Armando Conrado Cicchino

Prevalence and seasonal variation of Pediculosis capitis in the population under sixteen year of age of the health region of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Se estudio la prevalencia de la Pediculosis capitis como enfermedad parasitaria durante el ano calendario 1-8-1992 al 31-7-1993, en la Region Sanitaria XI de la provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina, que comprende 15 partidos del Este Noreste de la provincia de Buenos Aires y otras zonas de influencia del Hospital Interzonal de Agudos, Especialidad Pediatria Sor Maria Ludovica, cabecera de dicha Region Sanitaria. Se examinaron un total de 552 individuos de nivel social medio a medio bajo de la poblacion infanto-juvenil de O a 16 anos, tomados al azar en 52 muestreos semanales consecutivos, considerandose como positivos para esta enfermedad a aquellos parasitados al momento del diagnostico. Los resultados se expresan en terminos de prevalencia analizandose su variacion mensual y estacional. La prevalencia fue relativamente alta en todos los meses, con valores minimos en febrero (12%) y maximos en agosto (56,8%), siendo la media anual de 38,04% (+/- 4,05). Estacionalmente, su menor valor corresponde al Verano (16,8%), siendo muy semejantes los valores para las restantes estaciones, manteniendose siempre superiores al 38%.The prevalence of the parasitic disease Pediculosis capitis was studied over a period of one year from 1-8-1992 to 31-7-1993, in Sanitary Region XI of the Buenos Aires province, Argentina which is composed of 15 districts located on the ENE, and in other areas under the influence of the Hospital Interzonal de Agudos, Especialidad Pediatría Sup. Sor María Ludovica de Plata, center of this Sanitary Region. A total number of 552 individuals of from medium to medium low social level of the child population of from 0 to 16 years of age were sampled at random over 52 consecutive weeks. All individuals who actually had the parasite at the time of examination were considered as positive for this disease. The results are expressed in terms of prevalence and its monthly and seasonal variations analyzed. Prevalence showed high values during all months, the lowest being in February (12%) and the highest in August (56.8%), the annual mean being of 38.04% (+/- 4.05%). Seasonally, its lowest value occurred in the summer (16.8%), the values for the remaining seasons being very similar to one another, but always higher than 38%.

DESCRIPTION AND RELATIONSHIPS OF PARANILLOPSIS NEW GENUS, Two NEW SPECIES FROM ARGENTINA, AND A KEY TO THE NEOTROPICAL GENERA OF THE SUBTRIBE ANILLINA (COLEOPTERA: CARABIDAE: BEMBIDIINI)

Abstract Specimens of Anillina from Argentina are described for the first time. They belong to a new genus, Paranillopsis, and include two new species, P. piguensis (type species) and P. pampensis. External structural features of Paranillopsis show close relationship with the genus Paranillus Jeannel from Magadascar. Their vicariant distribution pattern, as for other taxa with similar patterns, is postulated to have resulted from the breakup of the Gondwanan supercontinent.