Human and Canine Echinococcosis Infection in Informal, Unlicensed Abattoirs in Lima, Peru

Echinococcus granulosus infections are a major public health problem in livestock-raising regions around the world. The life cycle of this tapeworm is sustained between dogs (definitive host, canine echinococcosis), and herbivores (intermediary host, cystic hydatid disease). Humans may also develop cystic hydatid disease. Echinococcosis is endemic in rural areas of Peru; nevertheless, its presence or the extension of the problem in urban areas is basically unknown. Migration into Lima, an 8-million habitant's metropolis, creates peripheral areas where animals brought from endemic areas are slaughtered without veterinary supervision. We identified eight informal, unlicensed abattoirs in a peripheral district of Lima and performed a cross-sectional study in to assess the prevalence of canine echinococcosis, evaluated by coproELISA followed by PCR evaluation and arecoline purge. Eight of 22 dogs (36%) were positive to coproELISA, and four (18%) were confirmed to be infected with E. granulosus tapeworms either by PCR or direct observation (purge). Later evaluation of the human population living in these abattoirs using abdominal ultrasound, chest X-rays and serology, found 3 out of 32 (9.3%) subjects with echinococcal cysts in the liver (two viable, one calcified), one of whom had also lung involvement and a strongly positive antibody response. Autochthonous transmission of E. granulosus is present in Lima. Informal, unlicensed abattoirs may be sources of infection to neighbouring people in this urban environment

Efecto de la histerectomía con preservación de uno o dos ovarios sobre la concentración de estradiol en mujeres premenopáusicas.

Objetivo: Determinar el efecto de la histerectomía con preservación de uno o dos ovarios sobre el nivel de estradiol en mujeres premenopáusicas. Material y métodos: Se incluyeron en el estudio 40 mujeres premenopáusicas del Hospital Nacional Arzobispo Loayza; se les realizó una medición de estradiol antes de la histerectomía y la otra medición luego de un tiempo equivalente a tres ciclos menstruales después de la cirugía. Además se les realizó una encuesta de síntomas climatéricos en ambas oportunidades. Resultados: No hubo diferencia significativa entre los niveles de estradiol antes y después de la histerectomía. La comparación de las medias según el tipo de histerectomía, número de ovarios conservados y el diagnóstico preoperatorio, no alcanzó valores estadísticamente significativos. No hubo diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre los síntomas climatéricos antes y después de la cirugía. Conclusiones: El tipo de histerectomía, el número de ovarios conservados y el diagnóstico preoperatorio no alterarían los niveles de estradiol, ni favorecerían la aparición de síntomas climatéricos

Bivariate logistic regression analysis for infection in dogs.

*<p>Unadjusted model.</p>**<p>CI: Confidence interval.</p>***<p>Fisher's exact test (2-sided).</p

Seropisitivity in relation to dog and abattoir characteristics.

*<p>Fisher's exact test (2-sided).</p

Evaluations performed in dogs.

*<p>ELISA ratio = OD sample/OD cut-off.</p>**<p>Based on a OD cut off<0.09.</p

Sequence of evaluations performed in dogs (n = 26).

<p>Sequence of evaluations performed in dogs (n = 26).</p