Background: The cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis caused by Dirofilaria immitis, is a vector-born infection, which can be transmitted to humans. The main host are both domestic and wild canids. It mainly occurs in tropical and subtropical climates, temperature and humidity are the main factors that favor the presence and proliferation of Culicidae mosquitoes. There are few reports of this disease in dogs and humans in Colombia, a region with favorable climatic conditions for the development of this disease. Therefore, this research aimed to study its current prevalence in dogs and the risk of human exposure to the disease in Bucaramanga, one of the most populated areas in Colombia located at the center of the country. Furthermore, its demographic and environmental characteristics could be useful as a study model for other similar locations and neighboring countries.Method: Serum samples from 351 dogs and 506 humans from the Bucaramanga metropolitan area were analyzed. All dog samples were tested with a commercial immunochromatographic test kit to detect the presence of circulating antigens of D. immitis. Human samples were analyzed using a non-commercial ELISA test kit to detect IgG against the somatic antigens of adult D. immitis and Wolbachia. Positive results were further confirmed using a Western blot analysis.Results: Dirofilaria immitis prevalence was 10.82% (95% CI) in dogs and 5.12% (95% CI) in microfilaremic dogs. Seroprevalence in humans was 6.71% (95% CI) and was significantly higher in individuals aged 16–34 years and in women than in men.Conclusions:This study describes seropositivity to D. immitis for the first time in a Colombian human population located in the same area as that of dogs infected with D. immitis, which represents a potential threat to public health. In humans, age and sex can be considered risk factors for exposure to D. immitis.
This case report describes how an erratic specimen of Ascaridia galli in the adult phase was recovered in an unusual way from a hen’s egg intended for human consumption. Although the literature on similar events is limited, this appears to be the first case reported in Bucaramanga, Colombia. The parasite was identified directly under a light microscope as an adult female A. galli, 6.5-cm long with 3 trilobed lips. In addition, the remaining eggs of the same group were examined to determine if there were more cases of erratic migration in that same batch. This nematode can cause various pathological conditions, including enteritis, hemorrhage, diarrhea, anemia, weakness, and emaciation, that can lead to huge economic and production losses in the poultry industry.
Trypanosoma evansi is a protozoan parasite that is the causative agent of the animal disease known as "surra", which affects a wide variety of wild and domestic mammals including humans. This study aimed to evaluate the molecular point prevalence and clinic-epidemiological traits of T. evansi infection in dogs from municipalities of the Metropolitan Area of Bucaramanga (MAB), Santander, Colombia. From 2019 and 2020, a crosssectional study in four municipalities of MAB was carried out to evaluate the above features in 213 healthy dogs from these cities. Molecular analysis using the primer ESAG/6 and ESAG/7, showed a T. evansi frequency of 1.8% (CI 95% = 0.04-3.68%), while Woo test didn't detect positive animals. A high prevalence of infection was detected in Piedecuesta (10.53%) and Bucaramanga (1.65%), apparently negative animals were detected in Giron and Florida Blanca. Clinical characteristics revealed that all positive animals (4/4) showed low Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) and (3/4) low Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), and one animal had a moderate fever with prolonged capillary refill time. The epidemiological characteristics showed that all animals received mixed food, (3/4) came from low socioeconomic areas, and (2/4) from neighborhoods without weekly garbage collection. In conclusion, molecular methods detected a considerable prevalence of animals chronically infected by T. evansi in MAB, with more frequency in neighborhoods of a low socio-economic level where animals have more risk of oral transmission. These results should be considered during urban control programs of surra in MAB.
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