Bovine leptospirosis: effects on reproduction and an approach to research in Colombia.

Leptospirosis is the most widespread zoonosis worldwide, causing severe effects on beef and dairy cattle farming and other livestock. Colombia geographical location in the tropical zone, high biodiversity, and climatic conditions promote Leptospira growth and prevalence. This review article presents state-of-the-art knowledge about the effects of leptospirosis on bovine reproduction and a critical analysis of the research carried out in Colombia. The analysis of the information allows us to infer a sustained increase in prevalence over the last decade in the densest livestock production areas and a high serovar diversity of circulating pathogenic Leptospira. Given the zoonotic nature of leptospirosis, an inter-institutional effort is required to implement prevention, control, and monitoring programs under one-health concept.

Comparative study of the intestinal parasitism profiles between communities across the 5 municipalities of the Barranquilla metropolitan area, Colombia.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the rate of parasitism and intestinal parasitism profiles of children who live in relatively proximal communities across the 5 municipalities of the Barranquilla metropolitan area, Colombia. METHODS: In total, 986 fecal samples from children aged 1 to 10 were analyzed using a direct method (physiological saline and lugol) and the zinc sulfate flotation technique. A comparative analysis of the parasitism profiles between sampling locations (7 schools and 3 health centers providing growth and development services) was conducted using principal component analysis (PCA). The presence of Taenia solium antibodies was evaluated by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method in 269 serum samples from the same group of children. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitism was 57.6% (range, 42.1%-77.6%) across the sampling areas. The prevalence of helminthiasis was between 4.1% and 23.7%, and that of intestinal protozoa was between 38.2% and 73.5%. PCA showed that the parasite profiles of each sampling location shared no common characteristics. A total of 3.0% of the serum samples were positive for T. solium antibodies. CONCLUSION: The intestinal parasitism profiles between relatively proximal sampling locations with similar geographic conditions were vastly different, indicating the need to study each small ecological niche on a localized scale to develop more cost-effective interventions for controlling intestinal parasitism.

Correlation between physical activity and cardiovascular risk factors in postmenopausal women from Colombia Caribbean.

Postmenopausal period disturbances are more frequently observed in women with unhealthy lifestyles, insufficient physical activity is related to increased cardiovascular risk (CVR). There is a lack of evidence-based information on physical activity in postmenopausal women and its relationship with CVR factors, including D vitamin serum levels. OBJECTIVE: To determine the physical activity level in postmenopausal women from the Colombia Caribbean and establish relationships between the physical activity and biochemical and anthropometric CVR factors. METHODS: A correlational descriptive study in which 183 postmenopausal women were linked for convenience sampling. Level of physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire) and their relationships with anthropometric variables, blood pressure, lipid profile, glycemic and serum vitamin D were evaluated. RESULTS: According to the physical activity, 82.5% of women were classified as inactive, 9.3% as insufficiently active and only 8.2% as physically active. Physical inactivity was significantly related to higher glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol serum levels (P < .05). The prevalence of the women with vitamin D levels less than 30 ng/mL were of 69.9%. The women physically active and with eutrophic nutritional condition had more high levels of vitamin D. CONCLUSIONS: 82.5% of the postmenopausal women evaluated were physically inactive and this condition was associated with higher serum levels of glycemic, total cholesterol and triglycerides. Serum vitamin D concentrations were higher in traffic and physically active women.

Lecitina colesterol aciltransferasa en mujeres postmenopáusicas y su relación con factores bioquímicos y antropométricos asociados a riesgo cardiovascular / Lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase in serum of postmenopausal women in relation to biochemical and anthropometric factors associated to cardiovascular risk

Resumen Objetivo: determinar los valores séricos de la enzima lecitina colesterol aciltransferasa en un grupo de mujeres postmenopáusicas, y establecer su relación con factores asociados a riesgo cardiovascular. Materiales y métodos: estudio descriptivo transversal prospectivo, correlacional, que incluyó 56 mujeres postmenopáusicas en quienes se evaluaron variables antropométricas y bioquímicas (perfil lipídico y glicemia basal) asociadas a riesgo cardiovascular y se correlacionaron con las concentraciones séricas de lecitina colesterol aciltransferasa. Resultados: los valores séricos promedio de dicha enzima fueron 7,89 ± 1,26 (g/ml. Las mujeres con valores de índice de masa corporal superior a 25 tienen niveles séricos de lecitina colesterol aciltransferasa significativamente mayores que aquellas que tienen índice de masa corporal normal. No se observaron relaciones significativas entre los niveles de lecitina colesterol aciltransferasa y las variables bioquímicas evaluadas. Conclusiones: este trabajo es uno de los primeros que evalúa los niveles séricos de lecitina colesterol aciltransferasa en mujeres postmenopáusicas del Caribe colombiano. Se encontró una relación significativa entre los niveles séricos de lecitina colesterol aciltransferasa y los valores de índice de masa corporal elevados. Se requieren nuevos estudios para entender mejor la relación entre los niveles séricos de lecitina colesterol aciltransferasa y el riesgo cardiovascular en mujeres postmenopáusicas.

Abstract Objective: To determine the serum levels of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase in a group of postmenopausal women and to establish their relationship with factors associated with cardiovascular risk. Materials and methods: A descriptive, correlational and cross-sectional study was performed that included 56 postmenopausal women. Anthropometric and biochemical (lipid profile and baseline blood glucose) variables associated with cardiovascular risk were measured, and were correlated with the serum concentrations of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase. Results: The mean serum level of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase was 7.89 ± 1.26 (g/ml. The women with a body mass index greater than 25 had significantly higher serum levels of the enzyme than those that had a normal body mass index. No significant relationships were observed between the levels of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase and the biochemical variables evaluated. Conclusions: This study is one of the first that has evaluated the serum levels of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase in postmenopausal women of the Colombian Caribbean. A significant relationship was found between the serum levels of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase and elevated values of the body mass index. Further studies are required for a better understanding of the relationship between the serum levels of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase and cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women.

Prevalencia de parásitos intestinales en niños del Área Metropolitana de Barranquilla, Colombia / Intestinal parasites prevalence in children from Barranquilla (Colombia) Metropolitan Area

Introducción: la parasitosis intestinal constituye un importante problema de salud pública, la Organización Mundial de la Salud, considera que la infección por geohelmintos afecta un aproximado de 1500 millones de personas en el mundo y se calcula que 46 millones de niños están en riesgo de contraer infecciones por geohelmintos en América Latina. Objetivos: determinar la prevalencia de parasitismo intestinal en niños menores de 10 años de tres poblaciones pertenecientes al Área Metropolitana de Barranquilla, Colombia. Métodos: estudio descriptivo de corte transversal, en el que se analizaron 411 muestras fecales de niños entre 1 mes y 10 años de edad; recolectadas durante el año 2014 en tres diferentes poblaciones del Área Metropolitana de Barranquilla (Distrito de Barranquilla, Corregimiento de la Playa y Municipio de Galapa). El análisis parasitológico se realizó mediante examen directo de las heces en solución salina, lugol, y concentración con el método formol-éter. Se estableció la frecuencia absoluta y relativa de los parásitos presentes y se compararon los resultados entre los tres lugares de muestreo. Resultados: se observó una prevalencia de parasitismo intestinal del 45,3 por ciento en todo el AMB, la cual fue mayor en Galapa y La Playa; presentándose además, en La Playa una alta prevalencia de helmintos 19,2 por ciento. El protozoario de mayor prevalencia fue Blastocystis sp 22,1 por ciento y el patógeno más frecuente encontrado fue Giardia intestinalis, presente en el 9,7 por ciento de las muestras analizadas. Conclusiones: la alta prevalencia de parásitos en los niños plantea la necesidad de realizar programas de vigilancia y control a toda la población a nivel local. La presencia de protozoarios como Blastocystis sp., parásito relacionado con precarias condiciones higiénicas del agua de consumo, hace evidente la urgencia de crear estrategias para mejorar el saneamiento básico y la educación sanitaria como ejes fundamentales en el control de las parasitosis(AU)