scholarly journals An entomoepidemiological investigation of Chagas disease in the state of Ceará, Northeast Region of Brazil

2014 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 785-793 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolina Fausto de Souza Coutinho ◽  
Reinaldo Souza-Santos ◽  
Natalia Faria Daflon Teixeira ◽  
Ingebourg Georg ◽  
Taís Ferreira Gomes ◽  
...  

The seroprevalence of Chagas disease in humans and the presence of triatomines were investigated in a rural locality in the State of Ceará, Brazil, an historically endemic region. Approximately 80% of the surveyed residents agreed to undergo serological tests. Intradomestic and peridomestic environments were searched for triatomines in both the dry and rainy seasons. The prevalence rate of Chagas disease was 1.2% and the majority of individuals confirmed with the disease over 50 years of age. A total of 761 specimens of triatomines were captured, most of which were from colonies composed of nymphs and adult bugs, and the majority of specimens were obtained in the dry season. Triatoma brasiliensis was the predominant species. Analysis using light microscopy revealed that 28.6% of the insects were Trypanosoma cruzi positive. Results suggest that peridomestic man-made structures, such as animal shelters, improper storage of timber and uninhabited dwellings contribute to the high rate of triatomine infestation in the area.

Author(s):  
Cláudia M. Melo ◽  
Ana Carla F. G. Cruz ◽  
Antônio Fernando V. A. Lima ◽  
Luan R. Silva ◽  
Rubens R. Madi ◽  
...  

Updated information of the dispersion dynamics of Chagas disease (CD) and a systemic analysis of these data will aid the early identification of areas that are vulnerable to transmission and enable efficient intervention. This work synthesized spatiotemporal information regarding triatomine fauna and analyzed this information in combination with the results from serological tests to elucidate the epidemiological panorama of CD in the state of Sergipe, Brazil. This is a retrospective analytical study that utilized information from the database of the National Chagas Disease Control Program. Between 2010 and 2016, 838 triatomines of eight species, namely, Panstrongylus geniculatus, which was first recorded in the state of Sergipe, Panstrongylus lutzi, P. megistus, Triatoma brasiliensis, T. pseudomaculata, T. tibiamaculata, T. melanocephala, and Rhodnius neglectus, were collected. Optical microscopy revealed that 13.2% of triatomines examined were infected by Trypanosoma cruzi-like flagellates. The distribution of triatomines exhibits an expanding south-central to northern dispersion, with a preference for semiarid and agreste areas and occasional observations in humid coastal areas due to anthropogenic actions reflected in the environment. Of the human cases analyzed from 2012 to 2016, 8.3% (191/2316) presented positive serology for Trypanosoma cruzi, and this proportion showed a gradual increase in the southern center of the state and new notifications in coastal regions. There is a need for intensification and continuity of the measures adopted by the Chagas Disease Control Program in Sergipe, identifying new priority areas for intervention and preferential ecotopes of the vectors, considering the occurrence of positive triatomines intradomicilliary and a source of new triatomines in the peridomiciles.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Reboucas ◽  
Anderson Eduardo ◽  
Marcos Lazaro da Silva Guerreiro ◽  
Sonia Gumes Andrade

People living in endemic areas of Chagas disease are submitted to multiple infections during their lives. This is an important factor in the development and morbidity of the disease. In the present investigation, evaluate the treatment outcome of triple infection mice with 21SF clones compared to the parental strain and with clones were investigated. Mice were infected and divided into groups: G1, infected with 21SF strain; G2, infected with 3 clones of the 21SF strain; and G3, infected with each clone alone. Subsequently, the groups were subdivided in treated and untreated controls. After the treatment the mice were euthanized. Serological tests and parasitological tests were performed. Sections of the heart and skeletal muscle were collected, fixed and then processed for the histopathological study in sections stained with Hematoxilin end Eosin. Parasitological tests for animals treated have shown positive results that varied from 25 to 66.7% and the serology titers varied from 1:10 a 1:280 in treated mice. Cure rates ranged from 11.1 to 30.8%. Histopathological examination revealed that treated animals presented clear reduction of lesions in myocardium and in skeletal muscle. Animals subjected to multiple infections have low rates of cure and worsening of tissue lesions.


Author(s):  
Nguyen Trong Vinh ◽  
Nguyen Cam Nhung

This research evaluates the efficiency of the state budget allocation in Vietnam in the period 2007-2016 by using econometric models of OLS, FEM, REM and FGLS. The estimated results from the model, together with the evaluation of the state budget allocation show that the budget allocation has achieved positive results, but the efficiency of budget allocation is still not high. Following this, the article gives some policy implications for Vietnam to effectively allocate the state budget in the near future.


Punjab has emerged as an important rice-producing state in the country. The state with 1.53 percent of the geographical area of the country produces more than 11 percent of total rice production in the country. The production of rice in Punjab increased more than 10 times due to an increase in area and yield. The growth of a rice crop at such a high rate over 20 years in Punjab is indeed a rare phenomenon in the history of agricultural development in the world. Due to extensive cultivation of rice in Punjab, the state has been over-exploiting the groundwater, more than its recharge. Most of the tube-well dominated districts of the state, witnessed the fall in water table more than 20 to 30 cm per year. To dispose of the paddy straw, the farmers of Punjab generally opt for burning it. This practice of burning of paddy straw besides nutrient loss is posing a serious problem for the public health and transportation system. Rice has now become a problematic crop for Punjab state due to its ill effects on its natural resources, that is, the water and soil environmental degradation. The Punjab Agricultural University experts and other committees estimated that the total groundwater recharge from all sources can sustain/support only 16-17 lakh ha of paddy in Punjab. The area under the crop increased to 29 lakh ha which was unsustainable in the long run. The area under rice in Punjab should be stabilized at 16-17 lakh ha and the remaining paddy area should be shifted to other crops like pulses, oilseeds, maize, fruits, and vegetables, etc. requiringless water, to achieve proper water balance. Thus diversification of some area from paddy is in the interest of Punjab farmers, State government and the Central government for long term food security on a sustainable basis.


2006 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 436-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lloyd N. Friedman ◽  
Esther R. Nash ◽  
June Bryant ◽  
Susan Henry ◽  
Julia Shi ◽  
...  

Objectives.To evaluate individuals at high risk for tuberculosis exposure who had a history of a positive tuberculin skin test (TST) result in order to determine the prevalence of unsuspected negative TST results. To confirm these findings with the QuantiFERON-TB test (QFT), an in vitro whole-blood assay that measures tuberculin-induced secretion of interferon-γ.Methods.This survey was conducted from November 2001 through December 2003 at 3 sites where TST screening is regularly done. Detailed histories and reviews of medical records were performed. TSTs were placed and read by 2 experienced healthcare workers, and blood was drawn for QFT. Any subject with a negative result of an initial TST during the study (induration diameter, <10 mm) underwent a second TST and a second QFT. The TST-negative group comprised individuals for whom both TSTs had an induration diameter of <10 mm. The confirmed-negative group comprised individuals for whom both TSTs yielded no detectable induration and results of both QFTs were negative.Results.A total of 67 immunocompetent subjects with positive results of a previous TST were enrolled in the study. Of 56 subjects who completed the TST protocol, 25 (44.6%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 31.6%-57.6%) were TST negative (P<.001). Of 31 subjects who completed the TST protocol and the QFT protocol, 8 (25.8%; 95% CI, 10.4%-41.2%) were confirmed negative (P<.005).Conclusions.A significant proportion of subjects with positive results of a previous TST were TST negative in this study, and a subset of these were confirmed negative. These individuals' TST status may have reverted or may never have been positive. It will be important in future studies to determine whether such individuals lack immunity to tuberculosis and whether they should be considered for reentry into tuberculosis screening programs.


2009 ◽  
Vol 138 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. TASDELEN FISGIN ◽  
L. DOGANCI ◽  
E. TANYEL ◽  
N. TULEK

SUMMARYCrimean Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) has been an emerging tick-borne infection in some parts of Turkey since 2002, with a number of fatalities. Many of the initial non-specific symptoms of CCHF can mimic other common infections. Additionally, the seasonal pattern of the epidemic, and the waning attention of healthcare workers to the yearly index cases caused some delays in appropriate patient care and treatment. Between March 2004 and August 2008, 140 confirmed adult cases were evaluated retrospectively for initial diagnosis and treatment delays. This study clearly demonstrated that there are particular delays (4·8 days) in the referral system to initiate effective antiviral treatment in the tertiary-care centre which significantly affect fatality rates (P>0·05). A large number of patients (n=95, 68%) received an initial misdiagnosis of various infections other than CCHF. In conclusion, continuous medical education regarding CCHF in the epidemic area is essential in order to achieve a better survival rate from this deadly infection.


1927 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 713-726 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Flexner

The purpose of this paper is to explain the state of our knowledge of the etiology of epidemic encephalitis, and especially to draw a line of demarcation between the established virus of simple herpes and the hypothetical virus of epidemic encephalitis. It had already been shown that the experimental observations on rabbits do no suffice to prove the identity of the herpes with the encephalitis virus. The discussion of the subject in this paper shows that identity cannot be postulated on the basis of the performed guinea pig experiments. Attention has been drawn to the significant fact that there is lack of harmony in the positive results of those investigators who believe that the incitants of epidemic encephalitis have been discovered. An attempt has been made to attribute some of the discrepancies reported by these investigators either to accidental and contaminating microbic agents, or to the uncovering of virulent agents preexisting in a latent state in the animals employed for inoculation, the existence of which was not previously known or suspected. Since past experience leads us to believe in a single incitant for widespread epidemic diseases, it is probable that, when certainly discovered, the microbe of epidemic encephalitis will prove to be simple and not multiple. The direct corollary to this point of view is that up to the present, the etiology of epidemic encephalitis has not been determined.


2007 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 297-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga Sánchez Negrette ◽  
Fernando J. Sánchez Valdéz ◽  
Carlos D. Lacunza ◽  
María Fernanda García Bustos ◽  
María Celia Mora ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Serological tests are the main laboratory procedures used for diagnosis during the indeterminate and chronic stages of Chagas' disease. A serological regression to negativity is the main criterion used to define parasitological cure in treated patients. The aim of this work was to monitor the individual specificities of antibody levels for 3 years posttreatment in 18 adult patients. Conventional serological techniques (hemagglutination assays and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]) were modified by using recombinant antigens to detect early markers of treatment effectiveness. For this purpose, serum samples were taken before and during treatment and every 6 months after treatment for at least 3 years. When hemagglutination assays were used, a decrease in antibody levels was observed in only one patient. When ELISA with serum dilutions was used, antibody clearance became much more apparent: in 77.7% (14/18) of the patients, antibody titers became negative with time. This was observed at serum dilutions of 1/320 and occurred between the 6th and the 30th months posttreatment. The immune response and the interval for a serological regression to negativity were different for each patient. For some of the recombinant antigens, only 50% (9/18) of the patients reached the serological regression to negativity. Recombinant antigen 13 might be a good marker of treatment effectiveness, since 66.6% (six of nine) of the patients presented with an early regression to negativity for specific antibodies to this antigen (P = 0.002).


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