Retrospective Analysis of Potential Lyme Disease Clinical Cases in Argentina.

Lyme disease, a multisystemic infectious disorder caused by pathogenic spirochetes of the genus Borrelia transmitted by the bite of ticks, typically from the family Ixodidae, pose a significant public health issue worldwide. The Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) group encompasses the Borrelia Lyme Group (LG), Borrelia Echidna-Reptile Group (REPG), and Borrelia Relapsing Fever Group (RFG), with some species remaining unclassified due to culturing challenges. Research into B. burgdorferi s.l. infection (Lyme Group) has intensified, focusing on its epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment. Originally identified in North America and Europe, Lyme disease has now become a global concern, with Latin American countries reporting the microorganism, the disease, and/or its vectors. In Argentina, the presence of B. burgdorferi and Lyme disease has sparked significant scientific and medical debate. Ecological changes due to climate and habitat shifts have expanded the geographical distribution of these ticks. Argentina, with its diverse geography and climate, hosts various tick species that could potentially act as Lyme disease vectors, raising important public health questions. The confirmed presence of B. burgdorferi s.l. and Lyme disease in Argentina remains contentious but relevant, necessitating thorough scientific and medical examination. This work aims to enhance understanding and discussion of Lyme disease in Argentina by presenting clinical cases and their laboratory analyses, highlighting the disease's presence and implications in the country. Through documenting suspected clinical cases and analyzing available data on B. burgdorferi and Lyme disease in Argentina, this study seeks to contribute to the understanding of the disease's current status and inform future research, prevention, and control strategies in the region. The goal is to provide a basis for addressing Lyme disease's public health impact in Argentina and promote further investigation into this evolving issue.

Lyme Disease: A Review with Emphasis on Latin America.

The spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Lyme Group) is the causative agent of Lyme disease, transmitted to humans through tick bites carrying the bacteria. Common symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and the characteristic erythema migrans skin rash. If left untreated, the infection can affect joints, the cardiac system, and the nervous system. Diagnosis relies on symptoms, clinical signs (such as the rash), and potential exposure to infected ticks, with laboratory tests proving valuable when appropriately employed with validated methods. Most cases of Lyme disease respond effectively to a few weeks of antibiotic treatment. In Latin America, knowledge of Lyme disease is limited and often confounded, underscoring the significance of this review in aiding medical professionals in recognizing the disease. This study delves explicitly into Lyme disease in Argentina, neighboring countries, and other Latin American nations.

Serology and protein electrophoresis for evidence of exposure to 12 mink pathogens in free-ranging American mink (Neovison vison) in Argentina.

BACKGROUND: Basic pathologic characteristics for farmed minks were previously reported worldwide. However, its status in the wild has not been studied in detail. OBJECTIVE: Serology and electrophoresis were carried out for evidence of exposure to 12 mink pathogens on two different locations. ANIMALS AND METHODS: Serology was done in 87 wild minks by reference techniques against Toxoplasma gondii, Encephalitozoon cuniculi, Neospora caninum, Brucella abortus, Mycobacterium bovis, Leptospira interrogans, canine distemper virus (CDV), canine adenovirus (CAV), canine parvovirus (CPV), rabies virus (RV), Influenza A virus (FLUAV) and Aleutian disease virus (ADV). Hypergammaglobulinemia, the ADV main clinical feature, was determined by conventional electrophoresis. RESULTS: Seventy-one percent of the 87 sera had antibodies against one or more pathogens. ADV accounted for the highest seroprevalence (29%), followed by T. gondii (26%), L. interrogans (14%), M. bovis (12%), B. abortus (9%), N. caninum (3%), CPV (3%) and CDV (2%). Seroprevalence was influenced by location but not sex or age. Additionally, 16% of the seropositive samples for ADV had gammaglobulin levels >40.0 g/L. Antibody titers for CDV and CPV were low and difficult to interpret as almost all these cases had borderline concentrations. CONCLUSION: A cautious interpretation of the results is urged as the epidemiological role of the wild mink is largely unexplored for most of these agents. Nevertheless, the information may be clinically relevant..

Poliartritis en cerdos de engorde: aislamiento y caracterización de Mycoplasma hyosynoviae y Acholeplasma granularum / Poliarthritis in growing pig: isolation and Characterisation of Mycoplasma hyosynoviae and Acholeplasma granularum

Objetivo. Investigar la presencia de microorgnismos pertenecientes a los géneros Mycoplasma y Acholeplasma de muestras de exudado articular obtenido de cerdos con lesiones de poliartritis. Material y Métodos. Las muestras se sembraron en medio de Hayflick modificado y se incubaron en aerobiosis, en microaerobiosis y en anaerobiosis. Se realizó la caracterización bioquímica de las cepas aisladas mediante las pruebas de: fermentación de la glucosa, hidrólisis de la arginina, reducción del tetrazolium, producción de la enzima fosfatasa y observación de "film and spot". Se realizó la identificación serológica mediante las pruebas de inhibición de crecimiento y epi-inmunofluorescencia con sueros de referencia. Mediante la técnica de electroforesis en gel de poliacrilamida con SDS, se compraron los perfiles proteicos de las cepas aisladas con las cepas de referencia S16 de Mycoplasma hyosynoviae y BTS39 de Acholeplasma granularum. Resultado. Sobre la base de los resultados obtenidos, dos de las cepas obtenidas correspondieron a M. hyosynoviae y una a A. granularum. Discusión. La implementación de esta metodología permitió el aislamiento de M. hyosynoviae y A. granularum a partir de cerdos con lesiones articulares, por primera vez en Argentina. Consideramos lo expuesto de gran valor, ya que en el futuro veterinarios y productores deberán tener en cuenta esta entidad patológica en la producción de cerdos

Comparación de cuatro antígenos para la determinació de anticuerpos antileptospiras en serología por ensayo inmuno enzimático (ELISA) en leptospirosis canina / Comparison of four antigens in immunoenzymatic assay (ELISA) for especific antibody determination in a serology of leptospirosis in dogs

Introducción. La Leptospirosis es una enfermedad, que frecuentemente pasa sub diagnosticada debido a la falta de una prueba de diagnóstico de fácil realización. Dentro de las técnicas de laboratorio, las inmuno-enzimáticas, se encuentran entre las de mayor sensibilidad. El presente trabajo tiene por objetivo el desarrollo de la técnica de ELISA, que permita la detección diagnóstica de la Leptospirosis en forma rápida, sencilla y económica. Material y métodos. Se utilizaron como antígeno (Ag) cultivos vivos de Leptospira interrogans sv. icterohaemorrhagiae con distintos tratamiento: cultivo total, sonicado, termo resistente (TR) y TR sonicado. La prueba se realizó con 29 sueros caninos sospechosos clínicamente de leptospirosis, diluido en PBS 1/8; utilizándose 3 controles negativos y 3 controles positivos. Todos los sueros fueron comparados con la técnica de Aglutinación Microscópica (MAT) utilizando como Ag la misma cepa utilizada para ELISA. Resultados. Los resultados de este estudio muestran que de 29 sueros analizados 10 (34 por ciento) dieron resultados positivos. Todos los controles positivos dieron desarrollo evidente de color en los pocillos, no variando su color con controles negativos. La correlación con la técnica de MAT fue de +0,80 (Ag sonicados) y +0,70 (Ag sin sonicar) según los antígenos utilizados. Discusión. Esta técnica de rápida realización (150 minutos) podría ser adaptada a cualquier laboratorio y permitiría su uso como método de diagnóstico tamiz de Leptospirosis en canino

Lyme Disease: antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi in farm workers in Argentina

A doença de Lyme é uma desordem inflamatória, intermediada pelo sistema imunogênico, transmitida por carrapatos (especialmente do Gênero Ixodes) e causada por uma espiroqueta recentemente descoberta, a Borrelia burgdorferi. A técnica de Imunofluorescência Indireta (IF) é, com freqüência, usada para confirmar o diagnóstico da infecçäo por este microrganismo. Embora os métodos práticos tenham limitaçöes, é, no entanto, o único método prático para seu diagnóstico. Devido a näo existência de registros prévios dessa doença na Argentina, foi realizada pesquisa seroepidemiológica para determinar a presença de imunoglobinas nos trabalhadores rurais da Argentina, com sintomas de artrite. Sobre um total de 28 soros analisados, 3 resultaram positivos (o soro número 1 com um título de 1:320 para IgG, embora os soros números 5 e 9 ambos foram reativos a diluiçäo 1:160). Esses mesmos soros foram analisados para a IgM sendo todos eles levemente reativos (1:40), usando IF. Os resultados mostram que anticorpos anti Borrelia burgdorferi se encontram presentes na populaçäo da Argentina. Deve-se ter, portanto, precauçäo na interpretaçäo clínica das artrites até que a presença de Borrelia burgdorferi seja confirmada pelo cultivo nos meios específicos