Application of the enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot to filter paper blood spots to estimate seroprevalence of cysticercosis in Bolivia.

An enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot (EITB) assay was used to study the prevalence of cysticercosis in rural Bolivia. Dried blood spots on filter paper from fingersticks were used as assay samples. Before the serosurvey, experiments were performed to show that samples eluted from dried whole blood on filter paper exhibited no decrease in sensitivity when compared with the more traditional serum samples used in the EITB. Fingerstick blood dried on filter paper is a convenient, economical way of transporting and storing field samples for epidemiologic surveys of cysticercosis in developing countries. This report shows the utility of this sample collection method in underdeveloped countries where refrigeration is not possible and where venipuncture is a problem. Blood was obtained from randomly selected residents in three rural regions of Bolivia: Chuquisaca (n = 1,859), Cochabamba (n = 1,516), and Tarija (n = 1,010). The estimated seroprevalence on 10% of the sample collected for the three regions were 9%, 4.5%, and 2%, respectively.

Community participation in vector control: lessons from Chagas' disease.

As applied to vector-borne disease control, the term community participation has been broadly interpreted. Community-based vector control projects have been described as having both active and passive components. Recently, community participation in organized efforts to control Chagas' disease has become more dynamic, with increasingly active involvement by local community members. Chagas' disease is a particularly significant vector-borne disease problem in the South American countries of Brazil, Venezuela, and Bolivia, and health officials there are beginning to emphasize horizontal or decentralized approaches to control of triatomine vectors. Experience suggests that vector control programs using community participation have significant and sustainable impact on vector density, appear to be more cost-effective than purely vertically structured programs, are readily integrated with other health or development programs, promote an enduring sense of pride in home and community, and are politically viable vector control strategies. Community participation per se has inherent value because of its positive effect on social relationships and community solidarity. Moreover, it is a dynamic process that results in accrued benefits for public health that exceed most vector control program goals and persist well beyond program termination.

Leishmaniasis in the lowlands of Bolivia, prevalence of the disease in two groups of localities with different settlement ages in Carrasco Tropical, Cochabamba.

The invasion of the Bolivian Jungle has brought the new colonists some unfamiliar diseases, among which we study Leishmaniasis. A previous study described the situation in Yapacaní. Departamento of Santa Cruz, a primary rain forest lowland area. We now focus on the characteristics of Carrasco Tropical, close to a hilly territory of the andean mountains. We studied 11 localities ("colonies") grouped as unions with different lengths of residence in the area. We considered males and females over 15 years old as "at risk" and studied in them all forms of leishmanial infection, through clinical and laboratory (smears) means, including the Montenegro Skin Test (IDRM). Cutaneous ulcers and scars were seen in 2.9% (10 patients of 339 at risk, 6 from "27 de octubre", a younger settlement, 4 from the older Tamboradas): mucocutaneous lesions in 3 (1 from the younger settlement); and skin scars alone in 10.3% (35 from the younger area). The only 2 females with positive findings in the study were seen in this latter group. Transmission is apparently associated with the primary forest which exists at the foot of the Andes in the area, which is visited preferentially by young men.

Epidemia de fiebre amarilla selvatica, en la zona del rincon del tigre Santa Cruz-Bolivia / Epidemic of yellow fever sylvan, in the zone of the corner of the tiger Santa Cruz Bolivia

En la zona del rincon del Tigre, se detecto un brote de fiebre amarilla selvatica con 69 casos sospechosos y 6 fallecimientos; solo un caso fue histopatologicamente estudiado y su resultado confirmo el resultado, de fiebre amarilla. Una muestra de 9 sueros sometidos a examenes serologicos igualmente confirmaron el diagnostico, dos de estos sueros resultaron sospechosos de otra FLAVIVIROSIS (dengue tipo II) ya que la prueba de neutralizacion mostro una conversion de 20 a 400 y de 10 a 710 respectivamente. Con este resultado queda planteado un serio interrogante sobre la identificacion de los vectores selvaticos de esa posible VIROSIS ya que fue descartada la presencia de A. ACGYPTI en la zona. Se constato un crecido trafico de gente a traves de la selva por razones de explotacion clandestina de minerales que probablemente fue la causa desencadenante de la epidemia. Sospechamos tasas altas en la densidad de vectores infectantes inclusive en lugares no propiamente selvaticos, por lo que se recomienda extender actividades de vigilancia a lugares susceptibles de sufrir una extencion epidemica y al mismo tiempo se tomarian medidas preventivas.

Estudio epidemiologico de la enfermedad de chagas en el trigal departamento de Santa Cruz-Bolivia / Epidemiologic study of the diseases of chagas in the trigal in Santa Cruz-Bolivia

En el trigal Vallegrandino se llevo a cabo una encuesta epidemiologica de la enfermedad de Chagas si examinamos los siguientes parametros: infestacion de las casas por triatomenos infeccion de triatominas por T. cruzi infeccion de la poblacion humana canina felina miocardiopatia chagasica y sindromes de megas Tb se determino el estado de la vivienda y el 37 % de las mismas estuvieron infestadas por T. infestans: El porcentaje de infeccion por T. Cruzi de 42 % a la prueba HAI 17,1 % de los perros y 26,9 % de los gatos fueron positivos al xenodiagnostico; 11,2 % de las personas igual o mayores de 1 anos presentaron signos compatibles a miocardiopatias chagasicas y 10 % de estos tenian riesgo elevado de muerte subita como consecuencia de su enfermedad chagasica. La sospecha de problemas digestivos fue baja. El estado deficiente de la vivienda y sus modos de vida, son principios para la endemicidad de esta enfermedad.