Liver fluke infections by Amphimerus sp. (Digenea: Opisthorchiidae) in definitive and fish intermediate hosts in Manabí province, Ecuador

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.Amphimerus sp. is a fluke that dwells in the biliary tracts of vertebrate definitive hosts including humans, domestic, and wild mammals in Latin America. Opisthorchiid liver infections are rarely studied in the Americas confirming its status as a neglected tropical disease. In Ecuador, small trematode eggs were reported in human cases from the province of Manabí in 1949, and recently, Amphimerus sp. adults were recovered from human and reservoir hosts in the province of Esmeraldas. Due to the lack of research on the infectious sources of Amphimerus sp. in the continent, we have developed a series of epidemiological studies with parasitological and molecular techniques to elucidate the endemicity of opisthorchiid fluke infections. We developed a cross-sectional study in three communities at Pedro Pablo Gómez parish in the province of Manabí, Ecuador. We examined a total of 176 fecal samples to detect opisthorchiid eggs, and four fish species to find opisthorchiid metacercariae. To study adult worms, we treated and purged seven patients in a family and dissected the livers of a dog and a cat infected. We observed morphological features of adults and metacercariae and used polymerase chain reaction with restricted fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and DNA sequencing of a section of the ITS2 gene for identification. Small trematode eggs were detected in 63 (35.8%) out of 176 fecal samples of residents in the three study sites. Adult opisthorchiid flukes were recovered from human patients, a dog and a cat, and they were morphologically and molecularly identified as Amphimerus sp. Opisthorchiid metacercariae were also identified molecularly as Amphimerus sp. in four fish species, i.e., Rhoadsia altipinna, Bryconamericus bucay, Andinoacara rivulatus, and Piabucina aureoguttata. Metacercariae of the heterophyid Haplorchis pumilio were also found in the four fish species examined. This is the first study to confirm the current endemicity of Amphimerus sp. in Pedro Pablo Gómez, Manabí, Ecuador. The adult worms isolated here shared morphological characteristics with previous Amphimerus sp. descriptions and were molecularly similar to Amphimerus sp. described in the province of Esmeraldas. Moreover, this study is the first to document four fish species as infection sources of Amphimerus sp. detected via a molecular protocol targeting the metacercariae of the parasite. Fish species identified here should be targeted for public health campaigns to avoid further human liver-fluke infections by Amphimerus sp. or potential intestinal-fluke infections by H. pumilio or others.Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (25305011 and 16H05820)Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japanese government (H23-Shinko-ippan-014 and H26-Shinko-ippan-009)Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (20fk0108136j0101)Dirección General de Investigaciones, Universidad de las Américas, Quit

Leptospirosis in Ecuador: Current Status and Future Prospects

The location of Ecuador—an equatorial nation—favors the multiplication and dispersal of the Leptospira genus both on the Pacific Coast and in the Amazon tropical ecoregions. Nevertheless, leptospirosis epidemiology has not been fully addressed, even though the disease has been recognized as a significant public health problem in the country. The purpose of this literature review is to update knowledge on the epidemiology and geographical distribution of Leptospira spp. and leptospirosis in Ecuador to target future research and develop a national control strategy. A retrospective literature search using five international, regional, and national databases on Leptospira and leptospirosis including humans, animals, and environmental isolations of the bacteria and the disease incidence in Ecuador published between 1919 and 2022 (103 years) with no restriction on language or publication date was performed. We found and analyzed 47 publications including 22 of humans, 19 of animals, and two of the environments; three of these covered more than one of these topics, and one covered all three (i.e., One Health). Most (60%) of the studies were conducted in the Coastal ecoregion. Twenty-four (51%) were published in international journals, and 27 (57%) were in Spanish. A total of 7342 human and 6314 other animal cases were studied. Leptospirosis was a frequent cause of acute undifferentiated febrile illness in the Coast and Amazon and was associated with rainfall. All three major clusters of Leptospira—pathogenic, intermediate, and saprophytic—were identified from both healthy and febrile humans, the environment, and animals; moreover, nine species and 29 serovars were recorded over the three Ecuadorian ecoregions. Leptospira infections were diagnosed in livestock, companion, and wild animals from the Amazon and the Coast regions along with sea lions from the Galápagos Islands. Microscopic-agglutination test was the diagnostic tool most widely used. Three reviews covering national data on outpatients and inpatients determined the varied annual incidence and mortality rate, with males being more commonly affected. No human cases have been reported in the Galápagos Islands. Genomic sequences of three pathogenic Leptospira were reported. No studies on clinical ground, antibiotic resistance, or treatment were reported, nor were control programs or clinical-practice guidelines found. The published literature demonstrated that leptospirosis was and still is an endemic disease with active transmission in the four geoclimatic regions of Ecuador including the Galápagos Islands. Animal infections, distributed in mainland and insular Ecuador, pose a significant health risk for humans. Nationwide epidemiological surveys—encouraging more research on the fauna and environment with appropriate sampling design on risk factors for human and animal leptospirosis, Leptospira genotyping, increased laboratory capability, and readily available official data—are required to improve our understanding of transmission patterns and to develop effective national intervention strategies with the intention of applying One Health approaches

La ganadería ante escenarios complejos.

La calidad de las contribuciones, producto de la pluma de especialistas en los temas tratados, el presente es un libro que esperamos, basándonos en la importancia de los temas tratados, sea de utilidad y abone a la reflexión de los estudiosos de la ganadería mexicana y, por supuesto, en beneficio de las familias ganaderas y de los consumidores de sus productos.este libro refleja en muchos sentidos la situación de la ganadería mexicana, a la que se le están demandando mayor producción y productividad, que los procesos productivos tengan la menor huella ecológicposible, que los alimentos sean inocuos, que se abatan costos de producción y, cada vez aumentan las presiones de diversos grupos para, que se incluyan los protocolos de bienestar animal, solamente por citar algunos de los retos que tiene. Algunas de estas demandas son complementarias, otras se contraponen, lo que hace valiosos a los estudios que desde las ciencias sociales se realizan y, desde diversas ópticas, se hagan propuestas de política pública balanceadas que consideren lo mejor de cada enfoque, pero sin desechar por completo los antagónicos.Universidad Autónoma Chaping

No trans-pacific partnership? Good or bad for Mexico?

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is as follows: first, it aims to explain the overall economic implications of the trans-pacific partnership (TPP). Second, it aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the TPP’s quantitative impact on an upper-middle economy such as Mexico, as well as on the USA. Design/methodology/approach: The analysis is performed using a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model. Findings: The results suggest that in the short run, both Mexico and the USA would slightly benefit from the TPP. Tariff reductions would lead to less bilateral trade between Mexico and the USA and the stronger integration of both countries with the rest of the TPP members. The opposite is true after a decrease in non-tariff barriers (NTBs). Overall, in terms of the impact on Mexico, trade integration with the rest of the TPP members prevails. This suggests that a TPP without the USA could still be beneficial. Originality/value: Previous studies on the TPP have mainly focused on its impact for the USA, which is also analysed in the present study. The effects of the TPP are estimated for a broad set of micro and macroeconomic variables, paying particular attention to the reductions of NTBs

The economic impact of potential migration policies in the UK after Brexit

The bulk of studies which attempt to quantify the effects of Brexit focus on trade issues; however, very few of them have analysed migration. In this paper, we analyse the impact of several migration policies on GDP, GDP per capita, wages, national income and sectoral production in the UK, using what is technically called a general equilibrium analysis. We also analyse the impact at the macroeconomic level on the EU. We find that migration has the potential of deeply affecting economic activity in the UK. The more restrictive immigration policies are, the greater the losses in terms of GDP and Welfare. However, according to the text of the ‘joint agreement’ reached by the UK and EU on December 8 (2017), very restrictive policies seem to be ruled out. Nevertheless, after the ‘Windrush scandal’ some doubts about the final implementation of future UK migration policies remain. We also analyse mild migration policies which would only reduce the number of migrants received. Reductions in the number of EU immigrants between 42,000 and 87,000 per year would lead to foregone GDP increases in the UK between 0.08% and 0.17%. This impact should be considered cumulative across years in which the net inflows are reduced, so that negative effects for GDP and welfare can be substantial if the reduction in workers takes place during many years in a row. The UK currently has easy access to a large pool of workers coming from other EU member states, and UK managers have expressed that it is hard to replace EU talent in the short term. This suggests that if the political imperative for tighter immigration control cannot be avoided, gradual immigration restrictiveness will be less harmful for the UK’s economy and should be accompanied by additional efforts in education and workers’ training.La mayor parte de los estudios que intentan cuantificar los efectos del Brexit se centran en cuestiones comerciales; sin embargo, muy pocos de ellos han analizado la migración. En este artículo, analizamos el impacto de varias políticas migratorias sobre el PIB, el PIB per cápita, los salarios, la renta nacional y la producción sectorial en el Reino Unido, utilizando lo que técnicamente se denomina análisis de equilibrio general. También analizamos el impacto a nivel macroeconómico en la UE. Encontramos que la migración tiene el potencial de afectar profundamente la actividad económica en el Reino Unido. Cuanto más restrictivas son las políticas de inmigración, mayores son las pérdidas en términos de PIB y Bienestar. Sin embargo, según el texto del ‘acuerdo conjunto’ alcanzado por el Reino Unido y la UE el 8 de diciembre (2017), parecen descartarse políticas muy restrictivas. Sin embargo, tras el ‘escándalo de Windrush’ quedan algunas dudas sobre la implementación final de las futuras políticas migratorias del Reino Unido. También analizamos políticas migratorias suaves que solo reducirían el número de migrantes recibidos. Las reducciones en el número de inmigrantes de la UE entre 42.000 y 87.000 por año darían lugar a aumentos del PIB perdidos en el Reino Unido entre el 0,08 % y el 0,17 %. Este impacto debe considerarse acumulativo a lo largo de los años en los que se reducen las entradas netas, por lo que los efectos negativos para el PIB y el bienestar pueden ser sustanciales si la reducción de trabajadores se produce durante muchos años seguidos. Actualmente, el Reino Unido tiene fácil acceso a una gran cantidad de trabajadores provenientes de otros estados miembros de la UE, y los gerentes del Reino Unido han expresado que es difícil reemplazar el talento de la UE a corto plazo. Esto sugiere que si no se puede evitar el imperativo político de un control más estricto de la inmigración, la restricción gradual de la inmigración será menos dañina para la economía del Reino Unido y debería ir acompañada de esfuerzos adicionales en educación y capacitación de los trabajadores.Depto. de Estadística y Ciencia de los DatosFac. de Estudios EstadísticosTRUEpu

A computable general equilibrium analysis of Brexit: Barriers to trade and immigration restrictions

This paper estimates the economic effects of different types of restrictions on trade and immigration in the United Kingdom after Brexit. Regarding trade restrictions, we focus on UK-EU increases in tariffs and non-tariff barriers. We also analyse the removal of all tariffs in the UK to all its trading partners. Concerning immigration, we run a 5-year cumulative annual reduction in net migrants by 87,000 workers following OECD estimations, which looks realistic even if there is a hard Brexit.The study is conducted using a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model, which allows us to estimate the impact on GDP, welfare, wages and capital remuneration, together with the evolution of aggregate and sectoral output, exports and imports.We obtain a more sizeable negative impact on the UK than other previous influential studies. Trade restrictions would generate welfare reductions between −0.38% and −1.94% for the UK, while they would be between −0.03% and −0.14% in the EU. This is because the EU is a crucial trade partner for the UK, which cannot be easily substituted through trade with other regions in the world. We simulate the impact of both reductions in net inflows and in the stock of EU migrants, accumulated through 5 years. Migration is compatible with wage increases but puts downward pressure on GDPpc. However, migration restrictions would not compensate the overall GDPpc contractions arising from a hard Brexit.Depto. de Estadística y Ciencia de los DatosFac. de Estudios EstadísticosTRUEpu

The lethality test used for estimating the potency of antivenoms against Bothrops asper snake venom: Pathophysiological mechanisms, prophylactic analgesia, and a surrogate in vitro assay

The potency of antivenoms is assessed by analyzing the neutralization of venom-induced lethality, and is expressed as the Median Effective Dose (ED50). The present study was designed to investigate the pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for lethality induced by the venom of Bothrops asper, in the experimental conditions used for the evaluation of the neutralizing potency of antivenoms. Mice injected with 4 LD50s of venom by the intraperitoneal route died within ∼25 min with drastic alterations in the abdominal organs, characterized by hemorrhage, increment in plasma extravasation, and hemoconcentration, thus leading to hypovolemia and cardiovascular collapse. Snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) play a predominat role in lethality, as judged by partial inhibition by the chelating agent CaNa2EDTA. When venom was mixed with antivenom, there was a venom/antivenom ratio at which hemorrhage was significantly reduced, but mice died at later time intervals with evident hemoconcentration, indicating that other components in addition to SVMPs also contribute to plasma extravasation and lethality. Pretreatment with the analgesic tramadol did not affect the outcome of the neutralization test, thus suggesting that prophylactic (precautionary) analgesia can be introduced in this assay. Neutralization of lethality in mice correlated with neutralization of in vitro coagulant activity in human plasma.Consejo Nacional de Rectores/[741-B2-652]/FEES-CONARE/Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa Rica/[741-B2-652]/UCR/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto Clodomiro Picado (ICP

A diez años del Código de la Niñez y la adolescencia

Universidad de Costa Rica, Vicerrectoría de Acción Social, Extensión Docente. 2008. Para mayor información puede escribir a [email protected] de los mandatos centrales que establece el Código de la Niñez y la Adolescencia (CNA) para la institucionalidad y la ciudadanía y, concretamente, al Consejo Nacional de la Niñez y la Adolescencia (CNNyA), es el establecimiento de un estado del arte anual en materia del cumplimiento de los derechos de los niños, las niñas y los y las adolescentes, en arreglo con el espíritu de la Convención de los Derechos del Niño aprobada por Naciones Unidas en 1989, ello con miras a favorecer la adopción o la reorientación de políticas públicas así como la acción desde la esfera de la sociedad civil. Al respecto, la Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR) y UNICEF han venido colaborando con el CNN y A desde el año 2000, en el desarrollo del Estado de los Derechos de la Niñez y la Adolescencia,conocido por sus siglas EDNA. En reconocimiento de la complejidad de la temática y el objetivo de profundizar en el abordaje de los temas, desde la V edición, correspondiente al 2006, se pasó a una temporalidad o formato bienal, atendiendo tanto temas de corte estructural como otros propios de la coyuntura y situación inmediata.Universidad de Costa Rica Programa Interdisciplinario de Estudios y Acción Social de los Derechos de la Niñez y la AdolescenciaFondo de Naciones Unidas para la Infancia (UNICEF)UCR::Vicerrectoría de Acción Social::Extensión Docent

Antología del pensamiento crítico costarricense contemporáneo

La selección de textos, para una obra como la que aquí presentamos, exige un proceso de toma de decisiones sobre lo que se va a considerar como pensamiento crítico, sobre la temporalidad de la producción y sobre las temáticas que se van a incluir. En esta antología asumimos la definición de pensamiento crítico derivada de las propuestas teóricas de la Escuela de Frankfurt, basadas en la definición de Marx de 1843, como aquel pensamiento que no solo busca entender la sociedad, sino también criticarla y contribuir como un todo, sumándose a las agendas, miradas y aspiraciones de los movimientos sociales contestatarios. Como crítico, además, en el contexto costarricense destacamos aquellos textos que han enfrentado el espejo (a veces espejismo) nacionalista y han brindado formas originales para repensar Costa Rica como país, como sociedad y como cultura. En términos de la temporalidad, en esta antología se incluyen textos que abarcan un período de cerca de 100 años, iniciando en la década 1920 y terminando con autores y autoras que desarrollan su producción en las primeras décadas del presente siglo. Sobre la escogencia temática, hemos decidido incorporar trabajos que plantean críticas a un conjunto de mitos sobre la homogeneidad, la igualdad y la excepcionalidad costarricense que se han configurado como poderosos mecanismos de control social y político. La compiladora y el compilador hemos batallado ampliamente sobre la selección que ofrecemos en esta antología. Por eso, debe verse primeramente como un producto de procesos de discusión sobre las características de los textos, su distribución cronológica, sus aportes a las problemáticas que nos planteamos, la originalidad y actividad pionera de sus proponentes y el impacto en las ciencias sociales costarricenses de estos ensayos. No está demás decir que tenemos claro que esta antología y cualquier otra siempre tendrá sus límites, siempre carecerá de otros trabajos importantes y siempre podría ser enriquecida por otras perspectivas. Sabidos de eso, también tenemos claro que estos textos que hemos escogido representan lo mejor del pensamiento crítico costarricense y que a partir de ellos se han generado polémicas, discusiones y se han inspirado otros investigadores e investigadoras. De la presentación de Montserrat Sagot y David Díaz Aria

Safety of primary anastomosis following emergency left sided colorectal resection: an international, multi-centre prospective audit.

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: group, T. E. S. o. C. c. (2018). "Safety of primary anastomosis following emergency left sided colorectal resection: an international, multi-centre prospective audit." Colorectal Disease 20(S6): 47-57., which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/codi.1437. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived VersionsINTRODUCTION: Some evidence suggests that primary anastomosis following left sided colorectal resection in the emergency setting may be safe in selected patients, and confer favourable outcomes to permanent enterostomy. The aim of this study was to compare the major postoperative complication rate in patients undergoing end stoma vs primary anastomosis following emergency left sided colorectal resection. METHODS: A pre-planned analysis of the European Society of Coloproctology 2017 audit. Adult patients (> 16 years) who underwent emergency (unplanned, within 24 h of hospital admission) left sided colonic or rectal resection were included. The primary endpoint was the 30-day major complication rate (Clavien-Dindo grade 3 to 5). RESULTS: From 591 patients, 455 (77%) received an end stoma, 103 a primary anastomosis (17%) and 33 primary anastomosis with defunctioning stoma (6%). In multivariable models, anastomosis was associated with a similar major complication rate to end stoma (adjusted odds ratio for end stoma 1.52, 95%CI 0.83-2.79, P = 0.173). Although a defunctioning stoma was not associated with reduced anastomotic leak (12% defunctioned [4/33] vs 13% not defunctioned [13/97], adjusted odds ratio 2.19, 95%CI 0.43-11.02, P = 0.343), it was associated with less severe complications (75% [3/4] with defunctioning stoma, 86.7% anastomosis only [13/15]), a lower mortality rate (0% [0/4] vs 20% [3/15]), and fewer reoperations (50% [2/4] vs 73% [11/15]) when a leak did occur. CONCLUSIONS: Primary anastomosis in selected patients appears safe after left sided emergency colorectal resection. A defunctioning stoma might mitigate against risk of subsequent complications