The incidence and prevalence of intestinal parasites in children is most likely due to lack of natural or acquired resistance and differences in behavior and habits closely related to environmental and socioeconomic determinants. The most important protozoa that parasitize humans are Giardia, Entamoeba, Blastocystis, and Cryptosporidium. These parasites present wide intraspecific genetic diversity and subsequently classified into assemblages and subtypes. The Amazon basin is the largest in the world and is the fifth freshwater reserve on the planet. Contradictorily, people living in these areas (Indigenous populations) have poor quality of life, which favors the infection of diseases of fecal-oral transmission. The aim of this work was to unravel the molecular epidemiology of Giardia, Blastocystis and Cryptosporidium across four communities (Puerto Nariño, San Juan del Soco, Villa Andrea and Nuevo Paraíso). We obtained 284 fecal samples from children under 15 years old that were analyzed by direct microscopy (261 samples) and Real Time PCR (qPCR) (284 samples). The positive samples for these protozoa were further characterized by several molecular markers to depict assemblages and subtypes. We observed a frequency of Giardia infection by microscopy of 23.7% (62 samples) and by qPCR of 64.8% (184 samples); for Blastocystis by microscopy of 35.2% (92 samples) and by qPCR of 88.7% (252 samples) and for Cryptosporidium only 1.9% (5 samples) were positive by microscopy and qPCR 1.8% (5 samples). Regarding the Giardia assemblages, using the glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) marker we observed AI, BIII and BIV assemblages and when using triose phosphate isomerase (tpi) we observed assemblages AI, AII, BIII and BIV. In contrast, Blastocystis STs detected were 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6. Lastly, the species C. viatorum, C. hominis (with the subtypes IdA19 and IaA12R8) and C. parvum (with the subtype IIcA5G3c) were identified. We observed a high profile of zoonotic transmission regarding the Giardia assemblages and Blastocystis STs/alleles. Also, we highlight the elevated frequency of infection by these two protozoans suggesting an active transmission in the area. Our findings reinforces the need to deploy better epidemiological surveillance systems for enteric pathogens in the area.
Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is ideal for the detection of DNA as it is a quick and easy-to-perform test that does not require complex or sophisticated equipment or infrastructure. However, the application of this technique in the detection of DNA has not been comprehensively analyzed to date (analytical validation). Our objective was to evaluate the sensitivity and analytical specificity (anticipated reportable range [ARR], the limit of detection [LoD], and accuracy) of LAMP targeting the 18S rRNA gene in the diagnosis of six New World species. We then applied the validated LAMP assay across 50 samples of sandflies and 50 direct smears from a recent outbreak of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Colombia to determine its diagnostic performance. The LAMP assay exclusively amplified the DNA of spp., and an ARR of between 1 × 10 and 1 × 10 equivalent parasites/mL was determined. An LoD of 1 × 10 equivalent parasites/mL was established and there was no statistically significant variation in terms of accuracy. Finally, a sensitivity of 100% in direct smears and sandflies samples was calculated and a specificity of 90.9% for direct smears using microscopy as reference and 96.8% for sandflies using real-time polymerase chain reaction as reference were determined. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to analytically validate a LAMP test to detect DNA, which showed good diagnostic potential from sandflies and direct smear samples.
Several intestinal polyparasitism profiles were found, although in most cases fewer than six parasites were involved. Better prevalence estimations and identification of determinant factors will allow to priorize and direct resources to control these infections.
El tití gris (<em>Saguinus leucopus</em>) es un primate endémico de Colombia cuyo cariotipo se describe en el presente estudio a partir de una pareja de individuos ubicados en el Centro de Rehabilitación de Fauna Silvestre del Oriente de Caldas, Colombia. Las muestras de sangre fueron recolectadas de la vena femoral y anticoaguladas con heparina de sodio. Los cromosomas se obtuvieron por el método clásico de cultivo de linfocitos y bandeamiento Q y G Los individuos presentan 46 cromosomas (2n = 46: 30Bi, 14A); cromosomas sexuales XX en la hembra y XY en el macho (quimerismo 46,XX/46,XY en este último). Se propone un ideograma para el cariotipo del Tití Gris. Se observan amplias semejanzas en los cromosomas X y 5 de <em>S. leucopus </em>con los cromosomas X y 19 humanos, respectivamente. Otras similitudes parciales se evidenciaron entre los cromosomas 1 de ambas especies, 2 y 14 de <em>S. leucopus </em>con el 7 humano. La comparación del tamaño de regiones exónicas de dos genes de <em>S. leucopus </em>y <em>Homo sapiens </em>no arrojó diferencia.
Introducción. La técnica de Kato Katz es el método recomendado para realizar el recuento de huevos en materia fecal y determinar la intensidad parasitaria por helmintos. La calidad de los resultados se ve afectada por la tardanza en el procesamiento de la muestra, por lo que se requiere de preservantes que faciliten la lectura posterior a las 24 horas de recolección de la muestra.Objetivo. Demostrar validez de la solución con acetato de sodio-ácido acético-formalina (SAF) como preservante de huevos de Necator americanus por medio del estudio de un caso clínico.Materiales y métodos. Descripción de caso clínico con diagnóstico de parásitos intestinales por coprológico, intensidad de la infección por la técnica de Kato Katz, evaluación de la presencia de huevos N. americanus por la técnica de Kato Katz durante 10 meses en muestra preservada en SAF y determinación de especie de Uncinaria sp.por qPCR.Resultados. Los huevos de N. americanus se conservan de manera adecuada en morfología durante los primeros cinco meses.Conclusiones. A fin de ejecutar la técnica de Kato Katz, la fijación con SAF demostró ser adecuada para el mantenimiento de la intensidad parasitaria y morfología de los huevos de N. americanus en un período de hasta cinco meses.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.