Jhon Carlos Castaño

Inhibitors compounds of the flavivirus replication process

Flaviviruses are small viruses with single-stranded RNA, which include the yellow fever virus, dengue virus, West Nile virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, and Zika virus; and are causal agents of the most important emerging diseases that have no available treatment to date. In recent years, the strategy has focused on the development of replication inhibitors of these viruses designed to act mainly by affecting the activity of enzyme proteins, such as NS3 and NS5, which perform important functions in the viral replication process. This article describes the importance of flaviviruses and the development of molecules used as inhibitors of viral replication in this genus.

Detección de Poliovirus en Aguas Residuales de Armenia, Colombia

ObjetivoImplementar un metodo para la vigilancia ambiental de poliovirus circulante a partir de aguas residuales. Metodos Se colectaron 6 muestras de aguas residuales en los sitios finales de descarga del acueducto de Armenia, Quindio. Los virus fueron concentrados y extraidos por un metodo que usa el polietilenglicol y cloruro de sodio como agentes concentradores. La identificacion de poliovirus se realizo mediante la tecnica de reaccion en cadena de la polimerasa empleando cebadores especificos de grupo, de serotipo y de cepa vacunal sabin. Resultados Se demostro la eficiencia de los metodos de deteccion viral empleados. Se encontro la presencia de poliovirus en 5 de las 6 (83 %) muestras colectadas. La identificacion serotipo-especifica revelo la presencia de poliovirus tipo 1 y 3 en las muestras estudiadas. Todos los poliovirus detectados resultaron ser del tipo vacunal lo cual aporta una evidencia mas a favor de la no circulacion de poliovirus salvaje en la region. Conclusion El sistema de vigilancia a partir de aguas residuales puede ser una herramienta sensible para la deteccion de la circulacion de poliovirus.

Seroprevalencia de anticuerpos a virus del sarampión, rubeola, parotiditis, hepatitis B y los tres serotipos de poliovirus, en niños de Quindío, Colombia

Objective The main goal of this research was to assess the seroprevalence of antibodies against measles, rubella, mumps, hepatitis B and all three poliovirus serotypes among children in the Quindío Department, Colombia. Methods Blood samples were obtained from 170 healthy children aged 5-9 years from nine municipalities in Quindío. The presence of serum IgG antibodies against measles, rubella, mumps and Hepatitis B were determined using commercial indirect ELISA kits. Immunity to poliomyelitis was assessed through the presence of neutralizing antibodies following the method recommended by the World Health Organization. Results Among the 170 children enrolled, 169 (99.41%), 170 (100 %), and 167 (98.2 %) were seropositive to poliovirus 1, poliovirus 2, and poliovirus 3, respectively. The average reciprocal antibody titers were 178 for poliovirus type 1, 120 for type 2 and 56 for type 3. Of the 170 children, 96.47 % were protected against mumps and rubella, and 86.47 % against measles. Only 106 (62.35 %) of the studied subjects were proved to be seropositive to hepatitis B. Conclusion The immunization program in Quindío has provided seroprotection against all three poliomyelitis serotypes, rubella and mumps. However, the child population is not fully protected against measles and hepatitis B virus infections.

Ausencia de circulación de poliovirus en departamentos colombianos con coberturas vacunales inferiores a 80

This study aims to explore a possible silent circulation of wild and vaccine-derived polioviruses in departments of Colombia with polio vaccination coverage of below 80%. The study collected 52 samples of wastewater concentrated as a result of precipitation with polyethylene glycol and sodium chloride. The viral detection was carried out through isolation and the identification through neutralization of the cytopathic effect, as well as through a conventional polymerase chain reaction following reverse transcription. The isolated polioviruses were characterized by the VP1 gene sequence. In two of the 52 samples, there was a presence of the Sabin type 2 poliovirus with more than 99% sequence similarity with the Sabin type 2 strain polio. Circulation of the nonpolio enterovirus was detected in 17.3% of the samples. The serotypes identified corresponded to coxsackievirus B1, echovirus 30, and echovirus 11. No evidence of the spread of either vaccine-derived poliovirus or wild poliovirus was detected in the departments of Colombia with polio coverage lower than 80%.

Establecimiento de una línea celular primaria a partir de huevos con embrión de Toxocara canis

Introduccion. Toxocara canis es el segundo nematelminto mas prevalente en perros a nivel regional y entre los tres mas frecuentes en algunos paises de la region. Debido a que la fuente de contaminacion es el perro, este se convierte en un nematodo con gran potencial zoonotico. Por estarazon, consideramos importante disponer de una linea celular de este helminto para el estudio de los aspectos basicos, asi como para el desarrollo de tecnicas diagnosticas. Objetivo. Obtener una linea celular primaria a partir de huevos con embrion de T. canis.

Prevalence of Mammomonogamus laryngeus(Strongylida:Syngamidae) nematodes in a bovine slaughterhouse

INTRODUCTION Mammomonogamus laryngeus is a nematode parasite that is usually found in the larynx of mammals in the tropics, especially in cattle, sheep and cats. OBJECTIVE The prevalence of M. laryngeus was determined in cattle brought to an abattoir as an indicator of its prevalence in the general population. Materials and methods. The present study was undertaken in the municipality of La Tebaida, Quindio, Colombia, to determine the presence of M. laryngeus infection in cattle brought to a local abattoir between December and February 2009. The tracheae and lungs of 500 slaughtered cattle were examined. RESULTS Parasite prevalence was 14.8% (n=74). The majority of worms were located on aryteno-epiglottic folds, but never in the tracheae or bronchi. The infection rate was highest (47%) in 2 to 2.5 year old animals. In infected animals, an average of 6.4 parasite pairs was found, with higher numbers in older animals. The prevalence of infection in cattle was greater than seen in the provinces of Valle del Cauca (10.0%), Quindío(3,0%) pr Caquetá (1.2%). CONCLUSIONS Reports of this parasite in cattle indicate its circulation throughout Colombia and recommend surveillance studies where cattle are raised and prepared for human consumption.

Prevalence of enterovirus infection in infants in Armenia, Colombia, 2009

INTRODUCTION Despite world wide circulation of enteroviruses, little information has accumulated on the circulation of enteroviruses in Colombia. OBJECTIVE The prevalence of enterovirus circulation was examined in children under 1 year to identify the most common enterovirus serotypes. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fecal samples were collected from 320 children under 1 year of age who attended a first-level health center in the city of Armenia, Colombia, in 2009. Enterovirus detection was performed by reverse transcription reaction and nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-N-PCR) using generic enterovirus primers. Samples testing positive in the RT-N-PCR were inoculated into cell cultures susceptible to enterovirus. All isolates were typed by seroneutralization with Lim-Benyesh-Melnick antiserum pools. RESULTS Overall, enteroviral RNA was detected in 43 of 320 (13.3%; 95% CI: 9.7 to 17.1) fecal samples by RT-N-PCR. Viral isolation was possible in 26 of 43 (60.4%) of the positive samples. Of these, 15 were Coxsackievirus B (eight CVB1, two CVB2, five CVB5) and 11 Echovirus (six E6 and five E30). CONCLUSIONS The enteroviral circulation in a population on newly bornes up to 1 year old was 13.3%;the most frequent enterovirus was the same as those serotypes most commonly isolated in other parts of the world. The use of RT-N-PCR was demonstrably feasible as a tool to monitor the presence of enterovirus in stool samples.