Use of the PCR in a Combined Methodological Approach for the Study of Human Fascioliasis in an Endemic Area.

PURPOSE: Fascioliasis is a worldwide distributed trematodiasis considered a neglected disease. Diagnosis in humans has been traditionally based on parasitological and immunological techniques. Recently we reported the use of the PCR in stool samples for the individual diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate human fascioliasis by a combination of diagnostic methods in an area where the disease is highly endemic in animals. METHODS: We studied all the inhabitants (N = 240) of Tatón village, Argentina, by Fasciola hepatica rproCL1-ELISA. Among them, we continued the study with 13 cases that had at least two positive serological tests, who performed a questionnaire, physical examination, abdominal ultrasonography, and collection of blood and faeces. Blood/serum samples were used for Fh rproCL1-ELISA and liver function tests. Faeces were used for parasitological analysis and PCR of a repetitive fragment of Fasciola sp. RESULTS: Among the 13 patients, 9 presented symptoms of biliary colic. All patients repeated positive serology. F. hepatica eggs were not detected. PCR was positive in 11 cases. CONCLUSION: This is the first report employing an approach based on the combination of methods for the evaluation of human fascioliasis in an endemic area, which includes molecular tools with a high value in detecting low infections.

Fasciola hepatica infection in humans: overcoming problems for the diagnosis.

Fascioliasis is a zoonosis actually considered as a foodborne trematode disease priority by the World Health Organization. Our study presents three cases of F. hepatica infection diagnosed by direct, indirect and/or imaging diagnostic techniques, showing the need of the combined use of them. In order to overcome some difficulties of the presently available methods we show for the first time the application of molecular tools to improve human fascioliasis diagnosis by employing a PCR protocol based on a repetitive element as target sequence. In conclusion, diagnosis of human fascioliasis has to be carried out by the combination of diagnostic techniques that allow the detection of infection in different disease phases, different epidemiological situations and known/new transmission patterns in the actual scenario.

[Primary pyomyositis. Review of 32 cases diagnosed by ultrasound]. / Piomiositis primaria. Revisión de 32 casos diagnosticados por ecografía.

Primary pyomyositis is a bacterial infection of striated muscle which is acquired by hematogenous route. It is related to risk factors such as HIV/aids and other immuno suppressing diseases, and can be associated with local muscle stress factors. The most frequent etiology is Staphylococcus aureus. Its diagnostic delay may cause a fatal evolution. In this series 32 patients with primary pyomyositis diagnosed by ultrasound were evaluated. The most frequent risk factor was HIV/aids (61%). Local factors were detected in 21 (66%) cases: first, the practice of football. The monofocal form was observed in 19 (59%), the most commonly affected muscles were quadriceps, calves and psoas. Samples for bacteriological study were obtained in 30 cases, 22 blood culture and 27 abscess materials. In 30 cases the etiologic agent was isolated. Staphylococcus aureus accounted for 83.3% (25 cases) and Escherichia coli, Nocardia spp., Streptococcus agalactiae, nontuberculous mycobacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated in one case each. Seventeen patients received surgical treatment, aspirative punctures, 9; antibiotics alone, 4. Twenty eight (93.3%) patients had a good evolution; deaths, 2 (6.6%); unknown, 2. Main conclusions of this study were: due to the diverse and changing etiology of the primary pyomyositis it is important to recognize the etiological agent involved and their antibiotic susceptibility. The ultrasound performed the study in real time so it can be used to guide the puncture and to facilitate the immediate diagnosis. This makes the difference with other techniques and transforms it into a first-line method for the study of this disease.

Piomiositis primaria: Revisión de 32 casos diagnosticados por ecografía / Primary pyomyositis. Review of 32 cases diagnosed by ultrasound

La piomiositis primaria es la infección bacteriana por vía hematógena del músculo estriado. Está relacionada con factores de riesgo como HIV/sida y otras enfermedades inmunodepresoras, pudiendo estar asociados a factores locales de estrés muscular. El agente etiológico más frecuente es Staphylococcus aureus. Su retardo diagnóstico puede ocasionar una evolución fatal. En esta serie se evaluaron 32 pacientes con piomiositis primaria diagnosticados por ecografía. El factor de riesgo más frecuente fue el HIV/sida (61%). Los factores locales se detectaron en 21 casos (66%): en primer lugar, la práctica de futbol. La forma monofocal se observó en 19 (59%) los músculos más frecuentemente afectados fueron cuádriceps, gemelos y psoas. Se obtuvieron muestras para estudio bacteriológico en 30 casos, 27 de material del absceso y 22 hemocultivos. En los 30 casos se aisló el agente etiológico. El Staphylococcus aureus representó el 83.3% (25 casos) y Escherichia coli, Nocardia spp., Streptococcus agalactiae, Micobacteria no tuberculosa y Pseudomonas aeruginosa fueron aislados en un caso cada uno. Recibieron tratamiento quirúrgico 17 pacientes, punciones aspirativas, 9; antibióticos solamente, 4. Presentaron buena evolución 28 de los 30 pacientes (93.3%), óbitos, 2 (6.6%); desconocida, 2. Este estudio concluyó que: ante la etiología diversa y cambiante de las piomiositis primarias es importante reconocer el agente involucrado y su sensibilidad antibiótica. La ecografía realiza la evaluación en tiempo real y puede ser utilizada como guía de punción facilitando el diagnóstico inmediato. Esto la diferencia de otras técnicas, transformándola en un método de primera línea para el estudio de esta enfermedad.

Primary pyomyositis is a bacterial infection of striated muscle which is acquired by hematogenous route. It is related to risk factors such as HIV/aids and other immuno suppressing diseases, and can be associated with local muscle stress factors. The most frequent etiology is Staphylococcus aureus. Its diagnostic delay may cause a fatal evolution. In this series 32 patients with primary pyomyositis diagnosed by ultrasound were evaluated. The most frequent risk factor was HIV/aids (61%). Local factors were detected in 21 (66%) cases: first, the practice of football. The monofocal form was observed in 19 (59%), the most commonly affected muscles were quadriceps, calves and psoas. Samples for bacteriological study were obtained in 30 cases, 22 blood culture and 27 abscess materials. In 30 cases the etiologic agent was isolated. Staphylococcus aureus accounted for 83.3% (25 cases) and Escherichia coli, Nocardia spp., Streptococcus agalactiae, nontuberculous mycobacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated in one case each. Seventeen patients received surgical treatment, aspirative punctures, 9; antibiotics alone, 4. Twenty eight (93.3%) patients had a good evolution; deaths, 2 (6.6%); unknown, 2. Main conclusions of this study were: due to the diverse and changing etiology of the primary pyomyositis it is important to recognize the etiological agent involved and their antibiotic susceptibility.The ultrasound performed the study in real time so it can be used to guide the puncture and to facilitate the immediate diagnosis. This makes the difference with other techniques and transforms it into a first-line method for the study of this disease.

Enterocolitis neutropénica: reporte de un caso en un paciente con SIDA / Neutropenic enterocolitis report of an AIDÆs patient case

La enterocolitis neutropénica es una enteropatía necrotizante en pacientes con neutropenia severa relacionada con tratamientos quimioterápicos. Se presenta el caso de un paciente HIV positivo que desarrolló una enterocolitis neutropénica en el contexto de un tratamiento quimioterápico por Linfoma de Hodgkin. Presentaba leucopenia 400 leucocitos/mm3 y cuadro clínico compatible. La ecografía mostró engrosamiento de las paredes del ciego, del colon ascendente, y del íleon terminal. No hubo aislamiento microbiológico. Recibió tratamiento empírico con cefepime, vancomicina, y metronidazol con buena respuesta clínica y ecográfica. En el paciente con SIDA, diversas entidades pueden presentarse con dolor abdominal y engrosamiento de las paredes intestinales, como por ejemplo Citomegalovirus, Clostridium difficile, tuberculosis, histoplasmosis y linfomas, entre otras. El avance tecnológico, y las características ponderales de estos pacientes (bajo peso) permiten utilizar transductores de alta frecuencia para evaluar el tracto gastrointestinal y detectar mínimas lesiones en otros órganos abdominales, aportando al diagnóstico diferencial.(AU)

Enterocolitis neutropénica: reporte de un caso en un paciente con SIDA / Neutropenic enterocolitis report of an AID’s patient case

La enterocolitis neutropénica es una enteropatía necrotizante en pacientes con neutropenia severa relacionada con tratamientos quimioterápicos. Se presenta el caso de un paciente HIV positivo que desarrolló una enterocolitis neutropénica en el contexto de un tratamiento quimioterápico por Linfoma de Hodgkin. Presentaba leucopenia 400 leucocitos/mm3 y cuadro clínico compatible. La ecografía mostró engrosamiento de las paredes del ciego, del colon ascendente, y del íleon terminal. No hubo aislamiento microbiológico. Recibió tratamiento empírico con cefepime, vancomicina, y metronidazol con buena respuesta clínica y ecográfica. En el paciente con SIDA, diversas entidades pueden presentarse con dolor abdominal y engrosamiento de las paredes intestinales, como por ejemplo Citomegalovirus, Clostridium difficile, tuberculosis, histoplasmosis y linfomas, entre otras. El avance tecnológico, y las características ponderales de estos pacientes (bajo peso) permiten utilizar transductores de alta frecuencia para evaluar el tracto gastrointestinal y detectar mínimas lesiones en otros órganos abdominales, aportando al diagnóstico diferencial.

[Ileocolic intussusception due to a large B cell lymphoma in a patient with AIDS]. / Invaginación ileocecal como forma de presentación de linfoma no Hodgkin en un paciente con SIDA.

Adult intussusception is rare. Here, we describe a case of an AIDS adult patient who developed an ileocolic intussusception secondary to a large B cell lymphoma of the cecum. Surgical findings included the ileon free of the tumor and invaginated within the cecum with infiltrating neoplasm. Surgical treatment included the resection of the right hemicolon because of the tumor, located in the cecum, causing intussusception. The English and Spanish literature is reviewed.

Invaginación ileocecal como forma de presentación de linfoma no Hodgkin en un paciente con SIDA / Ileocolic intussusception due to a large B cell lymphoma in a patient with AIDS

La invaginación intestinal es poco frecuente en el adulto. Aquí se describe el caso de un paciente adulto con SIDA que desarrolló una invaginación ileocólica secundaria a un linfoma de células B localizado en el ciego. Los hallazgos quirúrgicos fueron: íleon libre de tumor, invaginado en el ciego infiltrado por la neoplasia. Se realizó la resección del hemicolon derecho debido a la tumoración localizada en el ciego, causante de la invaginación. Se revisó la literatura inglesa y española sobre este tema.

Adult intussusception is rare. Here, we describe a case of an AIDS adult patient who developed an ileocolic intussusception secondary to a large B cell lymphoma of the cecum. Surgical findings included the ileon free of the tumor and invaginated within the cecum with infiltrating neoplasm. Surgical treatment included the resection of the right hemicolon because of the tumor, located in the cecum, causing intussusception. The english and spanish literature is reviewed.

Soft tissue abscess and lymphadenitis due to Mycobacterium avium complex as an expression of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome after a second scheme of highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) is an atypical and unexpected reaction related to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients. IRIS includes an atypical response to an opportunistic pathogen (generally Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium avium complex, cytomegalovirus and herpes varicella-zoster), in patients responding to HAART with a reduction of plasma viral load and evidence of immune restoration based on increase of CD4+ T-cell count. We reported a case of a patient with AIDS which, after a first failure of HAART, developed a subcutaneous abscess and supraclavicular lymphadenitis as an expression of IRIS due to Mycobacterium avium complex after starting a second scheme of HAART.

Soft tissue abscess and lymphadenitis due to Mycobacterium avium Complex as an expression of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome after a second scheme of highly active antiretroviral therapy

Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) is an atypical and unexpected reaction related to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients. IRIS includes an atypical response to an opportunistic pathogen (generally Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium avium complex, cytomegalovirus and herpes varicella-zoster), in patients responding to HAART with a reduction of plasma viral load and evidence of immune restoration based on increase of CD4+ T-cell count. We reported a case of a patient with AIDS which, after a first failure of HAART, developed a subcutaneous abscess and supraclavicular lymphadenitis as an expression of IRIS due to Mycobacterium avium complex after starting a second scheme of HAART.

El síndrome inflamatorio de reconstitución inmune (SIRI) es una reacción atípica e inesperada relacionada con el tratamiento antirretroviral de gran actividad (TARGA) en pacientes infectados por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH). El SIRI representa una respuesta inflamatoria frente a un patógeno oportunista (generalmente Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Complejo Mycobacterium avium, citomegalovirus y herpes varicela-zóster) en pacientes que responden a la TARGA con una marcada reducción de la carga viral en plasma y evidencia de una recuperación inmunológica expresada por el incremento de los niveles de linfocitos T CD4+. Presentamos el caso de un paciente con síndrome de inmunodeficiencia adquirida que desarrolló un absceso subcutáneo en muslo derecho y una adenitis supraclavicular izquierda como manifestación de SIRI por Complejo Mycobacterium avium luego del inicio de un segundo esquema de TARGA.

Complicación por fuga de cálculos en colecistectomía laparoscópica / Escape of stones as complication of laparoscopic cholecistectomy

Se presenta el caso de una paciente de 72 años que concurrió al servicio de ecografía del Hospital J. F. Muñiz, de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, para evaluar una tumoración en la pared abdominal y descartar un derrame pleural. Presentaba como antecedente una cirugía laparoscópica, realizada 15 meses antes, y los resultados ecográficos presentaron colecciones originadas por el derrame de cálculos en la cavidad abdominal.

Complicación por fuga de cálculos en colecistectomía laparoscópica / Escape of stones as complication of laparoscopic cholecistectomy

Se presenta el caso de una paciente de 72 años que concurrió al servicio de ecografía del Hospital J. F. Muñiz, de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, para evaluar una tumoración en la pared abdominal y descartar un derrame pleural. Presentaba como antecedente una cirugía laparoscópica, realizada 15 meses antes, y los resultados ecográficos presentaron colecciones originadas por el derrame de cálculos en la cavidad abdominal.(AU)