Sexual Transmission of Intestinal Parasites and Other Enteric Pathogens among Men Who Have Sex with Men Presenting Gastrointestinal Symptoms in an STI Unit in Barcelona, Spain: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a major problem worldwide. In addition, the spectrum of STIs is now expanding, including parasitic, bacterial, and viral infections. The study retrospectively describes the presence of enteric pathogens among 73 patients with gastrointestinal symptoms of enteritis and proctocolitis attending to an STI unit in Barcelona, Spain, between 2015 and 2016. Only patients investigated for intestinal parasitic infections were included in the study. Different diagnostic procedures were established for the detection of parasites, bacterial enteropathogens, and other STI agents. Entamoeba histolytica was the most prevalent pathogen in our cohort (20.5%), especially among individuals with proctocolitis. Contrarily, Giardia intestinalis was detected in 11.0% of patients, only associated with enteritis cases. Polymicrobial infections were common in our study (45.2%). Of note, 55.6% of shigellosis cases were coinfected with E. histolytica. The investigation highlights the importance of including parasites as differential gastrointestinal diagnosis, disregarding travel history, particularly among risk populations.

International cooperation for science and technology development: a way forward for equity in health / Cooperação internacional para o desenvolvimento científico e tecnológico: um caminho para equidade em saúde

Since 1990, international organizations have been increasingly involved in building an international sub-regime for research, development and innovation in health. This article analyzes the priorities of developing countries in health since the 1990s. It is a descriptive and analytical study that investigates the literature and contributions of key informants. Calling for the end of global inequities in the support for science and technology in health, international organizations recommend that developing countries focus their efforts on neglected diseases and operational research, an insufficient agenda for science and technology cooperation to effectively overcome the vulnerabilities between countries.

Desde 1990, intensificou-se o movimento das organizações internacionais na construção do sub-regime internacional de pesquisa, desenvolvimento e inovação em saúde. Este artigo analisa as prioridades dos países em desenvolvimento para essa área desde a década de 1990. Estudo descritivo-analítico, estabelece um diálogo entre a literatura e as contribuições de informantes-chave. Defendendo a superação da iniquidade mundial no fomento científico-tecnológico em saúde, as organizações internacionais recomendam aos países em desenvolvimento focalizar suas ações em doenças negligenciadas e pesquisa operacional - agenda insuficiente para a cooperação científico-tecnológica ser fator de superação de vulnerabilidades entre países.

Gastrointestinal symptoms resembling ulcerative proctitis caused by larvae of the drone fly Eristalis tenax.

We report a case of facultative intestinal myiasis due to larvae of the drone fly Eristalis tenax, also named the rat-tailed maggots. The development of larvae in the lower bowel was responsible for non-specific gastrointestinal symptoms that resembled ulcerative proctitis. The diagnosis was established upon the observation of four spontaneously excreted mobile larvae. The definite identification of the E. tenax species was made possible by scanning electron microscopy. The clinical outcome was satisfactory.