Prevalencia de parasitismo intestinal en niños de la comunidad indígena U'wa en Boyacá, Colombia / Intestinal parasitism prevalence in indigenous U'wa children in Boyacá, Colombia

Resumen Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de parasitismo intestinal en niños menores de 15 años de la comunidad indígena U'wa, del municipio de Güicán, Boyacá. Metodología: Estudio descriptivo de corte transversal en 125 niños menores de 15 años, pertenecientes a la comunidad indígena U'wa del municipio de Güicán. Se evaluó la presencia de parásitos intestinales a partir de dos exámenes coprológicos directos. El procesamiento y análisis estadístico se realizó con el programa SPSS versión 22. Resultados: La prevalencia de parásitos fue del 72% IC 95%. Los parásitos más frecuentes fueron Blastocystis spp. 43.3%; Entamoeba histolytica/dispar 35.5%; Ascaris lumbricoides 12.2% y Giardia intestinalis con 11.1%. Los parásitos no patógenos hallados fueron Entamoeba coli 30%; Endolimax nana 24.4% y Iodamoeba butschlii 5.5%. El poliparasitismo fue de 50% y se asoció con ser menor de 7 años de edad y tener más de 4 manifestaciones clínicas. Conclusiones: Las comunidades indígenas se consideran una población vulnerable puesto que no cuentan con los servicios básicos de sanidad, tienen alta prevalencia de enfermedades infecciosas que pueden generar algunas complicaciones, especialmente en los menores de 15 años . Con este estudio se conoció la dinámica de las infecciones parasitarias en la comunidad indígena U'wa que tienen implicaciones en la salud pública y en el marco del contexto salud-enfermedad, con el fin de realizar intervenciones de manera integral en busca de mejorar el estado de salud.

Abstract Objective: To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitism in children under 15 years of age belonging to the U'wa indigenous community in the municipality of Guican, Boyacá. Methodology: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted with 125 children under the age of 15, who belong to the Uwa indigenous community of the Güican municipality. The presence of intestinal parasites was evaluated through the implementation of two direct stool tests. Statistical analysis and processing were performed with the SPSS version 22 program. Results: The prevalence of parasites was 72% 95% CI (% -%). The most frequent parasites were Blastocystis spp (43.3%), Entamoeba histolytica / dispar (35.5%), Ascaris lumbricoides (12.2%), and Giardia intestinalis (11.1%). The non-pathogenic parasites found were Entamoeba coli (30%), Endolimax nana (24.4%), and Iodamoeba bütschlii (5.5%). Polyparasitism was 50%, which was associated with being less than 7 years old and having more than 4 clinical manifestations. Conclusions: Indigenous communities are considered a vulnerable population since they do not have basic health services and they present a high prevalence of infectious diseases, especially in children under 15 years of age, which can generate some complications. This study revealed the dynamics of parasitic infections in this indigenous community, which have implications for public health and in the context of the health-disease, to carry out interventions in a comprehensive way in order to improve health status.

Encefalitis letal por amebas de vida libre en tres miembros de una familia, Tumbes, Perú

Las amebas de vida libre (AVL) son parásitos protozoarios que ocasionalmente causan enfermedad en humanos luego del contacto con alguna fuente de aguas o suelo contaminado. Se describe una serie de tres casos de encefalitis con desenlace fatal en un grupo familiar, que tuvo lugar en el departamento de Tumbes entre diciembre de 2019 y febrero de 2020. En la muestra de líquido cefalorraquídeo del primer caso se identificó Acanthamoeba sp. Los tres casos presentaron como antecedente haber entrado a una piscina meses antes de la enfermedad. En Tumbes no hay registro previo de casos de encefalitis por AVL y no se han reportado a nivel mundial su ocurrencia en un conglomerado familiar.

Free-living amoebas (FLA) are protozoan parasites that occasionally cause disease in humans after contact with contaminated water or soil. We describe a series of three cases of encephalitis in a family group with a fatal outcome that occurred in the Tumbes region between December 2019 and February 2020. Acanthamoeba sp. was identified in the cerebrospinal fluid sample from case 1. All three cases had a history of entering a swimming pool months before the disease. In the Tumbes region there is no previous record of encephalitis due to FLA and its occurrence in a family cluster has never been reported before.

Infección pulmonar por Lophomonas sp en una paciente con leucemia mieloide aguda / Lung infection by lophomonas spp. in a female patient with acute myeloid leukemia

RESUMEN Las infecciones por protozoos son prevalentes a nivel mundial, en particular en pacientes inmunosuprimidos. Comunicamos el caso de una paciente procedente de la ciudad de Viña del Mar, Chile, portadora de leucemia mieloide aguda en quiense confirmó una infección por Lophomonas sp. en lavado bronquioalveolar. Se manejó con antibióticos, pero falleció decomplicaciones de su enfermedad de base. Existe poca literatura disponible respecto a este microorganismo. Concluimos que debe considerarse a Lophomonas sp. como posibilidad diagnóstica si se encuentran protozoos en lavados bronquioalveolares de pacientes inmunosuprimidos.

ABSTRACT Protozoic infections are prevalent worldwide, particularly in immunosuppressed patients. We reported the case of a patient from the city of Viña del Mar, Chile, a carrier of acute myeloid leukemia in whom an infection by Lophomonas sp. was confirmed by bronchoalveolar lavage. She was treated with antibiotics but died of complications of the underlying disease. There is little literature available on this microorganism. We conclude that Lophomonas sp. should be considered as a diagnostic possibility if protozoa are found in bronchoalveolar lavage of immunosuppressed patients.

Frequência de enteroparasitas e condições socioeconômicas de escolares da cidade de São Marcos-RS / Frequency of intestinal parasites and socioeconomic conditions of São Marcos city-RS school children

O presente estudo teve o objetivo de avaliar a frequência de parasitas intestinais em escolares do ensino fundamental do município de São Marcos-RS, no período de março a outubro de 2015. Aplicou-se um questionário sobre conhecimentos e meios de transmissão de parasitoses e sobre condições de saneamento básico da cidade; e foram analisadas amostras de fezes, processadas por sedimentação espontânea, de estudantes da pré-escola a oitava série, de nove escolas da cidade. Dos 190 escolares que participaram do estudo, a predominância foi do sexo feminino (51,58%) e a idade média foi de 7,99±3,23 anos. Das amostras analisadas 5,79% eram positivas para parasitas, sendo 3,16% de cistos de Entamoeba coli, 1,58% Endolimax nana e 1,05% Giardia lamblia. Sobre os conhecimentos relacionado a parasitas, 73,16% relataram saber da existência dos parasitas e o que eles causam no indivíduo e 68,42%conhecem os meios de transmissão, porém 41,58% consideram insuficientes as informações disponíveis para a população. Referente às condições sanitárias as quais estão expostos, 94,21% consomem água potável e 64,74% afirmaram ter coleta e tratamento de esgoto. O presente estudo teve baixa frequência de parasitoses, isso pode ser explicado pelo conhecimento dos responsáveis, pelas condições sanitárias favoráveis, e pelo alto percentual (78,95%) de escolares que já fizeram uso de antiparasitários.

The present study assess the frequency of intestinal parasites in São Marcos city-RS elementary and middle school children, from March to October 2015. A questionnaire was applied to asses students’ knowledge on pathways for parasite transmission and on sanitation facilities in the city. Stool samples were collected from eighth-grade students of nine different schools and were analyzed/processed by spontaneous sedimentation. Of the 190 students who participated in the study, most were female(51.58%) and the mean age of the students was 7.99 ± 3.23 years. 5.79% of the samples were positive for parasites, being 3.16% of cysts of Entamoeba coli, 1.58% of Endolimax nana and 1.05% of Giardialamblia. As for the students’ knowledge on parasites, 73.16% reported knowing what parasites are and what damage they can cause, 68.42% are aware of the transmission pathways, however 41.58% consider there is insufficient information available to the public. Related to the health issues to which they are exposed, 94.21% reported consuming potable water and 64.74% reported having sewage collection and treatment. The present study has shown a low prevalence of parasitic infections, which could be explained by the knowledge of parents and guardians about topic, favorable sanitary conditions, and the high percentage (78.95%) of students who have already been treated with antiparasitic drugs.

Clinical and pathological characteristics of microsporidian encephalitis / 中华神经科杂志

Objective To study the clinical and pathological manifestations of microsporidian encephalitis.Methods The clinical findings and the brain pathological features of a patient with microsporidian encephalitis hospitalized in 2004 were studied.Results The onset was subacute or chronic. The body temperature was usually normal or below 37.5℃,but it rose when patient's condition deteriorated and coma appeaxed.The patient had hypoimmunity but without human immunodeficiency virus infection. Multifocal lesions in the whole brain,signs of meningeal irritation and infective myelogram were observed. Rheumatoid factor increased in the early stage and indirect bilirubin,proteins in cerebrospinal fluid(CSF), and immunoglobulin IgG,IgA increased in the middle stage.Cytological examination of CSF showed lymphocyte reaction.Blood routine test showed normal eosinophil granulocyte count.The patient was found to have pleurisy,peritonitis and cystitis.Brain magnetic resonance image(MRI)manifested plaque-like isometric T1 weight image and long T2 weight image signal in white matter of bilateral cerebral hemisphere and cerebella where FLAIR sequence showed hyperintensity.No apparent mass was identified.Contrast- enhanced MRI scan showed patchy and ring-like intensification.The neural system impairments were permanent and not improved after treatment.The pathology of brain tissue showed neuronal degeneration, karyopycnosis and Derivasculitis.The infectious agents were observed in the cytoplasm of neurons.Wister rats had muhiple organ inflammatory reaction 2 weeks after intraperitoneal inoculation of the patient's CSF and a large quantity of pathogens were found in the peritoneal lavage fluid.Conclusions The patient was PAS staining method is useful for detecting the pathogen in neurons and the rate can be raised by animal intraperitoneal cultivation