Prevalencia de anticuerpos anti- Trypanosoma cruzi en mujeres en edad fértil en Socotá, Boyacá, 2014 / Prevalence of anti- Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies in women of childbearing age in Socotá, Boyacá, 2014

Introducción. La enfermedad de Chagas es una parasitosis causada por el protozoo Trypanosoma cruzi . Los factores de riesgo epidemiológico están asociados con las condiciones socioeconómicas y, actualmente, la enfermedad constituye un importante problema de salud pública; hay reportes en los que se ha registrado en regiones endémicas situadas hasta los 2.000 metros sobre el nivel del mar. Objetivo. Determinar la prevalencia de anticuerpos anti- T. cruzi y los posibles factores asociados a esta condición en mujeres en edad fértil del municipio de Socotá, Boyacá. Materiales y métodos. Se hizo un estudio observacional, descriptivo y de corte transversal en una población de mujeres en edad fértil del municipio de Socotá, Boyacá. Las muestras se analizaron mediante las pruebas serológicas ELISA IgG e IgM para Chagas y de hemaglutinación indirecta. Se consideraron como confirmados aquellos casos con resultados positivos en ambas pruebas. Se hizo un análisis univariado y una asociación estadística de variables. Resultados. Se halló una prevalencia confirmada de 1,4 % (2/138) en este municipio. La tenencia de animales en la casa y el contacto con el vector se detectaron entre los factores asociados, aunque sin significación estadística. Conclusiones. Con base en los resultados del presente estudio, se sugiere una búsqueda activa de casos de la enfermedad de Chagas en zonas no endémicas de Colombia que presenten los factores de riesgo para la adquisición de la enfermedad, aun cuando las condiciones climáticas y la altura sobre el nivel del mar sean diferentes a las descritas en la literatura científica.

Introduction: Chagas´ disease is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. This condition presents epidemiological risk factors associated with socioeconomic conditions and is currently considered an important public health problem. Its presence has been reported in endemic regions at elevations of up to 2,000 meters above sea level. Objective: To determine the prevalence of anti- T. cruzi antibodies and the possible risk factors associated with this condition in women of childbearing age from the town of Socotá, Boyacá. Materials and methods: An observational, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a population of women of childbearing age from Socotá, Boyacá. The samples were analyzed by Chagas ELISA IgG and IgM test and indirect hemagglutination test. A univariate analysis and statistical association of variables were performed. Results: A confirmed prevalence of 2/138 (1.4%) was found in this town. Having pets or a history of contact with vectors were possible associated risk factors although without statistical significance. Conclusions: From the results obtained in the present study, it is suggested that more active research be carried out for cases of Chagas´ disease in non-endemic areas in Colombia that present risk factors for acquiring the disease, even when the environmental conditions and elevation differ from those described in the literature.

Prevalence of anti-Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies in women of childbearing age in Socotá, Boyacá, 2014.

INTRODUCTION: Chagas' disease is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. This condition presents epidemiological risk factors associated with socioeconomic conditions and is currently considered an important public health problem. Its presence has been reported in endemic regions at elevations of up to 2,000 meters above sea level.  OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of anti-T. cruzi antibodies and the possible risk factors associated with this condition in women of childbearing age from the town of Socotá, Boyacá.  MATERIALS AND METHODS: An observational, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a population of women of childbearing age from Socotá, Boyacá. The samples were analyzed by Chagas ELISA IgG and IgM test and indirect hemagglutination test. A univariate analysis and statistical association of variables were performed.  RESULTS: A confirmed prevalence of 2/138 (1.4%) was found in this town. Having pets or a history of contact with vectors were possible associated risk factors although without statistical significance.  CONCLUSIONS: From the results obtained in the present study, it is suggested that more active research be carried out for cases of Chagas' disease in non-endemic areas in Colombia that present risk factors for acquiring the disease, even when the environmental conditions and elevation differ from those described in the literature.

Seroprevalencia de anticuerpos anti-Leptospira en trabajadores de plantas de sacrificio animal en Boyacá, Colombia / Serum prevalence of anti-Leptospira antibodies in workers from animal sacrifice centers in Boyacá, Colombia

Objetivo. Evaluar la seroprevalencia de Leptospira spp. en trabajadores de cinco plantas de sacrificio del departamento de Boyacá, en los municipios de Sogamoso, Chiquinquirá, Paipa, Aquitania y Tuta. Materiales y métodos. Se llevó a cabo un estudio descriptivo, observacional de corte transversal, para el cual se tomaron muestras de suero a 80 operarios de los mataderos de cinco municipios del departamento de Boyacá. El análisis de laboratorio se hizo mediante la técnica de microaglutinación (MAT), en búsqueda de anticuerpos contra diversas serovariedades de Leptospira spp. Se consideró positiva una reacción en la que el 50 % o más de las leptospiras se aglutinaron o se lisaron, tomando como referencia el control positivo. Además, se realizó una encuesta a cada trabajador, con el fin de explorar la presencia de factores de riesgo que pudieran estar asociados con el resultado positivo de la prueba. Resultados. El 35,0 % (n=28) de todos los sueros fueron positivos por MAT. Según la serovariedad, los sueros positivos se distribuyeron así: 41,67 % (n=15) para L. hardjo, 38,89 % (n=14) para L. Bratislava, 8,33 % (n=3) para L. icterohaemorragiae, 5,56 % (n=2) para L. canicola, 2,78 % (n=1) para L. pomona y 2,78 % (n=1) para L. grippotyphosa. Conclusión. Se encontró alta prevalencia de los títulos anti-Leptospira en las muestras de los trabajadores examinados, por lo cual se sugiere enfatizar las medidas de protección laboral, y las medidas preventivas y de promoción de la salud.

Objective: To assess the serum prevalence of Leptospira spp. in workers from five centers for animal sacrifice in the department of Boyacá (Sogamoso, Chiquinquirá, Paipa, Aquitania and Tuta). Materials and methods: An observational, descriptive, cross sectional study was carried out. We took serum samples from 80 workers at the sacrifice plants at five municipalities of the department of Boyacá. Laboratory analysis was done by microagglutination technique (MAT), searching for antibodies against several serovars of Leptospira spp. We considered a reaction positive, if 50% or more leptospiras agglutinated or lysed their membranes, taking as reference the positive control. Furthermore, we applied a survey to each worker to explore the presence of risk factors associated with a positive test. Results: The global serum positive percentage by MAT test was 35.0% (n=28). The discriminated serum positivity test, by serovar was: 41.67% (n=15) for serovar Hardjo, 38.9% (n=14) for Bratislava, 8.33 (n=3) for Icterohaemorragiae, 5.56% (n=2) for Canicola, 2.78% (n=1) for Pomona, and the other 2.78% (n=1) was identified as serovar Grippotyphosa. Conclusion: We found a high prevalence in the levels of anti-Leptospira antibodies in the samples of the workers evaluated, so we suggest emphasizing the protection standards and focusing on preventive and health promotion norms.