Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome outbreak in Argentina: molecular evidence for person-to-person transmission of Andes virus.

An increase of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) cases around a southwestern Argentina town and in persons living 1400 km away but in contact with those cases was detected during the spring of 1996. In order to evaluate person-to-person transmission we compared the homology of PCR-amplified viral sequences of 26 Argentine and Chilean cases. Sixteen of them were epidemiologically linked cases and had the same sequence (Epilink/96) in the S segment 3' noncoding region and in the M segment partial G1 and G2 region (a total of 1075 nucleotides). Contrarily, two geographical and contemporary but nonepidemiologically related cases differed from Epilink/96 in the compared regions. No significant differences, such as glycosylation or hydrophilic pattern, were found between Epilink/96 and the other sequences. Nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence homologies between samples from southern Argentina and Chile ranged from 90.9 to 100% and 96.4 to 100%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all the analyzed southwestern viruses belong to the Andes lineage. Although human infection principally occurs via inhalation of contaminated rodent excreta, our results with Andes virus show the first direct genetic evidence of person-to-person transmission of a hantavirus.

Determination of succinonitrile in horse urine by gas chromatography-nitrogen-phosphorus detector and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A chromatographic method was developed to detect and confirm the presence of succinonitrile (SDN) in horse urine samples, for antidoping control. The urine samples (5 ml) were extracted with diethyl ether and screened by gas chromatography-nitrogen-phosphorus detector and the confirmation of the drug's presence was accomplished by using gas chromatography-mass selective detection. The recovery of extraction was 78 and 81% for 1.0 and 2.0 micrograms ml-1 (relative standard deviation, < 10%), respectively. Urine samples collected after the administration of Energisan were positive for SDN (1-30 h) in all samples analysed.

[Knowledge, attitudes and dietary practices in patients with diabetes mellitus type II]. / Conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas dietéticas en pacientes con diabetes mellitus II.

The profile of type-II non-insulin dependent diabetic patients is characterized by overweight; exogenous obesity originates from inadequate nourishment habits and, among other things, educational, cultural, and psychological conditions. With regard to metabolic deficiency control, the explanation is centered fundamentally on the patient's not getting a complete diet. This could be due to a lack of information about their illness, thus becoming a determining factor in their treatment. The purpose of this study was to analyze the level of knowledge, attitudes, and dietary education practices by means of a survey using the likert scale. This was applied by means of a direct and codified interview directed to patients in a Primary Care Health Unit from the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. 201 Type II diabetic patients, selected from a systematic sample, were studied. The average age was 54 and predominantly female (a ratio of 1.7 to 1). The sample had an academic background not surpassing the elementary school level, and their occupation was that of housewife. Their central glycemia level was, on the average, 191 mg/dl with a standard deviation of 120. The average number of years of having suffered from the illness was 5.5 with a standard deviation of 5. Ninety per cent of the diabetic patients take oral hypoglucemiants. Although there does exist a high level of knowledge and attitudes about dietary education, there exists a low level of educational practices. We observed that only 10 per cent of the diabetic patients have both an acceptable metabolic control (CMA) and a high value in knowledge, attitudes, and practices (CAP).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Epidemiology of bovine leukemia in Venezuela.

Approximately 20 thousand bovines of autochtonious and imported breeds, located in different regions of the Country were serologically tested by Immuno-diffusion (I.D.) in agar, using BLV GP60 antigens, for the purpose of determining the prevalence of infection by Bovine Leukemia Virus. Hematologic and histopathologic assays were made with the object of determining variations in hematologic values and the determination of stages of persistent lymphocytosis, and of studying the morphocytological changes that accompany malignant transformations of lymphoid elements, in order to make studies on the incidence of clear tumoral lesions in herds highly affected by Leukemia. From 16 thousand samples of serum, tested by the I.D., 6 thousand were positives (37,5%) pertaining to 150 herds distributed in all 20 states of the Country. The sera correspond to different breeds: dairy cattle, beef cattle, brahman, zebú hybrids, and buffalo. Hematologically, persistent lymphocytosis induced by the BLV was verified, by previously discarding other pathologic stages with transitory lymphocytosis. Factors which explain this high incidence and the spread of the Bovine Leukemia in Venezuela were detected.

A new antiviral agent (P2) in the purpose of treatment of bovine leukemia.

Thirty five cows and heifers, all positive reactors on ID test and all showing persistent lymphocytosis (15 with markedly enlarged lymphatic glands) were divided in 4 experimental groups and treated with P-2, a new antiviral agent, previously shown to be effective for several RNA type viruses. In table are indicated groups, range of dosages of P-2, and variability in WBC and lymphocyte. White blood cells found to be at the lowest level (P less than 0.02) one month after treatment with P-2, a less marked reduction (P less than 0.05) was found when the experiments ended at 7 months. A significant (P less than 0.05) fall in lymphocytes was found one month after treatment but this was not significant at the end of experiment. In 12 animals with lymphosarcomatous disease significant retraction of lymphatic glands. It is not clear whether the sudden drop in WBC and lymphocytes is due to the virostatic effect of drug or an effect of drug per se. New series of experiments will be made to treat BLV with two agents: one virostatic and other cytostatic.