Leishmania spp. epidemiology of canine leishmaniasis in the Yucatan Peninsula.

Canine Leishmaniasis is widespread in various Mexican states, where different species of Leishmania have been isolated from dogs. In the present study, we describe the detection of L. braziliensis, L. infantum, and L. mexicana in serum of dogs from the states of Yucatan and Quintana Roo in the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico). A total of 412 sera were analyzed by ELISA using the total extract of the parasite and the iron superoxide dismutase excreted by different trypanosomatids as antigens. We found the prevalence of L. braziliensis to be 7.52%, L. infantum to be 6.07%, and L. mexicana to be 20.63%, in the dog population studied. The results obtained with ELISA using iron superoxide dismutase as the antigen were confirmed by western blot analysis with its greater sensitivity, and the agreement between the two techniques was very high.

Seroprevalence of antibodies against the excreted antigen superoxide dismutase by Trypanosoma cruzi in dogs from the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico).

Numerous studies have shown the role of dogs as a reservoir for the American trypanosomiasis, as the bridge connecting sylvatic and peridomestic cycles. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of American trypanosomiasis in the dog population (630 sera) from seven localities in the Yucatan Peninsula (city of Mérida and the towns of Molas, Playa del Carmen, Akumal, Xcalacoop, Xcalac and Xahuachol). These data are key for developing control measures for the disease. The sera were analysed to detect antibodies against Trypanosoma cruzi, using Fe-SOD excreted as the antigenic fraction by ELISA and Western blot as confirmation. The total prevalence found in the Yucatan Peninsula was some 14.76%, with 10.74% in the state of Yucatan (city of Mérida, towns of Molas and Xcalacoop) and 21.34% in the state of Quintana Roo (towns of Playa del Carmen, Akumal, Xcalac and Xahuachol). However, a more thorough epidemiological study of the dog population, both wild and urban, in the Yucatan Peninsula will be required to design a control strategy for these diseases, paying particular attention to the population affected and even broadening the study to other Mexican states as well as neighbouring countries. These results again confirm that iron-superoxide dismutase excreted by T. cruzi constitutes a good source of antigen for serodiagnosis in epidemiological studies.

[Chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy detected in patients at the Regional General Hospital O'Horan, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico]. / Cardiopatiá Chagásica crónica detectada en pacientes del hospital general regional O'Horan, Mérida, Yucatán, México.

The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of cardiopathy due to Chagas' disease in 36 patients of the cardiology department at the Regional General Hospital O'Horan in Merida, Yucatan. All patients included in the study had cardiac involvement compatible with acute or chronic stages of Chagas' disease. Medical records prepared for each one of the patients included a Chagas' disease targeted clinical history, chest X-ray, electrocardiogram, blood culture and serology using indirect immunofluorescence test. Out of the 36 patients studied, 7 were diagnosed as having Chagas' disease cardiopathy. Grade II cardiomegaly was established in 2 patients while the remaining 5 had grade III cardiomegaly. Conduction abnormalities were established in 6 patients while 2 of these had evidence of necrosis and/or ischemia. Chagas' disease cardiopathy, as our results suggest, is not a rare event in the cardiology ward at the O'Horan Hospital.

Esporotricosis linfatica cutanea en Yucatan. Primer caso. / Cutaneous lymphatic sporotrichosis in Yucatan. First case

Se presenta el primer caso de Esporotricosis en el Estado de Yucatan. Se trata de paciente masculino de 40 anos de edad, nacido y radicado en Chunchucmil, municipio de Maxcanu, Yucatan, Mexico y de ocupacion agricultor.Presento una forma linfatica cutanea en la extremidad superior derecha cuyo inicio se debio a una lesion penetrante con una espina de penca de benequen a nivel de dorso de la base del dedo anular de la mano derecha. El diagnostico se corroboro micologicamente y el tratamiento con yoduro de potasio fue satisfactorio