ABSTRACT
Este trabajo fue realizado en la provincia de La Rioja, ubicada en el noroeste argentino. El objetivo fue estimar el porcentaje de heces de caninos con presencia de antígenos de Echinococcus sp. en las distintas regiones de la provincia. Se tomaron un total de 269 muestras de materia fecal seca de caninos, que fueron analizadas por la técnica de copro-ELISA. La zona más afectada fue la zona IV, que contó con un 30,5% de muestras positivas. La zona I, que corresponde al Departamento Capital, tuvo un 12% de positividad. En el resto de las zonas, los porcentajes variaron entre el 11,4 y el 14,8%. Este es el primer estudio en la provincia sobre la existencia de la enfermedad en caninos. La falta de estrategias para el control de la equinococosis ha permitido la dispersión de la enfermedad
This work was conducted in the province of La Rioja, located in northwestern Argentina. The aim of this study was to estimate the percentage of dog feces showing the presence of antigens of Echinococcus sp. in different regions of the province. A total of 269 samples of dried canine stool were taken, which were analyzed by the copro-ELISA technique. The most affected area was zone IV, which had 30.5% of positive samples. Zone I corresponding to the Capital Department of the province had 12% of positivity. In other areas, the percentages ranged between 11.4% and 14.8%. This is the first study in the province of La Rioja on the existence of this disease in dogs. The lack of control strategies has allowed the spread of echinococcosis
Subject(s)
Animals , Dogs , Echinococcus granulosus/isolation & purification , Dogs/parasitology , Feces/parasitology , Antigens/isolation & purification , Prevalence , Epidemiological Monitoring/veterinary , Antigens/analysisABSTRACT
This work was conducted in the province of La Rioja, located in northwestern Argentina. The aim of this study was to estimate the percentage of dog feces showing the presence of antigens of Echinococcus sp. in different regions of the province. A total of 269 samples of dried canine stool were taken, which were analyzed by the copro-ELISA technique. The most affected area was zone IV, which had 30.5% of positive samples. Zone I corresponding to the Capital Department of the province had 12% of positivity. In other areas, the percentages ranged between 11.4% and 14.8%. This is the first study in the province of La Rioja on the existence of this disease in dogs. The lack of control strategies has allowed the spread of echinococcosis.
Subject(s)
Dog Diseases/parasitology , Echinococcosis/veterinary , Echinococcus granulosus , Parasitic Diseases, Animal , Animals , Antigens, Helminth/analysis , Argentina/epidemiology , Dog Diseases/epidemiology , Dogs , Echinococcosis/epidemiology , Feces/parasitology , Parasitic Diseases, Animal/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Tityus trivittatus is the Argentinean scorpion reported to cause the majority of human fatalities in the country, however no systematic studies have been conducted with the venom of this species. This communication describes a general biochemical and immunological characterization of the venom obtained from T. trivittatus scorpions collected in the city of Buenos Aires and various provinces of Argentina: Catamarca, Cordoba, Entre Rios, La Rioja, Santa Fe and Santiago del Estero. These are places where human accidents were reported to occur due to this scorpion. For comparative purposes two types of samples were assayed: whole soluble venom obtained by electrical stimulation and supernatant from homogenized venomous glands. Two strains of mice (NIH and CF-1) were used for LD(50) determinations by two distinct routes of administration (intravenously and intraperitoneally). Important variations were found that goes from 0.5 to 12 mg/kg mouse body weight. Samples of soluble venom were always more potent than Telson homogenates. More complex pattern was observed in homogenates compared to soluble venom, as expected. This was supported by gel electrophoretic analysis and high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) separations. Additionally, the HPLC profile was enriched in proteins resolved at similar elution times as other known toxins from scorpion venoms studied. Immune enzymatic assays were also conducted comparatively, using four different anti-venoms commercially available for treatment of scorpion stings (Argentinean antidote from INPB, two anti-venoms from Butantan Institute of Brazil and Alacramyn from the Mexican Bioclon Institute). Cross-reactivities were observed and are reported among the various venoms and anti-venoms used. Lung, heart, liver and pancreas pathological modifications were observed on tissues of intoxicated mice. It seems that there are important variations on the venom compositions of the various samples studied and reported here, depending on the geographical area where the scorpions were captured. The results reported here are important for the clinical outcome of human accidents.
