Smoke of Capsicum baccatum L. var. baccatum (Solanaceae) repels nymphs of triatoma infestans (Klug) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) / Humo de capsicum baccatum L. var. baccatum (Solanaceae) repele las ninfas de Triatoma infestans (Klug) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

Control of the Chagas disease vector, Triatoma infestans (Klug) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) with synthetic pesticides in Bolivia has become increasingly inefficient due to the development of resistance in the insects. In the Chaco region of Bolivia, guaraní populations have approached the problem by fumigating their houses with the smoke of native plants. Through interviews and field work with local guides, the main plant used by the guaraníes was collected and later identified as Capsicum baccatumL. var. baccatum (Solanaceae). In choice bioassays, filter papers exposed to the smoke of the plant repelled nymphs of T. infestans. Activity remained significant after storing the exposed filter papers for 9 days. Chemical analysis of smoke and literature data suggested that capsaicinoids present in the smoke were responsible for the repellent effect. The data presented provide a rationale for the use of C. baccatumvar. baccatumto control the Chagas vector bythe guaraní populations.

El control del vector de la enfermedad de Chagas, Triatoma infestans (Klug) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) con plaguicidas sintéticos en Bolivia se ha vuelto cada vez más ineficiente debido al desarrollo de resistencias en los insectos. En la región del Chaco de Bolivia, las poblaciones guaraníes han abordado el problema fumigando sus casas con el humo de las plantas nativas. A través de entrevistas y trabajo de campo con guías locales, se recogió la principal planta utilizada por los guaraníes y posteriormente se identificó como Capsicum baccatumL. var. baccatum (Solanaceae). En bioensayos selectos, los papeles de filtro expuestos al humo de la planta repelieron a las ninfas de T. infestans. La actividad siguió siendo significativa después de almacenar los papeles de filtro expuestos durante 9 días. El análisis químico del humo y los datos de la literatura sugieren que los capsaicinoides presentes en el humo eran responsables del efecto repelente. Los datos presentados proporcionan una justificación para el uso de C. baccatum var. baccatum para el control del vector Chagas por las poblaciones guaraníes.

Age-related anomalies of electrocardiograms in patients from areas with differential Seroprevalence of Chagas disease in Southern Bolivia.

INTRODUCTION: Chagas disease currently affects some 6 million people around the world. At the chronic stage, cardiomyopathy occurs in about 20-30% of infested people. Most prevalence studies have focused on young to adult people due to the drastic consequences of acquiring the pathogen and the possibility to cure the disease at this age; the prevalence of this disease, the effect of patients' sex and the consequences to senescent people have been largely neglected. This study looks to characterize the seroprevalence of Chagas disease and its relation with occurrence of electrocardiographic anomalies associated with sex and age, and to compare rural and urban populations in Bolivia. METHODOLOGY: Seroprevalence of Chagas disease was determined in blood samples and electrocardiograms were performed on seropositive individuals. RESULTS: The rural population showed higher seroprevalence than the urban population (92% and 40%, respectively). The proportion of Chagasic cardiac anomalies in seropositive persons was highest in patients of the 50-59 age group (36%) as compared with the 40-49 (8%) and the ≥60 (17%) age groups. CONCLUSIONS: Higher seroprevalence in rural population was attributable to a higher probability to encounter the vector in rural areas. Increased exposure to infection and to development of the disease symptoms together with increased lethality of the disease as patients age explains the age-related Chagasic electrocardiographic anomalies. Since rural and urban populations showed different reactions under Chagas disease and the rural population was mainly of guaraní stock, the genetic and environmental determinants of the results should be further explored.

Determinación de talla y peso en escolares del área urbana y periurbana / Determination of height and weight in schoolchildren in urban and peri-urban areas

El presente trabajo tuvo como objeto determinar el peso y la talla de los escolares de las áreas urbana, se realizó el estudio en 380 escolares de 6 a 12 años de diferentes establecimientos Educativos de la ciudad de Sucre del área urbana y periurbana. Se obtuvo las medidas antropométricas con una báscula, cinta métrica y tallímetro, para la recolección de datos se usó un registro antropométrico y se vació los datos a una tabla de Excel, para el cálculo de OR se usó la aplicación epidat 3.1. Los datos obtenidos en las dos áreas nos indican que el mayor porcentaje de los niños del área periurbana presentan algún tipo de desnutrición (severa, leve) y se constituyen en el 24,74% de los escolares, en el área urbana presentan un 15,79% desnutrición (leve). La obesidad en es más frecuente en el área urbana con 9,47%, en el área periurbana con un menor porcentaje 0.26%. Con respecto a la talla el 5,26% de los niños del área periurbana no presentan una talla adecuada para la edad, en el área urbana el mayor porcentaje de los escolares presenta talla adecuada con 28,42%, demostrando de esta manera las diferencias entre las dos áreas urbana y periurbana de la ciudad de Sucre con respecto a la talla y peso; con un porcentaje bajo en la talla y el peso ideal en el área periurbana a diferencia del área urbana donde esta presenta mayor porcentaje. Según los cálculos hay más probabilidad de presentar obesidad, sobrepeso y talla alta en el área urbana, mientras que en el área periurbana tiene más probabilidad de presentar desnutrición y talla baja.

The purpose of this study was to determine the weight and size of schoolchildren in urban areas, the study was carried out in 380 schoolchildren aged 6 to 12 years of different educational establishments in the city of Sucre in urban and peri-urban areas. The anthropometric measurements were obtained with a scale, measuring tape and height meter, for the data collection an anthropometric record was used and the data was emptied to an Excel table, for the calculation of OR the epidat 3.1 application was used. The data obtained in the two areas indicate that the highest percentage of children in the peri-urban area have some type of malnutrition (severe, mild) and constitute 24.74% of schoolchildren, in the urban area they have 15, 79% malnutrition (mild). Obesity is more frequent in the urban area with 9.47%, in the peri-urban area with a lower percentage of 0.26%. With respect to size, 5.26% of children in the peri-urban area do not have a suitable size for age, in the urban area the highest percentage of schoolchildren has adequate size with 28.42%, thus demonstrating the differences between the two urban and peri-urban areas of the city of Sucre with respect to size and weight; with a low percentage in size and ideal weight in the peri-urban area unlike the urban area where it has a higher percentage. According to calculations, there is a greater probability of being obese, overweight and tall in the urban area, while in the peri-urban area it is more likely to have malnutrition and short stature.