HIV testing and counselling in Colombia: evidence from a national health survey and recommendations for health-care services.

The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of, and the factors associated with HIV testing and pre- and post-test counselling (PPTC) in Colombia. Cross-sectional data from the National Health Survey carried out during 2007 were analysed. Data were gathered from records of 29,760 individuals between the ages of 18 and 69 from the main regions of the country. Only 19.7% of the sample had taken an HIV test. Men, people with no education, those not affiliated with the health-care system, residents of rural areas and those aged older than 65 were less likely to have been tested for HIV; 42% of those tested did not receive pre-test counselling and 56.9% received no report of the results. Considering the low prevalence of HIV testing among the Colombian population, it is necessary to design and apply guidelines for HIV screening in all health-care settings and to conduct targeted testing in high-risk sub-populations. A national norm of PPTC in those who undergo HIV testing should be examined.

Análisis comparativo de la toxicidad del extracto acuoso en cocimiento de la harina de maca (Lepidium meyenii, Walp) en tres especies de animales modelos: Artemia franciscana (Crustácea, Anostraca), pez Guppy (Poecilia Reticulata) y ratón (Mus musculus) / Comparative analisis of toxicity of aqueous boiled extracts of maca flour (Lepidium meyenii, Walp) in Artemia franciscana (Crustacea anostraca), guppy (Poecilia reticulate) and mouse (Mus musculus)

Se evalúa la toxicidad del extracto acuoso en cocimiento de la harina de maca en dos organismos acuáticos, un invertebrado la Artemia franciscana y un vertebrado el pez Guppy (Poecilia reticulata). Así mismo, se evalúa la toxicidad aguda por vía intraperitoneal en el ratón (Mus musculus) que es el modelo animal comúnmente utilizado para ensayos preclínicos a nivel de laboratorios. Se comprobó que existe toxicidad del Lepidium meyenii para estos tres animales que dependen de la dosis y el tiempo de exposición.

Toxicity of aqueous boiled extracts of maca flour was evaluated in two aquatic organisms: Artemia franciscana (invertebrate) and guppy (Poecilia reticulata), a vertebrate fish. Also, acute toxicity of this extract was evaluated by intraperitoneal administration in mouse (Mus musculus), a common animal model used in laboratories for preclinical tests. Results show toxic effects of Lepidium meyenii on all three animal species, depending on dose and exposure time.

New cytotype in the Simulium metallicum complex (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Cundinamarca, Colombia.

Polytene chromosomes (n = 108) and morphology (n = 22) of Simulium metallicum Bellardi were described from larvae collected in different localities in Cundinamarca, Colombia, and compared with the standard polytene chromosome banding patterns of S. metallicum A. Polytene chromosomes of S. metallicum from Cundinamarca were characterized by a fixed inversion on the IIL chromosome arm (IIL-22), by 2 sex-linked inversions (IIL-24 and IIL-25), 6 floating inversions, and a heteroband in the IIIS chromosome arm. This taxon was considered to be a cytotype distinct from the 11 members of the S. metallicum complex from Central and South America, and we propose here the name S. metallicum L, following the convention for naming cytotypes in this species complex. There were slight larval morphological differences between S. metallicum from Cundinamarca and S. metallicum A and S. horacioi Okazawa & Onishi (or S. metallicum H).

Current status of onchocerciasis in Colombia.

To assess the current epidemiologic status of onchocerciasis in Colombia two surveys were undertaken in 1995 in a suspected new focus on the border between Colombia and Ecuador and in the known focus located on the Micay River. No new focus was found along the Colombia-Ecuador border. In the known focus, communities along the upper Micay River and its tributaries were surveyed; 655 adults underwent physical examinations and skin biopsies. Infected individuals were found almost exclusively in the community of Naiciona, where prevalence of infection was 40% (36 of 91). Polymerase chain reaction detection of onchocercal DNA in skin snips correlated with the skin-snip biopsy results. The prevalence of punctate keratitis, the only ocular manifestation found, was 33%. A rapid entomologic assessment demonstrated Simulium exiguum infected with Onchocerca volvulus. This is the first finding in Colombia of naturally infected black flies and confirms S. exiguum as a vector species. These data will be used for implementing a control program using periodic ivermectin distribution.

Development of Mansonella ozzardi in a black fly species of the Simulium sanguineum group from Eastern Vaupés, Colombia.

Development of the microfilaria of Mansonella ozzardi to the infective stage in a species of the Simulium sanguineum group from the Mitú area, Comisaría del Vaupés, Colombia is described. Development was synchronous, and by day 6 third-stage larvae were observed in the head of flies which had fed on two naturally infected volunteers. Simulium biting activity was high from January-March, during the dry season. Only 261 blood-fed Culicoides were collected from an infected volunteer; 40% of 43 dissected on day 0 had ingested microfilariae. However, only one of 129 C. caprilesi specimens dissected after day 2 was positive, containing a second-stage larva thought to be M. ozzardi. It is concluded that Simulium, rather than Culicoides are the principal vectors of mansonelliasis in the Mitú area.

Simulium exiguum, the vector of Onchocerca volvulus on the Rio Micay, Colombia.

Simulium exiguum were collected in the San Antonio area on the Rio Micay as they blood-fed on a volunteer naturally infected with Onchocerca volvulus. The daily dissection of specimens revealed that delayed larval development was common and 23% of the larvae were abnormally formed. However, third-stage larvae were recovered by late day 5 (140 hours) following engorgement. It is concluded that S. exiguum is the vector of O. volvulus at this Colombian endemic focus even though its host efficiency is somewhat limited. S. metallicum collected near Cali from a naturally infected San Antonio volunteer was shown to be a relatively poor experimental host for O. volvulus.