Gerardo Godoy

Histoplasmine and paracoccidiodine epidemiological study in Upata, Bolívar state, Venezuela.

Objective  To determine the prevalence of histoplasmosis and paracoccidiomycosis in Upata, a city in Bolívar state, Venezuela.

Mansonelosis en el area sur-oriental de la Orinoquia venezolana

Physical exam and skin biopsy were performed and peripheral blood samples drawn from 10% of the inhabitants of 26 jungle villages of the State of Bolivar, Venezuela. One hundred and fifty three Indians and an inhabitant of mixed blood from 13 different communities were found to be infected with mansonelliasis representing a global index of 36.40% in the endemic area. The parasitosis was found to be concentrated in three areas. The largest, located in the southwest of the country and forming part of an extent infected area embarking neighboring parts of Venezuela and Brazil, contains villages with a parasite index of 80.76% and 94.44%. A second focus is located in the southeast, its carriers, as those of the first, are infected with Mansonella ozzardi. In a third, central eastern focus infections with Mansonella pertans were found. The patients infected with M. ozzardi were apparently asintomatic and their physical exam was normal, even though individual parasite densities up to 30,000 microfilariae/ml blood and 22,000/gr skin were found.

Epidemiological survey of histoplasmine and paracoccidioidine skin reactivity in an agricultural area in Bolívar state, Venezuela

Paracoccidiodomycosis and histoplasmosis are endemic diseases in the south of Venezuela, representing a public health problem. Prevalence of Paracoccidiodes brasiliensis and Histoplasma capsulatum infections were estimated in Monte Ralo, a rural community area of Bolívar state using paracoccidiodine and histoplasmine skin tests. Paracoccidiodine was intradermically injected to 173 persons and readings were made at 24 and 48 h afterwards to 167 persons (97.85%). Reaction was positive in 8.5% (n = 14) at 24 h post-injection and 13.2% (n = 20) at 48 h. Farmers showed the higher percentage of positivity at 24 and 48 h. One hundred-seventy five persons were intradermically injected with histoplasmine but 167 and 157 of them attended for reading of the dermal reaction at 24 and 48 h post-injection respectively. Tests were positive in 25.7% (n = 43) at 24 h and 42.7% (n = 67) at 48 h. Further studies are needed in surrounding places to delimit the endemic area of these mycosis in the Bolívar state. However, epidemiological vigilance of PCM and H should be considered by local health authorities.