Experimental infection with a Leptospira hardjo strain isolated from cattle of the eastern plains of Colombia.

The infectivity and pathogenicity of a strain of Leptospira hardjo isolated from the eastern plains of Colombia were evaluated. Ten pregnant heifers were artifically inoculated and monitored during 10 months. During the trial, isolation of leptospires was attempted and antibodies were detected by the microscopic agglutination test. Leptospires were recovered from the urine of six of the inoculated animals up to 6 months after infection. Eight of ten calves born from the inoculated heifers were born weak, and one of them died 12 h after parturition. Three of the weak calves had generalized jaundice of the internal surfaces. Half of the cows developed metritis and had a retained placenta. Serological reactions were seen against serotypes other than L. hardjo. A chronic infection was apparently established in the inoculated heifers with leptospiruria resulting in reinfection of the animals and a secondary rise in antibody levels.

[Migraine: implications for work, disability and request for health services in Colombia]. / Migraña: implicaciones laborales, discapacidad y solicitud de servicios de salud en Colombia.

INTRODUCTION: Migraine causes problems of public health and work. OBJECTIVES: To describe the pharmaco economic impact of migraine in Colombia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The sample group was made up of patients aged between 18 and 65 years diagnosed as having migraine according to the criteria of the International Headache Society. We made a descriptive study of migraine in Colombian patients recruited from five international multicentric clinical trials who responded to a questionnaire on: 1. Frequency of migraine attacks. 2. Days or hours of work lost through migraine. 3. Requests for health services. 4. Occupation of participants. For the statistical analysis we used descriptive techniques of resumption of frequencies, and also non parametric statistics in order to describe how their work was affected. RESULTS: 82% of the patients complained of from one to four migraine attacks per month. 64% considered that migraine had adversely affected between one and twenty hours of work per month. No differences were seen between paid and unpaid work. 15% of the patients lost more than one day of paid work and 36% more than one day of unpaid work in the month prior to the questionnaire. 52% of the patients requested at least one medical consultation for migraine during the year of the questionnaire; 42% consulted the emergency services at least once and 43% did not consult the health services at all. CONCLUSIONS: These epidemiological and socio economic data are important for a rational approach to the implementation of health resources and to assure effective management of the disorder.

Gastro-intestinal parasites in calves in Colombia.

This study was conducted at Carimagua Research Centre in a high savanna area in the eastern plains of Colombia. The objectives were to identify the pathogenic parasites prevalent in the area and to study their seasonal variations and ecological conditions for use in planning control measures. The calves from two groups of 50 cows each (zebu crossbred) were used. Group I calves were born at the beginning of the rainy season and Group II calves later in the same period. The highest faecal egg counts observed were of trichostrongylid eggs. In necropsied animals Cooperia had high populations followed by Haemonchus. Throughout the rainy season there were favourable conditions for development and transmission of calf nematodes; animals born towards the end of the rainy season developed a lower infestation level which is probably easier to control. The animals were particularly susceptible to infestation with gastro-intestinal parasites at weaning. From these observations and in view of the relatively low stocking rate and the sequential burning of the savanna it is suggested that deworming be done at eight and 18 months of age.

Boophilus microplus tick burdens on grazing cattle in Colombia.

This study was conducted at Carimagua Research Centre in a well-drained savanna area in the eastern plains of Colombia. The objectives were to note the effect of ecological factors on tick burdens, principally the effect of the environment given by four grasses on the seasonal variations of tick populations. Adult female tick counts were carried out on heifers grazing four pastures and tick larvae on the grass detected by cloth dragging. Tick counts were significantly higher on animals grazing Brachiaria decumbens than those grazing Andropogon gayanus, Melinis minutiflora or native pastures. Tick larvae counts on the grass showed a similar tendency. Introduced grasses and intensification of production will require greater care to control tick infestations since increases in stocking rate and ground coverage could augment tick populations.