Reporte de resultados negativos a Trichinella spp. por digestión artificial en cerdos domésticos del valle inferior del río Negro, Patagonia Argentina / Report of negative results to Trichinella spp. by artificial digestion in domestic pigs of the lower valley of the Negro River, Argentine Patagonia

Resumen Actualmente, el género Trichinella está constituido por 10 especies y 3 genotipos. La transmisión ocurre únicamente por ingestión de tejido muscular infectado. Entre los potenciales hospedadores se conforma un ciclo doméstico y un ciclo silvestre con posible retroalimentación constante entre ambos. Desde el año 2017 el funcionamiento del Matadero Social de San Javier, en el valle inferior del río Negro, permite a productores acceder a una faena segura que además brinde garantías al consumidor. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar la presencia de larvas L1 de Trichinella spp. en porcinos domésticos procedentes de criaderos de pequeña y mediana escala. Se analizaron por el método de digestión artificial 10 gramos de diafragma de cada porcino doméstico, conformando pooles de hasta 10 animales. En total 942 porcinos domésticos resultaron negativos a la presencia de larvas L1 de Trichinella spp. No obstante debe tenerse presente que sistemas de producción con las características de los que provienen los animales analizados, estarían potencialmente expuestos a la retroalimentación de Trichinella spp. desde la fauna silvestre. En este marco, resulta necesario garantizar el control veterinario en la faena de porcinos y presas de caza y sostener acciones de vigilancia, actualización y promoción en relación a la prevención de la triquinelosis.

Abstract Currently the Trichinella genus consists of 10 species and 3 genotypes. Transmission occurs only through ingestion of infected muscle tissue. Between the potential hosts there is a domestic cycle and a wild cycle with possible constant feedback between both. Since 2017, the operation of the San Javier Social Slaughterhouse, in the lower valley of the Río Negro, allows producers to access a safe operation that also provides guarantees to the consumer. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence of L1 larvae larvae of Trichinella spp. in domestic pigs from small and medium-scale farms. 10 grams of diaphragm from each domestic pig were analyzed by the artificial digestion method, forming pools of up to 10 animals. In total 942 domestic pigs were negative for the presence of L1 larvae of Trichinella spp. However, it should be borne in mind that production systems with the characteristics from which the analyzed animals come, would potentially be exposed to the feedback of Trichinella spp. from wildlife. Then, it is necessary to guarantee veterinary control in the slaughter of pigs and game prey and to support surveillance, updating and promotion actions in relation to the prevention of trichinellosis.

A rare cervical spine abnormality associated with neurofibromatosis.

Spinal abnormalities such as kyphoscoliosis and vertebral scalloping are frequent occurrences in type 1 neurofibromatosis (NF1). We report this rare case of posterior displacement of C3 vertebral body into the spinal canal causing severe cord compression associated with neurofibromatosis in a 13-year old girl. She underwent anterior excision of C3 vertebral body, bone graft and fixation of C2- C4, with improvement of her symptoms.

The isolation of Burkholderia cepacia in a hospital setting in Sri Lanka.

INTRODUCTION: Burkholderia cepacia is widely prevalent in nature. The natural habitat of this organism is soil, water and vegetation, but the hospital environment remains the main source of infection. It causes a wide variety of infections in hospitalised patients. Since there are no reports of its prevalence in Sri Lanka, a data retrieval and analysis was undertaken to determine its incidence among patients at Sri Jayawardenepura General Hospital (SJGH). OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence, morphological characteristics, biochemical profile and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of B cepacia in a Sri Lankan tertiary care hospital. METHODS: Relevant clinical data were retrieved from all isolates of B cepacia from SJGH for 12 months from October 1996. Standard procedures were used to isolate the organism from clinical specimens. API 20E was employed for biochemical identification. Antibiotic susceptibility tests was carried out using the modified Kirby Bauer method. RESULTS: B cepacia was isolated from 17 patients. 16 of them were hospitalised and were from the medical, surgical, and intensive care units. All were in a compromised state of health. The organism was isolated from a variety of specimens which included swabs of surgical wounds, chronic ulcers, sputum, bronchial lavage, endotracheal aspirate, urine, peritoneal fluid and blood. Blood agar, MacConkey agar and cystine lactose electrolyte deficient medium supported the growth of all strains. They were motile Gram negative rods. All strains were oxidase positive. Strains gave variable results with other biochemical tests. Antibiograms too were variable. All strains were sensitive to ceftazidime, and the majority of the strains were sensitive to the other third generation cephalosporines. All strains were resistant to four or more antimicrobial agents included in the study. Of the 17 patients from whom B cepacia was isolated, only 9 seem to have had actual infection; others were probably instances of colonisation or contamination. CONCLUSIONS: The present report confirms the prevalence and importance of B cepacia as a hospital pathogen in Sri Lanka. Hospital laboratories should be equipped to isolate, identify and perform antibiotic sensitivity test on these strains. Antibiotic susceptibility testing is necessary as the patterns seem to differ among strains. The multiple drug resistant nature of the organism warrants strict infection control measures to prevent spread in a hospital setting.

Erectile and ejaculatory failure after transurethral prostatectomy.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical incidence of sexual dysfunction after transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and to identify risk factors. SETTING: Havering Hospitals NHS Trust, Essex, UK. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 253 patients who underwent TURP were assessed using a standard proforma regarding pre- and post-operative erectile and ejaculatory functions. The patients who developed post-operative erectile failure were compared with the unaffected group. RESULTS: 126 patients completed the study; 22 were pre-operatively impotent and remained so post-operatively. Of 104 patients who were sexually active 18 developed post-operative erectile impairment. Five patients (4.8%) had total erectile failure. Only 7% of patients retained ejaculation after the operation. Significant risk factors in the patients with post-operative erectile failure, were presentation with acute retention and development of profuse primary hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: The study reaffirmed that there is a low but significant clinical incidence (4.8%) of erectile failure after TURP which is associated with certain risk factors. Ejaculatory failure was higher in incidence but carried a lower clinical significance.

The value of percutaneous nephrostomy; Sri Lankan experience.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the most useful indications for image-guided percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN). DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of immediate outcome of the procedure in 46 patients. SETTING: Department of Radiology, The National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo. PATIENTS: 46 patients on whom 59 PCNs done between June 1995 and August 1996. RESULTS: 57 PCNs were successful and 2 failed. Clinical improvement was observed in all patients with acute obstructive renal failure, pyorenephrosis and fistulae. Benefits were minimal in patients with chronic obstruction and none with terminal malignancy.

Prevalence of lipid abnormalities in Sri Lankan patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of hyperlipidaemia in Sri Lankan patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and a normal control population. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Patients with NIDDM randomly selected from a diabetic clinic register and non-diabetic controls randomly selected from an electoral register. PATIENTS: 498 patients with NIDDM (197 females mean age 53.5, SD 6.2 years) and 253 non-diabetic controls (101 females, mean age 53, SD 5.5 years matched for age and sex. METHODS: Diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) were excluded in the control group by a 75g oral glucose tolerance test. Total cholesterol, high density cholesterol and triglycerides were determined in fasting blood samples. RESULTS: The prevalence of lipid abnormalities was significantly higher in diabetic patients than in controls. The prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia was 21% vs 14% and that of hypertriglyceridaemia 16% vs 8.3%. Mean fasting blood glucose was higher (9.7 + 2.7) in hyperlipidaemic patients than in normolipidaemic diabetic patients (7.5 + 2.1) CONCLUSIONS: Hyperlipidaemias are common in Sri Lankan patients with NIDDM and screening for them should be an essential component of management of patients with diabetes mellitus.

Haemodilution during transurethral resection of the prostate using water as the irrigant fluid.

Of 58 patients who underwent transurethral resection of prostate (TURP), in whom water was used as the irrigant fluid, four patients had clinical evidence of the "TURP syndrome" (1). Although the serum sodium decreased to less than 120 in 7 patients, only one of them had clinical signs. Reduction in haemoglobin and serum proteins caused no untoward signs. It is concluded that water is an acceptable irrigant fluid.