Mexico has 18 species of Triatomine bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) reported to be vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi. Chagas Disease is widespread in Mexico, with up to 3.5% seropositivity of human transfusion blood. The State of Oaxaca has the longest history of endemic Chagas Disease, based on acute and chronic case reports, and of entomological surveys in the country. However, the State health care services need more information on current risks of vector transmission. In order to identify and characterize areas of transmission in Oaxaca and to stratify the vector potential, the distribution of domestic Triatominae was surveyed during 1996-98 in collaboration with the primary health care services and local communities. Villages were studied in 11% of 570 municipalities in Oaxaca. Eight triatomine species were found in domestic and peri-domestic habitats: Triatoma barberi Usinger, T. bolivari Carcavallo et al., T. dimidiata (Latreille), T. mazzottii Usinger, T. nitida Usinger, T. pallidipennis (Stal), T. phyllosoma (Burmeister) and Rhodnius prolixus Stal. For each triatomine species in Oaxaca, the range of distribution and habitat characteristics are described. Habitat partitioning, principally based on altitude and mean annual precipitation, limited the overlap of distribution between species. Relatively consistent altitude of human settlements facilitates the dispersion of individual species within microregions. Entomological indices of house infestation were used to estimate that approximately 50% of the human population (1,874,320 inhabitants) would be at risk of vector transmission, with a minimum of 134,320 infected people and 40,280 chronic cases of Chagas Disease currently in Oaxaca.

BackgroundIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, fatal lung disorder of unknown origin with a highly variable and unpredictable clinical course. Polymorphisms and environmentally induced epigenetic variations seem to determine individual susceptibility to the development of lung fibrosis.MethodsWe have studied circulating epitopes on cell-free nucleosomes (cfnucleosomes) in 50 IPF patients. We have compared untreated IPF (n = 23) with IPF receiving antifibrotic therapy (n = 27) and healthy subjects (HS) (n = 27). We analyzed serum levels of five cfnucleosomes including bound HMGB1 (nucleosomes adducted to high-mobility growth protein B1), mH2A1.1 (nucleosomes containing the histone variant mH2A1.1), 5mC (nucleosomes associated with methylated DNA), and H3K9Ac and H3K27Ac (nucleosomes associated with histone H3 acetylated at lysine 9 or 27 residue).ResultsOur findings showed that serum levels of bound HMGB1, mH2A1.1, 5mC, H3K9Ac, and H3K27Ac were significantly lower in IPF patients than in HS (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.01, p < 0.001, and p < 0.0001, respectively). Moreover, we found differences in epigenetic profiles between untreated IPF patients and those receiving anti-fibrotic therapy with mH2A1.1 and 5mC being significantly lower in untreated than in treated patients (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). Combination of four cfnucleosomes (HMGB1, 5mC, H3K9Ac, and H3K27Ac) allow to discriminate IPF vs HS with a good coefficient of determination (R 2 = 0.681). The AUC for the ROC curve computed by this logistic regression was 0.93 (p < 0.001) with 91% sensitivity at 80% specificity.ConclusionOur observations showed that cfnucleosomes (bound HMGB1, mH2A1.1, 5mC, H3K9Ac, and H3K27Ac) might have potential as biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment response. These results deserve further validation in longitudinal cohorts.

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RESUMENEl objetivo del estudio fue identificar y determinar la prevalencia de helmintos gastrointestinales de importancia zoonótica presentes en roedores (Rattus spp) en tres medioambientes (granjas porcinas, zoológico y mercados de abastos) de Lima, Perú, así como estimar la asociación entre presencia de helmintos y las variables lugar de procedencia, especie, edad y sexo. Se capturaron 245 (Rattus rattus y Rattus norvergicus) roedores mediante el uso de trampas de captura viva. Cráneos, piel, carta dentaria y parámetros morfométricos se utilizaron para la clasificación taxonómica de las especies. Se colectó el estómago y el intestino delgado y grueso. Los helmintos se colocaron en alcohol 70% y los tejidos fueron preservados en formol 10%. La prevalencia de helmintos gastrointestinales fue de 72.2%, en tanto que la prevalencia de helmintos zoonóticos fue de 46.5%. Se hallaron cuatro especies de importancia zoonótica: Raillietina demerariensis, Gongylonema neoplasticum, Hymenolepis diminuta y Moniliformis moniliformis; estos dos últimos de mayor frecuencia en los tres ecosistemas. Otros helmintos identificados fueron Mastophorus muris, Heterakis spumosa, Aspicularis tetrapera, Syphacia muris, Trichuris muris, Capillaria sp y Vampirolepis fraterna. Los hallazgos histopatológicos mostraron disminución del tamaño de las vellosidades intestinales, desprendimiento de células epiteliales, aumento del número de células caliciformes y enterocitos con presencia de eosinófilos, linfocitos, plasmocitos y macrófagos asociados a H. diminuta, M. moniliformis y R. demerariensis.

El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar la prevalencia y carga parasitaria de Fasciola hepatica en llamas y alpacas de 12 a 48 meses de edad en los distritos de Masma Chiche y Llocllapampa, Jauja, Perú, así como determinar la asociación entre la prevalencia de F. hepatica con las variables sexo y edad. Se recolectaron 200 muestras fecales de llamas (n=97) y alpacas (n=103) en octubre de 2011, y se analizaron mediante la técnica parasitológica de sedimentación espontánea, en tanto que la estimación de la carga parasitaria se hizo con el método de McMaster modificado. La prevalencia de F. hepatica fue de 49.5% en llamas y 73.8% en alpacas, sin diferencias estadísticas por efecto de sexo o grupo etario. La carga promedio fue de 12.6 y 19.9 huevos por gramo de heces (hpg) en llamas y alpacas, respectivamente.

Neosporosis is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Neospora caninum, and is associated with high rates of abortion in cattle throughout the world. The aim of the study was to determinate the seroprevalence of N. caninum in dairy cattle reared in the districts of Molinopampa and Leymebamba, Chachapoyas province, Amazonas. The study was carried out in 2002 using 265 serum samples from cows older than 2 years old that belonged to 24 dairy herds. Samples were tested to detect antibodies against N. caninum using the IFAT test. The 40.4 ± 5.0% (107/265) of the samples had antibodies in 1:200 dilution. All sampled herds had at least one seropositive animal. The prevalence of the parasite was similar in both districts and similar to described in herds from other dairy areas in the country.

RESUMENEl objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar la presencia de huevos de Fasciola hepatica en vicuñas silvestres presentes en el cerro Pumacocha del distrito de Paccha, Junín, Perú, así como determinar la asociación con las variables sexo y estrato etario. Se recolectaron 143 muestras de heces tomadas directamente del recto. Las vicuñas fueron capturadas mediante un chaccu realizado por la comunidad campesina local durante la época de esquila anual (setiembre). Los huevos fueron analizados mediante la técnica de sedimentación rápida y la determinación de la carga parasitaria -huevos por gramo de heces (hpg) -mediante el método de McMaster modificado. La frecuencia total de F. hepatica fue de 32.9%, sin diferencia estadística por efecto del sexo o grupo etario. La carga promedio fue de 23.7 hpg. ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to determine the presence of F. hepatica eggs in vicugnas in the Paccha area, Junín, Peru, and to evaluate its association with sex and age. Samples (n=143) were collected from the rectum during a «chaccu» activity (annual capture of wild vicugnas by the local peasants for shearing (September). Samples were analyzed by the rapid sedimentation technique and the determination of parasite load -eggs per gram

Canine Heartworm Disease is a parasitic disease caused by the nematode Dirofilaria immitis. The adult forms are found mainly in the pulmonary arteries and the right heart of canids. This nematode is transmitted by intermediate hosts which are blood suckling mosquitoes. Canine Ehrlichiosis is a disease of domestic and wild canids, caused by the rickettsia Ehrlichia canis, that infects mononuclear cells. This microorganism is transmitted by an arthropod vector, the brown dog-tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus. The objective of this assay was to determine the prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis and Ehrlichia canis in dogs of Chorrillos, La Molina and San Juan de Miraflores districts, which are adjacent to naturally stagnated waters. Blood samples were taken from 140 dogs chosen randomly without regard of breed, age and sex from February to May, 2001. The diagnosis was made by the detection of the D.immitis antigen and antibodies against E. canis, using a commercial ELISA kit. The results showed an expected prevalence of 4.4% for D. immitis and 16.5% for E. canis. This study is the first report detecting antibodies against E. canis in Peru.