Descripción del parasitismo gastrointestinal mediante análisis coprológico en zorro de Darwin, Lycalopex fulvipes (Martin 1837), y güiña, Leopardus guigna (Molina 1782), en isla de Chiloé, Chile

We aimed to identify faeces belonging to either Darwin’s fox (Lycalopex fulvipes) or kodkod (Leopardus guigna) by using molecular genetic techniques, and to describe and compare the gastrointestinal parasites harbored by both carnivores in Chiloé Island. We found that 60% (25/42) and 88% (28/32) of faeces of Darwin’s fox and kodkod had parasite eggs. This study provided the fi rst record of Aspiculuris sp. and trematodes in Darwin’s fox and Aspiculuris sp., Trichuris sp., Capillaria sp., Isospora sp. and trematodes in kodkod, which may correspond to either prey- or host-originated parasites.Nuestro objetivo fue identifi car heces pertenecientes a zorro de Darwin (Lycalopex fulvipes) o güiña (Leopardus guigna) utilizando técnicas de genética molecular, y describir y comparar los parásitos gastrointestinales albergados por ambos carnívoros en la isla de Chiloé. Encontramos que 60% (25/42) y 88% (28/32) de heces de zorro de Darwin y güiña tuvo huevos de parásito. Este estudio entregó el primer registro de Aspiculuris sp. y tremátodos en zorro de Darwin y Aspiculuris sp., Trichuris sp., Capillaria sp., Isospora sp. y tremátodos en güiña, que podrían corresponder a parásitos de presas u hospederos

Multi-lingual “Asthma APP” improves health knowledge of asthma among Australian First Nations carers of children with asthma

Background: Among Australian First Nations people, asthma is associated with worse morbidity and mortality than non-First Nations people. Improving the delivery of health education that is innovative and culturally relevant to linguistically diverse populations is needed. Digital platforms, such as mobile applications (APP), have the potential to improve evidence-based health education, particularly in settings where access to specialist services is limited and turnover of staff is high, such as in remote Australia. In response to consumer needs, we developed a multi-lingual Asthma APP from our existing asthma flipchart, with a “voice-over” in seven local First Nations languages and English, using a mixture of static and interactive formats. In this study, we evaluated (a) the functionality and usability of the APP with First Nations health professionals with and without asthma and (b) whether the APP improves health knowledge and understanding of asthma among First Nations carers of children with asthma. Methods: In total, 7 First Nations health professionals participated in semi-structured interviews prior to the evaluation with 80 First Nations carers of children with asthma from the Northern Territory and Queensland, Australia. Carers underwent pre- and post-education questionnaires (maximum score = 25), where the post-questionnaire was administered immediately post the APP education session. Results: Health professionals found that APP was easy to navigate and culturally appropriate. Among the 80 carers, most were mothers (86%), aged between 26 and 50 years (75%) and 61% lived in remote settings (>100 km from a tertiary hospital). Most carers chose English audio (76%) with the remainder choosing one of the First Nations languages. Overall, asthma knowledge significantly improved post-education (median scores pre = 21 [interquartile range (IQR), 19–22; post = 24 (IQR 22–24), p = 0.05]. Conclusion: The First Nations-specific multi-lingual Asthma APP was easy to use and acceptable for the use by health professionals that also significantly improved short-term asthma knowledge among First Nations carers of children with asthma. The Asthma APP is an innovative and culturally acceptable method of delivering evidence-based, health education to culturally and linguistically diverse populations among Australian First Nations people.</p

Randomized Phase II Trial of Atovaquone with Pyrimethamine or Sulfadiazine for Treatment of Toxoplasmic Encephalitis in Patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome: ACTG 237/ANRS 039 Study

In this international, noncomparative, randomized phase II trial, we evaluated the effectiveness and tolerance of atovaquone suspension (1500 mg orally twice daily) plus either pyrimethamine (75 mg per day after a 200-mg loading dose) or sulfadiazine (1500 mg 4 times daily) as treatment for acute disease (for 6 weeks) and as maintenance therapy (for 42 weeks) for toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE) in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus. Twenty-one (75%) of 28 patients receiving pyrimethamine (95% lower confidence interval [CI], 58%) and 9 (82%) of 11 patients receiving sulfadiazine (95% lower CI, 53%) responded to treatment for acute disease. Of 20 patients in the maintenance phase, only 1 experienced relapse. Eleven (28%) of 40 eligible patients discontinued treatment as a result of adverse events, 9 because of nausea and vomiting or intolerance of the taste of the atovaquone suspension. Although gastrointestinal side effects were frequent, atovaquone-containing regimens are otherwise well tolerated and safe and may be useful for patients intolerant of standard regimens for toxoplasmic encephalitis