Importance of ticks in the transmission of zoonotic agents / Importancia de las garrapatas en la transmisión de agentes causantes de zoonosis

The pathogens transmitted by ticks to human beings are a motive of public health concern around the world, such is the case of Lyme disease in the northern hemisphere, Encephalitis virus in Europe, the recurrent fevers and the Rocky Mountains spotted fever, better known in Colombia as "Tobia Fever". People of all economic and social conditions are prone to develop a zoonotic agent transmitted by these vectors, which could be infected by several pathogens through co-infection mechanisms. The epidemiology and prevalence of these diseases are affected by ecological, climatic and anthropogenic factors. All these factors, affect in a different manner the enzootic cycle between pathogens, ticks and wild hosts. Current molecular diagnostic tools have allowed to progress in pathogen identification, previously unknown or undetermined. The government intervention capacity of each country, and the multidisciplinary professional cooperation, especially from physicians and veterinarians, is fundamental in order to strategically implement control and prevention plans that can deal with this problematic. The present article aims to make a thorough review of the factors which are favoring the transmission of zoonotic agents by ticks, contextualizing the most important aspects that determine their prevalence, and the most relevant control and prevention measures.

Los patógenos transmitidos por garrapatas a los seres humanos son motivo de preocupación para la salud pública alrededor del mundo; tal es el caso de la enfermedad de Lyme en el hemisferio norte, el virus de la encefalitis en Europa, las fiebres recurrentes y la fiebre manchada de las montañas rocosas, conocida en Colombia como la "Fiebre de Tobia". Las personas de todas las condiciones económicas y sociales son susceptibles de contraer un agente zoonótico transmitido por estos vectores, pudiendo ser infectadas incluso por varios patógenos a través de mecanismos de coinfección. La epidemiología y la prevalencia de estas enfermedades se ven afectadas por factores ecológicos, climáticos y antropogénicos. Todos estos factores comprometen de diferente manera el ciclo enzoótico entre patógenos, garrapatas y hospederos silvestres. Las herramientas actuales de diagnóstico molecular han permitido avanzar en la identificación de patógenos anteriormente desconocidos o indeterminados. La capacidad de intervención de los gobiernos de cada país, y la cooperación multidisciplinaria de profesionales, especialmente de médicos y veterinarios es fundamental para implementar planes de control y prevención estratégicos que enfrenten esta problemática. El presente artículo pretende hacer una amplia revisión de los factores que están favoreciendo la transmisión de agentes causantes de zoonosis por las garrapatas, contextualizando los aspectos más importantes que determinan su prevalencia, y las medidas de prevención y control relevantes.

17ß Estradiol Modulates Perfusion Pressure and Expression of 5-LOX and CYP450 4A in the Isolated Kidney of Metabolic Syndrome Female Rats.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and progression of nephropathy depend on sex. We examined a protective effect of estradiol against nephropathy in metabolic syndrome through the modulation of the arachidonic acid metabolism by activating the 5-lipoxygenase and cytochrome p450 4A pathways. 28 female Wistar rats were divided into four groups of seven animals each: control, intact metabolic syndrome, ovariectomized metabolic syndrome, and metabolic syndrome ovariectomized plus estradiol. Blood pressure, body weight, body fat, triglycerides, insulin, HOMA-index, albuminuria, and TNF-α were increased in ovariectomized metabolic syndrome rats (p < 0.001). The perfusion pressure in isolated kidneys of ovariectomized metabolic syndrome rats in presence of 4 µg of arachidonic acid was increased. The inhibitors of the arachidonic acid metabolism Baicalein, Miconazole, and Indomethacin in these rats decreased the perfusion pressure by 57.62%, 99.83%, and 108.5%, respectively and they decreased creatinine clearance and the arachidonic acid percentage. Phospholipase A2 expression in the kidney of ovariectomized metabolic syndrome rats was not modified. 5-lipoxygenase was increased in metabolic syndrome ovariectomized rats while cytochrome p450 4A was decreased. In conclusion, the loss of estradiol increases renal damage while the treatment with estradiol benefits renal function by modulating arachidonic acid metabolism through the 5-lipoxygenase and cytochrome p450 4A pathways.

Effect of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and sildenafil on serotonin metabolism and some oxidative damage markers in rat prostate gland and brain.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of sildenafil and prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) (drugs used in erectile dysfunction) on production of free radicals in prostate and brain of rat. A single dose of sildenafil (10 mg kg(-1) ) and PGE1 (20 µg kg(-1) ) was given to Sprague-Dawley rats (300 g weight) intraperitoneally. The levels of testosterone were measured in blood. Their brains and prostate glands were separated to measure lipid peroxidation, Na(+) and K(+) ATPase activity, reduced glutathione (GSH) and serotonin levels, by means of validated methods. The levels of testosterone increased slightly in animals treated with sildenafil and PGE1. The activity of total ATPase was increased in the prostate of animals treated with sildenafil + PGE1 but decreased in those that received sildenafil alone. PGE1 caused significant diminution of GSH levels in both organs. Sildenafil increased the levels of serotonine in brain, whereas in prostate they decreased instead. Our results suggest that sildenafil induced changes in GSH levels as well as in the serotonergic metabolism, alone or with PGE1 in prostate and brain, respectively. Thus, the combination therapy may be ideal to sustain the biochemical balance due to biphasic stimulation on brain and prostate.

The porcine circovirus type 1 in porcine kidney 15 cell line is not transferred to mice lymphoid cells after xenoimplantation into the peritoneal cavity.

The porcine circovirus type 1 (PCV1) has been identified within lymphoid tissues of experimental infected pigs and suggested to induce an immunosuppressive stage in pigs. The virus does not induce a cytophatic effect in the pig-derived cell line PK-15. Because PCV1 is prevalent in many pig cells and tissues, the risk of inducing a viral xenozoonosis by PCV1 was raised for the xenoimplantation of pig cells into human hosts. The present work evaluated if PCV1 is able to replicate in mice tissues after xenoimplantation of PCV1-infected pig cells. Active growing PK-15 cells harboring PCV1 with or without microencapsulation in sodium alginate were implanted into the peritoneal cavity of mice. After 1 month postimplantation in mice, peritoneal macrophages, spleen, and lymph nodes were harvested and analyzed with the polymerase chain reaction technique (PCR). No evidence of circovirus type 1 DNA was detected within the mice tissues.

Religion and HIV/AIDS stigma: implications for health professionals in Puerto Rico.

Abstract HIV/AIDS stigma continues to be a barrier for prevention efforts. Its detrimental effects have been documented among people living with HIV/AIDS and encompass loss of social support and depression. When it is manifested by health professionals, it can lead to sub-optimal services. Although strides have been made to document the effects of HIV/AIDS stigma, much needs to be done in order to understand the structural factors that can foster it. Such is the case of religion's role on HIV/AIDS stigma in Puerto Rico. The Caribbean Island has a Judeo-Christian-based culture due to years of Spanish colonisation. This religious influence continued under Protestantism as part of the Island's integration as a non-incorporated territory of the USA. The main objective of this study was to explore the role of religion in HIV/AIDS stigma manifested by Puerto Rican health professionals in practice and in training. Through a mixed-method approach, 501 health professionals completed qualitative interviews (n=80) and self-administered questionnaires (n=421). Results show that religion plays some role in conceptualisations of health and illness among participants in the study. Furthermore, the importance placed on religion and participation in such activities was related to higher levels of HIV/AIDS stigma.

Tracheobronchial amyloidosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the presentation and clinical course of patients with tracheobronchial amyloidosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of all patients with biopsy-proven tracheobronchial amyloidosis who were evaluated at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn, between 1973 and 1999. All relevant information, such as clinical, historical, demographic, laboratory, and histological data, was examined. RESULTS: Tracheobronchial amyloidosis was diagnosed in 17 patients (9 women and 8 men), with a mean age of 56.6 years. The most common symptoms at presentation were dyspnea, cough, hemoptysis, and hoarseness. None of the 14 patients who underwent investigation for systemic amyloidosis had any evidence of disease outside the tracheobronchial system except for a man in whom multiple myeloma had been diagnosed 3 years before the development of respiratory disease. Treatment of tracheobronchial amyloidosis consisted of laser or forceps resection, external radiation, systemic therapy, or observation. Two patients died of complications directly related to their disease. CONCLUSIONS: Patients presenting with tracheobronchial amyloidosis have symptoms similar to those caused by various airway disorders. Tracheobronchial amyloidosis is not typically associated with systemic amyloidosis or pulmonary parenchymal involvement. It often recurs and despite repeated attempts with bronchoscopic techniques, airway compromise remains a major problem.