Relación clínico-epidemiológica de giardiasis en niños de 0-12 años que asisten a núcleos de atención primaria. municipio francisco linares alcántara, estado aragua, venezuela / Clinical-epidemiologic relationship of giardiasis in children 0-12 years attending primary care nucleus.municipality francisco linares alcantara, aragua, venezuela

Giardiasis is an intestinal parasitism with high prevalence worldwide, which most often affects children. In Venezuela is a public health problem due to the occurrence of various risk factors, such as pollution of sources of drinking water, poor health education and low socioeconomic status. A descriptive cross-sectional study in children attending Primary Care Nucleus (NAP) of the municipality Francisco Linares Alcantara, during the first quarter of 2013. Stool samples were a nalyzed by direct coproparasitological methods with physiological Saline, Lugol and Faust. In order to know the symptoms and risk factors associated with a clinical epidemiological survey was applied to each participant. The sample consisted of 180 children, of which 47.2% had pathogenic parasites, 14.4% non-pathogenic and 38.3% were not parasitized. The prevalence of G. intestinalis was 11.1%. No relationship between sex and age group was found. Association between diarrhea, flatulence and abdominal distention and presence of G. intestinalis was found. Risk factors associated with the presence of the parasite were: poor housing, treatment of drinking water and inadequate hygiene. We conclude that G. intestinalis is a common pathogen in children who come to the NAP of the municipality and its presence is associated with poor housing, inadequate treatment of drinking water and inadequate hygiene.

La giardiasis es una parasitosis intestinal con alta prevalencia a nivel mundial, que afecta con mayor frecuencia a niños. En Venezuela constituye un problema de salud pública, debido a la concurrencia de diversos factores de riesgo, como contaminación de las fuentes de agua de consumo humano, la deficiente educación sanitaria y nivel socioeconómico bajo. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y transversal en niños y niñas que acudieron a los Núcleos de Atención Primaria (NAP) del municipio Francisco Linares Alcántara, durante el primer trimestre del año 2013. Las muestras de heces fueron analizadas mediante métodos coproparasitológicos directos con solución Salina Fisiológica, Lugol y Faust. Para conocer la sintomatología y los factores de riesgo asociados, se aplicó una encuesta clínico epidemiológica a cada participante. La muestra estuvo conformada por un total de 180 niños, de los cuales 47,2% presentaban parásitos patógenos, 14,4% no patógenos y 38,3% no estaban parasitados. La prevalencia de Giardia intestinalis fue de 11,1%. No se encontró relación entre sexo y grupo etario. Se halló asociación entre la diarrea, flatulencia y distensión abdominal y presencia de G. intestinalis. Los factores de riesgo asociados a la presencia de dicho parásito fueron: precariedad de la vivienda, tratamiento del agua de consumo humano y hábitos higiénicos inadecuados. Se concluye que G. intestinalis es un patógeno frecuente en los niños que acuden a los NAP del municipio y su presencia está asociada a la precariedad de la vivienda, tratamiento inadecuado del agua de consumo humano y hábitos higiénicos inadecuados.

Aproximación a la problemática de la coendemicidad enfermedad de Chagas-Leishmaniasis desde un enfoque de Ecosalud / Approximation to the problem of coendemicity chagas-Leishmaniasis diseases from and Ecohealth approach

Chagas disease and leishmaniasis belong to the group of Neglected Tropical Diseases are zoonosis considered as a public health problem in Venezuela, present in rural, suburban and urban areas. The transmission of both is given by complex processes, which modifies the environment favoring infection with these two groups of protozoa have a common susceptible host, human, many of their geographical foci coincide and can also exist, practices and attitudes linked to ignorance of the modes of transmission of these diseases could encourage contact and infection /coinfection. To study these the Ecohealth approach, which allows to identify interactions between social and ecological systems, which connects to the complex thought, with a view from its fundamental principles proposed: 1) systems thinking, 2) transdisciplinary research 3) social participation, 4) social and environmental sustainability 5) gender equality and social, and 6) the approach of the gap between knowledge and action, which could provide important information of great help to propose public health policies, to strengthen the control programs for these diseases.

La enfermedad de Chagas y leishmaniasis pertenecen al grupo de las Enfermedades Tropicales Desatendidas, son zoonosis consideradas problemas de salud pública en Venezuela, presentes en zonas rurales, suburbanas y urbanas. La transmisión de ambas se da por procesos complejos, en los cuales se modifica el medio ambiente favoreciendo la infección con estos dos grupos de protozoarios, tienen un hospedador susceptible común, el humano, muchos de sus focos geográficos coinciden y pueden existir además, prácticas y actitudes que unidas al desconocimiento de las formas de transmisión de estas enfermedades, pudiesen favorecer el encuentro y la infección/coinfección. Para el estudio de estas se propone el enfoque de Ecosalud, el cual permite identificar interacciones entre los sistemas sociales y ecológicos, que se conecta con el pensamiento complejo, con una mirada desde sus principios fundamentales: 1) pensamiento sistémico, 2) investigación transdisciplinaria 3) participación social, 4) sostenibilidad social y ambiental, 5) equidad de género y social, y 6) el acercamiento de la brecha entre conocimiento y acción, los cuales podrían aportar datos importantes de gran ayuda para proponer políticas públicas de salud, que fortalezcan los programas de control para estas enfermedades.

[Standardization of a direct agglutination test for the immunodiagnosis of Chagas disease]. / Estandarización de la técnica de aglutinación directa para el inmunodiagnóstico de la enfermedad de Chagas.

INTRODUCTION: Chagas' disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and its immunological diagnosis is mainly based on the detection of antibodies against T. cruzi using tests such as the ELISA, the indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and the indirect hemagglutination test (IHAT). The main disadvantage of the IHAT is the need to prepare sheep erythrocytes, whose availability is limited and they have a short duration once prepared. However, there are alternative tests, such as the direct agglutination test (DAT). OBJECTIVE: To standardize the direct agglutination test for the diagnosis of Chagas disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes were prepared using two protocols, with and without trypsin treatment. The parasites were stained and optimal conditions for parasitic concentration and serum dilutions were determined. We evaluated the technique using sera from patients with Chagas disease, from healthy individuals and from individuals with other parasitic diseases. RESULTS: The optimal parasitic concentration was 500 x 10(6) parasites/ml using stained parasites without trypsin treatment. The optimal serum dilutions were 1/25, 1/50 y 1/100 and the cut-off point was the 1/50 dilution. The diagnostic indices for the standardized technique were as follows: Sensitivity, 94.3% (95% CI: 79.5-99.0) and specificity, 96.3% (95% CI: 88.8-99.0), with positive and negative predictive values of 91.7% (95% CI: 76.4-97.8) and 97.5% (95% CI: 90.4-99.6), respectively. Cross-reaction was observed only in three sera from individuals with visceral leishmaniasis. The results were compared with those obtained by IHA, ELISA, and IFA, and the concordance rate was 96% and the kappa index, 0.90 (95% CI: 0.81-0.99). CONCLUSION: The standardized direct agglutination test could be useful for immunodiagnosis of Chagas disease.

Estandarización de la técnica de aglutinación directa para el inmunodiagnóstico de la enfermedad de Chagas / Standardization of a direct agglutination test for the immunodiagnosis of Chagas disease

Introducción. La enfermedad de Chagas es causada por el parásito Trypanosoma cruzi y su diagnóstico inmunológico se basa principalmente en la detección de anticuerpos contra T. cruzi mediante pruebas tales como ELISA, inmunofluorescencia indirecta (IFI) y hemaglutinación indirecta (HAI). Esta última tiene el inconveniente de requerir la preparación de eritrocitos de carnero, difíciles de obtener y de poca duración. Sin embargo, existen pruebas alternativas, como la técnica de aglutinación directa. Objetivo. Estandarizar la técnica de aglutinación directa para el diagnóstico de la enfermedad de Chagas. Materiales y métodos. Se prepararon parásitos epimastigotes de T. cruzi mediante dos protocolos, con tratamiento con tripsina y sin él. Los parásitos se colorearon, y se determinaron las condiciones óptimas de concentración parasitaria y diluciones de suero. Se utilizaron sueros de pacientes con enfermedad de Chagas, de individuos sanos y con otras parasitosis. Resultados. La concentración parasitaria óptima fue de 500 x10 6 parásitos/ml, utilizando parásitos coloreados y sin tratamiento con tripsina. Las diluciones de suero óptimas fueron de 1/25, 1/50 y1/100, y el punto de corte, la dilución de 1/50. La técnica estandarizada mostró índices diagnósticos de sensibilidad de 94,3 % (IC 95% 79,5-99,0) y de especificidad de 96,3 % (IC 95% 88,8-99,0); se encontró reacción cruzada en tres sueros de individuos con leishmaniasis visceral, con valores pronósticos positivo y negativo de 91,7 % (IC 95% 76,4-97,8) y de 97,5 % (IC 95% 90,4-99,6), respectivamente. Se compararon los resultados con los obtenidos por HAI, ELISA e IFI y la concordancia fue de 96 % con un índice kappa de 0,90 (IC 95% 0,81-0,99). Conclusión. La técnica de aglutinación directa estandarizada podría ser útil para el inmunodiagnóstico de la enfermedad de Chagas.

Introduction: Chagas´ disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and its immunological diagnosis is mainly based on the detection of antibodies against T. cruzi using tests such as the ELISA, the indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and the indirect hemagglutination test (IHAT). The main disadvantage of the IHAT is the need to prepare sheep erythrocytes, whose availability is limited and they have a short duration once prepared. However, there are alternative tests, such as the direct agglutination test (DAT). Objective: To standardize the direct agglutination test for the diagnosis of Chagas disease. Materials and methods: Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes were prepared using two protocols, with and without trypsin treatment. The parasites were stained and optimal conditions for parasitic concentration and serum dilutions were determined. We evaluated the technique using sera from patients with Chagas disease, from healthy individuals and from individuals with other parasitic diseases. Results: The optimal parasitic concentration was 500 x 10 6 parasites/ml using stained parasites without trypsin treatment. The optimal serum dilutions were 1/25, 1/50 y 1/100 and the cut-off point was the 1/50 dilution. The diagnostic indices for the standardized technique were as follows: Sensitivity, 94.3% (95% CI: 79.5-99.0) and specificity, 96.3% (95% CI: 88.8-99.0), with positive and negative predictive values ?? of 91.7% (95% CI: 76.4-97.8) and 97.5% (95% CI: 90.4-99.6), respectively. Cross-reaction was observed only in three sera from individuals with visceral leishmaniasis. The results were compared with those obtained by IHA, ELISA, and IFA, and the concordance rate was 96% and the kappa index, 0.90 (95% CI: 0.81-0.99). Conclusion: The standardized direct agglutination test could be useful for immunodiagnosis of Chagas disease.

Evidence that active transmission of porcine cysticercosis occurs in Venezuela.

There is a paucity of quantitative data on the status of porcine cysticercosis in Venezuela, information which is essential for understanding the level of disease transmission. This study was, therefore, conducted in a typical small rural community in Yaracuy State, Venezuela, where previous cases of human Taenia solium taeniasis/cysticercosis had been reported and where the free-ranging pig management practices and the lack of rudimentary sanitary facilities indicated an obvious risk for transmission of the disease. Serum samples from 52 village pigs were screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for anti-cysticercal antibodies (Ab-ELISA), using T. solium cyst fluid as the antigen and the HP10, monoclonal antibody-based, antigen trapping ELISA for parasite antigen (HP10 Ag-ELISA). Significantly, a high proportion of the animals (65.4% for the Ab-ELISA and 42.3% for the HP10 Ag-ELISA) were sero-positive. Five of the pigs, which were selected on that basis of positive tongue palpation, were killed for autopsy, and large numbers of viable cysticerci were found in the carcases. This unequivocal documentation of porcine cysticercosis in Venezuelan pigs presents clear evidence that T. solium is actively transmitted in Venezuela. Further detailed studies and implementation of appropriate control measures are therefore indicated.