Diagnóstico de neurocisticercosis en pacientes con epilepsia residentes en el suroeste de la República Dominicana / Diagnosis of neurocysticercosis in patients with epilepsy living in the south-western Dominican Republic

Introducción La neurocisticercosis (NCC), una posible causa de epilepsia con datos epidemiológicos limitados en la República Dominicana, es endémica en cuatro provincias de la región suroeste. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la asociación entre la NCC y la epilepsia en personas que viven en estas regiones endémicas, así como obtener datos preliminares sobre la prevalencia de NCC en estas provincias. Sujetos y métodos Se utilizó un diseño de casos y controles compuesto por 111 pacientes con epilepsia de causa desconocida y 60 controles sin epilepsia ni NCC. El diagnóstico de NCC se basó en la tomografía computarizada y la resonancia magnética del cráneo, así como en el inmunotransferencia de Western para anticuerpos séricos contra Taenia solium, siguiendo los criterios de Del Brutto et al. Resultados Se encontró NCC en el 27% de los pacientes con epilepsia (n = 30/111) y en el 5% de los controles (n = 3/60); los casos de epilepsia tenían siete veces más probabilidades de tener NCC que los controles (odds ratio = 7,04, intervalo de confianza al 95%: 2,04-24,18; p < 0,001). Las características sociodemográficas de los participantes, como la edad, el sexo, el nivel de escolaridad, la ocupación y la provincia de residencia no mostraron significación estadística en cuanto a la asociación con NCC. Conclusiones Este estudio sugiere que la NCC está fuertemente asociada con la epilepsia en la región suroeste de la República Dominicana, y destaca la necesidad de medidas de salud pública para mejorar la prevención, el diagnóstico y el tratamiento de ambas enfermedades. (AU)

INTRODUCTION Neurocysticercosis (NCC), a possible cause of epilepsy with limited epidemiological data in the Dominican Republic, is endemic in four provinces in the country’s south-western region. This study aimed to determine the association between NCC and epilepsy among people living in these endemic regions, and to obtain preliminary data on the prevalence of NCC in these provinces. PATIENTS AND METHODS A case-control design was used, consisting of 111 patients with epilepsy with unknown causes, and 60 controls without epilepsy or NCC. The diagnosis of NCC was based on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the skull, as well as Western immunoblotting for serum antibodies using Taenia solium, following the criteria of Del Brutto et al. RESULTS NCC was found in 27% of the epileptic patients (n = 30/111) and in 5% of the controls (n = 3/60); the probability of the epileptic patients having NCC was seven times higher than the controls (odds ratio = 7.04, 95% confidence interval: 2.04-24.18; p < 0.001). The participants’ sociodemographic characteristics, including their age, sex, level of education, occupation, and province of residence presented no statistical significance in terms of their association with NCC. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that NCC is strongly associated with epilepsy in the south-western region of the Dominican Republic, and highlights the need for public health measures to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of both diseases. (AU)

Population-Level Effectiveness of an Inactivated Whole-Virion COVID-19 Vaccine: A Test Negative Case-Control Study in the Dominican Republic.

Background: A continuing nationwide vaccination campaign began in the Dominican Republic on February 16, 2021 to prevent severe consequences of acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Estimates of vaccine effectiveness under real-world conditions are needed to support policy decision making and inform further vaccine selection. Methods: We conducted a test-negative case-control study to assess the real-world effectiveness of nationwide coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program using an inactivated vaccine (CoronaVac) on preventing symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections and hospitalizations from August to November 2021 in the Dominican Republic. Participants were recruited from 10 hospitals in 5 provinces to estimate the effectiveness of full immunization (≥14 days after receipt of the second dose) and partial immunization (otherwise with at least 1 dose ≥14 days after receipt of the first dose). Results: Of 1078 adult participants seeking medical care for COVID-19-related symptoms, 395 (36.6%) had positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for SARS-CoV-2; 142 (13.2%) were hospitalized during 15 days of follow up, including 91 (23%) among 395 PCR-positive and 51 (7.5%) among 683 PCR-negative participants. Full vaccination was associated with 31% lower odds of symptomatic infection (odds ratio [OR], 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.52-0.93) and partial vaccination was associated with 49% lower odds (OR, 0.51; CI, 0.30-0.86). Among 395 PCR-positive participants, full vaccination reduced the odds of COVID-19-related hospitalization by 85% (OR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.08-0.25) and partial vaccination reduced it by 75% (OR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.08-0.80); full vaccination was associated with reduced use of assisted ventilation by 73% (OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.15-0.49). Conclusions: Given the ancestral and delta viral variants circulating during this study period, our results suggest that the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine offered moderate protection against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections and high protection against COVID-19-related hospitalizations and assisted ventilation. This is reassuring given that, as of August 2022, an estimated 2.6 billion inactivated CoronaVac vaccine doses had been administered worldwide. This vaccine will become a basis for developing multivalent vaccine against the currently circulating omicron variant.

Aplicación clínica de la Impresión 3D en el manejo de fracturas abiertas de tibia: Nuevas fronteras en Traumatología. Estudio experimental / Clinical application of 3D Printing in open tibial fractures management: New frontiers of Orthopaedics. An experimental study

La Impresión 3D es una tecnología emergente utilizada cada vez más en medicina. En los países en vías de desarrollo, donde las fracturas por motocicletas y automóviles se encuentran en aumento, la disponibilidad de fijadores externos para el manejo de fracturas abiertas es un problema frecuente. La impresión 3D puede ser una alternativa económica e igualmente confiable a los dispositivos tradicionales elaborados con acero o titanio. El objetivo de este trabajo es mostrar la experiencia con el uso de Impresión 3D y su aplicación en el manejo clínico de fracturas abiertas diafisiarias de tibia. Se realizó un estudio pre-experimental y prospectivo. Se incluyeron 14 pacientes con fracturas de tibia AO/ASIF 42A, 42B y 42C tratados con un fijador externo con rótulas elaboradas con Impresión 3D como medida de Control de Daños en Ortopedia desde su ingreso hasta su resolución definitiva. Todos los pacientes fueron de sexo masculino, con un promedio de edad 23,16 años con 50% entre 20-23 años. Las fracturas fueron 42,85% tipo 42A, 37,71% 42B y 21,42% 42C. El 78,57% de las fracturas fueron ocasionadas por motocicletas: 57,14% grado II según Gustilo y Anderson, un 28,57% grado III y 14,28% grado I. El 37,71% eran politraumatizados. Ninguno de los pacientes presentó complicaciones como pérdida de la reducción, aflojamiento de las rótulas, ruptura o fatiga de las rótulas ni fatiga de la barra. La impresión 3D demostró ser una herramienta y alternativa útil en el manejo agudo de fracturas abiertas diafisiarias de tibia(AU)

3D Printing is an emerging technology used more and more in medicine. In developing countries, where motorcycle and automobile fractures are on the rise, the availability of external fixators for the management of open fractures is a frequent problem. 3D printing can be a cheap and equally reliable alternative to traditional devices made of steel or titanium. The objective of this work is to show the experience with the use of 3D Printing and its application in the clinical management of open diaphyseal fractures of the tibia. A pre-experimental and prospective study was made. 14 patients with AO/ASIF tibia fractures 42A, 42B and 42C treated with an external fixator with 3D-printed ball-caps as a Damage Control measure in Orthopedics from admission to final resolution were included. All patients were male, with an average age of 23,16 years, 50% between 20-23 years. The fractures were 42,85% type 42A, 37,71% 42B and 21,42% 42C. 78,57% of the fractures were caused by motorcycles: 57,14% grade II according to Gustilo and Anderson, 28,57% grade III and 14.28% grade I. 37,71% were polytraumatized. None of the patients had complications such as loss of reduction, loosening of the patellas, rupture or fatigue of the patellas, or rod fatigue. 3D printing proved to be a useful tool and alternative in the acute management of open diaphyseal fractures of the tibia(AU)

Medición radiológica del extremo proximal del fémur / Radiological measurement of the femoral proximal end

El objetivo de este trabajo es determinar las mediciones radiológicas del extremo proximal del fémur en pacientes adultos cuyos casos fueron presentados en las discusiones clínico-radiológicas del servicio de Traumatología y Ortopedia del Hospital Central de San Cristóbal entre 2015 y 2021. Se realizó un estudio prospectivo, descriptivo, transversal, que incluyó los estudios radiológicos de cadera sana en proyección anteroposterior de pelvis centrada en pubis con rotación interna de 15 %, de 126 pacientes entre 20 y 95 años. Se midieron: ángulo cervicodiafisario, lateralización femoral, longitud y ancho del cuello femoral y diámetro de la circunferencia cefálica, mediante el sotfware MicroDicom DICOM 4.0.0. La media de ángulo cervicodiafisario fue 130,8 ± 4,5 grados, en 57 individuos (45,2 %) estuvo entre 127,4 y 133,3 grados (p = 0,001); la circunferencia cefálica media fue 42,0 ± 2,4 mm, en 60 personas (47,6 %) estuvo entre 40,2 y 45,7 mm (p = 0,001); la longitud cervical media fue 78,6 ± 16,4 mm, en 54 individuos (42,9 %) estuvo entre 69,4 y 92 mm (p = 0,001); el ancho cervical medio fue 75,9 ± 12,1 mm, en 64 casos, (50,8 %) estuvo entre 62,9 y 78,7 mm (p = 0,001). En 60 individuos (47,6 %) la lateralización del fémur estuvo entre 92,6 - 117,7 mm. Las medidas son independientes del sexo; a medida que aumenta la edad, el ángulo cervicodiafisario es menor (p= 0,021). Se realizaron tablas percentiladas de las medidas radiológicas del extremo proximal del fémur, según edad y sexo, que pueden servir de referencia en pacientes futuros(AU)

The objective of this work is to determine the radiological measurements of the proximal end of the femur in adult patients whose cases were presented in the clinical-radiological discussions of the Traumatology and Orthopedics service of the Central Hospital of San Cristóbal between 2015 and 2021. A prospective study was carried out, descriptive, crosssectional, which included radiological studies of a healthy hip in anteroposterior projection of the pelvis centered on the pubis with internal rotation of 15%, of 126 patients between 20 and 95 years of age. The following were measured: cervicodiaphyseal angle, femoral lateralization, length and width of the femoral neck, and diameter of the head circumference, using the MicroDicom DICOM 4.0.0 software. The mean neck-diaphyseal angle was 130.8 ± 4.5 degrees, in 57 individuals (45.2%) it was between 127.4 and 133.3 degrees (p = 0.001); the mean head circumference was 42.0 ± 2.4 mm, in 60 people (47.6%) it was between 40.2 and 45.7 mm (p = 0.001); the mean cervical length was 78.6 ± 16.4 mm, in 54 individuals (42.9 %) it was between 69.4 and 92 mm (p = 0.001); the mean cervical width was 75.9 ± 12.1 mm, in 64 cases (50.8%) it was between 62.9 and 78.7 mm (p= 0.001). In 60 individuals (47.6%), the lateralization of the femur was between 92.6 - 117.7 mm. The measurements are independent of sex; as age increases, the cervical shaft angle is less (p= 0.021). Percentage tables of the radiological measurements of the proximal end of the femur were made, according to age and sex, which can serve as a reference in future patients(AU)

Potencialidad de Pseudosuccinea columella (Say, 1817) (Molusca: Gastropoda: lymnaeidae) en la transmisión de la fascioliasis humana en República Dominicana / Potentiality of Pseudosuccinea columella (Say, 1817) (Molusca: Gastropoda: lymnaeidae) in the transmission of human fascioliasis in the Dominican Republic

Introducción: en el paisaje epidemiológico de la fascioliasis humana, dos aspectos son de fundamental importancia: a) presencia de hospederos definitivos (especialmente ganado bovino y humanos) parasitados con adultos del tremátodo y; b) presencia de hospederos intermediarios invertebrados, moluscos de la familia Lymnaeidae, en los que se desarrollan los estadios larvarios, además de plantas acuáticas de consumo humano. Material y métodos: con el objetivo de prevenir brotes de fascioliasis humana mediante la correcta identificación de aspectos de interés epidemiológico, un humedal fue seleccionado en el sector de Palo Blanco, municipio de Jarabacoa, provincia de La Vega, en el cual se realizó un estudio malacológico en octubre de 2016, en busca de especies de moluscos limneidos e hidrófitos asociados. En el laboratorio se obtuvieron los índices de infección natural y experimental a Fasciola hepatica. Resultados: se identificó el limneido Pseudosuccinea columella, en proporciones de 250 especímenes por persona/hora. El vegetal predominante fue el berro (Nasturtiun officinale), cultivado comercialmente en tres cuadrantes del humedal y en el otro cuadrante se observaron bovinos pastando. El índice de infección experimental de los moluscos fue de 94 % a la cepa simpátrica de F. hepatica de Dajabón; no se encontraron moluscos parasitados naturalmente. Conclusiones: Pseudosuccinea columella debe considerarse como un molusco de relevancia epidemiológica en la transmisión de la fascioliasis en República Dominicana, a tenor de su dispersión y elevado índice de infección experimental obtenido en el presente estudio

Introduction: in the epidemiological landscape of human fascioliasis, two aspects are of fundamental importance: a) presence of definite hosts (especially cattle and humans) parasitized with trematode adults and b) presence of invertebrate intermediate hosts, mollusks of the family Lymnaeidae, in which larval stages develop, in addition to aquatic plants for human consumption. Material and methods: in order to prevent outbreaks of human fascioliasis by correctly identifying aspects of epidemiological interest, a wetland was selected in the sector of Palo Blanco, municipality of Jarabacoa, province of La Vega, in which a malacological study was carried out in October 2016, in search of limneid mollusk species and associated hydrophytes. Natural and experimental infection rates to Fasciola hepaticawere obtained in the laboratory. Results: the lymnaeid Pseudosuccinea columella was identified, in proportions of 250 specimens collected per person/hour. The predominant vegetable was the watercress (Nasturtiun officinale), commercially cultivated in three quadrants of the wetland and in the other quadrant were observed cattle grazing. The rate of experimental infection of mollusks was 94 % to the sympatric strain of F. hepatica of Dajabón; no naturally parasitized mollusks were found. Conclusions: Pseudosuccinea columella should be considered as a mollusk of epidemiological relevance in the transmission of fascioliasis in the Dominican Republic, due to its dispersion and high rate of experimental infection obtained in the present study

A critical narrative review of transfer of basic science knowledge in health professions education.

CONTEXT: 'Transfer' is the application of a previously learned concept to solve a new problem in another context. Transfer is essential for basic science education because, to be valuable, basic science knowledge must be transferred to clinical problem solving. Therefore, better understanding of interventions that enhance the transfer of basic science knowledge to clinical reasoning is essential. This review systematically identifies interventions described in the health professions education (HPE) literature that document the transfer of basic science knowledge to clinical reasoning, and considers teaching and assessment strategies. METHODS: A systematic search of the literature was conducted. Articles related to basic science teaching at the undergraduate level in HPE were analysed using a 'transfer out'/'transfer in' conceptual framework. 'Transfer out' refers to the application of knowledge developed in one learning situation to the solving of a new problem. 'Transfer in' refers to the use of previously acquired knowledge to learn from new problems or learning situations. RESULTS: Of 9803 articles initially identified, 627 studies were retrieved for full text evaluation; 15 were included in the literature review. A total of 93% explored 'transfer out' to clinical reasoning and 7% (one article) explored 'transfer in'. Measures of 'transfer out' fostered by basic science knowledge included diagnostic accuracy over time and in new clinical cases. Basic science knowledge supported learning - 'transfer in' - of new related content and ultimately the 'transfer out' to diagnostic reasoning. Successful teaching strategies included the making of connections between basic and clinical sciences, the use of commonsense analogies, and the study of multiple clinical problems in multiple contexts. Performance on recall tests did not reflect the transfer of basic science knowledge to clinical reasoning. CONCLUSIONS: Transfer of basic science knowledge to clinical reasoning is an essential component of HPE that requires further development for implementation and scholarship.

Entrustable Professional Activities: A Faculty Development Workshop for Adding EPAs Into Your Medical Trainee's Assessment Portfolio.

INTRODUCTION: The last 3 decades have seen significant changes in medical education and corresponding assessment of medical trainees. Competency-based medical education provided a more comprehensive model than the previous time-based process but remained insufficient. Introduced in 2005, entrustable professional activities (EPAs) offer a more robust curriculum development and assessment process, especially in regard to clinician-oriented workplace-based assessments. Despite their intuitive match with decisions made in the clinical environment daily by clinicians, the development of specialty-specific EPAs and corresponding culturally situated assessment tools has lagged. METHODS: To address this gap, a 90-minute faculty development workshop was created to introduce faculty to EPAs and their assessment and to provide hands-on practice developing and using EPAs. RESULTS: Previous facilitations of this workshop received favorable responses from participants regarding level of detail, understanding of the content, and intent to employ EPAs at their own institutions. DISCUSSION: Implementation of EPAs into the assessment portfolio of medical trainees following this workshop will maximize confidence in determining when a trainee is ready for independent practice.

Immunohistochemical markers of advanced basal cell carcinoma: CD56 is associated with a lack of response to vismodegib.

Vismodegib is an effective treatment for advanced basal cell carcinoma (BCC), but primary resistance to vismodegib remains to be elucidated. Alternative approaches are warranted to help selecting patients most likely to be responsive to treatment. The identification of immunohistochemical markers may support this perspective, as well as better understanding of resistance mechanisms. To determine the level of expression of CD56, PDGF-R, CD117, MMP9, TIMP3, and CXCR4 in advanced BCC, and explore whether expression levels are associated with non-response to vismodegib. A cross-sectional study was conducted. Immunohistochemical markers were selected based on their roles in tumour proliferation and/or migration in skin tumours. Tissue samples included pretreatment advanced BCC samples from patients treated with vismodegib, with an available response after six months of treatment. Regression optimised models were used to build hypotheses regarding a possible association between expression levels and non-response to vismodegib, which was then tested by logistic regression. Twenty-three patients were included. The percentage of samples expressing markers ranged from 43.5% (CD117) to 91.3% (CXCR4). CD56 expression was significantly associated with an increased risk of non-response to vismodegib (OR = 5.5; CI 95%: 3.4-29.8; p = 0.0488); a similar association was suggested for CXCR4 (p = 0.066), but not identified for other markers. These results provide a better understanding of the expression of immunohistochemical markers in advanced BCC. Further detailed analysis of CD56 expression may provide insights into guiding further investigation of the correlation between this marker and non-response to vismodegib.

Needle-Tissue Interaction Force State Estimation for Robotic Surgical Suturing.

Robotically Assisted Minimally Invasive Surgery (RAMIS) offers many advantages over manual surgical techniques. Most of the limitations of RAMIS stem from its non-intuitive user interface and costs. One way to mitigate some of the limitations is to automate surgical subtasks (e.g. suturing) such that they are performed faster while allowing the surgeon to plan the next step of the procedure. One component of successful suture automation is minimizing the internal tissue deformation forces generated by driving a needle through tissue. Minimizing the internal tissue forces requires segmenting the tissue deformation forces from other components of the needle tissue interaction (e.g. friction force). This paper proposes an Unscented Kalman Filter which can successfully model the force components, in particular the internal deformation force, generated by a needle as it is driven through a sample of tissue.

Multidisciplinary assessment of pesticide mitigation in soil amended with vermicomposted agroindustrial wastes.

Soil organic amendment affects biotic and abiotic processes that control the fate of pesticides, but the treatment history of the soil is also relevant. These processes were assessed in a multidisciplinary study with the aim of optimizing pesticide mitigation in soils. Soil microcosms pre-treated (E2) or not with diuron (E1) were amended with either winery (W) or olive waste (O) vermicomposts. Herbicide dissipation followed a double first-order model in E1 microcosms, but a single first-order model in E2. Also, diuron persistence was longer in E1 than in E2 (E1-DT50>200 day(-1), E2-DT50<16 day(-1)). The genetic structure of the bacterial community was modified by both diuron exposure and amendment. O-vermicompost increased enzymatic activities in both experiments, but diuron-degrading genetic potential (puhB) was quantified only in E2 microcosms in accordance with reduced diuron persistence. Therefore, O-vermicompost addition favoured the proliferation of diuron degraders, increasing the soil diuron-depuration capability.

Effect of Extrinsic and Intrinsic Stressors on Clinical Skills Performance in Third-Year Medical Students.

BACKGROUND: Both enhancements and impairments of clinical performance due to acute stress have been reported, often as a function of the intensity of an individual's response. According to the broader stress literature, peripheral or extrinsic stressors (ES) and task-contingent or intrinsic stressors (IS) can be distinguished within a stressful situation. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of IS and ES on clinical performance. METHOD: A prospective randomized crossover study was undertaken with third-year medical students conducting two medical experiences with simulated patients. The effects of severity of the disease (IS) and the patient's aggressiveness (ES) were studied. A total of 109 students were assigned to four groups according to the presence of ES and IS. Subjective stress and anxiety responses were assessed before and after each experience. The students' clinical skills, diagnostic accuracy and argumentation were assessed as clinical performance measures. Sex and student-perceived cognitive difficulty of the task were considered as adjustment variables. RESULTS: Both types of stressors improved clinical performance. IS improved diagnostic accuracy (regression parameter ß = 9.7, p = 0.004) and differential argumentation (ß = 5.9, p = 0.02), whereas ES improved clinical examination (ß = 12.3, p < 0.001) and communication skills (ß = 15.4, p < 0.001). The student-perceived cognitive difficulty of the task was a strong deleterious factor on both stress and performance. CONCLUSION: In simulated consultation, extrinsic and intrinsic stressors both have a positive but different effect on clinical performance.

Biodegradation of 3,4 dichloroaniline by fungal isolated from the preconditioning phase of winery wastes subjected to vermicomposting.

A hazardous contaminant, 3,4-dichloroaniline (DCA) is widespread in the environment due to its extensive use in the manufacture of chemicals and its application in different sectors. The ability of fungi grow on in winery wastes in the preconditioning period of vermicomposting to degrade DCA was investigated. Three filamentous fungi (F1, F2, and F3) were isolated and one identified as Aspergillus niger and two as Fusarium sp. strains. The culture media with the fungus alone or in consortium (Fmix) with DCA as the nitrogen source were analyzed by solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC/MS). The fastest degradation rate was measured in Fmix with a DT50 of 0.85day(-1). Fusarium sp. and A. niger differed in the metabolism of DCA. Five metabolites were identified as a result of oxidation, co-denitrification, N-acetylation, and polymerization reactions. The major metabolites were 3,4-dichloroacetanilide and dichloroquinolines. The azo-metabolites tetrachloroazobenzene and tetracloroazoxybenzene and 3,4-dichloronitrobenzene were found in minor amounts but appeared to be the most persistent in the Fusarium cultures (half-lives ranging from 8.3 to 30.9 days). This study highlights the metabolic potential of microorganisms in the preconditioning period of the vermicomposting process and its possible application for in situ bioremediation strategies.

Dynamics of microbial communities related to biochemical parameters during vermicomposting and maturation of agroindustrial lignocellulose wastes.

Scarce information is available on the changes in abundance of microbial taxa during vermicomposting. Quantitative PCR and DGGE analysis were used to monitor variations in the microbial structure, relative abundance of four bacterial classes and fungi over the vermicomposting and maturation period of wet olive cake (O) and vine shoots (W). Multivariate correlation analysis between microbial structure and abundance, earthworm biomass and enzyme activities revealed similar and divergent interactions in both processes. Although Eisenia fetida development was different, significant correlations were found with ß-glucosidase activity and with bacterial and fungal structure. In the vermicomposting period of O and W, a decline was found in bacteria (94% and 77%), fungi (93% and 94%), and Gammaproteobacteria (56% and 71%) but an increase in Betaproteobacteria and Actinobacteria (62-79%). Alphaproteobacteria increased only in O (26%). Despite the different initial lignocellulose wastes, the mature vermicomposts were similar in microbial and biochemical properties.

Isolation of an endosulfan-degrading bacterium from a coffee farm soil: persistence and inhibitory effect on its biological functions.

Endosulfan is a lypophilic persistent organic pollutant (POP) that has caused widespread concern due to its persistence in the environment, toxicity and bioaccumulation in living organisms. The aim of this study is to isolate endosulfan-degrading bacteria taken from five coffee farms historically exposed to this insecticide which could be used in future remediation strategies. The biodegradation capability of the isolated strain as well as endosulfan's impact on some of the strain's biological functions was studied. Endosulfan and its metabolites were analyzed using TLC and GC-MS. The isolated strain, capable of growing in a liquid culture treated with this insecticide as the sole sulfur source rather than a carbon source, was selected for further study. The isolated bacterium is Gram-negative, having the morphological and biochemical characteristics of Azotobacter sp. The remaining concentrations after 6 days, using 2 and 10 mg l(-1) of endosulfan, were 57.6 and 72.3% respectively, and the degradation constants were 0.12 d(-1) and 0.26 d(-1). Four metabolites were detected, one of which was identified as endosulfan ether. Endosulfan reduced nitrogenase activity but had no impact on indole 3-acetic acid production. Thus, these results suggest that this strain has the potential to act as a biocatalyst in endosulfan degradation.