Colonización de una cepa de Psorophora (Grabhamia) Confinnis Arribalzaga, 1891 en Colombia

A colony of Psorophora confinnis Arribalzaga, 1891, was established and have been successfully maintained for 46 generations in an insectary which it is situated in a small town name Armero in the Tolima deportment, Armero is 352 meters high on the sea lavel. Psorophora confinnis in an efficient vector of the Venezuelan Equine Encephatitis Virus, epidemic and epizootic type. Aquatic stages adults of  P sorophora confinnis were obtained for colonizatian from the breeding area in the Ambalema country, fiefs, Tolima, Department. As a source of blood meals form females it was used white swiss mice.Una colonia de Psorophora confinnis Arribalzaga, 1891, vector eficiente de Encefalitis Equina Venezolana tipo epidemoepizoótico se estableció en el laboratorio a partir de formas inmaduras y adultos, colectados en una región del municipio de Ambalema en el Departamento del Tolima; esta colonia se ha mantenido por 46 generaciones en un insecterio localizado en el Municipio de Armero (Tolima). Armero este a 352 mts. de altura sobre el nivel del mar. Las hembras se alimentan con ratón blanco Suizo

Ecología del Aedes aegypti en un pueblo de Colombia, Suramérica

A study on the ecology of larvae and adults of Aedes aegypti was carried out in Guaduas (Cundinamarca) between november 1978 and november 1979. This study consisted off our cycles of inspection, two in the dry season and two in the rainy season. The major larval habit in both seasons were laundry tanks. Tires were equally important in the rainy season. The major adult habit were bedrooms In general, more premises were infested by adults than by larvae. Precipitin tests indicated that the vast majority of the Aedes aegypti had fed on humans.The human bait collections demonstrated two activity peaks: 10-1 1 a.m. and 4-5 p.m.Un estudio de la ecología de las larvas y adultos del Aedes aegypti fue llevado a cabo en Guaduas (Cundinamarca) entre noviembre de 1978 y noviembre de 1979. Este estudio comprendió cuatro ciclos de inspección, dos en época seca y dos en época lluviosa. Las albercas fueron encontradas como el mejor hábitat larvario para ambas estaciones. Las llantas fueron igualmente importantes en la época de lluvia. Las alcobas constituyeron el hábitat más favorable para los adultos. En general más predios estaban infestados por adultos que por larvas. La prueba de las precipitinas indicó que la mayoría de las hembras de Aedes aegypti se alimentaron sobre el hombre. Las colecciones con cebo humano demostraron 2 picos de actividad: 10 -1 1 a.m. y 4-5 p.m

Distribución espacial de Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) en el área rural de dos municipios de Cundinamarca, Colombia

Introduction: It is difficult to adapt or create new strategies for dengue control in rural areas due to the dispersion of homes and the lack of knowledge about the presence and behavior of the vector in these areas. Spatial data analysis could help understand time and space dynamics related to the transmission of vector-borne diseases in rural areas and, thus, contribute to the prevention and control of dengue.Objective: To determine the probability of the presence of the dengue vector Aedes aegypti in the rural area of the municipalities of Anapoima and La Mesa, in the central area of Colombia.Materials and methods: The probability of the presence or absence of the vector in the study area was determined by means of the kriging spatial interpolation method.Results: The region with the highest probability of the presence of the vector was located in the central part, close to the urban centers of both municipalities.Conclusion: This study shows the importance of geostatistics for the surveillance of vector-borne diseases and the analysis of time and space dynamics of vector insects and of diseases transmitted by them.Introducción. Es difícil adaptar o formular nuevas estrategias para el control del dengue en las áreas rurales debido a la dispersión de los hogares y a la falta de conocimiento sobre la presencia y el comportamiento del vector en estas áreas. El análisis de los datos espaciales podría ayudar a comprender las dinámicas temporales y espaciales relacionadas con la transmisión de enfermedades transmitidas por vectores en las zonas rurales y, por lo tanto, contribuir a la prevención y el control del dengue.Objetivo. Determinar la probabilidad de la presencia del vector del dengue, Aedes aegypti, en el área rural de los municipios de Anapoima y La Mesa, Cundinamarca, Colombia.Materiales y métodos. Se visitaron 102 viviendas del área rural, se inspeccionaron los criaderos potenciales del mosquito A. aegypti y se capturaron las formas adultas encontradas en su interior. La probabilidad de la presencia o la ausencia del vector en el área de estudio, se estableció mediante el método de interpolación espacial kriging.Resultados. La región con mayor probabilidad para la presencia del vector se encontró en la parte central, cerca de los centros urbanos de los dos municipios.Conclusión. Los análisis de las dinámicas espacio-temporales de los vectores de enfermedades pueden utilizarse en los sistemas para su vigilancia, con el fin de complementar los métodos usados actualmente, optimizar la determinación de las áreas de intervención de control vectorial y ahorrar recursos

Improving knowledge, attitudes, and practices on dengue and diarrhea in rural primary school students, their parents, and teachers in Colombia: A cluster-randomized controlled trial

Background: Improved education on water-related diseases in schools could help to reduce disease burden. This paper presents specific results on knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of a cluster-randomized controlled trial to reduce diarrheal disease and dengue entomological risk factors in rural primary schools in Colombia. The aim was to investigate whether enhanced educational interventions on dengue and diarrheal disease in schools could improve KAP scores related to these diseases in students and teachers in rural primary schools, as well as the students’ parents. Methodology/Principal findings: A factorial cluster-randomized controlled trial was carried out in 35 rural primary schools in two municipalities in Cundinamarca, central Colombia. Schools were randomized into four arms: interventions related to diarrheal disease (DIA), dengue (DEN), both (DIADEN), or no interventions (control, CON). Both educational and physical interventions to reduce risk factors of dengue and diarrhea were implemented. Comprehensive teachers’ manuals were developed and deployed to guide the learning activities. The intervention was carried out over two school years. The knowledge scores of students receiving dengue interventions (DEN, DIADEN) increased by 1.16 point score (0.75–1.56, p<0.001) and those receiving diarrhea interventions (DIA, DIADEN) increased by 1.15 point score (0.67–1.63, p<0.001). The attitude and practice scores of students receiving the diarrhea interventions increased (Attitudes: 0.41 [0.11–0.71, p = 0.01]; Practices: 0.33 [0.01–0.65, p = 0.042]), but not for those receiving the dengue interventions (p = 0.31 and p = 0.08, respectively). Conclusions/Significance: There were increases in knowledge scores among students, their teachers and their parents for both diseases. However, the attitudes and practices components were not affected to the same extent. The hypothesis that the students would disseminate knowledge acquired from the educational interventions to their parents was confirmed for dengue, but not for diarrhea

Razones de ausentismo en escuelas primarias rurales de dos municipios colombianos

Background: School absenteeism is a considerable problem generally related to higher dropout rates, poor academic achievement and school lag. This study determined the frequency and causes of overall and illness-related absenteeism of students in rural schools from two Colombian municipalities. Methods: A prospective and descriptive study was conducted in a population of 948 school children from 34 rural schools. Absenteeism data were collected for 2013 academic year consisted of the number of students registered and absent by grade, school, day and reason for absence. Absence rates (overall and illness-related absenteeism) were recorded, based on full or partial days absence, measured both as episodes, and accumulating the number of days. Results: From the students included in the study, 55.1% were male and 71.6% were between 5 and 9 years old. The overall absence rate was 5.7 episodes per child-year (95% confidence interval 5.5 to 5.8) and 8.6 days per child-year (8.4 to 8.9). The main reasons for non-attendance were illness (24.4%), medical or dental check-up (12.9%), travel (12.3%), lack of motivation to attend school (10.0%) and bad weather (9.3%). The illness-related absence rate was 1.4 episodes per child-year (95% confidence interval 1.3 to 1.5) and 2.5 days per child-year (2.4 to 2.6). The main reasons for illness-related absence were cold (37.0%), nonspecific fever (10.9%) and stomach pain or vomiting (8.4%). Conclusions: In this study, the most common reasons for non-attendance were illness-related. The importance of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections in absenteeism was evident, showing rates similar to other urban school studies. Then, the results of this study provide knowledge on the magnitude and reasons for absenteeism in rural schoolchildren.Antecedentes. El ausentismo escolar es un problema importante relacionado con altas tasas de abandono escolar, bajo rendimiento académico y rezago escolar. Este estudio determinó la frecuencia y las causas del ausentismo general y el ausentismo relacionado con la enfermedad en estudiantes de escuelas rurales de dos municipios de Colombia. Métodos. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo en una población de 948 escolares de 34 escuelas rurales. Los datos de ausentismo recopilados para el año 2013 consistieron en el número de episodios y días de ausentismo por grado y motivo de ausencia general y por enfermedad. Se calcularon las tasas de ausentismo general y por enfermedad. Resultados. El 55,1% de la población participante eran hombres y el 71,6% tenían entre 5 y 9 años. La tasa de ausentismo general fue 5,7 episodios por niño-año, IC 95% (5,5-5,8) y 8,6 días por niño-año, IC 95% (8,4-8,9). Las principales razones del ausentismo fueron enfermedades (24,4%), chequeo médico u odontológico (12,9%), viajes (12,3%), falta de motivación para asistir a la escuela (10,0%) y mal clima (9,3%). La tasa de ausentismo por enfermedad fue 1,4 episodios por niño-año IC 95% (1,3-1,5) y 2,5 días por niño-año IC 95% (2,4-2,6). Las principales razones del ausentismo por enfermedad fueron el resfriado común (37,0%), la fiebre inespecífica (10,9%) y el dolor de estómago o vómito (8,4%). Conclusiones. Las razones más comunes para la no asistencia estuvieron relacionadas con la enfermedad. La importancia de las infecciones respiratorias y gastrointestinales en el absentismo fue evidente, mostrando tasas similares a las de otros estudios en escuelas urbanas. Los resultados de este estudio proporcionan conocimiento sobre la magnitud y las razones del absentismo en la población escolar rural

Mosquitos (Diptera: Culicidae) en el caserío de Chingalé, Santander, donde se registró un caso humano de encefalitis equina venezolana

Introduction. The enzootic focus of subtype ID of Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) virus in the Central Magdalena region (central Colombia) occasionally produces human cases. The report of a VEE infection in a three-year-old girl in the small village of Chingalé, municipality of Puerto Wilches, Santander, motivated this study.Objective. The village of Chingalé was evaluated as the probable site of infection.Materials and methods. In June 2005, mosquitoes were collected with CDC light traps in and outside of dwellings in the village. Trinidad traps were placed in nearby vegetation, and hamsters were used as sentinel animals near homes.Results. One hundred and seven samples, consisting of 14,423 mosquitoes of 35 species were collected. The relative abundance of incriminated vectors of subtype ID of VEE, Culex (Melanoconion) pedroi and Cx. (Mel.) ocossa, was generally low (&lt;4%), but both species were more frequent outside of dwellings than indoors. Cx. (Mel.) ocossa was collected in CDC traps and was more frequent indoors,whereas Cx. (Mel.) pedroi was found in the Trinidad traps. In addition, Psorophora confinnis was present, recognized as a potential vector of the epidemo/epizootic subtype. Mansonia indubitans, another recognized vector, was present at high frequency within dwellings. The exposed hamsters did not become infected.Conclusion. The child may have been infected in or near her home, although the epidemiologic cycle of the virus was not demonstrated within the village of Chingalé. Possibly, infected Culex mosquitoes of the subgenus Melanoconion carried the virus into the village from a neighboring habitat.Introducción. El foco enzoótico del subtipo ID del virus de la encefalitis equina venezolana en la región del Magdalena Medio produce esporádicamente casos en humanos. El registro de un caso en una niña de tres años en el caserío de Chingalé, municipio de Puerto Wilches, Santander, motivó este estudio.Objetivo. Evaluar el caserío de Chingalé como probable sitio de infección.Materiales y métodos. En junio de 2005 se recolectaron mosquitos con trampas de luz CDC dentro y fuera de las casas; también se colocaron trampas Trinidad y hámster centinela alrededor de las viviendas.Resultados. En 107 muestreos se recolectaron 14.423 mosquitos distribuidos en 35 especies. La abundancia relativa de los posibles vectores del subtipo ID del virus de la encefalitis equina venezolana encontrados, Culex (Melanoconion) pedroi y Cx. (Mel) ocossa, en general, fue baja (&lt;4%). Estas dos especies fueron más frecuentes en el exterior de las viviendas que en los dormitorios: Cx. ocossa en las trampas CDC y Cx. pedroi en las Trinidad. C. ocossa fue más frecuente en las viviendas. Además, este estudio detectó Psorophora confinis, considerado posible vector de subtipos epidemo/epizoóticos y una alta frecuencia de Mansonia indubitans en las viviendas. Los hámster expuestos no se infectaron.Conclusiones. La niña pudo infectarse en su casa o cerca de ella, aunque el ciclo epidemiológico del virus no tiene lugar en el casco urbano de Chingalé. Posiblemente ocurre en un lugar cercano y Culex (Melanoconion) infectados llevan el virus al caserío, en donde algunos mosquitos incursionaron a alimentarse

Initiation of primary cell cultures from embryos of the mosquitoes Anopheles albimanus and Aedes taeniorhynchus (Diptera: Culicidae)

Primary cell cultures were obtained from eggs of Anopheles albimanus and Aedes taeniorhynchus mosquitoes, vectors of human malaria and of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, respectively. The cellular growth of the An. albimanus cells began four weeks after explanting the embryonic tissues in MK/VP12 medium, supplemented with 15% fetal bovine serum. The culture showed heterogeneous cellular morphology. With regard to the Ae. taeniorhynchus culture, cellular growth occurred three weeks after initiating the culture in MM/VP12 medium. The majority of cells were small and round. Karyotypes were examined in the latter species

Presencia de Aedes albopictus en Leticia, Amazonas, Colombia

The species Aedes albopictus is an efficient vector of dengue in Asia and possibly of other arboviruses, including yellow fever and encephalitis. The distribution of A. albopictus has been extended to America in the last decade. The presence of this species was reported in the city of Tabatinga in Brazil, near the border with Colombia, in 1996 and again in October 1997. During an epidemiological study of tropical diseases carried out in March 1998 by the Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales, PECET, of the Universidad de Antioquia and the Secretaría de Salud del Amazonas, adult specimens of A. albopictus were collected in the city of Leticia, in the Amazonas' Department, this being the first time that this species has been found in Colombia. The presence of A. albopictus complicates dengue transmission, dueto: the better adaptation of this vector species to cooler weather; its transovarial transmission capacity; its positive vectorial capability to transmit the virus' 4 serotypes; and the increased difficulty for vector control, given that A. albopictus' breeding places are in peridomestic and rural areas. The distribution of this species in sylvatic, rural and urban areas represents a potential danger of yellow fever transmission urbanisation. To avoid the propagation of this vector species to other parts of the country, a contingency plan was adopted by the Secretaría de Salud del Amazonas, which is presented in this paper.La especie Aedes albopictus es un eficiente vector del dengue en Asia y, posiblemente, de otros arbovirus incluyendo la fiebre amarilla y la encefalitis. En la ultima década se ha extendido la distribución de A. albopictus a las Américas. En la ciudad de Tabatinga, Brasil, muy cerceide la frontera con Colombia, se ha informado la presencia de esta especie en 1996 y, posteriormente, en octubre de 1997. En marzo de 1998, en desarrollo de un e&udio sobre enfermedades tropicales realizado por el Programa de Estudio y Cotítrol de Enfermedades Tropicales, PECET, de la Universidad de Antioquia y la secretaría de Salud del Amazonas, se capturaron 8 ejemplares adultos de A. albopictus en la ciudad de Leticia, departamento del Amazonas, siendo éste el primer hallazgo de esta especie en Colombia. La presencia en Colombia de A. albopictus vuelve más complejo el problema del dengue por la mayor adaptación de este vector a climas más fríos, la capacidad de transmisión transovariana, la buena capacidad vectorial para transmitir los cuatro serotipos del virus y la mayor dificultad para su control dado que sus criaderos están en áreas peridomésticas y rurales. La distribución de esta especie tanto en zonas selváticas como rurales y urbanas presenta un peligro potencial de urbanizar la transmisión de la fiebre amarilla. Se presenta el plan de contingencia que se debe implementar por parte de la Secretaría de Salud del Amazonas con miras a evitar la propagación de este vector a otras regiones del país