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Dive into the research topics where Betina Cecilia Pezzani is active.

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Featured researches published by Betina Cecilia Pezzani.


Revista Do Instituto De Medicina Tropical De Sao Paulo | 2007

Intestinal parasitoses and environmental factors in a rural population of Argentina, 2002-2003

Juan Angel Basualdo; María Alejandra Córdoba; María Marta De Luca; María Laura Ciarmela; Betina Cecilia Pezzani; María S. Grenóvero; Marta Cecilia Minvielle

We evaluate the prevalence of intestinal parasites in 504 people and the degree of association between environmental variables and parasites found in population, soil and water in a rural area of Argentina during 2002-2003. A structured survey was used to evaluate the environmental variables and fecal-human, soil and water samples were analyzed. The prevalence of parasites was 45.4%. Most prevalent protozoa were Blastocystis hominis (27.2%) and Giardia lamblia (6.9%), while the most prevalent helminth was Ascaris lumbricoides (3.8%). The analyzed environmental variables showing association (p < 0.05) with presence of parasites in population were: cardboard-tin or wooden house, dirt floor, home or communal water pump, faucet outside the house or public faucet and cesspool or latrine. Parasite forms were found in 82.3% of the soil samples and in 84.2% of the water samples. In both samples we found parasites that were also found in people. In this study we have found deficient sanitary conditions associated with presence of parasites in population and we have evidenced that contaminated soil and water were the source of these parasites.


Memorias Do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz | 2006

Related factors to human toxocariasis in a rural community of Argentina

Paula G Chiodo; Juan Angel Basualdo; Laura Ciarmela; Betina Cecilia Pezzani; María C. Apezteguía; Marta Cecilia Minvielle

The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between toxocariasis frequency and demographic, environmental, sanitary variables, eosinophylia, and other intestinal parasites in a rural population of Argentina. Serological examination of 100 individuals was carried out by using ELISA technique for the detection of anti-toxocara antibodies. Eosinophiles in peripheral blood, presence of intestinal parasites, and demographic, environmental, and socio-cultural data were evaluated. Eighty-one feces samples of dogs belonging to the studied people were analyzed to detect eggs of Toxocara canis. Thirty of them were from 30 dogs and 51 were pools from dog feces. Samples of dirt from around the homes (n: 47) and from public park (n: 4) were taken. To determine the associations, the c(2) and Fisher tests were used. The seroprevalence was 23%. Eosinophilia in peripheral blood was detected in 86.95% seropositive individuals and in 37.66% seronegative individuals (p < 0.001, OR = 11.03). Of the 23 people with positive serology, 69.56% had at least one intestinal parasite. All individuals with positive serology had dogs in their homes. Among the dog owners there was a significant association between the presence of anti-toxocara antibodies and home flooding. Eggs of T. canis were detected in the feces of 5/81 dogs and three of these dogs belonged to individuals with positive serology. Eggs of Toxocara spp. were found in 41.17% of the dirt samples, eight of which came from the area surrounding the homes of individuals with positive serology (p = 0.032; OR = 4.36). Taking into account all the variables influencing the frequency of toxocariasis in this population, the implementation of Public Health programs specifically focused on anti-parasitic treatment of dogs is recommended.


International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health | 2000

Screening of the municipal water system of La Plata, Argentina, for human intestinal parasites.

Juan Angel Basualdo; Betina Cecilia Pezzani; María Marta De Luca; Alejandra Córdoba; María C. Apezteguía

The La Plata River, though severely contaminated by intestinal parasites through the discharge of tons of crude fecal material from a main sewage channel, nevertheless provides drinking water to two-thirds of La Plata, Argentina, after conventional purification at a processing plant. With intestinal parasitosis being endemic here, we investigated the importance of this water in transmitting such pathogens to the citys populace by means of standard methodology for sample acquisition and processing involving filter-concentration of waterborne particulates. Of 14 tap-water samples collected from the distribution network, 12 pertained to four zones (A-D) within the city center; while the remaining 2 were obtained near the processing plant, 15 kilometers outside the city. Although parasites were found within the samples derived from the four urban zones, none were detected in the specimens obtained near the plant. The four downtown areas differed from each other as to the quantity and nature of the parasites present in their water: whereas zones A and B registered similar lower levels of contaminants, C and D exhibited higher values significantly different from the former two and from each other. Given an average parasite count/l citywide of 0.38 and a probability of encountering a parasite within 11 of water of 0.32, the municipal network is seen to contribute to the transmission of intestinal parasites. A routine system of water-quality control is therefore needed throughout the city along with the establishment of infrastructures for locating and eliminating peripheral sources of contamination.


Parasitología latinoamericana | 2002

Presencia de parásitos intestinales en paseos públicos urbanos en La Plata, Argentina

Alejandra Córdoba; María Laura Ciarmela; Betina Cecilia Pezzani; M. Inés Gamboa; M. Marta De Luca; Marta Cecilia Minvielle; Juan Angel Basualdo

With the aim of recovering and identifying parasitic elements we studied soil samples from allpublic place of La Plata, Argentina (urban area). We surveyed 23 places during March and April,2000 and at the time of study we measured both the pH and moisture content of each sample taken.We detected 552 parasitic elements, with 98 corresponding to protozoon cysts, 106 to helmintheggs and 348 to nematode larvae. We conclude that the soils in surveyed public places arecontaminated with parasites of animal as well as human origin.


Revista Panamericana De Salud Publica-pan American Journal of Public Health | 2009

Participación comunitaria en el control de las parasitosis intestinales en una localidad rural de Argentina

Betina Cecilia Pezzani; Marta Cecilia Minvielle; María Laura Ciarmela; María C. Apezteguía; Juan Angel Basualdo

OBJECTIVES To design, implement, and evaluate a complex plan of actions aimed at reducing parasitoses in a rural town in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, with the involvement of the community. METHODS The project took place in General Mansilla, Buenos Aires province, in three stages. First, the initial epidemiological situation of intestinal parasitoses in the community was assessed by analyzing for parasites a series of stool samples and anal swabs taken from a sample of 522 individuals. Second, interventions were implemented: the pharmacological treatment of the infected individuals, and health education for the public involving local promoters. Third, the pharmacological treatment was evaluated with followup stool testing for those treated; the health education effort was evaluated through a survey and stool testing for parasites of those who had participated solely in the education. RESULTS The frequency of intestinal parasitoses was 58.2%; of the total, 43.9% were protozoa and 35.2%, helminths. The most common pathogens were Enterobius vermicularis, Blastocystis hominis, and Giardia lamblia. The deworming treatment reduced intestinal parasitoses to 15.1% (P < 0.001), and was more effective in helminths than in protozoa. Intestinal parasitoses declined following the health education intervention, in general (from 58.2% to 47.9%; P = 0.019), as well as for helminths (from 35.2% to 20.3%; P < 0.001), and hygiene habits improved significantly. CONCLUSIONS Treatment of parasitosis and the educational intervention provided by local promoters made it possible to reduce parasitic diseases-particularly those caused by helminths-in the community under study. We recommend extending this experience to other rural communities and broadening the interventions to cutoff additional modes of transmission, such as water and food.


Memorias Do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz | 2010

In vitro and in vivo effects of Enterococcus faecalis CECT7121 on Toxocara canis

Paula G Chiodo; Mónica Sparo; Betina Cecilia Pezzani; Marta Cecilia Minvielle; Juan Angel Basualdo

The aim of the present paper was to evaluate the larvicidal effect of Enterococcus faecalis CECT7121 (Ef7121) on the Toxocara canis cycle both in vitro and in vivo. For the in vitro experiments, T. canis larvae were incubated with the supernatants of Ef7121 (EI) and mutant Ef7121 (EIm), in a pre-culture of Ef7121 (EII) and in a fresh culture with Ef7121 (EIII) and the Ef7121 mutant strain (EIIIm). The viability of the larvae was calculated after a 48 h incubation. A significant reduction of the viability of T. canis larvae was observed in EI, EII and EIII. A decrease of this inhibitory effect was observed in EIm and EIIIm (p = 0.008). In the in vivo experiments, mice were orally inoculated with three doses of Ef7121. To study the probiotic persistence in the intestine, the animals were sacrificed every four days and their intestines were dissected. The initial average bacterial levels were 9.7 x 10(4) for Ef7121 (colony forming units/g). At the end of the assay the levels were 1.46 x 10(4). No bacterial translocation was detected in mesenteric lymphatic nodules and spleen. Ef7121 interference with the biological cycle was evaluated in mice challenged with T. canis. The interference was significant when the mice were challenged with probiotic and T. canis simultaneously (p = 0.001), but it was not significant when the challenge was performed 15 days after administration of the bacterial inoculum (p = 0.06). In conclusion, Ef7121 possessed in vitro and in vivo larvicidal activity.


Zentralblatt Fur Bakteriologie-international Journal of Medical Microbiology Virology Parasitology and Infectious Diseases | 1995

Relationship between parasitical inoculum and immunological parameters in experimental toxocariasis

Juan Ángel Basualdo Farjat; Marta Cecilia Minvielle; Betina Cecilia Pezzani; German Niedfeld

Swiss female mice were inoculated with different infective doses of Toxocara canis eggs to evaluate the percentage of recuperated larvae in different organs and immunological parameters such as spleen index (SI), liver index (LI) and lung index (LuI) and blood eosinophilia during 3 weeks post infectionem (p.i.) with only one challenge. It was found that T. canis larvae arrived at the liver between 10 and 15 hours p.i. by the food-fishhook technique. When the inoculum was more than 200 eggs, there was a reinvasion of liver and lungs at 504 hours p.i. The larval arrival at the brain was delayed in an inverse relationship to the inoculum but the percentage of recovery was about 7 and 8%. The organic indexes were in a direct relationship with the inoculum size and the increase in eosinophilic levels in massive infections (2000 eggs) was in agreement with a strong immune response.


Veterinary Parasitology | 1993

Presence of lipids in the secretory/excretory product from Toxocara canis

German Niedfeld; Betina Cecilia Pezzani; Marta Cecilia Minvielle; J.A. Basualdo Farjat

The presence of lipids in the secretory/excretory product obtained from Toxocara canis has been demonstrated. The fatty acids found were mostly saturated, such as myristic (14:0), palmitic (16:0) and stearic (18:0). In addition, important quantities of oleic and linoleic acids (18:1 and 18:2) and cholesterol were detected. Three more fatty acids appearing in low percentages are still to be identified.


American Journal of Human Biology | 2014

Nutritional status in parasitized and nonparasitized children from two districts of buenos aires, Argentina

Alicia Bibiana Orden; María C. Apezteguía; María Laura Ciarmela; Nora Beatriz Molina; Betina Cecilia Pezzani; Diana E. Rosa; Marta Cecilia Minvielle

The Program for the Control of Intestinal Parasites and Nutrition was designed to intervene in small communities to prevent and control the effects of parasitic infections on childrens health. Objectives: To analyze the association between nutritional status and parasitic infection in suburban and rural children from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Methods: Nutritional status was assessed by anthropometric (weight, height, BMI, skinfolds, upper arm circumference, muscle, and fat upper arm areas) and biochemical (Hb, Ca, Mg, Zn, and Cu) indicators. Parasitological analysis were made on both serial stool and perianal swab samples. A total of 708 children aged 3–11 were measured. The biochemical analysis included 217 blood samples and the parasitological study included 284 samples. Results: Anthropometric status was similar in both settings with low rates of underweight and stunting (<6%), and high rates of overweight (∼17%) and obesity (∼12%). Ca deficiency was significantly higher in suburban children where 80% of them were hypocalcemic. Around 70% of fecal samples contained parasites. Among infected children, the most prevalent species were Blastocystis hominis and Enterobius vermicularis (∼43%) followed by Giardia lamblia (∼17%). Differences in parasitological status between districts were not significant. In the suburban district parasitized children were lighter, shorter, and had a lower upper arm circumference than their non‐infected peers. No differences in anthropometric status were seen among infected and uninfected rural children. Conclusions: The results suggest an association between intestinal parasites and physical growth in suburban children. Rural children seem to be protected against the effects of parasitic infection. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 26:73–79, 2014.


Microbiology and Immunology | 2001

Resistance to Antibiotics in Injured Coliforms Isolated from Drinking Water

María Alejandra Córdoba; Irene Roccia; María Marta De Luca; Betina Cecilia Pezzani; Juan Angel Basualdo

We studied the antibiotic sensitivity of injured coliforms isolated from drinking water of La Plata, Argentina. The antibiotic sensitivity test by the agar diffusion method were proved in: Klebsiella oxytoca (14 strains), Enterobacter aerogenes (4 strains) and Enterobacter cloacae genomic group 3 (14 strains). We found that while these impaired total coliforms were sensitive to piperacillin‐tazobactam (TAZ), netilmicin (NTL), ofloxacin (OFLX), and norfloxacin (NFLX) (100%), they had resistant to aminopenicillin‐sulbactam (AMS) and nitrofurantoin (NIT) (100%). The resistance to antibiotics demonstrated in these strains would point to the need to promote a rational and judicious use of antimicrobial agents while at the same time implementing a program of active vigilance aimed at ensuring the highest quality of drinking water throughout the system.

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Marta Cecilia Minvielle

National University of La Plata

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María Laura Ciarmela

National University of La Plata

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Juan Angel Basualdo

National University of La Plata

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Diana E. Rosa

National University of La Plata

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María C. Apezteguía

National University of La Plata

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Alicia Bibiana Orden

National University of La Plata

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Nora Beatriz Molina

National University of La Plata

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Marina T. Isla Larrain

National University of La Plata

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María Marta De Luca

National University of La Plata

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