Facial Paralysis as Initial Manifestation of Light-chain Amyloidosis.

Light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is a systemic disease capable of damaging virtually all body tissues. Neurologic involvement is commonly manifested by dysautonomia and peripheral nervous system affection. However, from 1970 to 2018, only 12 cases of cranial nerve injury associated with AL amyloidosis were identified. Eight months before hospital admission, a previously healthy 61-year-old man complained to his general practitioner of episodes of lipotimia while walking and, three months later, he developed a left facial nerve paralysis assumed, at that time, to be idiopathic. After two months, he started complaining of dyspnea and lower limb edema. Physical examination at admission revealed hypotension, exuberant peripheral edema, jugular venous distention, periorbital purpura and left peripheral facial paralysis. He had elevated troponin and brain natriuretic peptide, mild proteinuria and a monoclonal gammopathy IgG/lambda. Bone marrow biopsy revealed 20% plasmocytes and cardiac ultrasound showed diffuse hypokinesia and restrictive filling pattern. AL amyloidosis with major cardiac involvement was considered and a rectal biopsy revealed amyloid protein. Chemotherapy protocol to AL amyloidosis was initiated but cardiac disease progressed leading to death. Persistent facial nerve paralysis should be considered as a rare initial manifestation of AL amyloidosis allowing an earlier diagnosis.

Molecular characterization of Giardia lamblia in children less than 5 years of age with diarrhoea attending the Bengo General Hospital, Angola.

Background: Giardia lamblia is a pathogenic intestinal protozoan with high prevalence in developing countries, especially among children. Molecular characterization has revealed the existence of eight assemblages, with A and B being more commonly described in human infections. Despite its importance, to our knowledge this is the first published molecular analysis of G. lamblia assemblages in Angola. Methods: The present study aimed to identify the assemblages of G. lamblia in children with acute diarrhoea presenting at the Bengo General Hospital, Angola. A stool sample was collected and microscopy and immunochromatographic tests were used. DNA was extracted and assemblage determination was performed through amplification of the gene fragment ssu-rRNA (175 bp) and ß-giardin (511 bp) through polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing. Results: Of the 16 stool samples screened, 12 were successfully sequenced. Eleven isolates were assigned to assemblage B and one to assemblage A. Subassemblage determination was not possible for assemblage B, while the single isolate assigned to assemblage A was identified as belonging to subassemblage A3. Conclusion: This study provides information about G. lamblia assemblages in Bengo Province, Angola and may contribute as a first step in understanding the molecular epidemiology of this protozoan in the country. GenBank accession numbers for the ssur-RNA gene: MF479750, MF479751, MF479752, MF479753, MF479754, MF479755, MF479756, MF479757, MF479758, MF479759, MF479760, MF479761. GenBank accession numbers for the ß-giardin gene: MF565378, MF565379, MF565380, MF565381.

Intestinal parasites in children hospitalized at the Central Hospital in Maputo, Mozambique.

INTRODUCTION: Intestinal parasites are important contributors to the global disease burden, especially in children of low-income countries. The present study determined the frequency of intestinal parasites in children hospitalized at the diarrhea section of the Infectious-Contagious Diseases ward and at the Malnutrition ward of the Department of Pediatrics of the Maputo Central Hospital in Mozambique. METHODOLOGY: This pilot study conducted between February and March 2009 enrolled a total of 93 children between 1.5 and 48.2 months of age; 87.1% were younger than 24 months. Parasite detection in stool samples was achieved using direct microscopic observation and Ritchie's concentration technique. RESULTS: Infection with pathogenic intestinal parasites was detected in 16.1% (15/93) of the children. Giardia duodenalis and Trichuris trichiura were the most common parasites (6.5%, 6/93 each), followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (2.2%, 2/93). One case of mixed infection with A. lumbricoides plus T. trichiura was also detected. CONCLUSION: This study reinforces the importance of routinely examining stool samples for the diagnosis of intestinal parasites (including protozoa) in children hospitalized in endemic areas.