Molecular characterization of Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania spp. coinfection in mammals of Venezuelan coendemic areas.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania spp. are protozoans that cause American trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis, respectively. In endemic foci where both diseases coincide, coinfection can occur. The objective of this work was the characterization of the parasites involved in coinfection in several endemic areas of Venezuela. METHODS: Molecular characterization was done in 30 samples of several species of mammals (Didelphis marsupialis, Equus mulus, Rattus rattus, Canis familiaris, Felis catus, and Sciurus granatensis) from the states of Anzoategui, Cojedes and Capital District diagnosed with T. cruzi and Leishmania spp. coinfections. For the typing of T. cruzi DTUs, the markers of miniexon, 24Sa rDNA, 18Sa rDNA, and hsp60-PCR-RFLP (EcoRV) were used. Infection by Leishmania spp. was characterized by miniexon multiplex PCR for complexes of Leishmania and ITS1-PCR-RFLP (HaeIII, HhaI, and RsaI) for the identification of the species. RESULTS: The T. cruzi TcI was present in 100% of the coinfected mammals, which included 76.7% of triple infection by T. cruzi TcI-complex-L. (L) mexicana-L. infantum/chagasi, 13.3% of double infection by T. cruzi TcI-L. mexicana and 10% of double infection by T. cruzi Tcl-L. infantum/chagasi. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the double or triple infection is a phenomenon existing in almost all the coendemics areas and mammals studied, which might influence the mechanisms of adaptation and pathogenicity of these parasites.

[Diagnosis of urethritis in men. A 3-year review]. / Diagnóstico microbiológico en varones. Revisión de 3 años.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to know the prevalence and tendency of microorganisms producing urethritis, in men, in the City Centre of Madrid. METHODS: Cross-sectional study. The urethral samples of 1.248 men were analyzed, for 3 years. The samples were studied for: GRAM stain, when secretion exists; culture in habitual plates; detection of C. trachomatis, U. urealyticum and M. hominis, when there was suspicious, study of T. vaginalis and when suspicious injuries exist, study of virus Herpes simplex. RESULTS: The percentage of positive samples was 22.60%. The isolated microorganisms were: U. urealyticum 7.61%, N. gonorrhoeae 6.33%, C. trachomatis 4.81%, M. hominis 0.24%, H. parainfluenzae 1.76%, H. influenzae 1.12%, Candida spp 0.48%, S. pyogenes 0.16% and Herpes virus simplex (2) 0.08%. Two or more microorganisms were isolated in 1.68%. The percentage of positive samples in 2003 was 17.41% and N. gonorrhoeae the most frequent microorganism (6.22%). In 2004 was 25.57% and the most frequent U. urealyticum (10.18%). In 2005 the 24.50% of the samples were positive and U. urealyticum the most frequent (7.92%). The 79.41% of N. gonorrhoeae were susceptible to all antibiotics tested. It is not found resistance to ceftriaxone, claritromicine and amoxicilline/clavulanic acid. The 11.76% were betalactamase- producing. The 26.47% of Haemophilus spp. were betalactamase- producing and all strains were susceptible to cefotaxime. CONCLUSIONS: The isolated microorganisms most frequently were: U. urealyticum, N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis. There is an increase of 7% of prevalence between the years 2003 and 2005. Ceftriaxone, claritromicine and amoxicilline/clavulanic acid were susceptible to all the strains studied and cefotaxime to all Haemophilus spp.

Diagnóstico microbiológico de uretritis en varones. Revisión de 3 años / Diagnosis of urethritis in men. A 3 years review

Objetivo. Conocer la prevalencia y tendencia de los microorganismos causantes de uretritis, en varones, de la zona centro de Madrid y la sensibilidad de las cepas de N. gonorrhoeae y Haemophilus spp. aisladas en el estudio. Métodos. Estudio observacional, descriptivo transversal. Se analiza el exudado uretral de 1.248 hombres, durante 3 años. Se realiza tinción de GRAM cuando existe secreción, siembra en medios habituales, detección de C. trachomatis, U. urealyticum y M. hominis. Cuando existe sospecha búsqueda de T. vaginalis y cuando existen lesiones sospechosas, estudio de Herpes simplex. Resultados. El porcentaje de muestras positivas fue del 22,60%. Los microorganismos aislados fueron: U. urealyticum 7,61%, N. gonorrhoeae 6,33%, C. trachomatis 4,81%, M. hominis 0,24%, H. parainfluenzae 1,76%, H. influenzae 1,12%, Candida spp. 0,48%, S. pyogenes 0,16% y virus Herpes simplex tipo 2 0,08%. Se aislaron ≥ 2 microorganismos en el 1,68%. El porcentaje de muestras positivas en el 2003 fue del 17,41% y N. gonorrhoeae el microorganismo más frecuente (6,22%). En 2004 fue del 25,57% y U. urealyticum el más frecuente (10,18%). En 2005 el 24,50% de las muestras fueron positivas y U. urealyticum el más frecuente (7,92%). El 79,41% de N. gonorrhoeae fueron sensibles a todos los antibióticos testados. No se encontró resistencias a ceftriaxona, claritromicina ni amoxicilina/ácido clavulánico. El 11,76% fueron productores de betalactamasa. El 26,47% de las cepas de Haemophilus spp. fueron productoras de betalactamasa, siendo todas las cepas sensibles a cefotaxima. Conclusiones. Los microorganismos aislados más frecuentemente en uretritis fueron: U. urealyticum, N. gonorrhoeae y C. trachomatis. Existe un incremento del 7% de prevalencia entre el año 2003 y 2005. Ceftriaxona, amoxicilina/ácido clavulánico y claritromicina fueron sensibles a todas las cepas de N. gonorrhoeae analizadas y cefotaxima a todas las cepas de Haemophilus spp. (AU)

Objetives. The aim of this study is to know the prevalence and tendency of microorganisms producing urethritis, in men, in the City Centre of Madrid. Methods. Cross-sectional study. The urethral samples of 1.248 men were analyzed, for 3 years. The samples were studied for: GRAM stain, when secretion exists; culture in habitual plates; detection of C. trachomatis, U. urealyticum and M. hominis, when there was suspicious, study of T. vaginalis and when suspicious injuries exist, study of virus Herpes simplex. Results. The percentage of positive samples was 22.60%. The isolated microorganisms were: U. urealyticum 7.61%, N. gonorrhoeae 6.33%, C. trachomatis 4.81%, M. hominis 0.24%, H. parainfluenzae 1.76%, H. influenzae 1.12%, Candida spp 0.48%, S. pyogenes 0.16% and Herpes virus simplex (2) 0.08%. Two or more microorganisms were isolated in 1.68%. The percentage of pos- itive samples in 2003 was 17.41% and N. gonorrhoeae the most frequent microorganism (6.22%). In 2004 was 25.57% and the most frequent U. urealyticum (10.18%). In 2005 the 24.50% of the samples were positive and U. urealyticum the most frequent (7.92%). The 79.41% of N. gonorrhoeae were susceptible to all antibiotics tested. It is not found resistance to ceftriaxone, claritromicine and amoxicilline/clavulanic acid. The 11.76% were betalactamase-producing. The 26.47% of Haemophilus spp. were betalactamase-producing and all strains were susceptible to cefotaxime. Conclusions. The isolated microorganisms most frequently were: U. urealyticum, N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis. There is an increase of 7% of prevalence be- tween the years 2003 and 2005. Ceftriaxone, claritromicine and amoxicilline/clavulanic acid were susceptible to all the strains studied and cefotaxime to all Haemophilus spp (AU)

[Alcoholic liver disease: nutritional evaluation methods]. / Enfermedad hepática alcohólica: métodos de evaluación nutricional.

Nutritional evaluation is required to treat patients with hepatic disease. A significant correlation was demonstrated between real body weights lean body mass (LMB) with arm muscular area (AMA) (P less than 0.001); LBM of patients with ascites Vs without ascites showed significant differences (P less than 0.02). No significant differences (P greater than 0.1) was demonstrated, when we used the AMA between patients with Vs without ascites. Albumin values showed slight depletion on 20%; 12% had moderate and 4% had very severe depletion, but 64% of patients had normal values. Albumin-transferrin showed very good correlation (P less than 0.001); but there was no correlation between albumin-AMA, transferrin-AMA, transferrin-MMM and albumin-MMM (P greater than 0.05). The lymphocytic count on 53.33% was normal, 37.67% showed light depletion and 9% had moderate; PPDs was greater than 10mm in 60.86%; normal in 17.36%, and not reactive in 21.75%. AMA is a real and ideal nutritional evaluation method, because it is able to correct the errors due to the presence of ascites.