Relationship between the severity of chest CT scan lesions, arterial oxygenation and inflammatory markers in high – altitude patients with Covid-19

This study aims to determine the relationship between the severity of lung tomographic compromise with arterial oxygenation and inflammatory markers in patients with COVID-19, and to evaluate the relationship between the CTSS tomographic severity score and the mortality risk in a high-altitude population. A retrospective, longitudinal study reviewed medical records between January and July of 2021 at the Daniel Alcides Carrión Regional Teaching Clinical Surgical Hospital in Huancayo. Categorical variables were analyzed with the chi-square test, continuous variables with the ANOVA test, and correlations between continuous variables were calculated by calculating Spearman's coefficient. The predictive capacity of the CTSS score was evaluated by determining the ROC curve. Two hundred-three medical records were reviewed; 65% of patients (n = 132) were male and 84.7% came from Huancayo (n = 172). The average age was 55.86 years. 58.6% of the CT scans were in the peak phase and 14.3% in the progressive phase. The average value of the PaO2/FiO2 ratio in deceased patients was 107.4; in survivors it was 196.10. Mortality was 12% in those with mild lesions, 28.8% in those with moderate involvement, and 79.2% in those with severe pulmonary lesions. PO2/FiO2, SatO2/FiO2, DHL, CRP, D-dimer, and lymphopenia correlated with the severity of pulmonary tomographic patterns. Tomographic lesions and inflammatory marker values were more severe than in most international studies

Avian Influenza in Wild Birds, Central Coast of Peru

To determine genotypes of avian influenza virus circulating among wild birds in South America, we collected and tested environmental fecal samples from birds along the coast of Peru, June 2006–December 2007. The 9 isolates recovered represented 4 low-pathogenicity avian influenza strains: subtypes H3N8, H4N5, H10N9, and H13N2

Circulating Strains of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Central and South America

Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) is a major cause of viral lower respiratory tract infections among infants and young children. HRSV strains vary genetically and antigenically and have been classified into two broad subgroups, A and B (HRSV-A and HRSV-B, respectively). To date, little is known about the circulating strains of HRSV in Latin America. We have evaluated the genetic diversity of 96 HRSV strains by sequencing a variable region of the G protein gene of isolates collected from 2007 to 2009 in Central and South America. Our results show the presence of the two antigenic subgroups of HRSV during this period with the majority belonging to the genotype HRSV-A2

Características clínico-epidemiológicas de un brote de influenza A en personal militar de Trujillo, Perú 2008

We describe an acute febrile respiratory infection outbreak in a military unit in Trujillo, Peru. Cases were identified using the influenza like illness (ILI) definition of the Ministry of Health. Nasal swab samples used for a rapid influenza test (RIT) and pharyngeal swab samples for viral isolation were taken. For influenza A, genotyping of a partial sequence of the hemagglutinin region was performed. The rate attack was 82.9%. Fifty-nine cases appeared between April 1 and 8, 2008; 58 came from the military unit (MU) #1 and one from the MU #2. The RIT identified 40 cases of influenza A and 43 cases were confirmed through cell culture. Isolations were genetically similar to the A H1N1 Brisbane strain. Early detection of outbreaks in confined locations such as military bases permits immediate action in preventing disease propagation.Se describe un brote de infección respiratoria febril aguda en una unidad militar de Trujillo, Perú. Se usó la definición de caso de síndrome gripal del Ministerio de Salud, se tomó hisopado nasal para prueba rápida de influenza (PRI) e hisopado faríngeo para aislamiento viral en cultivo celular. La genotipificación de influenza A fue por secuenciamiento genético de una región del gen de hemaglutinina teniendo como base la cepa vacunal de 2008. Se presentaron 59 casos entre el 01 y 08 de abril de 2008, la tasa de ataque fue de 82,9%. La PRI identificó a 40 casos positivos de influenza A y 43 casos fueron confirmados mediante cultivo celular. Los aislamientos fueron genéticamente similares con la cepa A H1N1 Brisbane . La detección precoz de un brote en lugares cerrados como las bases militares permite actuar de manera inmediata para prevenir su diseminación

Características clínicas y moleculares de un brote de influenza en dos bases militares, Tumbes- Perú, 2007

Objetivo. Describir un brote de Influenza en dos bases militares en Tumbes, Perú. Material y métodos. Se utilizó la definición de caso de síndrome gripal del Ministerio de Salud en casos con menos de cinco días de inicio de síntomas. Se tomó hisopado nasal para la prueba rápida de Influenza (PRI) e hisopado faríngeo para aislamiento viral en tres líneas celulares (MDCK, VERO, LLCMK2). Para la genotipificación de Influenza B se usó un secuenciamiento parcial de la región de hemaglutinina de 898 pares de bases teniendo como base la cepa de la vacuna del 2007 (B/Florida/4/2006) y para el tipo A se analizó 958 pares de bases teniendo como referencia la cepa vacunal del 2007 (A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2). Resultados. Se tomó 124 hisopados, 20 de la base militar (BM) # 1 y 104 de la BM # 2. La PRI identificó a 41 casos positivos: Flu B: 27, Flu A: 02, Flu: 12, con 62% de sensibilidad y 100% de especificidad. Finalmente, 66 casos fueron confirmados por cultivo celular, 54 Flu B y 12 Flu A. Los aislamientos de Tumbes fueron genéticamente similares con la cepa B/Texas/4/ 2006 (n=34) y A/Texas/91/2007 (H3N2)/ (n=7). Los síntomas más comunes fueron fiebre, cefalea, malestar general, tos, dolor de garganta, mialgias y rinorrea. Las medidas de control consistieron en el aislamiento de los casos identificados y el uso de mascarillas. Conclusiones. Se confirmó 66 casos de Influenza por cultivo celular. Los aislamientos tuvieron la mayor similitud genética con las cepas denominadas B/Texas/4/2006 y A/Texas/91/2007 (H3N2)

Distribución de los subtipos del VIH-1 en nueve países de américa del sur, 1995-2002

Objetivo Determinar la distribución de los subtipos del virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH-1) y las presencia de cepas recombinantes en Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Perú, Uruguay y Venezuela a través de estudios epidemiológicos y de genotipificación. Materiales y Métodos: Se incluyeron a los participantes de los protocolos realizados en los nueve paises, incluyendo poblaciones de trabajadoras sexuales (TS), hombres que tienen sexo con hombres (HSH), individuos VIH positivos, gestantes y paciente con tuberculosis (TB). Se utilizó la prueba de movilidad heteroduplex de envoltura (env HMA), ProRT, secuenciamiento completo o ambas para determinar los subtipos de VIH 1. Resultados: Se identificaron 3081 individuos positivos al VIH (de un total de 42 290 voluntarios), las prevalencias oscilaban entre menos de 1% a 29% según población estudiada, siendo mayor en los HSH. Un total de 1654 muestras (54%) fueron genotipificadas. Se encontró el subtipo B en 1380 (83%) muestras, el subtipo F en 218 (13%), así como los subtipos A y C en 0,1% y 0,4% respectivamente. Se hallaron subtipos recombinantes BF en 39 muestras (2%) y formas recombinantes CRF01_AE(0,1%), CRF17_BF(0,4%) y CRF02_AG(0,1%). En Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Perú, Bolivia y Chile (paises andinos) predominó el subtipo B, mientras en Argentina, Uruguay y Paraguay hubo un alto porcentaje del subtipo F. Conclusiones: En la mayoría de países andinos la epidemia de VIH-1 se concentró en los HSH con un predominio del subtipo B. El subtipo F es más frecuente en las TS en Argentina y Uruguay. Esta información es útil para implementar planes de prevención y futuros ensayos de vacunas en esta región

Sentinel surveillance of influenza-like-illness in two cities of the tropical country of Ecuador: 2006-2010.

Tropical countries are thought to play an important role in the global behavior of respiratory infections such as influenza. The tropical country of Ecuador has almost no documentation of the causes of acute respiratory infections. The objectives of this study were to identify the viral agents associated with influenza like illness (ILI) in Ecuador, describe what strains of influenza were circulating in the region along with their epidemiologic characteristics, and perform molecular characterization of those strains.This is a prospective surveillance study of the causes of ILI based on viral culture of oropharyngeal specimens and case report forms obtained in hospitals from two cities of Ecuador over 4 years. Out of 1,702 cases of ILI, nine viral agents were detected in 597 patients. During the time of the study, seven genetic variants of influenza circulated in Ecuador, causing six periods of increased activity. There appeared to be more heterogeneity in the cause of ILI in the tropical city of Guayaquil when compared with the Andean city of Quito.This was the most extensive documentation of the viral causes of ILI in Ecuador to date. Influenza was a common cause of ILI in Ecuador, causing more than one outbreak per year. There was no well defined influenza season although there were periods of time when no influenza was detected alternating with epidemics of different variant strains