IL-4, IL-10, CCL2 and TGF-ß as potential biomarkers for severity in Plasmodium vivax malaria.

Cytokines and chemokines are immune response molecules that display diverse functions, such as inflammation and immune regulation. In Plasmodium vivax infections, the uncontrolled production of these molecules is thought to contribute to pathogenesis and has been proposed as a possible predictor for disease complications. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cytokine profile of P. vivax malaria patients with different clinical outcomes to identify possible immune biomarkers for severe P. vivax malaria. The study included patients with non-severe (n = 56), or severe (n = 50) P. vivax malaria and healthy controls (n = 50). Patient plasma concentrations of IL-4, IL-2, CXCL10, IL-1ß, TNF-α, CCL2, IL-17A, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ, IL-12p70, CXCL8 and active TGF-ß1 were determined through flow cytometry. The levels of several cytokines and chemokines, CXCL10, IL-10, IL-6, IL-4, CCL2 and IFN-γ were found to be significantly higher in severe, compared to non-severe P. vivax malaria patients. Severe thrombocytopenia was positively correlated with IL-4, CXCL10, IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-γ levels, renal dysfunction was related to an increase in IL-2, IL-1ß, IL-17A and IL-8, and hepatic impairment with CXCL10, MCP-1, IL-6 and IFN-γ. A Lasso regression model suggests that IL-4, IL-10, CCL2 and TGF-ß might be developed as biomarkers for severity in P. vivax malaria. Severe P. vivax malaria patients present specific cytokine and chemokine profiles that are different from non-severe patients and that could potentially be developed as biomarkers for disease severity.

Liver and kidney dysfunction, hypoglycemia, and thrombocytopenia in Plasmodium vivax malaria patients at a Colombian Northwest region.

Plasmodium vivax has high morbidity, it is the Plasmodium species with the greatest worldwide distribution, and its ability to trigger severe symptoms is currently recognized. The present study aims to compare the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with P. vivax malaria, with and without complication criteria, in an endemic area for malaria transmission in northwest Colombia. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out between 2017 and 2019, patients with P.vivax severe malaria (n = 50), non-severe malaria (n = 56) and healthy controls (n = 50) were included. Sociodemographic, clinical, hematological, and biochemical characteristics were analyzed. Clinical follow-up was carried out in a group of patients with severe malaria. The statistical analysis was carried out in GraphPad Prism; the Chi-square test analyzed categorical variables, comparisons of variables for the three groups were carried out by the Kruskal-Wallis test and comparison between two groups by the Mann-Whitney test. A multiple correspondence analysis described the relationship between variables, which was carried out through the R software. One hundred fifty-six individuals were linked to the study, 76 women and 80 men, between 3 and 71 years old. For 50% of the patients, it was their first malaria episode; 42% of the patients classified with severe malaria required hospitalization, compared to 7.1% of the patients with non-severe malaria. Parasitaemia was similar in both clinical groups; however, 10% of severe patients presented high parasitemia, between 20,000-135,000. The most frequent clinical characteristics in patients with severe malaria were severe thrombocytopenia in 54%, hypoglycemia in 48%, and liver and kidney failure in 30%. Biochemical and hematological parameters returned to normal in 90% of the patients with severe malaria on the third day after starting treatment. Thrombocytopenia, hypoglycemia, and liver and kidney dysfunctions were the most frequent P. vivax malaria complications in this study. Hemoglobin concentration and parasite count were not related to the clinical condition of patients. Thrombocytopenia was the most frequent finding in patients with malaria, and its severity presented an inverse relationship with the number of previous malaria episodes.

Clasificación de empresas ganaderas doble propósito por calidad y canales de comercialización de la leche en el Caribe colombiano / Dual purpose farms classify according quality and milk marketing channels on the colombian Caribbean

RESUMEN Una leche de excelente calidad debe presentar altos porcentajes de proteína, grasa y sólidos totales, bajos recuentos de mesófilos y de células somáticas y estar libres de inhibidores y sustancias extrañas, para asegurar su inocuidad. El objetivo del presente estudio fue realizar una clasificación de empresas ganaderas de doble propósito, con base a la calidad de la leche y sus canales de comercialización, en una subregión del medio Sinú, en el Caribe colombiano. El tipo de estudio fue descriptivo transversal. Se determinaron variables fisicoquímicas, microbiológicas de la leche y de la sanidad de la ubre, y, por medio de una encuesta, se analizaron parámetros zootécnicos, para establecer factores de manejo. Igualmente, mediante un análisis de componentes principales y correspondencias múltiples, se categorizó la productividad y la competitividad, de acuerdo con los parámetros de calidad de la leche cruda. La mayoría de las empresas ganaderas fueron consideradas de mediana extensión con ordeño manual y almacenamiento de la leche en cantinas. El porcentaje de vacas en ordeño no fue alto y una tercera parte de los productores manifestaron mayores ingresos, por ventas diferentes a la leche. Se determinó que la mayor competitividad, se presentó en las empresas ganaderas que realizan excelentes prácticas de manejo y se asoció con altos índices de calidad y productivos. En consecuencia, es necesario implementar las buenas prácticas ganaderas, para aumentar la competitividad.

ABSTRACT An excellent quality milk must have high protein, fat and total solids percentages, low mesophilic and somatic cells counts, and to be free of inhibitor and foreign substances in order to ensure its safety. The objective of this study was to classify the dual-purpose farms based on its milk quality and its marketing channels in a subregion of the middle Sinu in the colombian Caribbean. The study type was descriptive cross sectional. Physicochemical, microbiological variables and udder health were analyzed. Zootechnical parameters were evaluated in order to stablish the manage factors. Equally, through an analysis of mayor compounds and multiple matches the productivity and competitiveness of the farms was categorized based on row milk quality parameters. Most livestock companies were considered as medium length with manual milking and milk storage in canteens. The percentage of cows in milking are not high and a third part of the producer manifested higher income by sales other than milk. It was determined that the higher competitiveness associated with higher quality and productivity indexes occurred in farms where best management practices were implemented. It is necessary to implement good livestock practices to increase the competitiveness.