Acanthocephaliasis by Plagiorhynchus sp. (Acanthocephala:Plagiorhynchidae) associated with necrotic enteritis in quetzals (Pharomachrus mocinno) maintained in captivity.

The present report describes a case of acanthocephaliasis associated with necrotic enteritis in quetzals (Pharomachrus mocinno). Three juvenile quetzals exhibited depression, anorexia, ruffled feathers, and sudden death. They were submitted to the laboratory for examination. The birds had hatched and lived in captivity in an aviary in Mexico. Gross lesions observed were hemorrhagic, fibrinoid necrotic enteritis, with acanthocephalans adhered to the intestinal mucosa. The specimens were identified by parasitology, electronic microscopy, and molecular biology as Plagiorhynchus (Prosthorhynchus) sp. Lesions compatible with necrotic enteritis were also confirmed by isolation and genotyping of Clostridium perfringens type E. This is the first report of Plagiorhynchus (Prosthorhynchus) sp. in quetzals in captivity in Mexico. The findings in this manuscript suggest that this parasite could be a predisposing factor for necrotic enteritis as well as a risk component in the breeding programs and survival of this avian species in captivity.

Hyperimmunoglobulinemia E in the absence of atopy and filarial infection: the Huaorani of Ecuador.

Hyperimmunoglobulinemia E (HIGE) is associated with various conditions such as atopy, dermatitis, hypersensitivity reactions, and certain parasitic infections. In the course of vaccination initiatives in the province of Napo, eastern Ecuador, blood samples were collected from one of the two remaining rural subgroups of Huaorani Indians who in 1979 were reported to have the world's highest concentrations of IgE. One subgroup of Huaorani, the Dicaron, lives in a protected Amazonian region which has reportedly suffered from extensive pollution after petroleum industry exploration. Plasma was collected from 31 members of the Dicaron (age range 15-75 years), eight non-Dicaron Huaorani, and 16 Quichua Indians from the same province, and tested for IgE, IgG, IgM, IgA, and immunoglobulin allotypes. Subjects were examined for evidence of filariasis, a group of parasitic diseases associated with HIGE. Mean IgE concentration in the Dicaron was measured by CAP ELISA at 11,850 IU/mL (range 5000-33,000) while IgA and IgM concentrations were within normal limits compared to North American controls. IgG levels were slightly elevated and there was no evidence of filariasis. Compared to the Quichua and non-Dicaron Huaorani, two other Amerindian tribes in the Ecuadorian Amazon, the highest concentrations of IgE were recorded from the Dicaron who live within the allegedly polluted section of the Amazon. We conclude that an unexplained HIGE syndrome exists among only one subgroup of Huaorani, the Dicaron. Other eastern Ecuadorian Amerindians, such as the Quichua and resettled Huaorani, have IgE concentrations expected in a population with intestinal helminthiasis. Environmental factors cannot be excluded as the cause of HIGE in the Dicaron.

[Extramedullary intracranial solitary plasmocytoma. Report of 2 cases]. / Plasmocitoma solitario intracraneal extramedular. Reporte de dos casos.

Multiple myeloma frequently affects the C.N.S with a high prevalence of spinal cord compression following vertebral neoplastic infiltration. On the other hand, solitary plasmacytomas, tumors that arise in a wide variety of locations due to the universal distribution of plasma cells, are infrequent within the cranial vault and rarely present as extramedullary lesions, arising from the intracranial soft tissues without affecting neighboring bony structures. Only 33 such cases have been reported in the medical literature. The authors report two additional cases of solitary intracranial, extramedullary plasmacytoma. Case 1.--54 year-old woman with a chief complaint of severe headache and behavioral changes of three months duration. C.N.S. imaging revealed a bifrontal mass lesion, arising from the anterior third of the falx cerebri. Case 2.--45 year old-man who complained of headache and blurred vision of a month duration C.N.S. imaging displayed a third ventricle mass lesion. In both cases the neuropathological diagnosis was extramedullary plasmacytoma. Postoperatively the confirmation of solitary intracranial plasmacytoma was achieved only after a thorough work-up to rule out the presence of neoplasm elsewhere in the body. Radiotherapy was given to both patients and follow-up has failed to reveal neoplastic disease 4 and 3 years, respectively, after the diagnosis.

Studies on a focus of yaws in the Santiago Basin, province of Esmeraldas, Ecuador.

A clinical and serological epidemiological study done on a yaws focus in the Santiago Basin area, province of Esmeraldas, showed a prevalence of 11.3% for active clinical lesions and a seropositivity of 94.9%. The Rio Santiago was hyperendemic for yaws (prevalence, 17.9%; seropositivity, 98.0%) while Rio Zapallito was found to be mesoendemic and the Rio Cayapas and Rio Onzoles hypoendemic. Active and latent evidence of yaws was found only in the black race. Children, ages 5-12 year, were found to have the highest incidence (55.8%) of clinical lesions, with the majority found on the legs (64.2%). Papilloma was the most prevalent lesion (55.4%). Mass treatment of the basin using benzathine penicillin G was done according to WHO recommendation.

Accidentes vasculares cerebrales en pacientes menores de 35 anos. / Cerobrovascular accidents in patients under 35 years-old

Se revisaron las historias clinicas de 21 pacientes menores de 35 anos ingresados por accidente vascular cerebral en el Hospital Coromoto, Maracaibo. Las causas encontradas fueron: Accidente vascular embolico: 9 pacientes (42,8%). Hemorragia subaracnoidea: 7 pacientes (33,3%). Isquemia cerebral transitoria: 3 pacientes (14,3%).Arterioesclerosis prematura: 1 paciente (5,3%). Vasculitis: 1 paciente (5,3%). En 11 de los 21 pacientes se encontro prolapso valvular mitral y en 10 de estos ultimos fue un factor determinante en la etiologia del accidente (7 episodios embolicos y 3 episodios isquemicos transitorios). La evolucion clinica fue satisfactoria en la mayoria de los pacientes con pocas secuelas neurologicas