Seroprevalence canine survey for selected vector-borne pathogens and its relationship with poverty in metropolitan Pereira, Colombia, 2020.

Background: Tick-borne diseases (TBD) and dirofilariosis are currently not under surveillance in most Latin American countries. In addition, there is a significant lack of studies describing the current situation in most endemic areas, including Colombia. Therefore, seroprevalence studies are crucial for understanding the epidemiology of these vector-borne diseases. Methods: A serosurvey for TBD and dirofilariosis among 100 dogs was carried out in the municipality of Pereira, located in the Coffee-Triangle region, Colombia. Samples were tested using a rapid assay test system (SNAP® 4Dx®); based on an enzyme immunoassay technique' screening for antibodies to Anaplasma phagocytophilum/platys (sensitivity 99.1%)' Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. (98.8%), and Ehrlichia canis/ewingii (96.2%) by using specific antigens and checking for Dirofilaria immitis antigen based on specific antibodies (99.2%). Bivariate analyses were performed on Stata®14, significant p < 0.05. Findings: Global seroprevalence to the selected vector-borne pathogens was 74% (95%CI 65-83%). The highest seroprevalence was found for E. canis/ewingii (74%), followed by A. phagocytophilum/platys (16%). Seropositivity for Borrelia spp. and Dirofilaria spp. was 0%. All Anaplasma spp. seropositive dogs showed co-detection of Ehrlichia spp. (16%). Seroprevalence was significantly higher among dogs from families of lower socioeconomic status/level (I, 86%), followed by level II (74%), and III (36%) (p = 0.001). All dogs exhibiting anorexia (12%) were invariably seropositive (100%) (p = 0.029). Seroprevalence was higher among those showing mucocutaneous paleness (95%) compared to those without paleness (68%) (p = 0.013) (OR = 9.3; 95%CI 1.18-72.9). There was high variability in seroprevalence through the studied areas, ranging from 0% (La Libertad Park) up to Combia, Cesar Nader, Las Brisas and Saturno localities (100%) (p = 0.033). Interpretation: Given the high seroprevalence obtained in an area with documented ticks, there is a potential risk of zoonotic transmission to humans. Further seroprevalence studies in humans are needed to assess the prevalence of infections. Poverty is highly associated with these tick-borne pathogens in Pereira, as shown in the present study.

[Evaluation of the risk of the clinical-surgical and pathology study findings in newborns with necrotizing enterocolitis who have received surgical treatment]. / Valoración de riesgo de los hallazgos clínico-quirúrgicos y de anatomía patológica en neonatos con enterocolitis necrotizante que han recibido tratamiento quirúrgico.

INTRODUCTION: Despite advances in neonatal care between 20% and 63% of children with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) require surgery. The aim was correlation the risk factors of infants with NEC "IIB / IIIA / IIIB" Bell and the clinical, surgical and pathological findings. METHOD: In the children with diagnosis of NEC surgically treated, were analyzed of variables: clinical, surgical and pathological findings. We studied two groups: control (n=5) and NEC group (n=12). Comparisons were made between groups using the Mann-Whitney U- and the Spearman coefficient (r). To assess the risk of morbidity / mortality associated with the extent of intestinal resection we applied the Cox regression. RESULT: We found differences (p < 0.05) between control group and the NEC group regarding Bell, the mean height of villi, Chiu and the number of goblet cells. In the NEC group we find correlations (p < 0.05) from Bell, regarding Chiu (r = 0.761), resection of the colon (r = 0.687), pneumatosis / perforation (r = 1) and the mean height of villi (r = -0.878). The gut reseccion was at 26 cm (3-107). We observed a risk of 1.04 in the neonatal period (p > 0.05) of mortality or consequence post-enterocolitis associated with the extent of bowel resection. CONCLUSION: The decrease in the average height of villi, the highest level of microscopic intestinal injury and reduced goblet cell population contributes to a greater extent of intestinal resection, which favors the risk of death or developing consequence post-enterocolitis.

Digestive alpha-amylases from Tecia solanivora larvae (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae): response to pH, temperature and plant amylase inhibitors.

The biochemical properties of the digestive alpha-amylase from Tecia solanivora larvae, an important and invasive insect pest of potato (Solanum tuberosum), were studied. This insect has three major digestive alpha-amylases with isoelectric points 5.30, 5.70 and 5.98, respectively, which were separated using native and isoelectric focusing gels. The alpha-amylase activity has an optimum pH between 7.0 and 10.0 with a peak at pH 9.0. The enzymes are stable when heated to 50 degrees C and were inhibited by proteinaceous inhibitors from Phaseolus coccineus (70% inhibition) and P. vulgaris cv. Radical (87% inhibition) at pH 6.0. The inhibitors present in an amaranth hybrid inhibited 80% of the activity at pH 9.0. The results show that the alpha-amylase inhibitor from amaranth seeds may be a better candidate to make genetically-modified potatoes resistant to this insect than inhibitors from common bean seeds.

[Analysis of complex segregation in a large family with hereditary cerebrovascular disease in Antioquia, Colombia]. / Análisis de segregación compleja de una familia numerosa con enfermedad cerebrovascular hereditaria en Antioquia (Colombia).

INTRODUCTION: Among different kinds of cerebrovascular diseases, few of them are caused by genetic disturbances, such as CADASIL (caused by Notch3 mutations), CARASIL, mitochondrial encephalopathy, MELAS and dementia typed Binswanger. However, to describe these type of cerebrovascular diseases related with genetic mutations could permit to determinate the causes of both hereditary and sporadic cerebrovascular diseases and then lead solutions. OBJECTIVE: To describe the genetic, environmental and cohort factors that determinate the presence of many affected people by a several cerebrovascular diseases in the pedigree of a large family from Antioquia (Colombia). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed one pedigree (268 individuals), through singular recruit and then complex segregation analysis with POINTER program. RESULTS: The model that more close to data is autosomal dominant mayor locus without influence of environmental factors. Frequency of allele of susceptibility to develop stroke or subcortical vascular dementia was 0.0006. Mayor gene is over epistatic effects or interactions with other gene. CONCLUSIONS: Described an autosomal dominant hereditary model through complex segregation analysis in a pedigree of patients with hereditary cerebral vascular diseases characterized by recurrent strokes, early onset subcortical dementia, hearing loss, antecedent of migraine and MRI signal abnormalities, subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy. In this family the parameter calculated, autosomal dominant model, and clinical feature strongly support the diagnostic of CADASIL, linkage analysis and sequentiation will be performed to determinate if mutant gene is Notch3.

[Clinical characteristics of hereditary cerebrovascular disease in a large family from Colombia]. / Caracterización clínica de una familia numerosa con enfermedad vascular cerebral hereditaria en Colombia.

INTRODUCTION: The cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is caused by mutations of the Notch3 gene in the chromosome 19p13.1. and is characterized by small-vessel disease of the cerebral. The clinical feature consists of migraine, recurrent strokes, mood changes and dementia. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical phenotype of a Colombian family with hereditary cerebrovascular disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed one pedigree with 268 individuals, neurologic examination to 57 members and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to 25 of them. RESULTS: Clinical analysis strongly support the diagnosis of CADASIL because 12 individuals had suffered recurrent stroke, five of them later developed subcortical dementia. Two patients developed dementia without preceding stroke. All affected individuals by stroke or dementia whom were tested with MRI had white matter hyperintensities and subcortical infarcts (nine cases). Others seven individuals have MRI signal abnormalities like CADASIL, four of them are asymptomatic, one had suffered ischemic transient attacks and two had suffered migraine. Other 22 individuals had only migraine. We outstand the high frequency of MRI signal abnormalities in corpus callosum that we found in five individuals with stroke or dementia, the patient with ischemic transient attack and one asymptomatic patient, either the presence of hearing loss in seven individuals with stroke or dementia. CONCLUSIONS: We describe one large family with hereditary cerebrovascular disease characterized by recurrent strokes, subcortical dementia, hearing loss, migraine, and MRI signal abnormalities typed leukoencephalopathy, subcortical infarcts and alterations in corpus callosum. Clinical analysis strongly support the diagnosis of CADASIL.