Echinococcus granulosus infections of dogs in the Durazno region of Uruguay.

The prevalence and distribution of Echinococcus granulosus in domestic dogs was examined in three dog populations in the Durazno region of Uruguay. The prevalence was 19.7 per cent in 704 dogs successfully purged with arecoline hydrobromide. Higher prevalences were detected in dogs from the rural area (30.0 per cent) and the village of La Paloma (25.9 per cent) than in the town of Sarandi del Yi (7.9 per cent). The frequency distribution of E granulosus was overdispersed (k, the negative binomial parameter = 0.08), with only a few animals harbouring heavy infections. The results of a questionnaire showed that the prevalence was greatest in male dogs, in dogs that were not kennelled, in dogs that had access to fields and in dogs that were not dosed with praziquantel. Dogs that were given raw sheep offal by their owners were no more likely to be parasitised than other dogs; this may reflect the inaccuracy of the owners' replies, or that the dogs were being infected outside their home.

Diagnosis of canine echinococcosis: comparison of coproantigen and serum antibody tests with arecoline purgation in Uruguay.

Echinococcus granulosus is one of the most important and widespread of the helminth zoonoses. Diagnosis of E. granulosus infection in dogs currently relies on arecoline dosing and detailed examination of the purge for adult worms. Two immunodiagnostic tests (ELISA) based on genus specific coproantigen detection or serum antibody (IgG, IgA and IgE) detection were compared against arecoline purgation for the detection of Echinococcus in naturally infected dogs in Uruguay. The coproantigen ELISA had a sensitivity of 76.9% compared with 34.6% for the serum IgG ELISA when assessed against 26 purge positive dogs (purge worm count range 1-4331). Coproantigen reactivity was positively correlated (r = 0.65) to purge worm count, with a threshold at over 20 worms. There was no positive correlation of antibody levels with worm counts. In 26 matched Echinococcus positive dog samples, the overall sensitivity of serological detection increased to 69.2% when seroreactivity for IgA and IgE antibodies were included and to 96.2% for both coproantigen and antibody assays combined. The detection of current infection of individual dogs with E. granulosus by coproantigen ELISA has the potential to replace arecoline purgation, while specific serum antibody detection should be useful in assessing Echinococcus exposure in dog populations.

Prevalencia de litiasis vesicular en una poblacion uruguaya / Prevalence of gallbladder lithiasis in a Uruguayan population

Con el objetivo de conocer la prevalencia de L.V. en Uruguay, la proporción de sintomáticos y asintomáticos y su asociación a determinados factores de riesgo, se realizaron ecografías a 693 funcionarios del Hospital de Clínicas de Montevideo que concurrieron voluntariamente, previo llenado de un formulario. La prevalencia encontrada fue de 10,4%, de acuerdo al tamaño de la nuestra, extrapolable a la población general con una confianza del 99%. 65% de los portadores de L.V. fueron asintomáticos. Se encontró una asociación estadísticamente significativa con los siguientes factores: grupo etáreo de 31 a 50 años, obesidad leve y AP de tener hijos en caso de mujeres portadoras de la enfermedad. No fue estadísticamente significativo, pero si se comprobó una clara tendencia con los siguientes factores: sexo femenino y AF de madre portadora de L.V. Al considerar todos estos factores en conjunto, la probabilidad de tener una L.V. llegó al 19%. Se discuten los resultados y se comparan con los de publicaciones extranjeras. Se concluye que podía esbozarse un perfil del uruguayo con mayores posibilidades de tener una L.V.: mujer, entre 31 y 50 años, obesa, con hijos y cuya madre tuvo o tiene la misma enfermedad (AU)

Prevalencia de litiasis vesicular en una poblacion uruguaya / Prevalence of gallbladder lithiasis in a Uruguayan population

Con el objetivo de conocer la prevalencia de L.V. en Uruguay, la proporción de sintomáticos y asintomáticos y su asociación a determinados factores de riesgo, se realizaron ecografías a 693 funcionarios del Hospital de Clínicas de Montevideo que concurrieron voluntariamente, previo llenado de un formulario. La prevalencia encontrada fue de 10,4%, de acuerdo al tamaño de la nuestra, extrapolable a la población general con una confianza del 99%. 65% de los portadores de L.V. fueron asintomáticos. Se encontró una asociación estadísticamente significativa con los siguientes factores: grupo etáreo de 31 a 50 años, obesidad leve y AP de tener hijos en caso de mujeres portadoras de la enfermedad. No fue estadísticamente significativo, pero si se comprobó una clara tendencia con los siguientes factores: sexo femenino y AF de madre portadora de L.V. Al considerar todos estos factores en conjunto, la probabilidad de tener una L.V. llegó al 19%. Se discuten los resultados y se comparan con los de publicaciones extranjeras. Se concluye que podía esbozarse un perfil del uruguayo con mayores posibilidades de tener una L.V.: mujer, entre 31 y 50 años, obesa, con hijos y cuya madre tuvo o tiene la misma enfermedad

[Prevalence of gallbladder lithiasis in a Uruguayan population]. / Prevalencia de litiasis vesicular en una población uruguaya.

Ultrasound examinations were carried out in 693 volunteers from the health care personnel of the Hospital de Clinicas of Montevideo, with the aim of studying the prevalence of gallbladder gallstones in Uruguay, the proportion of symptomatic and asymptomatic people and its association to some definite risk factors. The prevalence found was 10.4%, which, according to the sample's size, is representative of the general population with a confidence of 99%. Sixty five per cent of gallstones carriers were asymptomatic. A statistically significant association with the following factors was found: people between 31 and 50 years old, slight obesity, and, for women, to have children. A marked tendency with the following factors was found, though it was not statistically significant: female sex, and a familiar history of mother carrying gallstones. Considering all these factors as a whole, the probability of having gallstones reached 19%. Results are discussed and compared with those of foreign publications. It is concluded that uruguayan people with more possibilities of having gallstones are: women between 31 and 50 years old, obese, with children, and whose mother has or had the same disease.

Prevalencia de litiasis vesicular en una población uruguaya. / [Prevalence of gallbladder lithiasis in a Uruguayan population]

Ultrasound examinations were carried out in 693 volunteers from the health care personnel of the Hospital de Clinicas of Montevideo, with the aim of studying the prevalence of gallbladder gallstones in Uruguay, the proportion of symptomatic and asymptomatic people and its association to some definite risk factors. The prevalence found was 10.4

, which, according to the samples size, is representative of the general population with a confidence of 99

. Sixty five per cent of gallstones carriers were asymptomatic. A statistically significant association with the following factors was found: people between 31 and 50 years old, slight obesity, and, for women, to have children. A marked tendency with the following factors was found, though it was not statistically significant: female sex, and a familiar history of mother carrying gallstones. Considering all these factors as a whole, the probability of having gallstones reached 19

. Results are discussed and compared with those of foreign publications. It is concluded that uruguayan people with more possibilities of having gallstones are: women between 31 and 50 years old, obese, with children, and whose mother has or had the same disease.

Prevalencia de litiasis vesicular en una población uruguaya. / [Prevalence of gallbladder lithiasis in a Uruguayan population]

Ultrasound examinations were carried out in 693 volunteers from the health care personnel of the Hospital de Clinicas of Montevideo, with the aim of studying the prevalence of gallbladder gallstones in Uruguay, the proportion of symptomatic and asymptomatic people and its association to some definite risk factors. The prevalence found was 10.4

, which, according to the samples size, is representative of the general population with a confidence of 99

. Sixty five per cent of gallstones carriers were asymptomatic. A statistically significant association with the following factors was found: people between 31 and 50 years old, slight obesity, and, for women, to have children. A marked tendency with the following factors was found, though it was not statistically significant: female sex, and a familiar history of mother carrying gallstones. Considering all these factors as a whole, the probability of having gallstones reached 19

. Results are discussed and compared with those of foreign publications. It is concluded that uruguayan people with more possibilities of having gallstones are: women between 31 and 50 years old, obese, with children, and whose mother has or had the same disease.