Serologic evidence of rickettsial diseases associated with tick bites in workers of urban veterinary clinics.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Rickettsial and other zoonotic diseases are a latent risk for workers of veterinary clinics. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and the associated risk factors of parasitosis caused by Rhipicephalus sanguineus, and to estimate the seroprevalence of rickettsial diseases in workers of urban veterinary clinics of Juárez city, México. METHODS: The participants of the study were recruited from 63 private veterinary clinics and hospitals. The serological analysis of the blood samples collected was carried out using immunofluorescence assay (IFA). The statistical analysis for prevalences, risk factors, and correlation was performed with the SAS program. RESULTS: In total, 167 veterinary workers were included in the study. The prevalence of tick bites was 40% (67/167), and the risk factors associated with the occurrence of bites included the activities performed in the clinic and the number of labour hours spent per week. About 21% (35/167) of participants were seropositive to R. rickettsii, 28% (47/167) to Ehrlichia chaffeensis, and 24% (40/167) to Anaplasma phagocytophilum. A correlation was observed between: the number of workers in the clinics and the proportion of tick bites (r2 = 0.865); the prevalence of bites and the seropositivity of the participants to at least one pathogen (r2 = 0.924); and the number of bites per individual and infection to pathogens (r2 = 0.838). INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Workers in urban veterinary clinics are highly exposed to tick bites and, therefore, to the diseases they transmit. Hence, it is important to implement prevention measures and perform constant monitoring of these diseases.

Deficiencia de micronutrientes en la dieta del paciente con lesiones precancerosas del cérvix de una clínica de colposcopía en Ciudad Juárez, México / Micronutrient deficiency in the diet of the patient with precancerous cervix lesions on a colposcopy clinic at Ciudad Juárez, Mexico

Introducción: las lesiones intraepiteliales escamosas (LIE) son un estado de transición hacia el cáncer cervicouterino (CaCu) y un déficit de cronutrientes puede acelerar este proceso. Por ello, determinar la existencia de este déficit y conocer qué factores se asocian permitiría una posible prevención en esta población de riesgo. Objetivo: determinar la presencia de alguna deficiencia de micronutrientes involucrados en el proceso anticancerígeno y asociar este déficit con hábitos y factores demográficos en pacientes con LIE de Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, México. Métodos: en un estudio transversal analítico fueron seleccionadas 102 pacientes con LIE. Se realizó una encuesta dietaría (recordatorio de 24 horas) para estimar la ingesta de micronutrientes. La deficiencia fue determinada con un consumo < 75% de la ingesta diaria recomendada o sugerida (IDR o IDS) en México. Algunos hábitos y factores demográficos fueron obtenidos mediante la entrevista con la paciente. Se realizó un modelo de regresión logística para asociar la presencia de deficiencia con factores que afectan a la ingesta o incrementan el requerimiento de micronutrientes. Resultados: el retinol, ácido fólico, zinc, vitaminas C y E, considerados como micronutrientes en el proceso anticancerígeno del CaCu, se encontraron por debajo del 75% de la IDR. Aquellas mujeres con sobrepeso, obesidad y amas de casa se asociaron significativamente con la deficiencia de micronutrientes. Conclusión: el sobrepeso, la obesidad y la ocupación han sido asociados para presentar deficiencias de micronutrientes en este estudio. Estas variables convergen en una posible inseguridad alimentaria, la cual podría asociarse al incremento de incidencia de CaCu en México (AU)

Introduction: Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (SIL) is a state of transition to cervical cancer (CC), and micronutrient deficiencies can speed up this process. Therefore, determining the existence of this deficit and know what factors are associated would allow for possible prevention in this population at risk. Objective: To determine the presence of some micronutrient deficiencies involved in the anti-carcinogenic process, also associate this deficit with habits and demographic factors in patients with SIL in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. Methods: An analytic cross-sectional study, 102 patients were selected with SIL. A dietary survey (24-hour recall) was performed to estimate the intake of micronutrients. The deficiency was determined when the consumption was less than 75% of the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) or suggested in Mexico. Some habits and demographic factors were obtained by interview with the patient. A logistic regression was performed to associate the presence of deficiencies with factors that affecting the intake or increase the requirement of micronutrients. Results: Retinol, folic acid, zinc, vitamins C and E, considered micronutrients in the anti-carcinogenic process CC, were less than 75% of the RDA. Women with overweight, obesity and housewives, were significantly associated with micronutrient deficiencies. Conclusion: Overweight, obesity and occupation have been associated to present micronutrient deficiencies in this study. These variables converge on a possible food insecurity, which could be associated with increased incidence of CC in Mexico (AU)

Distribución geoespacial y detección del virus del dengue en mosquitos Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti de Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, México / Geospatial distribution and detection of dengue virus in Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti mosquitos in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico

OBJETIVO: Determinar la distribución de Aedes aegypti en Ciudad Juárez, México, y evaluarlo como portador del virus del dengue. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se colectaron mosquitos empleando minitrampas CDC. Se aplicaron técnicas geoespaciales del vecino más próximo y función K. Para evaluar la asociación entre la presencia del vector y variables sociodemográficas se aplicó la prueba de ji². Las pruebas de infección fueron mediante RT-PCR. RESULTADOS: Se capturaron 122 mosquitos hembra. Se demostró la tendencia de distribución en conglomerado (R=-1.2995 p=0.05) del mosquito a los 4000 m pero ninguna de las variables sociodemográficas mostró asociación significativa. Siete lotes evaluados fueron positivos para DEN-2, diez para DEN-3 y siete para ambos serotipos. CONCLUSIONES: Es el primer reporte de la presencia de mosquitos Aedes aegypti infectados con dengue en la región, lo que permitirá promover su vigilancia con el fin de disminuir la probabilidad de ocurrencia de la enfermedad entre la población fronteriza.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the distribution of Aedes aegypti in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico and evaluate it as a carrier of the dengue virus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Mosquitoes were collected using CDC minitraps. Nearest neighbor and K-function were used as geospatial tools. The chi-square test was utilized to evaluate the association between the presence of the vector and sociodemographic variables. Evidence of infection was detected by RT-PCR. RESULTS: A total of 122 female mosquitoes were captured. A tendency in the cluster distribution (R= -1.2995, p= 0.05) of the mosquito was shown up to 4000 m but none of the sociodemographic variables showed significant associations. Seven of the pools tested were positive for DEN-2, ten were positive for DEN- 3, and seven for both serotypes. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report on the presence of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes infected with dengue in the region, which will enable the promotion of monitoring in order to reduce the probability of occurrence of the disease among the border population.