[Seroepidemiology of toxoplasmosis in a marginal community of the Municipality of Maracaibo, Zulia State, Venezuela]. / Seroepidemiología de la toxoplasmosis en una comunidad marginal del Municipio Maracaibo, Estado Zulia, Venezuela.

The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in a marginal community of the Municipality of Maracaibo, Zulia State, Venezuela and if there was a relationship between risk factors and infection. An epidemiological survey of personal data, living sanitary conditions and contact with cats was performed. A collection of 254 blood samples from male and female individuals, with ages ranging from 8 months to 76 years, was studied. Anti-Toxoplasma gondii reaction was determined by indirect hemaglutination using a commercial kit. A positive reaction at a dilution > or = 1:64 was considered positive. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-squared test. The prevalence of infection was found to be 36.6%. It was observed that 21.5% of the seropositive presented titers not considered significant (< or = 1:64), 51.6% had intermediate titers (1:128 to 1:512), 24.8% high titers (1:1024 to 1:4096) and 2.1% very high titers (> or = 1:8192). The highest percentage of positivity (50%) was observed in the group > or = 46 years of age. No statistically significant association was observed between prevalence and risk factors (living together with cats and poor sanitary conditions of living) or infection when the chi-square test was used. Toxoplasma gondii infection was often found in the community of Puerto Caballo and probably cats and poor living conditions have a role in the transmission of infection.

Evaluación de la eficacia antigiardiásica del albendazol en preescolares / Evaluation of antigiardiasic efficacy of albendazole in preschool children

Evaluar la eficacia y la seguridad del albendazol en el tratamiento de preescolares con giardiasis. 33 preescolares de uno u otro sexo albergados en cuatro hogares de cuidado diario (HCD) del Municipio San Francisco del Estado Zulia con diagnóstico de giardiasis por examen de heces al directo con solución salina y lugol y por concentración de ritche (formol-eter), recibieron una dosis de 400 mgs diarios de albendazol durante cinco días. Se les practicó examen de heces al directo y por concentración de ritchie a los siete y catorce días después de la última dosis de albendazol. Para el análisis estadístico se utilizó el chi cuadrado. El 69,7 por ciento de los niños mostraron curación parasitológica, independiente de la edad y del sexo. Los efectos colaterales más frecuentes fueron dolor abdominal (12 por ciento) y cefalea (9 por ciento). Hubo un caso de migración errática de ascaris lumbricoides. A todo niño que va a ingresar a un HCD se le debe practicar examen de heces para diagnosticar la giardiasis, que se transmite por contacto directo y, recibir tratamiento. El albendazol es una alternativa a los imidazólicos cuando estos no sean tolerados o sean inefectivos