Risk factors for triatominae infestation in a municipality of Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Identifying risk factors for Triatominae infestation is essential for the development of vector control interventions. METHODS: To determine the intra- and peridomiciliary risk factors associated with triatomine infestation, a cross-sectional analytical study was carried out with random cluster sampling in two stages, which included the identification of risk factors by survey and direct observation, as well as the search and capture of triatomines. The detection of trypanosomes in triatomines was carried out by observing the rectal content and then by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: In 21 of the 207 houses inspected, 13 specimens of R. colombiensis and 19 specimens of P. geniculatus were found. Entomological indices included: dispersion 36%, infestation 10%, infection 65%, colonization 4.7%, density 15%, and concentration 152%. An association was found between the presence of Triatominae and the existence of branches and fissures in the floors, as well as with the presence of accumulated objects and with knowledge about Chagas disease. The risk of having triatomines in urban homes is 5.7 times higher than the risk in rural areas [confidence interval (CI) 0.508-67.567]; 6.6 times in houses with cracked soil (CI 0.555-81.994), 6 times in houses located near caneys (CI 0.820-44.781), and 6.16 times with accumulated objects (CI 1.542-39.238). CONCLUSION: Chagas disease is a complex problem that requires control based on the vector's elimination or surveillance, which implies identifying species and their distribution, generating alerts, knowledge, and awareness in the population. It is necessary to intensify surveillance activities for the event, especially in changing aspects of Chagas diseases' transmission dynamics, such as urbanization and the type of housing associated with the vector's presence.

Trypanosoma cruzi infection in naturally infected dogs from an endemic region of Cundinamarca, Colombia.

The seropositivity and risk factors for Trypanosoma cruzi infection in dogs from a municipality of Cundinamarca, a central state of Colombia were studied. A total of 356 client-owned dogs from urban, peri-urban and rural areas of La Mesa municipality, (Cundinamarca, Colombia) were randomly selected. Blood samples were collected by venipuncture. Anti-T. cruzi antibodies were determined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Reactive ELISA sera were processed by indirect immunofluorescence to confirm the presence of anti-T. cruzi antibodies. Chi-square tests were conducted for statistical analysis. Serologic tests for T. cruzi infection showed a prevalence of 29.49% (105/356), the rural area show a highest T. cruzi infection pattern in comparison with the other zone locations. Two triatomine species were found through the study: Panstrongylus geniculatus (53.4%) and Rhodnius colombiensis (46.6%). The prevalence of positive vectors for parasite was of 52.1% (38/73). Additionally, a very close relation between triatomine bugs and dogs in the rural zone (1:3.1) was observed. These results are the first report of natural infection by T. cruzi in domestic dogs in La Mesa municipality. In conclusion, the presence of anti-T. cruzi antibodies in dogs in this area suggest vector transmission. There is a need for active surveillance programs throughout the La Mesa municipality and vector control strategies should also be implemented.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa: an emerging nosocomial trouble in veterinary / Pseudomonas aeruginosa: un problema nosocomial emergente en veterinaria

Objective. The goal of this study was to evaluate the susceptibility pattern of isolates P. aeruginosa from veterinary clinical centers in Bogotá, D.C., to some commonly used antibiotics in clinical. Materials and methods. Bacteriological standard protocols were used for the isolation and identification of bacterial strains. To evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates, to commonly used antibiotics, was performed the Kirby-Bauer agar-disk diffusion method on Mueller-Hinton agar. Results. A total of 160 samples was taken from clinical specimens and the environment in different veterinary clinics. Out of these samples, 89 (55.6%) were gram-negative strains, of which ten strains of P. aeruginosa were isolated (11.2%). All strains were resistant to Cefazolin, Lincomycin, Cephalothin, Ampicillin, Clindamycin, Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim and Chloramphenicol while some isolates exhibited either resistance or an intermediate response to Amikacin (30%), Gentamicin (30%), Tobramycin (10%), Ciprofloxacin (20%), Ceftazidime (30%), Erythromycin (100%), Tetracycline (100%), Imipenem (10%), Meropenem (90%) and Bacitracin (90%). Conclusions. The results demonstrate that the acquired antimicrobial resistances of P. aeruginosa strains depend on antibiotic protocols applied. As observed in human hospitals, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is acting as one of the multidrug-resistant microorganisms of veterinary clinical relevance.

Objetivo. Evaluar el comportamiento a algunos antibióticos de uso común en clínica de cepas de Pseudomonas aeruginosa aisladas de centros clínicos veterinarios en Bogotá, D.C. Materiales y métodos. Un protocolo bacteriológico estándar se utilizó para el aislamiento e identificación de cepas bacterianas. Para evaluar la sensibilidad de los aislamientos bacterianos a diferentes antimicrobianos de uso clínico común, se empleó el método de difusión sobre agar Mueller-Hinton de Kirby-Bauer. Resultados. Un total de 160 muestras fueron tomadas a partir de muestras clínicas y del ambiente de diferentes clínicas veterinarias de la ciudad de Bogotá. De estas muestras, 89 (55.6%) fueron cepas bacterianas gram-negativas, de las que se aislaron 10 cepas de P. aeruginosa (11.2%). Todas las cepas de P. aeruginosa mostraron resistencia a la Cefazolina, Lincomicina, Cefalotina, Ampicilina, Clindamicina, Trimetoprim- Sulfametoxazol y Cloranfenicol; mientras que algunas de éstas, mostraron resistencia o una respuesta intermedia a Amikacina (30%), Gentamicina (30%), Tobramicina (10%), Ciprofloxacina (20%), Ceftazidima (30%), Eritromicina (100%), Tetraciclina (100%), Imipinem (10%), Meropenem (90%) y Bacitracina (90%). Conclusiones. Los resultados demuestran que la resistencia adquirida a los antimicrobianos en las cepas de P. aeruginosa aisladas de estos centros clínicos depende de los protocolos antibióticos aplicados. Al igual que sucede en los nosocomios Humanos, Pseudomonas aeruginasa se está comportando como uno de los microorganismos multirresistetes de relevancia clínica causante de infecciones nosocomiales veterinarias.