Alterations of the erythrocyte membrane by in vitro action of Trichinella spiralis muscle larvae.

The complex life cycle of Trichinella spiralis includes the migration of newborn larvae through the bloodstream to their encystment in muscle. The parasite establishes an intimate contact with the erythrocytes of the host both during the migration of the newborn larvae and when encysting, as this parasite causes intense vascularization in the muscle cell. The goal of this work was to study the effects of various concentrations of T. spiralis muscle larvae (ML) on erythrocyte membranes. The treatment was performed by incubating human erythrocytes with equal volume of different concentrations of ML for 30 minutes, with controlled agitation (37°C). The control erythrocytes (with no contact with the larvae) were incubated in the same way with an equal volume of physiological solution. To evaluate the alterations to the erythrocytes by the action of the larvae and in the respective controls, an Erythrocyte Rheometer and a Digital Image Analysis technique were used. The results indicated that when the larval concentration was higher, the aggregation and erythrocyte membrane alterations were also higher. Also, the erythrocyte deformability index and the erythrocyte elasticity increased. The values of isolated cell coefficient varied from 0.51 in the treatment with 100 larvae/ml to 0.91 in the incubation with 1000 larvae/ml. This experiment shows that T. spiralis muscle larvae affect significantly the red blood cell aggregation and the erythrocyte viscoelastic properties.

Estudio de anticuerpos de inmunización ABO en niños con ascariosis / Study of ABO immune antibodies in children with ascariasis

Los anticuerpos inmunes tienen una gran importancia clínica, pues pueden producir reacción hemolítica o enfermedad hemolítica del recién nacido. El objetivo de este trabajo era detectar anticuerpos de inmunización ABO en niños con ascariosis. Se trabajó con muestras de suero obtenidas de una población de niños con ascariosis y de otra población control de niños sanos. Se determinó el grupo ABO en los sueros y se registró si el niño había recibido tratamiento antiparasitario en el momento de la extracción de la muestra. El estudio de los anticuerpos anti-Ay anti-B comprendió: prueba de hemólisis cualitativa, tiempo hemolítico medio, aglutinación y titulación en medio salino y enzimático, titulación en medio enzimático antes y después del tratamiento con 2-mercaptoetanol, y estudio de amplitud térmica. Se realizó también la inhibición con agarosa para los anti-B. El estudio de los anticuerpos ABO en la población de niños parasitados demostró que el 52,63% de los anti-A y el 31,03%de los anti-B tenían características de anticuerpos inmunes. No se encontró ningún anticuerpo ABO inmune en la población control. Se comprobó la existencia de 6 anticuerpos antigalactosa de clase IgG en el grupo de niños parasitados. Todos los sueros con anticuerpos inmunes fueron obtenidos antes o durante el tratamiento específico. La ausencia de anticuerpos de inmunización en los niños que concluyeron el tratamiento y en los niños de la población control sugeriría que la ascariosis es el estímulo externo para su aparición. El seguimiento de los anticuerpos inmunes sería útil para evaluar la evolución de la infección después del tratamiento (AU)

Immune antibodies are of clinical importance because they can produce a hemolytic reaction or hemolytic disease of the newborn. The aim of this study was to detect ABO immune antibodies in children with ascariasis. Serum samples were collected from a population of children with ascariasis and from a control population of healthy children. The ABO group was determined in the sera, and it was recorded if the child had received antiparasitic treatment at the time of the sample collection. The study of anti-A and anti-B antibodies involved a qualitative hemolysis test, mean hemolysis time, agglutination and titration in a saline medium and an enzyme medium, titration before and after 2- mercaptoethanol treatment in an enzyme medium, and a thermal amplitude test. An inhibition test for anti-B antibodies was also carried out in agarose. The study of ABO antibodies in the population of children with parasitemia showed that 52.63% of the anti-A and 31.03%of the anti-B antibodies had characteristics of immune antibodies. No ABO immune antibodies were found in the control population. The presence of 6 anti-galactose antibodies was demonstrated in the group with ascariasis. All the sera with immune antibodies were collected before or during the specific treatment. The absence of immune antibodies in the children that completed the treatment and in the children of the control population would suggest that ascariasis was the external stimulus for their development. The monitoring of these antibodies would be useful for the evaluation of the course of the infection following treatment (AU)

Ascariasis infantil: estudio de anticuerpos inmunes antigalactosa mediante glóbulos rojos desializados / Ascariasis in children: a study of anti-galactose antibodies using desialylated red blood cells

La presencia de anticuerpos inmunes del sistema ABO ha sido asociada con enfermedad hemolítica. Los anticuerpos inmunes desaparecen cuando disminuye el estímulo antigénico, por lo que su determinación cuantitativa permitiría la evaluación del curso clínico y la eficacia del tratamiento. El objetivo de este trabajo es estudiar la presencia de anticuerpos inmunes antigalactosa en sueros de niños con ascariasis. Se trabajó con 15 sueros de niños con infección por Ascaris lumbricoides. Se estudiaron los anticuerpos anti-B en el suero: actividad en medio enzimático y en medio salino; inhibición con agarosa; capacidad hemolítica y tratamiento con 2-mercaptoetanol para determinar la clase de inmunoglobulina (lg). Los anticuerpos anti-B mostraron mayor actividad en medio enzimático, presentaron capacidad hemolítica y la mitad de ellos fueron de clase IgG. Se evidenció la presencia de residuos de galactosil por inhibición con agarosa. Se demuestra la presencia de anticuerpos inmunes antigalactosa en niños con ascariasis

The presence of antibodies of the ABO system has been associated with hemolytic disease. The immune antibodies disappear when the antigenic stimulation decreases. Thus, their quantitative determination would allow the evaluation of the clinical course and treatment efficacy. The objective was to study the presence of anti-galactose antibodies in sera of children with ascariasis. Anti-B antibodies were studied in the sera of 15 chil" dren infected with Ascaris lumbricoides to assess their activity in saline and an enzymatic medium, inhibition by agarose, hemolytic capacity and treatment with 2-mercaptoethanol to determine the Ig class. Anti-B antibodies showed more activity in the enzymatic medium and presented hemolytic capacity; half of them were of the IgG class. Agarose inhibition revealed the presence of galactosyl residues. The presence of anti-galactose antibodies was demonstrated in children with ascariasis

Estudio de hemolisinas del sistema ABO por técnica fotométrica simple en niños con ascariasis / Study of hemolysins of the ABO blood group system in children with ascariasis using a simple photometric technique

La heteroinmunización en el sistema ABO, a través de sustancias de origen animal o bacteriano, puede provocar la aparición de hemolisinas de importancia clínica en transfusión o embarazo. El objetivo de este trabajo era estudiar la presencia de hemolisinas ABO en niños con ascariasis utilizando una técnica fotométrica simple. Se trabajó con sueros de 23 niños (19 antes del tratamiento antiparasitario y 4 después). Se determinó el grupo sanguíneo ABO por técnicas convencionales. La técnica fotométrica usada para demostrar la presencia de hemolisinas ABO es una modificación del tiempo hemolítico (tH) 50. El tiempo hemolítico medido tiene significado clínico cuando es inferior a 300 segundos. El 57,89% de los sueros de los niños sin tratamiento presentó hemolisinas ABO, con tiempos hemolíticos comprendidos entre 100 y 210 segundos. Ninguno de los sueros de los niños tratados presentó hemolisinas ABO. Los resultados sugieren que la infección parasitaria puede ser el estímulo externo para la aparición de hemolisinas ABO. La técnica fotométrica usada es simple, rápida y accesible al laboratorio de rutina

Heteroimmunization in the ABO system by animal or bacterial products can provoke the development of hemolysins of clinical importance in transfusions or pregnancy. We proposed to study the presence of ABO hemolysins in children with ascariasis using a simple photometric technique. Serum samples were collected from 23 children (19 prior to and 4 after treatment with antiparasitic agents). The ABO blood group was determined by conventional techniques. The photometric technique employed to demonstrate the presence of ABO hemolysins is a modification of tH 50. A hemolysis time of less than 300 seconds was considered to be clinically significant. We detected ABO hemolysins in 57.89% of the sera of untreated children, with hemolysis times ranging between 100 and 210 seconds. None of the sera from the treated children presented ABO hemolysins. The results suggest that parasitic infection may be the external stimulus that provokes the appearance of ABO hemolysins. The photometric technique employed is simple and rapid, and is available to any routine laboratory

"Giardia lamblia" en una población infantil / "Giardia lamblia" in a pediatric population

Se estudiaron 8.717 niños menores de 13 años de edad, de ambos sexos durante los años 1992-1996. Objetivos: determinar la frecuencia de Giardia lamblia e una población infantil, la distribución de este agente etiológico de acuerdo a la edad de los niños parasitados y la variación de la frecuencia de la infección en los meses del año. Material y métodos: a todos los pacientes se les solicitó una muestra de heces recogida de forma seriada durante 8 días consecutivos conservadas en formol al 10 por ciento. Las heces se examinaron por microscopía directa en X100 y X400 aumentos para la búsqueda de trofozoítos y/o quistes de G. lamblia. Resultados: de las 8.717 muestras de materia fecal estudiadas 2.290 (26,27 por ciento) presentaron G. lamblia. Los porcentajes de infección variaron del 22,78 al 32,30 por ciento, según la edad, mostrando un pico máximo entre los 3 y 4 años, y del 18,36 al 21,74 por ciento en los menores de 1 año y 12 años, respectivamente. no se observó tendencia en las variaciones mensuales. Conclusiones: el presente estudio sugiere que G. lamblia constituye un patógeno de alta prevalencia en niños, con una frecuencia similar a la comunicada por otros autore, lo que hace necesario su diagnóstico para la aplicación de una terapia adecuada (AU)

[A new trichromic safranin stain for the detection of Cryptosporidium parvum, Cyclospora cayetanensis, species of Microsporidia and Isospora belli in fecal material]. / Una nueva coloración safranina tricrómica para la detección de Cryptosporidium parvum, Cyclospora cayetanensis, especies de Microsporidia e Isospora belli en materia fecal.

Cryptosporidium parvum, Isospora belli, Cyclospora cayetanensis and Microsporidia are frequent pathogens in the immunodeficient host, which may cause multiple infections. The above mentioned parasites are found in feces by the application of different specific tintorial techniques. The objective of this work was the development of a stain for the simultaneous detection of these parasites, reducing costs as well as the time taken to make the diagnosis. The safranin-trichrome stain is simple, chip and its results are similar to those of specific tints. All microorganisms are easy to detect and besides being perfectly distinguishable from fungi and faecal elements.

[Parasitosis in an adult population with chronic gastrointestinal disorders]. / Parasitosis en una población adulta con trastornos gastrointestinales crónicos.

We worked with 185 middle-class patients above 18 years of age, both sexes, who presented diarrhea and/or chronic gastrointestinal disorders. The faeces were collected serially in formol 10% and processed in the following way: direct microscopy, with and without wet staining, concentration by Ritchie's method, 1% safranine technique for a specific investigation of Cryptosporidium sp., and faecal sieving macroparasites. Twenty eight point six of the studied patients showed at least one enteroparasite in their faeces, 48 harboured one parasite and 5 harboured two parasites. The following parasites were found and their corresponding percentages in the entire studied population are given below: Blastocystis hominis 15.7%, Giardia lamblia 7.5%, Cryptosporidium sp. 1.6%, Entamoeba coli 3.3%, Chilomastix mesnilii 1.1%, Ancylostoma duodenale-Necator americanus 0.5%, Ascaris lumbricoides 0.5%, Enterobious vermicularis 0.5% y Endolimax nana 0.5%. The most frequently found enteroparasites in the positive patients were B. hominis and G. lamblia. Cryptosporidium sp. was diagnosed in only three patients. The source of infection could be presumed in all of them. The symptomatology coincided with that described for this coccid in the bibliography. In spite of the fact that they were HIV seronegative patients the diarrhea was not self-limiting, but the immunologic profile of their relatives remained unknown and no other cause of immunosuppression could be detected with justified chronicity. The treatment with spiramycin was effective. Giardiasis was found in 17 patients, and the source of infection could not be inferred in any of them. They all had chronic diarrhea and their most frequent symptoms were abdominal pain, metallic taste, flatulency and nausea. Most of these patients were harboured one parasite, and only 2 of them simultaneously presented another faecal parasite associated to G. lamblia. Treatment with metronidazole was successful in all of them. Twenty nine patients were found to have B. hominis. The source of infection could not be inferred, this amoeboid was present as the only parasite in 25 patients. Predominant symptoms were flatulence, abdominal distention and colis. All patients suffered from chronic diarrhea, alternating, in some cases, with constipation. Good therapeutic results were obtained with metronidazole. Considering that one third of the patients examined presented faecal parasites associated to chronic disorders, it is important to insist on the detection of parasites to chronic disorders, it is important to insist on the detection of parasites using appropriate diagnostic techniques since the application of specific therapy made their eradication possible as well as relieving the patients' symptomatology.

[Parasites found in HIV-seropositive patients]. / Hallazgos de parásitos en pacientes HIV seropositivos.

For 41 months, the presence of parasites was investigated in a seropositive HIV population with the clinical characteristics of stages 3 and 4 according to the OMS classification; of 212 fecal samples belonging to 135 patients which were analyzed, 53.33% presented enteroparasites. A direct parasitological exam and a Ritchie concentration were performed on the feces collected in formol 10%. Two smears were stained with Safranine 1% and two with modified Ziehl-Nielsen to identify Cryptosporidium sp. The detected frequencies were: Cryptosporidium The detected frequencies were: Cryptosporidium sp. 11.11%; I. belli 2.96%; G. lamblia 11.85%; B. hominis 26.66%; A. lumbricoides 2.96%; E. vermicularis 1.48%; H. nana 0.74%; E. coli 13.33%; E. nana 5.93%; Ch. mesnilii 2.22% and I. butschlii 0.74%. There were 46 monoparasitized patients, 19 biparasitized, 5 triparasitized and 2 tetraparasitized. Furthermore, 17 bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL) and 194 sputa were processed, collected in formol 10% and centrifuged to exhaustion; 10 smears were prepared with sediment and were stained with toluidine blue. Groccot (Gomori) coloration was used to confirm doubtful cases. In 47% of the BAL and in 22,68% of the sputa P. carinii was diagnosed. This represents 34.68%. The percentage of positive cases was: 30.88% for those patients who sent a single sputum, 36.84% for those who sent more than one and 27.27% for BAL. Finally, in 7 patients who sent BAL and sputa, there were 2 positive and 2 negative cases in both materials, while P. carinii was diagnosed in 3 patients only in their BAL.

Hallazgos de parásitos en pacientes HIV seropositivos. / [Parasites found in HIV-seropositive patients]

For 41 months, the presence of parasites was investigated in a seropositive HIV population with the clinical characteristics of stages 3 and 4 according to the OMS classification; of 212 fecal samples belonging to 135 patients which were analyzed, 53.33

presented enteroparasites. A direct parasitological exam and a Ritchie concentration were performed on the feces collected in formol 10

. Two smears were stained with Safranine 1

and two with modified Ziehl-Nielsen to identify Cryptosporidium sp. The detected frequencies were: Cryptosporidium The detected frequencies were: Cryptosporidium sp. 11.11

; I. belli 2.96

; G. lamblia 11.85

; B. hominis 26.66

; A. lumbricoides 2.96

; E. vermicularis 1.48

; H. nana 0.74

; E. coli 13.33

; E. nana 5.93

; Ch. mesnilii 2.22

and I. butschlii 0.74

. There were 46 monoparasitized patients, 19 biparasitized, 5 triparasitized and 2 tetraparasitized. Furthermore, 17 bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL) and 194 sputa were processed, collected in formol 10

and centrifuged to exhaustion; 10 smears were prepared with sediment and were stained with toluidine blue. Groccot (Gomori) coloration was used to confirm doubtful cases. In 47

of the BAL and in 22,68

of the sputa P. carinii was diagnosed. This represents 34.68

. The percentage of positive cases was: 30.88

for those patients who sent a single sputum, 36.84

for those who sent more than one and 27.27

for BAL. Finally, in 7 patients who sent BAL and sputa, there were 2 positive and 2 negative cases in both materials, while P. carinii was diagnosed in 3 patients only in their BAL.

[Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia: laboratory diagnosis]. / Neumonía por Pneumocystis carinii: diagnóstico de laboratorio.

We worked with 51 samples, 7 bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL) and 44 sputa (S) of 31 AIDS patients with clinical and radiographic symptoms compatible with Pneumocystis pneumonia. With the aim of finding a specific sensitive methodology for the diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii, we evaluated 4 coloration techniques (silver methenamine, its modification without gold chloride, toluidine blue and Giemsa). 35% of the patients studied were positive. P. carinii were observed in 18% of the 44 sputa. We observed that the analysis of a single sputum sample (S) has a very low sensitivity and that the processing of two or more samples is necessary since only one of the 14 patients who had sent a single sample was found P. carinii positive, while in the remaining ten who had sent more than one (S) sample, the microorganism was detected in 50%. 4 of the 7 BAL were positive. 4 BAL were preceded by the analysis of an (S) sample: in two cases the results were negative while BAL allowed us to make the diagnosis, thus demonstrating its greater efficacy. To enhance sensitivity each sample was centrifuged until exhaustion and 10 slides were prepared for coloration with the final sediment. The four techniques employed were specific and all the Pneumocystis pneumonia patients responded to the treatment. Silver methenamine, its modification without gold chloride, and toluidine blue were very sensitive, in contrast to of Giemsa. The stain to be chosen is either silver methenamine, or its modification, because both achieve the best contrast, allowing optimum P. carinii identification. We suggest the implementation of some of these techniques in laboratory routine.

Neumonía por Pneumocystis carinii: diagnóstico de laboratorio / [Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia: laboratory diagnosis]

We worked with 51 samples, 7 bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL) and 44 sputa (S) of 31 AIDS patients with clinical and radiographic symptoms compatible with Pneumocystis pneumonia. With the aim of finding a specific sensitive methodology for the diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii, we evaluated 4 coloration techniques (silver methenamine, its modification without gold chloride, toluidine blue and Giemsa). 35

of the patients studied were positive. P. carinii were observed in 18

of the 44 sputa. We observed that the analysis of a single sputum sample (S) has a very low sensitivity and that the processing of two or more samples is necessary since only one of the 14 patients who had sent a single sample was found P. carinii positive, while in the remaining ten who had sent more than one (S) sample, the microorganism was detected in 50

. 4 of the 7 BAL were positive. 4 BAL were preceded by the analysis of an (S) sample: in two cases the results were negative while BAL allowed us to make the diagnosis, thus demonstrating its greater efficacy. To enhance sensitivity each sample was centrifuged until exhaustion and 10 slides were prepared for coloration with the final sediment. The four techniques employed were specific and all the Pneumocystis pneumonia patients responded to the treatment. Silver methenamine, its modification without gold chloride, and toluidine blue were very sensitive, in contrast to of Giemsa. The stain to be chosen is either silver methenamine, or its modification, because both achieve the best contrast, allowing optimum P. carinii identification. We suggest the implementation of some of these techniques in laboratory routine.

Neumonía por Pneumocystis carinii: diagnóstico de laboratorio / [Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia: laboratory diagnosis]

We worked with 51 samples, 7 bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL) and 44 sputa (S) of 31 AIDS patients with clinical and radiographic symptoms compatible with Pneumocystis pneumonia. With the aim of finding a specific sensitive methodology for the diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii, we evaluated 4 coloration techniques (silver methenamine, its modification without gold chloride, toluidine blue and Giemsa). 35

of the patients studied were positive. P. carinii were observed in 18

of the 44 sputa. We observed that the analysis of a single sputum sample (S) has a very low sensitivity and that the processing of two or more samples is necessary since only one of the 14 patients who had sent a single sample was found P. carinii positive, while in the remaining ten who had sent more than one (S) sample, the microorganism was detected in 50

. 4 of the 7 BAL were positive. 4 BAL were preceded by the analysis of an (S) sample: in two cases the results were negative while BAL allowed us to make the diagnosis, thus demonstrating its greater efficacy. To enhance sensitivity each sample was centrifuged until exhaustion and 10 slides were prepared for coloration with the final sediment. The four techniques employed were specific and all the Pneumocystis pneumonia patients responded to the treatment. Silver methenamine, its modification without gold chloride, and toluidine blue were very sensitive, in contrast to of Giemsa. The stain to be chosen is either silver methenamine, or its modification, because both achieve the best contrast, allowing optimum P. carinii identification. We suggest the implementation of some of these techniques in laboratory routine.

Neumonía por Pneumocystis carinii: diagnóstico de laboratorio. / [Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia: laboratory diagnosis]

We worked with 51 samples, 7 bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL) and 44 sputa (S) of 31 AIDS patients with clinical and radiographic symptoms compatible with Pneumocystis pneumonia. With the aim of finding a specific sensitive methodology for the diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii, we evaluated 4 coloration techniques (silver methenamine, its modification without gold chloride, toluidine blue and Giemsa). 35

of the patients studied were positive. P. carinii were observed in 18

of the 44 sputa. We observed that the analysis of a single sputum sample (S) has a very low sensitivity and that the processing of two or more samples is necessary since only one of the 14 patients who had sent a single sample was found P. carinii positive, while in the remaining ten who had sent more than one (S) sample, the microorganism was detected in 50

. 4 of the 7 BAL were positive. 4 BAL were preceded by the analysis of an (S) sample: in two cases the results were negative while BAL allowed us to make the diagnosis, thus demonstrating its greater efficacy. To enhance sensitivity each sample was centrifuged until exhaustion and 10 slides were prepared for coloration with the final sediment. The four techniques employed were specific and all the Pneumocystis pneumonia patients responded to the treatment. Silver methenamine, its modification without gold chloride, and toluidine blue were very sensitive, in contrast to of Giemsa. The stain to be chosen is either silver methenamine, or its modification, because both achieve the best contrast, allowing optimum P. carinii identification. We suggest the implementation of some of these techniques in laboratory routine.

Neumonía por Pneumocystis carinii: diagnóstico de laboratorio. / [Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia: laboratory diagnosis]

We worked with 51 samples, 7 bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL) and 44 sputa (S) of 31 AIDS patients with clinical and radiographic symptoms compatible with Pneumocystis pneumonia. With the aim of finding a specific sensitive methodology for the diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii, we evaluated 4 coloration techniques (silver methenamine, its modification without gold chloride, toluidine blue and Giemsa). 35

of the patients studied were positive. P. carinii were observed in 18

of the 44 sputa. We observed that the analysis of a single sputum sample (S) has a very low sensitivity and that the processing of two or more samples is necessary since only one of the 14 patients who had sent a single sample was found P. carinii positive, while in the remaining ten who had sent more than one (S) sample, the microorganism was detected in 50

. 4 of the 7 BAL were positive. 4 BAL were preceded by the analysis of an (S) sample: in two cases the results were negative while BAL allowed us to make the diagnosis, thus demonstrating its greater efficacy. To enhance sensitivity each sample was centrifuged until exhaustion and 10 slides were prepared for coloration with the final sediment. The four techniques employed were specific and all the Pneumocystis pneumonia patients responded to the treatment. Silver methenamine, its modification without gold chloride, and toluidine blue were very sensitive, in contrast to of Giemsa. The stain to be chosen is either silver methenamine, or its modification, because both achieve the best contrast, allowing optimum P. carinii identification. We suggest the implementation of some of these techniques in laboratory routine.

[Importance of the diagnosis of Blastocystis hominis in the parasitological examination of feces]. / Importancia del diagnóstico de Blastocystis hominis en el examen parasitológico de heces.

Feces of 798 male and female patients who attended the Parasitology Laboratory of the "Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas de la Universidad Nacional de Rosario (República Argentina)" were examined. Out of the total number of samples, 281 were collected after a purgative, and 517 by serial collection. The samples were examined applying the routine parasitological analysis. Those which presented Blastocysts hominis were processed for their quantification and classification in different categories according to the number of cells per microscopic field with a magnification of 400 x. B. hominis appeared in 25.2% of the patients. Practically the same percentage was detected with either collection method. B. hominis was associated with other parasites, appearing as the only parasite in only 29.4% of the cases. Both its statistical association with the patient's age and its independence from sex were determined. The most frequent symptomatology in patients with B. hominis only was: abdominal pains, pruritus, flatulence, malaise, anorexia and diarrhea. Only 14.9% did not present any symptoms at all. The search for this protozoa should be a parasitological routine analysis since it is the cause of frequent intestinal disorders.

Presencia de Cryptosporidium sp. en heces diarreicas de una población infantil / Occurrence of Cryptosporidium sp. in diarrheic feces of a population of children

Se examinaron durante un año 300 muestras de materia fecal de 210 niños diarreicos, para la búsqueda de Cryptosporidium sp., procedentes del Hospital Provincial del Centenario, Rosario. El rango de edad de los niños osciló entre la primer semana de vida y los 13 años, aunque su mayoría no superó los 3 años. Las heces se recolectaron en formol 10%, se enriquecieron por el método de formol-eter y se colorearon con las técnicas permanentes se Safranina 1% y Ziehl Neelsen modificada. Los ooquistes de Cryptosporidium sp. fueron detectados en 16 de los 210 niños examinados (7,6%). La cantidad de ooquistes presentes en las muestras positivas fue de moderada a abundante, con excepción de un solo niño donde el número de ooquistes fue demasiado escaso. Se obtuvieron muestras adicionales de sólo 5 de estos 16 niños. En 3 de ellos la segunda muestra se negativizó. En ninguna de las muestras positivas se detectaron simultáneamente trofozoitos, quistes, esporoquistes, huevos o larvas de otro enteoparásito. La búsqueda de Cryptosporidium sp. En niños diarreicos debe ser considerada como rutina parasitológica para el diagnóstico etiológico diferencial (AU)

Presencia de Cryptosporidium sp. en heces diarreicas de una población infantil / Occurrence of Cryptosporidium sp. in diarrheic feces of a population of children

Se examinaron durante un año 300 muestras de materia fecal de 210 niños diarreicos, para la búsqueda de Cryptosporidium sp., procedentes del Hospital Provincial del Centenario, Rosario. El rango de edad de los niños osciló entre la primer semana de vida y los 13 años, aunque su mayoría no superó los 3 años. Las heces se recolectaron en formol 10%, se enriquecieron por el método de formol-eter y se colorearon con las técnicas permanentes se Safranina 1% y Ziehl Neelsen modificada. Los ooquistes de Cryptosporidium sp. fueron detectados en 16 de los 210 niños examinados (7,6%). La cantidad de ooquistes presentes en las muestras positivas fue de moderada a abundante, con excepción de un solo niño donde el número de ooquistes fue demasiado escaso. Se obtuvieron muestras adicionales de sólo 5 de estos 16 niños. En 3 de ellos la segunda muestra se negativizó. En ninguna de las muestras positivas se detectaron simultáneamente trofozoitos, quistes, esporoquistes, huevos o larvas de otro enteoparásito. La búsqueda de Cryptosporidium sp. En niños diarreicos debe ser considerada como rutina parasitológica para el diagnóstico etiológico diferencial