To identify Trypanosoma cruzi clones from chronically infected individuals, they were transferred to triatomines by the xenodiagnosis test (XD) with Triatoma infestans. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and hybridization assays were performed to detect minicircle DNA in human blood samples and triatomine feces, using probes to determine the T. cruzi clones present. T. cruzi clone 19 (TcI) resulted the most prevalent in humans, with a frequency of 0.70 compared with a frequency of 0.53 in triatomines. T. cruzi clone 39 (TcIId) was the most prevalent in T. infestans, with a frequency of 0.65 compared with 0.33 in humans. The T. cruzi clone 43 (TcIIe) was not detected in blood samples; nevertheless, it was present at a rate of 0.17 in T. infestans feces. In conclusion, the T. cruzi clones are associated to each host, suggesting that selective amplification of clones occurs in human and triatomines.

In issuing guidelines on repairing endoscopes, the aim of the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Guidelines Committee is to draw the attention of those who manage endoscopy units to the quality control requirements involved in having endoscopes repaired. Information on endoscope repair is important not only for medical doctors, nurses and assistants, but also for medical engineers and ± even more so ± for hospital administrators.The aim of these ESGE guidelines is to draw the attention of endoscope users to both the technical and the legal implications relating to endoscope repair. The sources of spare parts and the exact repair procedures used should be clearly stated in the repair contract. If second-hand spare parts are used, traceability and hygiene issues should be taken into consideration.For the ESGE, it is clear that repair services can be provided both by endoscope manufacturers and by other repair service providers (known as ªthird partiesº), as long as they follow the same quality control processes and guarantees as those followed in endoscopy units.The intention in these guidelines is to provide users of medical endoscopes with information about the appropriate selection of service providers, including information on how to reduce user liability relative to compliance with the Medical Device Directive (MDD) during the lifespan of endoscopic equipment and devices.The Medical Device Directive (MDD) regulates the requirements for the design, manufacture and sale of new medical devices and equipment very precisely. A clear sign for the user that the equipment or device complies with MDD regulations is the CE mark. A reference to the original manufacturer is also provided by the identification label on each product. The basic aim of these measures is to ensure the safety of users, patients, and others, as well as to ensure compliance with technological standards. Before the first use of any new endoscope, the MDD requires proof that these requirements have been met, based on both clinical and nonclinical testing procedures. The original manufacturer maintains a master configuration file, which documents the design configuration, manufacturing configuration, and test results. This ensures seamless configuration control.After the product has been sold, the liability and responsibility for ensuring safe usage of the product is transferred to the user. The degree of user liability is likely to depend on the contract between the user's organization and the selected service provider. The transfer of liability, and all associated risk, depends on the person or organization undertaking the service and on the way in which maintenance and repair work is carried out. If a failure in use occurs after maintenance or repair and this failure leads to serious injury to a patient or user, there is a greater likelihood that the user and service provider may be held legally responsible for any injuries caused, if the endoscope was not repaired in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and operatin...