Intestinal coccidia in Cuban pediatric patients with diarrhea.

From May to August 1999, we evaluated 401 patients from a pediatric hospital of Havana City. One group was composed of 113 patients with diarrhea admitted to the Gastroenterology ward and a second consisted of 288 patients without diarrhea, admitted for other reasons, and hospitalized within the same time period. Three stool samples were collected from each child and were examined using three parasitological techniques. When we compared the frequency of parasite species between both groups, we found Cryptosporidium spp. and Cyclospora cayetanensis, only in the group of children with diarrhea (P < 0.01). However, no significant differences were found in the occurrence of the other intestinal parasites (P > 0.05). In addition, in those children infected with Cryptosporidium, the diarrhea had a more prolonged duration (P < 0.01), while those infected with Cyclospora, the abdominal cramps or pain, and acute diarrhea were more frequently detected (P < 0.01). Our results showed that emerging intestinal coccidia are pathogens strongly associated in this group of children with diarrhea.

Intestinal coccidia in Cuban pediatric patients with diarrhea

From May to August 1999, we evaluated 401 patients from a pediatric hospital of Havana City. One group was composed of 113 patients with diarrhea admitted to the Gastroenterology ward and a second consisted of 288 patients without diarrhea, admitted for other reasons, and hospitalized within the same time period. Three stool samples were collected from each child and were examined using three parasitological techniques. When we compared the frequency of parasite species between both groups, we found Cryptosporidium spp. and Cyclospora cayetanensis, only in the group of children with diarrhea (P < 0.01). However, no significant differences were found in the occurrence of the other intestinal parasites (P > 0.05). In addition, in those children infected with Cryptosporidium, the diarrhea had a more prolonged duration (P < 0.01), while those infected with Cyclospora, the abdominal cramps or pain, and acute diarrhea were more frequently detected (P < 0.01). Our results showed that emerging intestinal coccidia are pathogens strongly associated in this group of children with diarrhea

[Intestinal parasitic infections in 4 child day-care centers located in San Miguel del Padrón municipality, Havana City, 1998]. / Parasitosis intestinales en 4 círculos infantiles de San Miguel del Padrón, Ciudad de La Habana, 1998.

A coproparasitologic study was performed on 456 children aged 1-5 years from 4 day-care centers located in San Miguel del Padrón municipality during November 1998, with the aim of finding out the behaviour of the main intestinal parasites and particularly how Giardia lamblia was affecting this child population. Three fecal specimens were collected from each child in every other day, which were processed by coproparasitologic methods such as direct testing and Ritchie's concentration technique. The most frequently identified parasite was G. lamblia with 249 positive cases for a prevalence rate of 54.6%. The second one was Blastocystis hominis (29.6%) followed by Endolimax nana(23.9%). Coccidia like Crystosporidium parvum and Cyclospora cayetanensis exhibited low frequencies, 0.6 and 1.5% respectively, being the majority of the cases located in only one day care center. These results confirmed that G. lamblia is the most prevailing parasite in day care centers, with peak frequency values in 2-4y age group and no differences between sexes.

[A group of African students parasitized with Mansonella perstans in Cuba (a non-endemic area) from 1979 to 1982]. / Estudio de un grupo de estudiantes Africanos parasitados con Manzonella perstans en Cuba (área no endémica) durante 1979 a 1982.

Sixty cases of Manzonella perstans were studied during a three year period by clinical and blood parasitologic studies. It was observed that 31.2 was negative and that mean microfilaremia decreased from 49.3, at the beginning of the study, to 32.9 at the end of it, in those cases yet positive. According to the persistent microfilaremia, which means a relative longevity of adult parasites, the surveillance of individuals suffering it is recommended at their arrival to a non-endemic area where the vectors of such disease are present.

Toxoplasmosis II.Algunos aspectos relativos a trastornos oculares. / Toxoplasmosis II. Some aspectos in relation to ocular disorders

Se estudiaron comparativamente pacientes con afecciones oculares presuntamente toxoplasmosicas y un grupo control compuesto por personas asintomaticas, atendiendo a los resultados obtenidos con el empleo de la reaccion de fijacion del complemento para toxoplasmosis.Se reunieron 36 pacientes con uveitis anteriores, 50 con coriorretinitis y 100 personas sanas. Se encontro diferencias significativas entre las concentraciones de anticuerpos de ambos grupos sintomaticos con respecto a los controles. No se llego a conclusiones definitivas sobre si la presunta toxoplasmosis fue congenita o adquirida en los casos estudiados. Del analisis de la relacion entre los niveles de anticuerpos y el contacto con gatos dentro de cada grupo, solo fueron halladas diferencias en los controles, lo que indica en el universo estudiado, que la presencia de estos animales pudo haber influido en la infeccion, pero no en la enfermedad