Fernando J. Bornay-Llinares

A canine leishmaniasis pilot survey in an emerging focus of visceral leishmaniasis: Posadas (Misiones, Argentina)

BackgroundAn increasing number of reports are calling our attention to the worldwide spread of leishmaniasis. The urbanization of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has been observed in different South American countries, due to changes in demographic and ecological factors. In May 2006, VL was detected for the first time in the city of Posadas (Misiones, Argentina). This event encouraged us to conduct a clinical and parasitological pilot survey on domestic dogs from Posadas to identify their potential role as reservoirs for the disease.MethodsOne hundred and ten dogs from the city of Posadas were included in the study. They were selected based on convenience and availability. All dogs underwent clinical examination. Symptomatology related to canine leishmaniasis was recorded, and peripheral blood and lymph node aspirates were collected. Anti-Leishmania antibodies were detected using rK39-immunocromatographic tests and IFAT. Parasite detection was based on peripheral blood and lymph node aspirate PCR targeting the SSUrRNA gene. Molecular typing was addressed by DNA sequence analysis of the PCR products obtained by SSUrRNA and ITS-1 PCR.ResultsAccording to clinical examination, 69.1% (76/110) of the dogs presented symptoms compatible with canine leishmaniasis. Serological analyses were positive for 43.6% (48/110) of the dogs and parasite DNA was detected in 47.3% (52/110). A total of 63 dogs (57.3%) were positive by serology and/or PCR. Molecular typing identified Leishmania infantum (syn. Leishmania chagasi) as the causative agent.ConclusionsThis work confirms recent findings which revealed the presence of Lutzomyia longipalpis, the vector of L. infantum in this area of South America. This new VL focus could be well established, and further work is needed to ascertain its magnitude and to prevent further human VL cases.

Cryptosporidium: un género en revisión. Situación en España

Genus Cryptosporidium, has undergone major revisions in recent years. The identification of new species and their major reservoirs has contributed to the knowledge of the epidemiology of human infection. In Spain, although there are many publications, few studies have been conducted to identify the circulating species and genotypes. This fact has led us to review and update these new studies published in Spain, particularly those that use molecular methods in order to characterise the species and genotypes present in our country.

Detection and Molecular Characterization of Cryptosporidium bovis-Like Isolate From a Newborn Lamb in Spain

Species of Cryptosporidium infect a broad variety of animals. Because morphological features of the secreted oocysts are not useful in identifying the parasite at the species level, molecular tools were used to accomplish this task, leading to discovery of new Cryptosporidium species. With the use of this approach, Cryptosporidium bovis has recently been described as a new species infecting bovines and several other hosts, but clearly distinct from C. parvum. In this report, we present a description of a Cryptosporidium sp. isolate from a newborn lamb from a farm in Spain. The isolate seemed to be very similar to C. bovis based on the analysis of the gene that codes for the 18S rRNA.

Molecular Characterization of Cryptosporidium sp. from Animals in Spain

LUIS NAVARRO-i-MARTINEZ, FERNANDO J. BORNAY-LLINARES, CRISTINA RUEDA, CARMEN del AGUILA, ALEXANDRE J. da SILVA, ANA OLEAGA, VICENTE RAMAJO, SOLEDAD FENOY and NORMAN J. PIENIAZEK Universidad Miguel Hernandez de Elche, Alicante, Spain, and Universidad San Pablo-CEU, Madrid, Spain, and Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiologia-CSIC, Salamanca, Spain, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA

Cryptosporidiosis in HIV‐Positive Patients from Medellín, Colombia

LUIS NAVARRO-i-MARTINEZ, ALEXANDRE J. da SILVA, JORGE H. BOTERO GARCES, MARTHA N. MONTOYA PALACIO, CARMEN del AGUILA and FERNANDO J. BORNAY-LLINARES Universidad Miguel Hernandez de Elche, San Juan, Alicante 03550, Spain, and Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, and Universidad de Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia, and Universidad San Pablo-CEU, Madrid, Spain, and Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, Elche, Alicante, Spain

Helminth parasites in faecal samples from the endangered Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus)

The Iberian lynx is the most endangered felid in the world. Enteropathogens may threaten its survival, and therefore we analysed faecal samples from 66 different individuals (37 males and 29 females), the largest population representation studied to date. The samples were obtained from November 2005 to October 2008 in the two areas where the Iberian lynx survives: Sierra Morena and Doñana (Andalusia, southern Spain). A total of 56.1% samples were parasitized with at least 6 species of helminths, including two cestodes (Hymenolepis spp. and Taenia spp.) and four Nematodes (Ancylostoma spp., Toxocara spp., Toxascaris leonina, and Capillaria sp.). In this work, the presence of Hymenolepis is reported for the first time in Lynx pardinus. The relevance of our findings is discussed focussed on the conservation of this endangered felid.

IDENTIFICATION OF Leishmania infantum IN PUERTO IGUAZÚ, MISIONES, ARGENTINA

The emergence of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (ZVL) in Latin America is a growing public health problem. The urbanization of ZVL has been observed in different countries around the world, and there are a growing number of reports drawing attention to the emergence of this infection in new locations, as well as its increase in previously established areas of endemicity. In the city of Posadas, Misiones province, Northeastern Argentina, the transmission of ZVL associated with canines and Lutzomyia longipalpis was first reported in 2006. In the city of Puerto Iguazú, also in Misiones province, the first human case of ZVL was reported in February 2014. From 209 surveyed dogs, 15 (7.17%) were identified as positive by serological and/or parasitological methods. Amplification was observed in 14 samples and in all cases the species implicated was Leishmania infantum. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first molecular characterization of L. infantum from dogs in this area.

Hookworm-like eggs in children's faecal samples from a rural area of Rwanda

BACKGROUND Hookworm eggs identification and quantification is usually carried out by Kato-Katz method. However various structures present in the smear may be confused with eggs of such parasites. OBJECTIVE To document the presence of structures in Kato-Katz slides that could initially be misinterpreted as hookworm eggs. METHOD 497 faecal samples were analysed by Kato-Katz technique, diphasic concentration technique, agar-plate coprocultive and larvae obtained were analysed by PCR and characterized by sequencing. RESULT Hookworm-like eggs were found in 159 (32%) of the samples by Kato-Katz, finally identified as Caenorhabditis elegans by PCR technique. CONCLUSION The diagnosis of human hookworm eggs, only by the use of Kato-Katz technique can lead to false positives because of similarities with eggs of other free-living worms, from wet soils like those of Rwanda that could contaminate stool samples.

Genital microsporidiosis in women with AIDS: A post-mortem study

BACKGROUND Microsporidiosis is a life threatening opportunistic infection of AIDS patients. The infection is usually restricted to specific anatomical areas, but could become systemic depending on the involved species. Genital microsporidiosis in female patients is rare. OBJECTIVE To report genital microsporidiosis in female AIDS patients. METHODS Tissues samples from the genital tract (ovary, fallopian tubes and uterus) of eight deceased women who died of wasting syndrome associated to AIDS and disseminated microsporidiosis at the Institute of Tropical Medicine Pedro Kourí were collected between 1997 and 2005. Using an indirect immunohistochemistry assay the microsporidia species involved in those cases were identified. RESULTS We report several cases of microsporidial infection of the female genital tract. Six out of eight women with the disseminated form of the disease showed the presence of microsporidia in the genital tract. Encephalitozoon cuniculi and Encephalitozoon hellem were identified in the internal lining epithelium of the fallopian tubes and endometrium. CONCLUSIONS Microsporidia species could disseminate to other organs and become systemic in severe immunocompromised cases. To our knowledge this is the greatest number of female genital tract microsporidiosis cases so far reported in humans.

Clinical and socioeconomic determinants of congenital syphilis in Posadas, Argentina

OBJECTIVES To explore clinical and socioeconomic factors related to congenital syphilis in Posadas, Argentina. METHODS Data were collected from 102 mothers who had given birth to an infant with congenital syphilis at Dr. Ramón Madariaga Central Hospital (2005-2007) and 306 control mothers. Clinical and demographic information were collected from clinical records, and socioeconomic details were obtained by interview. Multivariable logistic regression was used to explore the relationships between congenital syphilis and clinical and socioeconomic factors. RESULTS Receiving the recommended number of prenatal health checks had a clear protective effect on congenital syphilis in the univariate analysis (odds ratio (OR) 0.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.31-0.86), as did being in a stable relationship (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.14-0.38). Furthermore, women with secondary education or above were over four-times less likely to have a child with congenital syphilis compared to women who had not completed primary school education, even after controlling for the number of prenatal health checks and other factors (adjusted OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.08-0.72). In addition, women with previous stillborn births were over three-times more likely to have a baby with congenital syphilis after controlling for education and prenatal care (adjusted OR 3.37, 95% CI 1.24-9.16). CONCLUSIONS There is a clear opportunity for reducing the burden of congenital syphilis by promoting syphilis screening and treatment in women with previous stillborn births. In addition, the potential impact of more general policies addressing social determinants of health, such as those improving education, must not be overlooked.