Spirocerca lupi en perros de Yucatán, México: Reporte de caso y estudio retrospectivo

Objetivo. Se describe el caso de un perro parasitado con Spirocera lupi en Yucatán, México, y además, se reportan los casos registrados en dos laboratorios durante 18 años de estudios parasitológicos y de necropsias (2000-2017). Materiales y métodos.Para el primer caso, se incluyen hallazgos de necropsia, histológicos y parasitológicos. Para los estudios retrospectivos se realizaron necropsias y estudios coprológicos de Flotación Centrifugada y de McMaster. Resultados. En el paciente del estudio de caso, durante la necropsia se observaron tres nódulos esofágicos que al realizar la incisión de los mismos, se visualizaron nematodos que correspondieron a S. lupi. En el estudio histológico se observó un granuloma eosinofílico que en su interior contenía el nematodo rodeado por un infiltrado inflamatorio moderado que estaba constituido por neutrófilos, eosinófilos, linfocitos, células plasmáticas y macrófagos; delimitado por una cápsula de tejido conectivo fibroso. En el estudio retrospectivo se encontraron prevalencias de 0.18 y 0.48% mediante pruebas coprológicas y estudios de necropsias, respectivamente. Conclusiones. Spirocerca lupi se encuentra presente en perros de Yucatán, México. Por lo tanto, sería importante considerar esta patología para el diagnóstico diferencial de problemas esofágicos y respiratorios en caninos

First histopathological study in kidneys of rodents naturally infected with Leptospira pathogenic species from Yucatan, Mexico

AbstractObjectiveTo report the renal histological lesions in synanthropic rodents, Mus musculus and Rattus rattus, naturally infected with Leptospira spp., captured in a rural community in Yucatan, Mexico.MethodsKidney samples of synanthropic rodents were collected from a rural community in Yucatan, Mexico. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect Leptospira spp. infection. Tissue kidney was fixed in 10% buffered formalin, processed according to the usual techniques for paraffin inclusion, cut and stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and examined using a conventional electronic microscope.ResultsA total of 187 rodents were captured. Nine individuals (4.8%) were positive for Leptospira spp. in the molecular analysis. All renal lesions observed in the histopathological study had been reported previously for Leptospira spp. infection.ConclusionsThe histopathological lesions are present in the kidneys, plus the results of the polymerase chain reaction confirm that these rodents are true carriers of Leptospira spp

Equipo para adquisición de señales de electroconducción en el sistema nervioso periférico en humanos. Diseño y construcción

Un examen de electroconducción consiste en la medición de la velocidad de respuesta de los nerviosperiféricos, ante un estimulo eléctrico de alto voltaje y corto duración. La respuesta a este estimulopuede ser un potencial de acción nervioso sensitivo compuesto o potencial de acción nervioso motorcompuesto. Es asíquepara realizar un estudio de electroconduccián es necesario registrary visualizareste tipo de potenciales de acción. El NCV2003 es un dispositivo diseñado para este propósito,contiene un estimulador, un sensor de temperatura y un sistema de adquisición de señales. La señalcapturada se digitaliza con una resolución de 16 bits Y es llevada a un computador que visualizaresultados como la temperatura, la latencia, amplitudy velocidadde conducción nerviosa delpaciente.Con los resultados obtenidos, se genera un reporte con el cual el especialista que está realizando elestudio, puede realizar con facilidad un diagnostico del paciente.An examination of electroconduction consists of the measurement of the speed of response of the peripheral nerves, before an electric stimulation of high voltage and short duration. The response to this stimulus may be a composite or potential sensory nerve action potential or motor potential nerve action potential. It is so to perform an electroconduction study it is necessary to register and visualize the type of action potentials. The NCV2003 is a device designed for this purpose, it contains a stimulator, a temperature sensor and a signal acquisition system. The captured signal is digitized with a resolution of 16 bits AND is taken to a computer that displays results such as temperature, latency, amplitude and speed of nerve conduction of the patient. With the results obtained, a report is generated with which the specialist who is performing the study, can easily perform a patient diagnosis

Equipo para adquisición de señales de electroconducción en el sistema nervioso periférico en humanos. Diseño y construcción

Un examen de electroconducción consiste en la medición de la velocidad de respuesta de los nerviosperiféricos, ante un estimulo eléctrico de alto voltaje y corto duración. La respuesta a este estimulopuede ser un potencial de acción nervioso sensitivo compuesto o potencial de acción nervioso motorcompuesto. Es asíquepara realizar un estudio de electroconduccián es necesario registrary visualizareste tipo de potenciales de acción. El NCV2003 es un dispositivo diseñado para este propósito,contiene un estimulador, un sensor de temperatura y un sistema de adquisición de señales. La señalcapturada se digitaliza con una resolución de 16 bits Y es llevada a un computador que visualizaresultados como la temperatura, la latencia, amplitudy velocidadde conducción nerviosa delpaciente.Con los resultados obtenidos, se genera un reporte con el cual el especialista que está realizando elestudio, puede realizar con facilidad un diagnostico del paciente.An examination of electroconduction consists of the measurement of the speed of response of the peripheral nerves, before an electric stimulation of high voltage and short duration. The response to this stimulus may be a composite or potential sensory nerve action potential or motor potential nerve action potential. It is so to perform an electroconduction study it is necessary to register and visualize the type of action potentials. The NCV2003 is a device designed for this purpose, it contains a stimulator, a temperature sensor and a signal acquisition system. The captured signal is digitized with a resolution of 16 bits AND is taken to a computer that displays results such as temperature, latency, amplitude and speed of nerve conduction of the patient. With the results obtained, a report is generated with which the specialist who is performing the study, can easily perform a patient diagnosis

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

CLINICAL INCIDENCE AND FREQUENCY OF LESIONS ASSOCIATED TO PORCINE CIRCOVIRUS TYPE 2 IN PIGS OF A FARM IN THE STATE OF YUCATAN, MEXICO.

The objectives of this study were to determine the incidence rate, the cumulative incidence of Postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) and porcine dermatitis nephropathy syndrome (PDNS), and the frequency of macroscopic and microscopic lesions of PMWS and PDNS in pigs in a farm in the state of Yucatan, Mexico. A group of production consisting of 235 pigs was observed from 4 to 22 weeks of life to determine the number of new cases compatible with the PMWS and PDNS. In addition pigs necropsied on the farm that were discarded and with signs consistent with syndromes studied. 80 pigs were studied, the organs inspected during the necropsy were the lungs, lymphonodes, spleen, liver, tonsils, ileum, kidneys and skin, samples of all organs were obtained for histopathological studies. The results were: 14 pigs with signs consistent with syndromes mentioned, 7 with the PMWS and 7 with the PDNS. The cumulate incidence and incidence rate for both syndromes was 0.06 and 0.0034 respectively. 5 pigs died, the lethality rate calculated for PMWS y PDNS was 0.4 and 0.3 respectively. The average time elapsed since the start of the observation period until the pigs sick with the PMWS and PDNS were 13.8 and 16.8 weeks respectively. The principal organ affected were the lymphonodes (100%) where the main macroscopic injury was a lymphadenomegaly with diffuse edema (56%) and the microscopic was a histiocytic lymphadenitis with lymphoid atrophy (64%

Quantitative and histological assessment of maternal-fetal transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi in guinea pigs: An experimental model of congenital Chagas disease.

We evaluated the effect of Trypanosoma cruzi infection on fertility, gestation outcome, and maternal-fetal transmission in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus).Animals were infected with T. cruzi H4 strain (TcI lineage) before gestation (IBG) or during gestation (IDG). Tissue and sera samples of dams and fetuses were obtained near parturition.All IBG and IDG dams were seropositive by two tests, and exhibited blood parasite load of 1.62±2.2 and 50.1±62 parasites/μl, respectively, by quantitative PCR. Histological evaluation showed muscle fiber degeneration and cellular necrosis in all infected dams. Parasite nests were not detected in infected dams by histology. However, qPCR analysis detected parasites-eq/g heart tissue of 153±104.7 and 169.3±129.4 in IBG and IDG dams, respectively. All fetuses of infected dams were positive for anti-parasite IgG antibodies and tissue parasites by qPCR, but presented a low level of tissue inflammatory infiltrate. Fetuses of IDG (vs. IBG) dams exhibited higher degree of muscle fiber degeneration and cellular necrosis in the heart and skeletal tissues. The placental tissue exhibited no inflammatory lesions and amastigote nests, yet parasites-eq/g of 381.2±34.3 and 79.2±84.9 were detected in IDG and IBG placentas, respectively. Fetal development was compromised, and evidenced by a decline in weight, crow-rump length, and abdominal width in both groups.T. cruzi TcI has a high capacity of congenital transmission even when it was inoculated at a very low dose before or during gestation. Tissue lesions, parasite load, and fetal under development provide evidence for high virulence of the parasite during pregnancy. Despite finding of high parasite burden by qPCR, placentas were protected from cellular damage. Our studies offer an experimental model to study the efficacy of vaccines and drugs against congenital transmission of T. cruzi. These results also call for T. cruzi screening in pregnant women and adequate follow up of the newborns in endemic areas

Serological and parasitological analysis of fetuses of guinea pigs infected with <i>T</i>. <i>cruzi</i>.

<p>Female guinea pigs were infected before gestation (IBG) or during gestation (IDG). <b>(A&B)</b> Sera samples of fetuses were obtained close to parturition, and analyzed by an ELISA <b><i>(A)</i></b> and indirect immunofluorescence assay <b>(B)</b>. Bar graphs show the percentage of fetuses in each group that were positive for anti-<i>T</i>. <i>cruzi</i> antibodies. <b>(C)</b> Fetal tissue parasite load was monitored by quantitative PCR as described in Materials and Methods. Control (n = 9); IBG (n = 9); IDG (n = 5) samples were analyzed in triplicate. Data in panel A & B are presented as absolute values, and data in panel C are presented as mean value ± SD. (**P <0.01, IDG vs. IBG).</p

Frequency and severity of histological lesions in guinea pig dams and their fetuses in response to infection by <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i>.

<p>Frequency and severity of histological lesions in guinea pig dams and their fetuses in response to infection by <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i>.</p