8%) the IHAT was positive and in 4(57.1%) out pf these 7 presented positive the XD, results that as a whole yelded a household chagasic endemics

Loxoscelismo en Chile: estudios epidemiologicos, clínicos y experimentales / Loxoscelism in Chile: epidemiological, clinical and experimental studies

Se presenta un enfoque panorámico de estudios epidemiológicos, clínicos y experimentales referentes a Loxosceles laeta y loxocelismo efectuados en 1955-1988 en Santiago, Chile. Se estudiaron 216 casos de loxoscelismo. Los hechos más relevantes fueron: 52,8% correspondió a mujeres; edad entre 7 meses y 78 años; 84,3% fué loxoscelismo cutáneo (LC) y 15,7% loxoscelismo cutáneo-visceral (LCV); 73,6% sucedió en época calurosa; en 86,6% el accidente ocurrió en la vivienda, especialmente en dormitórios, mientras la persona dormía o se vestía. La araña fué vista en 60,2% de los casos e identificada en laboratório como L. laeta en 17,7% (10,6%) de los 216 casos). Los sitios más frecuentemente afectados fueron las extremidades con 67,6%, lancetazo urente fué el síntoma inicial más frecuente. Dolor, edema y placa livedoide, la cual posteriormente se transformaría en escara necrótica, fueron las manifestaciones locales predominantes. En LCV hematuria y hemoglobinuria fueron constantes, ictericia, fiebre y compromiso de conciencia se presentaron en la mayoría de los casos. Tratamiento: LC con antihistamínicos o corticoides inyectables, LCV con corticoides inyectables. La condición de los pacientes en el último control fué: curación completa en 75,5%, curación con secuela cicatrizal en 8,3%, muerte en 3,7% (todos con LCV) y abandono en 12,5%. Adicionalmente, se ha efectuado una serie de estudios experimentales, tanto in vivo como in vitro para esclarecer aspectos básicos sobre el veneno de L. laeta y el tratamiento del loxoscelismo

Algunas características epidemiológicas, clínicas y parasitológicas de la enfermedad de Chagas congénita en Chile / Epidemiology clinic and parasitological characteristics of congenital Chagas disease in Chile

La infección chagásica, endemo-enzootia, existe en Chile en sectores rurales y periurbanos de la I a VI Regiones, donde se ha demostrado la existencia de vectores, principalmente el Triatoma infestans, y mamíferos, incluso el hombre, parasitados por el Trypanosoma cruzi. Debido a migraciones, también se ha encontrado individuos infectados por el parásito en centros urbanos de las referidas regiones. Para conocer la prevalencia de la infección humana por T. cruzi en 1982-1987, mediante la reacción de hemaglutinación indirecta (RHAI) para enfermedad de Chagas, se ha examinado a 57.562 habitantes de dichas regiones: 13.515 rurales-periurbanos con RHAI positiva en el 16,9%, y 44.047 urbanos con RHAI positiva en el 1,9%. Entre estos últimos, se incluyeron 14.768 parturientas atendidas en 19 maternidades. La parasitosis puede ser transmitida vía transplacentaria. Con el objeto de conocer mejor el efecto que la infección materna por T. cruzi puede ocasionar sobre el producto de la concepción, se estudió a 1.355 mujeres en edad fértil (646 chagásicas y 709 no chagásicas) y a los productos de los embarazos que tuvieron en 1982-1987. No hubo diferencias significativas en el número ni en la evolución de los embarazos de las madres chagásicas y no chagásicas (peso del niño al nacer, mortinatalidad y abortos). Se estudió desde el momento del parto a 235 hijos de madres chagásicas y 191 de madres no chagásicas, nacidos en maternidades en los que la RHAI fue positiva en el 87,2 y en el 0,0% respectivamente

Frecuencia de infecciones por protozoos y helmintos intestinales en escolares del sector norte de la Región Metropolitana, Santiago, Chile 1988-1989 / Incidence of protozoa infections and intestinal helminths in school children of the north area metropolitan Region, Santiago, Chile 1988-1989

Durante el período diciembre 1988-febrero 1989 se efectuaron exámenes parasitológicos, tendientes a pesquisar protozoos y/o helmintos intestinales, a 346 escolares del sector norte de la Región Metropolitana, Santiago, Chile. Los niños correspondían a dos escuelas públicas y sus edades fluctuaban entre 6 y 14 años. De cada niño se obtuvo una serie de tres muestras de deposiciones con cada una de las cuales se practicó el método de concentración de Burrows y la tinción de Ziehl-Neelsen, para detectar Cryptosporidium sp. Además, a cada niño se efectuó una serie de tres frotaciones anales con cinta adhesiva transparente, para buscar huevos de Enterobius vermicularis. Los resultados fueron los siguientes: Las frecuencias de infección por parásitos y/o comensales intestinales fueron similares en ambas escuelas y en los diferentes grupos de edad. Blastocystis hominis se encontró en el 53,7% de los niños. Otros parásitos diagnosticados, en orden de frecuencia, fueron Enterobius vermicularis, Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica, Hymenolepis nana y Ascaris lumbricoides, con porcentajes de 36,7; 31,2; 6,4; 1,4 y 0,3 respectivamente. No se observaron ooquistes de Cryptosporidium sp. El presente estudio estaría demostrando que las enteroparasitosis mantienen un carácter endémico en los escolares del sector norte de Santiago, incluyendo a B. hominis que no había sido pesquisado previamente