Health care importance of Treponema pallidum, Chagas' disease and Human immunodeficiency virus 1 among Amerindians of Argentina: an observational study / Importancia en el sistema de salud de la infección por Treponema pallidum, la enfermedad de Chagas y el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana 1 en amerindios de Argentina: un estudio observacional

The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Treponema pallidum, Trypanosoma cruzi and Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) in five Amerindian populations of Argentina. A retrospective study was conducted among 857 Amerindian populations (112 Kollas, 298 Mbyá-guaraníes, 79 Sagua Huarpes, 368 Wichis) from 2007 to 2010. Screening and confirmation of T. pallidum, T. cruzi and HIV-1 were performed. T. pallidum and T. cruzi infections were detected in all communities with an overall prevalence rate of 4.2% and 16.8%, respectively. Although HIV was not detected, syphilis and Chagas' disease represent a challenge for the health care system and the reinforcement of public health strategies is necessary considering the socioeconomic isolation of these populations.

El objetivo de este trabajo fue estimar la prevalencia de Treponema pallidum, Trypanosoma cruzi y virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (HIV-1) en 5 comunidades originarias de Argentina. Para ello, se realizó un estudio retrospectivo en 857 individuos (112 kollas, 298 mbyá-guaraníes, 79 sagua huarpes, 368 wichis) desde el 2007 hasta el 2010. Se realizó el diagnóstico completo para T. pallidum, T. cruzi y HIV-1. En todas las comunidades se confirmaron infecciones por T. pallidum y T. cruzi con una prevalencia total del 4,2 y del 16,8%, respectivamente. Aunque no se detectó HIV-1, sífilis y Chagas, representan un desafío para el sistema de salud, teniendo que reforzarse las estrategias de salud pública teniendo en cuenta el aislamiento socio-económico que sufren estas poblaciones.

Health care importance of Treponema pallidum, Chagas' disease and Human immunodeficiency virus 1 among Amerindians of Argentina: an observational study.

The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Treponema pallidum, Trypanosoma cruzi and Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) in five Amerindian populations of Argentina. A retrospective study was conducted among 857 Amerindian populations (112 Kollas, 298 Mbyá-guaraníes, 79 Sagua Huarpes, 368 Wichis) from 2007 to 2010. Screening and confirmation of T. pallidum, T. cruzi and HIV-1 were performed. T. pallidum and T. cruzi infections were detected in all communities with an overall prevalence rate of 4.2% and 16.8%, respectively. Although HIV was not detected, syphilis and Chagas' disease represent a challenge for the health care system and the reinforcement of public health strategies is necessary considering the socioeconomic isolation of these populations.

Actualización del diagnóstico de situación de la investigación en salud en el ámbito del Ministerio de Salud de la Nación y 19 Ministerios Provinciales / Update of Diagnosis of Health Research Situation in the Field of Argentine National and 19 Provincial Ministries of Health

Dado los escasos antecedentes de estudios sobre los sistemas de investigación para la salud en Argentina, el Ministerio de Salud de la Nación decidió realizar un diagnóstico de las actividades de investigación en el subsector público de salud. OBJETIVO: Describir las actividades de gestión, producción y difusión de la investigación realizadas por los ministerios de Salud y sus organismos dependientes entre 2010 y 2012. MÉTODOS: Estudio descriptivo transversal. Se estudiaron 20 ministerios (Nación, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires y provincias de Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Chaco, Corrientes, Chubut, Formosa, Jujuy, La Pampa, La Rioja, Mendoza, Misiones, Neuquén, Río Negro, San Juan, Santa Cruz, Santiago del Estero, Tierra del Fuego y Tucumán). Se efectuó una encuesta estructurada a funcionarios responsables de organismos ministeriales de nivel central, descentralizados y servicios de salud. RESULTADOS: Se relevaron 299 organismos y 1.070 investigaciones; el 80% de las cuales se había realizado en servicios de salud. El 61,3% del total recibió financiamiento. CONCLUSIONES: La magnitud de las investigaciones halladas en este estudio evidencia la importancia que las actividades de investigación tienen en los ministerios de Salud estudiados, en consonancia con el apoyo que se le ha dado en los últimos años a esta actividad como política de Estado...

Considering the few background of studies about the health systems in Argentina, the National Ministry of Health decided to make a diagnosis of the research activities in the public health subsector. OBJECTIVE: To describe the activities of research management, production and dissemination conducted by health ministries and their agencies between 2010 and 2012. METHODS: Descriptive cross-sectional study. A total of 20 health ministries (National, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires and the provinces of BuenosAires, Córdoba, Chaco, Corrientes, Chubut, Formosa, Jujuy, La Pampa, La Rioja, Mendoza, Misiones, Neuquén, Río Negro, San Juan, Santa Cruz, Santiago del Estero, Tierra del Fuegoa nd Tucumán) was studied. A structured survey to responsible officials of central level structures, decentralized institutionsand health services was conducted. RESULTS: 299 dependent agencies and 1070 research projects were surveyed, 80% of which had been conducted in health services and 61.3% of total had received financing. CONCLUSIONS: The magnitude of the research found in this study shows the importance that the research activities have in the ministries of health studied, in line with the support that has been given in recent years to this activity as state policy...

HTLV-1 cosmopolitan and HTLV-2 subtype b among pregnant women of non-endemic areas of Argentina.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of human T cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV)-1/2, HIV-1, hepatitis B virus (HBV), Trypanosoma cruzi, Treponema pallidum and Toxoplasma gondii infections and to identify the subtypes/subgroups of HTLV-1/2 among pregnant women (PW) from non-endemic provinces of Argentina. METHODS: Methods A total of 2403 samples were screened for HTLV-1/2 and confirmed by western blot and PCR. The long terminal repeat (LTR) of HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 were amplified. Phylogenetic analysis was performed by Neighbour Joining by using molecular evolutionary genetics analysis (MEGA) 4.0. RESULTS: Among a total of 2403 PW studied, 6 (0.25%) tested positive for HTLV-1/2 (3 HTLV-1 (0.12%) and 3 HTLV-2 (0.12%)). The total prevalence when distributed by province was 0.3% (3/804) for Buenos Aires (BA), 0.4% (1/241) for BA surroundings, 0.1% (1/707) for Neuquen and 1.0% (1/95) for Ushuaia. In San Juan, no PW were HTLV-1/2 positive. The prevalence was similar when compared with rates among blood donors of the same areas and years. The phylogenetic analysis classified one sequence as HTLV-1 aA and one as HTLV-2b. The prevalence of HIV-1, HBV, T cruzi, T pallidum and T gondii was 0.6%, 0.2%, 1.4%, 1.2% and 20.9%, respectively. One case of HTLV-1/HIV-1 and one of HTLV-2/HIV-1 co-infection were detected. CONCLUSIONS: HTLV-1/2, which have been associated with different diseases, are circulating among PW of Argentina, even in non-endemic areas. Therefore, testing should be recommended in women who have risk factors for these infections given that the majority of HTLV-1/2 mother to child transmission can be prevented by the avoidance of breast feeding.

New natural variants of hepatitis B virus among Amerindians from Argentina with mainly occult infections.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus infection is frequent among Amerindians. In Argentina HBV genotypes A, B, C, D, E, F and H were described in different populations, while some cases of occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) were reported in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfected patients. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence, genetic diversity of HBV and to analyze the deduced amino acid sequence of both S and viral polymerase (P) genes among Amerindians of Argentina. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study including 561 individuals belonging to distinct ethnic groups, the Mbyá-guaraní (MG), the Kolla (K), the Sagua-Huarpe (SH) and the Wichi (W) was performed. RESULTS: The prevalence of HBsAg was 1.7% and 1.4% for the MG and SH, respectively, while anti-HBc was detected in all communities. HBV DNA of S/P and preCore-Core genomic regions were amplified by nested polymerase chain reaction in 59 reactive samples for anti-HBc total Ig and/or HBsAg. Of them, thirteen exhibited detectable HBV DNA, eleven of which were identified as OBI. Genotype F was predominant in the MG community with co-circulation of subgenotypes F4, F1b, A2 and D3, while subgenotype C2 prevailed within the SH community. All cases exhibited the polymorphism rtL217R within the RT domain associated to resistance to adefovir. Mutations rtD206E and rtV207I associated with lamivudine resistance were found in two MG and three SH respectively. Other new substitutions were described within the P sequence. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows for the first time the predominance of OBI, HBV subgenotypes and natural variants in Amerindians from Argentina.