The current status of neglected tropical diseases in Japan: A scoping review.

Little attention has been paid to neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in high-income countries and no literature provides an overview of NTDs in Japan. This scoping review aims to synthesize the latest evidence and information to understand epidemiology of and public health response to NTDs in Japan. Using three academic databases, we retrieved articles that mentioned NTDs in Japan, written in English or Japanese, and published between 2010 and 2020. Websites of key public health institutions and medical societies were also explored. From these sources of information, we extracted data that were relevant to answering our research questions. Our findings revealed the transmission of alveolar echinococcosis, Buruli ulcer, Chagas disease, dengue, foodborne trematodiases, mycetoma, scabies, and soil-transmitted helminthiasis as well as occurrence of snakebites within Japan. Other NTDs, such as chikungunya, cystic echinococcosis, cysticercosis, leishmaniasis, leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, rabies, and schistosomiasis, have been imported into the country. Government agencies tend to organize surveillance and control programs only for the NTDs targeted by the Infectious Disease Control Law, namely, echinococcosis, rabies, dengue, and chikungunya. At least one laboratory offers diagnostic testing for each NTD except for dracunculiasis, human African trypanosomiasis, onchocerciasis, and yaws. No medicine is approved for treatment of Chagas disease and fascioliasis and only off-label use drugs are available for cysticercosis, opisthorchiasis, human African trypanosomiasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, and yaws. Based on these findings, we developed disease-specific recommendations. In addition, three policy issues are discussed, such as lack of legal frameworks to organize responses to some NTDs, overreliance on researchers to procure some NTD products, and unaffordability of unapproved NTD medicines. Japan should recognize the presence of NTDs within the country and need to address them as a national effort. The implications of our findings extend beyond Japan, emphasizing the need to study, recognize, and address NTDs even in high-income countries.

Scientometric review of research on Neglected Tropical Diseases: a 31-year perspective from the Journal of the Brazilian Society of Tropical Medicine.

BACKGROUND: To analyze the temporal evolution of research on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) published by the Journal of the Brazilian Society of Tropical Medicine (JBSTM). METHODS: We performed an analysis of the scientific production in JBSTM on NTDs using an advanced search, which included authors' descriptors, title, and abstract, and by combining specific terms for each NTDs from 1991 to 2021. Data related to authors, countries of origin, institutions, and descriptors, were evaluated and analyzed over time. Bibliographic networks were constructed using VOSviewer 1.6.16. RESULTS: The JBSTM published 4,268 scientific papers during this period. Of these 1,849 (43.3%) were related to NTDs. The number of publications on NTDs increased by approximately 2.4-fold, from 352 (total 724) during 1991-2000 to 841 (total 2,128) during 2011-2021, despite the proportional reduction (48.6% versus 39.5%). The most common singular NTDs subject of publications included Chagas disease (31.4%; 581/1,849), leishmaniasis (25.5%, 411/1,849), dengue (9.4%, 174/1,849), schistosomiasis (9.0%; 166/1,849), and leprosy (6.5%, 120/1,849), with authorship mostly from Brazil's South and Southeast regions. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the proportional reduction in publications, JBSTM remains an important vehicle for disseminating research on NTDs during this period. There is a need to strengthen the research and subsequent publications on specific NTDs. Institutions working and publishing on NTDs in the country were concentrated in the South and Southeast regions, requiring additional investments in institutions in other regions of the country.

Are the neglected tropical diseases under control in the tri-border region between Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay?

INTRODUCTION: Implementation of prevention and control measures for communicable diseases in border regions can be challenging and lead to inefficient attempts to control them. We describe evidences on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges regarding implementation of health interventions for control, prevention and treatment of selected neglected tropical diseases (NTD), a group of transmissible diseases typically prevalent in tropical countries and vulnerable populations, in the tri-border between Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. METHODOLOGY: A systematic literature review of observational and experimental studies was conducted, using PubMed and Bireme databases. Eligibility criteria were location (tri-border area) and subject (health interventions). RESULTS: Of a total of 595 references identified, 34 studies were included (18 pertaining to leishmaniasis, 11 to dengue, 2 to leprosy, 2 to soil-transmitted helminthiases and 1 to Chagas' disease), with an inclusion rate of 6.4%. The main strengths were the similarity of health interventions between countries and easiness of mobility and communication flows. The main weaknesses were access to rural areas and discrepancies in the number of studies between countries. As for opportunities, we identified increased tourism, economic development and recent increasing research in this field. The main challenges were the absence of studies regarding other prevalent NTD in the region and movement of goods, animals and people across borders. CONCLUSIONS: Although epidemiological studies are still needed to better understand and assess the prevalence of NTD in the area, mainly in Paraguay, these findings can inform decision-makers and health managers to plan a common strategy to address NTD.

Territory, neglected diseases and the action of community and endemic combat agents.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize knowledge, practices, and professional experience of community health agents (ACS) and endemic combat agents (ACE) on leprosy and Chagas disease (DC), during participation in an integrated training workshop in the IntegraDTNs-Bahia project. METHODS: Descriptive and exploratory case study, involving health agents and endemic combat agents participating in a training workshop on the shared role of these professionals in health care and surveillance processes. The project was developed in the municipalities of Anagé, Tremedal and Vitória da Conquista, in the southwestern State of Bahia, 2019-2020. A specific instrument was applied, with questions related to knowledge and practices of surveillance and care for leprosy and Chagas disease. Descriptive analysis of the data, in addition to consolidation of the lexical analysis, was performed. RESULTS: Out of a total of 135 participants (107 ACS and 28 ACE), 80.7% of them have been working for at least 12 years, without previous participation in joint training processes. Only 17.9% of endemic combat agentes reported having participated in training on leprosy and none reported developing specific actions to control the disease. For Chagas disease, 36.4% of community health agents participated in training more than a decade before, while for 60.7% of endemic combat agents the last training was carried out in the last five years. The development of educational actions for Chagas disease was more frequent for endemic combat agents (64.3%). When asked about ways of recognizing diseases, the term "skin spots" was the most reported (38 times) for leprosy and, for Chagas disease, the term "I don't know" (17 times). CONCLUSION: Processes of health agents and endemic combat agents action in realities endemic for leprosy and Chagas disease in the interior of Bahia proved to be fragmented in the territories. For these diseases, the distance between surveillance and health care actions is reinforced, including in training processes. The importance of innovative permanent and integrated education actions is reiterated to actually promote changes in practices.

Antiproliferative activity on Trypanosoma cruzi (Y strain) of the triterpene 3ß,6ß,16ß-trihidroxilup-20 (29)-ene isolated from Combretum leprosum.

Chagas disease infects approximately seven million people worldwide. Benznidazole is effective only in the acute phase of the disease, with an average cure rate of 80% between acute and recent cases. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find new bioactive substances that can be effective against parasites without causing so many complications to the host. In this study, the triterpene 3ß-6ß-16ß-trihydroxilup-20 (29)-ene (CLF-1) was isolated from Combretum leprosum, and its molecular structure was determined by NMR and infrared spectroscopy. The CLF-1 was also evaluated in vitro and in silico as potential trypanocidal agent against epimastigote and trypomastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi (Y strain). The CLF-1 demonstrated good results highlighted by lower IC50 (76.0 ± 8.72 µM, 75.1 ± 11.0 µM, and 70.3 ± 45.4 µM) for epimastigotes at 24, 48 and 72 h, and LC50 (71.6 ± 11.6 µM) for trypomastigotes forms. The molecular docking study shows that the CLF-1 was able to interact with important TcGAPDH residues, suggesting that this natural compound may preferentially exert its effect by compromising the glycolytic pathway in T. cruzi. The ADMET study together with the MTT results indicated that the CLF-1 is well-absorbed in the intestine and has low toxicity. Thus, this work adds new evidence that CLF-1 can potentially be used as a candidate for the development of new options for the treatment of Chagas disease.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Experiencias suramericanas en telemedicina de enfermedades desatendidas / South American experiences on telemedicine of neglected diseases

Las enfermedades tropicales desatendidas (ETD) son aquellas que comúnmente se encuentran en varios países de bajos ingresos en África, Asia y América Latina, provocadas básicamente, por el escaso acceso la higiene, agua limpia o sistemas de alcantarillado. Las ETD comprenden una diversidad de enfermedades de alta prevalencia en los países tropicales causadas por una variedad de patógenos, incluyendo bacterias, virus, parásitos y hongos. La epidemiología de las ETD es bastante compleja y se relacionan con las condiciones ambientales del entorno. Muchas son transmitidas por vectores, tienen un origen zoonótico con reservorios animales bien caracterizados y están asociadas con ciclos de vida complejos. Todos estos factores hacen que su control en salud pública sea un desafío; desafío que se caracteriza por la falta de financiamiento en investigación y control. En ese sentido, la telemedicina, o el uso de las telecomunicaciones para brindar servicios de salud, es una tecnología que ha venido ganando cuerpo durante los últimos veinte años, ya que ayudan, con una relativa baja inversión, el acceso a la atención médica por parte de los más necesitados o que vieven en lugares remotos. Esta investigación se centra en el estudio y conocimiento de las las enfermedades olvidadas presentes en suramérica y cómo la telemedicina ha ayudado en su prevención, diágnótico y tratamiento(AU)

Neglected topical diseases (NTDs) are those that are commonly found in several low-income countries in Africa, Asia en Latin America, basically caused by poor access to hygiene, clean water, or sewage systems. NTDs comprise a diversity of highly prevalent diseases in tropical countries caused by a variety of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi. The epidemiology of NTDs is quite complex and is related to the surrounding environmental conditions. Many are vector-borne, zoonotic in origin with well-characterized animal reservoirs, and associated with complex life cycles. All these factors make its control in public health a challenge; challenge that is characterized by the lack of funding for research and control. In this sense, telemedicine, or the use of telecommunications to provide health services, is a technology that has been gaining ground over the last twenty years, since it helps, with a relatively low investment, access to medical care by part of those most in need or who live in remote places. In this sense, telemedicine, or the use of telecommunications to provide health services, is a technology that has been gaining ground over the last twenty years, since it helps, with a relatively low investment, access to medical care by part of those most in need or who live in remote places. This research focuses on the study and knowledge of neglected diseases present in South America and how telemedicine has helped in their prevention, diagnosis, and treatment(AU)

Territory, neglected diseases and the action of community and endemic combat agents / Território, doenças negligenciadas e ação de agentes comunitários e de combate a endemias

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To characterize knowledge, practices, and professional experience of community health agents (ACS) and endemic combat agents (ACE) on leprosy and Chagas disease (DC), during participation in an integrated training workshop in the IntegraDTNs-Bahia project. METHODS Descriptive and exploratory case study, involving health agents and endemic combat agents participating in a training workshop on the shared role of these professionals in health care and surveillance processes. The project was developed in the municipalities of Anagé, Tremedal and Vitória da Conquista, in the southwestern State of Bahia, 2019-2020. A specific instrument was applied, with questions related to knowledge and practices of surveillance and care for leprosy and Chagas disease. Descriptive analysis of the data, in addition to consolidation of the lexical analysis, was performed. RESULTS Out of a total of 135 participants (107 ACS and 28 ACE), 80.7% of them have been working for at least 12 years, without previous participation in joint training processes. Only 17.9% of endemic combat agentes reported having participated in training on leprosy and none reported developing specific actions to control the disease. For Chagas disease, 36.4% of community health agents participated in training more than a decade before, while for 60.7% of endemic combat agents the last training was carried out in the last five years. The development of educational actions for Chagas disease was more frequent for endemic combat agents (64.3%). When asked about ways of recognizing diseases, the term "skin spots" was the most reported (38 times) for leprosy and, for Chagas disease, the term "I don't know" (17 times). CONCLUSION Processes of health agents and endemic combat agents action in realities endemic for leprosy and Chagas disease in the interior of Bahia proved to be fragmented in the territories. For these diseases, the distance between surveillance and health care actions is reinforced, including in training processes. The importance of innovative permanent and integrated education actions is reiterated to actually promote changes in practices.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Caracterizar conhecimentos, práticas e experiência profissional de agentes comunitários de saúde (ACS) e agentes de controle de endemias (ACE) sobre hanseníase e doença de Chagas (DC), durante participação em oficina de formação integrada no projeto IntegraDTNs-Bahia. MÉTODOS Estudo de caso descritivo e exploratório, envolvendo comunitários de saúde e agentes de controle de endemias, participantes de oficina de formação sobre o papel compartilhado desses profissionais no processo de vigilância e atenção à saúde. Projeto desenvolvido nos municípios de Anagé, Tremedal e Vitória da Conquista, no Sudoeste do Estado da Bahia, 2019-2020. Aplicou-se instrumento específico prévio com questões relativas a conhecimentos e práticas de vigilância e atenção para hanseníase e doença de Chagas. Análise descritiva dos dados, além de consolidação da análise léxica. RESULTADOS Do total de 135 participantes (107 ACS e 28 ACE), 80,7% deles atuam há pelo menos 12 anos, sem participação prévia em processos de formação conjunta. Apenas 17,9% dos agentes de controle de endemias relataram ter participado de capacitações sobre hanseníase e nenhum informou desenvolver ações específicas de controle da doença. Para a doença de Chagas, 36,4% dos agentes comunitários de saúde participaram de capacitações há mais de uma década, enquanto para 60,7% dos agentes de controle de endemias a última capacitação foi realizada nos últimos cinco anos. O desenvolvimento de ações educativas para a doença de Chagas foi mais frequente para agentes de controle de endemias (64,3%). Quando perguntados sobre formas de reconhecimento das doenças, a palavra "manchas na pele" foi a mais relatada (38 vezes) para hanseníase e, para a doença de Chagas, a palavra "não sei" (17 vezes). CONCLUSÃO Os processos de atuação de agentes comunitários de saúde e agentes de controle de endemias em realidades endêmicas para hanseníase e doença de Chagas no interior da Bahia revelaram-se desintegrados nos territórios. Para essas doenças, reforça-se o distanciamento entre ações de vigilância e de atenção à saúde, inclusive nos processos de capacitação. Reitera-se a importância de ações inovadoras de educação permanentes e integradas para promover de fato mudanças nas práticas.

Chronic Care for Neglected Infectious Diseases: Leprosy/Hansen’s Disease, Lymphatic Filariasis, Trachoma, and Chagas Disease

In 2016, PAHO's Directing Council, through Resolution CD55.R9, approved the “Plan of Action for Elimination of Neglected Infectious Diseases (NID) and Post-Elimination Actions, 2016-2022.” This Resolution urges Member States to implement a set of interventions to reduce the burden of disease by NID in the Americas by 2022, including “…support promotion of treatment, rehabilitation, and related support services through an approach focused on integrated morbidity management and disability prevention for individuals and families afflicted by those neglected infectious diseases that cause disability and generate stigma.” NIDs can have devastating chronic sequelae for patients, such as disability, visible change or loss in body structure, loss of tissue, and impairment of proper tissue and organ function, among others. All of these can in turn lead to unjustified discrimination, stigmatization, mental health problems, and partial or total incapacity to work, perpetuating the vicious cycle of neglected diseases as both a consequence and a cause of poverty. Patients with chronic conditions caused by NIDs require proper health care in order to prevent further damage and improve their living and social conditions. This should be provided at the primary health care level, as patients suffering from NIDs are often unable to travel to or afford to pay for specialized care services. Care for patients suffering from chronic morbidity caused by NID should be integrated into care for other chronic conditions caused by non-communicable diseases. This manual provides a framework for morbidity management and disability prevention of patients affected by NIDs and gives specific guidance for the proper care of patients suffering from chronic conditions caused by lymphatic filariasis, leprosy, trachoma, and Chagas disease. It is intended to be used mainly by health care workers at the primary health care level, but health workers at more complex and specialized levels may also find it useful.

Zoonotic parasites infecting free-living armadillos from Brazil.

Armadillos are specialist diggers and their burrows are used to find food, seek shelter and protect their pups. These burrows can also be shared with dozens of vertebrate and invertebrate species and; consequently, their parasites including the zoonotics. The aim of this study was to diagnose the presence of zoonotic parasites in four wild-caught armadillo species from two different Brazilian ecosystems, the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) and the Pantanal (wetland). The investigated parasites and their correspondent diseases were: Toxoplasma gondii (toxoplasmosis), Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas disease), Leishmania spp., (leishmaniasis), Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Paracoccidioidomicosis) and Mycobacterium leprae (Hansen's disease). Forty-three free-living armadillos from Pantanal and seven road-killed armadillos from the Cerrado were sampled. Trypanosoma cruzi DTU TcIII were isolated from 2 out of 43 (4.65%) armadillos, including one of them also infected with Trypanosoma rangeli. Antibodies anti-T. gondii were detected in 13 out of 43 (30.2%) armadillos. All seven armadillos from Cerrado tested positive for P. brasiliensis DNA, in the lungs, spleen, liver fragments. Also, by molecular analysis, all 43 individuals were negative for M. leprae and Leishmania spp. Armadillos were infected by T. cruzi, T. rangeli, P. brasiliensis and presented seric antibodies to T. gondii, highlighting the importance of those armadillos could have in the epidemiology of zoonotic parasites.

The challenge of concomitant infections in the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic era: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection in a patient with chronic Chagas disease and dimorphic leprosy.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first officially described in Brazil on February 26th, 2020. The accumulation of reports of concomitant infections with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and pathogens that cause diseases endemic to tropical countries, such as dengue and chikungunya fever, has started to draw attention. Chagas disease and leprosy remain public health problems in many developing countries, such as Brazil. In this manuscript, we describe a case of concomitant leprosy, Chagas disease, and COVID-19, highlighting the cutaneous manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the clinical behavior of household contacts who previously received prophylactic Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccines.

Stigma, participation restriction and mental distress in patients affected by leprosy, cutaneous leishmaniasis and Chagas disease: a pilot study in two co-endemic regions of eastern Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Leprosy, cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and Chagas disease (CD) are neglected tropical diseases with a high psychosocial burden (PSB). These conditions are endemic in Norte de Santander and Arauca in Colombia, but data on the related PSB are scarce. Therefore, we assessed mental distress, participation restriction and stigma among CD, CL and leprosy patients. METHODS: In 2018, 305 leprosy, CD or CL patients were interviewed using a self-report questionnaire to assess mental distress, participation scale for participation restriction and explanatory model interview catalogue (EMIC) for stigma. Descriptive statistics and the significance of median score differences were compared. RESULTS: Fifty percent of CD patients and 49% of leprosy patients exhibited mental distress, percentages which were significantly higher than that of CL (26%). Twenty-seven percent of leprosy patients experienced participation restriction, which was lower for CL (6%) and CD (12%). Median EMIC scores were significantly higher for leprosy patients than for CD (27%) and CL (17%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: We found high levels of PSB among leprosy, CD and CL patients. Mental distress was highest among CD patients. Participation restriction and stigma were more prevalent in leprosy patients. Rural residence or lower educational status may impact PSB. Further investigation is needed to formulate evidence-based, holistic interventions.

The challenge of concomitant infections in the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic era: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection in a patient with chronic Chagas disease and dimorphic leprosy

Abstract Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first officially described in Brazil on February 26th, 2020. The accumulation of reports of concomitant infections with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and pathogens that cause diseases endemic to tropical countries, such as dengue and chikungunya fever, has started to draw attention. Chagas disease and leprosy remain public health problems in many developing countries, such as Brazil. In this manuscript, we describe a case of concomitant leprosy, Chagas disease, and COVID-19, highlighting the cutaneous manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the clinical behavior of household contacts who previously received prophylactic Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccines.

As doenças negligenciadas e suas representações sociais: um estudo com profissionais de saúde / Neglected diseases and their social representations: a study with health professionals

As doenças negligenciadas são caracterizadas por um grupo de enfermidades infecciosas que atingem principalmente a população de baixa renda nos países em desenvolvimento, com poucos investimentos em pesquisa e tecnologia para avançar no controle, na prevenção e tratamento medicamentoso. São assim denominadas também pelo fato de não despertarem o interesse econômico e financeiro das grandes indústrias farmacêuticas proporcionando a continuidade do ciclo da pobreza e diminuição da qualidade de vida das pessoas. O objetivo geral foi analisar as representações sociais acerca das doenças negligenciadas para os profissionais de saúde com ênfase nas dimensões conceitual e prática destas representações. Trata-se de uma pesquisa de natureza qualitativa, com sustentação na Teoria das Representações Sociais, em suas abordagens processual e estrutural, realizada com 90 profissionais de saúde que atuam em instituições de atenção primária e secundária à saúde, no município de Jequié/BA. A pesquisa aconteceu em três fases distintas, a saber: na primeira fase aplicou-se a técnica de evocações livres, com uso do termo indutor: doenças negligenciadas, sendo analisadas pela técnica do quadrante de quatro casas, com auxílio do EVOC, versão 2005; na segunda etapa, retornou-se ao campo de pesquisa, para aplicar ao um total de 27 participantes do mesmo grupo anterior, os instrumentos de testes de centralidade: a constituição de pares pareados e os esquemas cognitivos de base. Foram analisados pela análise de similitude e pelos índices de valência, respectivamente. Na terceira fase aplicou-se o instrumento da entrevista em profundidade, para 27 profissionais de saúde, sendo analisados com auxílio do IRAMUTEQ através da análise lexical mecanizada. Na análise estrutural, identificou-se o núcleo central, com os elementos descaso e ignorância, que organizaram as representações sociais dos profissionais de saúde em um contínuo que foi da dimensão individual à político-social, perpassando pelas dimensões socioindividual e imagética. Com relação ao conteúdo, no âmbito da abordagem processual, encontrou-se um corpus geral constituído por 27 entrevistas, separados em 1.076 segmentos de textos (ST) com aproveitamento de 1.043 STs (96,93 %). Emergiram 38.421 ocorrências (palavras, formas ou vocábulos), sendo 2.349 palavras distintas e 978 com uma única ocorrência. O conteúdo analisado foi categorizado em 07 classes distintas que evidenciaram as dimensões teórica e prática das representações sociais. As representações sociais dos profissionais de saúde sobre as doenças negligenciadas possuem uma atitude normativa, apesar de conviverem cotidianamente em seu ambiente de trabalho com estas enfermidades. Isto implicou na construção de julgamentos com elementos negativos, por parte dos profissionais de saúde, sobre as condutas e práticas dos sujeitos que compõem a tríade (indivíduo, equipe de saúde e gestores) no enfrentamento das doenças negligenciadas. Conclui-se que, as representações sociais dos profissionais de saúde acerca das doenças negligenciadas gerenciam e influenciam suas práticas de cuidado, modificando a realidade que os cerca e protagonizando novos saberes e conhecimentos indispensáveis para o controle, a prevenção e o tratamento destas entidades mórbidas.

Neglected diseases are characterized by a group of infectious diseases that mainly affect low-income people in developing countries, with little investment in research and technology to enhance their control, prevention and drug treatment. Their denomination is due to the fact that they do not arouse the economic and financial interest of the big pharmaceutical industries, maintaining the continuity of the poverty cycle and diminishing the quality of life of the people. Our general objective was to analyze the social representations about neglected diseases in health professionals, with emphasis on the conceptual and practical dimensions of these representations. It is a research of a qualitative nature, supported by the Theory of Social Representations, in its procedural and structural approaches, carried out with 90 health professionals who work in primary and secondary health care institutions, in the municipality of Jequié, Bahia, Brazil. The research was carried out in three distinct phases: in the first stage we used the technique of free evocations, with the inductor term: neglected diseases, being analyzed by the four quadrants technique, with the help of EVOC, 2005 version; in the second stage, we returned to the field of research, to apply to a total of 27 participants of the same previous group the instruments of the centrality tests: the constitution of matched pairs and the basic cognitive schemes. They were analyzed by the similitude analysis and by the valence indices, respectively. In the third phase, we applied the instrument of the in-depth interview to 27 health professionals, being analyzed with the help of IRAMUTEQ through the mechanized lexical analysis. In the structural analysis, the central nucleus was identified, with the elements neglect and ignorance, which organized the social representations of health professionals in a continuum that went from the individual to the social-political dimension, spanning the social-individual and imagery dimensions. Regarding the content, in the scope of the procedural approach, a general corpus was composed of 27 interviews, separated into 1,076 text segments (TS) from which 1,043 TS (96.93%) were used. 38,421 occurrences (words, forms or terms) emerged, being 2,349 distinct words and 978 with a single occurrence. The analyzed content was categorized into 07 distinct classes that showed the theoretical and practical dimensions of social representations. The social representations of the health professionals on neglected diseases show that they have a normative attitude, although they interact daily with these diseases in their work environment. This implied the construction of judgments with negative elements, by the health professionals, about the behaviors and practices of the subjects that make up the triad (individual, health team and managers) in coping with neglected diseases. It is concluded that the social representations of the health professionals on neglected diseases manage and influence their care practices, modifying the reality that surrounds them and playing a leading role in new and indispensable knowledge for the control, prevention and treatment of these morbid entities.

Las enfermedades descuidadas son caracterizadas por un grupo de enfermedades infecciosas que afectan principalmente a la populación de baja renta en los países en desarrollo, con pocas inversiones en investigación y tecnología para avanzar en el control, en la prevención y tratamiento medicamentoso. Son así denominadas también por el hecho de no despertar el interés económico y financiero de las grandes industrias farmacéuticas proporcionando la continuidad del ciclo de pobreza y la disminución de la calidad de vida de las personas. El objetivo general fue analizar las representaciones sociales acerca de las enfermedades descuidadas para los profesionales de la salud con énfasis en las dimensiones conceptual y práctica de estas representaciones. Se trata de una investigación de naturaleza cualitativa, sustentada en la Teoría de las Representaciones Sociales, en sus abordajes procesual y estructural, realizada con 90 profesionales de la salud que actúan en instituciones de atención primaria y secundaria a la salud, en el municipio de Jequié, Bahia, Brasil. La investigación aconteció en tres fases distintas, a saber: en la primera fase se aplicó la técnica de evocaciones libres, con uso del término inductor: enfermedades descuidadas, siendo analizadas por la técnica del cuadrante de cuatro casas, con auxilio del EVOC, versión 2005; en la segunda etapa, se retornó al campo de investigación, para aplicar a un total de 27 participantes del mismo grupo anterior los instrumentos de pruebas de centralidad: la constitución de pares pareados y los esquemas cognitivos de base. Fueron analizados por el análisis de similitud y por los índices de valencia, respectivamente. En la tercera fase, se aplicó el instrumento de la entrevista en profundidad, para 27 profesionales de la salud, siendo analizado con auxilio del IRAMUTEQ a través del análisis lexical mecanizado. En el análisis estructural, se identificó el núcleo central, con los elementos descaso e ignorancia, que organizaron las representaciones sociales de los profesionales de la salud en un continuo que fue de la dimensión individual a la político-social, pasando por las dimensiones socio individual e imagética. Con relación al contenido, en el ámbito del abordaje procesual, se encontró un corpus general constituido por 27 entrevistas, separadas en 1.076 segmentos de textos (ST) con aprovechamiento de 1.043 STs (96,93 %). Emergieron 38.421 ocurrencias (palabras, formas o vocablos), siendo 2.349 palabras distintas y 978 con una única ocurrencia. El contenido analizado fue categorizado en 07 clases distintas que evidenciaron las dimensiones teórica y práctica de las representaciones sociales. Las representaciones sociales de los profesionales de la salud sobre las enfermedades descuidadas tienen una actitud normativa, a pesar de convivir cotidianamente en su ambiente de trabajo con estas enfermedades. Esto implicó la construcción de juicios con elementos negativos, por parte de los profesionales de la salud, sobre las conductas y prácticas de los sujetos que componen la tríade (individuo, equipo de salud y gestores) en el enfrentamiento de las enfermedades descuidadas. Se concluye que las representaciones sociales de los profesionales de la salud acerca de las enfermedades descuidadas gerencian e influencian sus prácticas de cuidado, modificando la realidad que los rodea y protagonizando nuevos saberes y conocimientos indispensables para el control, la prevención y el tratamiento de esas entidades mórbidas.

Triatomines: Trypanosomatids, Bacteria, and Viruses Potential Vectors?

Triatominae bugs are the vectors of Chagas disease, a major concern to public health especially in Latin America, where vector-borne Chagas disease has undergone resurgence due mainly to diminished triatomine control in many endemic municipalities. Although the majority of Triatominae species occurs in the Americas, species belonging to the genus Linshcosteus occur in India, and species belonging to the Triatoma rubrofasciata complex have been also identified in Africa, the Middle East, South-East Asia, and in the Western Pacific. Not all of Triatominae species have been found to be infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, but the possibility of establishing vector transmission to areas where Chagas disease was previously non-endemic has increased with global population mobility. Additionally, the worldwide distribution of triatomines is concerning, as they are able to enter in contact and harbor other pathogens, leading us to wonder if they would have competence and capacity to transmit them to humans during the bite or after successful blood feeding, spreading other infectious diseases. In this review, we searched the literature for infectious agents transmitted to humans by Triatominae. There are reports suggesting that triatomines may be competent vectors for pathogens such as Serratia marcescens, Bartonella, and Mycobacterium leprae, and that triatomine infection with other microrganisms may interfere with triatomine-T. cruzi interactions, altering their competence and possibly their capacity to transmit Chagas disease.

Informe 2017-2018 Chaco Paraguayo. Descripción del sistema de vigilancia y evaluación de las capacidades de diagnóstico para las EID y dengue en el chaco paraguayo

[Prologo] El proyecto “Abordar las Enfermedades Infecciosas Desatendidas (EID) y las arbovirosis en el Chaco Paraguayo” ejecutado en el period 2017-2018 en el Chaco paraguayo por el Ministerio de Salud Pública y Bienestar Social de Paraguay (MSPyBS) con la cooperación técnica de la Representación en el Paraguay de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud/ Organización Mundial de la Salud (OPS/OMS) tiene como propósito generar evidencias sobre la capacidad de respuesta del país en esta zona geográfica, a fin de que permita establecer estrategias e intervenciones para fortalecer las capacidades existentes y facilite la toma de acciones oportunas para la prevención, el control y/o eliminación de este conjunto de enfermedades a la luz de los compromisos enmarcados en los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible 2030, la Política Nacional de Salud 2030 y el Plan Estratégico de la OPS/OMS 2014-2019. El proyecto pretende lograr la implementación de un ambicioso sistema de vigilancia integrada (vigilancia epidemiológica, vigilancia de laboratorio y vigilancia entomológica) que proporcione datos de manera oportuna y eficaz para hacer frente a las arbovirosis y a las EID endémicas, como son en Paraguay la enfermedad de Chagas, leishmaniosis, helmintiasis transmitidas por el suelo, teniasis/cisticercosis, la lepra y de forma estratégica se ha incluido al dengue. Por otra parte, el proyecto busca el involucramiento y la participación de la comunidad en las acciones de prevención, vigilancia y control de estas enfermedades. Como avance del proyecto se presentan a continuación los resultados del componente “Evaluación del Sistema de Vigilancia y de las Capacidades de Diagnóstico para las EID y arbovirosis”, con base a los requerimientos del Reglamento Sanitario Internacional (RSI). El propósito de esta evaluación es conocer las capacidades básicas de vigilancia en la red pública de salud a nivel local y regional del Chaco Paraguayo. Para la muestra del análisis, se tomaron en cuenta a las unidades notificadoras de los servicios de atención de salud de la red pública en las tres regiones del Chaco. Del total de 124 servicios de atención de salud 74 son unidades notificadoras (60%). Los cincuenta servicios restantes (40%) necesitan fortalecerse para formar parte de la red de vigilancia, lo que a su vez permitirá mejorar la representatividad del sistema.

Encuesta 2017-2018: Conocimientos, actitudes y práticas de los pobladores del Chaco paraguayo sobre las enfermedades infecciosas desatendidas y el dengue, Resultados / Survey 2017-2018: Knowledge, attitudes and practices of the inhabitants of the Paraguayan Chaco on neglected infectious diseases and dengue, Results

La presente publicación describe los conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas de los pobladores de los tres departamentos del Chaco Paraguayo sobre existencia de enfermedad, modo de trasmisión y sintomatología de las Enfermedades infecciosas desatendidas (EID y dengue. Asimismo, las actitudes de los pobladores del Chaco paraguayo en relación con la responsabilidad personal y comunitaria para prevenir las EID y el dengue

Enfermedades infecciosas desatendidas en las Américas: Historias de éxito e innovación para llegar a los más necesitados / Neglected infectious diseases in the Americas: Success stories and innovation to reach the neediest

[Prologo]. Este informe revela que varios países de las Américas han eliminado con éxito la transmisión de varias EID en todos sus territorios o parte de ellos, lo que muestra qué debe y puede lograr cada país de la Región donde las enfermedades infecciosas desatendidas son endémicas. Sin embargo, para que las Américas puedan alcanzar las metas regionales y mundiales de eliminar más de una docena de EID, cada país donde exista esa endemicidad debe efectuar ahora un esfuerzo concertado a fin de conseguir que enérgicas medidas de salud pública lleguen a quienes más las necesiten. Es preciso adoptar medidas para tratar a todos los niños en riesgo de contraer infecciones helmintiásicas transmitidas por el contacto con el suelo; proteger a cada niño y madre embarazada de las picaduras de mosquitos que transmiten la malaria y de otros insectos que transmiten la enfermedad de Chagas y la leishmaniasis; tratar eficiente y oportunamente a los niños pequeños y sus familiares con medicamentos de gran calidad y seguros contra las enfermedades infecciosas desatendidas; y garantizar que todas las personas que lleguen a un hospital con leishmaniasis, esquistosomiasis, fascioliasis o tracoma causante de ceguera reciban una atención adecuada para que abandonen el hospital curadas y con buena salud y sus familias puedan seguir fácilmente su progreso con el apoyo de unidades locales de atención de salud.

Neglected infectious diseases in the Americas: Success stories and innovation to reach the neediest / Enfermedades infecciosas desatendidas en las Américas. Historias de éxito e innovación para llegar a los más necesitados

Neglected infectious diseases (NID), which include Chagas disease, fascioliasis, soil-transmitted helminthiases, leprosy, leishmaniasis, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, plague, human rabies transmitted by dogs, schistosomiasis, congenital syphilis, neonatal tetanus and trachoma, affect the poorest of the poor. These diseases impose a nearly indescribable set of burdens on communities and individuals, not only because of the pain and suffering they cause, but also because of the loss of income and the chronic stigma and discrimination associated with their sequelaes, irreversible in many cases. These can include blindness, chronic anemia, tissue loss and physical disfigurement, and permanent disability leading affected families to an even more challenging and limited quality of life-style...