Subtype Distribution of Blastocystis spp. in Patients with Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Northern Spain.

Limited molecular data exist on the prevalence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis spp., the most prevalent parasite in human and animal feces worldwide. A total of 44 different subtypes (STs) of Blastocystis are currently recognized based on the sequence of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU-rRNA) gene. This is a molecular study of Blastocystis spp. in hospitalized patients with gastrointestinal symptoms in northern Spain. We analyzed 173 Blastocystis-positive patients with gastrointestinal symptoms by using nested PCR for molecular detection, subtype identification, phylogenetic analyses, and genetic diversity assessment. ST2 (34.1%) and ST3 (34.7%) predominated, followed by ST1 (15.6%) and ST4 (15.6%). Mixed infections with different subtypes were observed in some patients. Sequence analysis revealed for the first time in European humans the allele 88 (a variant of ST1). In other cases, alleles commonly found in animal samples were detected (allele 9 in ST2, allele 34 in ST3, and allele 42 in ST4). Phylogenetic analysis showed high variability in ST1 and ST2, suggesting a polyphyletic origin, while both ST3 and ST4 exhibited higher genetic homogeneity, indicating a possible monophyletic origin and recent transmission to humans. These data confirm Blastocystis spp. subtype diversity and may help in understanding the evolutionary processes and potential zoonotic transmission of this parasite.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Blastocystis sp. Infection in Patients with Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Spain: A Case-Control Study.

Blastocystis sp. is known to be the most prevalent parasite in fecal samples of humans worldwide. In the present report, a case-control study (1:9.89 (≈10)) was performed, by analyzing data from 3682 patients who attended a public hospital in the northern area of Spain showing gastrointestinal symptoms. Diagnosis was performed in human fecal samples by means of optical microscopy. The prevalence of Blastocystis sp. in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms was 9.18% (338/3682). Most of the Blastocystis sp.-infected patients tested negative for protozoa and helminths, and were underweight and foreign-born (26.4%), mainly from Africa and Central/South America. Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal pain, anorexia, halitosis, plus relative eosinophilia, as well as co-infections with pathogenic bacteria were associated with Blastocystis sp. infection. Both type 2 diabetes and treatment with immunosuppressive medicines at the time of Blastocystis sp. detection were associated with a higher proportion of infected patients. This is the first case-control study of Blastocystis sp. in humans in northern Spain and may contribute to surveillance and intervention strategies by public health authorities.

Dermatoscopia e impronta en la leishmaniasis cutánea / Dermoscopy and imprint in cutaneous leishmaniasis

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Estudio Descriptivo: Frecuencia de Malformaciones Congénitas en Pacientes Pediátricos del Hospital “José Carrasco Arteaga” / Descriptive Research: Frequency of Congenital Abnormalities in Pediatric Patients from “José Carrasco Arteaga” Hospital

OBJETIVO: Del presente estudio fue Identificar la frecuencia de malformaciones, tipo de malformaciones congénitas y la frecuencia de factores de riesgo en los recién nacidos vivos y niños hasta los 12 años de edad.MÉTODOS: Se trata de un estudio descriptivo retrospectivo desarrollado desde el 1 de enero de 2011 hasta el 31 de diciembre de 2012 e incluyó a todos los pacientes atendidos en los servicios de Neonatología y Pediatría del hospital “José Carrasco Arteaga” (HJCA). La información fue recolectada en un formulario diseñado para el efecto, se estudiaron variables en el paciente: sexo, tipo de malformación, aparato o sistema afectado y diagnóstico CIE 10; las variables maternas incluyeron: edad, instrucción, ocupación, exposición, fármacos, antecedentes personales y familiares, y consanguinidad.RESULTADOS: 6196 pacientes pediátricos fueron atendidos; 339 (5.47%) pacientes presentaron algúntipo de malformación congénita, el 1.86% de los pacientes fueron recién nacidos y el 7.93% niños mayores; las malformaciones se presentaron en similar proporción en ambos sexos (53.68% vs. 46.32%); las más frecuentes en el sexo masculino fueron las genito-urinarias con el 12.39% y polimalformaciones con 12.09%, mientras que en el sexo femenino las más frecuentes fueron las gastrointestinales y cardiovasculares con 11.2% y 9.44% respectivamente. A nivel general las malformacionesmás frecuentes fueron las gastrointestinales y las polimalformaciones con el 20.94% en ambos casos, seguidas de las cardiovasculares y cráneo-faciales con el 15.33% cada una. El diagnóstico másfrecuente fue Criptoquidia con el 10.32% de los casos. CONCLUSIÓN: La frecuencia de malformaciones congénitas en pacientes pediátricos se muestra inferior a lo publicado en investigaciones internacionales. La criptorquidia ocupó el primer lugar comodiagnóstico y las malformaciones gastrointestinales y polimalformaciones fueron las más frecuentes, lo cual difiere de los estudios de ECLAMC(AU)

BACKGROUND: Congenital abnormalities are disorders of the morphological, structural and functional development which are present in 2-3% of newborns; it is a health problem of developing countries as Ecuador; it affects 2.9% of children and are an important cause of infant morbidity and mortality. The objective of this research was to identify the frequency, the kind of congenital abnormalities and riskfactors frequency of newborns and children until age of 12 years. METHODS: This is a descriptive retrospective research developed from january of 2011 to decembre of 2012 and included outpatients who attended to Neonatology and Pediatrics departments of “José Carrasco Arteaga” hospital. Data was gathered using a questionnaire designed for it. Studied variables of patients were: sex, kind of abnormality, affected organ or system and ICD 10; mother’s variables included: age, schooling level, occupation, exposure, medication, personal and familiar medical recordsand consanguinity. RESULTS: 6196 pediatrics patients atended; 339 (5.47%) patients had any type of congenital abnormality, 1.86% of them were newborns and 7.93% were older; congenital abnormalities had similar frequencies in both sexes (53.68% vs. 46.32%); genital and urinary malformations were most frequent inmale sex with 12.39% and polymalformations with 12.09%, while in females the most frequent weregastrointestinal and cardiovascular abnormalities with 11.2% and 9.44% respectively. Overall most frequent abnormalities were gastrointestinal and polymalformations with 20.94% each, followed by cardiovascular and cranio-facial reaching 15.33% each. Most frequent diagnosis was cryptorchidismwith 10.32% of patients. CONCLUSION: Frequency of congenital abnormalities in pediatric patients is lower than results published of international researches. Cryptorchidism was the most common diagnosis and gastrointestinal and polymalformations were the most frequent abnormalities, which differs from ECLAMC studies(AU)