Relative Frequency of Blastocystis Subtypes 1, 2, and 3 in Urban and Periurban Human Populations of Arequipa, Peru.

Blastocystis is one of the most common protozoa found in the human gut and are genetically diverse and widely distributed around the world. Nonspecific and inconsistent symptoms have been associated with this protozoon; thus, its clinical importance remains controversial. Our aim was to estimate the relative frequency of Blastocystis subtypes 1, 2, and 3, which are the predominant subtypes reported in South America, based on conserved regions of SSU rDNA sequences and determine the factors associated with them. A total of 116 Blastocystis-positive stool samples were processed using conventional PCR with Blastocystis-specific primers. We identified subtype 1 (10.3%), subtype 2 (7.8%), subtype 3 (25.0%), and mixed subtype infections (8.7%). However, we could not identify any Blastocystis subtypes in 48.3% of the samples; therefore, it is likely that other subtypes were present in the area. No association was found between any gastrointestinal symptom and single or mixed Blastocystis subtypes. We found a statistically significant association between Blastocystis subtype 2 and irritable bowel syndrome (OR = 17.8, 95% CI = 1.5-408.4, p = 0.039); however, the number of samples with IBS was small (n= 4). There was no association between the Blastocystis subtypes and any epidemiological variable studied. In rural populations, we only identified subtype 1, while in urban and periurban populations, we identified subtypes 1, 2, and 3.

Socio-Demographic Determinants Associated with Blastocystis Infection in Arequipa, Peru.

Blastocystis is one of the most common protozoa in the human gut and a zoonotic organism related to unsanitary living conditions. This protozoon shows a broad distribution, unclear symptomatology, and undefined pathogenicity. In Peru, studies report the presence of Blastocystis in many regions, but the highest prevalence levels are reported in Arequipa. The aim of this study was to link Blastocystis infection with social determinants of health. We recruited and surveyed 232 infected and uninfected participants from houses with at least one Blastocystis-infected person. All samples were concentrated by spin concentration method in saline solution, examined by wet mount under light microscopy and confirmed with methylene-stained stool smear. We found a human Blastocystis prevalence of 51.3% in the study sample. We also found statistical associations between Blastocystis infection and peri-urban location in the city as well as the use of alternative non-domiciliary water supplies, suggesting these are risk factors for human Blastocystis infection.

Wolf population genetics in Europe: a systematic review, meta-analysis and suggestions for conservation and management.

The grey wolf (Canis lupus) is an iconic large carnivore that has increasingly been recognized as an apex predator with intrinsic value and a keystone species. However, wolves have also long represented a primary source of human-carnivore conflict, which has led to long-term persecution of wolves, resulting in a significant decrease in their numbers, genetic diversity and gene flow between populations. For more effective protection and management of wolf populations in Europe, robust scientific evidence is crucial. This review serves as an analytical summary of the main findings from wolf population genetic studies in Europe, covering major studies from the 'pre-genomic era' and the first insights of the 'genomics era'. We analyse, summarize and discuss findings derived from analyses of three compartments of the mammalian genome with different inheritance modes: maternal (mitochondrial DNA), paternal (Y chromosome) and biparental [autosomal microsatellites and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)]. To describe large-scale trends and patterns of genetic variation in European wolf populations, we conducted a meta-analysis based on the results of previous microsatellite studies and also included new data, covering all 19 European countries for which wolf genetic information is available: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Belarus, Russia, Italy, Croatia, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Spain and Portugal. We compared different indices of genetic diversity in wolf populations and found a significant spatial trend in heterozygosity across Europe from south-west (lowest genetic diversity) to north-east (highest). The range of spatial autocorrelation calculated on the basis of three characteristics of genetic diversity was 650-850 km, suggesting that the genetic diversity of a given wolf population can be influenced by populations up to 850 km away. As an important outcome of this synthesis, we discuss the most pressing issues threatening wolf populations in Europe, highlight important gaps in current knowledge, suggest solutions to overcome these limitations, and provide recommendations for science-based wolf conservation and management at regional and Europe-wide scales.

Seroprevalencia de la infección por Trypanosoma cruzi y factores asociados en población adulta en una zona de alta endemicidad de Arequipa, Perú / Seroprevalence of infection by Trypanosoma cruzi and associated factors in the adult population in a highly endemic area of Arequipa, Perú

Objetivo: determinar la seroprevalencia de infección por T. cruzi en pobladores mayores de 15 años del valle de Vítor, describiendo características generales y presencia de factores asociados a la infección. Material y Métodos: se seleccionaron aleatoriamente a 499 personas mayores de 15 años de edad, mediante encuesta se obtuvo la respectiva información epidemiológica. El diagnóstico serológico de la enfermedad se realizó mediante ELISA e IFI. Resultados: la seroprevalencia fue de 10,22%. En mujeres 10,35% y varones 10,04%. La mediana de edad del paciente chagásico fue de 42±17,86 años el tiempo de residencia fue de 34±15,95 años. El 50,98% es natural del valle de Vítor. Según la ocupación de la población general, agricultor 41,18%, ama de casa 31,37%. El 50,98% tiene instrucción secundaria. El único factor asociado a la infección fue el material rústico de las vivienda. Conclusion: el valle de Vítor es zona chagásica endémica. La infección afecta tanto a hombres como a mujeres. El poblador infectado es natural del valle de Vítor, se dedica a la agricultura y tiene secundaria como grado de instrucción. El material rústico de las viviendas se asocia a la infección por T.cruzi al favorecer la presencia del vector.

Objective: determine the seroprevalence of infection by T. cruzi in the population above age 15 in the valley of Vítor, describing general characteristics and the presence of associated factors. Materials and Methods: 499 people above age 15 were randomly selected; epidemiological information was obtained through a survey. The diagnosis of the disease was made by ELISA and IIF. Results: the seroprevalence for Chagas reactivity was 10,2%, 10,35% in women and 10,0% in men. The median of age of the "typical" Chagas disease patient was 42±17,9, his/her time of residence in Vítor was 34±15,9 years; 51,0% had been born in the valley of Vítor. Agricultural workers made up 41,2%, of the general population, and 51,0% have a high school education. Rustic housing materials were associated with the infection. Conclusions: the valley of Vítor is an endemic area for Chagas disease. The infection equally affects men and women. The "typical" infected patient is native to the valley of Vítor, works in agriculture and has secondary level education. Rustic building materials is associated to the infection by T.cruzi because it favors the presence of the vector.

Susceptibilidad antimicrobiana de Staphylococcus aureus sensible, con sensibilidad BORDERLINE y resistentes a la meticilina / Antimicrobial susceptibility in methicillin sensitive, borderline and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Objetivo: Determinar las susceptibilidad a diversos antibacterianos de tres categorías de S. aureus según su sensibilidad a la meticilina. Material y Métodos: Se aislaron 76 cepas de S. aureus que colonizaban pacientes y personal de salud de tres servicios del Hospital Honorio Delgado de Arequipa, de los cuales 36 fueron sensibles a meticilina (MSSA), 15 con susceptibilidad "borderline" (BORSA) y 25 fueron resistentes a la meticilina (MRSA). Se les sometió a antibiograma a 14 antibacterianos. Resultados: El único antibiótico al cual todas los aislamientos fueron sensibles fue vancomicina. Los MRSA fueron resistentes a todos los beta-lactámicos excepto imipenem que obtuvo 64 por ciento de susceptibilidad. Los BORSA mantuvieron un 80 por ciento de sensibilidad a cefalotina y un 100 por ciento al imipenem. Los antibióticos cefalotina, imipenem, ciprofloxacina, cotrimazol, rifampicina, eritromicina, tetraciclina, cloranfenicol, lincomicina y gentamicina tuvieron sensibilidades variables (p menor 0.01) entre las tres categorías; una mayor proporción de MSSA fue sensible a estos antibióticos, luego los BORSA y finalmente los MRSA. Las cepas multi-resistentes fueron mucho más frecuentes en los MRSA que en los otros dos grupos (p menor 0.01). Conclusión: Existe en nuestro medio cepas de S. aureus con resistencia "borderline" a meticilina. Hay diferencias entre la sensibilidad a diversos antimicrobianos entre los tres grupos de S. aureus. Esta diferenciación podría beneficiar una terapia antimicrobiana más racional. Se debe aplicar en todo aislamiento de S. aureus las recomendaciones internacionales para la detección de meticilino resistencia.

Staphylococcus aureus meticilino resistente (MRSA): colonización y susceptibilidad en pacientes y personal de salud de un hospital de referencia / Staphylococcus aureus resistant Meticilino (MRSA): colonization and susceptibility in patients and personnel of health of a hospital of reference

De 66 pacientes y 45 miembros del personal de salud (PS) de los servicios de quemados, neonatología y pediatría del Hospital Regional Honorio Delgado de Arequipa se aislaron 56 cepas de S.aureus, 30 de pacientes y 26 del PS. Se determinó la meticilino resistencia y se comparó su susceptiblidad a 7 drogas_Beta-lactámicas y 9 no Beta-lactámica. El 66.7 por ciento de s. aureus aislados de pacientes y el 34.6 por ciento del PS fueron MRSA (p<0,05). El 100 por ciento de S. aureus aislados de pacientes quemados fueron meticlino-resistente, el 60 por ciento de neonatos y el 40 por ciento de pacientes pediátricos. En el PS la frecuencia de MRSA fue similar para los tres servicios. el 100 por ciento de MRSA fueron resistentes a penicilina, ampicilina , oxacilina y meticilina y el 100 por ciento fueron sensibles a vancomicina. En los otros antimicrobianos ensayados los MRSA de los pacientes fueron menos susceptibles que los del PS (amoxicilina-clavulanato 25 por ciento y 78 por ciento, imipenem 70 por ciento y 100 por ciento, ciprofloxacina 35 por ciento y 78 por ciento, rifampicina 45 por ciento y 78 por ciento cotrimaxazol 50 por ciento y 67 por ciento, eritromicina 40 por ciento y 89 por ciento, tetraciclina 35 por ciento y 89 por ciento, cloranfenicol 35 por ciento y 89 por ciento, lincomicina 5 por ciento y 67 por ciento y gentamicina 0 por ciento y 33 por ciento). Se concluye que el MRSA coloniza preferentemente a los pacientes y éstos tienen menor susceptibilidad que los MRSA aislados del PS. La vancomicina conserva su sensibilidad. Antimicrobianos alternativos no poseen altas sensibilidades en MRSA de pacientes.