Toxocariasis: a silent threat with a progressive public health impact

Background: Toxocariasis is a neglected parasitic zoonosis that afflicts millions of the pediatric and adolescent populations worldwide, especially in impoverished communities. This disease is caused by infection with the larvae of Toxocara canis and T. cati, the most ubiquitous intestinal nematode parasite in dogs and cats, respectively. In this article, recent advances in the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis and pharmacotherapies that have been used in the treatment of toxocariasis are reviewed. Main text: Over the past two decades, we have come far in our understanding of the biology and epidemiology of toxocariasis. However, lack of laboratory infrastructure in some countries, lack of uniform case definitions and limited surveillance infrastructure are some of the challenges that hindered the estimation of global disease burden. Toxocariasis encompasses four clinical forms: visceral, ocular, covert and neural. Incorrect or misdiagnosis of any of these disabling conditions can result in severe health consequences and considerable medical care spending. Fortunately, multiple diagnostic modalities are available, which if effectively used together with the administration of appropriate pharmacologic therapies, can minimize any unnecessary patient morbidity. Conclusions: Although progress has been made in the management of toxocariasis patients, there remains much work to be done. Implementation of new technologies and better understanding of the pathogenesis of toxocariasis can identify new diagnostic biomarkers, which may help in increasing diagnostic accuracy. Also, further clinical research breakthroughs are needed to develop better ways to effectively control and prevent this serious disease

Riesgos y controversias en la construcción social del concepto de alimento saludable: el caso de la soja

Riscos e controvérsias na construção social do conceito de alimento saudável são discutidos, tendo a soja como objeto de estudo. Estudos dos impactos da soja sobre a saúde e da sojicultura sobre o meio socioambiental foram revisados para analisar as controvérsias científicas da pesquisa na área de soja e saúde humana, bem como seu contexto político e as repercussões socioambientais da sojicultura. Com base na Sociologia do Conhecimento Científico e na Sociologia Ambiental, argumenta-se que a fronteira entre o alimento saudável e o de risco é tênue e vulnerável a diferentes influências construídas reflexivamente. Destaca-se a importância de ampliar o conceito de alimento saudável para o de alimentação saudável, considerando sua dimensão cultural e socioambiental.Controversies and risks in the social construction of the concept of healthy food are discussed, using soybean as the object of study. Studies concerning the impacts of soy on human health and the effects of its cultivation on the social-environmental domain were reviewed to analyze the political context of the discussion surrounding soy and the socio-environmental repercussions of its cultivation. Based on the sociology of scientific knowledge and the environmental sociology, we identified a thin line between healthy and risky food, which is vulnerable to different reflexively constructed influences. It is important to broaden the concept of healthy food to healthy alimentation and to consider its cultural and social-environmental dimension.Riesgos y controversias en la construcción social del concepto de alimento saludable son discutidos, teniendo a la soja como objeto de estudio. Estudios de los impactos de la soja sobre la salud y de la sojicultura sobre el medio socioambiental fueron revisados para analizar las controversias científicas de la investigación en el área de soja y salud humana, así como su contexto político y las repercusiones socioambientales de la sojicultura. Con base en la Sociología del Conocimiento Científico y en la Sociología Ambiental, se argumenta que la frontera entre el alimento saludable y el de riesgo es tenue y vulnerable en diferentes influencias construidas reflexivamente. Se destaca la importancia de ampliar el concepto de alimento saludable para el de alimentación saludable, considerando su dimensión cultural y socioambiental.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP